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elcome to lobal xpress
August 15th Edition

Published by the members of the World Wide Web Circle of Friends for the members of the World Wide Web Circle of Friends about the members of the World Wide Web Circle of Friends. We are everyday people doing extraordinary things on an International Scale on the web! We have different life experiences, different cultures, different ideas and some of us even speak different languages but by learning to see what we have in common, we can more easily overlook any differences. "We are family" and we care and love to share!

days until Reunion 2008 in
INTRIGUING SOUTH AMERICA !

G8: The Most Exclusive Club in the World

Eight statesmen, scores of aides, hundreds of press, and thousands of security personnel will all descend on Kananaskis, Alberta, in late June 2002. For the fourth time since 1976, but the first time in Western Canada, a Canadian prime minister will be hosting the G-8 leaders summit.

The G-8 is the most exclusive club in the world. There are 190 nations in the UN, 54 in the Commonwealth, 19 in NATO, but only the United States, Russia, Japan, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Canada in the G-8. How did Canada come to be a member of this political "directoire" when economic giants like China and Brazil are excluded?

In 1975 President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing of France had a good idea. In that era of energy crisis and galloping inflation, France recognized that the world economy required the most important states to work in concert. To develop a coordinated strategy, the French president recommended that the world's leaders meet to debate forcefully and informally the issues of the day free from the protocol and vast organization of most internal organizations. There was ready agreement to the concept and the agenda. But a major issue arose - who would be invited to be a member of this new club?

Invitations were extended to France's partners in the G-5 economic consultative group, and as a neighbourly gesture, Giscard d'Estaing also invited Italy. Canada, however, was left out. France's decision may have been a continuation of the Gaullist campaign to diminish Canada that had begun with General Charles de Gaulle's "Vive Quebec Libre" speech in Montreal. Or France may not have wanted to set a precedent for other middle powers, but the French president was adamant - No Canada!

Prime Minister Trudeau, however, launched a quick and effective counteroffensive. At that time, Canada had a larger GNP than Italy and we still had significant military and foreign aid assets. In short, Canada then had more relative capability than we do today. Trudeau's good personal relations with the leaders of that time also came into play. James Callaghan of Great Britain intervened with France, Chancellor Helmut Schmidt told the French he would not attend any future meetings unless Canada participated, and the Japanese made it known that another non-European voice would be welcome.

But Canada's key friend was President Gerald Ford of the United States. As a longtime representative of Michigan in the Congress, Ford knew Canada well. When he became president, through the accident of the Watergate scandal in 1974, Ford and Trudeau immediately hit it off. President Ford was irate about Canada's exclusion, and he briefly considered refusing to attend the summit. A more positive approach, however, was chosen. The United States was to host the next summit, and just as France had invited Italy in 1975, the United States would invite Canada to attend the 1976 summit in Puerto Rico. Once invited, President Ford concluded, you would not be excluded in the future. So it has proved.

The G-8 is one of the most important forums in the world. In 1983 Prime Minister Trudeau persuaded his partners to endorse his peace mission, in 1987 Prime Minister Mulroney led a dialogue on South Africa, and in 2002 Prime Minister Chrétien has made African development the centrepiece of the agenda. Through the G-8, Canada is part of the major leagues of international diplomacy. Canada's membership is probably the most significant foreign policy achievement of the Trudeau era. We owe this elevated status, however, to a decent man largely unrecognized in his own country's history, President Gerald Ford.

Thomas S. Axworthy

Are you interested in reading about Canada? The most comprehensive and authoritative source on all things Canadian can be found on The Canadian Encyclopedia site.
Sharon from Paradise Island, aka Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

Special Celebrations

To find out who has a Special Celebration in August visit the Birthday Calendar or the August Trivia Pages

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND/OR ANNIVERSARY TO EVERYONE CELEBRATING!!

We look forward to hearing all about your special day.

If you are not listed in the calendar please be sure to email, if you find broken links, or incorrect info BigSisPatBC Canada. For celebration notifications email Jami from Maryland.

Bragging Rights


Lena's GRANKIDS


Jan's Ramblings

Hi Friends,

Had a pic from my daughter, with a rare snowfall. She lives on the Western side of the Blue Mountains, out from Sydney.
The Alpacas seem to be quite happy, as I know they have a shed, and they are out in the snow.
Looking forward to hearing that there are some little ones soon, as she bought the alpacas as pregnant females, and they are due soon. We have had some cool mornings this Winter, we even had a frost here in Northern NSW during the week, and a couple of my plants were affected, new green beans just up, and some choko plants that I was given recently. The new tomato plants are safe as I planted them close to my citrus trees and they were protected.

Love from Aussie Jan

Today I bought a craft magazine and read about using photos that I have taken myself and have on my computer to make a wall hanging, quilt or picture, using printable fabric sheets.

Has anyone tried this, I had not heard of it before.

