"Wordplay Wednesday" #2!...

Good Wednesday to all of you, good journal people!  I decided that I am going to try and do "Wordplay" every Wednesday.  I will make it "Word Wednesday".   I am not the best at being counted on for posting, but I am going to try my darndest!  Here is today's installment:
 

                                       

What city, town do you live in?  Do you know what it is translated from?  Do you know why it is named this?  What about the state you live in?

My answer:  I live in Bellefonte, PA.  "Bellefonte" means beautiful fountain or spring in French.  I live close to Spring Creek which is very pretty.  It is a famous fishing spot.  President Carter even fished here =).  Our water source comes from Artisian wells and the big spring produces 1.5 million gallons per minute and has been traced to Lake Superior and Lake Erie through dyes.  It drains into Chesapeake Bay.  Thanks, Roger, for this information!  "Pennsylvania" comes from Penn's woods.  William Penn made peace treaties with Indians and founded Pennsylvania.

What about your town/city and state?

My "Fives"...

Hello you =)!  So, I have been tagged with three different tags and have not responded yet.  I better get moving.  I have to list five ways in which I am "weird" - um, not too hard, LOL.  I also have to list five things that drive me crazy - um, not very hard either.  The last tag is five funny stories.  So, WHO IS starting all of these tags anyway??  So, to get moving here are five ways in which I am weird...

Five Weird Things About Me:

1.  When I am watching television I have the remote control in my hand at all times.  I flip through the channels when a commercial is on.  I HATE commercials.  I often mute them.  I am a channel surfer.  I can be watching two or even three or four shows at one time.

2.  I love pillows!  I sleep with seven pillows.  I want to buy more!  I love them.  Give me more pillows...

3.  I only wear "outside clothes" when I have to leave the house.  In the house I love to be in my pajamas.  I love pajamas.  I wear pajamas or comfortable "inside clothes" inside my house.  This may have to do with being chronically ill, but I change clothes ALOT.

4.  I can eat anything cold out of the refrigerator.  Cold spaghetti, cold pizza, cold leftovers.  I have no "breakfast foods".  I can eat almost anything.  Food is food to me and it can be eaten "as is".  I can even eat most foods right out of the can.

5.  I like to sit on the floor.  I don't like chairs very much.  I find them confining.  I even like to lie on the floor.  I think this might have to do with pain, too.  Okay, am I weird enough for you??


Five Things That Drive Me Crazy:

1.  Loud voices/loud places and chaos in general

2.  Irresponsible drivers...oh my gosh, don't they understand that they are behind a machine that CAN KILL????

3.  When people can't stop talking, and talking, and talking, and talking, and talking... especially when I am very tired.

4.  Greed and stepping on the little guy or unfortunate

5.  This country's government and how they ARE NOT taking care of the children, elderly, disabled, low-income, and hurting...now this might have to do with greed and maybe apathy, but I better NOT get started....

So, onthat note... my blood pressure is starting to boil, so I think I will take a few deep breaths...

John and Krissy went to Hershey this past week.  For those of you who haven't read Krissy's journal, John was to go into The Transplant Center on January 11th, but it was pushed back because the donor contracted the flu.  Perhaps it will be a couple more weeks.  Thanks for your prayers.  I will keep you updated!!  Now I am off to think of five funny stories...

Have a lovely week, all!! xox

Play My New Game!...

Happy New Year, all my good journal friends!!  I had a good holiday week.  Except I was awful sick.  My insurance company (the state of Pennsylvania) decided it didn't want to pay for my control-released narcotic for pain so I went through alot of withdrawal and pain for nine days.  I got pretty darn sick.  I didn't mind the pain so much, but the withdrawal sucked.  They didn't make up their mind what they wanted to do until after the holiday weekend and then they decided to put me on a different medicine than I had been taking for over five years.  So I am taking a new medicine on a lower dose and still don't have good pain control.  I don't have withdrawal anymore, though, thank goodness.  I have been left with ALOT of anger, though.  I don't know why "suits" get to make these decisions and not doctors?!!  I have started my new insurance company under the new Medicare system January 1 and hope that I won't have too many problems.  Ack, wish me luck!

