Crazy Enough To Speak My Mind

Current Mood: sad

Attention:  I've just finished signing this petition and hope you will, too, if you agree with its message. 

FYI, this is the comment I left with it. 

You can leave your own comment (Doesn't have to be as long as mine--but it could be longer.) and you can even do it anonymously (that is, showing up on the petition--you need to fill out information that shows that you're an authentic individual rather than the same person writing over and over again). 

Hope to see you there...

One more thing:  The comment section doesn't break into paragraphs, so the paragraph breaks here are the ones I've put in here (where I'd like for them to be if it did break into paragraphs)...

Rip Van Winkle--after sleeping for 20 years--woke up to find that the colonies had gone from having King George ruling them to being independent and having a President named George.

Since then, we've had Presidents with all kinds of names such as Abraham, Theodore/Teddy, Calvin, Herbert, Franklin, Harry, Ike, Jimmy, etc. We've even had a father and son who bear the name, George, just as the first (official)one did.

At this time, the son named George is in office. I helped him get there twice and have no regrets. However, I now have some concerns that I'm going to address to him:

George W. Bush--I've been very happy with our set-up in the good, old US of A and say that, if it ain't broke, don't "fix" it. Yes! Some things might need fixing, but one thing that doesn't is the post of President and the role that he/she plays.

We've not had a king ruling this country since King George--and we went through a messy war to change that situation, so it's obvious that we don't want a king today anymore than we wanted a king back then.

The only King I want ruling my life is Jesus, and the only flesh-and-blood king I want our country to be associated with is Elvis! No king in the White House, please! Be happy being our President, and don't try being King George! One King George is enough!

Current Location: Anderson, Indiana
Current Mood: working
Current Music: God Bless The USA!

My green tomato is starting to turn red (actually, it's right about this color right at the moment), and I haven't even had the chance to fry it yet!  My mom is due to have some drops put in her eyes in about 40 minutes from now.

Before then, I hope to get two bills paid by phone.

I slept-in today and didn't get up until after one in the afternoon, so I told my mom her drop schedule for today would be three-thirty, seven-thirty, and after the eleven o'clock news with te seven-thirty one including a picnic and a treat from Sno-Castle (a place about which you can read by going here).

Anyway, one thing I've found out upon returning to write for this place regularly is that a lot of neat improvements have been made, so I've started to doll up my neck of the woods some.

I upgraded to that middle ground between basic and Rolls-Royce.  As none of it is really that expensive, I might upgrade to Rolls-Royce at a later time.

However, this is very sufficient for now.

Anyway, before I take off, I want to introduce you to Clueless-Xtian who has started a journal here with very worthwhile reading (from what I've read so far).  Check her out when you find the time and want to, because her writings will really bless and comfort you!  (at least, they bless and comfort me)

A couple more things before I sign off...

In case you've not read the first part of this series, you can do so by going here.

And, while we're at it, here's the first blog-entry I've ever made here as well as the last one I made before returning here again.  If you want to read the ones in the middle (I hope you might, as there aren't that many of them, if I remember right), I'll just let you find them on your own...That's all for now...

Current Location: Anderson, IN
Current Mood: busy
Current Music: James Brown songs stuck in my head

I can't believe that it's been so long since I've made an entry here!  I've been back and read other entries but just haven't made one here.  

Well!  This is just about to change, because I'm going to be making up for lost time with (drum roll) Catching Up (The Series).  Hey!  I bet that everybody is simply turning cartwheels over this revelation.  NOT!

First off, let me tell you how I got here (again).  I ended up going here where I found this, which I read and was really impressed.

Due to the fact that I have bills to pay, eye-drops to administer (my mom had two cataract surgeries this summer, and I'm taking care of organizing and carrying out the post-op requirements), and Vacation Bible School with which to help out (snack preparation--We're eating eyeballs tonight!  More on that later...), I'm going to conclude the first part of this series, but I should be bringing the second part to you later tonight...

