Keyboarding skills

Try this out. It's fun!

62 words

Speed test

Frozen Grand Central

This is awesome! I think I would freak out if I had stumbled upon this little stunt. Enjoy.

The Real McCain

I wish I could find the entire documentary but for the moment, enjoy this:

John McCain Vs. John McCain

PAY ATTENTION!

I’m going to preface this post by saying that anyone who reads what I’m about to write and would really like to give me a piece of their mind but doesn’t want their comments published on my blog, I invite you to send me a personal response to my email address at gene.sullivan@cox.net.

The idea of posting some Anti-Bush bumper sticker quotes came to me after I posted a Bush Countdown Clock on my blog earlier today. Almost immediately after I posted the clock, I decided to remove it, for various reason. Primarily because I decided I didn’t want a permanent element of my blog dedicated to this function for the length of time left for this administration. But I must admit that there was a tinge of conviction that I was being disrespectful of the office of President.

I am a reasonably patriotic American and I do feel that the office of President does command a high level of respect; however, I am absolutely convinced, to my core, that our current administration is rotten to it’s core! What the Bush administration has done to our national reputation is appalling. And like the bumper sticker says, “If you are not outraged, you are not paying attention!”

I have several friends now that live abroad that I communicate with on a regular basis (thanks to the internet) and what I keep hearing from almost every single one of them is that the rest of the world now sees the United States of America as hateful, tyrant, selfish, and torturous.

Unfortunately I don’t believe that the world’s opinion has been shaped by our countries terrible behavior over the last six years. But rather, it’s because of the 2004 election and the associated public support our country had for Bush and his policies. In the past when our government screwed up, folks in other countries would give us the benefit of the doubt, and they were often proved correct: American’s would not tolerate tyranny on their watch But under Bush, the American people explicitly embraced tyranny on their own behalf by re-electing him, thus revealing a hateful side of our national character that we had not revealed quite so clearly before. The difference in our standing in the world now is that we have showed the world that the American people are in fact capable of these things I mention: hate, tyranny, selfishness, torture, etc. I guess in truth, you really can’t blame Bush, he didn’t re-elect himself.

Which brings me to the meat of my message. Folks, we need a change. And we need a change which provides us someone that can help restore America’s reputation in the world. Someone that will promote our interests, while ensuring security and advancing our values.

Our world is facing colossal global problems during the next presidential term (climate change, poverty, disease, and terrorism) that will require us to be strong and engaging. Make certain friend, that you are paying attention and that the person you support can fit the bill!

Okay, let me have it… really give it to me! www.gene.sullivan@cox.net

I'm Exhausted...

...but I have to punch out something. I can't blow a New Year's Resolution in only three days. I had a full body massage this a.m. and worked for 10 hours right afterwards. UGH! So needless to say, I'm really tired.

More tomorrow....

Bo's goin' to Yellowstone!

I'm happy to announce that Bo was offered a summer job at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming! He's supposed to report in at Gardiner, MT on June 4th. We're very excited for him!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"Let's Make This The Best Year Ever!"

There's a phrase that we regularly say at work that goes like this, “Let’s make this the best night ever!” It’s a phrase that's always spoken with just a slight hint of sarcasm. But it's a phrase that never ceases to put a smile on the face of those within ear shot. I hear it almost every day. It’s a phrase often quoted after one is greeted with an unpleasant task; or upon arrival on a day when traffic is unusually high. But it's a phrase that gives us hope that we can arrive at the end of the day still with a smile on our face.

My challenge to you today, “Let’s make this the best year ever!” Towards that effort, let me offer a few ways to deal with the things that may come your way and try and steal away peace of mind and happiness this year:

1. Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

2. Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

3. Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

4. Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

5. If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

6. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

7. It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply be kind to others.

8. Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

9. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

10. Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

11. The second mouse gets the cheese.

12. When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

13. Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

14. You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

15. Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

16. We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box..

17. A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Have an awesome year, the best ever!

Goodbye 2007

I have about an hour and 7 minutes to say goodbye to 2007. I don't think I'm going to miss it too much. It's difficult to take my mind off all its atrocities: The massacre at Virginia Tech, the recent assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Bhutto, the continuing nuclear standoff with Iraq, unrest in Myanmar and George Bush's ongoing war in Iraq... the deadly bridge collapse in Minnesota, wildfires in California and Greece, a rise in foreclosures, huge fuel prices... and worst of them all, the spectacle surrounding Anna Nicole Smith's death (enough already)... Never has the term goodbye been more appropriate! GOODbye 2007.

Hello 2008! I hope you'll bring us better times. I am hopeful; although, with the freaks we're turning out in our schools, still another year of Bush (God help us), Global warming and a media force out to publish and broadcast what sells, I'm not too hopeful. I think perhaps one of my resolutions should be to turn off the TV and disconnect the high speed internet.

We bade adieu to many celbs this year. A few of note: Luciano Pavorotti, Dan Fogelberg, Evil Knievel, Robert Goulet, Merv Griffin, Tom Snyder, Tammy Faye Messner, Charles Nelson Reilly, Beverly Sills, Porter Wagoner, Joel Siegel, Dick "Mr. Wipple" Wilson, Lady Bird Johnson, Liz Claiborne, Tommy Newsome, Don Ho, Marcel Marceau and Larry "Bud" Melman. They were wonderful entertainment and inspiration.

