A little bit of this, a little bit of that

BOGUS IRS Emails

Astarte — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:28:00 GMT

FYI There are emails circulating abut an additional stimulus check you are entitled to. The email looks like it comes from the IRS. It say you have to click on the attached form to receive your money and it could take to 4 weeks. First of all the IR doe not send out emails - whrer would they get your email addres from - It's not included on any paperwork you send them. econd there is no additional stimulus. When you click on the attached form it resembles the IRS webpage - When you click on the form they ask you for your mother's maiden name, and two credit card as well as the CRV number from the back of the card, as well as your personal information - they now have all the information they need to teal your idenity. IMPORTANT _ THE IR WOULD NEVER END YOU AN EMAIL AKING FOR YOUR INFORMATION THE IRS DOES NOT END YOU AN EMAIL UNLESS YOU ARE REQUESTING CONFIRMATION SO YOU ASK FOR THE FOLLOWUP EMAIL> Please pass this information along to all your frinds. It's important to keep these predetors from making any money! Thank you

A little laugh for today as you wait for the election returns!

Astarte — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:21:00 GMT

These women totally crack me up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt9lErsLafw

Somthing to think about before making comments

Astarte — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:50:00 GMT

An email forwarded to me I thought to share

This is something to think about before you open
your mouth when you don't know the circumstances!!!

Tissue please!!

   'Some people!' snorted a man standing behind me in the

   long line at the grocery store.

   'You would think the manager would pay attention and

   open another line, 'said a woman. I looked to the

   front of the line to see what the hold up was and saw

   a well dressed, young woman, trying to get the machine

   to accept her credit card. No matter how many times

   she swiped it, the machine kept rejecting it.

   'It's one of them welfare card things. Damn people

   need to get a job like everyone else,' said the man

   standing behind me. The young woman turned around to

   see who had made the comment. 'It was me,' he said,

   pointing to himself.

   The young lady's face began to change expression.

   Almost in tears, she dropped the welfare card onto the

   counter and quickly walked out of the store. Everyone

   in the checkout line watched as she began running to

   her car. Never looking back, she got in and drove

   away.

   After developing cancer in 1977 and having had to use

   food stamps; I had learned never to judge anyone,

   without knowing the circumstances of their life. This

   turned out to be the case today.

   Several minutes later a young man walked into the

   store. He went up to the cashier and asked if she had

   seen the woman. After describing her, the cashier told

   him that she had run out of the store, got into her

   car, and drove away.

   'Why would she do that?' asked the man. Everyone in

   the line looked around at the fellow who had made the

   statement. 'I made a stupid comment about the

   welfare card she was using. Something I shouldn't

   have said. I'm sorry,' said the man.

   'Well, that's bad, real bad, in fact. Her brother was

   killed in Afghanistan two years ago. He had three

   young children and she has taken on that

   responsibility. She's twenty years old, single, and

   now has three children to support,' he said in a very

   firm voice.

'I'm really truly sorry. I didn't know,' he replied,

   shaking both his hands about.

   The young man asked, 'Are these paid for?' pointing to

   the shopping cart full of groceries. 'It wouldn't take

   her card,' the clerk told him.

   'Do you know where she lives?' asked the man who had

   made the comment.

   'Yes, she goes to our church.'

   'Excuse me,' he said as he made his way to the front

   of the line. He pulled out his wallet, took out his

   credit card and told the cashier, 'Please use my card.

   PLEASE!' The clerk took his credit card and began to

   ring up the young woman's groceries.

   Hold on,' said the gentleman. He walked back to his

   shopping cart and began loading his own groceries onto

   the belt to be included. 'Come on people. We got three

   kids to help raise!' he told everyone in line.

   Everyone began to place their groceries onto the fast

   moving belt. A few customers began bagging the food

   and placing it into separate carts. 'Go back and get

   two big turkeys,' yelled a heavyset woman, as she

   looked at the man. 'NO,' yelled the man. Everyone

   stopped dead in their tracks. The entire store became

   quiet for several seconds. 'Four turkeys,' yelled the

   man. Everyone began laughing and went back to work.

   When all was said and done, the man paid a total of

   $1,646.57 for the groceries. He then walked over to

   the side, pulled out his check book, and began

   writing a check using the bags of dog food piled near

   the front of the store for a writing surface. He

   turned around and handed the check to the young man.

