REMEMBER.... When the worst thing you could do at school was smoke in the bathrooms, flunk a test or chew gum. And the banquets were in the cafeteria and we danced to a juke box later, and all the girls wore fluffy pastel gowns and the boys wore suits for the first time and we were allowed to stay out till 12 p.m. When a '57 Chevy was everyone's dream car. . . to cruise, peel out, lay rubber and watch drag races, and people went steady and girls wore a class ring with an inch of wrapped dental floss or yarn coated with pastel frost nail polish so it would fit her finger. And no one ever asked where the car keys were 'cause they were always in the car, in the ignition, and the doors were never locked. And you got in big trouble if you accidentally locked the doors at home, since no one ever had a key. Remember lying on your back on the grass with your friends and saying things like "That cloud looks like a..." And playing baseball with no adults to help kids with the rules of the game. Back then, baseball was not a psychological group learning experience-it was a game. Remember when stuff from the store came without safety caps and hermetic seals 'cause no one had yet tried to poison a perfect stranger. And...with all our progress...don't you just wish...just once...you could slip back in time and savor the slower pace...and share it with the children of the 80's and 90's ..... So send this on to someone who can still remember Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Laurel & Hardy, Howdy Doody and The Peanut Gallery, The Lone Ranger, The Shadow Knows, Nellie Belle, Roy and Dale, Trigger and Buttermilk as well as the sound of a real mower on Saturday morning, and summers filled with bike rides, playing in cowboy land, baseball games, bowling and visits to the pool...and eating Kool-Aid powder with sugar. When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited a misbehaving student at home. Basically, we were in fear for our lives, but it wasn't because of drive by shootings,drugs, gangs,etc. Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! But we all survived because their love was greater than the threat. Didn't that feel good, just to go back and say, Yeah, I remember that! And was it really that long ago? «:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«^i^MISSI ^i^«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« Richiele Marie [email protected] (Missi) I disbelieved in reincarnation in my last life, too. »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

The moment has made the man. By Jim Warda In each of our lives, there comes a testing, a stretching of bones to almost breaking, when the decision is made to run to or from. Our President has faced that moment. I know it because I've seen his eyes. Before September Eleventh, I guessed that George W. Bush was a good man. But it was hard to tell because I could never look directly into his eyes. Whenever I'd see him on television, he'd be looking slightly off-center, with a slight squint, as if lacking some necessary confidence. And, it's hard to know someone's heart if you can't see their eyes. But, then September Eleventh came. And soon afterwards, I saw President Bush transform. It first happened when a member of the press asked him on television to describe what he was feeling. Though near tears, he looked up, directly into the eyes of the interviewer, and said that our country, though suffering, would remain strong. He had found his purpose. Then, later, when President Bush gave his State of the Union address, his transformation deepened. His eyes met ours. His voice carried commitment for nothing less than freedom. The moment had found him. As it has found us. With the television scrolling words of white powdered envelopes, our transformation awaits. Now, we choose. Do we run to or from? Well, I know that I'm ready. And, if I were a betting man, I'd say that you'll never give up either. Then again, I should know. After all, I've seen your heart. Right there in your eyes. «:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«^i^MISSI ^i^«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« Richiele Marie [email protected] (Missi) I disbelieved in reincarnation in my last life, too. »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

FAMILY CORNER CRAFTS This discussion group is for anyone interested in crafting. Whether you are a seasoned pro or just starting out, if you enjoy crafts or want to learn more this is the place for you. Lively discussions, helpful answers and plenty of photos of all our favorite craft projects. To subscribe, send an email to Family Corner Crafts-subscribe @ yahoogroups.com or visit http://www.thefamilycorner.com/services/lists.shtml Please visit our sister site Middle Age Spread. This is an online community for mature women who enjoy their stage in life. We have a great article on being thankful all year round on the homepage. It is humorous and so true. http://www.middle-age-spread.com <a href=" http://www.middle-age-spread.com ">aol click here</a>

