tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63594251903718704762012-02-25T11:18:50.099-06:00Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-52929689275627573932012-02-19T09:16:00.000-06:002012-02-19T14:47:49.014-06:00

One night last week while channel surfing the tv, we stumbled upon a strange reality show called "The Virgin Diaries".  The episode depicted three adult female roommates who profess to be virgins, going out on a group date with three guys who also turn out to be virgins. There is no way I'm going to believe that occurred totally by coincidence, but moving on.... While two of the women

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-7589318045425647262012-02-18T23:10:00.001-06:002012-02-19T14:46:03.662-06:00

A single dresser looking much like the one above, it's finish was now a bit worn on the edges, it's once shiny drawer pulls tarnished with age; a simple piece of furniture, bought for my son when he was about eight years old.  We lived in military housing on an Army post in Texas back then.  He had his own room and finally a place for his underwear, sox and pajamas, and the many small toys and

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-9562035462073269032012-02-13T22:03:00.000-06:002012-02-13T22:11:23.420-06:00

When I was growing up we were taught that it was not appropriate to "air your dirty laundry in public." By this was meant that if you had stuff going on at home that wasn't pretty,  you didn't share it with the whole world, you kept it to yourselves and dealt with it behind closed doors.  Of course it can be argued that this philosophy has a negative side, that being that sometimes horrible

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-24830668796356230042012-02-12T21:35:00.004-06:002012-02-12T21:42:36.034-06:00

Our weekends often include a trip to the movies. Our tastes differ with John preferring action and intrigue and me preferring drama, but we rarely have a problem choosing something we are both likely to enjoy.  Enjoy being the key word here.  Today we saw The Descendants, kind of a last minute pick after reviewing the options yesterday and thinking there wasn't much worth viewing.  George

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-77857563641809908262012-02-12T11:32:00.000-06:002012-02-12T11:40:38.293-06:00

This is one of the bits of humor being shared on Facebook this morning. I love Maxine... my kind of woman because she tells it like it is!  I think there is a serious point to this cartoon as well.  The Ranting Monkey and I have been talking about dying lately, or rather coping with someone dying.  The flip side of that is that those left behind must go on living, that's what we are here

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-4340261414505074582012-02-12T09:04:00.001-06:002012-02-12T09:19:25.517-06:00

There's a new kid in town!  Some of you will remember our beloved blog buddy "Spot" from a few years back.  I've begged and pleaded with him to return to blogging to no avail.  Seems he's pretty content with his life these days though, which is a great thing.  Now his son has taken up the pen, err, I mean keyboard, and started his own blog... and it looks like it's gonna be a good one,

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-84353757306681440152012-02-11T12:03:00.001-06:002012-02-11T21:19:56.144-06:00

My new job is all about life stories.... while my primary function at the law firm is to handle phone calls and facilitate an endless mountain of paperwork,  the reality behind this work is the individual life stories that I encounter each day.  Our law firm handles Social Security Disability and SSI cases.  We assist people in working thru the SS system to obtain the benefits to which

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-82492632988461035802012-02-07T21:26:00.002-06:002012-02-07T21:26:40.258-06:00

In the wee hours of this morning, at 2:52 AM to be exact, I celebrated the 58th anniversary of my birth. Wow! I can remember turning, 30, 40, and 50 and now as I am edging mighty close to 60 I realize that I have already lived over two-thirds of my allotted lifespan.  My body reminds me of that every day as it creaks and complains.  And yet, as I look back over the many chapters that comprise

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-53761708769857735152012-01-22T21:53:00.001-06:002012-01-22T22:01:14.084-06:00

Most of shirts, blouses, and coats I buy come with an extra button or two, and I have a growing collection of them. Gathering up the small spare button envelopes from some recent purchases brought to mind my mother's button box. Did your mom have one? When I was growing up this was a staple item in most homes. We took better care of things back in those days, if you lost a button off a garment

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-28205685188164147622012-01-15T21:48:00.001-06:002012-01-15T21:49:59.941-06:00

This past week I rejoined the workforce, not by choice, but rather out of practical necessity.  I was blessed to find a good job with nice people in a positive environment with a mission I can personally feel good about.  None the less, I would much prefer to stay home than spend my days and weeks going off to earn a paycheck.  I'm sure that many, if not most, of the folks I know would agree

