I don't think that I have been THIS busy in... forever. All this week I have had one thing or another going on. From wrapping gifts, to decorating and to card writing (which as of this point, has yet to begin).

But honestly, I wouldn't trade any of my busy-ness. I'm having fun (for the most part), getting out of the house more as of late, and am enjoying seeing smiles and knowing that we are creating some, too.

We have already bought, wrapped and returned the gifts to the Angel Tree program kids that my children, husband and I had picked. I now have all of the kids' gifts wrapped, with exception to one, being that I had to get reimbursed for an item that never came in on shipment because the order site didn't catch that it was out of stock. So we bought something else, and my husband has it, so it will be getting wrapped later this evening.

I also have all of the gifts ready to be boxed and sent to my father across to the western side of the states. And his Christmas card, which will also have a "bonus" in it, along with some friends' cards will help to complete the package.

Now, it's wrap things that are left for all of my husband's side. Including the nieces and a couple of nephews. And a butt load of Christmas cards to fill out and ready.

My husband and oldest may go out this evening after he gets off of work to shop for yours truly. My oldest said that she wants to be able to ensure that my husband doesn't buy me anything "stupid" or "dumb looking". Smart girl!

Well I think that I shall now leave you, as to prepare my hand for falling off. This card writing stuff is going to take me a while.

Here's a cool song to share. One from my childhood, and from a tradition that I miss having with my mom, but am now carrying on with my children...





Here's a BRAND NEW Country Christmas classic!

Musical Monday... Adios Mi (ex) Amigo!

Seeing as I have been removed and subsequently blocked by some people who I thought were (real life) friends and seemingly patched things up with one of them, but apparently not as THEY lead on, this one's for y'all...




And to those that are my tried and true friends who are the REAL deal and not just "nicey-nicey" to your face, only to talk shit behind your back, this one goes out to you...




And for all of out there in my "friendship circle" that are in between, pick a side, or else you will be tortured ALL of the time by my rendition of...

Musical Monday..It's (honestly not) A "Manic Monday"

I am kicking Monday's ass! Royally. It's probably THE best Monday I've had in quite some time. With the exception of ONE argument between the two oldest, whereas I squashed that bug QUICK, it's been a pretty awesome morning.

I've so far gotten three, count them, THREE loads of laundry washed and/or dried. Gotten all of my dishes washed, kids dressed and off to school on time AND am now working on my third cup of coffee. Oh and Gobi's (our Bearded Dragon) crickets and him all fed and watered for the time being (Gobi still eats two to three times a day).

So Monday has thus far felt my wrath. I am drenched in Awesome Sauce today. I feel good and energized. Oh! And I got my NEW blender, that I got to pick out myself at WalMart for my Mother's Day present. Plus the kids and the hubby took me to Golden Corral for breakfast (was my choice). Plus we stopped at Ollie's where my Sister-In-Law works to look around a bit. She bought ALL THREE kids up to three books a piece.

Now, for the musical part of this post, seeing as I have dubbed Monday as "Musical Monday". And it's not "musical" if I don't put the music in there, right?

Right. So, for all of those peeps out there that instead of kicking Monday's ass, is getting kicked BY Monday, this song's for you.

Musical Monday..Bin Laden's Dead Edition

It's the news we are all waking up to in the United States of America. U.S. Navy Seals had raided and in that raid, KILLED Osama Bin Laden.

Don't believe me (which took me a confirmation news post, too!), then read THIS HERE.

So, for Musical Monday, I have three choice song pieces to share..Maybe four. Here's the first one. Guys, remove your hats, please!



And yes, I stand up and say, "God Bless The USA!", along with Al Greenwood.



Here's a real tear-jerker from Allen Jackson about 9/11..."Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)"?



This is a historical day in our generation's history. A heartless and tyrannical killer has been infiltrated and justly (for us in America) killed. An "eye for an eye".

Here's a classic, but I'd love to re-write just one word to make it say, "Ding-dong, the Bastard's dead".

Musical Monday

Along with "Tuesdays From The Terrarium", I'm going to also do Musical Mondays where I will post a music video and say WHY I like it or why I'm posting it.

