Book Sale

Collecting books from the folks in town this past week has been fun. Thursday and Friday we sorted the books and had the place ready for the sale on Saturday. We put all children's books on a section of shelves that was bottom three shelves, perfect for little people to see and handle the books. Five large sections of shelves were designated Fiction, and one large section of shelves for young adult. For Non-Fiction we used five tables, and one table for audio books and CDs. I am a member of the Friends of the Library committee and we held the book sale to collect funds for the Friends. That is an appropriate name for the group. We are helpers to the librarians and have lots of interesting ways to be of assistance to them.

We held the book sale at the same time an author was at the library signing books. The illustrator of the book was on hand to sign books and visit with folks so the day was another way to celebrate our lovely library.

There was a great turnout. We had suggested prices but it was donation only, so lots of gracious friends donated extra money. One dear friend even wrote a check for $500. Another thing I love about this town is how much the residents love our library.

Salad Suppers

About once a month I can find a salad supper to attend within a fifty mile radius. Not just lettuce and tomato and dressing. I'm talking SALAD. Vegetable salad, Grilled chicken salad, Beef and veggie salad, and a ton of dessert salads.

The latest salad adventure was at the parish hall of the church across the street. Last year there were a couple hundred women packed into the hall and there were enough salads for us all to make return trips to the salad room.  There was entertainment and raffles and lots of visiting and laughter. This year the entertainment was different but the food was excellent. Mini sandwiches on homemade rolls (which I can't eat), thin pieces of ham rolled up, and tables of salads.

After each table had visited the salad tables, a five piece group took their places and we were entertained in fine style. All five sang in harmony, two played guitars while singing, and they took turns telling jokes between songs. Some of the songs they turned into humorous songs, like Ghostwriter in the Sky became a funny song about chickens headed to Kentucky Fried Chicken getting revenge.

The event lasted a little over two hours and we all arrived back at our homes before the storm came. Good timing, don't you think.

Blank Canvas

Each time I moved it felt like a blank canvas. Starting over in each town and five different states didn't give me time to make close friends. It is not easy making lasting friendships when I meet them and move on to another place.

When I moved to this small town two and a half years ago, I had no idea what was in store for me.   When it became clear that I would be living alone and going through a divorce, I took my time getting close to the women I met at the senior center and various activities I attended.

I make mistakes, say stupid things occasionally, am a dumb blond at times, but the friends I have brought to the inner circle support me and accept me.  We laugh and are interested in many things, go on adventures, and have each others' backs.

The canvas is becoming a beautiful piece of life art. Wowza.

Heh Heh

I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not so sure.

England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool.

Broken pencils are pointless.

Energizer Bunny arrested. Charged with battery.

PMS jokes aren't funny, period.

I stayed up all night to see where the sun sets. Then it dawned on me.

How does Moses make his tea? Hebrews it.

Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.

When chemists die, they barium.

I tried to catch some fog. I mist.

Hope at least one of these made you chuckle. 

Vitamin F

Have you seen this email yet?

Vitamin F

Why do I have a variety of friends who are so different in character? How is it possible I can get along with them all? I think that each one helps to bring out a different part of me.

With one of them I am polite. With another I joke.  With another I can be a bit naughty. I can sit down and talk about serious matters with one. With another I laugh a lot. I listen to one friend's problems. Then I listen to another one's advice for me.

My friends are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. When completed, they form a treasure box. A treasure of friends!

They are friends who understand me and accept me for myself. 

Doctors say that friends are good for our health. Dr Oz calls them Vitamin F (for Friends) and counts the benefits of friends as essential to our well being. Research shows that people in strong social circles have less risk of depression and terminal strokes. 

If you enjoy Vitamin F constantly you can be up to 30 years younger than your real age. The warmth of friendship stops stress and even in your most intense moments it decreases your chance of cardiac arrest or stroke.

I'm so happy that I have a stock of Vitamin F!