Current Location: Nekkid At Home (So, What ELSE Is New!?!)
Current Mood: calm
Current Music: Quiet on the homefront

...that has spilled over into mainstream society (the one that says that you can never be too rich or too thin).

However, I'm coming to the conclusion that you can't get enough blogs/diaries/etc.

Not that I get around to all of them on a regular basis, but it's just kinda nice knowing that they're out there.

For instance, if you were to visit my website, you would be able to find a link to one online diary on the first page of it.

On the last page of the same, you would find links to a website where I have a whole slew of blogs, plus a link to yet another online diary.

Since my last time here, I've created two more blogs/journals:

Baby Bear's Cozy Cave

and

What's On Ainsley Jo Phillips' Mind?

and, if you were to go to the first of these two and check out my complete profile, you would even find other blogs there.

This is just one of many reasons why I can hardly wait to switch from dial-up to cable modem in a few days--so I can navigate faster and get around to more of my blogs within a short period of time!

Oh yes!  I have links all over the second blog that will take you to things that are mostly written/created by others, even though I've thrown in a few originals, too.

This summer, I've also published  three books and plan on having more out in the near future.  You can find details about that in various places, including here, here, and here!

Actually, the last of these three doesn't give much in the way of details about my three books but is more of a pep-talk concerning other matters (worth reading, I believe).

It's hard to believe that it's almost my 52nd birthday--and it's hard to believe how quickly this year has gone by.

Come February 2, my dad will have been gone for a whole year.

A little over two months after his passing, my "adopted" aunt followed him Home.  Later in the year, one of my former Sunday School teachers (who also served as one of my youth leaders) crossed over.

There are some years that seem to have more deaths in them than others.  This is something I've been making a study of off and on for several years and just now have the means and know-how to do the research I need to do in order to begin writing a book about this.

Anyway, that about sums things up for now.  I could say a lot more, but I'm starting to get sleepy.............................

Current Mood: sleepy
Current Music: The sound of my own snoring as I nod off

This is very strange!  No matter what I select for a text color, it keeps coming out black.

Oh well!  Nothing wrong with that, and I don't know if this will change when I post this or not.

Had a devil of a time logging in.

Turns out that I had forgotten my name and was writing it as CrazyAJ when I should have been writing it as crazy_aj.

So much for that.

Anyway, you all look a lot better to me now, because I have this super-duper computer screen.

Will give you more details about that another time, as I still have a lot of things to do tonight, but let me tell you that this screen looks soooooooooooo good now that I still can't believe that I'm really the proud owner of it!!!

Lots more news to share but no time at the moment.  Just wanted to touch bases!!!

Cheers!
AJ

Current Mood: happy
Current Music: Movin' On Up (Jeffersons Theme Song)

. . . THIS pretty much sums it up. . .C.U. in June. . .

Current Mood: busy
Current Music: white noise

The last time I posted here, THIS was where I was "at."

However, I now have an update, and this is it:

This will be, unless there's a major change in plans, the last time I post here until I get back home.

However, I haven't left yet and won't be leaving until sometime over the weekend, because I still have a lot of "real life" things that need to be taken care of first.

So, even though I won't be gone, I'm putting my computer on vacation starting sometime tonight (or early tomorrow) unless there's an absolutely-necessary reason for having it on.

Anyway, it won't be to be making any more new entries.

After I post this, I won't be back to LJ until I'm settled back in here on the other side of this trip.

In fact, this is about the end of my current entry here--and will be continuing with the rest of my news in a journal you'll find a link to on the first page of my website.

I think you might find it to be interesting.

My ISP has been acting totally-vomit-evil lately, so I'm going to end this before I lose it during a kick-off!

Catch you at my other journal, should you want to follow me there. . .

Current Mood: exhausted
Current Music: The sound of my own yawning

This is my final entry here until I return home again next week and get settled in.

