WANNA LAUGH?!?!??!

A couple were having marital problems. They decided to do the right thing and contacted a marriage counselor.

Several visits followed when lots of questions were asked and lots of listening carried out. Eventually the counselor felt that he had discovered the main problem. He stood up, went over to the wife and asking her to stand up, he gave her a big hug.

He turned to the husband and said, "This is what your wife needs, at least once every day."

The husband frowned, considered what had been said for a moment, then replied, "OK, what time do you want me to bring her back tomorrow?"

WHAT MATTERS...

Barbara Ward-Finneran

Listening to children you love laughing.


Living with a thankful and generous heart.


Doing what's right.


Embracing the moment.


Loving unconditionally.


Liking what you see in the mirror.


Keeping the promises that you make to yourself!

J.R. MARTINEZ:HOMETOWN HERO

Did anyone call for a hometown hero? If so, I say it would be J.R. Martinez! Martinez was the winner of Season 13, “ Dancing With The Stars”. He was also chosen to be the Grand Marshall of the 2011 Rose Parade. Martinez has played the role of Brot Monroe on the TV Daytime Soap “All My Children” for the past 8 years. On the show, his character was in the Army, served in Iraq and sustained injuries. The role is perfect for Martinez because he too, served in Iraq.

 In April of 2003, Martinez was serving as a Humvee driver when the wheel of his vehicle ran over a landmine. He suffered from smoke inhalation and was severely burned over 40% of his body. He was sent to Germany for immediate care and then to Texas where he spent 34 months in the hospital undergoing 33 cosmetic and skin graft surgeries.

If that alone didn’t qualify Martinez to be a hero, how about this: While still in the hospital, he began talking to other burn victims, encouraging them and helping them begin the journey to recovery. Presently he serves as a member of the Board of Directors of The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors.  He first attended the Phoenix Society's World Burn Congress in 2008,  and was a featured speaker at the 2010 World Burn Congress. Martinez has had a fellow burn survivor, Jenna Bullen, attend taping of "Dancing with the Stars" as his guest and has taped a public service announcement with her on behalf of the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors.

He is called on by a wide range of groups, including large corporations, veterans groups, non-profits and schools, and has shared the stage with the likes of global self-help guru Tony Robbins and Evangelist Dave Roever. In 2008, Martinez was honored as a "Shining Star of Perseverance" by the WillReturn Council of Assurant Employee Benefits. In 2009 Martinez was honored by the non-profit Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) with the Veterans Leadership Award, given in recognition of his dedication to our nation's newest generation of veterans. Martinez has been featured in The Washington Post, People magazine, on CNN's Sunday Morning, on TV show 60 Minutes, and other major national news outlets.

I can’t think of a better role model than J.R. Martinez. His courage, intestinal fortitude, drive and concern for others makes him #1 in my book!

WHAT MATTERS...

Barbara Ward-Finneran

A thankful word.

The confidence dressing up gives you.

Having a party, just because...  

Knowing your blessings. 

Forever friends.

Anticipating something that brings you joy.

Keeping the promises that you make to yourself!

WANNA LAUGH?!?!??!?!

Author/Artist Unknown

MEET MAGGIE

Marion Pellicano Ambrose
Maggie is one of the Great Apes living at the Center for Great Apes in Wachula, Florida. She lives in a group of five adolescent chimpanzees… all retired from the entertainment world when they were still juveniles. Like many others at the sanctuary, Maggie worked for several years and appeared in a number of commercials and television shows, including the Tonight Show, until she became too large and dangerous to work around the public.

She arrived at the sanctuary in March 2005 with her younger siblings, Bella & Mowgli and now lives with Bella, Ellie, and twins Jonah & Jacob. Maggie spends most of her time in the company of the other females in the group – grooming, playing, and resting with them. She loves to clean the other chimpanzees’ faces, wiping their eyes, picking their noses, even cleaning out their ears. Even as an adolescent, Maggie is the most mature individual in her group. She is often seen up in the cupola or in the chutes just watching the others at play. 

Maggie is shy around people and only gives her friendship when she truly trusts someone. But she does enjoy playing a game with her caregivers, where she points at a spot and wants them to run to it. She could play that game all day. And, she also enjoys having her nails filed by the caregiver staff... sometimes taking the emery board and filing her own nails. Maggie is very tidy and likes to wash her hands in the hose.

WOMENS HATERS CLUB

 Tony Walker

This weeks He Said is something I've touched on before but I am bringing it up again.

The other day I was watching Jerry Maguire. I enjoy many parts of the movie. I enjoy the performances of Cuba, the little kid, & especially Renee Z. I think Renee is a delightful actress & she looks SO GOOD in this movie.

But mostly this movie pisses me off. 

What a poor depiction of women. Renee's character is miserable throughout the whole movie unless she has a man. Her whole happiness depends on Tom Cruise. 

Then Cruise isn't ready to commit because his career is a mess. But when his career picks up then he decides to commit? Sorry jackass... you love the girl no matter what!

Then I thought about Eat Pray Love with Julia Roberts. I blogged about that one already so I won't go nuts here.... but that's another movie where the woman's life is not right until she finds a man. 

Where are you ladies? Why aren't you speaking up against movies like these? They're out in theatres all the time!

Now here's my concern... in Jerry Maguire there are a bunch of women who have their little "We Hate Men" club where they complain to each other about what jerks men are. You ladies help me out here... is this shit real? Are there really clubs like this?

Not to toot my own horn but I work very hard to make sure my wife is happy. My whole adult life the 90% of the guys who are my close friends do the same. Are there really that many guys out there that treat you ladies so bad that you need to form clubs to complain about us?

Sure there are guys who treat women like dirt but I know just as many women who treat men like dirt! Are we really that bad? The only club I know of where women are not allowed was on The Little Rascals!!! Us guys LOVE you girls!! We dedicate our whole lives to having sex with you ladies! What is it about us that make you hate us??

SOUL FOOD

Barbara Ward-Finneran

Give all you've got and then dig deep and give a little more. 
All you'll lose is your regrets. 
It costs you nothing but the return is priceless.
Your power for greatness dwells within you - 
Trust it!
Unleash it! 

Live YOUR life - no regrets!

Keep the promises that you make to yourself!

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

©  All Rights Reserved

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RUN, KATE MIDDLETON, RUN!

MARION PELLICANO AMBROSE

Have you seen Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge? She’s drop dead gorgeous! Now, have you seen Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall? She has a horse’s face and hair like white straw. And here’s the clincher – Camilla has been giving beauty advice to Kate! Yes, Camilla has been advising the newest member of the Royal Family on her complexion.  Camilla has been a client of beauty therapist Deborah Mitchell, who treats her regularly with her £165 bee sting facial, hailed as a ‘non-surgical facelift’ – the organic alternative to Botox. The bee venom mask containing about one per cent bee venom, tricks the skin’s surface into thinking it has been stung, increasing its blood flow, collagen and elasticity.