Grape Lady Falls

Twilight Spoof

Dear Gorgeous Girl...a little bird told me

Dear Gorgeous Girl,



Think hard, lovely you, about something that worried you 5 years ago...something that worried you day and night and night and day.....something that you weren’t quite sure that you could ever make it through, and that certainly you did not feel you had the tools to make it through at that time.


Yet, here you are, a brave soul...having made it 5 years down the path of your life, and somehow it all worked out...somehow you made it. It might even be so that you have stopped thinking about whatever that worry was until this very moment....because it seems so many lifetimes ago. You may even be giggling thinking about all of the time and energy that you spend worrying about that problem, because in hind sight, it seems so small now.


This is the way it is, dear friend. We waste so much time worrying. We worry and we worry and we worry.....yet, we have made it to today somehow. Can we give life more than that? Can we just try to TRUST that things will be ok, because they always have been...because here we are today, breathing in and out....perfect proof that we will be ok tomorrow too.


Let’s not waste any more time worrying. It IS going to work out...it is going to work out beautifully when all is said and done. It may be longer than we had hoped, and it mayb be in a different way than what we thought was best...but along the way there will be too many gifts of knowledge, learning and miracles to count that will get us through....it’s just the way things work.


Today is a great day to decide that enough is enough...no more worrying.


Life is a beautiful ride. Let’s enjoy it.


You are loved beyond measure.
xoxo




(Entire post copyright Brave Girls Club - if you haven't checked them out yet, do so!)

After a While

     After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul, and you learn that love doesn't mean leaning and company doesn't always mean security.  And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises, and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead, with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child.
     And you learn to build all of your roads on today, because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans and futures have a way of falling down in mid flight.
      After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much, so you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
     And you learn that you really can endure, you really are strong, you really do have worth, and you learn, and you learn, with every goodbye you learn.

Managing

                                    

Sometimes you just have to manage things on your own.

Banana bread muffins!

These were probably the best banana bread muffins I have ever made. They turned out perfect! Here is the recipe so you can enjoy these delicious breakfast treats!

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 bananas, mashed
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1 cup walnuts (optional)
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon  
• 1 tablespoon butter

 

1. Preheat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 10 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers.

 

2. In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and oil (vanilla and walnuts if desired). Stir banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.

 

3. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until it is a streusel consistency. Sprinkle topping over muffins.

 

4. Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes.

 

ENJOY!!

 

 

 

Dont give up okay?

I know you've been hurt, I know how it feels. Believe me, I do.  But the feeling will pass.  The tears will stop falling and your heart will heal itself.  I promise you it will, so hold on and dont let go.  Dont lose hope.  I promise you'll find someone who will treat you the right way.  The way he never did.  Someone who will never ever leave you the way he did.  He'll be worth the wait, so hang in there because I love you and I want you to be happy.

What I deserve

I've made mistakes in my life.  I've let people take advantage of me and I've expected way less than I deserve.  But I've learned from bad choices and even though there are some things I can never get back and people who will never be sorry...I know better next time and wont settle for anything less than what I deserve.

You can spend minutes, hours, days, weeks, or even months over-analyzing a situation, trying to put the pieces together, justifying what could've, would've happened.... Or you can just leave the pieces on the floor, and move the FUCK on!

P.S.

Do you know that I love you?  I've probably already told you, but I'm going to keep saying it.  There are no lies in these words, not one bit.  Your smile keeps me alive.  It's the one reason to keep fighting.  I would give you my soul for comfort, even if it leaves me dark and cold.  And when I hold you close, I can feel your heart beat fast, and I think to myself.....I've finally found that "someone'"at last.

You've got to remember the good with the bad,

smile with the sad.

Love what you got and remember what you had. 

Always forgive but never forget.

 Learn from mistakes,

never regret.

Thats The Girl I Wanna Be

Not taking things so seriously, and not letting things get to me;

Thats the girl I wanna be.

