I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

((((Paula)))) the relief! Phew. So glad you are better!

Paula - keep drinking water, much more than you think you need - helps with energy, and a cold/flu/whatever just drains the fluids out of us.  Rotten timing - hope you're feeling better soon.  Keep telling yourself, "Nobody can stop an Ole Hippy!!!"

Rosemary, great news!

Paula, keep taking good care of yourself. 

welcome back Paula.  Glad you are 'rousing' enough to have even a mild interest in food, because it should all be up when hunger returns.

Jackie

Rosemary - Congrats Grandma and that goes for cutting the cord too!

Paula - glad you're feeling better - yes, we would have had you delivered to the hospital if we didn't hear from you - keep staying in that nest and take it easy for the next while - don't want a secondary infection.

suzie, keep cool.  It's going to be 65 tomorrow in Jersey.  In the middle of January.  Pleasant, yes, but like eating a hugh chocolate sunday; you enjoy the momentary pleasure but know you're going to pay for it.

Alexandria....you put that just right.  Yesterday our temp. was hovering at the 67 degree mark, higher in some areas close around even.....January....really!!!!We do often have higher temps in February --- but no one 'bets' on anything now.  I was thrilled 15 yrs. ago when we moved back home ( our final life move ) and watched each season re-emerge with baited breath after the 25 yrs. of California sameness ( not berating California....I loved it too while I was there ) but so missed crisp Fall days and the smell of burning leaves and the last wiener roast of the season around Halloween.  These past four years...all we do is hay hmmm, what next????

Still awaiting announcements of new Cabinet and V.P. Biden's recommendations.  I know in many circles, especially the NRA, bans are definitely not wanted.  That criminals are the ones that we have to be concerned about, because law-abiding citizens can be trusted.  I wish it were all that simple.  Unfortunately, while I wish there were not so many laws and regulations, imho there are places where they should be stringent......not because of criminals or those who abide by the law...........but because innocent people die....children.    No amt. of laws and regulations will prevent every death, accidental or planned.  The assault weapons are simply not needed by the ordinary citizen, period.  In earlier years, even when I grew up, we often felt the need in our household to go out and shoot wild rabbits and some squirrels.  It just made our life better.  It seems to me now that there are likely far fewer "hunters" that really NEED to supplement their families meat/protein supply in the winter months.  My mother's 410 shotgun ( my dad would not touch a gun ) hung on a rack in her and dad's bedroom.....and no one payed a bit of attention to it.  She was our family's hunter.  No one I knew then had more than they needed.....most families if they hunted had one gun.....if there was a son in the family - maybe two.  I'm not at all aganist people having a 'gun' collection....but since the ban was lifted there has been nothing by misery and the arguements that I have heard as to why a ban should not be re-instituted just fall way short of the mark.  I don't think it is about what you can HAVE --- to me it is about who you might be able to save.  And if you insist that you must HAVE the ability to buy an assaut rifle any time you want....I hope and pray it is not your loved one next. 
I think of that saying/quote.....I cried because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.  What we cry for sometimes is not always what we need so bad. 

Just a few thoughts I had due to my mornings'reading materials. 

Hope Saturday is great for everyone.

Jackie

Can't Miss Work Even if you Have the Flu (even though Dr. Sanjay Gupta tells viewers to STAY HOME -- to recuperate and to keep from spreading it):

Chances are everyone around you is sick. Not a pleasant thought, but recent reports show the flu season is one of the worst we've seen in a decade. 

While many experts and doctors urge people to stay at home to avoid infecting others, 38% of private-sector workers lack even one paid sick day. This means, many people have to choose between working sick and not being able to pay their rent and utilities. That's a pretty big problem. To make matters worse, many of the workers who don't have paid sick leave are the people cooking and serving our food when we eat out. 
>>> 

http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Political-Action-Legislation/Can-t-Miss-Work-Even-if-You-Have-the-Flu-You-re-Not-Alone#.UPBG_p4oIGU.twitter 

Australia is clearly having severe/extreme conditions.  

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/10/red-wave-australia-dust_n_2450600.html#slide=1967880

You've had your zipper executed? jk!

Bad joke of the day.

It's almost 13 here in Ontario too.  But that is in celcius!  We should be below freezing temps right now.

Please be careful out there Paula.  My dh had a rule when we went out.  I kept my hand in my pockets and didn't touch anything.  And always keep hand sanatizer at the ready!

Did anyone see the Bizarro comic yesterday?  Two snowmen -- snow is falling -- one snowman points to the snowflakes and says "Stem cells".

Just read that Apple has passed away - so very very sad. I'll miss her.