I found these on the site Australian Country Quilts

[Editor's note, click on the above link, then click on Gallery]

I think it would be awesome to make a wall hanging, or other project, with family, pet or travel photos, and would love to try it.

Please tell us about your project, and if it is easy or difficult.

Be sure to check out all the wonderful craft ideas in the WWWCOF Craft Site and let us get this group active and crafting. Any ideas, please send them to Aussie Jan.

    Join WWWCOF KRAFT CORNER    
 MSN Groups

WWWCOF Kraft Corner


Inspirational

Did you waste the day or lose it? Was it well or sorely spent?
Did you leave a trail of kindness or a scar of discontent?
As you close your eyes in slumber ,do you think the Lord will say,
"You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today."

There is nothing on earth, nothing that man can taste or experience
that is so sweet, so happifying, so full of delight, as the presence of
the Spirit of God. It fills the soul with joy that is inexpressible."

George Q. Cannon

Create Time For Self-Compassion

Being Gentle With Ourselves

During those times when our lives are filled with what seems to be constant change and growth, it is important to remember that we need to be gentle with ourselves. Since it can be easy to use our energy to keep up with the momentum of our lives, we may not be aware of the fact that we are much more likely to run ourselves down. When things seem to be moving quickly, it is especially essential that we make a point to slow down and be gentle with ourselves.

It might be difficult to notice what is happening to us for we may be so caught up in the whirlwind of our lives that we lose sight of the direction in which things are heading. Being gentle with ourselves doesn�t mean that we don�t accomplish things. Instead it means that we honor ourselves on an ongoing basis and take care of the needs of our bodies.

This means different things to different people. For instance, it could mean having a session with a healer; taking a remedy, herbs, or vitamins; or getting extra sleep. Putting our energy into ourselves in this way helps create space for a more positive, loving, and accepting view of our lives. By setting the intention to do so, we will be more cognizant of our energy levels on a daily basis and more able to replenish them as needed.

The more we are able to treat our bodies with gentleness, the more tenderness and compassion we will call forth into our lives. Learning to understand and pay attention to what our self needs will in turn allow us to fill our lives with unlimited loving and healing energy and to truly take care of the things that mean the most to us.


We don't have to be perfect today.
We don't have to be better than someone else.
All we have to do is to be the very best we can.

Laughter the Best Medicine

The New ABC's?

An Alphabet for Aging

A is for apple, and B is for boat,
That used to be right, but now it won't float!
Age before beauty is what we once said,
But let's be a bit more realistic instead.

Now, A's for arthritis; B's the bad back,
C's the chest pains, perhaps cardiac?
D is for dental decay and decline,
E is for eyesight, can't read that top line!

F is for fissures and fluid retention,
G is for gas which I'd rather not mention.
H is high blood pressure - I'd rather it be low;
I is for incisions with scars you can show.

J is for joints, out of socket, won't mend,
K is for knees that crack when they bend.
L is for libido, what happened to sex?
M is for memory, I forget what comes next.

N is neuralgia, in nerves way down low;
O is for osteo, the bones that don't grow!
P is for prescriptions, I have quite a few,
just give me a pill and I'll be good as new!

Q is for queasy, is it fatal or flu?
R is for reflux, one meal turns to two.
S is for sleepless nights, counting my fears,
T is for Tinnitus; there's bells in my ears!

U is for urinary; big troubles with flow;
V is for vertigo, that's "dizzy," you know.
W is for worry, NOW what's going 'round?
X is for X-ray, and what might be found.

Y is another year I'm left here behind,
Z is for zest that I still have in my mind.

I've survived all the symptoms, my body's deployed.
And I am keeping twenty-six doctors fully employed!

You were not brought into life with limitations.
Limitations are cast upon us like a net and we must cast them off.
~James R. Ball

Do you know how to make God laugh? Just tell Him YOUR plans!
~unknown~

CINNAMON

How about some some hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick or perhaps you'd love some hot cinnamon rolls or cinnamon and brown sugar on your toast. But guess what, cinnamon is much more though than just a pretty "herb."

Cinnamon is from a tropical evergreen tree of the laurel family growing up to 56 ft in its wild state.The two main varieties are Cinnamomum cassia and Cinnamomum zeylanicum, the last one being considered a more true cinnamon. It is found in Sri Lanka.

In the ancient world cinnamon was more precious than gold and even used for embalming in Egypt and while mainly used for culinary purposes today, cinnamon has been revealing some impressive secrets for use in the medical field of late. The essential oil of this herb is a potent antibacterial, anti-fungal, and also aids with appetite loss and indigestion to name but a few of it's benefits.

To find out more about this incredible herb go to:
Cinnamon History

Merrie

Health Matters

Easy Ways to Create Calm

How to Handle Hostility

Do you always feel at war with the people around you? Anger and hostility can harm your health. While you can't change your personality, it's entirely possible to dial down angry thinking and behaviour. Take these steps to keep momentary flare-ups from becoming infernos.

Caution: It may be tempting to "explain" how another person is being inconsiderate or boorish, but you won't make headway in solving the real issue if the other person is too busy being defensive.