Not having such a loving heart, or being such a negative nancy;

forgeting all the nasty things people say and look for the good in every situation, if there is any.

The person you want to go to when youre pissed off or upset because you know im the only one in the world who could make you feel better.

Not dissapointing my parents everytime I turn around and doing something right for once.

The person you would do anything to see or talk to. Even if it was for only 10 minutes.

Being able to say hi to my brothers without being called disturbing innapropriate names everytime.

Having a carefree spirit and go-with-the-flow personality;

Thats The Girl I Wanna Be.

If I had one wish to make,
I'd use it up on you.
Just to see you one more time,
In the heavenly sky so blue.
All I have are the memories,
The good ones and the bad.
The day you finally let it go,
And left me more than sad.
I wish that you could come here
And fill back up this hole;
That was put there years ago.
You always made me feel special,
You were always there it seems.
But after all, this is too big.
It's only wishful Dreams.

Brutus

The K9 above is Brutus, a military K9 at McChord.

He's huge - part Boxer and part British Bull Mastiff and tops the scales at 200 lbs...
His handler took the picture. "Brutus is running toward me because he knows I have some Milk Bone treats, so he's slobbering away!
I had to duck around a tree just before he got to me in case he couldn't stop, but he did."
Brutus won the Congressional Medal of Honor
last year from his tour in Iraq .
His handler and four other soldiers were taken
hostage by insurgents. Brutus and his handler communicate by sign language and he gave Brutus the signal that meant 'go away but come back and find me'.
The Iraqis paid no attention to Brutus. He came back later and quietly tore the throat out of one guard at one door and another guard at another door. He then jumped against one of the doors repeatedly (the guys were being held in an old warehouse) until it opened.
He went in and untied his handler and they all escaped. He's the first K9 to receive this honor.
"If he knows you're OK, he's a big old lug and wants
to sit in your lap..
He even enjoys the company of cats!"

A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you spank me, or strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old... You too, will grow old.

10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

Reggie

They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly. I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street.
But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They must've thought I did.
But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes, and a sealed letter from his previous owner. See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. Maybe we were too much alike.
For some reason, his stuff (except for the tennis balls - he wouldn't go anywhere without two stuffed in his mouth) got tossed in with all of my other unpacked boxes. I guess I didn't really think he'd need all his old stuff, that I'd get him new things once he settled in. but it became pretty clear pretty soon that he wasn't going to.
I tried the normal commands the shelter told me he knew, ones like "sit" and "stay" and "come" and "heel," and he'd follow them - when he felt like it. He never really seemed to listen when I called his name - sure, he'd look in my direction after the fourth of fifth time I said it, but then he'd just go back to doing whatever. When I'd ask again, you could almost see him sigh and then grudgingly obey..
This just wasn't going to work. He chewed a couple shoes and some unpacked boxes. I was a little too stern with him and he resented it, I could tell. The friction got so bad that I couldn't wait for the two weeks to be up, and when it was, I was in full-on search mode for my cellphone amid all of my unpacked stuff. I remembered leaving it on the stack of boxes for the guest room, but I also mumbled, rather cynically, that the "damn dog probably hid it on me."
Finally I found it, but before I could punch up the shelter's number, I also found his pad and other toys from the shelter.. I tossed the pad in Reggie's direction and he sniffed it and wagged, some of the most enthusiasm I'd seen since bringing him home. But then I called, "Hey, Reggie, you like that? Come here and I'll give you a treat.." Instead, he sort of glanced in my direction - maybe "glared" is more accurate - and then gave a discontented sigh and flopped down. With his back to me.
Well, that's not going to do it either, I thought. And I punched in the shelter's phone number.
But I hung up when I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that, too. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous owner has any advice.".... .....

