Futuristic Home - Porche Design Tower in Isles Beach FL

I assume that the "home" is up on the top of this building. I prefer a more homey atmosphere, however, I think it's pretty cool the way you get up to your "home".

 You will drive into the building, onto the elevator ramp, shut the ignition off and be magically whisked to the front door of your apartment in 45 seconds to a minute and 15 seconds depending on what floor you're on.

My next car?

The L.L. Bean Bootmobile heads out of the parking lot from the facility where the famous outdoor boot is made in Brunswick, Maine, on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012. The 13 ft. high and 20 ft. long vehicle was made to look like the iconic outdoor boot. The Bootmobile will be heading to New York City to make an appearance at Times Square on Wednesday which is part of a tour around the U. S. to celebrate the company's 100 years.

"When you wear a mask, compare yourself to others or strive to become something that you have deemed substantial in your own mind then you are living outside of His Life.  When you do this, you are living from a false life.   When you try to be someone else, you are insulting His brilliance. You are His creation."

The message I got this morning . . .

was once again while listening to KLove on the way to work. God is truly amazing in His ways of getting the message to us. He uses music, other people, the written word and even some really, really clever ways of getting across to us the answer to the questions we keep asking Him. Loud and clear!!!

Strange News

Not sure about this one. A man with a smurf hat?? Maybe she had been partaking in the fruits of her garden. Just saying . . . .

Grandma: Stranger Lied About Seeds

Grandmother Alberta Kelley has become the toke of the town. 

The 67-year-old from southern Pennsylvania was accused of being a pot-smoking pensioner after police found seven well-cultivated four-foot marijuana plants growing in her garden. 

But Kelley, from Fayette County, said she is innocent. The green-thumb said she unknowingly planted the seeds after being duped by a stranger.

She told the judge and jury that a man she did not know approached her, gave her some seeds and told her if she planted them she would grow the prettiest flowers she has ever seen.

Kelley said the man had a beard and wore a Smurf hat.

The elderly woman tossed a handful of the seeds into her garden, and then watched her garden grow and grow.

And it grew indeed - seven plants in total, rising sky-high to four feet.

They were spotted in her backyard by police when they came to her house to arrest her grandson on a different matter.

Kelley finally got her day in court yesterday.

She was acquitted after the jury believed her version of events. She was not available for comment, but was undoubtedly on a high as she left the court - a natural one of course. 

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Maybe it was really the wandering Gnome.

This is Awesome!

Man's Feline Turns Up 2,000 Miles Away


A cat who wandered away from his new home in Florida has been reunited with his owner after being found nearly 2,000 miles away in  Colorado.

Waylon, an orange-striped tabby cat, was reunited wit Daniel Johns on Wednesday at the Foothills Animal Shelter in Golden.

The cat went missing from the Naples, Florida area in June, disappearing within an hour after Johns adopted the stray. Waylon apparently fled though a old in a dryer vent.

Last month, a woman in a Denver suburb noticed him hanging around as she walked her dog and brought him to the shelter. A microchip linked the cat to Johns.

Louis Thinks He Is A Dog

We have always thought that Louis thought he was really a dog. He follows behind the neighbor and his dog when they are out for a walk, as if he thinks he must be a dog out for a walk also. He drinks out of the dog's water bowl instead of his own - YUCK, and he takes over the dog's space whenever possible.

Crazy barn cat!!!!!

Dog's Really Do Know Things

So many "experts" say that dogs don't have memories and don't remember certain things, blah, blah, blah. I wonder if these "experts" actually own a dog to witness that these "findings" are absolutely, without a doubt, FALSE!!!!!!

Here is a picture of Jason and Erica's dog Roxi as Erica is getting packed to go to Louisiana for a month of pre-deployment training.

What do you think? Does she know that Erica is leaving? Does she remember what packing means? I say YES!!!!!!

Katelyn & Friends

Can't say too  much about this because I really don't know what is going on, but don't they all look like wonderful, great, smart, beautiful Central Catholic seniors??!!??!!??!!

