DEFINITION OF A VETERAN

A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or
reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The United States of America , for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.

- Author Unknown

Good advice sent to me by a friend........
1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19 Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."
27. Laugh….then laugh some more!
28. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
29. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
30. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
31. Sit on your ego.
32 Talk less; listen more.
33. Slow down.
34. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
35. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. Dr. Seuss

Well......the gifts have been opened and dinner consumed - now everyone is off to play with their new toys. After years of the girls teasing me that I am a control freak about Christmas e.g. every ornament on the tree perfectly positioned etc, I decided that I would turn over a new leaf. Having taken a "chill pill" this year, I enjoyed the new smaller tree, put up fewer (but still plenty) of decorations, cooked a simpler and probably more enjoyable Christmas dinner (steaks on the grill, with mushrooms, twice baked mashed potatoes and salad with blue cheese) and simplified the gift wrapping process by re-using all the pretty gift bags from years past - the girls say I'm being lazy - but hey it's earth friendly ! So what did I do with the free time this made available - well cleaned puppy pens and no I didn't get cards sent, however I am sticking with the tradition I established two years ago and am sending New Year's cards.......but much more importantly I didn't do a damn thing with that time except slowed down enjoyed the family and focused on what' s really important about the season....it was a good thing - think I'll do it again.

The last of the puppies left today for Santa's deliveries. Actually Jason the corgi is still here- but his flight to Jeff and Tracy in Seattle is booked for next week. It was fun to meet all the nice folks and hear the stories of where the puppies will be going. We are always happy to know the boys and girls are moving to good new homes. The weekend has been busy - four little bulldoggie girls left Thusday, we drove Tony to OKC to meet his new family from Texas on Saturday and got back to the Tulsa area just before the sleet started. Then the others have been picked up today and yesterday. The house is quiet again and having 15 puppies out the door to new homes just in time for Christmas is a success in our book for many reasons. Congrats and thanks to all of their new families.

Holiday Eating Tips!

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can and quickly. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an "eggnog-aholic" or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it!!!! Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand-alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello???

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, pumpkin and mincemeat - have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips: Start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO what a ride!"

While healthy habits are good, laughter remains the best medicine! Happy Holidays!

With Best Wishes!!

Santa