Get Away

Sometimes the only way to keep from blowing your top is to leave the situation that's provoking you until you can calm down. Best bet: Take an exercise break. If it's not possible to physically get away from the situation, distract your mind by counting to 10; that's timeless advice because it works.

Or Take a Mental Getaway

Even though you can't escape to a beautiful, peaceful place every time you lose your cool, if you can step out of the present and imagine such a place - including all the sights, sounds, smells, and even temperature, you can experience it. The scenario you choose is up to you but here are a few suggestions to get you going:

  • 1. Picture yourself on a mountaintop surrounded by lush tropical vegetation but open to the sky, so you're bathed in sunlight. Note the deep blue color of the sky, feel the sun's rays soothing your body, smell the fragrance of the flowers all around, and hear the patter of drops falling off leaves after a recent rain. Look far below and see the shore of a tranquil beach on a placid lake.
  • 2. Take yourself to the shore of the lake and imagine walking along the soft sand. You're completely alone, but you find a boat tied to a dock. After untying the mooring rope, lie down on soft blankets inside the boat and watch the clouds as you drift on the calm water. The boat rocks gently, and waves gurgle under the hull as you drink in the warmth and feel the soft movement of a breeze. You feel a deep sense of relaxation as you drift between the water and the clouds.
Be Specific

When confronting someone you're angry with, don't launch into a laundry list of perceived faults and slights. Instead, focus on the one thing that's really bothering you - and be sure to figure out what that is before you speak up. Say exactly what you would like to see changed to make the situation better.

Avoid Insults

It may be tempting to "explain" how another person is being inconsiderate or boorish, but you won't make headway in solving the real issue (getting more help from a spouse, how much money to spend on vacation) if the other person is too busy being defensive to listen. You will also help yourself by seeking out the company of positive people and limiting your exposure to negative or irritating people.

Try Some Tension Taming Techniques

Deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, autogenics, and eurythmics are a good place to start. Researchers found that programs using stress management and relaxation training to manage anger have been shown to lower rates of heart attack, and Duke researchers believe the same approaches can help control blood sugar.

From: All New, All Natural Approaches to Diabetes, Reader's Digest Canada

COMMON EXPRESSIONS

As easy as pie

Meaning:Very easy.

Origin

There are many similes in English that have the form 'as X as Y'. These almost always highlight some property - X, and give an example of something that is well-known to display that property - Y. For example, 'as white as snow', 'as dead as a dodo' and, risking a group slander action from our noble friends, 'as drunk as a lord'.

How though, are pies thought to be easy? They aren't especially easy to make; I know, I've tried it. The easiness comes with the eating. At least, that was the view in 19th century America, where this phrase was coined. There are various mid 19th century US citations that, whilst not using 'as easy as pie' verbatim, do point to 'pie' being used to denote pleasantry and ease. 'Pie' in this sense is archetypally American, as American as apple pie in fact. The usage first comes in the phrase 'as nice as pie', as found here in Which: Right or Left? in 1855:
"For nearly a week afterwards, the domestics observed significantly to each other, that Miss Isabella was as 'nice as pie!'"

Mark Twain frequently used just 'pie' to mean pleasant or accommodating: In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 1884,
"You're always as polite as pie to them."

"So he took him to his own house, and dressed him up clean and nice,... and was just old pie to him, so to speak." Pie was also used at that time for something that was easy to accomplish. For example, The US magazine Sporting Life, May 1886: "As for stealing second and third, it's like eating pie." 'Pie in the sky', also an American phrase from around the same time, refers to 'pie' as something pleasant that we will receive eventually.

The earliest example of the actual phrase 'as easy as pie' that I can find comes from the Rhode Island newspaper The Newport Mercury, June 1887 - in a comic story about two down and outs in New York:
"You see veuever I goes I takes away mit me a silverspoon or a knife or somethings, an' I gets two or three dollars for them. It's easy as pie. Vy don't you try it?"

Pie seems to rank right up there with cake in the US lexicon of ease and pleasantry - 'a piece of cake', 'take the cake', 'cake-walk' are all American phrases from the 19th century.

Chrissie Chrissie's Home Page
Multiply

In this issue ...

Click on any of the following to be taken to that section of the newsletter. If you can come up with any icons for the sections below I would sure appreciate you sending them to me. Please notify me of any broken links.


I received some great pics from Bea.


My daughter Nancy Zuffera


Pam and me at her pool. we had a wonderful day together

Pam and her husband and JB & I all had a great time visiitng each other, , after we left her home they followed us to our house and visited awhile, a hour drive each way.

Bea Catskills, NY

Thank you Pat for the hours of work you put in for us to read the Global Express, and thanks' to all the members who write in with there news.