Today is a 90's hit (the decade where I REALLY came in to music). By En Vogue, "Free Your Mind".

The stand out lyric for me is.. "I can't look without being watched/,no
You rang my buy before I made up my mind,ow/ Oh now attitude, why even bother
I can't change your mind, you can't change my color"

Even now in the second decade of the new century, this kind of thinking STILL happens. Be with those of a minority color, a way of dress or physical appearance.

And the Gates Opened and God said "Come in My son".

We all knew that this was coming. For the last six months or so. But after losing other family members in the past that you "prepared" for losing, when the time comes, you are NEVER truly "prepared".

Last night we were told to get to Big Papa if we could because Hospice gave him just hours. So Scott and I placed the kids with some friends of ours and rushed over. He was ashen, pale and gray. His breathing was rattly and hard, thanks to the fluid on his lungs. He was sedated and given pain medications for comfort and so he wouldn't fight himself.

We stayed there a good hour or just a bit longer. All the while talking with Scott's Grandma and his Aunt, who was staying the night. As we left, we told Big Papa we loved him and to just rest and that everything was okay.

After leaving to get the kids, two of our nieces (sisters) apparently arrived not long after us. We missed one another by mere minutes.

We left at about 8:10 last night. Scott got the "call" at about 9:05, about ten minutes after we walked in the door for the night.

He died as the oldest niece was brushing his military-style cut hair. That was something ALL the grandkids and great-grandkids did. He paid them a dollar if they did a "good job", which of course they all did. *hehe*

This past Summer was the last TRUE family reunion with EVERYONE together. This year, it will be drastically different. And more morose and somber as we gather with one less person joining in watching the kids catch lizards and snakes in the backyard, eating up a storm and just having a fun time talking and being together.

*Big Papa with my girls, Skyler and Hayley (oldest of the three kids)*

*Big Papa with my son, Bryce and our oldest niece*

I can only imagine the reception Big Papa received as he entered the Pearly Gates. I know his sister and youngest brother were happy to be reunited with their big brother, as I am certain that it was a welcoming experience to see his parents again.

Big Papa was an extremely hard working man in his time, as he was the manager of a strong insurance company. And he served in the military in his youth. When he met his wife of 62 years, she had three children from a previous marriage. One of them being my Father-In-Law, whom he adopted all three after the couple had married. Then along came four other children that they had after that. So needless to say, he left behind many upon many hearts to grieve his passing. Between their seven children multiple grandchildren, and several great-grandkids and even a great-great-grandchild.

I think that the following song is extremely appropriate to say how I feel about a man that gave me a good taste of what life is like with having a Grandfather in your life, seeing as my granddads were dead before I was born. And thanks to Big Papa and his inclusion of me in to his family as "one of my granddaughters", I can never thank him (or Grandma) enough for the last eleven wonderful years of having a great man in my life such as him...Even if he was a Washington Redskins fan. I looked past that atrocity and still loved him anyways. (=

*I apologize, but VEVO just had to put a freaking commercial in this one..which is inappropriate for a song like this in my opinion.*



Go Rest High On That Mountain lyrics
Songwriters: Gill, Vince;

I know your life on earth was troubled
And only you could know the pain
You weren't afraid to face the Devil
You were no stranger to the rain

Go rest high on that mountain
Son your work on earth is done
Go to Heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son

Oh, how we cried the day you left us
We gathered round your grave to grieve
Wish I could see the angels' faces
When they hear your sweet voice sing

So go rest high on that mountain
Son, your work on earth is done
Go to Heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son

So go rest high on that mountain
Son, your work on earth is done
Go to Heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son

Go to Heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son

I Think I Was Given Bad Shrooms, Man!!

You know, it's bad enough that Dominos Pizza has now given my husband the WRONG pizza (we use Delivery Service) twice out of the last five of our orders. He ALWAYS gets the Meatza (where it is ALL meat, not a speck of veggie on it because he's a typical man and just rolls like that).

When Dominos last messed up before this, they gave him the one with BOTH meat AND veggies. I specifically said (seeing as I had a brain fart and couldn't remember the actual pizza's name) ALL MEAT, not with ANY veggies. I trusted the girl on the other end of the line to KNOW what I was talking about, seeing as she IS an employee and all.

