BULLET FOR LIFE

image found at www.weaheartit.com

You know what I haven't done in a long time?  A bullet point post.  Those are excellent for times like now when I don't have a singular topic that I really want to blog on, but I have MANY thoughts rolling around in the noggin'.

• I am still working on the novel, for all of you have been DYING OF CURIOSITY regarding this matter.  I can't say that the progress is particularly fast, but I am still working at it.  I find it interesting how much time I spend just thinking about the characters and where the story will go.  Does anyone else who writes do this?
• On my way home tonight, I nearly had a car accident in the round about.  It is a pretty low traffic area.  There are only three lanes of traffic going into and out of the round about.  (In other words the road T's out on one end.)  If you unfamiliar with a roundabout, each car going into the roundabout has a yield sign.  Ergo, if there is another vehicle in the roundabout, you wait until they have passed before entering.  I was behind another car approaching from the bottom part of the T, if you can visualize that, and would ultimately be making a left turn.  While I was in the roundabout, a minivan, who was approaching from the right side of the T,  waited for the car in front me, and then decided to just come on out.  I kept on going, but I really thought they were going to just plunge into my side.  
• Do you think that they didn't understand Yield?  Maybe they thought it meant you take turns.  I am not sure, but it sure took my breath away. 
• Still going to my tapping therapy approximately once a week.  We are now really getting into what I would consider the really traumatic issues.  I have learned a lot.  For instance...
• Every bad thing that has happened to me relates back in some way to Boundaries.  All of my life, my Boundaries have been Terrible.  Some of the worst things that I have allowed to happen to me simply stem from a belief system of not wanting to hurt someone else's feelings... even if it has meant doing horrible damage to myself.  
• I don't know how we can teach ourselves, and our kids better younger, that we have value, but this needs to happen.  Yes, being kind to others is very important, but kindness to others at the expense of yourself isn't actually a kindness.  It's a Boundary Issue.  It's actually telling someone that you don't have any.  And people who have Reverse Boundary Issues (they don't respect other people's boundaries) will be drawn to someone with Boundary Issues like a magnet.  I know this to be true.  It is the pattern that I lived repeatedly.  
• In order to break a pattern, you have to see the pattern.  That is freeing information right there.
• In addition to my not wanting to hurt anyone else's feelings, I have a Rescuer Complex.  This is actually another Boundary Issue.  The Rules of Life indicate that you will reap what you sow.... unless someone alters the natural order of things.  That someone would be a Rescuer.  
• Rescuers disallow people with other Boundary Issues from feeling the pains of their habits.  For instance, if someone is bad with money, the only way they will get better is if they suffer from their poor budgeting.  If they have a Rescuer in their life, that person will never feel the pain of their mismanagement.  However, the Rescuer will.  There is a Law and someone will feel the pain.
• Let's just say that 20+ years of Rescuing and being in close relationships with people who have Reverse Boundary Issues have taken their toll.  
• The Rules of Life still apply and it says that everyone will always reap what they have sown.  I am reaping what I have sown.  I am reaping 20+ years of acceptance that other people's wants were more important than my needs, as well as all of that Rescuing.  For my trouble, I got a ten year migraine and a host of autoimmune issues.
• So, what I know is this: the spirit rejects these things and transforms this bad thinking into illness.
• Conversely, I must believe as the thinking improves, the manifestations in the body will follow.
• Understanding Boundary Issues has given me a whole new perspective on my life.  I can now see that things didn't "just happen" to me.  I can also own my part in the things that did happen.  Grasping that makes all the difference because getting that means not allowing those things to happen again.  
• It feels like I was asleep for all of my life and I just woke up.  I didn't know any of the Rules of Life and that was why it was so hard.  Life will never be "easy" but it can make sense.

And that is pretty much the news in the Land of Robin.  Please leave a comment and tell me what is going on in the Land of You!

HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY

SURPRISE. Drum roll please. It is once again HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY. Yes, you read that correctly.  HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY is back on Thursday.  For those of you unfamiliar with the once again weekly HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY posts, I bet you're wondering what is going on.   Well, peeps, let me give you the skinny on this event...


This is a weekly event landing typically on Thursdays.  The best (or worst) part is that I am not going to explain why I chose "whatever" footage for each of you. If, you watch your footage and are scratching your head at the end, well that means I didn't do a very good job. However, all is not lost. You can email me at rarichards68@gmail.com and ask me what I was thinking when I chose that particular piece of footage off of youtube and connected it to you. And then I will tell you. Then I will start sending up prayers that I haven't offended the crap out of whoever is on the receiving end of that email....lol. Because, honestly, I will tell you right now... I admire all of you enormously so I really hope that doesn't happen.

Also, this is not an exclusive venture by any means. I hope that you will take the time to watch ALL of the footage because I don't pick bad footage:-) I also hope that you might check out the blog of the person I dedicated the footage to because they are pretty darn awesome. If you haven't figured this out yet... I pick the footage based on something that you've written or something that I've gleaned from your personality. Think on that for a while... If you are having trouble watching the entire video (meaning it is being cut off on one side), click on it a couple of times and it will take you straight over to youtube. If you click on the four squares at the bottom corner of the video, it will enlarge it to fill your screen. The escape key will bring it back to normal size. The back arrow will bring you back to my page.

Now, let's get this PARTY STARTED!!!!

This one is for everyone:



This one is for Carol at Under The Tiki Hut:



This one is for Steven at Steven Symes, Writer:



This one is for klahnie:



This one is for Christine at A Deliberate Life:



This one is for Yvonne at Writing My Life Away!:

Eleven.

One of the best things about blogging is the friendships that are formed with other bloggers.  One of the first bloggers that I met when I started this whole thing was Mary.  She writes a food blog.  I know.  That just sounds whacky, no?  Me.  Food.  I honestly don't follow many food blogs.  However, I love Mary's food blog because I love Mary.  We have become wonderful friends who talk about many things other than food via email.  She occasionally veers off the course of food and offers a peek into the Life of Mary on her blog, too.  I always consider that a treat!  Right now, Mary is on hiatus.  She writes for various food publications in Michigan, and holds down a full-time job, so something had to give for the summer and it turned out to be her blog.  However, she did pop in to bestow this lovely award.  I hope that you decide to visit her place and follow along when she returns.  Her recipes are delish and she is a delight.  Plus, she offers insight into Jewish traditions, so you will probably learn something, too.  Thank you, Yenta Mary the Food Floozie for honoring me and my blog with The Liebster Award.  You are a maven.

 The rules of the award are that the nominee must:

- link back to whomever awarded the prize
- state 11 random facts about him- or herself
- answer the 11 questions from the award giver, and then - finally!
- nominate another 11 bloggers and devise 11 questions for them to answer.


11 Random Facts About Me
1. My favorite color is purple.  It has been purple as long as I can remember.  For the first time in a long time, purple is actually an "in" color in terms of fashion.  The last time I went shopping I bought purple capri pants and a whole bunch of blouses that had purple in them.  Purple is everywhere!!!  I am totally digging it.  Can I say it is the New Black????

image found on www.weheartit.com

2. I hate high heeled shoes.  I love pictures of high heeled shoes.  I like the idea of high heeled shoes.  I hate actually trying to walk in high heeled shoes.  Ergo, I don't own many high heeled shoes.  The ones I do own, I avoid wearing at all costs.

3. I am learning to like foods that I previously wouldn't eat.  All of the greens are back in my diet.  Yeah, I am talking collard greens and turnip greens.  I have liked spinach for a long time.  I am eating squash (previously a "no way") as well as red and yellow peppers.  I still don't care for green pepper.  But, hey, this is Big Improvement!