Love Robyn Down Under

Saturday, August 09, 2008

Hello Dear Pat .... I have just finished reading the newsletter and it is awesome as always.
I drove to Victoria yesterday to meet up with my much older brother Wayne and his lovely wife, Jenny (from Edmonton, Alberta) who were visiting my mum and younger brother, Leyton. We had such a great visit and guess what there were pictures taken so when Wayne & Jenny work their way up island I will download them on my computer to share with our world!
Traffic was really heavy on the Island Highway ..... must be summertime! The trip took longer than usual and it was frightfully hot but it was good all the same.
Leyton (my younger brother) and I will be heading to Cranbrook on Thursday, August 21st to visit with Brent (his son) and Andrea and baby Mackenzie (who is no longer a baby). It is a long trip -- about 10 hours drive plus 2 hours on the ferry but we are so looking forward to it. We had lots of laughs talking about it yesterday and planning, etc. etc. Not sure how long we will stay -- most likely will be back on Paradise Island on Sunday, August 24th.
On Friday, August 15, Yvonne and I and Mercy and D-Man will be heading to Enumclaw which apparently is somewhere around Seattle for a dog show. We will be staying at the Sumner Motor Inn at the east end of Sumner (which is somewhere near Enumclaw) if anyone is in the area and would like to pop by and see us. That should be fun. Even finding this place called Enumclaw might be an adventure!
That is about all my news for now. Miss you guys -- hope to be on Windows Live soon.

Love, Sharon from Paradise Island, aka Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

Hi Pat, As promised here's the picture we took at Sharon's. It was really great finally meeting you. Keep up the great work with the newsletter and don't be surprised if we take you up on the offer of a rental unit for one of our annual coastal visits.

Take care,
Jenny & Wayne

Unreal Photography & Art

[Editors note: You need Microsoft Power Point Viewer, to view the following, which you can download here: PowerPoint-Viewer]

There comes a point in your life when you realize:
who matters,
who never did,
who won't anymore...
and who always will.

So, don't worry about people from your past,
there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.

'Be kinder than necessary
because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.'


Argentina Report

REUNION 2008
Meet TANGO, the Reunion mascot souvenir: (based on a graphic presented by Emma, when it was announced the Reunion was to be in Argentina

PICTURES HERE

Who are we going to add to this group for reunion 2008 ?

The inscription form to take part in this unforgettable event can be found here: Inscription Form Look forward to getting lots of them!!

Our planet awareness site, Planet Kryzys has many interesting stories of different aspects of a planet under Crisis. Among them some brand new ones from our new correspondent in Perth Australia, Robyn, who has sent in stories about Australian animals like the Koala and kangaroo, as well as a national Park and the adventures of moving a huge tree hundreds of years old. Do please take a moment to visit it, and maybe it will remind you that YOUR area has something interesting to offer the rest of the world.

We have started a NEW SECTION in the Planet Awareness site, all about Regional, State, Provincial or National Parks. So a challenge is set to tell us about the one/those in visiting distance from you.

A new Nature Photo contest has started and as fitting with our Planet awareness site, it is of course nature based, and the theme this time is Nature's SKY. You have plenty of time to watch out for those sunsets, cloud formations, rainbows, storms, night skies etc etc
Photos sent in just have to be members' own or members 'family and friends. Look forward to seeing what you all come up with.
National Flower of Argentina "THE CEIBO"

The flower of the Ceibo tree - also called Seibo or buca r- was declared National Flower of Argentina in December 1942. It is a tree originally from the Americas, more particularly Argentina, Uruguay (where it is also the National Flower), Paraguay and Brazil. It grows along the banks of the Parana River and the River Plate, and can also be found near rivers, lakes, or swampy areas. It comes from the leguminous family, not too tall, 6 to 10 meters, trunk a browny-grey, its bark thick and rough with deep tracks. The tree top is irregular shaped, with twisted curved branches with needles, and its leaves are caduceus of an intense green. Its flowers are large and very red. The trunk is twisted and it has solid roots which grip the soil protecting it against erosion caused by the waters. Its wood, of a yellowish white colour and soft, is used to make things that do not need much weight, like boxes, orthopedic uses, floats, whittling, toys, model airplanes, etc Its flowers are used to dye cloths.

Its generic name is Erythrina of Greek origin from "erythros" which means red, according to the colour of its flowers.
Its specific name is crista-galli also comparing the colour of its flowers to the cockerel's crest,.


taken from: LEGEND OF THE CEIBO
LEGEND OF THE CEIBO.

The legend has it that on the bank of the River Parana, there lived a little Indian girl called Anahi�. Even though Anahi� was ugly with coarse features, her spirit was sensible and sweet. It is said that in the summer evenings, she delighted the people of her tribe with songs inspired by their gods and the love of the land that they owned.

But one day the conquerors arrived, white skins, war- worn and at the same time violent. These people invaded and destroyed the tribes and took away from these aborigines their land, their idols and their liberty.

Anahí did not escape being caught. Confined with others of her people, she spent many days crying, while the nights were insupportable wakefulness.
Nevertheless, in spite of the sadness and fear, Anahi� lay in wait like a wild animal.

