http://diannejohns.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by dianne j. en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:39:22 GMT 2010-01-05T17:39:22Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977971056 Ina got all dressed up to welcome 2010 and I hosted a little mah jongg party for our mah jongg group. They all must be older than me because they all left early -- couldn't make it to midnight. So Ina . . . Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:50:11 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977971056 dianne j. 2010-01-01T04:50:11Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977964232 I wrote this on February 29, 2004, when I was still living in Texas .   It is February 29th, and as I survey the ruins of my living room, it appears that the last vestiges of Christmas are . . . Sun, 27 Dec 2009 07:37:55 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977964232 dianne j. 2009-12-27T07:37:55Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977931654 As I approached college graduation, I started thinking more and more about the future . . . at least the immediate future. I was still working as a bartender and making enough money to support myself . . . Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:23:53 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977931654 dianne j. 2009-12-05T03:23:53Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977929963 Today is December 3. It is snowing for the first time this season. The honeymoon is over. Makes me wonder what Mother Nature is up to. Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:21:18 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977929963 dianne j. 2009-12-04T02:21:18Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977921876 Why have you abandoned me? Wasn’t I reliable? Wasn’t I loyal? Didn’t I take you to places you had never been . . . ? . . . thrill you with my power? . . . excite your imagination? . . . Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:18:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977921876 dianne j. 2009-11-29T01:18:25Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977879198 Last week I posted my poem about autumn (Sustenance) and said it was my tribute to the season. This piece is actually my tribute to the season. I wrote it last year. Memories of childhood . . . Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:56:41 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977879198 dianne j. 2009-10-31T15:56:41Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977870561 Since I have no time for walks or writing this autumn, I am reposting this photo essay about a walk I took last year during fall's last , glorious days.   Mother Nature has seen fit to bestow . . . Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:46:19 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977870561 dianne j. 2009-10-26T15:46:19Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977862845 My ode to autumn, written and first posted two years ago.   The trees begin to burn with the colors of flame In the air, a hint of coolness foretells the passing of summer The . . . Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:05:43 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977862845 dianne j. 2009-10-21T07:05:43Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977844456 Here is a poem I wrote and posted last year to say farewell to summer and welcome the autumn season.     Children have returned to school. Football season has started. You can . . . Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:15:05 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977844456 dianne j. 2009-10-08T17:15:05Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977836729 I make excuses. I am so busy . . . visiting my mother, running my business going to physical therapy. I'm out of excuses . . . just cut the crap and clean the house! . . . Sat, 03 Oct 2009 06:21:37 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977836729 dianne j. 2009-10-03T06:21:37Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977834783 Politicians who preach family values the loudest, who rant about the sin of homosexuality, are always the ones caught in the bathroom with a young man. Cut the crap! Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:49:51 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977834783 dianne j. 2009-10-02T00:49:51Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977834749 Loud TV ads . . . What a deal! But wait! Get two for the price of one! Just pay shipping and handling! (not disclosed - and excessive) Cut the crap! Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:23:30 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977834749 dianne j. 2009-10-02T00:23:30Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977813305 I’m going to tell you a story. It is a story that, if you saw it in a TV movie, you would roll your eyes and say, “Yeah, right. That is too farfetched” But this story is true. How . . . Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:09:04 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977813305 dianne j. 2009-09-15T14:09:04Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977764583 I graduated from college in 1967. I didn’t graduate until December because I changed majors in my senior year. I had been studying to be a social worker, but part of my epiphany was realizing . . . Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:03:52 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977764583 dianne j. 2009-08-06T08:03:52Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977760366 Forgive us Mum. We are selling your life. We are dissecting your memories and stacking them on various tables . . . and it is breaking our hearts. Forgive us for selling your books. One table holds . . . Mon, 03 Aug 2009 02:35:58 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977760366 dianne j. 2009-08-03T02:35:58Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977760286 They aren’t exactly lies you tell Not blatantly untrue; just misleading Intended to take me where? What are you afraid I will see? The shadows of truth breed mistrust. Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:46:32 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977760286 dianne j. 2009-08-03T00:46:32Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977729338 I'd like to wish all of my Gather family and friends a Happy 4th of July. I hope you all had a wonderful day . . . I know I did. We had a very large group of family and friends gather at . . . Sun, 05 Jul 2009 05:00:36 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977729338 dianne j. 2009-07-05T05:00:36Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977721879 As the temperature soars, sweat dribbles down my back. I am overcome by lethargy. In my catatonic state I hear harsh words I spoke of winter . . . and dream of snowflakes. . . . Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:16:40 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977721879 dianne j. 2009-06-26T04:16:40Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977717452 My father died in 1993 and after all of these years, he is still an enigma to me. I look back over the years and I see a man who was uncommonly generous and uncompromisingly selfish. Generous in spirit . . . Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:15:35 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977717452 dianne j. 2009-06-21T16:15:35Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977709770 Energy Change Determination Signs in the bank manager's office Familiar motivational messages designed to inspire the workforce to create more profit for fat cats. I'm . . . Sat, 13 Jun 2009 03:41:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977709770 dianne j. 2009-06-13T03:41:25Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977704069 Lately my obligations are horrific And my friends are too prolific If I can be specific Their writing is terrific Over my neglect I agonize My lack of attention I criticize So please let me emphasize . . . Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:25:14 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977704069 dianne j. 2009-06-07T16:25:14Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977674558   I have it on good authority that if you give your Gather article a controversial name, you will get heaps of views and muchos points. So, those of you who have opened this post expecting an . . . Tue, 05 May 2009 18:42:56 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977674558 dianne j. 2009-05-05T18:42:56Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977666978 I have been so busy lately that I have had little time for fun. My sister, Holly, has also been extremely busy. It means that we have had very little time together outside of visiting our mother in her . . . Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:25:06 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977666978 dianne j. 2009-04-27T07:25:06Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977657423 Easter celebrations in my family are second only to Christmas. For most of my life, I haven’t participated in these festivities because I always lived far away. If I came home for the holidays, it . . . Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:03:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977657423 dianne j. 2009-04-16T07:03:25Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977651559 Last year I made traditional Lebanese Easter cookies for the first time. I had a lot of help. My sister had helped to make them before and her sister-in-law, Linda (who is an expert) helped us out. Dolores . . . Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:54:12 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977651559 dianne j. 2009-04-10T00:54:12Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977651283 Below is My Mood Tag Survey  Return to healthyliving.gather.com to start your own survey. What is the number one thing that puts you in a good mood? Having all of my obligations . . . Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:51:34 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977651283 dianne j. 2009-04-09T16:51:34Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977649927   Ever since St. Patrick’s Day, I have been getting my house ready for Easter. I seem to spend an awful lot of time decorating. In Texas, it was easier. I had a one-story house with a big storage . . . Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:11:36 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977649927 dianne j. 2009-04-08T07:11:36Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977649642 April 5, 2009   April 6, 2009   Need I say more? Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:34:57 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977649642 dianne j. 2009-04-07T23:34:57Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977646609 OK. Duckie asked me to do this, so here it is.   1. Started my own blog. 2. Slept under the stars. 3. Played in a band. 4. Visited Hawaii. 5. Watched a meteor shower. 6. Given . . . Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:31:04 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977646609 dianne j. 2009-04-04T21:31:04Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977646375 She brings warm days and blue skies Then dark overcast gloom Next pouring rain and cold temps Followed by ephemeral warmth SNOW TOMORROW Mother Nature must be on . . . Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:34:10 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977646375 dianne j. 2009-04-04T15:34:10Z