tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47252437025868096852012-02-16T14:33:27.285-06:00The unsolicited opinions of Mary Ryle about everything I have the inclination to talk about.Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.comBlogger371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-61841644623555508892010-01-19T22:40:00.002-06:002010-01-19T22:45:46.196-06:00

"It is what it is". I hate that. I'm hearing it more and more lately. Some things are what they are, but not every damned thing. Most of the time it's "it is what you made it" and "it is what you let it be" or even "it is what what you freaking decided it should be".I am one who gets very tired of overused phrases and this one is at the top of my list right now.

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-8907398671187553472010-01-18T21:12:00.002-06:002010-01-18T21:15:27.856-06:00

I could also:Join the circus,Join a cult and then irritate the hell out of them until they throw me out,Try to get on a reality showBecome a mattress tester and nap all day and get paid for it.Still thinking.......

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-16217618769490358552010-01-14T23:42:00.002-06:002010-01-14T23:48:08.639-06:00

Since my 2nd divorce is now final, I find myself at 54, retired with a part-time job and living a life that many women would envy. I need to do something new. Here are some options I've thought of:Get a tattooJoin the Peace CorpsBecome a lesbianWrite a bookFind a rich old man to marrySuggestions?

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-29709482485404387592010-01-14T22:55:00.001-06:002010-01-14T22:56:52.273-06:00

I haven't blogged in months and months. I think I'm ready to start spouting my opinions again.

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-84217546082287276632009-09-03T22:43:00.003-05:002009-09-03T22:46:18.564-05:00

How can anyone be against Health Care Reform? Please explain it to me. People are dying and going broke because they can't afford insurance. I don't understand the argument against it. Are people just happy with the way things are? Doesn't everyone have a right to affordable medical care? What's the deal here????????

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-13283013809811258822009-06-09T22:22:00.002-05:002009-06-09T22:26:29.180-05:00

My mom is almost 87 and her sister in law is in her 70's. They talk on the phone several times a week. I often ask her what they talked about. Here's my version of their conversation:LaVerne: Hi! What are you doing?Elsie: Eating a bowl of cereal.LaVerne: What?Elsie: CEREALLaVerne: Oh, you’re watching a serial?Elsie: YESLaVerne: How are you feeling?Elsie: Oh, not so good. I had a treatment

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-8143500963664864652009-04-28T20:59:00.001-05:002009-04-28T21:00:28.956-05:00

These are my all time favorite songs. Enjoy! 1. Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-idDbIfGvw2. What a Wonderful World - Louie Armstrong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnRqYMTpXHc3. The Dance - Garth Brooks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q10cZpF1lE&feature=PlayList&p=A1DF7EA34CA7F691&index=0&playnext=14. You Belong to Me - The Duprees http://www.youtube.com

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-15141028060638934862009-04-23T00:02:00.002-05:002009-04-23T00:19:39.768-05:00

We grew up with 3 TV channels (4 if you count PBS). And we had to get up and go change the channel. No remote controls. And the TV had an antenna you had to adjust to get the picture right. Anyway, I have one sister who is 3 years older than I. The TV shows I wanted to watch were mostly half-hour sit-coms. I liked The Monkees, My Mother The Car, My Favorite Martian, The Courtship of Eddie's

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-36539745654510484282009-04-07T00:16:00.002-05:002009-04-07T00:27:23.906-05:00

Something I've noticed when I drive on highways is that every 10 miles or so there seems to be these drivers I call Pod People. They drive in the left lane at the speed limit or slightly below it and refuse to move to the right lane and let other people pass them. That's ok unless there is a right-lane Pod Person who is doing the same thing and drives at the same speed as the left lane Pod Person

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-31888282075438950672009-04-07T00:12:00.003-05:002009-04-07T00:15:20.709-05:00

I never absolutely HAVE to go to the grocery store unless I need dog food and toilet paper. These seem to be the 2 things I can't go without. I can make do with all kinds of other stuff: food, cleaning supplies, make-up, beauty supplies, etc. But I can't do without dogfood and toilet paper. IF this dog of mine ever passes away (she's about 20 years old), I will only need TP to survive. YEA!!!!

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-62410916444378034022009-02-01T22:06:00.002-06:002009-02-01T22:14:42.322-06:00

I remember many years ago when buying something for $50 was a big purchase. Then it went to $100. Well now it's $700. In the past few months I've priced flat screen TV's, computers and various other things that I thought might be nice to have and everything is $700. It's the new threshhold. Under $1000 but too exepentive to just go out and buy. We recently had a pest control company come out and

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-76710954191600729762009-01-29T22:40:00.002-06:002009-01-29T23:16:25.361-06:00

I'm not sure why it bothers me so much that I get e-mails from friends that are links or downloads. I think I'm very impatient and I can read very fast so I don't like to take the time to download something that isn't that interesting anyway. I'd much rather people copy and paste something into an e-mail than to force me to click on a link to find out what they want to share. I have a problem

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-81261193323737611052009-01-20T21:41:00.003-06:002009-01-20T21:48:16.277-06:00