Go Class of 2012!!!!

In Memory of Brandon R. Stansberry

Brandon was a 20 year old who was killed last week in an auto accident just down from my house. I did not know him but can't get him out of my mind. But for the grace of God go I as a parent who did not have to bury my 20 year old.

I pray that he is in heaven and I hope his family is able to cling to their faith and the comfort that faith can bring.

This song, Blink, by Revive speaks so well about how quickly our life can change. It prompts me to review what I currently think is important and question if in the end it really matters.

Vote for Leah

If you go to:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Werner-Photography/238683302837195

and "like" Sarah's website, then choose the photo of the most beautiful Leah and vote for her, we could win 1/2 off on a photo session. The photo with the most votes wins!!!!

 And clearly, Leah deserves to win!!!!!!!!!!!

PART of the Redinbo Family

This photo was taken at Christmas of the Redinbo family. There are some of us missing - Denny (a.k.a Farmer Den), Bill, Barb, Nathan & Sandy (a.k.a. the CO gang) and Mike, Cathy, Jon, Christina, Dominic & Kara (a.k.a the Florida gang)  - which would add another 11 people. And standing in the middle are the two people who started the whole thing!!!!

Thanks Grandma & Grandpa Redinbo!!!!

Lessons From a Mason Jar and Rocks

"There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven: A time for giving birth, a time for dying; a time for planting, a time for uprooting what has been planted. A time for killing, a time for healing; a time for knowcking down, a time for building. A time for tears, a time for laughter; a time for mourning, a time for dancing. A time for throwing stones away, a time for gathering them; a time for embracing, a time to refrain from embracing. A time for searching, a time for losing; a time for keeping, a time for discarding. A time for tearing a time for sewing; a time for keeping silent, a time for speaking. A time for loving, a time for hating; a time for war, a time for peace." -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

 

 

Something I struggle with, as I'm sure do most of us, is using my time to it's fullest. What is most important? I read the following story and love how it puts that problem into focus.

One day this expert was speaking to a group of business students and professionals. To drive home a point, he used an illustration I’m sure those students and professionals will never forget. After I share it with you, I hope you’ll never forget it either.

As this man stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers, he said, “Okay, time for a quiz.” Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar and set it on a table in front of him. Then he produced about a half dozen rocks that just fit through the jar’s mouth and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked the class “Is this jar full?” Everyone in the class said, “Yes.”

Then he said, “Really?” He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. Then he smiled and asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?” By this time the class was onto him. “Probably not,” one of them answered. “Good!” he replied. And he reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?” “No!” the class shouted. Once again he said, “Good!” Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked up at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?” One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more things into it.”

“No,” the speaker replied, “that’s not the point.” The truth this illustration teaches us is: if you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.”

What are the “big rocks” in your life? The goals of your life that YOU want to accomplish? To gain the eternal joys of Heaven, to daily walk with God, to be faithful in church attendance and reception of the sacraments, to build a strong family life by time and dedication, to be unselfish, to give and be kind to your loved ones, to be responsible in your job? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you’ll never get them in at all. So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself these questions: What are the “big rocks” in my life? What are my priorities? Are they the correct priorities? Do those priorities fulfill the great purpose of why God made me — to know Him, love Him, serve Him and to be with Him forever in the next life? Those are the Big Rocks; put them first into your jar of life!

Dear Lord, we pray that we would use the time that You give us wisely. Help us to make wise decisions as we choose which are the "Big Rocks".

Triple XXX burger in the Superbowl

Slathered in peanut butter, the Duane Purvis All-American Burger has been a favorite for years at the Triple XXX Family Restaurant in West Lafayette. Now, the creamy concoction is listed as a Super 46 Sandwich in an online contest centered around the Super Bowl, which will be played Feb. 5 at Indianapolis.