   'She will need a freezer and a few other things as

   well,' he told the man.

   The young man looked at the check and said, 'This is

   really very generous of you.'

'No,' said the man. 'Her brother was the generous

   one.'

   Everyone in the store had been observing the odd

   commotion and began to clap. And I drove home that

   day feeling very American.

   We live in the Land of the free, because of the

   Brave!!! Remember our Troops of Yesterday and Today!!!

   A great example of why we should be kind and patient.

   Kindness is the language the blind can see and the

   deaf can hear.

   May God's many blessings continue

   to be with you - ALWAYS!!!

preparing to let go of a loved one

Astarte — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:51:00 GMT

Two years ago we brought my dad home from the hospital - pre-hospice. It is not cancer he has but a rare disease called Inclusive Bodily myosistis. A chemical inbalance in the brain that deterioates the voluntary muscles. (I won't go into the details as I posted it in the past).

I volunteer to do the overnight with him every Wednesday. It gives my the opportunity to spend quiet time with him while my mom gets a night to sleep in her bed. My mom explained to me last night that he's been asking to get back into bed earlier than usual. He said he feels BLAH! I believe he is bored and tired. Tired of having us take care of him everyday. I actually look forward to it. It's special time for me - as I tell him the tales of the week and the projects I take on. We laugh as I tell him I don't need a man to survive - and he says (now you have to read lips with him as he only has a voice when he is on the ventilator). "that's means this time around your marry because he'll take care of you - and it will be an equal relationship." I know he knows he taught me to be a survivor - as he has shown us over the last two years.

I have noticed as my spirituality has grown over the past 10 years (I am not psychic like the rest of you but I believe I am starting to tap into it). I feel things. Last Fri I had a really sore throat that felt like my throat was closing up. After half a day - I said " It's pop isn't it Lord? I called my mom and that was the day Pop started feeling blah. That went away and since then I have had a thickening in the top of my throat since Sat. Well, lo and behold - everynight when pop goes on the vent his secretions are ... let's just say you can't figure out where they are coming from, and they are at the site of the treak. Well last night he woke every hour with mouth secretions. Something that hasn't happened since he started receiving a very small dose of morphine each night.

I did notice his breathing has changed - The hard part is I'm not sure if it gets worse because he panics or if he really finally preparing to let go. He's not in any pain except an occassional problem with his feeding tube. Someting I thank the Lord for everyday.

This I do know - I am a truly lucky person - I have gotten to spend quality one on one time with my pop the last two years. Everyday that I get to spend the time with him and see him mouth "I love you and thank you" brings my heart joy. When we were growing up (I'm #3 of 13) it was very difficult for him to say those words - SO to be able to experience it now is so uplifting and gives me a reason to put other plans on hold to spend time with him. I am very grateful the Lord has given us this time with him - I jhave learned so much. Many people never have the opportunity to share an experience like this with a loved one before they leave us. So no matter when he decides he is ready - I too am ready - I know I will be the one he speaks through from the other side - as I have experienced many things while staying overnight with him - I've shared them with him as he just rolls his eyes and agrees that I am crazy - But I see it in his eyes and in his smile that he knows too I am not crazy - just the very "different" child from the rest of his clan - that shares a special bond with her pop.

The thanks a parent gets

Astarte — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:20:00 GMT

Weekends spent watching my girls play softball - yes all weekend long - are gone and after 11 years of doing this, I have my weekends back - In the fall I'll have my weekends back because my son that played on several soccer teams will be off to college - Good thing he's close enough for me to get to the games - but far enough not to just drop in at home whenever he feels like it. He needs the living on his own/with a roommate. He seems to forget how much I do for him - I'm just praying that when he has children he's not always calling me for help - He watched as I built a deck this week with his brother - I re-did the kitchen/dining room - the week before last - again he watched most of the time as I pulled up the old hardwood floor, patched the walls, paint, paper, and put up a chair rail and baseboard - I paid someone to put in the tile floor - something I just won't tackle. I know these things are no his "cup of Tea" so I don't get angry. I do get a little annoyed when it feels like I am the only one contributing to the household maintenance. All four of my children claim "I have to work" yet what do they think I do? I work full time and run my own business on the side to make ends meet for them - And I am taking 2 college courses. Then I remind myself, that it's my job to provide for them - I am their mother. I have to lead by example -