1 1. Make up small loaves of quick breads. Wrap them in plastic wrap for freshness and place in a festive bag or wrapping. Include a recipe card. 2. Select a cookbook and choose a recipe from the book. Attach a card to the front that includes the recipe name and page number. Place the cookbook and dry ingredients for the recipe in a decorative basket. 3. Make your own felt stockings. Make them large enough to hold a bottle of wine or homemade salad dressings, etc. Personalize the stocking to fit the personality of the receiver. 4. Candles are the rage this holiday season! Tie them in bundles with holiday ribbon or stack them in a festive box. Include an appropriate candleholder. 5. Make a wreath that expresses the interest of the receiver. 6. Crosstitch a holiday ornament and include the year it was given in the design. 7. Fill an attractive cup or dish with a friend's favorite chocolates or other treats. Wrap attractively with holiday ribbons and plastic wrap to hold it in place. Place in a festive bag for delivery. 8. Make a special ornament for the tree with glue-on beads and faux jewels. 9. For the coffee lover, fill a coffee cup with packets of different flavor coffees or cocoas and chocolate covered spoons. 10. Make theme or hobby baskets. Fill a decorative basket with goodies that the receiver uses for his or her hobby (i.e. for the golf lover fill with golf balls, tees, and club covers; for the needlework lover, place different types of flosses, patterns, and needles). 11. If you are a baker, bake your finest pound cake or rum cake, etc. Wrap securely and place it in a decorative tin for friends or relatives. 12. Select various packets of flower seeds. Place in a planting pot with gardening tools and gloves. Make a raffia bow to hold items in place. 13. Holiday pillows abound! Select one or two pillows, place them in a decorative hat box (which can later be used for storage). Give this treasure to a friend. 14. Put the computer to use! Make a set of thank you notes or stationery; tie with a festive ribbon and place in an attractive tin for that one of a kind gift. Don't forget to include a colorful pen and envelopes! 15. Homemade gifts from the kitchen will impress your friends and relatives. Use jars in various shapes and sizes and fill them with your homemade pickled vegetables, fruits, jams and jellies (especially if that person really enjoyed them or loves your cooking). Add a square of holiday fabric with gold ribbon and the gifts are ready to go. 16. Photos make great gifts. Try taking pictures of events throughout the year or of one special activity. Place them in an attractive album with comments. A single picture framed is also nifty. 17. For the creative writer a journal for recording thoughts, poems, etc., is always a treasure. 18. Give a gift that comes all year long. Give a favorite magazine subscription. 19. Cookies (homemade) with the recipe(s) and a neat cookie cutter make a tasty and useful gift. 20. Everybody's gone Tex-Mex. Go Tex-Mex Christmas with several jars of salsa and a large bag of nacho chips all bundled up in a fiesta-serving dish. Feliz Navidad! 21. Oh yeah! Tex-Mex needs margaritas. Give four or six margarita glasses and margarita mix. If you have your own margarita recipe, that's even better. 22. Make a simple coaster set using bath wall tiles and tile paint (use the one that doesn't require heat). Paint a simple holiday design on six or eight tiles. Glue felt on the back to protect surfaces from scratches. Tie them with a holiday ribbon and voila! 23. Fill a basket with bath items - soaps, oils, bubbles, lotions, natural sponge and a loofah pad. A special person will love his or her favorites. 24. Holiday music for the music lover who plays an instrument. Purchase the sheet music of a favorite holiday song and include a CD or tape with it. 25. Holiday flowers include amaryllis, paperwhites, poinsettias and English ivy. Placed in an attractive decorative container, they make a great holiday gift 26. Aromatherapy is quite popular. Select one or two aromatic oils and candles noted for their soothing effects and package them with a neck rest pillow. The receiver will love you. 27. Stretch that relaxing moment with a small in-door waterfall kit. The main ingredient is the pump (not expensive). Get a bowl or dish to hold it, some small decorative rocks and an eye-catching small figurine. Don't forget directions or a diagram. Put everything in holiday packaging and you're good to go. 28. Make sachets. Purchase potpourri, fine tulle and 1/8 inch satin ribbon. Cut the tulle into saucer size circles (can be bought already cut into circles). Place two or three tablespoons of potpourri in each circle. Gather sides and tie tightly with the ribbon. Place several of these in a holiday box and keep the idea in mind for later in the year. Also great for wedding favors. 29. Don't forget the feet. For that friend or relative who is on their feet a lot, nothing would feel better than soothing foot salts, a soft pumice or clay stone and peppermint foot lotion. Package them inside a cute pair of slippers. Sleep socks and a small jar of petroleum jelly will round out winter foot blues. 30. What does the future hold? You decide. Use a fortune cookie recipe to make your own fortune cookies. Make the cookies extra special by writing the fortunes yourself, tailor-made to the person receiving them. Package them in Chinese food take-out boxes. Be sure to first the wrap the cookies in plastic wrap to maintain freshness. 31. Specialty guest soaps come in all colors, shapes and sizes. Place several in an attractive soap dish or basket and include some decorative paper hand towels. Color coordinate if you know the bathroom they're going in or stick to a holiday theme. 32. How's your fudge recipe? Excellent! Homemade fudge is always a treat during the holidays. Whip up several batches- some with nuts, some without. Cut it into squares. Wrap first in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil to maintain freshness. Place it in a holiday tin. (Do you really want to give away your secret recipe by including a recipe card?) 33. Herbal teas, a teapot, a teacup and saucer. What could be more charming? 34. A hardy holiday breakfast would really start the day off right. Give a package of specialty pancake mix (maybe you have your own recipe) and a bottle of fine maple syrup. Put them in a neat mixing bowl. Yummy, Yummy! 35. Make large gingerbread men and women (they should be the length of the cookie sheet). Decorate them. Package a man and a woman together with a little note that says "We" Wish You A Merry Christmas! 36. Wine connoisseurs will enjoy a set of quirky wine stoppers. 37. Picture frames are in. No longer are they thin metal rectangles with glass. They are works of art within themselves. A great variety is out there to choose from. If you don't see any you really like, design your own. Just choose a plain frame, some polymer clay, and acrylic paints. "Deck the frames .Fa la la la la!" 38. Holiday centerpieces and topiaries add so much to the season. It you are the king or queen of green, make your own gifts. Make some for yourself. If not, the prices range from lean to extreme. But they do make nice gifts and can be live or artificial. 39. Potpourri is easy to make and you can create a scent just for the holidays. Mix together broken cinnamon sticks, dried orange peel, whole cloves, evergreen clippings and dried lemon peel. Half fill cellophane florists' bags and tie with a holiday ribbon. 40. A simple but useful gift for the reader friend or relative is the bookmark. Use your computer to design a pattern. You can usually get four to a standard sheet of card stock. Once printed, separate them, punch a hole near the top and tie on a small tassel. Crocheted or crosstitched bookmarks are always treasured too. 41. Apartment dwellers that love gardening will love the little herb gardens that come with everything. Attach mini-garden tools, watering can and gloves if they aren't already there. 42. For the person who has everything try a personalized rubber-stamp. You can design it yourself to reflect the person's hobby, profession or whatever. Do this early enough to get your design to a business-supply store or rubber-stamp maker. There may be some ready-mades that you only need to have your person's name added to at stationery stores, business-supply centers or rubber-stamp stores. 43. An embosser is trendy too. It can be used to personalize paper napkins, stationery, books, etc. An embosser with the initials of the receiver looks really snazzy on the above items and may be purchased at the same places as rubber-stamps. 44. Inexpensive cloth napkins are everywhere. Make a set an extra special gift by adding your personal touch. Add a monogram to each one with Crosstitch, embroidery, needlepoint or stencil. Stencil a seasonal design or applique on each napkin. If you're crafty, the sky's the limit. Include a set of napkin rings. 45. Remember the fun you had with snow globes. Boy was it easy to get lost in that little scene with snow falling. Well make some of these as gifts (great for the kids). You need jars- olive jars, pimento jars, and baby food jars are good ones. Little plastic figurines (they don't rust), some artificial greenery for trees, clear-drying epoxy, distilled water, glitter, glycerin, and oil paints in holiday colors in case the lids need painting. Roughen the inside of the lid with sandpaper then glue the figurines down with the epoxy. Fill the jar almost to the top with the water and add a pinch of glitter (not too much) and a dash of glycerin. The glycerin thickens the water and keeps it from "snowing" too fast. Screw the lid on tightly. Then shake, shake, shake. Some crafters have put some of the epoxy around the lid of the jar after screwing it on to avoid possible leaks. 46. Make a friend the "apple" of your Christmas. Select a large tart dish, fill it with the number of apples called for in an apple tart recipe along with the other ingredients and there you have it! A great gift that can be filled over and over. 47. Loose tea is so English. Fill an exotic box with it and include a whimsical tea infuser. There are so many on the market to choose from these days. Tuck in a recipe for scones to make the gift simply ducky! 48. The smell of lavender soothes the spirit. Stretch its calming affects when you give it as a candle or incense along with a CD that is equally as soothing. Color coordinate the holiday wrapping to set mood. 49. Someone taking a trip very soon? Make their holiday gift a travel kit. Fill a nice zipper case with a travel clock and travel size products you know they will need (toothpaste, shampoo, shaving cream, etc.)The time you used gathering this gift will hopefully give the receiver extra time for packing and getting to the airport! 