After 8 long years I finally feel like I can breathe again! We have a new President and he's not just "not Bush", he's OBAMA! I realize now that I've had such an edge of anger in me for everything that our government has done during the Bush administration. I didn't vote for him the first time or the second time. I was against the war in Iraq from the beginning. I feel like we've been lied to and

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-71877319293494287682009-01-15T23:57:00.003-06:002009-01-16T00:09:33.571-06:00

I don't know if I can wait 5 more days for a new President. What freaking self-serving gag-me speech Bush gave tonight! The line that got me was the one about how there is good and there is evil:"But good and evil are present in this world, and between the two there can be no compromise. Murdering the innocent to advance an ideology is wrong every time, everywhere. Freeing people from oppression

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-45530388497338342012009-01-06T21:03:00.004-06:002009-01-06T21:08:38.625-06:00

John Prine wrote a song many many years ago during the Viet Nam era that I still know all the words to. It's called Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore. I think the song holds as true today as it did then. Decide for yourself:Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore© John PrineWhile digesting Reader's DigestIn the back of a dirty book store,A plastic flag, with gum on the

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-5970440480804242872008-12-08T13:35:00.003-06:002008-12-08T13:52:44.406-06:00

I can't tell you how many times a day I begin a conversation with someone and their cell phone rings and I cease to exist. I become invisible and the person's finger goes in one ear (phone in the other ear) to drown out my voice so they can hear the oh-so-important words of someone on the other end asking "what's going on?"I wonder why people think that whoever is calling on their cell phone is

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-53475692500717806192008-12-04T11:08:00.003-06:002008-12-04T12:14:06.016-06:00

Do you know people who talk so continuously that they don't seem to breathe and never break long enough to allow somebody else to express a thought or ask a question? They seem to fill every break with "and, um, and, um". I feel like I have to raise my hand to indicate that I have something to say or comment on.I think that's why I prefer e-mail and instant messaging with some people. There is a

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-20068672646334288412008-11-23T21:40:00.002-06:002008-11-23T21:52:40.183-06:00

I found this web site called www.tastebook.com. It's really cool. You can make your own cookbook, spiral bound with laminated pages and you can add pictures. I starting putting one together for our family and I have 45 recipes so far. I'm waiting for the rest of the family to give me some of their recipes. What's nice about it is that everything will be in one book, not those little sheets of

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-9272234096623718122008-11-20T08:53:00.003-06:002008-11-20T09:08:10.604-06:00

I love Thanksgiving. It comes around every year in November which is one of the best months of the year in Austin. Nice and cool after the long hot summer. We've been having Thanksgiving Dinner at our house for the past 10 years. We host between 16 and 25 family members because we have the big dining room and big table that almost everyone can sit around. It starts the night before with the

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-29485004809523927322008-11-17T00:10:00.002-06:002008-11-17T00:26:01.403-06:00

If you've ever watched Fox News for even a short time (which I rarely do, but I sometimes need to know what the neo-cons are saying), you should watch for the number of times they say the word "Fear".I refuse to live my life in fear. Fear of terrorism, economic ruin, liberals, gays, etc.I think the Repubican Party has moved from being a fiscally and governmentally conservative party to the party

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-10756782362380713602008-11-16T23:49:00.002-06:002008-11-17T00:07:43.519-06:00

I've been watching the news lately about schools banning snack and soft drink machines and even checking kid's lunches to make sure they don't have any snack foods in them. I feel like such a bad mother when I see that stuff.I confess, I did raise my daughters on fast food. We drove through so many times that the clerks knew who we were and what we wanted. "A #2 plain and dry, meat and cheese

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-62225827733774461772008-11-11T23:35:00.004-06:002008-11-12T00:00:37.772-06:00

I think customer service at a lot of places is really bad. Some places have really good CS though. I've been a little surprised lately to find people who actually talk to me on the phone and try to help solve the problem. I'd like to see businesses get away from the automated menu, at least the extensive ones. I don't mind pushing a button or two but pushing 50 buttons only to be connected to

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-45869492658798550522008-11-09T00:54:00.003-06:002008-11-11T23:16:49.034-06:00

There are so many things that aggravate me. I should work on being a nicer, more easy-going person. Or not. Anyway, here goes:People who are completely unaware that there are other shoppers in the grocery store and block the aisles with their baskets.People who bring 7 people with them to shop. I mean, how many people does it take to go grocery shopping?Cell phone addicts who can't get that phone

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-14875985316207061872008-11-07T23:51:00.002-06:002008-11-08T00:36:11.027-06:00

I feel so happy that we have elected Barack Obama as our next President. I am filled with hope. It's such a good feeling to know that people are so excited about this change. For the first time in a long time it seems that the rest of the world is in awe and willing to work together. There is so much work and repair to be done. I want him to take office immediately and I hate that we have to wait

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-81501882301384429082008-11-02T22:23:00.004-06:002008-11-02T22:49:03.188-06:00

My friend Sue sent me this email today:Mar, please make them go away!Billy Maysselling ANYTHING;Larry the ShamWow guy who can't make hisgreatoffer all day, but seems to anyway;PediPaws, please make them STOP; and speaking of making them stop, The commercialwith the old couple where the woman says, "He sang outside my window until Imade him stop!" It's so irritating, I can't even recall what they

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-91295904460778923372008-10-29T11:37:00.004-05:002008-10-29T11:43:59.308-05:00

THE LANE ENDS, DAMMIT! That means move your car over into the lane that continues and don't wait until there's no lane left and you have to squeeze yourself in front of me because chances are very good that I'm not going to let you in! There is a perfectly good, yellow sign that says it and even shows at PICTURE. What is it that completely baffles you about that?