4. I hate reality television.  The only show I can tolerate watching is Dancing With The Stars and that is because I like the dancing.  It is not because I like the stars.  Sometimes, they grow on me.  Sometimes, not so much.  But, the dancing...  Yeah, I do enjoy that.  All of the rest of reality TV can sit and spin.

image found on www.photobucket.com

5. I adore everything 80s except the clothes.  80s music and 80s movies will always be my favorites.

6. My mom and I are saving up to go to Vegas in the fall.  We were debating going to Tunica, but Vegas is calling our names.  So, Viva Las Vegas it is.  I am so excited.  There is no place like Vegas.  I have written before about my fascination with the casinos, so I am not going to go into great detail here, but suffice to say that there is no place like it.

7. I have started working on a novel again.  Alex J. Cavanaugh said that I would start writing when the timing was right.  It turns out that when a story starts banging around in your head, you really don't have much choice.  I have no idea whether it is brilliant or crap, but I plan to actually finish this one.

8. I hate snow, but I love snowmen.  I have this huge snowman collection for Christmas.  It has gotten a little bit bigger every year.  It is now a fairly large display.  Aside from a nativity scene, I don't have any other Christmas decorations.  It's all snowmen at my house!

9. My favorite smell is puppy breath.  Ironically, dog breath can be pretty terrible.

10. I no longer drink alcohol at all.  Due to my migraines, it is one more thing in a fairly long list that I have given up in search of better health.

11. When I was living in New York City, I worked in the publicity department at St. Martin's Press for two years as an assistant.  This was my first job out of college.  Given that I was a lowly assistant my brushes with anyone "important" were rare and short-lived.  However, I did meet G. Gordon Liddy when he was in the office promoting his book.  Same goes for MacDonald Carey (he was on Days of Our Lives forever, for those of you not in the know).  I also met the infamous "Holly" from Lou Reed's song Take A Walk on the Wild Side.  Yep.  Holly is/was a real person.  And he/she wrote a book called A Low Life In High Heels.  SMP published it and we threw a big party at The Limelight.  I went to that, too.  It was one of the most interesting parties I have ever been to and way too much for this blog posting.  Let's just say I arrived in New York City a naive young girl and left... not.



Mary's 11 Questions for Me
1. What is the first thing you'll ask God when you get to Heaven? (We're all going to Heaven, we're just taking different scenic routes.)  Here is the thing I believe about God.  God is not big into answering questions.  Every now and then, God has given prophets more knowledge than others to try and answer the Big Questions so that people have some perspective on this Life Thing.  And then Jesus came and answered a lot of questions.  For me, the biggest one was that we all have a spark of the divine inside of us.  That says to me that when go to heaven, we won't need to ask God anything, we will literally be plugged into divinity.  We will simply know the things that we didn't know before.  How well we understand that information will have to do with our own spiritual growth.  However, our access will be unfettered.  And God still isn't in the business of answering questions.

2. What is your favorite "me time" indulgence?  This is a love it/hate it pastime, but I really cherish my writing time.  Of course, when the writing isn't going well, it doesn't feel so much like an indulgence.  It tends to feel more excruciating.  However, when it's all flowing, it's wonderful.

3. What is the word or phrase you overuse the most?  I have gone through these phases in the past, but I am not in one NOW.  Too funny.  So, I am taking a "pass" on this one. 

4. What is your favorite side dish at Thanksgiving?  This is hard.  I love Thanksgiving dinner.  The side I miss the most is mashed potatoes.  I became allergic to potatoes back in the early 90s.  I really feel the pain of that allergy on Thanksgiving.  However, I love green bean casserole and candied sweet potatoes.  However, I would give them all up for a plate of mashed potatoes and gravy.  ::sigh::