You might find a little piece I wrote this morning to be pretty interesting.

If you think you might, then click here!!!

Anyway, what I've ended up doing is to write a letter over at Epinions.com that I'm going to be linking here and there as my "Goodbye for now!" letter, which will save me at least a little time, I guess.

The biggest challenge, I'm afraid, will be in getting packed--but I'll be organizing it better once I get to where I'm going.

Sometimes, a change-of-scenery does wonders for becoming more organized.

One more thing, if you haven't read the little series to get more of an idea what I'm all about, you can find it--if you want to read it--by going here.

Will get back with you after I get back!!!

Laters!
AJ :o)

Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: On The Road Again

One place my folks have been without me--as I wasn't even born then--was Cuba.

The word at that time (late 1940s) was that the time would soon be arriving when Communist rule would put an end to American tourist travel there, so they wanted to see it while they had the chance.

My folks loved to travel, and they passed this love onto me.

Our first road-trip together was early in 1953 when I was just weeks old, and that was to travel down to Cunot to see Grandpa and Uncle George .

We stayed in a motel along Hwy 40  (The Old National Road), and they made a crib for me in a drawer--and, just as Hwy 40 has widened considerably over the years, so I have I, so I don't go around sleeping in motel drawers these days! LOLOLOLOL

Over the years, we've been in every state at least once--that is, every state except Alaska.

We've also been to Canada and Mexico several times.

More important than our vacation trips together is how we traveled through life together.

Even though Daddy has now traveled on to Heaven, we still remain--and always will remain--The Three Bears!!!

I've been seeing these maps around the site and decided to get one for myself.

As it turns out, this map also goes with this really neat travel site called World 66.

As I consider myself to be a Route 66 kind of person , I have a feeling I'm really going to enjoy being a part of the World 66 experience!!!

Current Mood: loved & nostalgic
Current Music: Theme From "Route 66"

For starters--as this is a kind of continuing story--you might want to go here first if you haven't already. . .  or, on the other hand, you might not. . .it's all up to you. . .

Either way, the story continues. . .

And the latest news is that I've postponed leaving until tomorrow--and, perhaps, I should only believe that I'm actually leaving when I'm pulling out of the driveway!

Uncle George had this little saying he used in regards to a procrastinator, and it went something like this:

"When the planets all line up, the rocket will go off!"

Speaking of Uncle George, here's a little trivia about him (plus, if you click on his name--which has been turned into a hyperlink--you'll be taken to read a very special story about him):

He was born George Willard Jobe--making him George W !!!

Anyway, this gives me a little more time to add some things to this page--items to be sure and read.

Raymond Woodford Phillips--Most Helpful & Rated Five Stars But Worth Many More!

(A tribute to my dad who passed away early on 2/2/04)

The Shower After The Storm

(when the tables were turned re: who was teaching and who was being taught)

"Hey!!! Smokey The Bear!!!"

(Misadventures in a crowded restroom that carried on out into the ballroom)

THE HIGHWAYS OF OUR PAST

(A restful road-trip)

There are other stories I'd like to share with you, but I'll do so at a later time.  One of the purposes of this journal will be to let people know when I've posted somewhere so they can go visit it should they choose to.

Of course, when I post something here, it's already announced, so no need for that.

But this will be like for when I post in other places and want to share it here.

Having said all of this, I'll just place a smiley-face at the bottom of this page.

When it becomes live, it will be taking you to the last thing I post before I leave on my road-trip--which should be happening tomorrow, but don't hold your breath. . .actually, it WILL this time, unless some emergency comes up!!!

                                 :o)

Current Mood: mellow
Current Music: Que Sera Sera

Since this is going to be something that will be placed on websites, in sig blocks, and WhoKnowsWhereElse, I'm going to include a page of this with a few special links.

First off, though, this is just a reminder to read

Part One

and

Part Two

of this series.

First off, here are two of my websites.