The other night he brought 5 of his friends to the house to show off the deck I built with his brother. He was proud to tell them his mom did it. He got a raise for the third time this summer at the drive-in burger place he works, because he just keeps moving and helping others and cleaning when his work is all caught up. He is a dedicated friend, especially to his best friend, always making sure his blood sugar is correct, especially after heavy activity or in the middle of the night, if they are together. His major in college is Pharmacy, a very difficult career, and he'll be playing Div 2 soccer - great dedication - So I guess, even though I have to beg at home for his help - my example is winning out as the proof is in the things he does outside of our home. zthe best Thank you a child can give a parent.

TWENTY NINE LINES TO MAKE YOU SMILE

Astarte — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:27:00 GMT

FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR OWN -

1.. My husband and I divorced over religious differences. He thought he was God and I didn't..
2.. I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
3.. Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them.
4.. I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.
5.. Don't take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.

6.. You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me
7.. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
8.. Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.

9.. I'm not a complete idiot -- Some parts are just missing.
10... Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.

11.. NyQuil, the stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck-is-the-room-spinning medicine.
12.. God must love stupid people; He made so many.
13.. The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
14.. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.
15.. Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?

16.. Being 'over the hill' is much better than being under it!
17.. Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up.
18 . Procrastinate Now!

19.. I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts; Do You Want Fries With That?
20.. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
21.. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance..

22.. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!
23..They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken.
24.. He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless DEAD.

25.. A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three
thousand times the memory.

26.. Ham and eggs...A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig.
27.. The trouble with life is there's no background music.

28.. The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson.
29.. I smile because I don't know what the hell is going on.

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!
Life is too short and friends are too few!

Today's smile -

Astarte — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:15:00 GMT

The young-at-heart man noticed her overly attentive stare and walked directly toward her. (As all men will)

Before she could offer her apologies for staring so rudely, he leaned over and whispered to her, 'I'll do anything, absolutely anything, that you want me to do, no matter how kinky, for $20.00......on one condition.'

Flabbergasted, the woman asked what the condition was. The man replied, 'You have to tell me what you want me to do in just three words.'

The woman considered his proposition for a moment, and then slowly removed a $20 bill from her purse, which she pressed into the man's hand along with her address. She looked deeply into his eyes, and slowly and meaningfully said....

'Clean my house.'

Women are not stupid.

Just a friendly joke for today

Astarte — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:17:00 GMT

THE BLONDE JOKE TO END ALL BLONDE JOKES...

A blonde woman was speeding down the road in her little red
sports car and was pulled over by a woman police
officer who was also a blonde.
The blonde cop asked to see the blonde driver's license.
She dug through her purse and was getting progressively more
agitated. 'What does it look like?' she finally asked.

The policewoman replied, 'It's square and it has your picture on
it.'

The driver finally found a square mirror in her purse, looked at
it and handed it to the policewoman.
'Here it is,' she said. * ** * The blonde officer looked at the
mirror, then handed it back saying,
'Okay, you can go. I didn't realize you were a cop.'

I BELIEVE (another email forwarded to me I truly wish I knew who wrote it - INSPIRING

Astarte — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:37:00 GMT

I Believe...

Birth Certificates show that we were born

A Death Certificate shows that we died

Pictures show that we lived!

Have a seat . . . Relax . . . And read this slowly.

I Believe...
That just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if
we understand that friends change.

I Believe...
That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow, even over
the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe...
That it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.

I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with
loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe...
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe...
That we are responsible for what
we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...
T hat either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences.

I Believe...
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe...
That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time..

I Believe...
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you
when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe...
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had
and what you've learned from them an d less to do
with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe...
That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others.
sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe...
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
but, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find
out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe...
Two people can look at the exact same
thing and see something totally different.

I Believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of
hours by peo ple who don't even know you.

I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

'The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the most of everything.