On a much more personal note, I will dearly miss Derek Masters. Derek was one of Kip's best buds during high school and a close friend to everyone in our family. His life was cut short on November 10th when he was killed in a motorcycle accident in North Carolina. I will miss his spontaneous visits when he was home on a leave. I will miss his wonderful grin and innocent temperament. One would never have guessed this wonderful young man would grow up to be a Sergeant in the US Marine Corps, but he did. We were and are so proud of his accomplishmens and service. Our hearts and prayers go out to Mike and kelly and the rest of Derek's family.

Well, I have 5 minutes left. Let me take that time to say how much I love & appreciate my family; my wonderful wife, Chris (today is our 7th wedding anniversary); my stepson Kip & his wife Jessica, they are such a terrific team; my precious step-daughter Jewell who is amazing; and my most incredible stepson Bo, who I hope never doubts the depth of my love. I love them all so much.

May you be blessed in 2008!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Kids

Here are a couple pics of the kids from our recent trip to Colorado.











Kip & Jessica





Bo & Jewell

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Skype hype!

I now have a Skype name: GeneSullivan

If you are not familiar with Skype (it rhymes with type), it's a software program created to allows users to make telephone calls from their computer to other Skype users free of charge, or to landlines and cell phones for a fee. Additional features include instant messaging, file transfer, short message service, video conferencing and its ability to circumvent firewalls. It's pretty cool. Last night I had video conversation with my pal Brady in Romania that lasted about an hour and a half and it was just as clear as could be. It was terrific.

Log in today, download the program, and get connected! www.skype.com If you have question or problems getting signed up, let me know and I will try and help you.

Cheers!

Friendships vs. True Friends

"A "friendship" is a relationship which involves mutual knowledge, esteem (honor, revere, respect), and affection. Friends will welcome each other's company and exhibit loyalty towards each other, often to the point of altruism (the principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others). Their tastes will usually be similar and may converge, and they will share enjoyable activities. They will also engage in mutually helping behavior, such as exchange of advice and the sharing of hardship. A friend is someone who may often demonstrate reciprocating and reflective behaviors. Yet for many, friendship is nothing more than the trust that someone or something will not harm them. Value that is found in friendships is often the result of a friend demonstrating on a consistent basis: the tendency to desire what is best for the other, sympathy and empathy, honesty, perhaps in situations where it may be difficult for others to speak the truth, especially in terms of pointing out the perceived faults of one's counterpart mutual understanding."

"A 'true friend' is one who supports their own friends through emotional difficulties. This term also denotes a large degree of altruism (the principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others), in that the true friend often sacrifices something of his or her own (usually their time and resources) in order to help the friend in need. True friends also are known to be very rare. A true friend may not be your best friend but someone who you know will be there for you."

I thank G-d for all the TRUE FRIENDS that I have.

Meet Invisible Gene

Your Superpower Should Be Invisibility

You are stealth, complex, and creative. You never face problems head on. Instead, you rely on your craftiness to get your way. A mystery to others, you thrive on being a little misunderstood. You happily work behind the scenes... because there's nothing better than a sneak attack! Why you would be a good superhero: You're so sly, no one would notice... not even your best friends Your biggest problem as a superhero: Missing out on all of the glory that visible superheroes get

What Should Your Superpower Be?

HOW WE GO OUT

Make certain you are not drinking anything when you watch this video because if you do, it will surely come out your nose when you laugh so hard!

Neiman Marcus Cookies

One of the reasons I'm getting anxious for Thanksgiving is so I can make some Neiman Marcus cookies. I LOVE these cookies! I’ve made them several years now for Thanksgiving. They are by far and above my favorite. I believe it was my older sister Cindy that introduced me to them about 20 years ago and I have loved them ever since.

Somehow in the last year I misplaced my recipe for them though. So today I went online to search for the recipe. The first place I found was actually the Neiman Marcus website. They had a story and the recipe listed. But, it was NOT the recipe that I have used all these years. My recipe has oatmeal. The one on the Neiman Marcus site did not have oatmeal. MYSTERY! Makes me wonder, did they post a bogus recipe so people don't really have their recipe OR is the recipe that I had an entirely different one, never really from Neiman Marcus (probably the latter)?

Well, fortunately, I found the recipe that I have used and will continue to make the cookies this way. Here's the recipe if you want a real treat:

(Recipe may be halved):

2 cups butter
4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups brown sugar
5 cups blended oatmeal (measure oatmeal and blend in blender to a fine powder)
24 oz. chocolate chips
1 tsp. salt
1 8 oz. Hershey bar (grated)
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
3 cups chopped nuts (your choice)
2 tsp. vanilla

Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla; mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey bar and nuts. Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 112 cookies.

Shape of my heart

Prepare to be AMAZAED!

