Thanks to you all!

It is New Year’s Eve with about two hours to midnight.  I wanted to take a moment to thank my family, my friends and my readers (who hopefully will think of me as their friend!).  I do this blog somewhat irregularly I know and maybe in this new year I will be able to spend more time on it, I hope so.

I started it because of my stroke. It was therapy, something for me to do.  It was a stress reliever, because being full-time disabled at home now is a stressful time for me.  And it’s a way to pass on forty-five plus years of information, instructions and guidance that I have learned in my sixty-two years of living.

I decided after the stroke ended my business and career that the knowledge was still with me even if physically I can no longer do the real labor.  So my blog was born.  To pass on this knowledge and experience to any who ask for it.  Up till now there hasn’t been that many asking, but for 2012 there will be many more.  Of this I am sure.  So with my reader’s help and the Good Lord’s guidance, we will make 2012 a very good and prosperous new year.  So everyone, Happy New Year and talk with you soon!

God Bless,

SparkChaser4

New vinyl flooring? Say no to detergents!

Finally, thank you Shawna for your question!  Your vinyl installer was right.  Many of the vinyl floorings used today are damaged by strong detergents as well as other cleaners.  Do not use them on your floors.  Just use straight warm water and rinse often.

The reason for no detergent is this, it eventually will remove the protective coating on the vinyl exposing the subsurface to dirt, stains and grit.  You’ll want the coating to last for years so, plain water only.  If you want to disinfect or remove some stain once in a while than typically you can use a little vinegar in your water, but not straight vinegar!  I mix a couple of tablespoons in a pint spray bottle with the balance filled with warm water.  Spray, then rinse with the mop.  Works great!  Thank you for your question!

SparkChaser4

Where Our Freedom Comes From

WHERE OUR FREEDOM COMES FROM:

T’was the night before Christmas,
He lived all alone.
In a one-bedroom house
Made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney
With presents to give,
And to see just who
In this home did live.

I looked all about
A strange sight I did see.
No tinsel, no presents,
Not even a tree.

No stocking by mantle,
Just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures
Of far and distant lands.

With medals and badges,
Awards of all kinds.
A sober thought
Came through my mind.

For this house was different,
It was dark and dreary.
I found the home of a soldier,
Once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping,
Silent, alone.
Curled up on the floor
In this one-bedroom home.

The face was so gentle,
The room in such disorder.
Not how I pictured,
A United States Soldier.

Was this the hero
Of whom I’d just read?
Curled up on a poncho,
The floor for a bed.

I realized the families
That I saw this night,
Owed their lives to these soldiers
Who were willing to fight.

Soon ’round the world
The children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate
A bright Christmas Day.

They all enjoyed freedom
Each month of the year.
Because of the soldiers,
Like the one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder
How many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve
In a land far from Home.

The very thought
Brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees
And started to cry.

The soldier awakened
and I heard a rough voice,
“Santa don’t cry,
This life is my choice.

I fight for freedom,
I don’t ask for more.
My live is my God,
My Country, my Corps.”

The soldier rolled over
And drifted to sleep.
I couldn’t control it,
I continued to weep.

I wept for hours
So silent and still,
And we both shivered
From the cold night’s chill.

I didn’t want to leave
On that cold, dark night,
This guardian of honor
So willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over
With a voice soft and pure,
Whispered, “Carry on, Santa.
It’s Christmas Day, all is secure.”

One look at my watch
And I knew he was right.
“Merry Christmas my friend,
And to all a Good Night!”

Thanks to An Ordinary American for allowing us to copy this from his site.

Merry Christmas Everyone!
SparkChaser4

Idiots Posing As Parents

Well I thought there were enough idiots in the world as it was, but now a sorry excuse for parents brand their children as if they were some sort of fence to be tagged with their graffiti and calling it art!  All right, many people like tattoos and as adults they have the right to deface what the Good Lord gave them in any way they want.  I have no problem with this whatsoever.  But to put their children through this painful process without any consideration for the child is akin to child abuse and it should be treated as such!  Including the filing of charges by Children Protective Services.

What’s going to happen when the child is older and realizes that a good majority of the population doesn’t have these crude markings with the garish colors on them?  One would think that once this phase/fad falls out of fashion at some point in the future, that the child might be a little angry at his/her parents for using them as a human target for their graffiti now. Wouldn’t it be wiser to leave them unblemished so to speak and let them decide for themselves at a later date if they want it or not?  And just go get the parents a box of Sidewalk Chalk instead for now. See some samples of this atrocious behavior here.

Just a thought.

SparkChaser4