Gas who to buy from

Astarte — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:59:00 GMT

I wish I knew the source of this email so I could give them credit I did do research and it's true

WHERE TO BUY AMERICAN GASOLINE. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW. READ ON.
Gas rationing in the 70's worked even though we grumbled about it. It might
even have been good for us!
Are you aware that the Saudis are boycotting American products? In addition,
they are gouging us on oil prices.
Shouldn't we return the favor? Can't we take control of our own destiny and
let these giant oil importers know who REALLY generates their profits, their
livings? How about leaving American Dollars in America and reduce the
import/export deficit?
An appealing remedy might be to boycott their GAS. Every time you fill up
your car you can avoid putting more money into the coffers of Saudi Arabia .
Just purchase gas from companies that don't import their oil from the
Saudis.
Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill up my
tank, I'm sending my money to people who I get the impression want me, my
family and my friends dead. The following gas companies import Middle
Eastern oil:
Shell.................................... 205,742,000 barrels
Chevron/Texaco.................... 144,332,000 barrels
Exxon /Mobil........................ 130,082,000 barrels
Marathon/Speedway............. 117,740,000 barrels
Amoco.................................. 62,231,000 barrels
And CITGO oil is imported from Venezuela by Dictator Hugo Chavez who hates
America and openly avows our economic destruction! (We pay Chavez's regime
nearly $10 Billion per year in oil revenues!)
The U.S. currently imports 5,517,000 barrels of crude oil per day from OPEC.
If you do the math at $100 per barrel, that's over $550 million PER DAY
($200 BILLION per year!) handed over to OPEC, many of whose members are our
confirmed enemies!!!!! It won't stop here - oil prices could go to $200 a
barrel or higher if we keep buying their product.
Here are some large companies that do not import Middle Eastern oil:
Sunoco......................... 0 barrels
Conoco........................ 0 barrels
Sinclair....................... 0 barrels
BP / Phillips................ 0 barrels
Hess. ............................. 0 barrels
ARC0............................. 0 barrels
Maverick......................... 0 barrels
Flying J. .......................... 0 barrels
Valero............................ 0 barrels
Murphy Oil USA * ............. 0 Sold at Wal-Mart , gas is from South
Arkansas and fully USA owned and produced.

*Not only that but they give scholarships to all children in their town who
finish high school and are legal US citizens..
All of this information is available from the U.S. Department of Energy and
each company is required to state where they get their oil and how much they
are importing.

But to have a real impact, we need to reach literally millions of gas buyers
With the help of the internet, it's really simple to do. Now, don't wimp out
at this point....keep reading and I'll explain how simple it is to reach
millions of people!!
I'm sending this note to about thirty people. If each of you send it to at
only ten more (30 x 10 = 300)....and those 300 send it to at least ten more
(300 x 10 = 3,000)....and so on, by the time the message reaches the sixth
generation of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION
consumers!!!!!!!

If those three million get excited and pass this on to ten friends each,
then 30 million people will have been contacted! If it goes one level
further, you guessed it...THREE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE-the entire population
of the United States of America !!!!

Again, all you have to do is forward this message to 10 people. How long
would that really take you? If each of us sends this e-mail out to ten more
people, within one day all 300 MILLION people could theoretically be
contacted during the next eight days!

A Mother Asked....

Astarte — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:35:00 GMT

A mother asked President Bush...        'Why did my son have to die in Iraq ?'


A mother asked this President Clinton...         'Why did my son have to die in Saudi Arabia ?'

A mother asked this President Bush...         'Why did my son have to die in Kuwait ?'



Another mother asked this President Johnson...        ' Why did my son have to die in Vietnam ?'

< /SPAN>Another mother asked this President Truman...       'Why did my son have to die in Korea ?'

Another mother asked this President Roosevlet...     'Why did my son have to die on Iwo Jima?'

Another mother asked President Roosevelt...     'Why did my son have to die on a battlefield in France ?'

Yet another mother asked President Lincoln...       'Why did my son have to die at Gettysburg ?'

And yet another mother asked President Washington...     'Why did my son have to die on a frozen field near Valley Forge ?'

Then long, long ago, a mother asked...

'Heavenly Father .. why did my Son have to die on a cross outside of Jerusalem ?'

The answer is always the same... 'So that others may live and dwell in peace , happiness, and freedom.'

This was emailed to me with no author. I thought the magnitude and the simplicity were awesome.

If you are not willing to stand BEHIND our troops,

Please, please feel free to stand in front of them....

Take Time to live

Astarte — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:46:00 GMT

This was an email forwarded from my dad - I don't know the origin.