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-45381181922585222842012-01-09T17:49:00.000-06:002012-01-09T17:49:07.216-06:00

I actually slept pretty well last night, once I was able to relax and nod off.  As the weather forecast predicted, it was raining when I woke up this morning, but thankfully wasn't cold enough for it to freeze.  Just as I headed to town the snowflakes began to fall, and by lunch time we ended up with a full-scale blizzard outside!  We closed the office two hours early so we could all get home

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-47046416344500226282012-01-08T09:36:00.001-06:002012-01-08T09:36:14.073-06:00

I awoke in a state of anxiety this morning, I could feel it beginning to stir last night. For the past month my stresses have been minor, with the exception of concerns about finding a job, and for the most part I could hide out from the world. I love being home by myself where it is quiet and safe and I feel in control.  Tomorrow that changes. First day on a new job... intimidating.  I know

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-52518686252059668422012-01-07T13:35:00.000-06:002012-01-07T13:37:30.534-06:00

It has been said that there are two kinds of people... those who use people and love things, and those who love people and use things.  I am sitting here in the quiet house with a cup of wonderful blueberry lemon tea, furkids snoozing all around me, and smiling at the goodness of life.  I am so very blessed, not in what I have - though I have all I need and more than many, but rather

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-83553632802230998802012-01-06T16:56:00.000-06:002012-01-06T17:06:13.844-06:00

Do you believe in the paranormal?  I have since a young age, not from any particular experience but from some inner awareness that life existed beyond the tangible realm and continues after transition back to the spirit world. Readers who've been with me in past years will recall my stories of the ghost in our bedroom, though she hasn't visited lately and I wonder if maybe she has finally

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-10775177950853464532012-01-05T12:37:00.003-06:002012-01-05T16:53:25.474-06:00

This post ties into my earlier post Two Small Steps.  The second goal I want to work on this year is to live more fully in the present.  I'm not referring to dwelling on the past or daydreaming about the future, but rather focusing on where I am at any given moment, what I'm doing, and why.  Also, who I am interacting with and how.  Staying focused has always been a monumental challenge for

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-80749057699351089042012-01-04T15:11:00.003-06:002012-01-04T16:11:01.437-06:00

I love the above photo that I found on Google Images.  It says it all... this little fish is so certain there must be something better for him in the big world that he is willing to take a giant leap of faith in hopes of getting there.  I'm sure his friends and family had their doubts, probably told him he was crazy to leave the safety and security of his little bowl.  I'm sure they predicted

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-17840308328452459902012-01-03T14:00:00.003-06:002012-01-03T15:19:15.934-06:00

My friend Louise Gallagher has started a new blog this year entitled "A Year of Making A Difference".  It will chronicle her desire to effect two actions in her life that are closely intertwined... those being to be fully present and to do something each day to make a difference in the world. I encourage you to check out her blog and to consider making this journey with her.  I know that

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-63388452016593891652012-01-03T11:30:00.000-06:002012-01-03T14:28:34.345-06:00

What is it with my family and getting things twisted?  In a recent phone conversation a family member reversed an important fact in a story she had told me just a few days earlier. It changed the scenario she was describing considerably.  When I noted she had reported the issue differently last week, she denied ever having said it in the first place!  No, I'm pretty clear about what she said

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-15664581883857374022012-01-01T19:21:00.000-06:002012-01-03T11:40:55.087-06:00

A friend on Facebook noted that although many of us seem eager to see 2011 draw to a close she didn't want to wash away the good memories the year brought. She has a valid point.  Although the predominant theme of our year seemed to be struggle, both physically and emotionally, some very good things also happened.  John had long overdue knee replacement surgery in January  to address damage

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6359425190371870476.post-2829456794201062682011-12-31T23:09:00.004-06:002012-01-01T10:19:30.205-06:00

On this, the final night of 2011, I've spent a couple hours going back thru blogs I've written at the end of each year as far back as December of 2007, which was just before John entered my life.  (I didn't delve into my initial blog from the years prior to that, some memories are best kept boxed in the attic.) I am amazed at the transformation that has taken place in my life in four years time,

Josie Two Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18388032819905416258noreply@blogger.com6