What are you Thankful for??

In this month of Thanksgiving I hope to hear about what everyone is thankful for.

I am thankful that my entire family and I are alive, well, and breathing and I am thankful that my brothers and sister and their little families are all close by and well. I am thankful that I have such loving parents. I'm thankful that even though I don't get to spend as much time as I want with all of my family, that they all know without a doubt that I love and care about them and they love and care about me. I am thankful for all my friends who are always the best. I am thankful that my children are the most awesome kids on the planet! (By the way, Garrett's 4th grade tackle football team took 2nd place just yesterday!!! woo hoo!! they did an awesome job!!!) Jacob, Matthew, and Garrett: You are the BEST!!! Love you!!

That's it for now. ps. Be thankful for the little things too people.

Be thankful when someone yields in traffic and lets you in with a friendly wave
(someone was in a car crash today)

Be thankful when you and your family have a nice dinner to eat
(someone didn't eat today)

Be thankful you got to shower today
(someone doesn't have running water)

Be thankful you were warm last night
(someone was without heat/power last night)

Be thankful you have a home to go home to
(someone is homeless today)

Be thankful you had peaceful night
(someone was up all night with a sick child)
(someone's house burned down)

Be thankful when your dog barks in the night at every noise in the yard next door
(someone was awakened by burglars in their house)

Be thankful your family is all safe and accounted for

(someone died last night)

Be thankful of the endless ads for political candidates blasted everywhere
(you could live in a country where you don't have a choice)

Be thankful of all the things you normally take for granted

When you become annoyed by something
Think of why you could be thankful for it
Run with that thought!!

All emotions are contagious people!!

If you are thankful and happy and feeling blessed,
It WILL rub off on someone else and you will
pass it on!

Give someone else the insight on HOW to realize that they
are already blessed and should be eternally grateful for being so

Thank YOU for taking the time to read my thoughts and feelings.

Howdy!

Kachow!

Long time no blog. I just watched the movie Cars with my kids. It was very good for the animated kid-geared-looking-for-marketing-the-golden-ticket kind of movie. Seriously, it was entertaining even if you could read the storyline at least by 5 minutes into the movie.

And, I'm still loving Hinder right now even though they are 5 minutes ago.

I landed a fabulous new position at a local network. I won't say who they are because I don't know what the legalities are about that sort of thing.

I am absolutely loving my job!!! It is the best company and has the best coworkers and work environment in the world! I actually wake up in the morning anxious to get there. You never know what the day will hold. I love it!

I mean, come on peoples, how many of you get to say that you have ever worked at a place where you are greeted with smiles and open arms and filled with praises and entertained by the happy workers that fill up the entire floor of the building? I would hazard a guess and say not many. I am one of the lucky ones I suppose. Goodness knows we all have our fair share of bad luck/circumstances/chance happenings/bad kharma or whatever you want to call it, but I must have some good kharmic energy or good luck or blessings or whatever. The one truism is this..... I am truly thankful.

Woman

by Lisa Qualls
(Inspired by Prof. Ronnie Ashford)

She is the woman
who stands out in the crowd.
She is the woman
who is boisterous and loud.
She is the woman
who fights tooth and nail.
She has been told
to go straight to hell!
Inside she is soft,
meek, and mild.
Inside, she has
the faith of a child.
Inside, she is like the geisha...
quiet, demure, but listening still.
Why can they not bend HER will?
She is an activist,
strong through time.
She is not a rebel,
for rebels fight out of fear.
She is a soldier.
She fights for us here.
--Lisa Qualls

How Liberal or Conservative Are You?

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 35% Conservative, 65% Liberal

Social Issues: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Ethics: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

Evolution v. Intelligent Design

“Man has ears but hears not. He has eyes, but sees not.”
--King David

In the beginning… there was a single celled creature evolving day by day, year by year, and eon by eon until finally one day out of the wombs of apes man was born. This is not exactly the kind of story most would find enjoyable telling their children when asked, “Mommy, where did I come from?” Is the argument really what version of “truth” we want to teach our own children? Or is it merely that we don’t want the schools, government or anybody else deciding what our children should learn when it comes to controversial issues.