Last night we went ahead and ordered pizza, seeing as my plans to make a spaghetti dinner were kind of ruined.

See, I have not one, but TWO big refrigerators in my kitchen as I type this. One is the pretty new (but barely used) one that we set up last night. This one has a WORKING water/ice dispenser. But Scott had to clean it really well with Bleach Spray. That alone sent me to tears and in to burning breathing...Even with windows OPEN.

The other of course, is the old one that also too needs to be cleaned. Scotty wants me to clean it BEFORE he moves it. Riiiight!!! I can barely get around in that tiny kitchen with those two giant fridges up in there. I'll wait until he and his brother MOVE IT out of my way, even though it means lots of trips up and down the basement stairs.

And I have totally gotten off track..Back to the bad mushroom pizza and the screw up. (=

The kids got their pizza and started munching right away. As did I with my green peeper, onion and (apparently Psychedelic) mushroom pizza. Poor Scott got a Pineapple and Bacon pizza. And the box (after looking at it) said the CORRECT pizza with chicken and bacon added. But the WRONG pizza was in it. Niiiice.

Poor quality, but this as close to "Psychedelic" as I can get to, let alone WANT TO get to...



My poor husband had to wait yet an extra thirty-five minutes to get his CORRECT pizza and chow down.

We got to keep the Bacon and Pineapple pizza, so I took a piece and tried it. Pretty good, actually!

At first all was fine and dandy for me, sleep wise. But then about an hour or two of being in bed, my youngest comes in in semi-tears and said she had a bad dream and asked if she could sleep with us. So, I became "monkey in the middle", squished between her and her Daddy.

Sometime after that, began the uber scary dreams of zombies, gross and gruesome violence that ensued from being chased by the undead creatures, and other manic and weird dreams.

I think this one best describes the look on my face in the vivid dreams of being chased..



Here's to a much better, zombie-less filled tonight. I'm done with being chased thanks to mushrooms that give me more than a kick.

I'm not a huge fan of Christian music, but..

There are a few singers that I LOVE to listen to. I'm in to Contemporary Christian music. I like a few hymns that are traditional. But I'm really not a "traditional" kind of gal. With that said, here are my favorites (with a fave song video included).

First of all, gotta give kudos to Nicole C. Mullen. The girl can SING!



As for the guys, I have to give it up to Al Denson. The following song brings me to tears EVERY single time.



I've had the awesome pleasure to see Cece Winans perform one year at an Extraordinary Women's concert here in town. She is even more so beautiful in person and gives a WONDERFUL, praise-filled performance. Music for MY generation, and even my kids'. This was one of the songs she sang..



Another tear jerker for me. I love it though! He is my Comfort and my Strength. Darlene Zschech had done a wonderful job with this song.



Delirious has some good P&W tunes also.



I think that personally, I really needed to hear some of these and just give it all to God. It's honestly been a very emotionally charged (almost) two weeks for me and my family. Between after-school activities, the home invasion and my son's problems escalating due to the break-in, I have been stressed beyond limits. It was refreshing and calming to listen and even sing to these this morning.

True, I'm not a church-going, drop-to-my-knees-every-ten-minutes, constant-Bible-reading Christian, but I know HE loves me, He sacrificed EVERYTHING for me and that He is there even in the midst of every storm to help carry and weather me through.

My favorite tunes from 2010...And the 1st decade of the new century in review.

The following has happened in and around my home, within my life in the last decade (2000 to 2010)....

1) I'd had two more children (2001 & 2004) since having my first in 1999.
2) In 2009 I required an emergency Corneal transplant.
3) Found out that my son indeed has ADHD (along with a host of other mental problems).
4) Sent my youngest off for her very first day of school in 2009.
5) Got married a second time to my soul-mate in 2002 after he proposed to me in a WalMart parking lot in early 2001.
6) Had my divorce papers come in the mail, finalizing my divorce from my first husband (and father of my oldest) on my birthday in December of 2000.
7) Had lost my grandmother that helped raise me after the loss of my mom. She passed in August of 2002.
8) Have now taken three separate trips back home to Nevada. One as a family while Nana was still alive. Another alone when she was passing away. The last for an extended, three-week visit in 2007 (also on my own).

