I scream! You scream ......

We all scream for Ice Cream!

I first remember seeing this little ditty painted on the wall of our neighborhood ice cream parlor. It's peppy little jingle has stuck with me since I was a little girl enjoying her bubble gum flavor ice cream. (Yuck! I can not even stand the SMELL of bubble gum flavored ice cream these days!)

Tonight however, that catchy tune is hopefully going to help my daughter's dance studio raise funds for their competition dancers. Fund raising is a never ending task, that requires determination, creativity and in many cases hard work. And, with this year's economy it will be even harder.

Leatherby's in Citrus Heights is going to host an ice cream night for our competition students this evening from 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm!

The dancers from Cast and Company have been handing out fliers for several weeks, so hopefully this will not only be a fun filled yummy evening, but a productive one, too! The older dancers will actually even get to help seat customers, hand out menus and deliver water glasses to each table.

So this afternoon when you start thinking, "What's for dinner?" Why not check out Leatherby's and come have a delicious meal followed by one of their signature desserts?

P.S. I have to credit fundraising for my recent discovery of blogging. Having a competition dancer, and beign a part of the active parents who fund raise, I was searching for new fund raising ideas and came across the Team HolmRacing (a United States bobsledding team) fund raising promotion materials which lead me to investigate their website and of course their team blog ... and I've been "hooked" on blogging since.

Carl's Garden

My mom sent the following to me:

Carl was a quiet man.

He didn't talk much. He would always greet you with a big smile and a firm handshake.Even after living in our neighborhood for over 50 years, no one couldreally say they knew him very well.

Before his retirement, he took the bus to work each morning. The lonesight of him walking down the street often worried us. He had a slight limp from a bullet wound received in WWII.Watching him, we worried that although he had survived WWII, he may not make it through our changing uptown neighborhood with its ever-increasing random violence, gangs, and drug activity.

When he saw the flyer at our local church asking for volunteers for caring for the gardens behind the minister's residence, he responded in his characteristically unassuming manner.Without fanfare, he just signed up.

He was well into his 87th year when the very thing we had always feared finally happened. He was just finishing his watering for the day when three gang members approached him. Ignoring their attempt to intimidate him, he simply asked,'Would you like a drink from the hose?'The tallest and toughest-looking of the three said, 'Yeah, sure,' with a malevolent little smile. As Carl offered the hose to him, the other two grabbed Carl's arm,throwing him down. As the hose snaked crazily over the ground, dousing everything in its way, Carl's assailants stole his retirement watch and his wallet, and then fled.

Carl tried to get himself up, but he had been thrown down on his bad leg. He lay there trying to gather himself as the minister came running to help him.Although the minister had witnessed the attack from his window, he couldn't get there fast enough to stop it. 'Carl, are you okay? Are you hurt?' the minister kept asking as he helped Carl to his feet. Carl just passed a hand over his brow and sighed, shaking his head. 'Just some punk kids. I hope they'll wise-up someday.

His wet clothes clung to his slight frame as he bent to pick up the hose. He adjusted the nozzle again and started to water. Confused and a little concerned, the minister asked, 'Carl, what are you doing? ''I've got to finish my watering. It's been very dry lately,' came the calm reply. Satisfying himself that Carl really was all right, the minister could only marvel.

Carl was a man from a different time and place.

A few weeks later the three returned. Just as before their threat was unchallenged. Carl again offered them a drink from his hose. This time they didn't rob him. They wrenched the hose from his hand and drenched him head to foot in the icy water. When they had finished their humiliation of him, they sauntered off down the street, throwing cat calls and curses, falling over one another laughing at the hilarity of what they had just done. Carl just watched them. Then he turned toward the warmth giving sun,picked up his hose, and went on with his watering.

The summer was quickly fading into fall. Carl was doing some tilling when he was startled by the sudden approach of someone behind him. He stumbled and fell into some evergreen branches. As he struggled to regain his footing, he turned to see the tall leader of his summer tormentors reaching down for him. He braced himself for the expected attack. 'Don't worry old man, I'm not gonna hurt you this time.' The young man spoke softly, still offering the tattooed and scarred hand to Carl.

As he helped Carl get up, the man pulled a crumpled bag from his pocket and handed it to Carl.'What's this?' Carl asked. 'It's your stuff,' the man explained. 'It's your stuf f back . Even the money in your wallet.' 'I don't understand,' Carl said. 'Why would you help me now?' The man shifted his feet, seeming embarrassed and ill at ease.'I learned something from you,' he said. 'I ran with that gang and hurt people like you. We picked you because you were old and we knew we could do it. But every time we came and did something to you, instead of yelling and fighting back, you tried to give us a drink. You didn't hate us forhating you. You kept showing love against our hate.

'He stopped for a moment. 'I couldn't sleep after we stole your stuff, so here it is back.' He paused for another awkward moment, not knowing what more there was to say. 'That bag's my way of saying thanks for straightening me out, I guess.'And with that, he walked off down the street. Carl looked down at the sack in his hands and gingerly opened it. He took out his retirement watch and put it back on his wrist. Opening his wallet, he checked for his wedding photo. He gazed for a moment at the young bride that still smiled back at him from all those years ago.

