MAKING PLAYDOUGH

My granddaughter had to make playdough over the Thanksgiving break. In Science they are studying land formations and they have to make landforms. Valleys, mountains and so forth, that is why we had to make playdough. If you want to make some for your child or yourself here is the recipe. 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 2 tablespoons cream of tarter, 2 cups of water, 1 tablespoons mineral oil. Mix all ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring until stiff. Allow to cool and then knead. Place in a container. Then you can playdough to your hearts content. Have a good time.

MAGNIFICENT MILE LIGHTS FESTIVAL PARADE IN CHICAGO

Saturday night I watched the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade from Chicago. I'm sure that those who waited most of the day for this extravaganza were disappointed. No bands were to be found, no fancy floats only floats advertising the entrants wares. All through the parade the announcers were saying "Can't wait for the American Girl float to get here. They are going to sing (can't remember what song). Finally the float arrived with about 10 girls on it. They did not sing, what dancing there was, was not in step with the music and they did not even lip-sync to the music. What a let down. It looked like the retailers wanted to get you in the Christmas spirit to spend money. Hopefully it will be better next year.

THATS OK

I don't know how many of you watch the TV show Deal or No Deal, but I for one do. I think it is a good show with a lot of suspense and it keeps your nerves twitching. The one pet peeve that I have with the show is the three knuckleheads that are on to bring moral support to the contestant. What have they got to loose. NOTHING. Yet they are the ones that keep saying, after the person opens the $1,000,000 or any of the other high number cases, THATS OK. Or if the offer from the banker is $100,000 or higher they open their mouths and say one more time, one more time. Are they stupid or what. The make it sound that $100,000 or higher is nothing. How many times after they say its OK or one more time does the contestant walk away with a small amount or nothing. More often than not. I just wonder if the program tells them that they have to keep going. Well in any case I do the enjoy the show.

MAIL CARRIER SHOT IN LEG

As if it is not bad enough that the people who deliver our mail, God Bless them, must do it in rain, snow, sleet and shine. With areas growing at a fast rate there are more and more people to deliver mail too. I just read in the newspaper that in Monee, IL, a mail carrier was shot in the thigh for delivering a persons mail too late. It was 6:30 and granted maybe it was a little late but lets keep in mind about how big was this persons route and how many dogs did they have to hide from to keep from getting bitten. Instead of shooting the mail carrier why didn't this person use some common sense and call the post office, or maybe the post office should hire more carriers. It will be interesting to see what happens to this person. Jail I hope.

ANGELICA'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Yesterday was Angelica's birthday party. The house was nicely decorated and the food was delicious and in great supply. Chicken, beef, mashed potatoes, potato salad, jello molds and other things to make the mouth water. My friend Dalene offered to make the cake which was really great. Half white and half chocolate and very nicely decorated with horses, Angelica is a horse nut, Dalene does excellent work with cakes, cookies and any other goodies you can think of.
After we had food and cake it was time to open gifts. Very nice gifts I might add. She got clothes, books, a DS with games, a book that had pages which were jig saw puzzles. She was very happy with everything. This is the first really big party she has had since she moved to Texas 5 years ago. Friends, cousins, aunts and uncles which totaled about 25 people were here to help her celebrate this special day. Thank you all for coming!

DRIVE THRU AT WALGREEN'S

Today I had to pick up medicine I called in yesterday at our local Walgreen Drug Store. I thought I would avoid going inside since I had my two granddaughters with me and it would be buy me this or buy me that, so to avoid that I went to the drive-thru. I pulled up to the window, the associate was there and saw me and walked away. This Walgreen's has two lanes for the drive-thru. A second car pulled up and the next thing I know the associate is talking the woman who just pulled up, and she knew this woman. They had a nice conversation of how are you, do you still live at the same place, how are your kids, this went on almost five minutes. Meanwhile I'm still sitting there. This woman was finally given her medicine and the associate walked away. I saw the call button and pushed it, not that I had too since she saw my van at the window. In all I was at that window 13 minutes. I thought drive-thru's were supposed to be quick and most of all take people in their proper turn. By the way this Walgreen's was in Schererville, Indiana.

HOUSE CLEANING

With my granddaughters birthday party being this Sunday, I thought I should clean the house, not that I don't, but I wanted to do a little extra cleaning. I steam cleaned the living room, dining room and bedroom carpets. Washed the kitchen and dinning area floors, washed the bathroom floor, sinks and toilet. This took me two days. Now I know what it is like for you people who do this on a daily basis. God Bless you.
I know I would get a lot of comments if I said this is womens work at home. I don't agree with you macho guys, like my son-in-law in Texas. It is work that should be shared by both he and she. Life is so much better when these jobs are shared.

ANOTHER FRIENDLY REMINDER FROM WAL-MART

Another friendly reminder from our friends at Wal-mart:

ONLY 49 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS.
I don't know what I would do without them.

WHAT TO MY WONDERING EARS

Yesterday I went to our local Wal-Mart to get a few things. I was looking at birthday cards seeing my granddaughters birthday is this Thursday. I was looking at the various cards trying to decide which one she would like when my ears picked up a melody that sounded like Christmas. Yes, yes it was a Christmas carol. November 3rd and they are playing Christmas carols. Could this be true? Don't get me wrong I enjoy music of the season but not on the 3rd of November. These money hungry retailers keep pushing and pushing the holiday down our throats. Next it will be the day after the Fourth of July and we will be hearing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Come on folks lets think about the holiday, not the amount of money you will make and how big your bonus will be. DON'T PUSH IT!

HALLOWEEN PARADE

On Halloween day I saw the cutest thing anyone would want to see. It was a parade at my granddaughters school. I never expected so many parents, grandparents, friends and onlookers. We were lined up outside the school on the sidewalk. The line reached almost around the entire school. Everyone had their camera's and camcorders for this special event. At 1:15 the doors at letter L opened and the parade began. I never knew that the school had so many children. The filed out by grades starting with the smallest of children. They filed out and walked so fast one had to really keep an eye out to see their child. The costumes were fantastic. One line went to the left and other to the right ending at opposite sides of the building where the children re-entered. The whole thing lasted about half an hour. Just to see the smiles and happiness on these kids faces was enough to bring a tear to your eye. It was as if they were saying, look at me I'm something special, and they were. This was their day. It was wonderful. After they were inside they had their parties. I'm sure they all had a good time. I know I did.