image found on Facebook

5. What is your most cringe-inducing, most appalling, most ridiculous dating story?  Seriously, Mary?  Do you want cringe-inducing, appalling, or ridiculous?  Cringe-inducing would be the long-term relationship after my ex who turned out to be a thief, liar, cheater, and actual criminal.  Appalling would be my ex-husband.  It started with dating so it counts.  It's appalling because it is where I lost all sense of myself and my boundaries.  He didn't respect them and pretty soon I had none.  That is what abuse looks like.  I would like to lay all of the blame on him, but I can't.  It's appalling.  And ridiculous would be the amount of time I dated a really nice guy for whom I had zero attraction and he broke up with me by asking for the return of his garage door opener.  The excuse: his mother's was broken and she needed it.  I gave it up easily.   After that, he never called me again.  It took me several days to understand that it was his way of breaking up.  What makes it ridiculous is that I was just dumped via Garage Door Opener and didn't even know it.

6. What has your greatest accomplishment been so far in 2013?  My first thought was getting off all pain medication for the first time in ten years.  And that is pretty darn big.  My second thought was recognizing the underlying pattern of why all my relationships for my entire life have been so horrible (boundary issues), and working on me so that it never happens again.  I am not sure which of those two is bigger.  They both go toward making me a healthier person in different ways.

7. What website do you check most often throughout the day?  It is a tight race between this one and Facebook.

8. It's Christmas in July; in your letter to Santa, what are you asking him to leave under the tree for you?  I could use an IPad.  Since they are so small, they are very mobile and it would make my life a lot easier when we travel.  I would still have to carry a keyboard to get any real writing done, but still a huge improvement over the laptop.  Plus, I could hole up in my room for quiet time to get some actual writing done without constant interruption, which would be LOVELY.  So, my answer is an IPad!!!!

9. Have you ever been to Michigan?  Yes. 

image found on www.photobucket.com

10. If so, when, where, why? If not, why not??? I went to college in Michigan, so I spent four years there.  I met a boy at said college who was from Michigan, so several years after graduating, I moved back to Michigan with him and lived there (again) for a couple of years before we called it quits. 

11. What is your favorite kind of pie?  Pecan pie.  Maybe that is actually my favorite side at Thanksgiving.  Hmmmm.


My 11 Questions
1. Who do you miss the most?

2. What is your favorite word, and why?

3. Where do you want to go that you have never been, and why?

4. Where do you want to you go that you have already been, and why?

5. If you could relive any experience in your life just for the pleasure of doing it one more time, what would you choose?

6. What is your favorite holiday?

7. Do you feel like you are doing what you are meant to be doing?  If so, what is that?  If not, what is holding you back?

8. Do you remember your dreams?  Have any of them ever been significant in your life?

9. Tell me about the first time you learned the lesson that life simply was not fair.  (It's not a question because I know it has happened to you.)

10.  Who, or what, did you want to be when you grew up (earliest memory)?   (For example, I wanted to be Cher when I grew up when I was about five or six.  That is my earliest desire that I can recall.)

11. Why do you blog?


Choosing 11 of you to pass this on to is the hardest part.  I know that some of you don't accept awards.  I don't always recall who does and who doesn't.  So, I am going to pass this on to 11 people that I don't think have received the award and who I would like to answer MY questions.  Plus, I am interested in knowing 11 random things about them.  So there.  That is my method.  I hope that you will participate even if you don't normally "do" awards.  Here goes...

Jasmine at A Yellow Rose of Texas

Linda Pressman at BarMitzvahzilla

Susan at I Think; Therefore, I Yam

Rawkynrobyn at Life by Chocolate: Robyn Alana Engel's Blog

Red Shoes at Red Shoe's Chronicles

Memphis Steve at Steve's Nude Memphis Blog

Liza at Middle Passages

JJ The Disconnected Writer

Dana Martin at Waiter, drink please!

Manzanita at Wanna Buy A Duck

Yvonne at Writing my life away!

HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY

image found at www.weheartit.com

SURPRISE. Drum roll please. It is once again HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY. Yes, you read that correctly.  HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY is back on Thursday.  For those of you unfamiliar with the once again weekly HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY posts, I bet you're wondering what is going on.   Well, peeps, let me give you the skinny on this event...