In the 1850s Charles Darwin presented to mankind the Theory of Evolution. An idea is first a hypothesis, or an idea to be tested. The hypothesis is then tested directly. The following questions are posed: Is it possible to have happened once? Is it possible to repeat naturally? Is it possible to manufacture the repetitious result artificially? These questions have been answered sufficiently to prove evolution on many levels does exist. Therefore, the hypothesis questioning evolution is now a theory. Definition of Theory: a logical explanation of phenomenon based in research and is complex. Also, when theories become universally accepted, they become scientific law. However, the unknown still exists. We know evolution can happen. We know human evolution from apes is a scientific possibility. But we do now know what actually happened in the past.

“Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.” -- Angela Monet

Some would say the Theory Creationism/Intelligent Design is the flip side to the theory of evolution. However, this idea is not at this time a theory because it has not been tested. This is not to say that it cannot be tested, it just has not been scientifically tested to date. Intelligent design could be tested eventually. But first other things must be tested to pave the way. First, the metaphysical must be tested and found to be tangible. This can be done by defining the metaphysical as forces of energy which govern themselves as life forms. The energies in the universe do not cease to exist merely because we lack technology to reach them much less measure them. Second, the biblical account of history must be put to the test in its original language. Every statement in genesis regarding the beginning of time must be put under the microscope so to speak. Such as: How much time by today’s standards is a “day”? Can this occur again? (with another planet) Can it be replicated by technology that possibly has not been invented yet? Would things naturally have happened in order chronologically as they are written in the Old Testament? Many things must happen in order for this to come to pass. Science will solve the long lasting debate eventually.

“If a tree falls and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?”—Confucius

What subjects are taught in our schools and who decides what it is our children are taught is the actual burning issue at hand. Appropriate subjects for adults to learn in school are not necessarily appropriate for children/minors in school. As long as the ideas/theories are kept in context with the proper learning environment, the American people do not have cause for worry and uproar. Teachers should be instructed to present Evolution as the theory it is as they define what it means to be labeled a theory. They should present Creationism/Intelligent Design as an idea or concept that an abundant amount of people believe to be true, but at this time has not been theorized much less proven.

In conclusion, the debate between Evolution and Intelligent Design will continue to fester until the scientific powers that be decide to delve into the metaphysical world. Thus creating more short-term controversy and heated debates in every level of society. Without conflict there is no need for change.

Newsflash: Forefathers Bequeath Paradox

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…”
The first amendment of the Bill of Rights is as follows:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The United States contains within its borders many articles of artwork, including multitudes of religious artifacts, architecture, paintings, statues, etc. The Bill of Rights clearly states that the United States has no official religion. Yet, citizens, visitors, and onlookers from other nations are all in this state of “religious anomie.” It is written quite plainly in English and yet still, people and mass groups of people gather in person and in thought to the confusion of the separation of church and state. The United States is supposed to be the one country in all of the world where technology meets opportunity hence: “The American Dream.”

Some would argue that the Federal reserve recognizes God (for all intents and purposes in this paper to be recognized as the “one true God”, the God of Adam, the God of Abraham, the God of Moses, the God of Mohammed, and God the Father). The coinage as well as paper money manufactured by the Government agency known as the Federal Reserve clearly states upon them “IN GOD WE TRUST”. Does this mean that the United States recognizes this God as the official position on religion for all of our country? NO! It does not. What this says is the following:

Congress passed the “Coinage Act (1864)”, April 22, 1864. This legislation changed the composition of the one-cent coin and authorized the minting of the two-cent coin. The Mint Director was directed to develop the designs for these coins for final approval of the Secretary. In God We Trust first appeared on the 1864 two-cent coin (Wikipedia)(US Treasury Dept.).
As the intelligent human beings and Americans that we all are we should be asking ourselves the same thing that a judge of the United States is required to ask of him or herself while “on duty”. What was the intent of this judgement? What was the original intent of Congress when they passed the Coinage Act of 1864? What brought it to their attention to begin with? I implore you to read the rather lengthy, but extremely important, piece of American history:
From the United States Treasury Dept. records, it appears that the first such appeal came in a letter dated November 13, 1861. It was written to Secretary Chase by Rev. M. R. Watkinson, Minister of the Gospel from Ridleyville, Pennsylvania, and read:
Dear Sir: You are about to submit your annual report to the Congress respecting the affairs of the national finances. One fact touching our currency has hitherto been seriously overlooked. I mean the recognition of the Almighty God in some form on our coins. You are probably a Christian. What if our Republic were not shattered beyond reconstruction? Would not the antiquaries of succeeding centuries rightly reason from our past that we were a heathen nation? What I propose is that instead of the goddess of liberty we shall have next inside the 13 stars a ring inscribed with the words PERPETUAL UNION; within the ring the all-seeing eye, crowned with a halo; beneath this eye the American flag, bearing in its field stars equal to the number of the States united; in the folds of the bars the words GOD, LIBERTY, LAW. This would make a beautiful coin, to which no possible citizen could object. This would relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism. This would place us openly under the Divine protection we have personally claimed. From my hearth I have felt our national shame in disowning God as not the least of our present national disasters. To you first I address a subject that must be agitated.
As a result, Secretary Chase instructed James Pollock, Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, to prepare a motto, in a letter dated November 20, 1861:
Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins. You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition.
It was found that the Act of Congress dated January 18, 1837, prescribed the mottoes and devices that should be placed upon the coins of the United States. This meant that the mint could make no changes without the enactment of additional legislation by Congress. In December 1863, the Director of the Mint submitted designs for a new one-cent coin, two-cent coin, and three-cent coin to Secretary Chase for approval. He proposed that upon the designs either OUR COUNTRY, OUR GOD or GOD, OUR TRUST should appear as the motto on the coins. In a letter to the Mint Director on December 9, 1863, Secretary Chase stated:
I approve your mottoes, only suggesting that on that with the Washington obverse the motto should begin with the word OUR, so as to read OUR GOD AND OUR COUNTRY. And on that with the shield, it should be changed so as to read: IN GOD WE TRUST.

The Ten Commandments have a right to be displayed in places of government offices. Just as the artwork of ancient Greeks and their religious beliefs form so many of our buildings and structures, so does the artwork of more modern traditions and beliefs have a right to be upheld within any building, structure, mall, government office, or even the White House itself. Just as the state of Kansas has officially redefined the term science to include the word “supernatural” in its definition in order to legally teach the theory of Creationism in their public schools, so should the American public be aware. The arguing, chaos, and the confusion with the separation of church and state are self-inflicted. Just as Kansas is inadvertently inviting people of all religious beliefs and supernatural practices to be legally welcome to practice and display openly their religious structures, ideas, and practices, so will it be for the rest of America. There will be a new-age “witch hunt” on our hands with no legal ground to back any of it up. The ideas and beliefs known as paganism will be legally acceptable under this sort of law. This was not the direct intention of the state of Kansas. However, there are many doors that open when one sees that the doors exist. Is America ready to see? And is America ready to accept people and their beliefs unconditionally when they are not exactly the same as what they were taught? I hope so. I have friends of many different religious beliefs and ideals. I would hate to think that I missed out on the blessedness of the essence of their souls just because I was a Catholic or Protestant or whatever genre Neo-Christian and was not able to "love my neighbor as I would love myself."

Things that make you go Hmmmmm!!!

Baby Boomers...OLD????......NEVER!!!

In my juvenile delinquency class, Prof. Comby has been discussing crime rates and how the largest property and violent crime rates always revolve around males aged 16-24. This being said it is understandable that the crime rate is now down from what it was from about 1962 to 1988. This is when the baby boomers fit into this particular demographic. Baby boomers ARE the economy and will continue to be until they are no longer with us. Even after they are gone, they have essentially set into motion many wheel to turn for many generations to come. Their grandchildren are in school, which would explain the population increase in all the schools.

