I'M WHATS SHAKIN, 
IN MORE WAYS THEN ONE

Tony Walker

What a way to spend a week. On Monday it started with the chills, my poor daughter is sick too. Now my daughter is demanding more time off from school when she is better, so she can enjoy herself like other kids on winter break. Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. My girl will be very upset with me if I don't pull her out of school to enjoy herself. You may be thinking at this point that my daughter is a brat, no - my little girl is Autistic. She does not understand the repercussions of me pulling her out of school, she doesn't understand the repercussions of most things.

The Lounge's target audience are people in their late 30's and up, so I'm sure a good percentage of our readers have some connection to a child or adult with Autism. My daughter will be 12 in three weeks. I find myself asking where the time went. Realizing how fast time is going is really scary. She turned 12 so fast,  and in no time at all she will be 18 and graduating high school.

Lunch Time Poll

Dawn & Barbara

Seems like everyday there is a new reality television show popping up, whether it is the Amazing Race or Wife Swap they keep us tuned it, which brings us to todays question: If you could be on any Reality Show, which would it be and why?

YOUR WORLD GETS SHAKIN' 
WHEN YOUR CHILD GOES TO COLLEGE
Marion Pellicano Ambrose

When my daughter left for college 3 years ago, I bought her a book called The Modern
Girl’s Guide to Life by Jane Buckingham. It was advertised as the “mod-girl survival
kit”. The cover told snippets of what could be found within: “ How to change a tire in
stilettos”, “the Diva’s guide to using a power drill” and “Welcome to the scariest room in
a modern girl’s house – the kitchen” I thought it might come in handy for her when she
was so far from home, and from mommy and daddy who took care of all these things for
her.
Off she went to Jacksonville and her new life.

Wanna Laugh?!?!

Tony Walker

A woman walks into a pharmacy. She asks the pharmacist, "Do you have any Viagra?"

"Yes I do," replies the pharmacist.

She asks, "Does it really work?"


He chuckles & says, "It certainly does."

She asks, "Can you get it over the counter?"

He answer, "If I take two of them!"





      

FEBRUARY BREAK

 

Dawn Boyle  

The children have been home on February break since Friday....I swore once that I would never go through another winter break without going away, I lied.

A few months ago while figuring what to get my in-laws for the holidays,we decided that we would go away together and skip presents. It started out with us hitting Florida for a few days. Getting a house on the beach, swimming all day and bbq'n every night. It was going to be perfect. I was going to find a house, get the flights, rent a car and set everyone up with a very in-expensive get away.

Was I wrong, airline tickets to travel during winter break was going to cost us two mortgage payments and a house on the ocean would be another. Thinking about it....did I really want to spend my "vacation" cooking and cleaning someone else's house?

Wanna Laugh?!?!

Tony Walker

Several men are in the locker room of a golf club. A cellular phone on a bench rings and a man engages the hands-free speaker function and begins to talk. Everyone else in the room stops to listen. 
  
 MAN: "Hello" 
  
 WOMAN: "Hi Honey, it's me. Are you at the club?" 
  
 MAN: "Yes." 
  
 WOMAN: "I'm at the shops now and found this beautiful leather coat. 
 It's only $2,000; is it OK if I buy it?" 
 
 MAN: "Sure, go ahead if you like it that much." 
 
 WOMAN: "I also stopped by the Lexus dealership and saw the new models. I saw one I really liked." 
 
 MAN: "How much?" 

GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY

 

Barbara Ward-Finneran

Get out of your own way... Life is about making a comeback. 

It’s all to easy to decide to put off or wait till next week what needs to be done.  In many cases what is long over due.  I can not put my finger on exactly when I decided that I had had enough.  I know I heard the voice in my head constantly saying you have to stop.  An emotional eater who was torn with every spoonful of ice cream knowing in essence that I was killing myself with every bite.  Yet spiraling for over two years with not being able to be in control for more then a few weeks at a time.  Wondering often, “When exactly did I lose control of my life?!”

My 40th birthday was approaching in the spring and I knew I did not want to start the next phase of my life with my five foot one inch frame carrying a morbidly obese amount of weight.  I prayed for the courage and strength to commit to taking my life back.  One day I looked ahead on the calendar to see when exactly my 40th birthday hit.  And, there was the sign I prayed for, April 12, 2009 was Easter Sunday.  Easter, the day of resurrection.  The day of new life.  The tears streamed and I knew I’d had enough.  Time to reclaim my life and find the girl who felt alive when reaching for goals and chasing her dreams. I looked at the tired, dull eyed reflection in the mirror and said out loud, “I want more and only I can make that happen”.

THE ONE WHO JUST APPEARS

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.”
                                                                                   -Henri Nouwen


Marion Pellicano Ambrose
    
     As you read this quote, did the image of that special friend fill your mind?  You know the one I mean- the one who just appears when you’re feeling down. The friend who listens to you complain about someone who treated you badly and exclaims “that bitch!” even though she doesn’t even know the person! She knows your thoughts and anticipates your moods. She listens and brings chocolate and wine!

SOUL FOOD

Barbara Ward-Finneran 

Only when the walls are allowed to crumble can new light shine in. If you permit it - light will bring brilliance and banish the darkness. Look towards the light and the shadows must fall behind you. Your most empowered self is revealed when you focus on the light within the heart and soul - then the true beauty of life and all it's endless dreams are revealed.

Keep the promises that you make to yourself!

Photo Courtesy of Barbara Ward-Finneran and  Drawn 2 Designs, LLC  

All Rights Reserved

STICKY SWEET

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Patty B

"The Multi-Tasking Method: Eat chocolate while you're fixing supper, helping kids with their homework and ironing your dress slacks."

"Eating chocolate produces some of the same endorphins that sex does. And you can eat chocolate at work."

"24 hours in a day, 24 pieces of chocolate in a box. Coincidence?"

 

YUM!

YUMMY!

YUM!

YUMMY!

YUM!

YUMMY!