One of these nights, what she had been waiting for happened... The guard who watched over them fell asleep. Without even thinking about it she started to escape, but the crackle of the dried leaves under her feet woke the soldier. Without missing a beat, Anahí buried a knife in his chest.

She quickly ran away towards the forest, but the screams of the dying guard woke the other Spaniards who chased after her. The persecution soon became a hunt, and it didn’t take them long to trap Anahi�. Wishing to avenge their dead companion, the conquerors decided to burn her at the stake.

They tied her to a tree and lit the fire. The flames crept nearer and near the young Indian girl, who bore the suffering in silence. Slowly, Anahí began converting herself into a tree, identifying herself with the plant in an amazing miracle. Next day, instead of the remains of a bonfire, the soldiers found a beautiful tree with shiny green leaves, and red velvety flowers which showed up splendidly as a symbol of courage and strength on facing suffering.

The Circle's Computer help site has had some new articles added recently sent in by Pat. Alphalist There are an incredible number of useful articles there to help you get the best from your computer or put things right that aren't working too well. Perhaps you also know of some trick we could all use, so send it in and get it added.

For example, Who knew??
Quick Internet tips

  • When you are are on a web site that you want to put into your "favorites", to be able to pull up later, just put your cursor anywhere on the page and hit CTRL D. This will automatically save the web address in your favorites.
  • Let's say you're looking for something on a long web page with Internet Explorer. You think it's there, but you're faced with seemingly insurmountable number of paragraphs, sentences, and words to hunt though. Just hit the Edit menu, Find (or CTRL+F for you shortcut lovers). You'll get a handy little "find" box that lets you type in a specific word. After you type in your search term, hit the Find Next button and Explorer will look for that word on the page. If it's successful, you'll be zapped right to it.
    The Ctrl+F thing works with AOL and Netscape too.

Recipe Corner

Members Favourites

All that will be left is a smile!

Our Recipe book has close on 2,000, not counting the many others in various links World Recipes There are several "cookbooks" in there, General, Regional/seasonal, Mexican, Oriental, and within those, recipes set out in many categories. If your recipe isn't in there I"ll be happy to add it for you. It has its very own search engine, so you can find things according to ingredient, origin, category etc.

This week I have chosen an egg dish;
Cucumber And Eggwhite Omlet
WWWCOF COOKBOOK
Try our Cucumber and Egg White Omelet as an alternative to the heavier, whole-egg version. For extra flavour, add shredded provolone, cheddar, or another favourite cheese.

  • 4 eggs-(separated)
  • 1/2 of small cucumber sliced very thin
  • 5 mL (1 teaspoon) chopped shallot or sweet onion
  • 10 mL (2 teaspoons) canola oil
Separate egg whites.
Egg Separation Instructions
To separate egg whites from egg yolks, you can use an egg separator or you can separate them by hand. To separate by hand, place a bowl on your countertop. Hold an egg in one hand and tap the egg lightly on the edge of a bowl to try to create a crosswise crack. Then hold the cracked egg in both hands over the bowl, and pull the edges apart until the eggshell is broken into two halves. Some of the egg white will immediately flow into the bowl underneath. Pour the remaining egg back and forth from one half-shell to the other, letting more of the egg white flow into the bowl until you are shifting just the egg yolk from hand to hand.
Lightly saute cucumber slices and chopped shallot/onion in 15 mL (1 teaspoon) canola oil in medium-sized frying pan. Set aside. Over medium heat, add the remaining 15 mL (1 teaspoon) canola oil to medium-sized frying pan. Add egg whites. Add cucumber and onion, trying to keep the cucumber and onion in the middle of the egg whites. Fold sides in and flip once.
Taz's Squares
WWWCOF COOKBOOK
Taz- IN/USA
  • 1 small jar of chunky peanut butter
  • 1 Cup of sugar
  • 1 Cup of Karo Syrup
  • 5 Cup Special K Cereal
  • 1 Pkg butterscotch bits
  • 1 Pkg of semi sweet chocolate bits
  • Chopped nuts
Melt chunky peanut butter, sugar and Karo syrup in a double boiler until sugar disolves.
Stir. Remove from stove.
Add 5 cups Special K Cereal and stir. Spread cereal mixture in buttered pans (2 - 8 x 8)
Melt butterscotch bits and chocolate bits.
Pour chocolate/butterscotch mixture over cereal mixture and sprinkle with chopped nuts.
Refrigerate about 10 minutes and cut into squares.
Keep refrigerated.
Does anyone have a recipe of something produced from their corner of the globe?? We would love to add it to our unique cookbook!
The extensive kitchen help section has also grown! And there are tips and hints on just about everything from Alcohols in cooking to "Why didn"t I think of that" type tips: Cookery Tips Again if you have anything you would like added, or if you want info on anything that isn"t there, just let us know.
TIME SAVING COOKING TIPS- Sharon
  • Freeze left-over coffee in cubes. When you want a cup of coffee, heat a few cubes in a cup in the microwave. Especially like to do this with flavored coffees.
  • To chop onions the easy way, start by cutting off the stem end, then peel the skin back to the root, KEEPING THE SKIN ATTACHED. Holding the skin to steady the onion, cut in half nearly to the root end, then at right angles to the first cut, 3 or 4 more cuts nearly to the root end. Next, still holding the root end by the skin, slice finely across the onion from the stem end, the result will be nicely chopped onion. And it takes longer to explain than to do it!
  • Keep a dry mix of 1 part cornstarch and 2 parts flour in a container to use for making gravy. Just scoop out amount needed and mix with cold water. Also make gravy in the microwave, boil off drippings from the pan and put it in a 2 cup or 4 cup measure and make in microwave stirring several times.
  • When cooking ground beef for Tacos or other Mexican dishes, cover the meat with water in a saucepan, break up with a fork, or potato masher, season well with beef and chicken boullion, and garlic powder, when cooked, drain off fat and water and you've got tasty meat without all of the fat. (You won't miss the good taste of the browned meat, promise.) Add a can of fat free refried beans and use just a little of the water from the meat to moisten, then our Mexican Dishes are bean and beef ready. Enjoy!
  • Rub a cut white potato over your hands to rid your hands of onion odor.
  • Freeze ground meat in 1 pound portions and place into freezer storage bags. Flatten out to the edges of the bag and remove all the air before zipping and sealing, then freezing. These flat bags of ground meats stack neatly laid flat or standing on edge in the freezer. If you want a smaller amount it's easy just to break it off then reseal the bag. The meats also thaw quicker when stored this way.
  • BUY CHEAP PLASTIC WRAP AND COVER YOUR COUNTER WHILE COOKING WITH MESSY STUFF.AFTER YOU ARE DONE PEAL IT OFF WITH THE MESS.
  • Use your pizza cutter to cut bar cookies. It does a nice job.
  • Use a sandwich bag when buttering a dish or making rice crispy treats and the mess won't stick on your hands!
If you read this page write to me anyway, with your Comments and suggestions:
For now I'll leave you wishing you all a VERY HAPPY Week
Would love to hear from you all.