There's much more that has happened. Including the loss of a baby in 2003 and another loss within my husband's family. And of course many good and happy things as well. But these all stand out above the rest.

As you can see, the first decade of this (still) new century has been both good and bad to me and my family. But I'm looking ahead and hoping for the best where the next decade is concerned. I try hard to keep looking forward, instead of where I have been.

Now, here's a few (but not nearly all) of my favorite songs from the 2000 to 2010 years.

**DISCLAIMER!...There is no copyright infringement intended with the following videos. Nor does this blog's author endorse any singer/band in this post, nor is getting monetary gain for doing so.**

25 Days of Christmas (Day 24)

For the last 12 days of Christmas, I will be posts to "break down" the Christmas Carol, "Twelve Days Of Christmas" by focusing on what each line is speaking of (Partridge, Turtle Doves, etc.) and their meanings and/or what they truly are. Just little facts and trivia things.

*HINT* ... Each day, the verse of choice will be BOLDED and highlighted.

YAY!!! We have now come to the end of our "Twelve Days Of Christmas" trivia. I hope you have enjoyed learning some of the facts and trivia bits behind this very popular song. And also, NO BIRDS are involved in the last line either. 

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!

Information provided by http://www.crivoice.org/cy12days.html


The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holy catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.

Now, for the entire song... Muppets and John Denver style! Enjoy. We've earned the ability to giggle and laugh.

25 Days of Christmas (Day 23)

For the last 12 days of Christmas, I will be posts to "break down" the Christmas Carol, "Twelve Days Of Christmas" by focusing on what each line is speaking of (Partridge, Turtle Doves, etc.) and their meanings and/or what they truly are. Just little facts and trivia things.

*HINT* ... Each day, the verse of choice will be BOLDED and highlighted.

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.


Information provided by HUB PAGES



At the big feasts held during the holiday celebrations the guests were often entertained by musicians, dancers, jugglers, etc. as well as singing and dancing themselves.

Bagpipes and their younger cousins the musette (an instrument similar to a bagpipe but the air for the sound came from bellows rather than blowing into the instrument) were popular instruments for dance music.

While we usually associate the bagpipe with Scotland, they were also a common instrument in France as well. Since Queen Elizabeth I was succeeded by the Stuart kings of Scotland, bagpipes and other aspects of Scots culture were common among the upper classes in England as were elements of French culture due to intermarriage of the English and French nobility.

The pipers referred to in the song would be the professional bagpipe musicians hired to entertain the guests with their music and provide music for dancing.

25 Days of Christmas (Day 22)

For the last 12 days of Christmas, I will be posts to "break down" the Christmas Carol, "Twelve Days Of Christmas" by focusing on what each line is speaking of (Partridge, Turtle Doves, etc.) and their meanings and/or what they truly are. Just little facts and trivia things.

*HINT* ... Each day, the verse of choice will be BOLDED and highlighted.


On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

The following is provided by Hub Pages ...


The ten lords a-leaping most likely refers to leaping dancers (called morris dancers) who performed leaping dances between courses at feasts. This type of wild and strenuous dancing probably evolved from more ancient war and fertility dances and would have been a popular form of entertainment for this type of function. Unlike the nine ladies dancing in the previous stanza where the dancers appear to have been guests dancing for enjoyment, these were professional dancers brought in to entertain the guests while they dined.

Morris dancing itself was a popular form of folk dancing in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries and possibly earlier. Both King Henry VIII and his daughter Queen Elizabeth I had professional morris dance troupes perform as part of the entertainment at feasts. Many parish church records from this period show both expenses for the purchase of costumes and the bells that the dancers wore while performing as well as income from the rental of the costumes to neighboring parishes.

While the royal court and other nobles would probably hire professional morris dance troupes to perform at social functions year round, local amateur groups seem to have done most of their performances in conjunction with annual May Day and other outdoor spring festivals. Morris dancing declined following the English Civil Wars of the mid-seventeenth century which brought Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans to power with their dislike and banning of any type of frivolity such as singing and dancing.