____________ _________ _________ _________
To Whoever Gets My Dog:
Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner. I'm not even happy writing it. If you're reading this, it means I just got back from my last car ride with my Lab after dropping him off at the shelter. He knew something was different. I have packed up his pad and toys before and set them by the back door before a trip, but this time... it's like he knew something was wrong. And something is wrong... which is why I have to go to try to make it right.
So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.
First, he loves tennis balls. the more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hordes them. He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll bound after it, so be careful - really, don't do it by any roads. I made that mistake once, and it almost cost him dearly.
Next, commands. Maybe the shelter staff already told you, but I'll go over them again: Reggie knows the obvious ones - "sit," "stay," "come," "heel." He knows hand signals: "back" to turn around and go back when you put your hand straight up; and "over" if you put your hand out right or left. "Shake" for shaking water off, and "paw" for a high-five. He does "down" when he feels like lying down - I bet you could work on that with him some more. He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business.
I trained Reggie with small food treats. Nothing opens his ears like little pieces of hot dog.
Feeding schedule: twice a day, once about seven in the morning, and again at six in the evening. Regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand.
He's up on his shots. Call the clinic on 9th Street and update his info with yours; they'll make sure to send you reminders for when he's due. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car - I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows.
Finally, give him some time. I've never been married, so it's only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially.
Which means that this transition is going to be hard, with him going to live with someone new.
And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you....
His name's not Reggie.
I don't know what made me do it, but when I dropped him off at the shelter, I told them his name was Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. but I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. For me to do that, it seemed so final, that handing him over to the shelter was as good as me admitting that I'd never see him again. And if I end up coming back, getting him, and tearing up this letter, it means everything's fine. But if someone else is reading it, well... well it means that his new owner should know his real name. It'll help you bond with him. Who knows, maybe you'll even notice a change in his demeanor if he's been giving you problems.
His real name is Tank.
Because that is what I drive.
Again, if you're reading this and you're from the area, maybe my name has been on the news. I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. See, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank with... and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq , that they make one phone call the shelter... in the "event"... to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my colonel is a dog guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word.
Well, this letter is getting to downright depressing, even though, frankly, I'm just writing it for my dog. I couldn't imagine if I was writing it for a wife and kids and family. but still, Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family.
And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me.
That unconditional love from a dog is what I took with me to Iraq as an inspiration to do something selfless, to protect innocent people from those who would do terrible things... and to keep those terrible people from coming over here. If I had to give up Tank in order to do it, I am glad to have done so. He was my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades.
All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. I don't think I'll say another good-bye to Tank, though. I cried too much the first time. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.
Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me.
Thank you, Paul Mallory
____________ _________ _________ _______
I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.
I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog.
"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.
The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.
"C'mere boy."
He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months.
"Tank," I whispered.
His tail swished.
I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face into his scruff and hugged him.
"It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek. "So whatdaya say we play some ball? His ears perked again. "Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?" Tank tore from my hands and disappeared in the next room.
And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.

Meet Molly(:

Meet Molly. She's a gray speckled pony who was abandoned by her owners when Katrina hit southern Louisiana, USA . She spent weeks on her own before finally being rescued and taken to a farm where abandoned animals were stockpiled. While there, she was attacked by a pit bull terrier, and almost died. Her gnawed right front leg became infected and her vet went to LSU for help. But LSU was overwhelmed, and this pony was a welfare case. You know how that goes.

But after surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly, he changed his mind. He saw how the pony was careful to lie down on different sides so she didn't seem to get sores, and how she allowed people to handle her. She protected her injured leg. She constantly shifted her weight, and didn't overload her good leg. She was a smart pony with a serious survival ethic.

Moore agreed to remove her leg below the knee and a temporary artificial limb was built. Molly walked out of the clinic and her story really begins there.

"This was the right horse and the right owner," Moore insists. Molly happened to be a one-in-a-million patient. She's tough as nails, but sweet, and she was willing to cope with pain. She made it obvious she understood that she was in trouble. The other important factor, according to Moore, is having a truly committed and compliant owner who is dedicated to providing the daily care required over the lifetime of the horse.

Molly's story turns into a parable for life in post-Katrina Louisiana. The little pony gained weight, her mane felt a comb. A human prosthesis designer built her a leg.