Daphne

Our Furry Friends/ Family Members

I received this from my dear friend Helen, and thought you might like to use it in the Global.

Love Charla

Amazing duck story!

Something really amazing happened in Downtown Spokane this week and I had to share the story with you. Some of you may know that my brother, Joel, is a loan officer at Sterling Bank. He works downtown in a second story office building, overlooking busy Riverside Avenue. Several weeks ago he watched a mother duck choose the cement awning outside his window as the uncanny place to build a nest above the sidewalk. The mallard laid nine eggs in a nest in the corner of the planter that is perched over 10 feet in the air. She dutifully kept the eggs warm for weeks and Monday afternoon all of her nine ducklings hatched.

Joel worried all night how the mamma duck was going to get those babies safely off their perch in a busy, downtown, urban environment to take to water, which typically happens in the first 48 hours of a duck hatching. Tuesday morning, Joel came to work and watched the mother duck encourage her babies to the edge of the perch with the intent to show them how to jump off!

The mother flew down below and started quacking to her babies above. In his disbelief Joel watched as the first fuzzy newborn toddled to the edge and astonishingly leapt into thin air, crashing onto the cement below. My brother couldn't watch how this might play out. He dashed out of his office and ran down the stairs the sidewalk where the first obedient duckling was stuporing near its mother from the near fatal fall.

Joel looked up. The second duckling was getting ready to jump! He quickly dodged under the awning while the mother duck quacked at him and the babies above. As the second one took the plunge, Joel jumped forward and caught it with his bare hands before it hit the cement. Safe and sound, he set it by the mamma and the other stunned sibling, still recovering from its painful leap.

One by one the babies continued to jump to join their anxious family below. Each time Joel hid under the awning just to reach out in the nick of time as the duckling made its free fall. The downtown sidewalk came to a standstill. Time after time, Joel was able to catch the remaining 7 and set them by their approving mother.

At this point Joel realized the duck family had only made part of its dangerous journey. They had 2 full blocks to walk across traffic, crosswalks, curbs, and pedestrians to get to the closest open water, the Spokane River

The on looking office secretaries then joined in, and hurriedly brought an empty copy paper box to collect the babies. They carefully corralled them, with the mother's approval, and loaded them up into the white cardboard container. Joel held the box low enough for the mom to see her brood. He then slowly navigated through the downtown streets toward the Spokane River, as the mother waddled behind and kept her babies in sight.

As they reached the river, the mother took over and passed him, jumping into the river and quacking loudly.
At the water's edge, the Sterling Bank office staff then tipped the box and helped shepherd the babies toward the water and to their mother after their adventurous ride.

All nine darling ducklings safely made it into the water and paddled up snugly to mamma duck. Joel said the mom swam in circles, looking back toward the beaming bank workers, and proudly quacking as if to say,

'See, we did it! Thanks for all the help!

