Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

June 24, 2007

Today’s Announcements

Happy Anniversary, Richard and Jackie Sims: armaksman@yahoo.com

Happy Birthday, Mags from your friends at Storytime tapestry: wt@wynter.ca

Donations are always needed to help with the operating expenses of running the newsletter and to keep Storytime Tapestry the quality newsletter you are so accustomed to.   

Please note that Storytime Tapestry is a free newsletter to members and there will never be a cost for the newsletter. Donations are purely voluntary and no member should ever feel guilty for not making a donation at this time.

Today’s Stories

~**~**~

This I Believe # 4
Bill Walker
missourisage@yahoo.com

There is one thing a lot of people don't understand about how government works. That is when it works, which isn't too often. It takes money to get action out of your elected bums. Now this makes no difference what level of government we are talking about. It takes money to get action.

I remember many years back when my dad ran the old now long gone Burwood Restaurant. On the day that the county board met, at noon here the clowns would show up for a steak dinner with all the trimmings. There would be a never before seen man in tow. He was a seller of goods to the city, the county, and the state. He is also the buyer of the steak dinners. Now if you watched real close, somewhere in the chomping of the steak, this fellow would hand each of the chompers a envelope.  This envelope would be stuffed real quick in a pocket of one of the chompers to be opened later. Now do I need to tell you what was in the envelope?

The next day in the newspaper would be the blow by blow account of the board meeting. You would read where the taxpayer got the short end of the stick again. The county bought a couple new graders for the roads, at so much money. It seems like the buyer of the dinners had the low bid. Low bid, can I laugh now or later? Well he made the best
over all deal, let’s put it that way.

Now this is done at all levels of government. You got something to sell to what ever level of government, you better be ready to make a deal. Some of the deals, if not all is under the table. This I believe.

If the government needs a supply of ball point pens, you can bet someone will show up with a deal.   You yourself could buy a ball point for a dollar or less, not the government. But we know the ball points the government needs is much better. Why do you think it takes 10 pens for the president to sign a bill passed by congress? Heck the pen is good for only one letter of his name.

This goes on at all levels of government. If the seller of an idea, or goods, don't come forth with some gravy, nothing gets done. The people better understand, they bought the steaks, and the gravy, didn't get to dine on it, but they're the ones that paid for it.

This I believe.
Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-35741-5

~**~**~

 ValueSpeak

A Weekly Column

By Joseph Walker

valuespeak@msn.com

THE KING OF THE CRUNCHIES

Joe Walker

            The way I see it, there are basically two kinds of people in the world: those who like their brownies chewy, and those who like them crunchy.

            OK, there's a third possibility: those who don't like brownies at all.  But let's be honest; how seriously can you take somebody who doesn't like brownies?

            Among the people who really matter, there are only chewies and crunchies.  And I am the King of the Crunchies.  Take your moist, chewy brownie and feed it to those starving people in China Mom used to tell me about.  I don't want to bite into a brownie unless it can bite back.  It's got to be crispy.  Tough.  Hard.  The kind of brownie you don't cut -- you break.

            Preferably outside.

            On the sidewalk.

            Assuming your home owner's insurance will cover brownie damage.

            I feel the same way about chocolate chip cookies.  Thankfully, my wife, Anita, is willing to over-cook a batch for me when she makes cookies.  But no matter how much I beg and plead, she won't leave them out so they can get even harder overnight.  Instead, she puts them away with the other cookies, and everyone knows what protective fraternization will do to a tough cookie.  It makes them soft and sickly – like you’ve already dipped them in milk.  And what's the point of having a chocolate chip cookie that's already been dipped in milk?

            I have other tastes that some may consider peculiar.  I like my toast burned (I prefer to think of it as "well done").  I like my mashed potatoes lumpy (really lumpy – sort of like potato salad without the salad).  And as we speak, I'm munching on the unpopped kernels from a bag of microwave popcorn (yes, I know it will hurt my teeth.  I don't care.  I like it).

            There are probably lots of reasons I like stuff that other people consider distasteful.  I've always thought of my Mom as a great cook, but maybe she wasn't.  Maybe she burned everything and I just got used to it.

Freudians would probably blame it on some weird libidinous psychosis.  Political scientists would suggest that it's yet one more evidence of my political incorrectness.  And my Sunday School teacher probably thinks it's because I didn't complete my New Testament reading assignment this week.