When you go to them, you'll also be able to locate other information on me such as other places I write for, things I'm interested in, plus a whole lot of other stuff.

Be sure to visit both (not a command performance--just an invitation) and (also, an invitation rather than my twisting your arm) please sign one or both of my guestbooks.

Each website is unique, and I think you'll enjoy them.

Hoosier Poet Plus.com

(Don't be misled by the title, because this website appeals to more people than poetry-lovers.  It's a variety website--so named because I'm a Hoosier Poet, plus so much more!)

Born2Babble

(This is a sort of informational website--but don't think for a minute that it's a "dry" and boring place to go, because I do a lively job of giving information, if I should say so myself.  Furthermore, I think you'll find at least some of the information personally useful.  It's a way to connect with a number of different interesting people.  Yet, this description of what this website is about just kinda scratches the surface.  You'd just have to see it for yourself!).

One more thing--take note of the links that run alongside this journal (referring to the journal you're reading now), as they will take you to some places you'll truly enjoy.

In fact, some of those places include some of the special places I'll be including in the final part of this series.

The final part of this series, of course, being the last entry I'll be making here before taking off on my trip. . .

Current Mood: artistic
Current Music: Must be The Stroll, since I'm moving like molasses!!! LOLOL

This is the second part of an information series that I hope will be helpful.  If you haven't yet read the first part, go here .

Now!  On with the next order of business--that being a list of the entries I made here while finding my way around.

Some of them aren't quite bad--in fact, some of them are pretty good:

Might As Well Start Somewhere.

Do I Look Crazy Enough To Suit You!?!

fun! Fun!! FUN!!!

Three Questions

Good Morning!!!  

Pretty Wholesome But Slightly Spicy

I also have been collecting some really fun interactive graphics for here and other places.

One of the neatest ones in the one about getting hugs.

I've given myself the first 29 hugs at each place I've put it, so the remaining hugs are up to you. . .

(continued in Part Three)

Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: Feeling Groovy

I'm finally getting ready to hit the road sometime today, but I wanted to do a little something here first--make an information page!

For starters, this is how to get to my information page here to find out interesting things about me that mostly have to do with this journal site (friends, communities, etc.) but can also cover some other areas as well.

In case you're wondering why I'm doing this, it's because I'm going to be putting a link to this page in various other places I frequent, because my Live Journal will be an ideal way to keep people caught up with me and allow me to broadcast the latest news while still keeping my profile pages, websites, etc. relatively uncluttered.

Oh yes!  In case you're wondering. . .the last hyperlink I created will take you to whatever might be my most-recent entry at whatever time you happen to be looking.

BTW. . .did I mention to you that my username is crazy_aj !?!  I think that most of you will find that to be fitting.  LOLOLOL

Anyway, in a little bit, I'm going to give you the live-link list of my first entries here leading up to this one.

After that, you'll be on your own when it comes to finding your way around here.

However, I plan on creating a continuation to this entry after this with a little more information.

I don't want to put too much information in one entry, because my ISP happens to be actiing evil at this time and has been kicking me off.

In fact, I think I'm going to stop right here and see how well I can link to a future entry from a previous one. . .

(Go here for Part Two)

Current Mood: excited
Current Music: You've Got A Friend

My life has been rated:
See what your rating is!

Current Mood: lazy
Current Music: For some reason, Jumpin' Jack Flash's playing in my head.

Part of me is saying that it's time to get on the road today, while another part of me is saying that I need one more day here.

Frankly, I think I need one more day here, but I'll decide that as I go along.

Either way, I think I'm going to start loading AJ's Groovy Igloo with as much as I can in preparation for departure.

I'm going to make some phone calls, and part of that will determine when I'll be leaving.

For now, I need to get off of here and get some things accomplished, or I'll still be in the same place tomorrow.

I'll either be back here later with the news that I'm out the door or else still preparing to be.

Laters!
AJ :o)

Current Mood: ditzy

Here's a neat, little game I came across while visiting over at Mark/Annexation's Website .