While contemplating my future and my career-to-be, I can't help but think that anyone choosing a career that centers on the needs of the baby boomers will certainly be in demand. In May I will begin classes at Southern Nazarene University (SNU) to work for my Bachelor's degree in Family Studies and Gerontology. At first, I thought, "Gerontology?!?! Old people?? What am I supposed to study about old people?" And then it occurred to me, if the baby boomers are going to be the up and coming "old people" then this could be really cool! They are a generation like no other. They are made up of people who recognize their power in numbers and make a point to make a difference where need be. They break the rules and the rules get changed. They will not conform. They will not assimilate. They are the ideal free American people. They have pursued the American dream that you can be anything you choose to be and you can achieve anything limited only by your own imagination.

If any generation of senior citizens wanted or needed psychological therapy I think it will be them. Don't get your panties in a wad! Not because they're crazy, insane, or desperately in need of "some serious help dude!" But merely because they are so comfortable with WHO they are that they are not inhibited by the thought of seeking therapy to let them destress from the week's malfunctions and the fact that their children who are fairly young adults are caught up in their own worlds with their children and sports and plays and work and all the things that accompany the world of parenthood, that they don't always have time for their parents. Certainly not like they used to. In a way this should be considered a complement because the boomer's job of parenting is successful if the adult/parenting children don't call to ask for money because they got their lights shut off AGAIN this month and all they've eaten is fried spam sandwiches for a week. It should be a complement in disguise that their children are self-sufficient. They have done a good job being a parent. Now just sit back, don't let your children abuse your willingness, but be the grandma or grandpa that you want to be. Tell your children no if you want to. Spoil your grandchildren if you want to. Have special rules at your house that only apply to your grandkids and your kids just have to deal with it because you are their parents and they have to respect you to set a good example for their children to respect them.

I thought about becoming a child psychologist (which I still may), but I am seriously thinking about counseling all of the old hippies (at least still at heart) and all of the people who were so totally against animal testing so they tested the drugs themselves, and all of the women who were so anxious to be seen as an equal in a man's world they injected themselves with botox, silicone, collagen, and G-d knows what else just to make themselves more marketable. Now, all those really tanning bed junkie hottie grandmas are going to be retiring while they are telling their grandchildren "Just be yourself." This is not a dig by any means. It is a reality. Baby boomers (by majority) are funny, charismatic, intelligent, successful, lively, and above all, important to all of us no matter how "old" or how wrinkly and grey you get!

YP Sales & Marketing
Baby Boomers Reach 60, Part 101/12/2006

- The United States experienced an explosion of births after American soldiers returned home from World War II creating what we now call the "Baby Boom" generation. Baby Boomers, an estimated 77 million were born between 1946 and 1964, but most definitions. In 2006 they begin to reach an epic mark – they begin turning 60. That further translates into a boomer hitting the age of 60 every seven seconds for the next 19 years. With the baby boomer about to enter their golden years, the concept of what it means to get older will never be the same. Never has
there been a generation so determined to be more youthful and active than their
parents. But reality will inevitably prevail as you can't fight the aging process forever. As with any major society shift many industries such as Yellow Pages will be challenged to stay ahead of the curve in recognizing new trends and opportunities with the Boomers. In part 1 of this 2 part series we take a look at what comes next as Yellow Pages biggest supporters reach this magic age. In this issue we look at the numbers and core demographics. In part 2 which will run next month, we will apply those demographics down to the Yellow Pages product level to understand where the opportunities may be. A New Definition of "Old" Do you remember being a kid and thinking 60 was old? Given that my oldest sibling has now hit 60 (and I'm not that far behind her), well, it doesn't seem
so old anymore does it? Take a look at some of these folks and you'll see a very different demographic that what we traditionally thought was old. But what is the makeup of this generation? The biggest year of the boom was 1957, when 4.3
million boomers were born. Experts don't offer many opinions why it took over 10 years for so many post-World War II families to get going. The ratio of males to females has stayed relatively constant with approximately 1.05 male births for every one female birth.

