Random Acts of Kindness

Yesterday, I received a box containing the handmade items LadyStyx made just for me as part of a giveaway via Dorkys Ramos' giveaway.

I was tickled pink with Dorkys' giveaway items. They were so "me" and I still smile when I think about them - which is every day since one of the items is on my desk.

What would LadyStyx send an old guy like me?


A cute little monkey holding his security banana, a monkey with his finger in his mouth looking slightly puzzled, a dog with a blue bandana with a bone in his mouth, a dalmation waving hello, and two delightful fishes. Her card, was also handmade (by Dorkys)! So a (not so*) random act of kindness trickles along bringing smiles and warm fuzzy feelings as it goes. If I didn't know these two friends didn't already have one - I'd give them the "Warm and Fuzzy" award!

Thank you very much LadyStyx! I am hard pressed to select a favorite - but not hard pressed to find a place to put these little charmers. :)

*I hestitate to call these "random" acts since so much thought was put into them. Someone knows me and knows me pretty well. :)

For those of you that I've promised giveaway items to, they are being put into shipping envelopes today and should be on their way by tomorrow.

Chester Gets The Groceries

I thought I'd give you some lighter fare after getting "all heavy and full of thought" on you.

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On Saturday, my boat-next-door neighbor called over and asked if I would take some pictures of her Chester for her.

Always up for a photo-session, I said, "Sure I'll take pictures of your boating peacock! Do you have him all preened up and have you taken off the Crest beak-whitener strip yet?"

She looked at me (she has a half eye roll and "oh come on" sort of smile) and said, "Me and Chester are going grocery shopping. His father caught some fish and we need some fixin's."

So she, of the one leg, gets off her boat with her crutches and car keys and ambles slowly off, heading down the dock. About thirty yards down, she turns and says, "Come on Chester, lets go!"


Chester wakes up from his nap and leaps on the chair to see where his mom went. He has a strangled-sounding, unpleasant peep.


His mom calls again, "Anytime now, Chester!" I'm beginning to think Chester might need glasses, he looks and looks and then hops higher up in the chair. You can almost hear him thinking, "Where are you mommy!?!"


Finally, Chester understand his mom is heading for the car so he gets up on the side of the boat and waits for the rocking to stop and the boat to drift close to the dock - and hops off.


"Wait for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Chester is not afraid of much - the dock is used by people of all ages, dogs, a couple cats, ducks, and one white goose - and only a couple dogs have ever troubled him any. One dog got his mouth around him, but Chester, in order to escape, went over the side of the dock into the river and bobbed up and down like a cork until he was rescued.


"Mom!! Wait! I got short legs you know!!"


"Man, I'm going to need a nice cold one by the time I get to the car!"


"I hate the holidays! Those people in cars never watch where they are going! How's a bird like me supposed to get across the road?"


"Ooooh look, little things to eat in the grass UNDER the car!!"

"Chester, get out from under the car, NOW!"

"Oh.. okay... Hey! I got dibs on the front seat and what we play on the radio okay?!"

Mom, heaving a sigh, "Okay, Chester...."

...and off they went to the grocery store with the radio playing "Five Little Ducks" softly out the open window...
Five little ducks
Went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said
"Quack, quack, quack, quack."
But only four little ducks came back.
I later heard that Chester enjoyed his Catfish Fillet W/ Lump Crabcake, Grits Version Of Polenta (W/ Shredded Parm Cheese, Sliced Green Onion,
& Fresh Thyme), and freshly sliced Garden Tomato. Somehow, I suspect good ol' Chester isn't going to enjoy being released back into the barnyard when his leg gets all better...

It's About Time

It's About Time
-- John Denver --
December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997

There's a full moon over India and Gandhi lives again.
Who's to say you have to lose for someone else to win?
In the eyes of all the people, the look is much the same,
for the first is just the last one when you play a deadly game.

It's about time we realize it, we're all in this together.
It's about time we find out, it's all of us or none.
It's about time we recognize it, these changes in the weather.
It's about time, it's about changes, and it's about time.

There's a light in the Vatican window for all the world to see
and a voice cries in the wilderness and sometimes he speaks for me.
I suppose I love him most of all when he kneels to kiss the land,
with his lips upon our mother's breast, he makes his strongest stand.

It's about time we start to see it, the earth is our only home.
It's about time we start to face it, we can't make it here all alone.
It's about time we start to listen to the voices in the wind,
it's about time and it's about changes and it's about time.

There's a man who is my brother, I just don't know his name.
But I know his home and family because I know we feel the same.
And it hurts me when he's hungry and when his children cry.
I too am a father, and that little one is mine.
It's about time we begin it, to turn the world around.


It's about time we start to make it, the dream we've always known.
It's about time we start to live it, the family of man.
It's about time, it's about changes and it's about time.
It's about peace and it's about plenty and it's about time,
It's about you and me together and it's about time.

Weekend Wordle

It's that time of week again!

It's time for Shan's Weekend Wordles.

Here's what you do:

1) Go to Wordle.net to create your Wordle.

2) Post it on your blog with a link to Shan's Week~End Wordles or Last Shreds Of Sanity.

3) Once that's done, go back to Last Shreds Of Sanity and sign the Mr Linky that she'll have up - this will help direct those who play along to your blog.

From 11,383 Miles To Go 10 Blocks


It was a memorable week.