50. You know someone who would just love to have one. Go ahead and give a gift from the East. Give a bonsai tree complete clippers, gloves and care instructions. While you're at it, get one for yourself. 51. Holidays mean food and reminiscing good times. Give a food basket that will remind the receiver of a favorite place or vacation. Make the wrapping paper using travel brochures or maps to hint at the treasure inside. 52. A mini Zen stone garden will put a taste of Japan in any home. These tiny gardens are inspired by the famous rock garden at Ryoan-ji in Kyoto, Japan. Just another way to bring the East into the receiver's life. 53. Fly your own flag. Very popular are theme flags, hobby flags, seasonal flags, alma mater flags, etc. Just about anything can be put on a flag and they come in a range of sizes. Select one for that special person. 54. For your favorite backyard chef, choose a new set of barbecue tools, an apron and the crowning glory - a chef's hat. King or queen of the ribs will love it! 55. New and old drivers alike need this gift. Give a car safety kit. It's one of those practical items that every vehicle should have. 56. Schedule that tense friend for a full body massage. Inform them of their gift with a card wrapped in a decorative box. After the holiday rush, this will be great. 57. Flavored vinegars offer a delicious way to add zest and excitement to salads, soups, sauces and stews. Give a food lover several different flavors with beautiful edible flowers, fruits or vegetables floating about the bottles. 58. Storage boxes are decorative and useful. Get several different sizes from the craft store, decorate them with paints or decoupage. Stack one inside the other. 59. Your hands are your hardest workers. Give them the pampering they deserve. Give a friend or relative a nice manicure kit and some hand softening lotion. Add a pair of nighttime gloves so that the pampering can continue while sleeping. 60. As the largest organ on our body, our skin deserves some attention. Give a facial at a plush salon or put together a facial kit. Include a standing vanity mirror so that the fantastic results can be seen. 61. The stresses of the holidays can knock out celebrating for many. The common cold slips in no matter how hard we try to keep it at bay. Make a sensible gift by putting together a cold first aid kit. Don't forget the socks, mittens, chicken soup (and recipe), Echinacea, and lozenges. Sooner or later this gift will come in handy. 62. After you read this, make this gift - a customized date/address book from your computer. Have it bound at a copier store or purchase an attractive binder to place the pages in. Design it around the interests of the receiver. Throw in one for yourself. 63. So you're crafty. Make beautiful holiday glass art from liquid lead and window coloring paints. Various name brands are available in crafts stores. Most require 24 hours to dry. 64. Surprise a new apartment dweller with a tool chest filled with the basic necessities for hanging, assembly, measuring, hammering, and the like. 65. Give away a gourmet dinner kit to the super chef. Fill a shiny colander with Christmas-tree pasta, herbs, utensils, a recipe for your spaghetti sauce, and other delights to complete the meal. 66. Need that one of a kind gift? Try an address plaque or a house marker. The address plaque is a set of decorative tiles that fit into an attractive frame. The house marker is usually metal and can be attached to the house or mounted to a stand in the yard. Either makes a fine gift. 67. For the sentimental video buff put together a gift package containing a Christmas classic video or other favorite, tasty gourmet popcorn and a six pack of cola. A plastic bowl would make a great container in which to give the gift. 68. Angels. This earthly incarnation is literally everywhere. Best-selling books on angel history and stories of angel sightings to angel greeting cards, posters, sweatshirts, figurines, and jewelry flood the market. Choose one or more that your friend will love. You may start a collection with your gift. 69. The holiday season is a meshing of many cultural symbols. The nativity scene, or crèche, lends its inspirational present as a perfect gift and decoration. For many, it is reminds them of what the holiday season is all about. 70. When is a bamboo steamer not a steamer? When you turn it into a well stocked sewing kit for that friend or relative who is just starting out. Fill it with needles, notions, colorful thread, scissors, tape measure, pins, fabric marking pens, etc. Tie up the gift with lots of ribbon to be used later. 71. Give a gift certificate for a seasonal flower delivery. Friends and relatives would love to receive a spring arrangement of tulips, beautiful summer roses and so on. Gift certificates to specialty shops and favorite stoves always delight the receiver. They can be used right away or held on to until the big sale. 72. Take the chill off of the holiday with an attractive throw. It can be seasonal or plain. Throws make great and useful gifts. 73. Is that special friend talking endlessly about an upcoming concert, show, sports event, dinner, etc.? Make it happen if you can afford it. Give tickets to the event. This holiday will be long remembered. 74. For the newly weds' first Christmas, get them started with first Christmas decorations. 75. For the music lover or movie buff give pertinent literature such as a favorite artist or star. Music or movie magazine subscriptions are just as ideal. 76. Is there a fitness fanatic on your gift list? Maybe a warm-up suit, exercise video, weights, or health club membership is just the thing. 77. Decorate a small Christmas tree with homemade ornaments, miniature toys, cookies, or potpourri bags as a special gift for that shut-in friend who can't take care of decorations this year. Place a love gift under the tree as well. 78. Almost every holiday list has one college student on it. Make that person the happy recipient of a telephone card. 79. An art lover would love to find a membership to the local or national museum in his or her stocking. 80. That special person or couple will think holidays last all year with a gift weekend to a marvelous bed and breakfast. If possible, allow the receiver(s) to select the dates so it will come at a time best for them to enjoy. 81. A friend or relative who enjoys poetry, famous quotes, or sayings will be able to relish them often if they are calligraphed or hand-painted in a frame or on a plaque. 82. For the person that doesn't cook and enjoys eating out, the coupon book to various restaurants gives them a discount while they savor a wide cuisine. 83. It may sound a little odd but there are those that are concerned. So here is the perfect gift for the Y2K conscience. A sturdy box or bucket filled with flashlights, bottled water, solar powered radio, extra batteries, canned goods (with pop tops or don't forget the manual can opener), blankets, first aid kit, and a deck of regular playing cards. Most importantly, remind the recipient to have enough cash to last through the crisis. 84. Start the holiday for someone right at his or her front door. A holiday doormat is just the thing. There is one for every celebration and the prices are quite reasonable. Can't find what you want? Get a plain one and stencil it yourself. 85. Give someone's shower the four-star hotel treatment. There are a variety of quality showerheads available on the market today. The hand-held styles are really popular and easy to install. Think of all the relaxing moments your holiday gift will give throughout the year. 86. Thinking of giving some lovely stemware as a gift this holiday? Include a good bottle of champagne with them. It's a sparkling way to start any celebration. The receiver doesn't drink alcohol? Use sparkling apple cider or sparkling grape juice instead. 87. Give gold for Christmas. Gold star-shaped candles in a gold star-shaped wire basket, along with gold table napkins and rings, gold ribbon and gold beads. Midas would love this holiday special. Don't forget to package your gift in golden paper and a golden gift bag 88. Did you know you have a friend in 18-gauge wire and needle-nose pliers? Well you do. Shape that wire into a star, a snowman, a tree, a heart, or just a circle and spray it gold. Place it in a pot of ivy or other climbing plant and tie a gold wire ribbon around the pot. Your plant-loving buddy will enjoy training the climber into a full topiary. 89. Don't forget the pets during the holiday. Fill a feeding dish with dog or cat treats and a special toy. A new fashion statement leash and collar for Pouch will make the day. Time for another visit to the boutique. We want all family members to look great for holiday pictures. 90. Time and means are special gifts. Give them as a gift. Volunteer to help prepare and serve a holiday meal at a shelter, church, temple, or synagogue. 91. Buy a toy or two for a needy child. Include a book and a needed item of clothing. 92. Have slightly used clothing? Donate them to organizations that help families in need. Since December is cold in many places, coats are a number one priority. 93. Got a pretty good nice voice? Know some folks who do? Organize them into carolers and visit a hospital or retirement home. Take along some holiday goodies for tokens. For many, you will be the only Christmas spirit they have. 94. College students can sometimes be stranded for Christmas. Invite them to share your holiday dinner and have a little gift for them. You can't imagine the joy (for the both of you.) 95. A shut-in can't get his or her holiday shopping done? Can't you give a few hours to help out? That's the spirit. 96. Address holiday cards for someone who is unable to do it themselves do to illness, handicaps, etc. Make a special trip to the post office to see that they get off. 97. Have lots children about for the holiday? Keep them busy while last minute dinner preparations are being made. Read Christmas and other holiday stories to them. Consider organizing a little play (this calls for a little preparation on your part). 98. If your city or town is noted for its beautiful decorations, take someone, who otherwise would miss the experience, for a day or evening drive so they can enjoy the glow and glitter of the holiday as well. 99. Blankets for the homeless. Gently used or new. Give them out yourself or contact an organization that's doing it. 100. Christmas is about giving. Make a donation in the name of a friend or family member to a needy cause. Present a card to that person detailing the organization and how the donation will be used. Happy Holidays!