To celebrate Super Bowl XLVI, the Indiana Office of Tourism and Indianapolis Monthly magazine nominated 46 sandwiches served at restaurants around the state. Details of a competition to initially narrow the field to 16 finalists will be announced todayat Indianapolis.

Also making the Super 46 Sandwiches is Fair Oaks Farms Cafe's grilled cheese sandwich north of Rensselaer.

Through midnight Thursday, people can go to the website http://www.super46.com/ and vote for their five favorite sandwiches from among the 46 listed.

That voting will be followed by weekly rounds of website balloting, with the winner of the Super 46 Sandwiches Playoffs announced on Feb. 2.

Named after a 1930s Purdue University football player, the Duane Purvis is a 1/4-pound ground sirloin cheeseburger served on a toasted sesame seed bun with a thick dollop of peanut butter. Legend has it he suggested the peanut butter schmear during a visit to the restaurant.

"We feel honored and absolutely flattered to even be thought of," said Greg Ehresman, who owns the 83-year-old Triple XXX Family Restaurant with his wife, Carrie. "To even be part of all the Super Bowl stuff is a once-in-a-lifetime shot. We're happy as can be."

Other entries in the Super 46 Sandwiches competition include the Veggie Mushroom Burger at the Broad Ripple Brew Pub in Indianapolis, the Breaded Tenderloin at the Mug-N-Bun Drive-In at Speedway, the Bratwurst at the Schnitzelbank in Jasper and the Tom Crean & Crimson Burger at Opie Taylor's in Bloomington.

"Everyone loves a good sandwich," wrote Jeremy Williams, an Indiana Office of Tourism employee, on the Indiana Insider Blog. "Here are 46 -- to commemorate the 46th Super Bowl coming to Indianapolis -- that we know you will enjoy."

Who Would Ever Think . . . . .

Sweden: Wedding ring 'found on carrot' after 16 years

Lena Paahlsson had long ago lost hope of finding the ring, which she designed herself, reports Dagens Nyheter.

The white-gold band, set with seven small diamonds, went missing in her kitchen in 1995, she told the paper.

Although the ring no longer fits, she hopes to have it enlarged so she can wear it again.

Mrs Paahlsson and her family live on a farm near Mora in central Sweden.

She took the ring off to do some Christmas baking with her daughters, but it disappeared from the work surface where it had been left, she explained to Dagens Nyheter.

The family searched everywhere and years later took up the tiling on the floor during renovations, in the hope of finding the ring.

It was not until 16 years later when Mrs Paahlsson was pulling up carrots in her garden that she noticed one with the gold band fastened tightly around it.

"The carrot was sprouting in the middle of the ring. It is quite incredible," her husband Ola said to the newspaper.

The couple believe the ring fell into a sink back in 1995 and was lost in vegetable peelings that were turned into compost or fed to their sheep.

"I had given up hope," Mrs Paahlsson told Dagens Nyheter, adding that she wanted to have the ring adjusted to fit her.

"Now that I have found the ring again I want to be able to use it," she said.

 

 

 

Happy New Year

Here's hoping and praying that 2012 will be a very blessed year.


The following prayer, A Morning Wish, was written by W. R. Hunt.

The sun is just rising on the morning of another day, the first day of the new year. What can I wish that this day, that this year, may bring to me?

Nothing that shall make the world of others poorer, nothing at the expense of others; but just those few things which in their coming do not stop with me but touch me rather, as they pass and gather strength:

  --  A few friends who understand me, and yet remain my friends.
  --  A work to do which has real value without which the world would feel the poorer.
  --  A return for such work small enough not to tax unduly anyone who pays.
  --  A mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be not blazed.
  --  An understanding heart.
  --  A sight of the eternal hills and unbelting sea,
       and of something beautiful the individual hand has made.
  --  A sense of humor and the power to laugh.
  --  A little leisure with nothing to do.
  --  A few moments of quiet, silent meditation. The sense of the presence of God.
  --  And the patience to wait for the coming of these things,
       with the wisdom to know them when they come.  AMEN