Thankfully, one of the secretaries had a digital camera and was able to capture most of it (except the actual mid-air catching) in a series of attached photographs. Please join me in celebrating my brother--
The Downtown Duck Hero!

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.

-Anonymous

Remember: Your pets are your most loyal family members, giving unconditional Love. So Don't forget to give them a big hug today.

I am looking for more stories about your PET ....... please submit to me so I may feature them in the newsletter Pet Column. email your stories to me, Jami from Maryland

And here is a request from BigSisPat:
I'd like to update out pet album so please send photos of your special member of the family to me.
BigSisPat


The best gift you can give Anyone is Prayer

Ellen Skinner: Ellen's husband Eddy's Great Nephew Joe, is lost at sea and we haven't heard any more about it. We are praying that they find him soon, but it doesn't look good. They had to call off the search because of the storm. Joe's father-in-law is in the hospital with heart attack so we really don't know what happened. Joe knew how to handle himself in a storm because he worked on the shrimp boats in Mobil Al. They were on the Mississippi & Louisiana line when it happened. Joe is a young man that has battled cancer he lost his leg to the cancer but he was never bitter about the fact of losing his leg to it. Please pray for all of us.

Sue Romans: (Charla's Cousin) Please pray for Sue She is in constant pain. We found out she also has Fibromyalgia. Please pray for God's Mercy to be upon Sue and lift this from her. Sue has asked for us to pray with her for an UNSPOKEN request. God knows her need. Please lift Sue with our prayers asking God's help in whatever this may be.

George: George's wife overdosed from Xanax 2 months ago and left behind a newborn baby girl. Please keep George in prayer as he is going through a very hard time and he is trying his best to get through this and be able to raise his daughter. George is in a recovery facility as he fell prey to this disease after losing his wife. Also keep George's Parents in prayer as they are beside him helping with this precious Angel..

Jonna Miller wwwcof: Jonna is pregnant and we are asking for your prayers for a healthy baby and a clean and healthy Mommy. Please keep Jonna in your earnest prayers. .

Kenny: A very dear high school friend of Jonna's has gotten caught up in this awful disease of drugs and is fighting very hard to overcome it. Please put him in your earnest prayers to allow God to guide him in his healing and recovery. Also Jonna asks that you remember all these suffering and sick addicts that are trying to recover and those that have not yet accepted they have a disease and are still using. Please pray for all the babies born to this awful disease of addiction. May God send His Angels of Mercy to surround them and to heal them once and for all.

Carol Foster wwwcof: (Niece Murdered) Update about my niece. Nina Ruberto: Her boyfriend was taken back by police. He has to take a polygraph. The man that found her that was walking his dog (pit bull) also lied to the police. This guy worked with her and knew her. So they have him for questioning. Hope he has to take a polygraph also. We should have my niece by next week so we can put her to rest. My son and daughter will be saying the eulogy. Our Minister will help them. They are taking this really bad. Please pray that the person responsible for this awful deed is caught and that this family be surrounded by God's Angels of Mercy..

Dawn Samuelson: UNSPOKEN PLEASE

Pami Defraia wwwcof (Breast Cancer) Pami is in stage 4 and will begin chemo in 4 months. Pami is is in a lot of pain. Please pray for God to touch Pami with His power of healing.
UPDATE:
I went to ER last Monday night. They did a cat scan on me and said it could be gall bladder but not to rule out Metastic Cancer in me. Well I already have Metastic Cancer stage 4...but I went there for severe pain in my right rib. I went to see my surgeon who examined me only to tell me that gall bladder wouldn't put pain there. I am scheduled for a bone scan on Tuesday. He feels it's bone mets to the rib now. This cancer is such nasty stuff. I have 2 very good friends dying from it right now. One friend is in the hospital and one has Hospice. I hope my tests are okay. My rib is so painful. I am hoping I did something while sneezing... as it was only sore before that. The bone scan will detect a fracture or break or bone mets.

Lonnie England: ( Charla's Cousin) Lonnie will be having her surgery for Cancer on her second breast for cancer, September 3rd, 2008. Please continue to pray for Lonnie to be healed and cancer free.

Bonnie Beard: Bonnie was just diagnosed with stage 4 Cancer and advised she has at the most 3 yrs. Please keep Bonnie in prayer for God's miracles as we all know HE can do anything!

Kathleen: Please keep Kathleen and her husband Jodie in prayer for SALVATION as Kathleen battles Cancer through out her body. Jody's father just passed away and Jody is battling gout and has a high fever. They are both in bad shape.

Linda Skeel: Bonnie is Linda's sister. Please keep Linda in prayer for strength and faith. Linda lost a sister years ago through an awful robbery where she was working. Please lift Linda up for God's will to be done in her life, as well as her families.

Laura McCarty: Laura has been diagnosed with Lymphoma Cancer. Laura is in her 30's and the Mommy of three small children. Two boys and a newborn baby girl. Please keep Laura in your earnest prayers for God's healing and strength for this family.