Hmmm? Climbers Get Pricey Loo with a View November 23, 2001 7:07 am EST TOKYO (Reuters) - Weary Japanese climbers will be able to relieve themselves in style after local authorities shelled out nearly $600,000 for two mile-high toilets. Climbers who scale 1,729 meter (5,673 feet) Mount Daisen in western Japan may be the best judges of whether 70 million yen ($568,100) was an excessive price for putting the toilets on top of the popular mountain, about 650 km (403 miles) west of Tokyo. "We decided to build the toilets after climbers complained that the old one smelled really bad," a Tottori prefectural official said on Thursday. Up to 1,000 people each day will be able to use the two recently completed and environment-friendly lavatories. After a sky-high flush, a purification vat and micro-organisms will break down and clean the waste, recycling the water in the process. "One of the reasons it turned out to be expensive was that we had to use helicopters to transport the supplies," the official said. "But it is a popular mountain in the region, so there has always been the need for better toilets."

Thanks LindaBee, HUGS, kath > This is a copy of the email I just sent to the Candyman Lists. So far I've > received three infected emails within 4 hours. Please be careful. > > Linda Bee > > > > Those of you on the Genie-Angels list know that several of us received the > Bad-Trans.B virus today. Please check your email subject line before you > open it and > if it has an attachment check below to see if it might be part of the > Bad-Trans.B > virus. You can tell if it is a Bad-Trans.B virus because there is an > underline before the return address in your inbox. As an example, instead of > being from "[email protected]" the email would be from > "[email protected]" with the underline first. > > Delete it immediately, then empty your trash folder. Update your virus > definitions and run a scan to be sure you are clean. > > This virus was discovered yesterday in Europe. I tried to update my Norton > and it is insisting that I'm up to date. I'm running a virus scan anyway. > When that is done I'll check Trend Micro's 'House Call'. If that includes > Bad-Trans.B, I'll run that. If not, I'll go to F-Secure and run their > program. Almost all of the anti-virus programs will let you try their > product for a free trial. > > Note: House Call is a free anti-virus program. It has also caught virus's > on my computer that Norton missed. > <A HREF="http://www.antivirus.com/pc-cillin/">Trend Micro PC-cillin, antivirus software</A> > http://www.antivirus.com/pc-cillin/ > > Under "Purchase Software" there is a line called 'try before you buy'. > <A HREF="http://www.fsecure.com/">Welcome to F-Secure, Securing the Mobile Enterprise</A> > http://www.fsecure.com/ > > I'm paraphrasing the information I've included below from F-Secure....The > Bad-Trans.B virus will take the addresses from all your unread email and send > it out with the worm attached. It doesn't start working until your computer > is shut down and then restarted. It then takes 5 minutes before it starts to > send email. > > If the Bad.Trans.B worm is sent to a computer that has an unread email with > "Reply" it will send that out. If the reply is to you, your computer will be > reinfected if you open that attachment. > > I received two infected emails today, both from the same person. They had > different subject lines but both had attachments. The attachment names are > in three parts which are listed below. The first one I received was > PICS.DOC.scf. I don't know what the second one had..I never opened it, just > deleted it and emptied my trash folder. > > Linda Bee > > Note: I just received another one from someone else on the lists. With all > three infected emails that I received I believe that almost all the lists > have someone on > them who is infected. I'm sure the people involved realized it now. Just in > case, I sent an email to the one who was just infected; the other happened > this afternoon so I'm sure they know. > > > Name of the attachment: > > FUN > HUMOR > DOC > SS3M > SONG > Sorry_about_yesterday > ME_NUDE > CARD > SETUP > SEARCHURL > YOU_ARE_FAT! > HAMSTER > NEWS_DOC > New_Napster_Site > README > IMAGES > PICS > > First extension: > > DOC > MP3ZIP > > Second extension: > > pif > scr > > > <A HREF="http://www.datafellows.com/v-descs/badtrans.shtml">F-Secure Computer Virus Information Pages: BadTrans</A> > http://www.datafellows.com/v-descs/badtrans.shtml > > <A HREF="http://www.datafellows.com/v-descs/info/variant.shtml">VARIANT:</A> Badtrans.B > <A HREF="http://www.datafellows.com/v-descs/info/alias.shtml">ALIAS:</A> BadtransII, I-Worm.BadtransII > Badtrans.B e-mail worm has been found from several locations in Europe on > 24th of November 2001. This worm sends e-mail messages without message text. > The attachments are variably named and with double extensions: > Name of the attachment: > FUN HUMOR DOC SS3M SONG Sorry_about_yesterday ME_NUDE CARD SETUP > SEARCHURL YOU_ARE_FAT! HAMSTER NEWS_DOC New_Napster_Site README > IMAGES PICS > > First extension: DOC MP3ZIP > > Second extinction: pif scr > > The attachment might execute automatically when the emails are viewed. To do > this Badtrans.B uses a known vulnerability in IE that allows execution of an > email attachment. This vulnerability is fixed and a patch for it is available > on Microsoft site: <A HREF="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/critical/q290108/default.asp"> > http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/critical/q290108/default.asp</A> > > The worm also drops a password stealing trogan KDLL.DLL detected by F-Secure > Anti-Virus as Trojan.PSW.Hooker. F-Secure Anti-Virus detects both variants > of Badtrans worm and trojan components with the updates published on November > 24, 2001 / 23:29 GMT. [F-Secure Corporation and Kaspersky Lab, November 24, > 2001] > > > > ==== FOLKLORE Mailing List ==== > Listresses > Missi [email protected] & Kath [email protected] > »§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« > >

BEATITUDES FOR PARENTS One man says he had a great speech for parents. It was called, "How to Raise Your Children." He went on speaking tours in the Midwestern United States and was paid a high honorarium for the talk. "This guy will wow you, " people said. Then they had their first child. His majestic speech lost its punch at 2:00 AM with the baby in full cry. But he kept trying. He renamed his new, modified speech "Some Suggestions for Parents" and charged bravely on. They had two more children. The speech changed again. And again. Now it's called, "Feeble Hints for Fellow Strugglers" and he begins with the question: "Does anyone here have a few words of wisdom?" Parents through the ages can identify. "Could someone, please, just give me the final answers to parenting?" we ask. "ALL of them? Could someone tell please tell me how to respond and what to do and what to say and when to say it and do it and tell me now?" But, of course, we ask the impossible. Maybe this will help. I have saved it for years, and do not know its origin. But the author has been there.... It is not the final answer to parenting, but cherish it as a dose of wisdom worth re-reading as often as possible. Beatitudes for Parents Blessed are those parents who make their peace with spilled milk and mud, for of such is the kingdom of childhood. Blessed are those parents who refuse to compare their children with others, for precious unto each is the rhythm of his or her own growth. Blessed are those parents who have learned to laugh, for it is the music of the child's world. Blessed are those parents who understand the goodness of time, for they make it not a sword that kills growth but a shield to guide their children. Blessed are those parents who can say "no" without anger, for comforting to the child is the security of a firm decision. Blessed are those parents who treat their children consistently, for this makes children secure. Blessed are those parents who accept the awkwardness of their growing children, letting each child grow at his or her own speed. Blessed are those parents who are teachable, for knowledge brings understanding, and understanding brings love. Blessed are those parents who love their children in the midst of a hostile world, for love is the greatest of all gifts. Blessed are those who read these words...but more blessed yet are they who follow them! © 2001 Steve Goodier