Just follow the instructions below, and you'll be cookin' with gas!!!

I want everyone who reads this to ask me 3 questions, no more no less. Ask me anything you want. Then I want you to go to your journal, copy and paste this allowing your friends (including myself) to ask you anything.

P.S.  Methinks I'm becoming addicted to this site!!! LOLOLOL

Current Mood: silly

I just couldn't resist checking out what I could do with the "richer text," so I made another entry just to goof around a little. . .I'm finding more and more things to be thrilled about when it comes to this journal and the various possibilities. . .until I have something more to do, I'm just going to keep it pretty basic, but I'll mess around a little and see what happens. . .then, when it looks unusual enough, I'll post it. . .

Current Mood: bouncy

Well!?!

How do you like my new goofy graphic!?!

Do I look crazy enough to suit you!?!

It's amazing how much there is to do around here--and how long it can take with my blankity-blank dial-up connection!

I can hardly wait to get broadband, cable, dsl, or whatever sort of set-up the infrastructure is supposed to be out this way, once the infrastructure is set up.

Anyway, I'm leaving tomorrow for sure.

Whatever "hard copy" activities I don't have done by then, I'll take with me.

Whatever is left to do in Cyberspace will just have to wait for me to return in a week-plus.

I'm on a healthy retreat where I can start to rejuvenate myself--and I can tell you that I need to do this in so many ways.

Since I won't be in church tomorrow (using that time to get packed so I can leave a.s.a.p.), I've decided not to wash my hair until I'm under that "shower-to-die-for" at my motel--an inexpensive-but-more-than-adequate room that I'm converting into a fancy health-spa for the week ahead--where I'l also going to be giving myself a very thorough washing-off (deep-scrubbing, exfoliating, etc.) that will leave me feeling like a million bucks when I'm done.

For the entire week, I'm going to really get in-touch with my inner-self while, at the same time, improve my outer-self.

In short, I'm very excited!

On this note, I need to close and try to get my act together!

Will drop in at least once more before I'm gone for the week.

Be sure to read what I initially wrote in here for this day. . .

Blessings!
AJ :o)

Current Mood: cheerful

Hello, Everyone!!!

I think that I have everything pretty much as I want it now, so I'm going to make my first entry and see how it turns out.

Since my username here is crazyaj, I thought it would be fitting to write my introductory entry using the crazy mood.

I think that this mood will be going on a lemonface or something, which should be pretty cute, to say the least, so I can hardly wait to see it!!!

As I get to knowing what I'm doing better, I think my pages will start to look more interesting.

Even if they don't, I think what I write will be at least halfway interesting.

Look along the side, and you'll find some neat links--some going to things I've created/written. Others going to things created/written by others.

It seems to me as if I still have the opportunity to add links, so I no doubt will be doing so,

Also, might do something such as arrange the links in alphabetical order, if I get ambitious enough to.

Need to focus my ambitions on preparing to leave for a restful road-trip, starting tomorrow.

Will be computer-free the entire trip, so don't expect anything new to be written here until I return (a week or so after I leave), once I make my last entry before leaving sometime early tomorrow.

Oh yes! I'm also working on a piece of writing that will be how I'm going to be "reinventing" myself this year.

Nothing major--no sex change, plastic surgery, or the like.

I just need to start to get back into shape again, and not just weightwise, even though the evidence that I need to lose weight is pretty obvious.

2004 seems to be a year that could very well be a pretty perfect year for me, if it weren't for the fact that my dad passed away on Groundhog Day morning.

I'll be telling you more about him in the future, but I'll just say this much now: He's very much missed--yet, at the same time, he's very close-by.

For now, I'm going to go ahead and sign off and will get back with you later, as I'm anxious to see how this journal entry comes out--plus I have scads of other things to do in order to get ready for my trip!

Laters!
AJ :o)

Current Mood: crazy