Irene wwwcof: Irene has Chronic Lymphocyte Leukemia (CLL) She was diagnosed in 2002 and is in stage 1. She has to have a knee replacement soon. Please keep Irene in prayer for healing of her knee and for God to send a cure for CLL.

Reanna: Please continue to pray for Jan, Reanna's Father in law. He has Colon Cancer. Please pray for God's healing touch. He had his first chemo treatment Tuesday August 5, 2008.

Cindy Hogan: (32 yrs old) Cervical Cancer

Kathleen: Please keep Kathleen and her husband Jodie in prayer for SALVATION as Kathleen battles Cancer through out her body.

Muire : UPDATE (28 year old Mommy with Brain Cancer) Muire's reports are all coming back GOOD! PRAISE GOD!! Please keep Muire in constant prayer as well as her daughter and husband.

Helen Bradley: Is very sick please keep Helen in prayer for God's touch. Helen has Pulmonary Fibrosis. The doctors say they have done all they can do. Those that are praying for me must be Thanked Very Much because I am starting to gain my strength back but my breathing is still bad. I have learned to not move to fast and just take extra time to do everything that needs doing.

Wanda wwwcof: Please keep Wanda in prayer for relief from her Fibromyalgia pain.

Marie Linder wwwcof: Please keep Mom in prayer for relief from her Fibromyalgia pain.

Susan: (Haley's Nana) Please continue to keep Susan in prayer for God to make a way for healing her Parkinson's.

Edith Matovu wwwcof Please keep Edith in prayer as God knows her needs as well as the needs of her country, Uganda.

Emma wwwcof: Please keep Emma's son in prayer for guidance.

Scott Skeel: (Charla's son) Please keep Scott in prayer for God's protection and guidance. God has blessed Scott with a good job and as of now he is doing well.

Daphne wwwcof: Please continue to keep Daphne and the wwwcof reunion in your prayers. May this be a good turn out and many meet for the first time. May God provide that many shall go.

Let's Remember to pray for our Government Leaders and Global Warming. Also all that have lost homes and family in the tragedies of earthquakes, volcanoes, flood's, and whatever comes their way.

Please keep "ALL MILITARY EVERYWHERE" in prayer for safety and, an End to this War.

Jamie Landon: ( FlMaries Grand Daughter) Home from Iraq Still in service.

Robert Fleming: (Peachy & Garnett's Grandson.) In Africa

Robin Smith: (Christine Mills requests) In Iraq

Nick Bradley Iraq

Erick Landry Iraq combat engineer.

ALLOW GOD TO BE YOUR PILOT

REMEMBER HE FORGIVES ALL

We have many prayer requests that go beyond our circle. Although, as we pray and we add these, our "Circle of Prayer" becomes larger.

Do you know someone who doesn't know JESUS?
How about introducing them?

Please visit Charla's Prayer Request Page to Pray for Others.


By Emma

Please email Charla, from Florida, USA with any Praises, Requests and/or UPDATES Thank you.
May God Bless Each One and Have a Great Week!
Live Simply Love Generously
Care Deeply Speak Kindly
Love Deeply
Let GOD Do The Rest

God answers knee mail
Postage guaranteed!


Live Simply Love Generously
Care Deeply Speak Kindly
Love Deeply
Let GOD Do The Rest

God answers knee mail
Postage guaranteed!

Closing Thoughts

I hope you have enjoyed this week's edition of Global Express which I would like to close with something that has been passed around for a long time, but I believe it is worth repeating:

The One Flaw In Women

By the time the Lord made woman, He was into his sixth day of working overtime. An angel appeared and said, 'Why are you spending so much time on this one?'

And the Lord answered, 'Have you seen my spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable and able to run on diet coke and leftovers, have a lap that can hold four children at one time, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart and she will do everything with only two hands.'

The angel was astounded at the requirements. 'Only two hands!? No way! And that's just on the standard model? That's too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish.'

'But I won't, ' the Lord protested. 'I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart. She already heals herself when she is sick AND can work 18 hour days.'

The angel moved closer and touched the woman. 'But you have made her so soft, Lord.' 'She is soft,' the Lord agreed, 'but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish.'

'Will she be able to think?', asked the angel. The Lord replied, 'Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate.'

The angel then noticed something, and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek. 'Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one.'

'That's not a leak,' the Lord corrected, 'that's a tear!' 'What's the tear for?' the angel asked.

The Lord said, 'The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love, her loneliness, her grief and her pride.'

The angel was impressed.

'You are a genius, Lord. You thought of everything! Woman is truly amazing.'

And she is!

Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take 'no' for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE TINY FLAW IN WOMEN, IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

PLEASE pass this along to your women friends and relatives to remind them just how amazing they are.


designed and created by Emma from Maryland, USA


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I am only one
But still am one
I cannot do everything
But still I can do something
And because I cannot do everything
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Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven't half the strength you think they have.
~ Norman Vincent Peale

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