This is a copy of the email I just sent to the Candyman Lists. So far I've received three infected emails within 4 hours. Please be careful. Linda Bee Those of you on the Genie-Angels list know that several of us received the Bad-Trans.B virus today. Please check your email subject line before you open it and if it has an attachment check below to see if it might be part of the Bad-Trans.B virus. You can tell if it is a Bad-Trans.B virus because there is an underline before the return address in your inbox. As an example, instead of being from "[email protected]" the email would be from "[email protected]" with the underline first. Delete it immediately, then empty your trash folder. Update your virus definitions and run a scan to be sure you are clean. This virus was discovered yesterday in Europe. I tried to update my Norton and it is insisting that I'm up to date. I'm running a virus scan anyway. When that is done I'll check Trend Micro's 'House Call'. If that includes Bad-Trans.B, I'll run that. If not, I'll go to F-Secure and run their program. Almost all of the anti-virus programs will let you try their product for a free trial. Note: House Call is a free anti-virus program. It has also caught virus's on my computer that Norton missed. <A HREF="http://www.antivirus.com/pc-cillin/">Trend Micro PC-cillin, antivirus software</A> http://www.antivirus.com/pc-cillin/ Under "Purchase Software" there is a line called 'try before you buy'. <A HREF="http://www.fsecure.com/">Welcome to F-Secure, Securing the Mobile Enterprise</A> http://www.fsecure.com/ I'm paraphrasing the information I've included below from F-Secure....The Bad-Trans.B virus will take the addresses from all your unread email and send it out with the worm attached. It doesn't start working until your computer is shut down and then restarted. It then takes 5 minutes before it starts to send email. If the Bad.Trans.B worm is sent to a computer that has an unread email with "Reply" it will send that out. If the reply is to you, your computer will be reinfected if you open that attachment. I received two infected emails today, both from the same person. They had different subject lines but both had attachments. The attachment names are in three parts which are listed below. The first one I received was PICS.DOC.scf. I don't know what the second one had..I never opened it, just deleted it and emptied my trash folder. Linda Bee Note: I just received another one from someone else on the lists. With all three infected emails that I received I believe that almost all the lists have someone on them who is infected. I'm sure the people involved realized it now. Just in case, I sent an email to the one who was just infected; the other happened this afternoon so I'm sure they know. Name of the attachment: FUN HUMOR DOC SS3M SONG Sorry_about_yesterday ME_NUDE CARD SETUP SEARCHURL YOU_ARE_FAT! HAMSTER NEWS_DOC New_Napster_Site README IMAGES PICS First extension: DOC MP3ZIP Second extension: pif scr <A HREF="http://www.datafellows.com/v-descs/badtrans.shtml">F-Secure Computer Virus Information Pages: BadTrans</A> http://www.datafellows.com/v-descs/badtrans.shtml <A HREF="http://www.datafellows.com/v-descs/info/variant.shtml">VARIANT:</A> Badtrans.B <A HREF="http://www.datafellows.com/v-descs/info/alias.shtml">ALIAS:</A> BadtransII, I-Worm.BadtransII Badtrans.B e-mail worm has been found from several locations in Europe on 24th of November 2001. This worm sends e-mail messages without message text. The attachments are variably named and with double extensions: Name of the attachment: FUN HUMOR DOC SS3M SONG Sorry_about_yesterday ME_NUDE CARD SETUP SEARCHURL YOU_ARE_FAT! HAMSTER NEWS_DOC New_Napster_Site README IMAGES PICS First extension: DOC MP3ZIP Second extinction: pif scr The attachment might execute automatically when the emails are viewed. To do this Badtrans.B uses a known vulnerability in IE that allows execution of an email attachment. This vulnerability is fixed and a patch for it is available on Microsoft site: <A HREF="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/critical/q290108/default.asp"> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/critical/q290108/default.asp</A> The worm also drops a password stealing trogan KDLL.DLL detected by F-Secure Anti-Virus as Trojan.PSW.Hooker. F-Secure Anti-Virus detects both variants of Badtrans worm and trojan components with the updates published on November 24, 2001 / 23:29 GMT. [F-Secure Corporation and Kaspersky Lab, November 24, 2001]

Everyone was so kind to say they enjoyed my other Gift in a Jar sends, I thought I would send these sites for more ideas, and some printable tags to go w/ them. Jingle and Tinsel !! Cece Once again, I C A U T I O N you--- Make a batch and have the family taste them, B-4 you give them as gifts !! We did the opposite and it was very embarrassing when we tasted them---AFTER the fact !!! Make and Taste Before you give in Haste !!!! http://www.thefamily.com/recipes/christmasrec.html http://holidayorganizer.com/food/blessing.html http://holidayorganizer.com/gifts/index.shtml Beverage Jar recipes http://www.beveragerecipe.com/directory/3257.asp Gifts In A Jar http://www.geocities.com/giftsinajar/index.htm Subject: Gifts in jar bulletin board http://pluto.beseen.com/boardroom/b/50302 Cinnamon Raisin Apple Muffin Mix 2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour or unbleached all-purpose 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt ½ cup raisins ************** 1 cup apple juice 1/2 cup apple sauce 2 tablespoons oil Whisk together first 6 ingredients and store in an airtight container. Package raisins separately. Attach these instructions: To prepare, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together 1 cup apple juice, 1/2 cup apple sauce and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Add dry ingredients and raisins and stir until just combined. Spoon into lightly oiled muffin tins, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until middle is done. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In a wicker basket, add half a dozen apples, a brown sack decked out with a festive label of the mix (in a resealable ziplock bag) and drape a holiday hand or kitchen towel over the front of the basket. ~ Tasty Fruit Dip Mix ~ 1 c brown sugar 3 TBSP chopped crystalizd ginger 2 tsp ground cinnamon 6 apples Process brown sugar, ginger and cinnamon in food processor until ginger is finely chopped. Store in airtight ziplock bag. Yields: 1 1/4 c. To Serve: In a small bowl, beat 3 TBSP mix into one (8 oz) package softened cream cheese until well blended. Cover and chill 1 hour to allow flavors to blend. Yields: about 1 c. dip/spread. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mini Pumpkin Muffin Mix In a Bag Mix together the following and place in zipper style bag: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 cup raisins (optional) Attach the following instructions: To make your "Mini Pumpkin Muffins", place this mix in a bowl, and cut in the following until fine: 1/4 cup shortening Then add the following: 1 egg, beaten 1/2 cup pumpkin 1/2 cup milk Mix until flour mixture is moistened. Fill greased or paper lined mini muffin pans 2/3 full. Bake in 400 degree F oven for 15 - 20 minutes, or until done. Makes 1-3 dozen muffins depending on size. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spiced Apple Cake Mix 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. powdered vanilla 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg 1 cup chopped nuts 1/2 cup golden raisins Combine and blend ingredients in a medium bowl. Store in an airtight container. For gift-giving, fill a jar with this mix. Attach this to the Jar: Spiced Apple Cake (Serves 8 to 10) 1 package Spiced Apple Cake Mix 1 1/2 cups canola oil 3 large eggs 3 cups chopped apples Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F & grease a tube or Bundt pan. Place the Spiced Apple Cake Mix into a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center of the Mix; add the oil, eggs, and apples. Stir until mixture is smooth. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour & 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool; remove from the cake pan.

BAKED POTATO LATKES Makes 6 servings of 2 pancakes each. Note from Dana Jacobi: Top these latkes with applesauce or a dollop of sour cream, graced with a sprinkling of snipped dill. The latkes are so lean you can do this without feeling guilty. Best of all, you should try using the applesauce and the sour cream – the combination is delightful! INGREDIENTS - 1 medium Spanish onion, finely chopped - 1/2 cup reduced-sodium, fat-free chicken broth - 2 very large (1 3/4 lb.) baking potatoes - 1 large egg, beaten - 1 tsp. salt - 1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper - applesauce or low-fat sour cream for garnish DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a non-stick, 12-cavity muffin tin liberally with cooking oil spray and set aside. Spray a medium non-stick skillet with cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. Sauté onions 1 minute, stirring. Add broth. When liquid comes to a boil, reduce heat to medium. Cook until onions are soft, lightly colored, and the pan is dry, about 10 minutes. Set aside. Peel potatoes. Shred them, using the coarsest holes on the grater. Squeeze as much water as possible out of the potatoes, preferably by twisting them in the corner of a dishtowel or piece of cheesecloth. It is important to get potatoes as dry as possible. Place potatoes in a bowl. Add egg, salt and pepper. Scoop 1/4 cup of potato mixture into each cavity of the greased muffin tin. With the tines of a fork, press until potato mixture is compact. Bake 20 minutes, until cakes are crisp and brown on the bottom and sides, and firm when pressed in the center. Let pancakes sit 5 minutes in the pan. Work the tip of a rubber spatula around the edge of each pancake, then underneath it to scoop the pancake out of the tin. Serve with apple sauce or sour cream. Each pancake contains 83 calories and 1 gram of fat.

