Great Read - Lot's of fun

The last couple of evenings I have been escaping from the rat race and the buzz of the house to read for fun. Most of the time the books are work related or business topics. My most recent read was a blast. Through the generosity of a fellow blogger I was able to cruise through 300 plus pages of fun.

The book had to be good. The author has or had family in Alabama. (God's country). The author made me smile, laugh and take some time to consider the important things in life.

Through stories based in Utah, the State of Washington, and the Island of Crete, Robert Fulghum, author of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, covers people and relationships. He also shared a perspective on life that does make you stop and wonder if we are smelling the roses in life.

It is obvious that Fulghum gets much of his inspiration from walking and observing all creatures big and small. He has magnificant insight into the people he sees and interacts with in his daily life. His life is a unique blend of experience that keeps you guessing.

His tips for conversation, called the List, makes the whole book worth the read. My favorite is his open engagement of people as he himself experiences life. My habit of walking along anywhere saying hello to people just to see the reaction doesn't seem so abnormal (note to wife) Okay, maybe as I said hello and good morning to New Yorkers on the sidewalks and the subways was a little over the top, but, Fulghum, makes me seem somewhat normal

For more on Robert Fulghum follow the link to his site. Learn more about his writings and read his frequent notes. Hope you enjoy. I did.

Pick up a copy of Fulghum's book: What on Earth Have I Done (Stories, Observations and Affirmations) Enjoy the topics and the read.

ISBN-13: 9780641990557
Pub. Date: September 2007

Chicken Soup - Saves a Puny Man

Ms. Ann to the rescue. The finest provider of confections in our part of the world. Is also the saver of men!


On Wednesday yours truly was being pounded by a bug. A temp of 103, a sore throat, and general wimpiness. So, being home from work I decide while laying in the bed, and not wanting to go anywhere, to make a connection to the outside world through Facebook and Twitter. Just to update the world on my lack of well being. Okay, a lesson; if you tell it, people will respond.


The responses came literally from all over the country. This wining thing when sick garnered some serious sympathy and provided good cheer to the one hiding behind his woobie. Ms Henry asked if there was anything she could do from over 60 miles away. So putting me out of my misery would take some time. (Not seriously considered, just a figure of speech) A note from Mom Said So in Connecticut hoping it wasn't the flu. A number of well wishers from throughtout the southeast. Then, THE Golden Ticket!


To put you in the frame of mind you have to have seen Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Either version, old or new. To understand the pleasure and unadulterated joy that Mr. Charlie Bucket must have felt upon finding the last of the tickets that would grant him access to the land of confections that Mr. Wonka makes inside his factory.



Ms Ann, the local maker of perfection confections and other meals of renowned (Annie Cakes) offered.....Holding your breath now; some Chicken Soup to save the wimpy! Mind you, this isn't the stuff from the can. This is the real poultice to ward off what ails you! The message. "Chicken soup is on the way!" Wohoo! I have been granted access to the kitchen of Ms Ann. I began to feel light headed. I didn't know if it was the bug or the emotion of finally getting through the steel doors of Ms Wonka's factory of goodies. Later it was determined to be the excitement of the goodies. I had to start feeling better to have food provided by Ms. Ann.


Too call this magic elixir just Chicken Soup is like telling Hussein Bolt that he is kind of fast. This stuff when it arrived by special certified courier was magical. Real Chicken Soup. Home made with large chucks of poultry, a liquid that made the sickness shoot from my body like Big John Coffee did for Tom Hanks character in the book and movie the Green Mile. This stuff caused some serious recovery.

There were also non sick people in the house that were able to enjoy the magic pourage. It caused general good cheer and happiness throughout the house.


Ms. Ann, you should get a license and a patent on that stuff. Maybe you could feed it to people out there managing our economy. Man alive I just know the recession would be over! Powerful, powerful stuff.


Thanks for coming to my rescue. As always, you are my hero!

What is your favorite Holiday Movie?

Let's hear it fellow bloggers? What is your favorite holiday movie?It's getting to that time of year. Are you a National Lampoon, Christmas Vacation fan of Chevy Chase? Or, are you a classic movie fan, A Christmas story?


Let me know your favorite holiday movie? And a little bit of why.


Mine is A Wonderful Life. I've seen it for many years and its a classic. My favorite cartoon is the Frosty the Snowman. By today's standards the graphics are lame. But, the story is cool and the music is fun.



Are you ready to share?

Favorite Christmas Shopping Sites

Happy holidays. Merry Christmas. It's the gift giving time of the year so I'm looking for ideas. My fellow bloggers. How about some hints on your favorite online shopping sites.

Have any hints you want to share?

Bowling for Big Brothers/Big Sisters

I have been invited by a team at work to raise money for Big Brothers/Big Sisters as a bowler. This should be fun. The object is to raise money to assist a community program.

Since I have never bowled a 300 I will have to raise money the traditional way, by asking, family, friends, fellow bloggers, and anyone I come in contact with for funding.

My eight year old thought he had hit the jackpot when he heard about this project. He has always wanted a Big Brother so bowling to get one, he was all for it. Then he was willing to give some of his own money to get a Big Brother. This is an accomplishment since getting money from this gentlemen is akin to getting blood from a turnip. The nice way to say it is he is very frugal. So his donation is still pending.

Boodles, our beautiful 10 year old has a heart the size of Texas, and I'm not sure Texas is that big, listened to the project. A few minutes later she came walking into my room with 3 dollars. She explained that is all the money she has right now and would like to donate. She mentioned that she would be babysitting and would contribute more later.

Not to be out done Princess Dabba, four and half years old, came walking into my room with $1.00. She wanted to get into the act of contributing. When she had a chance to support her dad and be like her older sister she was thrilled.

Then J Designs, thanks to lovely wife, made a $25 contribution. In 1o minutes I had $29 dollars in contributions. This is going well.

I'm asking for your help. If you are interested in supporting Big Brothers and Big Sisters please e-mail me, wkwiv@aol.com the level of contribution you are willing to make. Over the Internet I will send you a PayPal invoice and/or give you the address to send the check, via snail mail. I will be sure to send you the receipts for your taxes when we get them on Tuesday evening, May 6, from Big Brothers and Big Sisters. No donation is to large or to small. All are welcome.

Your support is appreciated. I will be sure to blog about the results of the bowling and the fund raising. Watch the meter on Busydad Mumbles, my blog site, to follow the progress.

Happy Easter to All

The Rabbit stopped by our house. This is a special and confusing day in our home. Today is the last day of Spring Break so all school age residents are working on "sleeping in." It is now just after 8 a.m. our time and the first movement of little people has not even taken place.

The goodies are out waiting for the people to awaken. Here are a couple of pre-festivities photos.We are obviously heading to 11 o'clock church today.

This is a special day for a member of our extended family. A Navy Lt. Cmdr, over in Iraq, has completed his RCIA classes and earlier today became a member of the Catholic Church. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

Now that he has been given his first wedgie by the Pope and been shown the official Catholic handshake on this holiest of Holy Days we are expecting great things from him. Smile
(The Above graphic leveraged from my Bloggin Friend - Nap Warden and her company NW Designs. Click the graphic to learn more)

Have a wonderful Easter. Blessings to all.