Source: Baby Boomer Headquarters

The Raw Numbers Successfully projecting boomers' wants, needs, and whims as they move into their 60s and beyond could prove to be a lucrative exercise. Baby boomers account for 42% of all U.S. households and control 50% of all consumer spending, according to a 2002 study by American Demographics magazine. If you open up the age definition to Americans age 50+, the size of this market jumps even further to more than 89 million. That's a whole lot of buying power. Here are some more raw facts on this aging boomer segment: 76.9 - The estimated number of baby boomers, in millions, in the U.S. 26.8 - The percentage of the nation's population made up of baby boomers 51 - The percentage of boomers who are women 16.9 - The percentage of boomers who are minorities 32 - The number of boomers, in
millions, who already are age 50 or older 20 - The percentage of the population
that boomers will make up in 25 years, when they will be ages 66 to 84 45,654 -
Average annual spending, in dollars, by boomer households 7.3 - The poverty
rate, in percent, for boomers in 2000, lower than for any other segment of the population 9 - Number of states (California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas) where more than half of all boomers live 14.2 - The divorce rate, in percent, for boomers 6.7 - The divorce rate, in percent, for the pre-boomer generation, those 65 and older 12.6 - The percentage of boomers who have never married 3.9 - The percentage of those 65 and over who have never married 59 - Percentage of boomers who voted in the 2000
presidential election 88.8 - Percentage of boomers who completed high school
28.5 - Percentage of boomers who have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: MetLife Mature Market Institute

Givens First, Baby Boomers have repeatedly shown a tendency to break with the behavior of the generation that preceded them. With some $2 TRILLION in annual spending power, through its sheer size and spending power (even self-indulgence maybe), the generation has given rise to a host of unique fashions, trends, and institutions that are now central to popular culture: Rock 'n' roll music, Working moms, Day care centers, Earth Day, The response to the Vietnam war (and the concept of very public protests), Watergate scandal, Sport-utility vehicles, and now Hybrids, Botox, Shacking up, Amicable divorce, Viagra, and Starbucks. Want to assess the impact on society that Boomers are having? Take a look at this partial list of famous Boomers: Business: Bill Gates, Paul Allen and Steve Ballmer (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), CEO's of General Electric, IBM, and Ford; Hollywood: Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Tom Cruise; Comedians: David Letterman and Jay Leno; One word celebs: Oprah, Madonna, Bruce (Springsteen); Sports figures like
Michael Jordon; Political figures such as Rush Limbaugh; Presidents & Presidental wanna-be's: Bill Clinton, George Bush, Al Gore. Here is a complete list of 300 or so famous Boomers (click here). Boomers are more active, more involved than any

generation before them that has reached this age. Inevitably healthcare spending
for this population, which already exceeds $525 billion a year, will be an ongoing issue. Even though today's 60-plus age adults are more fit and active than any previous mature generation, there also will be battling some ongoing medical conditions that can not be ignored: 56 million men and women living with heart disease, 40 million with arthritis, 28 million with osteoporosis, 14 million with diabetes. Financial this generation enters the later stages of their lives with significant disposable financial clout: Over 50% of discretionary spending power - 2.5 times average per capita 80% of personal wealth is in financial institutions
Own over 70% of the financial assets in America Control nearly $9 trillion in net worth of U.S. households - 70% of the total Own almost 50% of the credit cards in the U.S., representing 40 million credit card users All marketers need to understand
a very central concept to reaching the Boomer group --- image is critical to Boomers. They don't consider themselves as being "old" and they don't want people especially advertisers to view them as old either. When you talk to most of them (my sister included), they'll say they feel like 40. Many look younger. To them, "old" is someone in their late 70's or 80's. Gone are the days of ads where 60+ year olds are identified with grey-haired people walking slow. hat is also very different about this generation is that Boomers are expected to live longer than any previous generation. Men who reach age 60 can expect to live 20 more years on average; women who reach 60 can expect to live an additional 23.5 years. But even as they approach 60, Boomers are not past their child rearing/parental care years either. According to the Center for Media Research and a recent PEW Research Center Study, half are raising one or more young children and two in 10 are providing financial assistance to a parent. The most curious part about current marketing efforts to Boomers is that many major advertisers still seemed focused on younger consumers. This despite study after study from MarketResearch.com, showing that the Boomer generation is not set in its ways when it comes to product choices. In fact, the MarketResearch
studies indicate that boomers are actually more receptive to advertising than their Gen X and Gen Y counterparts, who tend to reject marketing claims out of hand. So why aren't advertisers jumping on this trend? These are just some of
the numbers and early trends that have been documented. In part 2 which will run next month we then those demographics down to the Yellow Pages product level to understand where the opportunities may be. Stay tuned.

