Okay, this is a very odd post, but one I’m going to write anyway. As a kid I grew up during the “Magic 8 Ball” era and, not surprisingly, it’s still around.

The other day at my “advanced age” I was given one as a gift. I’d like to believe that the ball is filled with mostly negative or vague answers. No matter how you shake it or how you phrase it, more often than not the answer you are hoping not to get surfaces.

So today came as no great surprise to receive a phone call that (more…)

May 3rd through May 9th is the American Humane Association’s “Be Kind to Animals Week” (registered trademark) and while we’re about to honor mother’s everywhere, it’s also time to acknowledge our “pets.”

Personally, I’ve never once considered any animal living with me as “my pet.” The animals that are kind enough to be my companions and friends are just that… and so much more. There is a huge amount of responsibility when taking another living creature into your home. A responsibility that is not “throw away,” but for life.

So this week means a lot to me. Each animal we’ve been so lucky to have in our home arrived either at our door or we found via pet fairs. The idea of any animal being put to sleep due to lack of love is horrifying.

The other horror would be to lose your dear friend and never get them back! That’s why Be Kind to Animal Week is even more important!

So that is why the Home Again Web Site is making a massive move to get your friend tagged. If in the event they are “lost” and cannot find their way home, that tag will mean a world of difference!

And, in conjunction with this eventful week, Bringpetshome.com is a fundraising Web site specifically created to help shelter animals.

But their generosity does not end there! For each of your friends you register into their program, they are donating $1 to the Humane Association!

That’s a lot of potential lives saved just for being responsible and doing the right thing.

The HomeAgain program (amazing results!) has recovered over 500,000 lost pets! Over 500,000! That’s remarkable. And all because you took or will take the time to ensure your friend’s well being.

Microchipping is a permanent form of identification that cannot fall off or become impossible to read, giving pets the best chance of being reunited with their owners when lost.

Don’t let this week go by without taking care of your animal loved one! Become a part of this program and make sure Fido or Sparky is safe and well loved.

It’s strange how ideas and thoughts just come into a person’s head. It’s going on midnight here, but I suddenly had the crazy idea to make a post.

There’s a reason behind my midnight madness, and my topic about “failure.”

First off, I talk to and email a ton of people who habitually choose the wrong things to promote online. It’s like they are magnets for what’s absolutely wrong for them to be doing. And, unfortunately, you can’t seem to stop them – common sense just goes in one ear and out the other.

But this also isn’t a post about picking on people. What I thought about was the idea of failure and what having thoughts of failure can do to a person.

Individually, we’d all love to never fail. But it’s also unreasonable not to assume that somewhere, somehow in your life you’ll never run up against a brick wall.

It’s times like that when Edison should come to mind – with his 1000 or 2000 attempts at making the light bulb. Or if Edison doesn’t come to mind, you’d do well to know that he never considered all those attempts failures, just how not to make a light bulb.

Positive twist!

The law of attraction and attracting wealth (be it whatever you perceive wealth to be) is and has been for quite a while now a big deal online. Lots of books, tons of websites, numerous blogs… all geared toward the positive thought that yes thoughts are things. And what you think (or praise or condemn) directly impacts your life and the lives of those around you (and yes, around the world).

We’d all do well to think more positively.

What this is all leading up to is… politics. Yes, this isn’t a political blog, but you’ll notice if you go back through the archives that that doesn’t always stop me from writing what I think or feel or have to say.

This is one of “those” moments.

I’ve been hearing for weeks now all about the “Party of No” – the Republicans. And about how very proud they are to wish the President fails, and directly influenced by that failure our very government.

Now there’s a positive thought (yes sarcasm in case you didn’t recognize it right off the bat).

Why in the world would you hope anyone fails? You most certainly don’t (I hope) sit at your computer day in and day out saying, “I’m the party of failure, I’m going to purposely fail and be a great failure online.”

Sounds ridiculous because it is ridiculous.

We all hope and pray that our efforts pay off – be they more income online or just a modicum of success at being online.

Let’s take that same attitude up several notches. Forget party affiliations and start putting our positive thoughts, our positive energies into turning this country (and the world) around. It’s not a matter of one side winning or one side losing. For god’s sakes, grow up!

If you’re not familiar with the 100th monkey story, I suggest you click that link right now.

Hopefully you will be happily surprised. Real change is possible for those who truly reach out for it. Be a reacher!

And may your days start and end with success!

My father sent me this this morning and they are just too good not to share! Enjoy!

They’re Back! Those Wonderful Church Bulletins!

Thank God for church ladies with typewriters. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services.
(Summer, 2007 Release).

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The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
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The sermon this morning: ‘Jesus Walks on Water.’
The sermon tonight: ‘Searching for Jesus.’
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Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.
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Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
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The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been cancelled due to a conflict.
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Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say ‘Hell’ to someone who doesn’t care much about you.
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Don’t let worry kill you off – let the Church help.
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Miss Charlene Mason sang ‘I will not pass this way again,’ giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
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For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
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Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
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The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing: ‘Break Forth Into Joy.’
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Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
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A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
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At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be ‘What Is Hell?’ Come early and listen to our choir practice.
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Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
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Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
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Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
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The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
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Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM – prayer and medication to follow.
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The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
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This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
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Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. is done.
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The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
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Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
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The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
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Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
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The Associate Minister unveiled the church’s new tithing campaign slogan: Last Sunday: ”I Upped My Pledge – Up Yours
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Today I’m going to reference you to a new forum that’s slow to get off the ground, but with enough interest who knows. It’s called Blogovela and while I just created an account there, and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t, do be advised that the activity on it at the moment is a tad on the slow side.

And speaking of slow, the economy isn’t getting any better (as we’re all aware) while the Republicans (sorry it’s true) play their frigging games – as the rest of us hang my our fingertips hoping the layoffs and business shutdowns and rising unemployment stop soon.

So with that in mind, I’d like to reference you to the newest post (as of this moment) over at our Solo Ad Explosion blog. It’s all about video games, cheats, consoles, etc., and also you’ll find information on how to get paid to play video games.

Steve has done such a great job explaining it all that I’ll let you take the quick trip over to discover if making money playing video games is up your alley or not. Even if it’s not for you personally, maybe (especially during these tough economic times) you’ve got kids that can help bring in a few bucks doing what they love to do anyway.

Definitely worth looking into… And while you’re at it, write to your Representatives, Senators, and The Whitehouse itself and tell them to get the show on the road for heaven’s sake!