This is a weekly event landing typically on Thursdays.  The best (or worst) part is that I am not going to explain why I chose "whatever" footage for each of you. If, you watch your footage and are scratching your head at the end, well that means I didn't do a very good job. However, all is not lost. You can email me at rarichards68@gmail.com and ask me what I was thinking when I chose that particular piece of footage off of youtube and connected it to you. And then I will tell you. Then I will start sending up prayers that I haven't offended the crap out of whoever is on the receiving end of that email....lol. Because, honestly, I will tell you right now... I admire all of you enormously so I really hope that doesn't happen.

Also, this is not an exclusive venture by any means. I hope that you will take the time to watch ALL of the footage because I don't pick bad footage:-) I also hope that you might check out the blog of the person I dedicated the footage to because they are pretty darn awesome. If you haven't figured this out yet... I pick the footage based on something that you've written or something that I've gleaned from your personality. Think on that for a while... If you are having trouble watching the entire video (meaning it is being cut off on one side), click on it a couple of times and it will take you straight over to youtube. If you click on the four squares at the bottom corner of the video, it will enlarge it to fill your screen. The escape key will bring it back to normal size. The back arrow will bring you back to my page.

Now, let's get this PARTY STARTED!!!!

This one is for everyone:


This one is for Yvonne at Writing My Life Away!:


This one is for Steve at Steve's Nude Memphis Blog:


This one is for JJ The Disconnected Writer:


This one is for Rawkynrobyn at Life By Chocolate: Robyn Alana Engel's Blog:


This one is for Red Shoes at Red Shoe's Chronicles:


This one is for Al Diaz at Father Dragon Writes:


This one is for Jay Noel:
Click here to watch.

Show and Tell.

Manzanita posted a video of her granddaughter singing in her last post.  I said something in my comment saying that her style reminded me of Lucinda Williams.  I asked if she knew who that was, and she responded by saying, "No. Tell me."

Now, I could have waited until Thursday and posted a Lucinda Williams video.  However, she didn't say Show and Tell Me.  Of course, I can't effectively do one without the other.  So, there will be some video footage included here.  Who is Lucinda Williams?  Tough question.  I have never heard her on the radio and I listen to a variety of stations.  Wikipedia states that she is an " American rock, folk, blues, and country music singer and songwriter."  That said, I have never heard her on country radio.  I have heard one of her songs on country radio back in the 90s.  Passionate Kisses by Mary Chapin-Carpenter was written by Lucinda Williams.  Ironically, MCC writes almost all of her own material.  Almost.

Here is a song by Lucinda Williams to give us a jumping off place:



All of Lucinda's song are so real and gritty. That is just one thing that I really like about them. They are also about subjects most people can relate to, because they have experienced it.  Something About What Happens When We Talk is an experience that I believe I can safely say has happened to everyone at same time.  My favorite line: "I can't stick around because I'm going back south, The only thing I regret now is I never kissed your mouth, Because there's something about what happens when we talk."  Heady, powerful stuff.  Yeah, it didn't work out, but there was something magical when we talked.

Let me tell you how I discovered Lucinda Williams.  It was via a fellow that I was long distance dating Augusta-Atlanta.  He really liked music (all kinds) and was sure that I would like Lucinda Williams if I gave her a listen.  He was right.  After that, I started racking up her CDs every time I came across one.  They are all gold.  My relationship with the guy was relatively short-lived, but my relationship with Lucinda Williams has lasted nearly fifteen years!!!

This is the first Lucinda Williams song I ever heard.  It is the first cut off of Car Wheels and A Gravel Road.  It's called Right In Time.  As you listen, think about every crush you've ever had.  Or that moment when a relationship is just blooming and everything is going so well.  Or maybe when you reach that place when you know that person is the one, but you are still single.  However, you know it's just a matter of time.  Pick your scenario.  But that person is Right In Time with you.



