MountainWings: Cruising in Paradise

MountainWings A MountainWings Moment
#9243 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
-------------------------------------------------

Cruising in Paradise
=====================

The sign read, "Guests on a cruise gain an average of seven to
ten pounds during a cruise."

I stared at the sign posted in front of the fitness center of
the cruise ship as my wife and I were on a recent cruise.

"Seven to ten pounds...that's a lot of weight," I thought.
"That's a pound or more per day." It was a MountainWings Moment.

A cruise represents as close to earthly paradise as the average
person will get. You don't have to work at all. You have a room
steward, a personal waiter, and some cabins even have a butler.

You can call at any time of the day or night and have room
service delivered at no extra charge. You can order an
unlimited number of entrees and desserts at breakfast, lunch,
and dinner.

You can have as much as you want on a cruise and you have to do
no work to get it. That's as close to paradise as most will get.

Yet, paradise puts an average of a pound a day on folk.

Research has proven that one of the most effective life
extenders in rats is caloric restriction. If the rats are kept
always hungry and given little to eat, they lived twice as long
as rats who are given all they wanted to eat.

It works that way with things other than food. Sometimes all
that we want is opposite from all that we need.

I sat next to a lady on the return flight home after leaving
the cruise ship. She asked the flight attendant if she could
get a seat belt extender. She confided in me that she had
gained some weight on a cruise that she and her husband were
returning from.

Thank God that He has the wisdom to not give us all that we
want all or even most of the time.

~A MountainWings Original~

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MountainWings: Green On This Side

MountainWings A MountainWings Moment
#1267 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
-------------------------------------------------

Green on This Side
==================

What if it's not greener on the other side?
Maybe past the fence it's still the same ride.

What if the ultimate joy always exists in the now?
Maybe every moment should take it's own bow.

What if the apex of happiness was always just here?
Maybe we don't have to guide, we don't have to steer.

What if that's why children always laugh so?
Maybe they're able to just let go.

What if they know happiness is not a thing to be achieved?
Maybe they can feel that being open to it, is all that we need.

What if we've become so "wise" we've forgotten that realization?
Maybe once in a while we should give our brains a vacation.

What if happiness is more about our hearts and our souls?
Maybe we can be happy with the now and still have goals.

What if the grass isn't greener, what would you do?
Maybe it's time to let happiness be the thing that fills you.

~by MountainWings subscriber, Brian Beard~

Thank you for inviting MountainWings in your mailbox.
See you tomorrow.

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MountainWings: You Must Keep Going

You Must Keep Going
====================

Sometimes you must keep going.

Life punches you in the stomach.
It knocks your breath out and leaves you bowed and gasping.

You lose a job. . . you must keep going.

You find out you have a serious illness. . .you must keep going.

You have a headache. . . you must keep going.

Sometimes the things in life are not serious but they affect you
nevertheless. . . you must keep going.

You have a big argument with your spouse.
Neither of you feels like talking and maybe not even looking at
each other. . . you must keep going.

Your son rebels and you have a blowout with him. . .
you must keep going.

The bills seem to never end and the money seems to never start.

You must keep going.

There are times that make us just want to curl up, stick our
heads in a hole, and make the world go away.

We can't, because we must keep going.

Life is full of those circumstances.

Many of you when you woke up this morning, for a variety of
reasons, didn't feel like getting out of bed, but you had to.

You must keep going.

In times like those, and we all have them,
remember the blessing.

The blessing is not in that we must keep going.

The blessing is that we can.

~A MountainWings Original~

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Heartwarmers: Special Karen

The best thing to happen to mornings since the Sun!

Your morning thought for the day:
Every parting gives a foretaste of death,
every reunion a hint of the resurrection.
-- Arthur Schopenhauer

We haven't heard from our friend, Corrina Hyde, in years. We
remember well the day we met her at our Heartwarmers convention in
the year 2000. She was one of our celebrated speakers that day.
Today, she shares a bittersweet story on what brought her class
closer together. Thank you, Corrina -- we are so happy you are doing
well.
Tell us if you still communicate with your high school friends.

______________________________________________

Who Needs To Hear From You Today?

SPECIAL KAREN
by Corrina Jayne Hyde

Simply Karen and I grew up in a little country community.
Most of my classmates and I went to school together from the
time we were in Kindergarten. Like all seniors in high school,
before and after us, we all promised to keep in touch. We did for a
while, and then real life got in the way. We all at some point moved
off and moved on.
Everyone but Karen. Karen was our "special" classmate.
Yes, the term used today implies that she was slow, simple and
unable to keep up with us. But when we said special we meant just
that -- she was special! She didn't have a mean bone in her body and
she was completely devoted to us. That earned her our respect, love
and protection.
After graduation, Karen remained at home with her parents. Her
mom died, and she helped her dad with their produce business.
Through all of her comings and goings in the town we all outgrew, she
would see our families and ask about us. Sometimes she talked to
family members that we weren't even talking to ourselves. It didn't
matter to her that they seemed hesitant to confide, or be overly
negative -- she wanted to know, so she asked.
Because of her curiosity, she had a wealth of information,
useful and not so useful, about the class of 1979.
The few times I talked to her over the years, she would fill me
in on everyone, and then pump me for the little details that made my
life uniquely mine. Karen found out I was back "home" and started to
call. Most of the time I wouldn't talk to her, because I wasn't
talking to anyone.
But sometimes, for reasons unknown to me, I would answer the
phone and just listen to her. She talked about the most mundane
things. Where she had eaten, a yard sale she went to, what she
bought. She didn't care that I had nothing to say -- my occasional
breathing on the other end was enough for her. She would catch me up
on everyone and ask me questions I couldn't answer. Then she would
just say goodbye, while assuring me she would call again.
In my darkness her light started penetrating. I started to look
forward to her calls. I started to participate in them. I came out
of my room and stepped back into life.
Then I got too busy to talk to her. Months went by. I heard
from people in the community that she was sick. They said she had
cancer. Guilt ridden, I called her and finally made the time to
speak with her.
We talked for some time. She was so happy that I had actually
reconnected with her. She never mentioned being sick. We made plans
to go out for pizza the next Monday night. She wanted to invite
another classmate of ours that she kept in touch with, Sally. At the
end of that call she said, "I love you, Cory." My mind registered a
goodbye.
I picked Karen up and was unprepared for what I saw. She was
skeletal. I knew then it was serious. After dinner that night,
Sally and I talked and we both felt an urgency. We wanted to get all
of the classmates that we could find locally together and have a
class reunion. Neither of us felt that Karen would make it until
2009.
What happened next was short of amazing.
People we had not seen or talked to for almost 28 years were
found with ease. We had phone numbers, addresses, everything we
needed. We set it for two weeks away and I started making all the
arrangements. No one was more excited than Karen. The "reunion" was
at her funeral a few days later -- just 5 days away from the one we
had planned.
This past May, the class of 1979 met once again for our 30th
class reunion. In the year and a half since her death, something
amazing had taken place. The contact we made with each other to
rally for her, continued after she died. We made a connection, we
kept in touch.
Our class reunion felt more like a family reunion. And there is
nothing simple about that!