I wanted to wish my precious brother-in-law, John, a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
 
 
  Happy Birthday to you...
  Happy Birthday to you...
  Happy Birthday my dear John John...
  Happy Birthday to you!!!

It looks like John's bone marrow transplant will be in about ten days or so.  They are finalizing everything this week.  Thanks so much for keeping him in your prayers!

I wanted to start a new "game".  I have a love for words.  We probably all do as we are all writers of sorts.  Words are beautiful to me.  I think I got this love from my Mom and Dad.  They always had/have a dictionary sitting around and we are always discussing them.  Words are just wonderful, magical... Well, you get the picture.  Anyway, I am winging this.  I wanted to start some "wordplay" games.  Some will be very easy, some hard.   Some you will be able to answer and discuss right away, some will need some thinking, and there will be a winner, but like I said, I am winging this.  I will be posting a game once a week.  I hope we can have some fun!!  For the first installment I wanted to discuss something I have always found very curious, so here it is...

                             

I have looked at your screen names for months or longer now.   Why did you choose it?  How did you come up with it?  Does it mean something special to you?

My answer - My screen name, valphish, is simply a play on my name Valerie Fisher.  I was kind of sad I chose it after all the phishing scams came about.

How about your screen name?

One last thing... Kellen did a wonderful recap of 2005 and it deserves a look-see.  Pop over if you can.  Great job, Kellen!   Have a great rest of the week, all! xox

Christmas Love...

I received this in an email from my friend Cathy the other day.  I really like it and wish I could tell  you who wrote it.  I like to give credit where credit is due.  I don't know who wrote it, but think it is worthy of reflecting upon.

Christmas ~ Corinthians Style

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,
But do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime,
But do not show love to my friends and family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, sing carols in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity,
But do not show love to my friends and loved ones, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata,
But do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug a child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return,
But rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.

But giving the gift of love will endure forever.

        

Wishing everyone Christmas joy and love...xox

12 Days of Christmas...

The History of The 12 Days Of Christmas

From 1558 until 1829 Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly for fear of death.   The carol was written as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning and a hidden a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves were the Old and NewTestaments.

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

Four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

Six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the seven-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit -prophesy, serving, teaching, exhortation, contribution, leadership and mercy.

Eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

Awesome!!  Susan, from Country Living Southern Style, provided me with this fascinating history.  Thank you, Susan!  One of my all-time favorite Christmas carols!!

My Lists...

I was tagged by Deb of Frosty Thoughts to list Ten Things That Make Me Happy.  Here they are in no particular order...

TEN THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY

1.  My relationship with God...prayer and time spent with God daily is so important to me.  I need to stay connected with God or I feel lost.

2.  My close friends and my family...they keep me grounded and love me and I them.

3.  My five senses...my senses help me live life, and I LOVE to live.  They help me appreciate a song or a pretty picture.  They help me taste a wonderful chocolate bar or pet a soft rabbit.  I use my senses to live life to its fullest and also to calm myself down.

4.  Meditation and solitude...I spend some time in meditation and solitude everyday.  I have to.  It is my time and I love it.  I can connect back with my body and my spirit and find relaxation and peace.

5.  Nature...trees, mountains, lakes, birds, etc. help me connect with God.  They provide inspiration and awe.  I try to spend some time in nature daily.

6.  Seeing, giving and being the recipient of acts of kindness...smiles, hugs, laughter, volunteering, positive attitudes, helping out when needed brings me inspiration and makes my day so much more positive.  They really inspire me to be a better person and make me feel more positive about living in this world.

7.  My journal and on-line friends...I spend so much time with them daily and they offer support, encouragement and wonderful friendship.  I love you guys!!

8.  My kitty cats...They are a life-force in my home.  I live alone and they are constantly moving about showing me that I am not alone and I am loved.  They are so precious, but you hear enough about them...