Welcome Phyllis When friends meet, hearts warm...proverb

* Bar Monkey A guy walks in to a bar with his pet monkey. He orders a drink and while he's drinking the monkey jumps all around the place. The monkey grabs some olives off the bar and eats them. Then he grabs some sliced limes and eats them. Then he jumps on to the pool table, grabs one of the billiard balls, sticks it in his mouth, and to everyone's amazement, somehow swallows it whole. The bartender screams at the guy, "Did you see what your monkey did?" The guy says, "No, what?" "He just ate the cue ball off my pool table -- whole!" "Yeah, that doesn't surprise me," replied the guy. "He eats everything in sight, the little bastard. Sorry. I'll pay for everything." The man finishes his drink, pays his bill, pays for the stuff the monkey ate and leaves. Two weeks later, he's in the bar again, and his pet monkey is with him. He orders a drink and the monkey starts running around the bar again. While the man is finishing his drink, the monkey finds a maraschino cherry on the bar. He grabs it, sticks it up his ass, pulls it out and eats it. The bartender is disgusted. "Did you see what your monkey did now?" he asks. "No, what?" replied the guy. "Well, he stuck a maraschino cherry up his ass, pulled it out and ate it!" said the bartender. "Yeah, that doesn't surprise me," replied the guy. He still eats everything in sight but, ever since he swallowed that cue ball, he measures everything first." »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«§:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*: »§« My friends tell me that I refuse to grow up, but I know they're just jealous because they don't have pajamas with feet. Richiele 'Marie <*}}>< MSN [email protected] »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«§:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

> A husband and wife are traveling by car from Key West to Boston. After > almost twenty-four hours on the road, they're too tired to continue, and > they decide to stop for a rest. They stop at a nice hotel and take a room, > but they only plan to sleep for four hours and then get back on the road. > When they check out four hours later, the desk clerk hands them a bill of > $350. The man explodes and demands to know why the charge is so high. He > tells the clerk although it's a nice hotel, the rooms certainly aren't > worth $350. When the clerk tells him $350 is the standard rate, the man > insists on speaking to the Manager. The Manager appears, listens to the > man, and then explains that the hotel has an Olympic sized pool and a huge > conference center that were available for the husband and wife to use. > "But we didn't use them", the man complains. "Well, they are here, and you > could have," explains the Manager. He goes on to explain they could have > taken in one of the shows for which the hotel is famous. "The best > entertainers from New York, Hollywood and > > Las Vegas perform here," the Manager says. "But we didn't go to any of > those shows," complains the man again. "Well, we have them, and you could > have", the Manager replies. No matter what facility the Manager mentions, > the man replies, "But we > didn't use it!" The Manager is unmoved, and eventually the man gives up > and agrees to pay. > He writes a check and gives it to the Manager. The Manager is surprised > when he looks at the check. > > "But Sir," he says, "this check is only made out for $100." "That's > right," says the man. "I charged you $250 for sleeping with my wife." > "But I didn't!" exclaims the Manager. "Well," the man replies, "she was > here, and you could have." > »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«§:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*: »§« My friends tell me that I refuse to grow up, but I know they're just jealous because they don't have pajamas with feet. Richiele 'Marie <*}}>< MSN [email protected] »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«§:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

Years ago a Kentucky grandmother gave a bride the following recipe for washing clothes 1. Bilt fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. 2. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert. 3. Shave one hole cake of lie soap in bilin water. 4. Sort things, make 3 piles. 1 pile white, 1 pile colored, 1 pile work britches and rags. 5. To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with bilin water. 6. Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and then bile. Rub colored, don't bile, just rinch and starch. 7. Take things out of kettle with broomstick handle, then rinch, and starch. 8. Hang old rags on fence. 9. Spread tea towels on grass. 10. Pore rinch water in flower bed. 11. Scrub porch with hot soapy water. 12. Turn tubs upside down. 13. Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs. Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings. Hang this above your automatic washer, and when things look bleak, read it again, and count your blessings! ______LISA______ "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing " unknown "The greatest gift is a passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination" Elizabeth Hardwick "After I'm dead I'd rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one." Cato the Elder (234-149 BC, AKA Marcus Porcius Cato)