-- Corrina Jayne Hyde <moi_cory at yahoo.com>

______________________________________________
Cory is from Atoka, Oklahoma. She says, "I'm working my dream job at
the University in Durant."
______________________________________________

http://heartwarmers.com

Petwarmers: All WorthWhile

ALL WORTHWHILE
by Kathy Whirity

As a dog lover at heart, I love to watch movies starring man's
best friend.
Back when the kids were little we enjoyed the series of
Beethoven movies featuring the lovable but beastly St. Bernard.
There's something entertaining about seeing the out of control
antics of our fellow furry friends, probably because it makes us
thankful that our pets are not quite as crazy or demanding.
The other night we rented the movie Marley & Me. All I knew
about the story line was that it involved an obnoxiously misbehaved
yellow Labrador Retriever.
This dog barked, chewed and ransacked his way through the entire
movie. Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson played the beleaguered
couple who had their hands full dealing with this disaster of a dog.
Even though he was incorrigible, he managed to stay a permanent
fixture in the family even after the arrival of three children.
What I wasn't expecting was how the movie ended.
Somehow I wasn't expecting it to be a tear jerker but there I
sat, sniffling and crying as Marley made it to a ripe old age only to
have to be put to sleep due to an irreversible disease.
As Owen Wilson's character says goodbye to his fur kin I had
flash backs of when I was standing in that same emotional place,
saying goodbye to a faithful friend. Unfortunately I found myself
being in that position twice.
At 15, make that 105 in dog years, Bingo lived a long and happy
life. Like Marley, she was far from being the perfect pooch. Her
worst behavior was getting into the bread drawer and devouring
everything in it every time we left the house. Puppy proofing was a
joke because she always managed to steal the contents no matter what
we used to keep her out.
Holly was a different story. She was the first Golden Retriever
we owned. For the first few years she was a hurricane of activity.
She chewed everything that wasn't nailed down. She had energy that
would make the energizer bunny envious. But as she grew into a more
mature dog she outgrew some of those annoying habits. Sadly, she was
only 10 years old when we hugged her tight and said goodbye as she
went to sleep for the last time.
* * *
*
Someone once told me that they'd never have a dog because it
would be too painful when the time came to say goodbye.
I find that mind set kind of sad. While it's true that the
goodbyes are heartbreaking it's the unexpected pleasures that make
being a dog owner worthwhile. There is nothing more loyal than a
dog. The swish of the tail tells you in dog language that you've made
them happy. A big floppy eared dog with a bone in his mouth just
begging for you to play fetch is worth the time it takes to throw it
as far as he can run.
Hannah and Henry, our Retrievers in residence, were laying at my
feet during our viewing of Marley & Me. Occasionally Henry would
jump up -- his ears perked when the sound of barking was heard.
After the noisy scenes he'd come right back and plop down right in
front of me.
We have had our share of canine catastrophes like digging holes
the size of ditches in our backyard, not to mention the layer of dog
hair that is a never ending battle do deal with. But, would I ever
trade these dog days for dogless ones? No way!
For all their trouble, there is a more than equal amount of
happiness they bring to our lives. And though we must face the
inevitable, down the road, the forever memories made with man's best
friend makes it all worthwhile.

-- Kathy Whirity <kathywhirity at yahoo.com>

___________________________________________
Kathy is a syndicated newspaper columnist who shares her sentimental
musings on family life. She is also a contributing author to the
Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Kathy and her husband, Bill, are
enjoying life as new grandparents.
___________________________________________

http://petwarmers.com

MountainWings: No Complaints

-------------------------------------------------
MountainWings A MountainWings Moment
#1243 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
-------------------------------------------------

No Complaints
==============

Pastoring a church teaches you about as much as you teach
people. Running a business does the same.

As I went to ministers' conferences and talked privately with
other ministers, they often pulled me to the side and as a new
minister offered me words of counsel and wisdom gleaned from
years of experience.

One consistent theme kept surfacing. No matter whom I talked
with, no matter what denomination, big city or country town,
the phenomenon was the same.

Minister after minister told me and I began to see that it not
only applied to ministry, it applied to life in general.

"Heavy givers are light complainers."

Originally I thought, "These men are just focused on money.
They are judging people and character based on how much money
they put in. That's wrong."

In my own church I slowly began to notice a similar pattern,
every, not some, but every complainer was a low giver.
I was not focused on money in the church, I didn't even take a
salary but the correlation was unmistakable.
I saw what the other ministers were talking about.

Even MountainWings is the same.
We have never had anyone who has made a donation complain.

I then began to look around the job for the same phenomenon.
Sure enough, heavy givers were light complainers.
"How can you have a giver at a job?" you ask.

President John F. Kennedy perhaps gave us the best statement for
separating givers.

"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do
for your country."

A giver asks, "What can I do?"
Low or non-givers ask, "What can you do for me?"