The prosthetic has given Molly a whole new life, Allison Barca DVM, Molly's regular vet, reports. "And she asks for it! She will put her little limb out, and come to you and let you know that she wants you to put it on. Sometimes she wants you to take it off,too. And sometimes, Molly gets away from Barca. It can be pretty bad when you can't catch a three-legged horse", she laughs.

Most important of all, Molly has a job now. Kay, the rescue farm owner, started taking Molly to shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers. Anywhere she thought that people needed hope. Wherever Molly went, she showed people her pluck. She inspired people. And she had a good time doing it.

"It's obvious to me that Molly had a bigger role to play in life", Moore said,"She survived the hurricane, she survived a horrible injury, and now she is giving hope to others." "She's not back to normal," Barca concluded, "but she's going to be better. To me, she could be a symbol for New Orleans itself."

This is Molly's most recent prosthesis. The bottom photo shows the ground surface that she stands on, which has a smiley face embossed in it. Wherever Molly goes, she leaves a smiley hoof print behind!

Remember when?

Remember when getting high meant who could swing the highest on the playground? When protection meant wearing a helmet? When the worst thing you could get from boys were cooties? Dads shoulders were the highest place on earth and mom was your hero? your worst enemies were your siblings? Race issues were about who ran the fastest? War was only a card game? And the only drug you knew was cough medicine? When wearing a skirt didn't make you a slut? The most pain you felt was when you skinned your knees? And goodbyes only meant till tomorrow? And we couldn't wait to grow up?

My Bucket List

• Punch Natasha Linson in the face
• Go on an African safari
• Explore South America
• Run a Marathon
• Move to Montana
• Go to college
• Go sky diving
• Get married & raise a family
• Climb a mountain
• Go bungee jumping
• Live on a ranch
• See the ocean
• See the northern lights
• Become a horse veterinary
• Swim with dolphins
• See a volcano
• Be in 4 places at once
• Go backpacking across Europe
• See the Grand Canyon
• Go dog sledding
• Make a refuge for abandoned, mentally, and physically abused horses
• See every continent, country, state in the world
• Complete a triathlon

Try me nigga, I'll make you see, them bitches aint got shit on me.

I don't care if you don't like me, I wasn't put on this earth to please you.

I'm purrty good at keeping secrets, it just depends what it is.
I have a big heart, but it breaks easily
date like a man so you don't get played like a bitch.
in this world theres real and make believe
Live, Laugh, Love, forgive and forget(:
Love is not a fight, but its something worth fighting for
I speak whats on my mind; so expect the cold hard truth
I live, I love, I forgive and never give up.
Family and friends matter most
seems like its always one fuck up after another
I live for the little moments
Hold your head up high
You got somethin all the girls want..
You pinch me. I'll punch you
A penny for my thoughts, oh no ill sell them for a dollar.
I used to be ballin, but now I'm bill gatin.
I do what i want, when i want
roses are still red, violets are still blue, today is only wednesday, so fuckkkk you.
Take my hand and follow me baby, don't ever look back, don't second guess me.
I'll be the one to spill your drink
she can rock them high heel shoes but she'd rather wear cowboy boots.
If I'm with my lover, nothin else matters
talk shit, get hit bitch.Your amazing just the way you are.

Whats meant to be will always find its way.

Bitches always come in pairs

We never say i love you enough until its to late

If I can be your tan-legged Juliet, you can be my Redneck Romeo.

All this bullshits made me stronger mother fucker.

I promise, you cant find nobody like me.
You're about as pointless as the white crayon
I'd like to throw a brick at your face, but i dont wanna hurt the brick.
What time is it? Theres a clock right there. Did i ask where the clock was?
You are so far behind me i could take a shit and you wouldn't step in it for days.
Your not my role model. Your my hero.
Think before you hate.
People shouldn't believe everything they hear.
I miss the days when we were friends.
Adding a HaHa after something makes it seem a lot less serious.

 

the good lord doesn't give us anything we cant handle ♥