This is from the wonderful 'Snopes' hoax site. They report on email 'hoaxes'..true or false, and why. They are generally the first to have a hoax, they are accurate...and best of all...they have a sense of humor Linda Bee <A HREF="http://www.burstnet.com/cgi-bin/ads/ad1874h.cgi/2464/RETURN-CODE">Urban Legends Reference Pages</A> http://www.abpharmacy.com/Protect720x300.html <A HREF="http://www.burstnet.com/cgi-bin/ads/ad1874h.cgi/2464/RETURN-CODE">http://www.abpharmacy.com/Protect720x300.html</A> Christmas Superstitions and Folklore Origins: Christmas is a holiday steeped in superstition and folk belief. Almost every tradition we unthinkingly observe during the festive season has its roots in long-ago times, a fact we're comfortably though vaguely aware of even though very few of us modern fellows have any idea of the whys of our symbols and rituals. We know to erect a Christmas tree, for instance, but we don't know why we're supposed to, other than it looks good in our living room and gives us a place to leave presents under. We know we're supposed to kiss under mistletoe, but we don't know why, and we harbor a vague sense of wanting to give something to carolers who come to our door, but offhand can't think of any reason to other than ordinary hospitality. We have to step far back into the past to locate the origins of many of our Christmas customs. In long-ago times when winter snows and cold cloaked the earth, people would again gather around central hearths. Though summer, spring, and fall brought a spreading out of a community, winter brought it back together, with communal feasting and living again becoming the norm. The dark months were cold and inhospitable months, best shared in the company of others within a circle of both physical and societal warmth. People didn't gather back together just because it was warm and cheery inside -- they did so because it was cold and dangerous outside. The dark months were scary months, a time when everyone knew evil forces were lurking just out of sight. The winter solistice (December 21) was seen as an especially vulnerable time, with the fabric drawn between our world and the world of malicious spirits becoming rent, allowing the harmful ones to slip through to perhaps claim a victim or two. Though the bad things were around all winter, at this particular juncture, they were said to be out in force. It became custom to hold a loud, cheery celebration at that time, in hope that the din would convince the lurking evil that there were just too many humans gathered in this one place to take on. Charms and rituals became part of the tradition surrounding this party as a further way of protecting loved ones from evil. Divination rituals further became worked into the fabric of things because the fragility of the curtain between the two worlds might allow for a glimpse from this side into the wonders of that which would be -- chances were if those holes were letting evil spirits through, we might be able to peep back through them to see into their world and learn something from it. The stage is now set for an understanding of our various Christmas customs and symbols from the vantage point of superstition. Decking the Halls: Evergreens are symbolic of enduring and renewed life, which is why decorate our homes with them at Christmastime. The fetching in of green branches is a magical rite to ensure the return of vegetation at winter's end. Our modern day Christmas tree is the centerpiece of this belief. Although these days when we think of decking the halls only Christmas trees, holly, and mistletoe come to mind, our ancestors decorated their homes with all those, plus ivy, rosemary, bay, laurel, and anything else that still showed green. Our choices have become standardized in a way theirs didn't because we modern types observe the ritual without understanding what underpins it whereas our distant forefathers didn't lose sight of the concept that a plant's greenness was what counted. By tradition, Christmas decorations should not be erected prior to Christmas Eve, lest this visible proof of anticipation of a festival anger capricious forces. Evergreens especially (and that includes your tree) should not be brought into the house before this time. Comfort should therefore be drawn from the knowledge that greedy merchants who put up their Christmas finery in early November daily court the malicious attentions of evil spirits. A little-known German tradition calls for the Christmas pickle to be the last item hung on the tree when parents deck it out on Christmas Eve, long after the little ones are asleep. Come Christmas morning, the sharp-eyed youngster who finds this glass pickle-shaped ornament is entitled to a special present and trades the pickle back to his parents to get it. Holly is celebrated in lore for its protective powers, being said to be especially effective against witches and lightning. The bush itself should be treated with great reverence, and lore is full of tales about those fool enough to cut down a holly bush or to use its leaves to clean out a chimney. Holly is seen as a masculine plant and ivy a feminine one, leading to them being united at Christmastime. Care should be taken as to which sort of holly is brought into the house first on Christmas Day because who wears the pants in that home in the upcoming year will depend on that. Prickly holly indicates the man will hold sway, but the smooth sort guarantees the wife will reign. Prudent couples take care to bring both kinds in together to assure a balanced and harmonious home. Like holly, mistletoe is presumed a powerful charm against witches and lightning. At times it's also been said to be a cure for poison, epilepsy, barrenness, and whooping cough. Mistletoe is consequently left hanging in the home year-round, with the old, dried-out bit not taken down until another festive season has come and fresh mistletoe is hung to replace it. Division exists between those who say mistletoe must not be brought into the house before New Year's Eve and those who believe it must be part of the greenery brought in Christmas morn. What all agree on, however, is the custom of kissing under it. Traditionally, a man may take a kiss from a girl standing under the sprig, but only if he plucks a berry from the plant and presents it to her with each kiss. Once the berries are gone, so's the kissing. The berry-plucking aspect of the tradition may have something to do with mistletoe's rumored powers in matters of conception. Ladies looking to conceive are advised to carry a sprig of mistletoe with them. Perhaps then, the swain who kisses and then presents a berry from this plant to his lady-love is symbolically offering to get her with child. One mistletoe love charm ritual tends to bear that theory out: The bussed lass takes the berry and a leaf from the sprig to her room, swallows the berry, pricks the initials of the man she longs for in the leaf, and sews the leaf into her corset where it will rest near her heart and thus bind his love to her for as long the leaf remains. (Not that swallowing a mistletoe berry would all that good an idea, love charm or not. The plant is poisonous, says the Centers for Disease Control on its <A HREF="http://www.snopes2.com/holidays/xmas/#cdc">Holiday Safety</A> page.) Mistletoe and husband divination also go hand in hand, with unmarried women told to swipe a sprig of the plant from church decorations, and hide it in their pillows to bring on dreams of their future husbands. Unmarried girls would also supervise the burning of old mistletoe to see how it went -- a steady flame was a good sign, but a spluttering one foretold cross and bad-tempered husbands. Ivy, oddly enough, is usually considered a bad luck magnet when brought into a home. (Growing on the sides of a house is just fine though -- it's then considered protective.) According to superstition, ivy should never be brought as a gift to anyone ill, and of course all ivy must be removed from the home of anyone under the weather. During the holiday season, however, holly and ivy are "reunited" under one roof as male and female are symbolically brought together again. Perhaps holly's power counteracts ivy's influence. Ivy's ill health aspects come into play in the prognostication rites associated with it. An ivy leaf left in a bowl of water on New Year's Eve will on Twelfth Night Eve reveal the state of the questioner's upcoming year. If the ivy is still fresh and green, a good year is expected. But woe to the questioner if black spots appear on the sprig -- they signify ill health, possibly even death! The preponderance of superstition says holly, ivy, and the Christmas tree itself should be disposed of by burning. (Custom in some areas runs the other way, strongly insisting these decorations at all costs not be set on fire.) Some say the ritual burning should take place on Candlemas Eve (1 February), others on Twelfth Night or the day following it, and still others say the dried out evergreens should be used in the Shrove Tuesday fire to help the pancakes along. In yet other areas, the greenery -- especially the ivy -- are to be fed to the cattle. However, they are disposed of, disposed of they must be, lest a death in the family be risked. Some say for every dropped pine needle left in the house after the tree is gone a goblin you will encounter. For others the belief runs even stronger, with a forgotten needle or berry in someone's house or church pew presaging the death of that person within the year. Evergreens brought home from the church are said to be especially lucky, and should be hung in the house and remain up all year to bring good fortune. Fire and Light: Tradition and rituals surrounding the <A HREF="http://www.snopes2.com/holidays/xmas/#log">Yule log</A> are so numerous that we deemed the subject merited its own page. In a nutshell, the log must not be bought and must be kept burning all night. Christmas candles are similarly to be left burning until Christmas morning and should rest undisturbed from time of lighting until they are snuffed. Look to the shadows cast by those gathered round the fire on Christmas night -- if any of these shades appears to lack a head, that person will die within the year. Difficulty lighting the fire on Christmas Day is particularly unwelcome as this presages a bad year ahead. Food: Christmas cakes were usually eaten on Christmas Eve in the 19th century, though it was deemed most unlucky to cut into one (or any Christmas foodstuff) before that day dawned. A portion also had to be preserved until Christmas Day itself -- it wouldn't at all do to wolf the whole thing down. As many mince pies as you sample at different houses during the festive season, so you will have happy months in the year to come. Mince pies must not be cut, however, lest you "cut your luck." None must be eaten before Christmas Eve nor after Twelfth Night. If Christmas pudding is on the menu, then all present must take part in stirring it if the household is to prosper. Traditionally, one has to stir the mixture at least three times, seeing the bottom of the pot each time. Even tiny babies take their turn, with parents guiding a little one's hand on the spoon. Unmarried girls who forget to give the pudding its requisite stirs might as well forget about finding a husband in the upcoming year. It's customary to make a wish while stirring the pudding. In common with those made on a star, such wishes are kept secret until they come true -- to speak them to anyone else is to jinx them. Into the pudding are dropped a silver coin, a thimble, and a ring. He who is served the coin finds luck, he who retrieves the thimble brings himself prosperity, and he who comes up with the ring hastens a wedding in his family (perhaps even his own). Those interested in divination might try their hand at making a dumb cake at midnight on Christmas Eve. Prepared in complete silence by one or more, this concoction of flour, water, eggs, and salt is placed on the hearthstone with the upper surface of the cake pricked with the initials of one of those present. Provided the silence is unbroken, the future partner of the person indicated on the cake will appear and similarly prick his or her initials onto the cake. In some regions it is instead stipulated that a petitioner must walk backwards to their beds after eating the cooked cake, there to dream of her future spouse. Letting Christmas In: The doors of a home used to be flung open at midnight on Christmas Eve to let out any trapped evil spirits. A <A HREF="http://www.snopes2.com/holidays/xmas/#candle">Christmas candle</A> was customarily left burning in the window all night to guarantee the household's good luck in the coming year. (That candle going out while everyone slept was deemed a terribly bad sign.) The first member of the household to open the door on Christmas morning might well shout, "Welcome, Old Father Christmas!" to the empty street. In other homes, one might be expected to sweep the threshold with a broom to clear it of "trouble." Particularly good fortune will attach to the household if the first visitor that day happens to be a dark-haired man. In common with New Year's "first foot" beliefs, the arrival of a red-haired man is a bad omen, and it's utter catastrophe if the first foot is a woman. Though under some circumstances a red-haired man might be allowed to serve as the first foot (it's getting dark and no one else has come), one bars the door against a woman. First foots (also known as "lucky birds," "lucky bods," or "first comers") who bring evergreens (especially holly) or coal are prized for their thoughtfulness. When the first foot is a man, he should be welcomed with a drink and perhaps a bit to eat. A boy, however, should be given a coin or two. First foots often kiss all the women in the house. Caroling: It is hugely unlucky to send carolers away empty-handed, no matter how badly they sing. One might be a king in disguise, after all. Offer food, a drink, or a bit of money. Singing carols at any time other than during the festive season is unlucky. Contrary to what has come to be popular belief, wassailing has nothing to do with singing carols at people's houses and then getting drunk with them. Wassailing is the custom of honoring one's livestock and crops during the Christmas season in hope that this salute will increase yield in the coming year. Toasts are drunk to corn, cows, and fruit trees. Celebratory fires are lit in fields and cider drunk in barns and orchards while men shoot guns into the air to scare off evil spirits. A plum pudding might well be stuck on a cow's horn and the beast frightened into running until it tosses the pudding -- if the pudding falls forward, a good harvest is predicted, but if it falls backwards, the harvest will be poor. In parts of Scotland, the sea is similarly honored, with ale poured into the waves in hope this would entice the deep to yield up her fishes in the coming year. Presents: Stockings are hung by the chimney in remembrance of the largesse of St. Nicholas. Out of compassion he was said to have tossed three coins down the chimney of the home of three poor sisters. Each coin fell neatly into stockings left drying by the hearth. We therefore leave our stocking out in hopes that a similar bit of good fortune will befall us. Animals: Farm animals are said to kneel in homage to Christ at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve at which time they are momentarily blessed with the power of speech. Other versions of this belief limit the gift of gab to cats. Woe to any human who overhears their conversation though -- such eavesdropping is fatal! Dogs that howl on Christmas Eve are fated to go mad before the end of the year. Many otherwise healthy animals were formerly destroyed on these grounds. Work: It is extremely unlucky to toil at tasks other than those that must be done (such as feeding livestock) on Christmas Day. This day is deemed too holy to be despoiled with ordinary work. Born on Christmas Day: Those born on this auspicious day will never encounter a ghost, nor will they have anything to fear from spirits. They're also protected against from death by drowning or hanging, making a career of piracy on the high seas an attractive choice. Barbara "captain kidding about that piracy thing" Mikkelson Last updated: 8 September 2001