9.  My hobbies...painting, taking pictures, my computer, reading, making jewelry.  When I work on a hobby it allows me to get out of myself and I receive energy and inspiration.

10.  Humor...I love to laugh.  What feels better than laughing?  I laugh harder and longer than anyone I know at a joke. Humor heals alot.

Those are the ten things that make me happy.  I noticed that some people were also listing five things that were quirky about themselves.  So here is that list also...

FIVE QUIRKY THINGS ABOUT ME

!.  I take tags off of all my clothes before I wear them...everything....shirts, pants, underwear, shoes, bras.  I even take tags off of sheets and pillows.  I can't stand tags!!   They make me itch.  I don't even give them a chance to touch me.  I just cut them off before I put a garment on!

2.  I am almost always barefoot.  I don't like shoes.  I throw them off first thing when I walk in the door.  If I can get away with it, I go barefoot outside.  I have been known to go barefoot outside in the winter-time even.

3.  I HATE, HATE, HATE the telephone.  You will never see me own a cell phone.  I have the answering machine answer all my phone calls.  I do call people back, but on my time.  I know this seems rude to some people, but the phone makes me nervous and exhausts me.

4.  I run fans all year-round.  I run ceiling fans during the day and a fan at night to sleep with.  I like the sound and I like the moving air.

5.  Lastly, I like to sleep in the winter-time with my window open.  Yes, I am in cold Pennsylvania.  I can't do it right now where I live because the window in my bedroom won't open.  Oh, how I miss the air!!

So, that is it.  Hope it was a bit interesting.  Have a good weekend, journal friends! xox

Who Is On Your Christmas List?

"Love does not consist in words or feelings, but in deeds.  It is an act of the will, it is a gift, that is to say, a giving." - Saint Faustina

Hi journal friends and happy Saturday!  As many of you know, my brother-in-law, John, is having a bone marrow transplant in January, if all goes as planned by the doctors.  I am sure many of you know I have been trying to help gather things for John and Krissy (my brother-in-law and sister) that they need.  I decided to go ahead and tell John and Krissy that you all are sending them things, as I didn't want them to be anxious and unprepared for John's stay in the Transplant Center and their time at Hope House.  I hope this is okay with you all.  Your outpouring of love and support for them has astounded and moved them beyond belief.  They can never thank you all enough.  Not only are you giving them financial and material support, but great emotional support as well!   I can't even put it into words what it really means to all of us, so I won't.  I think you all know...

This got me to thinking.  I came from a family of eight.  A set of parents and five sisters and a brother.  We don't exchange gifts for Christmas.  We just make sure that the grandchildren are taken care of.  When we were teenagers and young adults we used to throw our names into a hat and choose one name and buy one thoughtful gift for that person.  That was really fun!  It is a thought for those of you who have large families or want to try something different.  Perhaps if you have a circle of friends you can try this, too!  If you concentrate on one person it makes it SO special!  Also, every Christmas I add Jesus to my list!  This is my most favorite gift of all!  Now, what is she talking about??  I try and think about this gift for awhile and come up with something that is true to my heart.  To give to Jesus is to give to someone else.  You can empty your cabinets of the food you aren't using (or are) and give it to a food pantry.  You can serve in a soup kitchen.  You can visit a lonely elderly person on your block.  You can buy a present and give it to a person that you have been fighting with for a long time and end the feud.  You can place some money in a Salvation Army bucket...oh, there are so many choices!  I pray for awhile before I make my choice.  Sometimes I give Jesus two or three gifts!  Let's not forget Jesus this season!  If you are not a Christian, you can put "humanity" or the "lifting the human spirit" on your list!
                           
                                  
One way you can help humanity is by clicking The Breast Cancer Site every day this month.  They have double click December and every click's value is doubled by their sponsors to help provide a mammogram to women in need!  Thanks!

That's all for today.  I will be back next week with a new game I have decided to start!!  Yay, how fun!!  Have a good weekend everyone!! xox