The twentieth century brought a revival of the morris and other folk dancing traditions in the UK and other parts of the world including the U.S. Today there are local morris dance troupes and competitions in the UK as well as other parts of the world.

25 Days of Christmas (Day 21)

For the last 12 days of Christmas, I will be posts to "break down" the Christmas Carol, "Twelve Days Of Christmas" by focusing on what each line is speaking of (Partridge, Turtle Doves, etc.) and their meanings and/or what they truly are. Just little facts and trivia things.

*HINT* ... Each day, the verse of choice will be BOLDED and highlighted.


On the ninth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

The following is provided by HUB PAGES.


The nine ladies dancing evokes images of music and dancing which were a big part of the celebrations at this period of history in England.

The term ladies probably refers to noble ladies as in a Lord and his Lady or a lady in waiting (high born ladies who waited on the queen at court – not servant women).

In this case ladies would be women dancing socially and not professional entertainers. For the most part women were not entertainers in this era so it is unlikely that this refers to a troupe of dancing women.

Another interpretation of the nine ladies dancing would be high born ladies dancing for the entertainment of the men much as people today will often provide impromptu entertainment at parties and other social gatherings.

Again, the emphasis is on celebrating and having fun during this nearly two weeks of non-stop nightly partying.

25 Days of Christmas (Day 18 & 19)

For the last 12 days of Christmas, I will be posts to "break down" the Christmas Carol, "Twelve Days Of Christmas" by focusing on what each line is speaking of (Partridge, Turtle Doves, etc.) and their meanings and/or what they truly are. Just little facts and trivia things.

*HINT* ... Each day, the verse of choice will be BOLDED and highlighted.

Today, I'm doing the "two for one buy" deal, seeing as I didn't log on and write yesterday. It was *MY BIRTHDAY!!* and I felt the need to be a lazy bum. And I did just that. But only on here. I still had to clean and do the Cinderella thing around the house... Go figure, eh?


On the sixth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.


And here we go again with the stinking birds! Sorry. But I ain't the one who wrote this song. (=

I used to have to deal with geese back home in California when I went to the park (along with the seagulls, but that's a story for another time). They are loud and at most times mean little suckers. Okay, not so little, but still can chase you like a chicken with it's head cut off.

(From Wiki Dictionary)

The word goose (plural: geese) is the English name for a considerable number of birds, belonging to the family Anatidae. This family also includes swans, most of which are larger than true geese, and ducks, which are smaller.

There are three living genera of true geese: Anser – Grey Geese, including the domesticated goose and the Swan Goose, Chen – White Geese (often included in Anser), and Branta – Black Geese, such as the Canada goose.

Geese are monogamous, living in permanent pairs throughout the year; however, unlike most other permanently monogamous animals, they are territorial only during the short nesting season. Paired geese are more dominant and feed more, two factors that result in more young.


Now, onwards to the seventh day (which also is a flocking mess!)


On the seventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

Aren't they beautiful? And they are one of the few birds that are mates for life. This picture makes me think my my husband and I, and how still in love and still seemingly in the "honeymoon phase" we are in, even after being married for eight years now, and will be together for eleven in April.

The following about swans is also going to be found HERE.

A swan is a bird of the genus Cygnus.

Seeing as that site sucked and didn't give anything... We shall go HERE instead...

Classification

Family: Anatidae
Subfamily: Cygninae
Species: Whooper, Trumpeter, Tundra, Mute, Black-necked, Black, Berwick, and Coscoroba

A male swan is a cob; a female is a pen, and the young are called cygnets. Description
Swans are the largest of the aquatic birds, closely related to the Goose. They are known for their grace and beauty and have long been considered “ornamental birds” which float on ponds in zoos, parks, and botanical gardens. Swans are long necked and web-footed. The most common swan, the Mute Swan, is a large, all white bird with a pink bill that ends in a black knob. The bill of a swan is so sensitive that it serves as an underwater feeler.

Swans have the longest neck of any bird, with 23-25 neck vertebrae. Swans have as many as 25,000 feathers. They are long-lived birds, and can live up to twenty years in the wild, and even fifty years in captivity!