You are welcome, and your friend is blessed to have a friend like you. Cece ----- Original Message ----- From: Phyllis Cloyd <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2001 3:07 PM Subject: Re: [FOLKLORE FAMILY] New home tradition/custom > Cece -- > > Wow! That was sure a fast response. And it is perfect. Exactly what I was > looking for. Thank you so very much. > > I'm having lunch Wednesday with a dear friend in her new house. Plenty of time > now for me to get a basket and fill it with the appropriate goodies. > > Phyllis

Space Weather News for Nov. 24, 2001 http://www.spaceweather.com Did you see strange lights in the sky before dawn on Saturday? If so, you were probably watching an outbreak of auroras. A pair of fast-moving coronal mass ejections, arriving somewhat earlier than expected, buffeted Earth's magnetic field on Nov. 24th at 0530 UT (12:30 a.m. EST). The resulting geomagnetic storm spawned Northern Lights as far south as Arkansas in the United States. Although the ongoing storm will probably subside during the hours ahead, high-latitude sky watchers (including those along the northern tier of US states) should remain alert for auroras Saturday night and Sunday morning. Visit spaceweather.com for updates. ---

GYPSY STEW Makes 4 servings. This stew is even better made a day ahead, then reheated. If planning to make it ahead, wait and add the rice when reheating it. This keeps the rice from getting hard. INGREDIENTS - 8 oz. lean ground turkey breast or beef - 1 Tbsp. canola oil - 1 small onion, chopped - 1 garlic clove, finely chopped - 1 medium green bell pepper, seeded and chopped - 1 cup corn kernels, frozen or canned - 1 can (15 oz.) kidney beans, rinsed and drained - 2 (or 3, as desired) cups cooked brown rice - 1 can (15 oz.) diced tomatoes, drained - Salt and freshly ground black pepper - 1/4 cup firmly packed cilantro leaves, chopped DIRECTIONS Coat a large, non-stick skillet with cooking spray and set it over medium-high heat. Cook meat until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Transfer meat to a bowl, and set aside. Wipe out pan. Heat oil in pan over medium-high heat. Saute onion, garlic and pepper until onion is translucent, 4 minutes. Add corn, beans, rice and tomatoes. Return meat to pan. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is heated through. Mix in cilantro and serve. Nutritional Information Per Serving: 367 calories, 6 g. fat (less than 1 g. saturated fat), 54 g. carbohydrate, 24 g. protein, 12 g. dietary fiber, 399 mg. sodium --------------------------------------------- Sponsored by Omaha Steaks Order 4 Filet Mignon at 1/2 price and get 6 burgers FREE For this special offer, visit http://tgcmagazine.com/bin/ad.cgi?banner=zomaha ---------------------------------------------

Cece -- Wow! That was sure a fast response. And it is perfect. Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so very much. I'm having lunch Wednesday with a dear friend in her new house. Plenty of time now for me to get a basket and fill it with the appropriate goodies. Phyllis Cece wrote: > HI!! and welcome--here is the poem. Welcome to the group and please post > often !!! > > Cece > > ''A Traditional Housewarming: > > Bread - So you never go hungry. Wine - So your life is always sweet. Salt - > So there is always spice in your life. And a Candle - So you always have > light.'' > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Phyllis Cloyd <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2001 9:52 AM > Subject: [FOLKLORE FAMILY] New home tradition/custom > > > Hello all -- > > > > I'm a brand new subscriber to this list. I'm looking for information > > about a specific tradition -- bread, salt & wine as a gift to a new home > > owner. > > > > ==== FOLKLORE Mailing List ==== > "Folklore Family" Listresses > Missi [email protected] & Kath [email protected] > »§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

Hello & Welcome Phyllis, :-) It's nice to meet you. HUGS, Kath Here are a few variations of that lovely tradition. BREAD THAT THIS HOUSE MAY NEVER KNOW HUNGER SALT THAT LIFE WILL ALWAYS HAVE FLAVOR AND WINE THAT JOY AND PROSPERITY MAY RAIN FOREVER ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Wedding Wish for You Woven here is a basket of wishes for you; for your life together throughout the years to come. Bread so you may never hunger, salt so your life will always have flavor, wine so joy and prosperity may reign forever, and a candle so you always know the glow of romance. (Fill the basket with a bread mix, salt, a bottle of wine and a small Yankee wedding candle, attach the poem). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wedding Poem or Housewarming Gift It is an ancient tradition that upon moving into a new home a family should be made welcome with these four earthly symbols: A Sponge that the house may always be clean. A Loaf of Bread that there may always be food upon the table. Sugar that there may be sweetness abounding, and Salt that there may be some spice in living. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The housewarming gift of Salt, Wine, and a loaf of bread symbolizes the following elements: Bread - "That this house may never know hunger." Salt - "That life may always have flavor." Wine - "That joy and prosperity may reign forever." >From the script of the film - "It's a Wonderful Life" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Hello all -- > > I'm a brand new subscriber to this list. I'm looking for information > about a specific tradition -- bread, salt & wine as a gift to a new home > owner. > > Many years ago I read somewhere that an old custom is to take bread, > salt & wine when visiting someone for the first time at their new home. > There was a saying that went with the gift. It was something like: > > With this bread may your home never be without food. > With this salt may....... > With this wine may your home always be filled with good cheer. > > The above is just a wild guess. As you can see, I don't remember > exactly what to say with the presentation of the gift. I know there is > a very specific quote -- somewhere. > > 1. I checked the archives of this list and didn't find any info on the > subject. > > 2. I have searched the web and found a Polish wedding tradition that > includes a similar tradition of bread, salt & wine. And I have found > biblical references. But nothing about a house warming gift. > > Can anyone out there provide me with the specific quote or saying > suitable for a new home? > > Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving -- our great American > tradition/custom. > > Regards, > > Phyllis in NJ