It Pays To Save!

Just ask second honeymooners Larry and Mariam Orenstein. They married in 1947 and spent their honeymoon in The Palmer House in Chicago. The total bill was only $10.

The Palmer House has had a policy that anyone staying there more than 50 years ago can spend their anniversary in the hotel for the same amount they paid the first time. In the past 25 years, less than 10 couples have taken them up on the offer. I would think most people did not save things like the Orensteins did. The hotel requires the couples to have their original bill. And, the couple saved it along with other mementos from their honeymoon.

The Orensteins, who are Milwaukee residents, are 81. In the end, they didn't even have to pay for their stay this time. Their 12 year old grandson paid for it as a gift to them.

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: The Palmer House, Chicago, Milwaukee, Honeymoon

A toilet or commode?

My Mother always said never air your dirty laundry in public, but she never mentioned the toilet/commode. And this has you wondering why I am doing this now.

Well, a friend of mine told me she always says commode for the indoor plumbing, but was told it was a toilet. To her I said, “I always think of the outhouse of years ago when I hear toilet”. Lots of people do not even have a clue as to what an outhouse is, so I thought I’d inform them.

During my younger years, our small town did not have running water. We had to rely on wells and there was not enough water to put in indoor plumbing. We had a bathroom, but it wasn’t like those we now have in homes – no commode or bathtub. And, the outhouse was down a path where you often had to go late at night with a flashlight. We didn’t give it a thought back then, but I’d think twice now going out late at night.

I remember one funny incident that happened when my younger brother and I had gone there one cold night. In those days, there was a Foremost milk truck that brought milk to your front door. The milk was in coated paper cartons. We always saved the cartons to burn. This one night, my brother had a neat idea, or so we thought. He suggested, rather than light the paper in the carton outside for the one on the outside to stay warm, that we put it in the outhouse. Bad idea!

My Daddy had just built a brand new outhouse, and the floor was 2 x 8’ wood, very thick. But, the carton burned a big, black hole in that floor. I just knew our Daddy was going to tan our hides, but he didn’t. I think that time we were actually saved by the outhouse!

Linked at Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Commode, Toilet, Outhouse

President Bush Proclaims September 24th Family Day

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 24, 2007, as Family Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day by engaging in activities that strengthen the bonds between parents and children.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty- second.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Source: FaithNews Network

Marriage Bliss

Visiting over at Barb’s A Chelsea Morning, you could not miss that there is a wedding about to take place. Barb’s daughter, Mandy, is getting married this coming Saturday. And, Barb is up to her eyeballs (almost literally) in preparations. She is also hosting a Sunday brunch for about 40 guests the morning after the wedding. I have been through this before,(the wedding, not the brunch) and it’s a lot of work!

No matter how much you try to make things perfect, something always goes wrong. It might be something very trivial as not enough food being prepared for the reception. Or, it could be something as bad as the lights being turned off during the ceremony, ruining the taping of the wedding (happened at my daughter’s wedding). You can do without food, but, when the wedding tape does not turn out correctly, that’s a disaster. Hopefully, nothing past trivial will take place at their wedding. We want Barb to enjoy this wedding without any problems. After all, her little Chelsea was clipped by her groomer and, according to Barb and her picture, they are both embarrassed. This is all the trouble Barb needs before the wedding!

Weddings are wonderful. It does not matter where they take place, whether in a church, at home, Justice of the Peace, or in a Judge’s office - just that both are ready for this marriage. Why would I know? Well, on July 6th, my husband I will have been married for 43 years. We did not have a big, expensive wedding. There were no bridesmaids or grooms, no best man; in fact, nobody was at our wedding, with the exception of the Judge’s secretary. Yes, we got married in the office of the Probate Judge in a downtown Courthouse. My soon-to-be husband was in his Air Force dress uniform and I was in a blue shantung dress. He was on leave for our wedding. Looking back, I would not change a thing, other than for my Mother and Daddy to have been there. But, they understood. After all, my Mother said she was not losing a daughter, but gaining a son.

When I was young, I always imagined having a large church wedding. But, it did not work out that way, and it has never bothered me. I see all the money spent on big weddings that could be spent on other things. Guess I’m just conservative. I understand lots of brides save for their wedding day and they want to splurge. My daughter did that, and it lasted nine years. Oh, she would have stayed married forever, but it takes two to make a marriage of bliss.

But, I digress. Marriage is something to take very seriously. We should marry someone of our own faith, although most do not. We fall in love and don’t give a thought to having a spiritually strong marriage. And, this will be the downfall of lots of marriages. Not all fail, but things would be better if both husband and wife were of the same faith, and Christians. When Jesus is the center of your marriage, then you have a better chance of surviving and really enjoying true marriage bliss.

To Mandy and her future husband, Aaron, I wish the best. May God be the center of your life always. And, may your marriage be steeped in extreme happiness! And, may your honeymoon be delightful!

Barb, I already see a proud Mother and mother-in-law. I know you feel like my Mom did – you and your husband are gaining a son in your family! And, I know you already love your future son-in-law. Having been ‘watching’ you and the preparations you have been involved in for this wedding, I know you are enjoying this tremendously. As this day comes to pass, may God bless each of you with love, joy, peace, and happiness. I know it’s going to be an exciting time around your house!

Technorati Tags: Marriage, Wedding, Guests, Bliss, God, Love, Honeymoon

Woman, 95, to be oldest college graduate

When Nola Ochs' husband died in 1972, she began to take classes at the community college. She continued to take classes over the years. Then, in 2006, lacking only 30 hours to get a general studies degree, she moved from her farm to an apartment 100 miles away at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. She will get her degree this month.