Habitat

Swans prefer wetlands and land surrounded by water, where they build their nests on mounds. The Tundra swan builds its nest in the tundra wetlands, where they maintain a territory of one square mile and defend it from other swans. Swans prefer cooler environments and avoid extreme heat. The Tundra and Whooper nest all across northern America, the Arctic Islands and Northern Russia. The Black-necked and Coscoroba are found from Brazil southward. The Black Swan lives in Australia and New Zealand. The Mute Swan resides in Europe.

Mating

Swans will both display before mating, then mate for life. They are devoted to each other, and remain together throughout the year. They keep their young with them until they nest again, some staying through a second clutch. If one of a pair of swans dies, the survivor usually takes a new mate, and they form a dedicated pair. Breeding Swans usually mature in two to three years, and breed at around 3-4 years of age. The northern birds do not breed until their fifth or sixth year. Birds kept in captivity take much longer to establish a breeding pair.

25 Days of Christmas (Day 14)

For the last 12 days of Christmas, I will be posts to "break down" the Christmas Carol, "Twelve Days Of Christmas" by focusing on what each line is speaking of (Partridge, Turtle Doves, etc.) and their meanings and/or what they truly are. Just little facts and trivia things.

*HINT* ... Each day, the verse of choice will be BOLDED and highlighted.

Today, we are doing "second day of Christmas".


 On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

The Turtle Dove is also known as European  Turtle Dove. It is in the bird family Columbidae. They are of a smaller build.

Unlike the Partridge Bird, the Turtle Dove IS a migratory bird. They have been known to fly to Turkey and even North Africa!

The Turtle Dove rarely appears in Northern Europe before the end of April, returning south again in September.

It lives in the dense wooded areas and eats from the ground.

25 Days of Christmas (Day 13)

"On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...A Partridge in a pear tree."

For these last twelve days, leading up to Christmas Day, I'll be piecing together the song's lines and explain as they come what each verse means and it's origins.

A Partridge in a pear tree...Hmm. We all know what a Pear Tree is. But what in the world is a "Partridge"? No goofy! I'm not talking about the Partridge Family (think David Cassidy and his "I Think I Love You" crooner).

The "partridge" that I am talking about from the infamous Christmas Carol is this one...

Yes, it is a bird, folks. A Partridge Bird is what the first line of the song is speaking of.

A Partridge Bird is within the Pheasant family. They are non-migratory birds as well. In other words, they don't fly south for the winter. Partridges are medium in size.

The bird was initially referenced in 1780 in the book "Mirth Without Mischief" (author unknown).

As for it's placement within the famous Christmas Carol, "The Twelve Days Of Christmas", it was initially part of a GAME that a group of children (or adults) would play. The leader of the game would start off with the line, "On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... A Partridge in a Pear Tree". From there, the players would take turns building on to the lines. If there is a "mess up", then that first player that does so must forfeit. And the game is deemed over.

The line was around though, long before the game or the song. So, we may never know it's core history in its entirety.

Find more info here...

Partridge Birds

Partridge in a Pear Tree History

25 Days of Christmas (Day 4)

Ready to get in to the holiday spirit? How about some of my favorite Christmas tunes to get you in to the mood?


I'm sending this one out to Angel over at Angel Believes (blog)...




For my little girl who LOVES this song...




For my son...For the reason being his nose has been reminding me of Rudolph...




Gotta love Achmed!!




You can't do Christmas without the Chipmunks!




A classic by Brenda Lee...




The Mormon Tabernacle...




Nat & Natalie...




For us Redneck Hillbilly types, Larry can't go wrong for the holidays! (The *ONLY* one I don't care for is 'Donny The Retard' for obvious reasons and don't find it funny.)




This is one of my FAVORITE TV specials and one of my favorite Christmas time songs...




Beautiful song..




Whomever she is, this woman has a BEAUTIFUL voice!...




Amy Grant's version is pretty...

Video Music Weekend

The following videos are just for fun, or for expressing what I am feeling or thinking this weekend.

First up... Telephone (Lady Gaga). Maybe if I had a dance floor, I could tell my ex-husband to stop calling me. This morning makes the third time in two days. And I still have another 36 hours to go!