            Or last week.

            Or the week before that.

            But you know what I think?  I think I like that stuff because . . . well, because I like it.  And if you don't . . . well, that’s OK – that leaves more of the good stuff for me.  Part of what makes life fascinating is the differences that exist between people.  Such differences don't make us peculiar.  They just make us . . different.  Interesting.  Unique.

Our most cherished freedom, it seems to me, is the freedom of choice.  But what kind of choice would we have if we all acted, felt and thought alike?  If we didn't have different political perspectives we wouldn't have much choice come Election Day.  If we didn't like different clothing styles it wouldn't be much fun to shop.  If we didn't have different tastes we wouldn't need a menu.  If we didn't have different aptitudes and interests we'd all want to be newspaper columnists.  And believe me, I don't need the competition.

So I say, “Vive la difference!”

            That's French for "Hooray for crunchy brownies!"

~**~**~

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

God Is Always With Me
Cynthia Groopman

In the shining sunlight,
God's lovely smile, beams so eternally warm and bright.
God's love abides within each and every thought.
As we marvel at each flourishing flower, so fragrant and elegantly soft
 In the sweet beautiful melody of a mirthful bird's majestic song,
God's hope and comfort are chanted in a manner so positive and strong.
 In the budding of a leaf so green,
 Are our answers to each and every dream.
 For, God, as you kindle your eternal flame of love deep into my heart,
 I know that you are forever with me and will never depart.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2006   

~**~**~

 Sharing Life With You
Cynthia Groopman

Sharing life with you is a pleasure,
And that is why I savor every moment with you,
In grateful and appreciative measure.
 Smiles and gladness we share,
 As our cup of friendship overflows with flare.
 Sorrows and sadness, we share in loving care,
 And in times of tears, for each other, we are always there.
 In times of success,
 We share with joyful zest.
So, thanks for sharing life with me,
As we shall be best friends eternally.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2006 Cynthia Groopman

 ~**~**~

A Tribute To Our Volunteers
Cynthia Groopman

With words that are precious, sincere and dear,
to you, my friends, I convey a thank you,
in a tone that is happy and clear.
Deeply appreciated is your dedication and caring,
with gratitude, we laud you for your devotion and sharing.
A very important part, in our lives, you do play,
and that is why we pay tribute to you on Volunteer Recognition Day.
You make our center such a festive, lovely and cheerful place,
where laughter dances upon a smiling face.
No longer do we have to be sad and alone,
because you have made our center a home away from home.
Thus, may God bless you with His eternal love,
for you are treasured gifts and cherished angels sent from above.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2004 Cynthia Groopman

~**~**~

Recovery
Cynthia Groopman

Recovery may be a road so winding and long,
But God gives us courage and renewed strength to become healed and strong.
When in the throes of illness so deep and extreme,
Recovery may be a distant star or an unrealistic dream.
With every step, taken one day at a time,
The heart fills with courage as we bask in recovery's warm sunshine.
As time flies by, as quick as a wink.
Recovery is as reassuring as a delicious cold drink.
For it nourishes the thirsty weary body and the lonely sorrowful soul,
With a rebirth and a feeling of once again being complete and whole.
For recovery is the rainbow at illness end,
A time when we are full of health and certainly on the mend.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2006 

Readers Feedback

 Thanks Nell for the tip on chiggers. I went on vacation to Massachusetts a while back and was nearly ate up at my ankles and legs by them. My vacation was nearly ruined. Very useful info.

Mary M. Dees

marlena7694@yahoo.com 

Storytime Tapestry Angels

Angels on earth, they exist they are out there.  Angels come in all ages, shapes and sizes, civil status, and religion.  Their nature is love and their purpose is giving to the less fortunate of this world.  Storytime Tapestry angels are no exception.  These angels are loyal members who have contributed to the upkeep of Storytime Tapestry newsletter so that Storytime Tapestry can continue come to your email box 350 days of the year.

Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank those of you who chose to be a silent angel and gave an anonymous donation to keep Storytime Tapestry up and running.

Clara Westerfer, Mark Crider, Rosanne Catalano, Paula Booher, Kay Seefeldt, Mariane Holbrook, Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker, Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, Ginger Morgenstern, Ellie Braun-Haley, Surinder Jandu, Bob Shaw, Carol Meeks