This last tune is my favorite. Yep, that is my strategy... save the best for last. Maybe not the best idea given you probably only watched the first 30 seconds of the first video anyway. hahaha.  However, if you are still hanging in, this song is three minutes of perfection.  It's called Side of The Road.  It is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard.   "It only means I need a little time to follow that unbroken line to a place where the wild things grow, to a place where I used to always go."





Are you familiar with Lucinda Williams?  If so, do you have a favorite song?  Did you enjoy one of these songs more than the others?  After listening to these songs are you now inspired to seek her out on YouTube or through your other music sources? 

HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY

image found at www.weheartit.com

SURPRISE. Drum roll please. It is once again HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY. Yes, you read that correctly.  HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY is back on Thursday.  For those of you unfamiliar with the once again weekly HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY posts, I bet you're wondering what is going on.   Well, peeps, let me give you the skinny on this event...


This is a weekly event landing typically on Thursdays.  The best (or worst) part is that I am not going to explain why I chose "whatever" footage for each of you. If, you watch your footage and are scratching your head at the end, well that means I didn't do a very good job. However, all is not lost. You can email me at rarichards68@gmail.com and ask me what I was thinking when I chose that particular piece of footage off of youtube and connected it to you. And then I will tell you. Then I will start sending up prayers that I haven't offended the crap out of whoever is on the receiving end of that email....lol. Because, honestly, I will tell you right now... I admire all of you enormously so I really hope that doesn't happen.

Also, this is not an exclusive venture by any means. I hope that you will take the time to watch ALL of the footage because I don't pick bad footage:-) I also hope that you might check out the blog of the person I dedicated the footage to because they are pretty darn awesome. If you haven't figured this out yet... I pick the footage based on something that you've written or something that I've gleaned from your personality. Think on that for a while... If you are having trouble watching the entire video (meaning it is being cut off on one side), click on it a couple of times and it will take you straight over to youtube. If you click on the four squares at the bottom corner of the video, it will enlarge it to fill your screen. The escape key will bring it back to normal size. The back arrow will bring you back to my page.

Now, let's get this PARTY STARTED!!!!

This one is for everyone:



This one is for Susan at I Think; Therefore, I Yam:



This one is for mail4rosey:



This one is for Susan at Susan Says:



This one is for Alex at Alex J. Cavanaugh:



This one is for JJ The Disconnected Writer and Liza at Middle Passages:

Take Me Out Of The Ballgame.

image found on Facebook

Baseball is on the brain today.  It wasn't on my brain until I started the blogging circuit.  I stopped in over at Wanna Buy A Duck written by Manzanita and she threw out this tidbit, "I returned to Helena for the Sunday TV  marathon of Jesse Stone with Tom Selleck. I just have to watch every scrap of film whenever Tom Selleck is on.  He really does love baseball and used to pop in at the ballpark whenever he was in town. My husband would come home and say, "I had lunch at the ballpark with your boy friend today." (And I was home doing laundry)  The irony is that little bit was tossed out as an aside. It really didn't have anything to do with the rest of the blog.  Manzanita has lived an extremely interesting life that she gives the rest of us wee glimpses into every now and then.  I added Knows Tom Sellect to my list of Fun Facts about Manzanita.  I also added Humble About Knowing Tom Selleck to that list.

I just finished reading a blog devoted entirely to baseball, and more specifically to the Red Sox over at my friend JJ, The Disconnected Writer's page.  I always come away from his page smarter than I was before I entered.  I suggest you read the blog, but JJ used the Red Sox and "The Curse" that they endured after trading The Babe to highlight how the sport itself has changed over time.

Baseball.  Gah.  We all have our own associations that we attach to everything.  My first serious boyfriend played baseball.  I never saw him play, but I understand he was fairly hot stuff in high school.  I met him in college after he blew out his knee playing football, thus ending both his football and baseball "careers."  Baseball was his passion, though.  The knee was problematic because he played catcher.  Game over.  I watched him navigate life like a fish out of water for nearly three years before he joined the military.  Not saying that decision was right or wrong, but it was forward movement.  Ironically, he had no desire to watch the game.  If he wasn't playing it, there was no allure whatsoever.  Fine by me.