It's true, I do majorly stress from time to time. This song ('Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing', SheDaisy) reminds me to take it all in stride, and all will be right again in your world.




AMEN, SISTAH FRIEND!!! ("Just A Girl", No Doubt)




Men!!! Take note what happens when you can't keep it in your pants. Tried and true. ("Third Rock From The Sun", Joe Diffie)

9/11/2001...We remember. In songs and pictures.

Like Pearl Harbor, September 11, 2001, also known as 9/11, has gone down in infamy.

Feel free to watch the following videos. I have no words, really for today, being that I had said all that I could the other day ABOUT 9-11.

I'm asking you, my readers, that if you wish to comment on this post, that you DO NOT make comments or start debates in regards to *politics*, *conspiracy theories*, or make any *anti-religion* (namely Islam/Muslim) remarks.

Thank you for respecting my blog, this post, and this day's meaning by refraining from the above.

"Where Were You On That September Day?"

If you recognize that line that I used for the title of this post, then you know which song it is from and what it symbolizes. September 11, 2001 will remain in many a heart and memory for generations to come.

Not for it's year in music or the Emmy that Television shows had won. Or the hot Summer Flicks that Hollywood spun out that year.

It will be remembered as one of the most prolific tragedies of our time. Of our generation, and of the Twentieth Century. September 11th is forever known as '9-11'.

That was the day that it did indeed seem that the world had stopped turning. Millions in America, and billions around the world had frozen in place as they had witnessed first hand, or had seen the first taped images of the root cause of the first Trade Center Tower being on fire, seeing as the second plane crashed in to the other tower as the first was being filmed on live TV, as it was on fire and had people JUMPING OFF the building, as to escape being burned alive.

Do you remember what you were doing at that moment in time? Be it in pieces, or in minute detail. I certainly do. All the way down to calling my husband at work, and listening to his description of how the customers and his co-workers reacted to the news.

When the news started breaking, they had said in past-tense that a plane hit the WTC Tower. As Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson from Good Morning America (back in those days) were trying to get more on the story, thinking a bomb (not a plane) had gone off, right behind them, on the back screen, in a live shot, the other plane came in at what seemed to be an odd angle.

Suddenly, as I sat there, engrossed and waiting for a more defined answer to what happened, the answer became horrifically known to me and millions of others in the nation as to what REALLY happened.

Sitting there, holding Bryce in my arms (he was three months old then, and Hayley was at school for her (then) developmental delays), I watched as the other plane hit and just blew up before my very eyes.

Suddenly, I began to cry and I notably held Bryce a little tighter as he sat upon my lap, oblivious to what was unfolding before him. Then the thought swept in to my mind, and I could hear myself say "What kind of world have I truly brought my children in to? Is this what they have to look forward to in their future? What did we as a nation do, to deserve this kind of terroristic-type act (not knowing yet that it INDEED WAS a terrorist attack upon out nation)?".

I'd sat there, frozen and silent. It wasn't until I came out of the 'trance' that I realized that I just witnessed a plane full of people, and people within that tower being murdered. The shock to see what I had, left me dazed.

After I got myself together, I called my husband at work (then, we didn't have cells, so I had to call the store) and I asked if they had heard. He'd said yes, as did all of the customers and fellow employees, being that they announced it, and then had a moment of silence...Customers left in droves to get home, or were on frantic calls right in the aisles, Scott said, making sure their loved ones in NY and that were to be on flights that morning were okay.

Just think, one week prior, I was flying home from Reno, Nevada, after a week's stay due to my grandmother (Nana, who's ashes I wrote about finally getting) had passed away. Even then, on the flight home, something seemed...'off'. But I could never place what it was. I just felt very uneasy. And I had never felt that way before when it came to flying.

Maybe I was sensing the tragedy that was about to unfold. But I just didn't "get it". The entire trip home felt 'weird'. Who knows.

Maybe there were a couple of those terrorists on board with me, getting "practice flights" or going to their final destination via my route to go home. This I will never, ever know for sure. All I know is that I knew that there was something big coming. I could feel it. But I couldn't pinpoint what it was. That feeling stayed with me...

All the way home on my flight upon American Airlines.

*The following has real footage from news tapes included in to this song's video.*

May we never forget.