"Twas' the FLUSH Before New Year's"

"Twas' the Flush before New Year's"

By: Stacey L. Bolin

Twas' the Flush before New Year's,

the toilet was weeping.

A drip here, a drip there,

while we all were sleeping.

It started out little,

then it started to pour.

And by early next morning,

it had soaked threw the floor.

The new ceiling was tarnished,

with one spot, then two.

Mom was a yelling,

what the Hell should we do!

Mom started to cry,

and then she got mad.

The new ceiling was saved,

thank goodness for Dad.

Dad, he was smart,

he knew just what to do.

He shut off the valves,

to stop the pee and the poo.

A quick fix, he thought,

but it just wasn't so.

And with mom and some cash,

to Home Depot they'd go.

The traffic was busy,

on a cold Friday night.

But in the store isles,

no one was in sight.

They stood there a starin'

which one would flush best?

And soon one was chosen,

forget all the rest.

Several twists of some screws,

and a yellow wax ring.

The directions had promised,

no more leaks from this thing.

With a bone colored finish,

and a lid like a dome.

 Now it stands proudly,

a new throne for our home.

So if you my dear friends,

have the same troubles to be.

Remember its New Year's,

and be glad you can pee.

Yes this poem was about our family. It wouldn't be a holiday season if
we didn't experience some kind of water trouble.
We can look at it this way -
The King and Queen of the Bolin home,
have a new throne for the New Year. LOL.

Ring Your Inner Bell - All Year Long

I know that out across our great planet there is hatred, starvation, depression, loneliness, hardship, homelessness, violence towards others and even death. If there was a way that we could all change everything bad with one big wave of that magic wand, you know we would. I know there are people out there who are going through their own life challenges and struggles and I am sure it gets frustrating when you hear friends and family say, "it will get better you just have to let it get better in your mind." That is so much easier said than done - in most cases. I know for myself I was so excited for the changes once I saw that I could accomplish them.

Here it is, the last Friday of 2011. Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve and as much as the beginning of this year was an emotional and stressful mess, it transformed into a year filled with peace, love and understanding that I wish would never end. Not only did I reconnect with my husband and boys again, I also found the bond with my mother and my husband’s mother and father. To me, It feels like everything is right, and I wanted something to symbolize our life successes if/when bad times come upon my family in the future.

Low and behold, while traveling with my family, I came across and item that for me was the perfect reminder of all that is good. A Sterling Silver Sleigh Bell. I won't know when or where, in the New Year, that we will remove this sterling silver beauty from its green velvet pouch. But what I do know is when I find myself feeling down, angry, sad, or any negative emotion for any reason, I will seek immediate solace in the beauty and glorious sound of the Silver Bell. I will let its mystical tone bring me to a place in my mind of peace, love, happiness, and joy and I will remember what is important to me and my family.

I wish I had the ability to put one of these Silver Bells into anyone’s hand that wanted one. However, I realize the Silver Bell is just a material item and we can't carry it around wherever we go, but we can all carry our own Silver Bell in our hearts and when life is getting us down - stop and take a moment for yourself to listen to the glorious sound of happiness in your hearts all year long.

So as you face the year 2012 or any years after that, always remember to ring your inner bell and smile - We'll know what it means and it will make people wonder what we are up too. Happy New Year 

Had to Share this - ENJOY!

I didn't write these but, I'll be honest after reading it, and it was an ad for printer ink and paper, so I put a twist on some of them. Either way, I thought the idea for 101 New Year’s Resolutions was interesting. I found this on a website, but for the life of me can't find it again to post the link. 3 more day till the New Year.

101 New Year's Resolution Ideas

1. Spend More Time with Family & Friends

2. Print an Exercise Plan

3. Quit Smoking

4. Enjoy Life More

5. Quit Drinking

6. Get Out of Debt

7. Learn Something New

8. Help Others

9. Get Organized make a to do list

10. Clean your printer at least every two months

11. Eat chocolate often

12. Send flowers to near & dear ones

13. Have a positive set of mind

14. Don't pretend you are someone you’re not

15. Think beyond the given conditions and the present

16. Smile more often - It makes people wonder what you’re up too.

17. Clean the bedroom, at least weekly

18. Write and continue writing a diary (or blog :)

19. Respond to all emails

20. Listen to music regularly

21. Print one love letter a week

22. Chat with common sense and honesty

23. Be yourself

24. Listen to your heart

25. Gift yourself you are worth it!

26. Print your own letterhead

27. Beg pardon... after burping

28. Do Sudoku games

29. Change socks daily

30. Don’t run out of printer ink

31. Recycle paper

32. Drink more.....WATER

33. Accept your flaws

34. Print your own cards

35. Wear an attitude, not pride

36. Talk more... text less

37. Don't litter

38. Make a Scrapbook

39. Print labels for everything at home and at the office

40. Print Coupons

41. Write letters

42. Print your own maps

43. Call friends

44. Listen to Jazz

45. Get a Pen Pal

46. Print your own postage stamps save yourself a drive to the post office.

47. Make Birthday cards and send them out

48. Create out-of-the-box ideas/designs for business cards

49. become more reliable

50. Benefit from local resources

51. Print your own gift boxes

52. Check emails less and close IM’s when working online

53. Reorganize your office space

54. Print recipes and store them to share

55. Trust your gut feeling more

56. Spend more time with family and less time working on the weekends

57. Print time sharing schedules

58. Be more consistent with daily work habits

59. De-clutter your entire house or business inside and out

60. Reuse, Reduce and Recycle

61. Print your own calendars

62. Think Green when purchasing

63. Dare to be different; find what your niche is missing and fill in the gap

64. Print your own T-shirts

65. Resolve to Relive Childhood

66. Learn a Less-Than-Useful Skill

67. Break a World Record

68. Print your own photos

69. Adopt a New Vice

70. Get comma problems under control

71. Read and memorize more poetry

72. Print gift certificates for loved ones

73. Learn the names of flowers

74. Count to 10, 20, and 100 whatever you need to blow it off

75. Use recycled materials

76. Remanufactured cartridges are recycled materials

77. Print your own concert tickets

78. Got to a concert with your friends tickets

79. Print in draft mode when possible

80. Print in both sides of the paper

81. Live . . . Love . . . Laugh MORE!

82. Print your own designer Thank You cards often

83. Take a moment to smell the roses.

84. No longer waste time relieving the past; instead I spend it worrying about the future.

85. Do less laundry and use more deodorant.

86. Try to figure out why you *really* need nine e-mail addresses

87. Share your story with others (Every has their own story)

88. Don’t tell the same story at every get together

89. Don’t worry so much.

90. Listen to music you wouldn't normally listen too

91. Be more imaginative.

92. Start living outside the box.

93. Save money - make your own coffee and muffins in the morning

94. Spend more time watching TV / movies

95. Start buying lottery tickets at a luckier store

96. Always "check for paper" before and after leaving a public restroom.

97. Always check for “paper” before you hit the print button!

98. Learn what the hell "resolution" means.

99. Sleep whenever possible

100. Stop having mock cell phone conversations to avoid talking to or acknowledging people

101. Have fun at all times and in all places!