Ochs beat out the record of Mozelle Richardson, who received her journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma in 2004. Besides being the oldest graduate on record, the other exciting thing for her is the fact that her 21 year old granddaughter will be graduating with her. They have both enjoyed each other's company. Ochs said she has been accepted by the other students and she fits right in.

Todd Leahy, history department chairman, wondered at first if Ochs could keep up with the other students. After her second week, all doubts were gone. Now he wants to record oral histories with her after she graduates.

"I can tell them about it, but to have Nola in class adds a dynamic that can't be topped," Leahy said. "It's a firsthand perspective you seldom get."

Tom Nelson, chief operating officer of the American Association of Retired Persons, said Ochs' achievement should inspire all of us to reach our own goals and dreams.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Stuck on Stupid

Technorati Tags: College, Graduate, Nola Ochs, History

Passover Seder dinner

I am not Jewish and had never participated in a Seder dinner until last night. A Messianic Christian couple came to our church and put on a Seder for us last night. We learned how to prepare for the dinner, the customs of the Jewish people, and what the Passover Seder was all about. The lady also had special Seder plates that were placed in the middle of the tables,holding all the necessary symbolic items.

If you ever have the privilege of attending a Seder meal, I would encourage you to do so. Just prepare for a longer dinner than your usual dinner meal. You will learn lots of things that perhaps you never knew. The week of Passover is 8 days and ends on Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday, as lots like to call Easter Sunday.

You can go to this web site and learn all about having a Passover Dinner for a Christian congregation.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Pursuing Holiness
Basil's Blog
Stuck on Stupid Midweek Linkfest

Technorati Tags: Passover, Seder, Christian, Messianic, Easter

The Myth of Daylight Savings Time

Each Spring, we rush to run our clocks forward for one hour. And, in the Fall, we turn them back one hour. We think we are giving ourselves one more hour of daylight in the Spring. What we are truly doing is messing up our internal body clock. It makes us have to get up one hour early - usually dark, and it makes us grumpy.

Daylight savings time does nothing to the earthly time table. While we run it forward one hour, it doesn't change a thing on earth. God's timetable stays the same. The amount of hours in the day and night stay the same. The sun still comes up at the same time, although we see it as an hour earlier on our clock. The sun still goes down at the same time God meant for it to go down. "Time" changes for us, but yet stays the same.

I wish man had never come up with the idea of Daylight Savings time. I was perfectly happy getting up at the regular time. It didn't make me feel any better to have an extra hour of daylight. I guess it might make some workers happy that they are getting home a little earlier in the afternoon in the daylight. But, to me, they could have left well enough alone! Man always has to get in the middle of things and foul something up.

This morning, I sat in church during the worship service and yawned! I could have used another hour of sleep. I got up at 8AM, which was actually 7AM for me, and that's too early. I'm a night owl, and night owls like to sleep later. I had to be at church a little early this morning, and losing that hour of sleep makes that tough. But, I lived through it, and I'll continue to live thorugh it all summer. But, I do wish they would dump this Daylight Savings Time and let us get on with our lives as God planned it.

In fact, go read what Ken at Oblogatory Anecdotes has to say about Daylight Savings Time. He's convinced it causes global warming!

Linked at Church and State
Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: Daylight Savings Time

Today proclaimed Religious Freedom Day

Have you heard about this from the media?

Reprinted from the Whitehouse Website:

Religious Freedom Day, 2007
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

On Religious Freedom Day, we commemorate the passage of the 1786 Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, authored by Thomas Jefferson, and we celebrate the First Amendment's protection of religious freedom.

Across the centuries, people have come to America seeking to worship the Almighty freely. Today, our citizens profess many different faiths, and we welcome every religion. Yet people in many countries live without the freedom to worship as they choose and some face persecution for their beliefs. My Administration is working with our friends and allies around the globe to advance common values and spread the blessings of liberty to every corner of the world. Freedom is a gift from the Almighty, written in the heart and soul of every man, woman, and child, and we must continue to promote the importance of religious freedom at home and abroad.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2007, as Religious Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to reflect on the great blessing of religious liberty, endeavor to preserve this freedom for future generations, and commemorate this day with appropriate events and activities in their schools, places of worship, neighborhoods, and homes.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Linked at Conservative Cat
Don Surber
Is It Just Me?
Third World County

Technorati Tags: Proclamation, Religion, Religious Freedom Day, President George Bush

Ford's Gift to us all

President Gerald Ford became vice president by the resignation of Spiro Agnew, President Nixon's vice president. And, he became president of the US by the resignation of President Nixon. This means he wasn't elected by the people of the US to either job; yet, he was loved by most, and considered a good president.

But, I could add nothing to what has been written over at Is It Just Me? - Ford's Gift To Us All.

Linked at Is It Just Me?
Conservative Cat

Technorati Tags: President Ford, Gift

Birthday concert to honor Princess Di

A concert has been announced that will mark the 10th anniversary of Princess Di's death. Her sons, William and Harry, are organizing the event.It will be held on July 1, which would have been her 46th birthday. The concert will be held at Wembley Stadium.

The following acts have been confirmed:

• Elton John
  
• Duran Duran
• Bryan Ferry
• Pharrell Williams
• Joss Stone
• Andrew Lloyd Webber
• English National Ballet

Proceeds from the concert will go to a number of charities that were supported by the princess during her life, and to two of the princes' own charities, Centrepoint and Sentebale.

Tickets for the event will go on sale Wednesday. Those that will be in attendance include the senior royals, including the stepmother of William and Harry.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Don Surber
Pirate's Cove

Technorati Tags: Princess Diana, Wembley Stadium, Concert, Elton John, Duran Duran