One day I had a date for lunch with friends. Mae, a little old "blue hair" about 80 years old, came along with them---all in all, a pleasant bunch. When the menus were presented, we ordered salads, sandwiches, and soups, except for Mae who said, "Ice Cream, please. Two scoops, chocolate."

I wasn't sure my ears heard right, and the others were aghast.

"Along with heated apple pie," Mae added, completely unabashed.

We tried to act quite nonchalant, as if people did this all the time.

But when our orders were brought out, I didn't enjoy mine.

I couldn't take my eyes off Mae as her pie a-la-mode went down.

The other ladies showed dismay. They ate their lunches silently and frowned.

The next time I went out to eat, I called and invited Mae.

I lunched on white meat tuna. She ordered a parfait.

I smiled. She asked if she amused me.

I answered, "Yes, you do, but also you confuse me.

How come you order rich desserts, while I feel I must be sensible?
She laughed and said, with wanton mirth, "I'm tasting all that is Possible.

I try to eat the food I need, and do the things I should.

But life's so short, my friend, I hate missing out on something good.

This year I realized how old I was. (She grinned) I haven't been this old before."
"So, before I die, I've got to try those things that for years I had ignored.

I haven't smelled all the flowers yet. There are too many books I haven't read. There's more fudge sundaes to wolf down and kites to be flown overhead.

There are many malls I haven't shopped. I've not laughed at all the jokes.

I've missed a lot of Broadway hits and potato chips and cokes.
I want to wade again in water and feel ocean spray on my face.

I want to sit in a country church once more and thank God for His grace.

I want peanut butter every day spread on my morning toast.

I want un-timed long distance calls to the folks I love the most.

I haven't cried at all the movies yet, or walked in the morning rain.

I need to feel wind in my hair. I want to fall in love again.

So, if I choose to have dessert, instead of having dinner,

then should I die before night fall, I'd say I died a winner,

because I missed out on nothing. I filled my heart's desire.

I had that final chocolate mousse before my life expired."

With that, I called the waitress over.. "I've changed my mind, " I said. "I want what she is having, only add some more whipped cream!"

This is my gift to you - We need an annual Friends Day! If you get this twice, then you have more than one friend. Live well, love much & laugh often - Be happy.

SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS including me if I'm lucky enough to be counted among them.

Be mindful that happiness isn't based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people we love and respect. Remember that while money talks, CHOCOLATE SINGS!

The sun has risen on another

Astarte — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:56:00 GMT

beautiful day and the problems of yesterday are fading - They will surface again because the problem has not been solved, but I can face it with a stronger back. Walking upright and with confidence - I'll feel better with every step as my confidence is renewed.. And I can face the problems of yesterday on another day because I am strong, confident, and in the right. Bullies eventually dig the grave so deep, they themselves cannot get out of the hole they have dug for another and are their demise. They bury themselves in time - And I will survive that time, no matter how long it takes.

Sometimes

Astarte — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:35:00 GMT

I really hate being the adult.

I'm really losing it - I'm getting really short with the kids, nothing seems to be going right and I don't know how much more I can take. I'm tired. I'm tired of being the strong one. I'm tired of battling idiots. I don't know if it's the fear of what a former employer is saying about me or to know it's not going be over anytime soon. I don't understand why people keep walking on me even after they've been given chances to walk away - This was supposed to be my year but it seems the universe isn't ready for it to be my year just yet. I guess I still need to be the instrument to make others pay. I just wish I (or others in this type of position) didn't have to pay the price for others. But then again, Jesus died on the cross for all of us and all He did was be a great guy, saving people from themselves, forgiving us along the way.

I guess I was just inspired to figure out my own journey - I guess I forgot the sacrifices tht were made for me to be who I am.

Thank you for listening and being a part of my journey - It's a long one but with help I will prevail. Thank you for being a huge part of that help. Hopefully I'll be able to give back to others in a special way too!

JUST A LITTLE CHUCKLE

Astarte — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:15:00 GMT

Problem Name:

The famous Olympic skier Picabo Street (pronounced Peek-A-Boo) is not just an athlete. She is now a nurse currently working at the Intensive Care Unit of a large metropolitan hospital. She is not permitted to answer the hospital telephones because it caused too much confusion when she would answer the phone and say,

Picabo, ICU.
(A good clean joke is hard to find these days -- pass it on!)