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-75601115710702780242008-10-29T08:25:00.002-05:002008-10-29T08:31:37.833-05:00

"Rogue", "Diva" and my favorite, "Whack Job". Three descriptions by members of the McCain campaign to describe Sarah. I can't wait to hear what they all have to say after the election is over. I think the blame will start flying all over the place by late next week. If she's positioning herself for a run in 2012, she's not doing a very good job of it. I think she's doomed to obscurity, popping

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-54881750987521428972008-10-26T23:45:00.003-05:002008-10-26T23:50:48.319-05:00

Okay, I'm a news junkie. I hate weekends because all the news people go home and there's not a damned thing on TV and I end up watching the History Channel, Food Network or WE TV. I love watching Tru TV most of the time but Jack and I have seen every episode of Forensic Files they've ever made. Usually MSNBC is our favorite channel but on weekends they have this never-ending marathon of "Lock-Up"

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-10504044775224591812008-10-26T23:34:00.002-05:002008-10-26T23:44:56.945-05:00

Here's what I think happened. I think that Palin's "handlers" felt that she needed some nice clothes and asked if they could go buy her some. They were told "sure". So they went and bought up Neiman's and Saks with no regard for price. I'm sure they thought her regular wardrobe was atrocious. I guess the problem was that nobody was in control of how much they spent. I think the same thing

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-5728063783503280732008-10-25T12:54:00.001-05:002008-10-25T12:55:23.790-05:00

Jack, Colin and I went to vote today. It was good to see so many people there. I think this election will be a record breaker in turn-out.

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-45031538166058434882008-10-23T21:23:00.003-05:002008-10-23T21:45:33.321-05:00

How nice for Mayor Bloomberg that he can just decide he wants more than 2 terms as Mayor of New York and is able to get the City Council to approve it. New Yorkers should be outraged! I don't know if they like Bloomberg or not but that just seems like way too much power to me.

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-74280927009342624792008-10-22T15:28:00.001-05:002008-10-23T21:49:48.253-05:00

Senator McCain,Oh,can I call you John? It is with great displeasure that I write to you, knowing you probably will never read this, and that soon after your cronies get this letter, I will be wiretapped, the FBI and CIA will be monitoring my every move thinking I am a 'terrorist,' and I may even lose my job, get ill or even worse because of some unseen accident, because this may come across as a

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-63228095200935224772008-10-21T22:46:00.002-05:002008-10-23T21:53:51.403-05:00

I got a call the other day at work from T. Boone Pickens. Really! I and everyone else I know hates unsolicited calls, even recordings, so shame on McCain for using that. Especially for using a robo call that tries to scare people into thinking that Obama is a terrorist or anti-American. What a desperate, fear based tactic.I am sick of fear-based government.And that Bachman woman! Lordy, is she a

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-31952380078823268142008-10-21T22:41:00.002-05:002008-10-23T21:54:33.297-05:00

Packaging for crackers and chips that is RECLOSABLE!??? I mean, how long have they been using the same damned packaging? 100 years? Either a zip lock or one of those wire things at the top that you fold over or a sticky strip! Those stupid wax paper sleeves or thin plastic ones tear and there you are with EXPOSED CRACKERS! And you have to have clippies for chip bags! Good grief, what is wrong

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-26327862143111194202008-10-21T21:34:00.002-05:002008-10-23T21:51:51.283-05:00

My favorite personalities are:Keith OlbermannRachel MaddowJon StewartBarack ObamaJoe BidenMy least favorite are:Rush LimbaughDr. Laura SchlesingerSean HannityJohn McCainSarah Palin

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-43040046687241813992008-10-21T21:30:00.000-05:002008-10-21T21:32:54.814-05:00

This blog is about anything and everything. Politics, religion, sex, food, pet peeves, television, movies, books, music, dreams, etc.

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4725243702586809685.post-59502295319970351982008-10-21T21:11:00.001-05:002008-10-23T21:52:36.742-05:00

I'm 52 years old (soon to be 53), married, mother of 3 children, retired but working part-time. Here is the cast of characters in my life:Jack - husband of nearly 4 years. Jack lives in Chicago and I live in Round Rock. We met online and neither of us ever got around to moving. Nonetheless, he's here about twice a month and I go there every few months. I'm a liberal, yes one of those from the

Jean517http://www.blogger.com/profile/09119365892412059946noreply@blogger.com1