YATES

THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE

by W.B.Yates


I WILL arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

50 Things I Like

I don't know what's up with the list thing, I guess I've seen a lot lately. Here's my latest. It's all about me. 50 things I like:

1. good friends
2. planning a vacation
3. nighttime
4. cheese--all kinds
5. the Brown Pelican restaurant in Santa Barbara
6. Saturday morning coffee on the beach
7. cool Autumn nights
8. hot summer days
9. walking in snow under a full moon
10. Thanksgiving road trips
11. scalp massages
12. my mom's hugs & kisses (dad's, too)
13. wearing my dad's class ring
14. the last 5 minutes of a plane ride
15. waking up from anesthesia
16. red wine
17. the smell of eucalyptus
18. lasagna
19. Sushi
20. peach cider
21. crossword puzzles
22. magazines
23. knitting and crocheting
24. Torah study
25. down comforters
26. the movie "Rudy"
27. adventure traveling
28. my cat Jaki
29. thin crust pizza
30. hearing my step-daughters voice on the phone
31. that last glance at night of my step-son sleeping
32. Kenny Chesney's song "Old Blue Chair"
33. maps
34. family reunions
35. motivational books
36. drinking coffee
37. being right
38. strawberry lemonade
39. buying flowers
40. Dairy Milk milk chocolate bars
41. napping in a hammock
42. grocery shopping at 2 a.m.
43. a good, medium rib eye steak
44. surfing the internet
45. laughing so hard I cry
46. chocolate pecan pie
47. Seeing a good play
48. Wahoo fish tacos
49. cheering for Notre Dame
50. dreaming

WHO* Avian Flu Update

Avian influenza – situation in Indonesia – update 17

2 October 2007

The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has announced a new case of human infection of H5N1 avian influenza. A 21-year-old male from Jakarta Province developed symptoms on 18 September, was hospitalized on 25 September and died in hospital on 28 September. The investigation found that the case was an egg seller in a traditional market. All of the contacts remain healthy, where they will continue to be monitored for ten days after their last contact with the case.

Of the 107 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 86 have been fatal. (80.37%)

*World Health Organization

Hollywood Squares

And now for something a little lighter...

If you remember the original Hollywood Squares and it's comics, this may bring a tear to your eyes. These great questions and answers are from the days when "Hollywood Squares" game show responses were spontaneous, not scripted, as they are now. Peter Marshall was the host asking the questions, of course.

Q: Do female frogs croak?
A: (Paul Lynde) "If you hold their little heads under water long enough."

Q: If you're going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be?
A: (Charley Weaver) "Three days of steady drinking should do it."

Q: True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years?
A: (George Gobel) "Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes."

Q: You've been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a man or a woman?
A: (Don Knotts) "That's what's been keeping me awake."

Q: According to Cosmopolitain, if you meet a stranger at a party, and you think that he is attractive, is it okay to come out and ask him if he's married?
A: (Rose Marie) "No, wait until morning."

Q: Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?
A: (Charley Weaver) "My sense of decency."

Q: In Hawaiian, does it take more than three words to say "I Love You"?
A: (Vincent Price) "No, you can say it with a pineapple and a twenty."

Q: What are "Do It," "I Can Help," and "I Can't Get Enough"?
A: (George Gobel) "I don't know, but it's coming from the next apartment."

Q: As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?
A: (Rose Marie) "You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll give you a gesture you'll never forget."

Q: Paul, why do Hell's Angels wear leather?
A: (Paul Lynde) "Because chiffon wrinkles too easily."

Q: Charley, you've just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get any during the first year?
A: (Charlie Weaver) "Of course not, I'm too busy growing strawberries."

Q: In bowling, what's a perfect score?
A: (Rose Marie) "Ralph, the pin boy."

Q: It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps. One is politics, what is the other?
A: (Paul Lynde) "Tape measures."

Q: During a tornado, are you safer in the bedroom or in the closet?
A: (Rose Marie) "Unfortunately Peter, I'm always safe in the bedroom."

Q: Can boys join the Camp Fire Girls?
A: (Marty Allen) "Only after lights out."

My Personal Favorite:
Q: When you pat a dog on it's head he will wag his tail. What will a goose do?
A: (Paul Lynde) "Make him bark?"

Q: If you were pregnant for two years, what would you give birth to?
A: (Paul Lynde) "Whatever it is, it would never be afraid of the dark."

Q: According to Ann Landers, is there anything wrong with getting into the habit of kissing a lot of people?
A: (Charley Weaver) "It got me out of the Army."

Q: It is the most abused and neglected part of your body, what is it?
A: (Paul Lynde) "Mine may be abused, but it certainly isn't neglected."

Q: Back in the old days, when Great Grampa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying to do?
A: (George Gobel) "Get it in his mouth."

Q: Who stays pregnant for a longer period of time, your wife or your elephant?
A: (Paul Lynde) "Who told you about my elephant?"

Q: Jackie Gleason recently revealed that he firmly believes in them and has actually seen them on at least two occassions. What are they?
A: (Charley Weaver) "His feet."

Q: According to Ann Landers, what are two things you should never do in bed?
A: (Paul Lynde) "Point and laugh."

We don't stop laughing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop laughing!