A new year (wood) would be nice

Guess who-oo? Huhuhuhuhuhuh....hhhuuhuhuhuhuh...waaaaa!

Maybe you remember the cartoon character, Woody Woodpecker? Maybe you don't.

Walter Benjamin Lantz (April 27, 1899 – March 22, 1994) was an American cartoonist, animator, film producer, and director, best known for founding Walter Lantz Productions and creating Woody Woodpecker.

He was also first cousin to my Grandmother; therefore a third cousin to me. Oh wow, genealogy has a closet of info, just waiting for discovery. Pop the door, walk through and find who's related to you.

Anyway I found it more enchanting and interesting being related to Walter Lantz and his crazy animated bird. On the other side of the family are two horse thieves and a train robber named Sam.

Hmmm? Maybe 2012 will bring something interesting too. A "Woody" for all; a "Sam" for some; a life free of thieves. Happy New Year bloggers, friends, readers!!!

G'night Pap

One of my very favorite people passed away on December 28th. At 93, he was ready for the big pond in the sky. He had three wishes before he died. #1 Go to his small Florida home where it's warm this time of year. #2 Be with all of his grown children and most of their children. #3 Go fishing at the lake in front of his home. 


Pap was the grandfather I'd always hoped to have around through adulthood. He was my former husband's grandfather but always treated me so kindly. In fact I was the only one in the entire family to work in his private garden. We were from the old school of thought that you didn't have to cut down the whole plant to harvest it's vegetables.


When I finally got in touch with family I was told he'd passed in the middle of the night in his sleep. And yes, Christmas day all the family was there to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The best part was him going fishing with the guys and bringing back a big haul of fish!


In the spring or early summer the family plans to have a memorial service. "Pap" was cremated and it's then that we'll all gather to say final 'goodbyes'. Until then I'll just say: "G'night Pap."

Revolving resolutions

Do I have a New Year's resolution? If I don't does it matter? You see, I'm better at making needed changes around sometime in May. I get the spring nostalgia and wish to fling my oats away...casting all of the winter's gook and mook into the ether.

How did we come to the New Year's resolution scenario anyway? Who thought that up? Well I heard it happened years before any of us were born. Years before any of our great grand parents were born. Sort of like the first year someone in your family makes banana pudding for a certain event. Before you know it, banana pudding is always served at the same event, year after year.

I have what I call the 'revolving resolution' theory. Given the right set of resolutions to make my self a better person, I rotate them year after year. Eventually one of them works and I am transformed. So while I'm getting my oats ready for the spring, there is some time left to create a set of resolutions. Indeed I have four waiting in the wing. Ah, which one will be the one to help me become a better one? How about I tell you later... say in May?!!

Happy New Year to those who wish to participate. Meanwhile, send me your tired, your poor, your resolutions.