Signs of the Time

Good Morning.  It is HUMP day. . . the mid day of our week in which we can decide if we want to start the finish to our weekly work project or just figure it is the last of August and vacation time is all but gone and it is time to start thinking about all those chores that need to be done before the weather changes.    As we say the word 'change' the above photographs show the folks in Chicago are not happy as we see the 'signs of the time'.  It is good to realize that the Chicago folks are not all wearing blinders.     Bob sent me an e-mail with some anthropomorphic (never heard that word before) collective nouns for the various groups of animals.
"We are all familiar with a Herd of cows, a Flock of chickens, A School of fish and a Gaggle of geese."
"Slightly less widely known is  a Pride of lions, a Murder of crows (as well as their cousins the rooks and ravens), an Exaltation of doves and, presumably because they look so wise, a Parliament of owls."
"Now consider a group of Baboons.  They are the loudest, most dangerous, most obnoxious, most viciously aggressive and least intelligent of all primates.  And what is the proper collective noun for a group of baboons? Believe it or not . . . . .a CONGRESS!"   We knew that!   Isn't it nice to be proven right?  It just goes to show we learn something new everyday, anthropomorphic  a new word to break down to anti . . . roped . . . moron . . .ah, have fun with it and remember to retain the meaning of Congress!

My quiet house is back in order, laundry done, fresh sheets, fresh towels, just waiting for company.   I really hated to see the ladies go as it was wonderful to sit with friends and have some good give and take conversations with lots and lots of laughter.  The ladies left but not before we had a photo session on the front stairs and a lot of close hugs to last until we next meet.    Judy let me with a tiny bird to remind me of her and on the counter of my kitchen was a piece of paper towel with lips drawn with a tongue out and a few little cookie crumbs beside an empty cookie can.  The girls loved  my cookies even though they complained of tighter clothes on the way out the door.   Kathy was talking and telling me something in which she used the word scout. I didn't quite hear what she said but picked up the word as 'stout' so had a lot of fun teasing her about my girlish figure.    We had allot of fun with that one.    Helen was happy to have spent the time and we had such a good visit.   At our age it could be our last time, but we think we'll try for at least one more time together.  Ninety is closing in for both of us and it does give you 'food for thought'.    Kathy thought the travel road seemed shorter this time so maybe that is a good thought and she will find some free time to travel back this way.    I sent the ladies off with a thank you for coming gift and of course they left me a gift certificate to Freddys to replace my wine after our 'whine' parties.   Oh my, they were fun and I will miss them.  I will restock the wine rack and hope that they will come back and, or some more company will head this way.

So today, be thankful that the strong winds of hurricane Irene have done all the damage it can do and is now gone.   The survivors are busy rebuilding their lives and once again our help is needed with a donation of blood to the Red Cross, food to the Food Banks or just out helping a neighbor anyway we can.    My Rhode Island family are doing well and have their power back so the e-mails are coming in.   Life as we know it is not Fair, but we know that, so take your bumps and lumps and carry on to bigger and better things, and do pay attention to what is going on all around you, don't let those obnoxious baboons get you down.   Vote! As my old friend Clarence used to tell me . . ."'vote those incumbents out and give the new guy a chance as it takes him two years to put his hands in your pocketbook." I think he was right . . . so think about that.   Go with God, make today special, just like YOU!   Hugs to all.