http://www.yptalk.com/archive.cfm?ID=172&CatID=1

Just Yesterday...

It seems like just yesterday....

1996-Jake was "Big Jake" like John Wayne,
Matt was "Cowboy Hiccup" and he was 'so radical!'

My little Matt Matt will be THIRTEEN years old next Wednesday on the 18th. Jake will be FIFTEEN on March 26! And my little baby Garrett (who was never as little as other kids his age) will be NINE years old on February 21! Oh! How they grow so fast!

Feeling Sentimental

Just feeling sentimental.

He passed a few years ago. It seems like just yesterday we were dancing in Grandma's kitchen while I stood on his feet. He would always cut up apples for me with a pocket knife that I now reluctantly possess. Lew's Auto Trim was his life, second only to his faith & family.

We would pick up pecans in the pasture and carry them in Folger's coffee cans. He would never raise his voice at me. Just a stern look from him kept me behaved. It's funny how you can tick off your mom and irritate your grandma to no end, but even slightly disappoint your grandpa and the world has come to an end.

My cousin Shayne and I lived with our grandparents most of our lives (he more than I). Grandpa always made time for us. He was busy with running a business, manicuring his lawn to a fine art, taking care of critters, gardens, various honey-do's that Grandma would always have for him, but he always made time for us.
Just missing you, Grandpa.

Love,

Little Lisa

Quote of the Day

Wise men hear and see as little children do. ~Lao Tzu

Another Birthday!

I can't believe I had another birthday on Jan. 5th! That makes me a whole 34 now! Ouch!
Matt Matt, my little Chef! cooked me birthday dinner and made me a birthday bundt cake and even decorated it with icing that he mixed with food coloring to make pink just to make me happy. He wrote "Happy Birthday MOM!" on it. It was so pretty and special I almost cried.

I started my last semester at Tulsa Community College (TCC) today. I graduate in May and then go on to Southern Nazarene University (SNU). I'm so excited! My kids are really excited to get to see Mom graduate in a cap and gown. I must admit, it will give me a huge sense of accomplishment! I'm taking 18 hours so I can graduate this semester: Spanish I and II, Intro to Religious Studies, Juvenile Delinquency, Political Science, and Computer Concepts. Fun Fun!! Joy! Rapture!

We recently watched "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." 'Greetings, Starshine! The earth says hello!' The movie was good, but the repercussions from the Oompa-Loompa songs are as bad as those from Shrek and the Dulok singers, or Waterboy and his W-w-w-wooden spoon, or The Pacifier and the Peter Panda song, or maybe even the dreaded evil Teletubbies! Mwah-ha ha ha!

We also watched "Mr. and Mrs. Smith." It was good. I think it could have been better, but it was good.

Jacob was disappointed today because his Uncle Rusty picked them all up from school just being nice to give them a ride home and Jacob didn't know that he didn't have to go. He had wanted to walk his girlfriend, Ashley, home. He even rushed around and put his stuff down and ran back outside trying to see her, but alas! The fair maiden had already reached her tower.

Our new little puppies, Penelope and Buster were so happy when the boys got home from school. Buster almost wets himself everytime. They get to wagging their little tails and before you know it their whole rear half is wagging along. But they have the best little puppy breath!

I must have done something right to be so blessed. Three beautiful boys, two little puppies with puppy breath, and a husband with high cholesterol! Bring on the bacon, baby! hahaha just kidding!



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