He died one cold day after Christmas that winter. Many people attended his funeral in spite of the weather. In particular the minister noticed a tall young man that he didn't know sitting quietly in a distant corner of the church.

The minister spoke of Carl's garden as a lesson in life. In a voice made thick with unshed tears, he said, 'Do your best and make your gardenas beautiful as you can.We will never forget Carl and his garden.'

The following spring another flyer went up. It read: 'Person needed to care for Carl's garden.'

The flyer went unnoticed by the busy parishioners until one day when a knock was heard at the minister's office door. Opening the door, the minister saw a pair of scarred and tattooed hands holding the flyer. 'I believe this is my job, if you'll have me,' the young man said.

The minister recognized him as the same young man who had returned the stolen watch and wallet to Carl.He knew that Carl's kindness had turned this man's life around.

As the minister handed him the keys to the garden shed, he said, 'Yes, go take care of Carl's garden and honor him.'The man went to work and, over the next several years, he tended the flowers and vegetables just as Carl had done.

During that time, he went to college, got married, and became a prominent member of the community. But he never forgot his promise to Carl's memory and kept the garden as beautiful as he thought Carl would have kept it.

One day he approached the new minister and told him that he couldn't carefor the garden any longer. He explained with a shy and happy smile,'My wife just had a baby boy last night, and she's bringing him home on Saturday.

''Well, congratulations!' said the minister, as he was handed the garden shed keys. 'That's wonderful! What's the baby 's name?' 'Carl,' hereplied.

That's the whole gospel message simply stated.

Take 60 seconds give this a shot! Let's just see if Satan stops this one.

All you do is:

1. Simply say a small prayer for the person who sent you this.

Father,God bless this person in whatever it is that You know he or she may be needing this day!?

GOOD FRIENDS ARE LIKE ANGELS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEE THEM TOKNOW THEY ARE THERE

Bailout

I first read the following yesterday when my mom forwarded it. She had received if from my cousin Ralph. As can be typical with forwarded messages, some of the text in the one I received from my mom had been corrupted, making the message hard to read.

But, I wanted to read more. This morning I found an uncorrupted version of the post. Please note that any spelling or mathematical errors existed before I copied the post onto my blog.

The Best Idea I've Heard So Far

LOVE THIS PROPOSAL !!
I’m against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.

Instead, I’m in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.

To make the math simple, let’s assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide adults in the U.S. Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.

So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00.

My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.

Of course, it would NOT be tax free. So let’s assume a tax rate of 30%. Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes. That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.

But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.

A husband and wife has $595,000.00.

What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?

Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved.

Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads

Put away money for college – it’ll be there

Save in a bank – create money to loan to entrepreneurs.

Buy a new car – create jobs

Invest in the market – capital drives growth

Pay for your parent’s medical insurance – health care improves

Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean – or else

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back.

And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.

If we’re going to re-distribute wealth let’s really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( “vote buy” ) economic incentive. If we’re going to do an $85 billion bailout, let’s bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!

As for AIG – liquidate it. Sell off its parts. Let American General go back to being American General. Sell off the real estate. Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.

Here’s my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn’t.

Sure it’s a crazy idea that can “never work.” But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party! How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC .

And remember, This plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.

_________________Treager Texas pit OK Joe's stickburner Pellethead Pitmaster

Life

Life is for living,
Love is for giving,
the beauty of every day is reflected in your heart.

I do not remember the who what where when or why about that particular phrase, but I know I heard it in my teens. And it made enough of an impact that at age 17 in 1984, I used a part of it as my theme motto for my installation as Worthy Advisor of Roseville De-Riemer Assembly #263 International Order of the Rainbow for Girls

Simple and sweet, this message really says it all.

Life is for living,
Love is for giving,
the beauty of every day is reflected in your heart.

Peanut Butter and Jelly

What is it about a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that is so satisfying? Is it because most people ate them as kids? Is it the sweet and salty smoothness? Is it the classic white bread?

I don't really have an answer to my question, I just know that I really do enjoy a great PB&J once in awhile.

My favorite PB&J is made with white bread, smooth peanut butter (no crunchy for me please!) and a full bodied jam. I really am partial to Smuckers jams and jellies, but I'll enjoy the less expensive brands just as much as long as they are not lacking flavor. As a little girl my mom and grams used to make plum jam that was THE BEST. I even seem to remember a plum cherry mix. Oh! the taste and smell of their jam was yummy. I like apricot, raspberry, blackberry and strawberry jams, but I have to admit, plum is my very favorite.

As an adult I have used plum and apricot jams to cook with. I love chicken slow roasted with apricot jam or pork chops marinated with plum jam. Delicious!

I love peanut butter and jelly on saltine crackers, on a bagel, on toast, pancakes and waffles. Oh! and Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Resort makes a slightly unusual, but completely yummy PB&J pizza. It's soooo good.

Recently my sister in law turned me on to a great apricot peach preserve that is beyond divine. I have to admit, when it's in the house, no other jam or jelly can compare to its fruity wholesome yummy-ness. The color, the texture the scent alone are very satisfying ~ but the taste is, DEVINE! Check out Sarabeth's