In preparation for making Christmas gifts I asked a friend what her favorite color is. She said she doesn't have one. Not have a favorite color? I thought everyone had a favorite? Am I just being childish? Mine is yellow. What's yours?

I'm leaving the little guy's name ambiguous. You could say I'm protecting the guilty. He's a little love bird. I got a call on Sunday. "Please come get this bird today." This from a woman who has been telling me for TWO years that her bird needs a new home. I've told her all along that I would take him. I wish I had been more forceful. Several months ago I got the same call, but when I went to the house this woman's son wouldn't let me take 'B'. He was holding it 'hostage' in t...

I went camping the week of Labor day. I guess I got lost coming back from the park. Bad part is it's only on the other side of town. 20 miles tops. Yet, it's taken me some 45 or so days to find my way back to JU. I've thought about everyone here. Wondered what's up with everyone. Well, I'm back. Let the questions resume....

The other day I was at the library using a computer. The computers are scattered around the library so there's no separate lab. There were two little girls playing on a computer near me. They were the cutest things and just full of giggles. The got up and walked away from the computer. A few minutes later they came running by me and one of them bumped into me. I said, "Girls, please no running." The slowed down and quited down. But then, I thought, do I have the right to say anythin...

Monday Classes started at the local college. I'm taking six credits. Today was the first session of "Oral Communication for Managers." All of the other students are taking it as a requirment of a managemnt/marketing degree. I'm not going for a degree - just taking classes that appeal to me. I'm the oldest, besided the professor. I'm a good ten+ years older than all the other students. I'm OK with that - or at least I thought I was.... We had all the get-to-know-ya exercises. Two gi...

I'm a melancholy person. In general I think of the world in very dark terms. There have been times that I feel like I just want to die and get it over with. I don't feel like that now, but sometimes I worry that something bad will happen and I'll be that sad again. A few years ago I took a bunch of pills and ended up getting my stomach pumped. Everyone thought it was a suicide attempt but it really wasn't. I just wanted to be numb. I didn't want to deal with my emotions. How about...

Can anyone help? I keep getting the login box at JU home page. I type my info in and it just keeps coming back. I just creatated an article and then a few minutes later I can't!

Where do you look at new articles? JU Home? Recent articles page? Forum page? A specific blogger's page? Sometimes I find it hard to get around here. I typically will look at the forums page because I can see who wrote an article. I usually don't look at articles from authors I don't recognize that have no responses. How about you?

I HATE my basement...sometimes... especially when the big black hole in the corner starts gurgling. The sump pump was replaced a month or so ago. Today's rain is the first good one since then. Heavy rains and stong thunder (so strong that the dog won't go out for his evening dump). So what happens just before bed? The high water alarm in the sump goes off. I go down to check it and find that the level switch is stuck. I give it a little poke and it starts pump. I've been st...

Today, as with the past three Saturdays I took my bunny, Simon, to a local rehab facility. It's amazing how something small and furry and can make so many seniors oooh and ahhh. This week two women said, "Oh, he's getting so big" and "He's starting to grow into those ears, isn't he?" It's an amazing thing to see people who are non-vocal respond to him. One woman named Florence looked at him, smiled and said, "ohhh." This is a woman who I see regularly, but mostly she seems to s...

Many times (usually late night) - but also right now, I can't add an article. I just keep getting a login box but it doesn't do anything. When I click on "My Blog" all of my articles show up but I still can create a new article. What's up with this? Thanks!

Autumn Woods Walking in the woods is a good way for me to relax when I am angry or upset. Anne Frank, in her diary, explains my feelings very well. She and her family were forced into hiding during World War II. They lived there two years, without ever going outside, before they were discovered. She wrote, "The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be alone with the heavens, nature, and God. Because only then does one f...

Hi Everyone, I'm a born pessimist. My glass is almost empty most of the time. I read this book titled Learned Optimism . It had lots of ideas for how I could change to be more optimistic. So my questions are: 1. Are you an optimist or a pessimist? 2. Do you think a pessimist, like me, can change?

I looked out the window today and saw the first change to fall colors. Some green leaves are turning yellow here in Michigan. I'm really a Spring person but when I read that my Grandmother's favorite season was Fall I have a new found appreciation. Camping in the fall is the best too! How about you? What's your favorite season?

My husband and I split things up pretty fairly and evenly: His chores: laundry (he does it better than I do) cooking (ditto) vacuuming (because it makes my back hurt) getting the mail Ironing - mostly for himself but he'll do mine when I ask My chores: Washing the Dishes Cleaning the bathrooms Mopping the floors dusting Houw about you? What's the division of labor in your household?