We are all mixtures of both qualities but some are more heavily
oriented on one end or the other. Usually every family has at
least one giver. They are the ones everyone goes to, for help
or just to talk. They always have a listening ear and would be
the one that most can depend on.

They are the givers.

They also are usually the one with most unburdened spirit.
Giving has that effect. It helps the giver and the receiver.

Find someone that is a giver, not stuck with responsibilities
that they can't escape from, but a giver from the heart and ask
them, "How's life?"

Chances are they'll say,

"I've got no complaints."

~A MountainWings Original~

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MountainWings: Life's a Beach

-------------------------------------------------
MountainWings A MountainWings Moment
#1248 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
-------------------------------------------------

Life's A Beach
===============

The weather is beautiful.

It is hot and sunny; the water must be cold.

That's what I thought as I looked from my room onto the beach.

I was in Panama City, Florida.
I was on vacation. I took three days to get away alone and rest.
The ocean is always a good place to go. It was a holiday weekend.

Hot summer holiday weekends are usually crowded in Panama City.
The beautiful white beaches draw vacationers from around the
world. As I looked out onto the beach from my room, the beach
was nearly deserted, and there were only a few people in the
water at noon.

My only explanation was that the water must have been freezing.
That can sometimes happen with the ocean.
It can be ninety degrees and yet the ocean can be very cold.

I had packed my wetsuit for just such an occasion.
I usually swim for a long time, if the water is unusually cold,
the wetsuit makes it comfortable.

I grabbed my towel, wetsuit, and keys, and headed to the beach.
There was an eerie silence magnified by the lack of people.

I let my toes slide into the frothing surf as it crashed against
the beach. I was expecting liquid ice.

It was warm, very warm.

I waded out into the ocean, not worrying about bumping into
anyone because no one was there.

The ocean was beautiful. The water was crystal clear;
it felt like a warm bath. It was perfect.

Why was I the only one in the water?
The thought kept hounding me.
This was peak season and a holiday to boot.

I swam until my muscles signaled enough exercise for the day.
As I walked towards the beach with the surf crashing against my
back an old man walked out towards me. A woman whom I presumed
to be his wife watched him from the shore.

She shouted something that made me instantly realize why the sea
was empty of people.

"Don't worry, I'll let you know if I see any sharks!" she
hollered.

That was it, the people were afraid of sharks,
that's why the beach and the ocean were empty!

It was a MountainWings Moment.

I don't watch the news but I knew about the recent sighting of
sharks and the shark attacks off the coast. The fear has
frightened an entire nation into staying away from the beach.

Listen to this lesson.

There are three levels in coming to the beach.

First Level - The Room.

There is a great benefit in coming to the ocean just to hear
the waves crashing all day and night. It soothes and calms the
soul. If I had not gone out on the beach, I would have
received a great benefit from being in an oceanfront room,
to hear the waves, and to watch the sea.

Second Level - The Beach.

Lying in the sand and letting the sun bathe you in radiant light
is an experience. I usually never use a lounge chair, I stretch
out directly in the sand. I can use a lounge chair in my back
yard, when I come to the ocean, I am a sand man.

Have you ever lain on the beach (in the sand) and tapped on the
sand? It rings like a wooden floor. I discovered that today.

Third Level - The Ocean.

Did you know that ocean water is chemically almost identical to
blood once you remove the red and white blood cells? Three-fourths
of the world is covered with water. Three-fourths of your body
is water.

The ocean is one of God's greatest natural creations.

So are you.

I was tingling all over once I got out of the ocean.

So many missed the feeling because they were afraid of being
bitten by a shark.

Below are the top five biting injuries occurring in 1987
in New York City:

Dog bites human 8,064
Human bites human 1,587
Cat bites human 802
Wild rat bites human 291
Squirrel bites human 95

1987 Shark injuries in U.S.A. 13

Am I belittling the few shark attacks and the traumatic death of
the little boy who died as a result of a shark attack?
Of course not, but all too often we let other incidents of the
world block us from life.

I included the above chart to emphasize that although shark
attacks do occur, they are overall, very rare.

I asked the fellow at the desk about it.

"Yep, visitors are down because of the sharks, but the thing is,
there hasn't been but one shark attack and that was in another
city a hundred miles away. Most of what people heard about
happened on the Atlantic side and not on this side," he
explained.

Here is another chart for 1996:
A Comparison with the Number of Injuries
Associated with Home-Improvement Equipment

Number of Injuries in 1996 from:
Nails, screws, tacks, and bolts 198,849
Ladders 138,894
Toilets 43,687
Pruning, trimming, edging 36,091
Chain saws 13,458
Pliers, wire cutters, and wrenches 15,957
Manual-cleaning equipment 14,386
Power grinders, buffers, and polishers 13,458
Buckets and pails 10,907
Room deodorizers and fresheners 2,599
Toilet-bowl products 1,567
Paints or varnish thinners 1,549
Shark injuries and deaths in U.S.A. 18

In 1996, you were over two thousand times more likely to be hurt
with your toilet than by a shark. Who would imagine that the
water in your toilet bowl would pose more danger than all of the
sharks, snakes, and other stuff in the ocean? Maybe since 1996
toilets have gotten a lot safer and oceans more dangerous,
but I doubt it. I wondered, "How do you even get hurt with your
toilet?" Those are the facts. That ought to put things in some
perspective.

Fear causes so many of us to miss out on life and our destinies.

The sharks not only kept people out of the water, but out of the
rooms with the beautiful view and off of the beach.

Understand this:
THE FEAR OF THE SHARKS REACHED PLACES,
AND KEPT PEOPLE FROM PLACES,
WHERE THE SHARKS COULDN'T EVEN GO.

Fear will keep you off of all levels of enjoyment,
even where there is little or no danger.

There are sharks in your world, some real, but most just
magnified to the point where they paralyze us in our actions.

Did a friend or relative get bitten by the shark of love?
Did they get bitten by the shark of business failure?
Did they get bitten by the shark of divorce?
Did they get bitten by the shark of layoffs?
Did they get bitten by the shark of disease?
Did they get bitten by the shark of death?

Did their bites scare you so much that you won't go to the room,
the beach, or the water?

I am typing on my laptop now as I look out on the ocean.
The water is warmer than I ever remember. It is 2pm local time.
The weather looks like something out of a tropical movie.
Looking both ways I can see a mile of beach.

There is not ONE person in the water.

I am not suggesting that you do stupid and risky things, but the
things that hurt most of us are not the things that we fear.

Cigarettes are the leading killer in the U.S.
Cigarettes will kill more people in the time that it takes you
to read this issue of MountainWings than sharks will kill all
year, even with the increased shark activity.

When is the last time you've seen anyone scared of a cigarette?

If you are going to be really scared of something, be scared of
the terribly frightening things, the things that can destroy
both body and soul. A shark can't do that.

Jesus put it this way, "don't be afraid of those who can kill
the body but cannot kill the soul, rather, be afraid of the one
that can destroy both body and soul. . ."

Wives hold back from their husbands because they are afraid that
if they give him their all, he could one day leave, and they've
given everything. Husbands hold back from their wives because
they are afraid that if they love unconditionally, they may seem
weak and lose control.

Both lose, and they lose a lot, because of fear.

Sharks - where sharks can't even go.

Roosevelt said, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself."
He knew what he was talking about.

The world is full of sharks, but the biggest one of them all,
is the shark of FEAR.

The shark of fear is not limited by the water.

So what would I have done if I had seen a shark fin?

I would have exited the water most expeditiously,
making quite a splash doing it.

Then I would have stretched out on the beach, in the sand.

Go swim people, it's warmer than you think, and when you know
the truth, there are not as many biting sharks as the world
would lead you to believe.

Life really is a beach.

There is a room with a view, a beach, then a whole ocean
awaiting you.

Don't be afraid of the sharks.

Note: Days after I wrote this and first published it, a MountainWings
subscriber sent a link with the actual shark attack statistics.
There were actually LESS shark attacks than the prior year but the
ones that happened got more press.

Know the truth...

~A MountainWings Original~

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MountainWings: 3 Things you need to do

-------------------------------------------------
MountainWings A MountainWings Moment
#9229 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
-------------------------------------------------

3 Things You Need To Do
========================

There are three things you need to do.

#1 Repent

#2 And this is important, forgive yourself

#3 Move on with your life.

Repent, forgive yourself and move on with your life.

We have to realize that we can't change our past, but we can
certainly do something about our present and our future.

Yesterday ended last night!

~excerpted from The MountainWings Power Minute
http://www.powerminute.com/p/pm09218.mp3

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Today's KDD: Pool Party and Darrell's Trip to DC

Its Sunday Aug 9,at 10;45

Soon in New York, Darrell will arrive,

Early this morning he caught a flight,

And will get to DC by tonight.

Sorry, in a long time I haven't written,

And herein the office where I am sitten,

It's cooler since we insulated the Window,

And Back East, I did not go,

Work later I will return, Wednesday it will be,

And I did not realize over a month since I composed a KDD.

Darrell will be visiting our friend Mimi,She has been living in DC,

A week there he will be,

They will go to the Newseum and the National Center of the NFB,

Not sure else what they will see?,

Or do?,

And what is happening for you?

Hope your all well,

And recently Darrell upgraded his Dell,

To Vista last Weekend,

Our friend Jeff and his Son Brian, much time they did Spend,

And then the other day Darrell did switch OS, to Windows 7, and it was
working fine,

Until it became toast,not working, so he hasn't been online.

He had an issue with the installation, its at Data Doctors,being repaired,
His PC is on life Support,

And Darrell transferred music files on to my VR Stream, not my Bookport,

Files that Tina provided and Jeff did convert into MP3's for me,

Thanks you three J

Speaking of Jeff, he, Keri and kids were in town last Weekend, July
Thirty-one ,

When we get together we have fun

,We swam, enjoyed the pool and a movie we did see, it was Cute,

And several times, Darrell's Computer they had to boot,

And many issues they had,

And Italian food we had,

I made Manicotti and we also had Pizza, and subs for lunch,

And Chips and fruit to munch,

Soda and peach ice Te

And the kids played with Netflics and their Xbox ,not their WII.

The movie we saw was called Meranda,as said,it was cute, was okay,

And as I write this, the XM Radio does play.

July was a very busy month for me, worked every weekend,

And today, I attempted to reach my High School Friend,

Mary Anne, From Jersey, she is very dear, close to my heart,

And wish XM would play more variety, top hits on the charts,

And some unique stuff, that one doesn't often hear,

And right now,its 95 here,

And will be 104 and 96 in DC,

And humid and 98 there for Darrell and 105 here that will be the high,

And in 2 hours he will fly,

Get on another plane,

Traveling to DC, not Boston or Maine.

Speaking of Boston, Mary Anne is there, so her another time I will have to
call,

And would like to know what is new with you all??,

As said, working weekends and the hotel has been a happening place,80 %
occupancy, usually Summers are slow, not many guest stay,

And later today,

Will read a book, do housework, will likely not be up late,

And last night Darrell's Birthday we did Celebrate.

Went to Outback, since he will be gone,

Do not have to get up at Dawn,

Tomorrow, but another Dental Visit, I will have to make

I have 3 more before I get my permanent crown,

And tomorrow, will get together with Alice, will run errands in town.

Tuesday, will take Dougie to get Groomed, get shaved, he will like that,

And at the Chiropractor, I will be at,

Next door, for a massage and an adjustment, ,its been awhile so one I do
need,

And I am going to go, have lunch and reed,

Another Novel will be red,,

Maybe,later,take a nap, go back to bed? Lol

Do take care,alright,

And I will try and not wait so long before I write.

Petwarmers: Sleeping Aid

SLEEPING AID
by P.S. Gifford

Recently I have been through the worst experience of my life --an
experience that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
My wife left me and took the son I had adopted as my own with her.
She also took a good deal of furniture and other belongings we had
accumulated other the years.
I was shocked. I never saw it coming. Sure we had had a few
quarrels lately, but nothing worse than an average couple. Financial woes
were tremendous strain on us, but I solemnly believed we could survive
it all together.
What she left behind were our dogs -- Sir Winston and Chester.
Now it is remarkable how in tune and sensitive dogs can be. As I
wept on the couch, bewildered and confused, they sat quietly nearby
with their tails down. I knew they understood that two key members of
the pack were absent. I've tried to maintain the usual routine over the
past few days, which is hard when the person you planned to be with till
death did us part was missing.
As a rule, Winston sleeps under our bed and Winston by the open
window. On the first night she wasn't there, I put Winston on her
empty pillow -- a pillow that still spelled provocatively of her scent.
He was restless as he sniffed around. This wasn't his spot. She might
be upset if she returned.
He jumped off the bed and back to his usual position. So for the
following two nights the same sleeping arrangements were maintained.
A dog likes to know where he stands in the world and likes to have
a routine.
To be honest, I have barely slept in the last four days. I simply
replay memory after memory within my mind's eye. Recollecting all of
the special, loving moments we had shared.
Morning would arrive and I would take the dogs into the back
garden as my morning coffee brewed. Every night I felt sure that I
would sleep the next day. The second night I tried some sleep aid and
yet the restlessness continued. The next morning, at seven, the only
difference was that I had an aching head.
Sleep isn't the only thing I have been depriving myself. I have
also lost all appetite. When I attempt to eat food it would lodge in my
throat and I would simply feel nauseous. I lost ten pounds in four days.
Well, last night things were more pleasant. As we all rested in
our designated spots I heard Winston barking. Thinking he was in need
of a late night restroom break, I escorted the two dogs outside. They
ran around, looked bemused, and after a few minutes of inactivity we
returned back upstairs.
An hour later the same thing happened. Winston was restless,
and once more down the stairs and outside we went. Still nothing.
It was 5:30am this morning when it happened a third time. I looked
at Winston and something clicked in my head. With a swoop of my arm
I picked him up and placed him on Sarah's pillow. He responded with a
flurry of kisses then rolled on his back, nestled against my cheek and
fell into a sleep.
Shortly after, I too must have fallen asleep because the next
thing I knew it was 9am! I looked at Winston who was peering at me
through smiling eyes and gave his fuzzy head a good scratch.
"Good boy," I said through a yawn. Once more he attacked me with
kisses.
I am a lot brighter today, and I feel we have a new family routine.
I am also going to try and eat a little breakfast.

-- P.S. Gifford <psgifford at earthlink.net>

___________________________________________

MountainWings: 8 Gifts

MountainWings A MountainWings Moment
#1234 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
-------------------------------------------------

Eight Gifts
============

Below are eight gifts that don't cost a cent to give.

1) THE GIFT OF LISTENING...
But you must REALLY listen.
No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response.
Just listening.

2) THE GIFT OF AFFECTION...
Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and
handholds.
Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family
and friends.

3) THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER...
Funny pictures. Share articles, funny stories and funny
greetings. Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."

4) THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE...
It can be a simple "Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet.
A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and
may even change a life.

5) THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT...
A simple and sincere, "You look great in red," "You did a super
job" or "That was a wonderful meal" can make someone's day.

6) THE GIFT OF A FAVOR...
Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.
Helping elderly cross the road can be nice.

7) THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE...
There are times when we want nothing better than to be left
alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of
solitude to others.

8) THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION...
The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to
someone, really it's not that hard to say, Hello or Thank You.

~Author Unknown~

Thank you for inviting MountainWings in your mailbox.
See you tomorrow.

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MountainWings: How To Beat Traffic

MountainWings A MountainWings Moment
#1239 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
-------------------------------------------------

How To Beat Traffic
====================

If you want to beat traffic. . .

Pick some fruit!!

Yesterday it took me an hour and fifteen minutes to go 10 miles.

I was frustrated.
I was powerless.
I was exhausted.
I was grateful.
I was victorious.
I was energized.

Heavy traffic volumes are a fact of life in any big city.
Many of the local governments fund road improvement programs,
only to close lanes as they improve the roads.

Lanes close, traffic increases, people get more frustrated and
distracted, they have accidents, they cause more traffic
pile-ups.

It's a vicious cycle.

It is often said that a person's first reaction in times of
crisis tells a lot about that person. I say that a person's
reaction while traveling six inches per minute tells even more
about that person.

Sitting in traffic is one of the best times to pick some fruit.

Pick some patience. . .
You'll be able to relax.
After all, you'll be sitting there for a while anyway.

Pick some peace. . .
Try something different --- instead of listening to the radio
traffic reports about the traffic you're sitting in, turn the
radio off. Play a classical CD.
Or better yet, just enjoy the quiet time.

Pick some kindness. . .
Smile at the person in the car next to you.
Now that's really different!

Pick some love. . .
Start a conversation with your spouse or child about something
you know is bothering them. Time spent driving can be time
spent talking and understanding each other.

Pick some joy. . .
Be thankful that you're not the person involved in the calamity
that's causing the traffic.

Pick some faith. . .
Take this time to look up at the sky, observe the trees,
marvel at the birds. Think about your own life.
Then you'll know for sure that there is a God.

Pick some gentleness. . .
I know you have a cell phone, so pick it up and call someone you
haven't spoken to in months. You still remember the number.

Pick some goodness. . .
Plan a good deed that you'll do for someone as soon as you get
out of the traffic. Maybe there's something you can do
immediately to help the person on the side of the road.

Pick some meekness. . .
No matter what kind of car you're riding in, understand that
it's not by your own works that you were able to obtain it.

Once you pick your fruit, your frustration, powerlessness, and
exhaustion will transform into gratitude, victory and energy.

You'll have a new outlook on life all because you pulled over,

. . . and decided to pick some fruit.

~A Mountain Wings Original by C. Elijah Bronner~

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MountainWings: Taters

-------------------------------------------------
MountainWings A MountainWings Moment
#9203 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
-------------------------------------------------

Taters
=======

Taters are a colloquial pronunciation of potatoes and thus
these are the local varieties of taters.

Some people never seem motivated to participate, but are just
content to watch while others do the work.
~They are called "Spec Taters".

Some people never do anything to help,
but are gifted at finding fault with the way others do the work.
~They are called "Comment Taters".

Some people are very bossy and like to tell others what to do,
but don't want to soil their own hands.
~They are called "Dick Taters".

Some people are always looking to cause problems by asking
others to agree with them. It is too hot or too cold, too sour
or too sweet.
~They are called "Agie Taters".

There are those who say they will help, but somehow just never
get around to actually doing the promised help.
~They are called "Hezzie Taters".

Some people can put up a front and pretend to be someone they
are not.
~They are called "Emma Taters".

Then there are those who love others and do what they say they
will. They are always prepared to stop whatever they are doing
and lend a helping hand. They bring real sunshine into the lives
of others.
~They are called "Sweet Taters".

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MountainWings: Doggie talk

MountainWings A MountainWings Moment
#1233 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
-------------------------------------------------

Doggie Talk
============

In the country at my grandmother's house, I was in the back yard
with my son. He saw a dog walking across the yard.

"Daddy, how do you say, come to me, to a dog?" he asked.

A child can ask simple questions that have universal and far
reaching implications.

There is no doggy language that literally says, "Come to me."
You have to say it through tone and gesture. A dog has to FEEL
that you want him to come to you and the dog has to feel that
it's safe and beneficial for him to come to you.

It's the same with people. We really don't say, "Be my friend"
with words. We do it with tone and gesture and we have to make
the other person feel that it's safe and beneficial for them to
be our friend, wife, husband, boyfriend/girlfriend, employee or
employer.

Even sales consists of a lot of doggy talk.
If a salesperson is rude with a mean tone, you won't come.

I don't want you to think of people as dogs, but understand that
we really convey more on the unspoken than the spoken level.

Tone and gesture.

Dogs can't understand our language, but a dog knows the
difference between being stumbled over and kicked.

So do people, regardless of what your words are.

Tone and gesture.

People with pets live longer.

Maybe they learn how to communicate better on the unspoken level
and it carries over to the people side.

Just maybe we should all learn the secret of how to say
"Come to me" to a dog.

~A MountainWings Original~

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PetWarmers: Like All the Other Kids

LIKE ALL THE OTHER KIDS
by Laura Kelley

My first Schnauzer, Syd, had been owned by a family with kids
before he came into my life.
At age 8, he got lost and somehow ended up running into my downtown
office. When I finally found out who his owners were, they told me they
didn't want him back, saying he didn't like their small kids.
I had no children, and was delighted to have such a sweet little
dog. I soon found out there had been some parts of living with children
that Syd had liked, though.
One afternoon while out for a walk, he began pulling me as hard
as he could, which was unusual for gentle little Syd. I let him lead,
and he would turn right at one corner, left at another, and clearly had
some purpose.
I never connected his behavior with the distant jingle of ice
cream truck music until we turned down the street it was on, and he made
a bee line for it. I bought him a popsicle, and he was delighted.
Eventually the ice cream truck started coming through our apartment
complex's driveway. Syd always heard it in plenty of time to let me know,
so I could get my money ready and his leash on, and we'd go out and line
up with all the other "kids" to get his popsicle. He seemed to have
no idea he wasn't one of them. The children thought it was hysterical
and would offer him a lick of theirs, to the horror of their parents.
In the aftermath, other moms would be wiping sticky little hands and
faces, and I'd be wiping Syd's beard.
In time, I adopted two more Schnauzers and bought a house.
The others learned the routine from him, and I'd have three little
bearded faces pressed against the fence when the familiar refrains
sounded through the streets of our new neighborhood.
Since he was my first, I always let him be the one to go out to
the street with me to get the treat to be shared. This was our afternoon
routine for the next nine summers.
Syd died at the age of 17, in late September, after the ice cream
truck season had ended.
The first time the ice cream truck jingled down the street the next
spring, I reflexively reached into my pocket, praying I had the cash to
get Syd his ice cream. Then I sat down on the steps and sobbed when it
hit me that he wasn't there.
In a neighborhood of mainly older folks and young, as-yet childless
couples, the ice cream trucks must not do well. Their popsicles are
overpriced, often freezer-burned. Some of the neighbors complain about
the volume of the music and the speeds at which they drive.
But that tinny music warms my heart, because I can see Syd sitting
at the door, eagerly waiting to line up for his afternoon treat with
all the other kids.

-- Laura Kelley <lek1 at bellsouth.net>

___________________________________________

MountainWings: The Waves

Hello,
I first saw this message a year or so ago. But this message was sent
again to all of us who subscribe to Mountain Wings. The message is a very
good one and a excellent reminder. Some of you ,may have seen this before
while others of you are reading it for the first time. Enjoy,ponder,reflect
but continue to ride the "waves". :)Look below

MountainWings A MountainWings Moment
#1229 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
-------------------------------------------------

The Waves
==========

One moment you have shortage. . .
The next you have excess. . .

One day you have nothing to do. . .
The next you don't have time to get it all done. . .

One day the refrigerator is empty and you are hungry. . .
The next you have a half eaten meal in front of you and you are
stuffed. . .

One month you've got money to spare and you wonder what to buy
The next you've got a bounced check. . .

One moment you are full of energy and can't go to sleep. . .
The next you are drained and can't get up. . .

One day you are the center of attention. . .
The next you wonder if anyone knows you are alive. . .

It's the waves of life.
They carry us up and down and all around.

Money, friends, your body, your relationships, your job, and the
rest of the list, they all vary. They all go in waves.

It took me a while to really understand the statement,
"The Kingdom of Heaven is Within."

No commercial can show you that.

Commercials make you believe it's in the jazzy new car or the
big screen TV. Yes, those things can thrill you for a moment,
but it's only a wave. After a little while, the thrill is gone.

I have always recognized that if money and things brought happiness,
then all rich people with things would be happy.

It ain't so.

We easily see how poverty can cause unhappiness, but we are
deluded into believing that money solves all things.

Life is full of stuff. I wouldn't trade my life with anyone,
it's one of the most blessed that I know, but it's still full of
stuff. One thing after another, one challenge after another,
one situation after another, day by day, never-ending . . .

It's the waves and there is no stopping them from the outside.

You can only calm the inside, so that like a submarine, you ride
deep beneath the waves.

Though a storm is raging, you are at peace.

Most are tossed and turned by waves.
Some like the sub, ride deep beneath the daily storms in peace.
Some simply surf the waves and have a lot of fun.
Some drown.

You can't stop the waves; it's the nature of the ocean of life.

You can only choose which method you will use to handle them.

You can be tossed like most.
You can drown like many.
You can surf and have fun while you can, but even a surfer gets
tired and there's nowhere to sleep on a surfboard.

To ride comfortably beneath the waves requires a ship containing
breath that is not our own.

That ship. . .

. . . is not crowded.

Peace - Be Still

~A MountainWings Original~

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.

MountainWings: RSL

MountainWings A MountainWings Moment
#1226 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
-------------------------------------------------

RSL?
====

Are you a Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime?

Pay attention to what you read. After you read this, you will
know the reason it was sent to you!

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a
lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know
what to do for each person.

REASON:

When someone is in your life for a REASON. . .
It is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come
to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance
and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are! They are there for
the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an
inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring
the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die.
Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire
fulfilled, their work is done.

The prayer you sent up has been answered.

And now it is time to move on.

SEASON:

When people come into your life for a SEASON it is because your
turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They bring you an
experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you
something you have never done. They usually give you an
unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real!

But, only for a season.

LIFETIME:

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; things you
must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.

Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what
you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of
your life.

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life.

~©Brian A. "Drew" Chalker~

Stop here and just SMILE.

Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
And dance like no one is watching.

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MountainWings: Lights Out

MountainWings A MountainWings Moment
#9156 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
-------------------------------------------------

Light's Out
============

I live in Atlanta, Georgia and we had a thunderstorm last night
that knocked our power out. It went out around 12:30a.m. I was
still awake, that's how I know what time it started. I went to
bed soon after the storm began. All of the power was out.

When I woke up this morning the power was still out!
My two oldest sons and myself had to get dressed and ready for
school and work. When they awoke and tried to flip on the light
switch it didn't work, when they looked up at the microwave to
check the time it didn't work, when my oldest son tried to get
two minutes in on his play station it didn't work, when my
youngest son tried to turn on The Disney channel it didn't work!

Nothing that required power (electricity) was in working order!
This was a MountainWings Moment. In spite of all things that
were not working, everything was still alright. I opened all of
the blinds and doors and there was light. I could use my senses
to find things that I could not physically see. I realized that
God has given me all of the things that I need.

When storms come your way, know that God will make a way for you
to see. He will provide light when all of man's techniques
fail. So the next time a storm comes into your life, remember
that after the storm the light of God will always shine through!

~A MountainWings Original by Veronica Williamson, Atlanta, GA~

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MountainWings; Judge Gently

MountainWings A MountainWings Moment
#9174 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
-------------------------------------------------

Judge Gently
=============

Pray, don't find fault with the man who limps
Or stumbles along the road.
Unless you have worn the shoes he wears
Or struggled beneath his load.

There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt
Though hidden away from view.
Or the burden he bears placed on your back
Might cause you to stumble too.

Don't sneer at the man who's down today
Unless you have felt the blow
That caused his fall or felt the shame
That only the fallen know.

You may be strong but still the blows
That was his if dealt to you
In the selfsame way, at the selfsame time
Might cause you to stagger too.

Don't be too harsh with the man who sins
Or pelt him with word or stone
Unless you are sure - yea, doubly sure
That you have no sins of your own.

For you know, perhaps,
If the tempter's voice should whisper as soft to you
As it did to him when he went astray
It might cause you to falter too.

~Author Unknown

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Today's KDD: My Health,Work,Accessability and Celebrities Passing

Its 4;35 on Monday June Twenty-nine,
Hope your all well ,doing fine?

I know,its been awhile since I have written,
and my site,some of you have been hitten,
been visiting,nothing posted to the blog,
and your wondering how are, Darrell,me and Dougie Dog?.

I have not been able to create daily doses since the work issues over a
year ago,
and so, the creativity and inspiration does no longer easily flow.

Most of my material I would get on the way to work,at the office or on the
commute home
that would set the tone,
and enable me to compose a Kdd,
and I am out of practice you see.

I am not naturally gifted to write poetry,but do like to write,
Maybe,some day, classes I will take,some day I might.

Not much has happened since,just keeping busy from day to day,from Sunrise
to Sunset,
working, Doctors appointments ,,playing on the net
Visiting with Friends,paying Bills,cleaning out sheds,
dishes,vacuuming,laundry,making beds.
Just like the rest of you
for us nothing much new.,

I am doing much better than I was 2 months ago,
I can breathe pretty well,except,when someone, their lawn,they do mow
I still have allergies to pollen and fresh grass Like I had before,
but I am not wheezing and coughing anymore
not feeling fatigued or having sleepless nights,
nor is my chest feeling tight
I do have asthma and take an inhaler, its mild,not that bad. best I have
felt since last fall,
so,what is happening for you all?,

I have posted some Mountain Wings messages, I get each day from week to
week,
Their message,maybe you seek
I appreciate the MountainWings messages that is sent to my e--mail each
day,
and I am sure you all heard about the Celebrities that passed away?

First, Ed Mc Mann,Farrah Fawcet,Michael Jackson and Billy Mays,
All within just a few days,
All the radio stations are playing Michael's music and jokes are being told
though,some are funny,its inappropriate and rather cold,
and in poor taste at this time, so soon after,
Despite the fact some of them trigger laughter.

Speaking of laughter,I go into an asthma attack then. its kind of scary and
uncomfortable indeed,
and recently,another Dean Koontz Novel I did read.

Its called "Relentless" and one that I would definitely recommend,
Its excellent! lots of twist and turns till the very end.

Anyway, The Celebrities that just passed,were Icons, part of the TV
generation
I am sure everybody across the nation,
and around the world,heard. I am sure to many,a shock
I Remember, Star Search,Charlie's Angels and Michael doing the Moon Walk.
I didn't think much of him but his music ,did enjoy,
He was in show business since a very young boy
Remember the Jackson Five,
Still can't believe,none of these People are Alive.

Farrah was a strong lady, her cancer she fought,
I am sure treatment she sought,
but the battle she lost,she is at peace,at rest
That is for the best.

Darrell is doing fine,
Spending much time online,
Blogging and Tweeting,
many discussions he is leading,
on accessibility,
to help those of us who can't see.

He is applying skills he learned in his journalism classes this past year,
and is hoping to have a career,
in this field,combine his knowledge of technology and his passion to help
others,not just in our nation, but all Continents,
sometimes,often,these discussions,get intense,
are quite lively indeed,
why don't you go read,
his blog,go see,
Right now,Darrell,the NFB and ACB,
Are all suing ASU ,
Will be interesting when,this is all through.

Darrell and these two blind organizations filed a complaint because of the
Kindle device not being accessible,blind students,it,they can't use
Perhaps, this article,reached the news?
That you red all about it? if not take a look,
The Kindle can readE -books,and we can't
I am sure,some do rant,
and rave,think the lawsuit is pointless,Resources should be allocated
another way,
and this became public just the other day

Blind Students should have access to the same information and be able to
use any tech device,as their sighted classmates,
and Evidently,they are suing 5 Universities,not sure which other ones or
states,
Don't know, if this will go to Trial,
I am sure,it will take awhile.

Darrell is a plaintiff in this case,says Testifying,would be fun,
What wil be the outcome,when this is done?

This is giving him a great opportunity to help the blind and incorporate his
journalistic techniques ,be a reporter,to investigate,
on this subject,has had debates,
Though,much,right now,he can't say,without seeking legal council ahead of
time,
and other things he is blogging about online.

Mostly reporting about sites that don't have Audio CAPTCHA or web sites
that we can't shop on, and access due to security measures that are taken,
I think some progress he is making.

He is interviewing,conducting research and utilizing knowledge gained,
being proactive,despite those who have complained,
He has been a writing fool,
Also he too,is reading Novels and swimming in the pool.

He will ,should be starting a Campus job very soon at ASU,
He will be a Research Assistant,that is what he will do

Dougie Dog is fine,is the same old adorible dog,
He is mentioned,here often on the blog
He is getting old and medicine he is taking,has trouble with his
Bowels,
Garks some, but doesnot howell,
at the moon,
or the wind or the rain or sleet lol,
and he too,doesn't like this heat.

Its getting wicked hot 107,but it will get cooler,not by much,
expecting rain,with you all,love to keepin touch.

Work from a business perspective has been great,
We are sold out,more than most Hotels in the Valley or the state,
Witch in many ways is a very good thing,But it snot even Labor Day. Then,
we will be in full swing

The types of Guests that stay are not the same,that we get,when in Season,
The much lower rates is likely the reason
Rates reduced in half and also locals come stay,
so we have more folks here, to have fun,play
rather,then conducting Business
we have Families come to the West,
and some do Business. our meeting Space is being filled by groups,various
corporations,
or people on vacation

WE have the Championship Golf,the 3-story slide,numerous of pools and tennis
Courts,
Some dressed in Suits while others in shorts
or bathing suits every attire,all kinds of shoes,
and several activities,like you were on a cruise
From boat rides to dive-in movies on a Saturday night,
to dinner under candle light
Nice comfy beds,bike trails and horseback
its no wonder guest come back,
and stay with us. I am grateful,glad,
but,these days, many rough days I have had,,
has been stressful ,hectic and crazy,
There is much work,no time for boredom or being lazy lol.

Phone lines ringing off the hook,radio's beeping,and my computer
talking,jabbering away,
taking several requests an hour throughout the day,
much to juggle,need to prioritize,
This is very wise.

While most are Celebrating our Country's Independence,with Fireworks and
picnic fun,
I will have much work,that will have to be done,
I will be working the entire Holiday,which is a bummer,
but,will take a few vacation days later in the summer.

We plan on having Jeff and Keri and Kids down in late July,
we all love Pool parties,swimming,barbecues,that is why
will celebrate Birthday's. Darrell's,Jeff's, Keri's and their son
David's,not Brian's or mine,
will spend less time on line,
will not be composing KDd's,facebooking or tweeting
But visiting,swimming and eating. lol

Also, hoping to take a weekend trip to San Diego,Visit,Darrell,Ruthie and
me
and later, Darrell may see our Friend Mimi in Washington Dc.

I miss Ruthie,the Ocean,and would be a nice change from this Desert heat
I was 3 when Ruthie and I did meet.

We intend to go home for Christmas this year. its my turn,so New England
,We should be able to go,
to visit family,celebrate Christmas and playin the snow
Though,it seems every time, it melts the day we arrive and snows again,when
we leave,heading back West
still have a nice time
telling stories,sharing what is happening,having wine
,seeing everyone,exchanging gifts,catching up on rest.

Do hope we all can get together?, The entire Family,is that,a possibility?
that everybody we can see,
at the same time,same place, be more than cool,
and its hard to believe that my Niece Jo Anna will be starting High School ,
This Fall,
Her Brother Bobby a Junior,Katie in 6 TH,and the little ones,in Kindergarten
and Nursery School,Emma and Marin,oh,how fast they grow,
You know?
Well,3 hours have come and gone,
since I began this,have to get up before dawn
work tomorrow and then off again,
Try and be in bed before ten
I just had to compose at least one last Kdd before this month ends
for now, take care,my Family and Friends. ,