Baseball and I didn't even cross paths again until I got married.  One of the things about which my ex was passionate: the Atlanta Braves.  Honestly, I could have tolerated it had he watched the game like an adult.  It was the screaming, stomping, and throwing things that drove me insane.  When a Braves game was on, I hid in the bedroom with the children and the door closed.  The worst times were being stuck in the truck and a game would start.  That meant listening to it on the radio with nowhere to go.  Prison might have been more fun.  I can't say since I haven't tried prison.

Our marriage was loaded with argumentsyelling.  I remember one instance quite clearly.  I was in bed sick with a fever.  Felt terrible.  I was watching something on TV in the bedroom while trying to go to sleep.  He was watching a game in the family room.  He opens the bedroom door - very excited.  "You have to come see this.  Dale Murphy is in the announcer's booth.  You have to see Dale Murphy."

I didn't have to see Dale Murphy.  I didn't want to see Dale Murphy.  I didn't care anything about Dale Murphy.  I told him that I was staying right where I was Thank You Very Much.  It was like watching a volcano blow.  I can't remember it exactly, but the gist was that not wanting to see Dale Murphy was equivalent to not caring about HIM at all.  Dale Murphy was his childhood idol, and by not caring about Dale Murphy equated to not caring about HIM.  The two were equal.  As in one and the same.  Taking it all one step further, not caring about The Braves was also like not caring about him.  The Braves were HIS team.  I told him that when they started sending him a paycheck, I would care like he wouldn't believe.  Until then, not so much.  I have never seen such fury.

Baseball.  Right now I am 0 for 2.

HERE'S TO YOU FRIDAY

image found on www.wehearit.com

SURPRISE. Drum roll please. It is once again HERE'S TO YOU DAY. Since yesterday was a holiday, I decided to delay the post one day.  I am certain that you thought I chucked it for the week.  Nope.  I am also doing something slightly different on a couple of the offerings this week.  I hope that you like the changes.  I may or may not carry on in this tradition in future HERE'S TO YOU posts.  For new readers, this may all be gibberish.  Allow me to take a moment and give you the skinny on this event...


This is a weekly event landing typically on Thursdays.  The best (or worst) part is that I am not going to explain why I chose "whatever" footage for each of you. If, you watch your footage and are scratching your head at the end, well that means I didn't do a very good job. However, all is not lost. You can email me at rarichards68@gmail.com and ask me what I was thinking when I chose that particular piece of footage off of youtube and connected it to you. And then I will tell you. Then I will start sending up prayers that I haven't offended the crap out of whoever is on the receiving end of that email....lol. Because, honestly, I will tell you right now... I admire all of you enormously so I really hope that doesn't happen.

Also, this is not an exclusive venture by any means. I hope that you will take the time to watch ALL of the footage because I don't pick bad footage:-) I also hope that you might check out the blog of the person I dedicated the footage to because they are pretty darn awesome. If you haven't figured this out yet... I pick the footage based on something that you've written or something that I've gleaned from your personality. Think on that for a while... If you are having trouble watching the entire video (meaning it is being cut off on one side), click on it a couple of times and it will take you straight over to youtube. If you click on the four squares at the bottom corner of the video, it will enlarge it to fill your screen. The escape key will bring it back to normal size. The back arrow will bring you back to my page.

Now, let's get this PARTY STARTED!!!!

This one is for everyone:



This one is for Jasmine at A Yellow Rose of Texas:



This one is for Al Diaz at Father Dragon Writes:

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This one is for Stephen T. McCarthy at FERRET-FACED FASCIST FRIENDS:



This one is for Manzanita at Wanna Buy A Duck:



This one is for DiscConnected at BACK IN THE USSR:

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This one is for Liza at Middle Passages: