Hi, and Welcome!

  There is a link to my blog that has recently been posted on the EFPS site, so I've had quite a few new visitors to my blog.  So, I thought I'd just say, Welcome! - And I hope you enjoy my blog! - You will find some things that I have posted here on my blog, that are fun, and funny, or just plain silly, as well as some much more serious posts, that are about some things I am going through, - pertaining mainly to some very precious people in my life, who have passed away.  One of those people, and his family, is, Vincent DiBerdinis - whom I have posted a blog about. The 5K Run/Walk that is held annually, on Mother's Day Weekend.  And, of course I have posts about The Enchanted Forest as well.  :)

 So Welcome, and I hope you enjoy your visit!  - And I hope you'll stop back by. :)
- If you would like to comment on any of my posts, or anyone's here on ShoutPost, there is a button at the bottom of each post, in order to do that...but in order to post, you must first become a memeber of ShoutPost.  So sign on up, and hope to hear from you. This is a wonderful community of many fine people, I am so happy to know, and I'm sure you will find that to be so, too!

   -  Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary   :D

 I had tried to get the wesbsites, and post them on here earlier, but I wasn't having much luck with finding the webpage...so now that I have it, I am posting the link to the website, and I have cut and pasted the page about this year's Run. Please check out the entire website - there you will find lots of great information, about VIncent, and about how you too can help this worthy cause!
Thanks! 
 - Mary, Mary

http://www.vincentdfoundation.org/

Vincent's 5K run/walk   Vincent's Story The Vincent DiBerardinis Foundation was established in 2003 by Laura DiBerardinis after the loss of her son, Vincent, to complications from battling AML-type leukemia. The Foundation's mission is to support organizations that help families and children dealing with leukemia and other life-threatening cancers. Our main fundraiser each year is Vincent's 5K Run/Walk, held each year on Mother's Day Weekend at Hillsmere Elementary School, in Annapolis, Maryland. This year's run is on Saturday, May 12, 2007. Join Us and Make a Difference! Please consider joining us this year on Saturday, May 12, 2007 to support the families who benefit from the Foundation. This event is a family-friendly and competitive 5K Run/Walk that is fun and uplifting. Folks in the 80s and babies, as well as serious runners in training turn out to support the cause. It's a beautiful way to start your weekend and celebrate Spring! Register for Vincent's Run now! Register online NOW with Active.com! Print and mail registration Download and print a brochure Sponsor or Donate Can't make it on Race Day? You can still be with us in spirit. Donate online now or checkout the many other ways to help us take strides for a cure. We Support the National Marrow Donor Program Onsite during the run, we also sponsor a Bone Marrow Registry Drive with the help of Johns Hopkins Hemapheresis and Transfusion Support (HATS). With a simple oral swab, YOU can be registered as a life-giving match to someone in need. The cost to register is $52; the Foundation appreciates donations but will cover any remaining costs. Your very appearance CAN make a difference to someone. Because of the dire need for minorities in the database, there is no fee for minorities to register.   The Vincent DiBerardinis Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code described in 501(c)(3). Tax ID#87-0691838. contact webmaster ©2007 The Vincent DiBerardinis Foundation, Inc.

The Vincent DiBerardinis Foundation, Inc.   ~   303 Cedar Lane Annapolis, MD 21403   ~    410.280.6226

 This wonderful family, lives in our area. Each year I try to help by offering facepainting, so that Vincent's friends, and all the little ones who want to help out too, can give a dontation towards the fund. It has been a rich reward, too priceless to count.

...

            Ha ha!

You Are a Christmas Sweater!

Over the top, colorful, and totally flashy. You're not afraid to be a little tacky.

...

    This one is STILL making me laugh!!!!!!

  Ok, I KNOW "Captain Underwear" will HAVE to take THIS test! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

Your Lucky Underwear Is Red

You're confident and bold, and your lucky red underwear will only make you more sure of yourself. You have a great zest for life, and you tend to take on impossible goals - and succeed. When it comes to love, it's hard for you to take the time to open up. You're too busy conquering the world. So if you're looking for a little more romance, put on your red underpants. And see where their passion takes you!

                                    
                                                             Stupid is as stupid does...

                                                           Yep, you got the picture....

  :D

2. Last Name: Contrary

4. Place of Birth: East Coast

5.male/female: Female

6.Age: 42

7. Car: Used Toyota Camery

8. School:  ALL DONE WITH SCHOOL! YAY!

9. Occupation: Mom, artist, & gardener of cockleshells, silverbells, and pretty maids all in a row :)

10.Initials: MMQC

11. Screen Name: Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

YOUR APPEARANCE

12. Hair Color: Very, very dirty blonde

13. Hair Length: Long

14. Eye color: Blue, green, grey - (they change colors - strange but true! - Hey, I'm Contrary, what did you expect?!? - LOL! )

15. Best Feature: ummmm.......eyes I guess

16. Height: 5' 6: on a good day ;)

17. Braces: Nope

18. Glasses: Nope

19. Shoe size: 9

20. Diploma: Yes

22. First best friend: hmmmm....Kathy...still that way :)

23. First Award: Don't remember - most likely something to do with art in gradeschool

24. First Sport You Joined: None

25. First things you did today: Hit the alarm, got on the puter, and THEN woke up...and in that order! lol!

26. First Real vacation: Saltsburg PA.

27. First thing you said today:  Where is Captain Underwear?????????????

28. First Crush: David Cassidy ( are you kidding?? who else would it be!?!?? )

FAVORITES

29. Movies: PIRATES! Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!  - Ok, others too, but LOTS and LOTS of others!

30. TV Shows: LOTS! Grey's Anatomy, ummmmmmmmm...LOTS!

31. Color(s): Blue

32. Singer: Hmmmmmm....Amiee mann, Carley Simon, Josh Groban, ummmmmm...ok lots more that I can't think of right now...

33. Place to get groceries: yeah grocery store...( who made this question thing up??? )

34. Food: Crab Rangoons! and Chocolate Ice Cream!  (Drool!)

35. Season: Spring!

36. Candy: CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!

37. Sport: Badmitten (SP.?)  - football (when the Steelers are playin'!)

38. Restaurant: Jack's Fortune ( oriental )

41. School Subject: ART!

42. Animal: Horses - so graceful!

43. Book: Alice In Wonderland ( yeah, I'm still a kid! )

44. Magazine: Coastal Living

45. Doing before you started this survey: talking to Doe and Ken on shoutpost - ( He's so craazzzy! )

46. Feeling: Tired - but migraine is gone gone gone! YAY! :D

47. Wearing: Jeans and t-shirt ( my standard issue uniform )

48. Crying about: Nope

49. Eating: Nope

50. drinking: Sprite

51. Typing: Duh - Hee Hee! Yeah, Duh!

53. Listening: Mambo no. 5, ( A little bit of....)

54. Thinking about: how loooong this survey is!

55. Wanting: CHOCOLATE!

56. Watching: The puter monitor ( wow they even throw in trick questions in this survey! )

57. Where do you see yourself in 5yrs: Still doing this survey ( SHEEEEEESH!)

58. Kids: Yes

59. Want to be Married: Already married

60.Career in Mind: Doing this survey

OPPOSITE SEX

63. Hair color: Brown

64. Hair length: longish - ( but no mullets - thank you )

65. Eye color: Doesn't matter, as long as they're only for me!

66. Measurements: Do what???

67. Cute or sexy: sexy

68. Lips or Eyes: Both....only for me!

69. Hugs or Kisses: Both...ok I might be willing to share hugs...but NOT the kisses!

70. Short or Tall: Both...er, I mean either! lol!

71. Easygoing or serious: Easygoing

72. Romantic or Spontaneos: Romantic

73. Good or Bad: Good, but FUN!

74. Sensitive or spontaneous: Sensitive

75. Hook-up or Relationship: Relationship

HAVE YOU EVER

78. Kissed a Stranger: Yes

79. Had surgery: Yes

80. Gone commando: Nope

81. Ran Away From Home: Yes

82. Broken a bone: Yes

83. Got an X-ray: Yes

84. Been on a cruise: Nope

86. Dumped someone: Yes

87. Cried When Someone Died: Yes ( another trick question??? )

88. Cried At School: Yes

89.God: I am a born again Christian ( yeah I'm one of "those"! ) - so, Yes, I beleive in God

90. Miracles: Yes

91. Love at First Sight: Yes

92. Ghosts: not sure

94. Soul Mates: Yes

95. Heaven: Yes

96. Hell: Yes

97. Answered prayers: Yes

98. kiss on the first date?: Depending

99. Horoscopes: Hmmm, they can be fun, but no, not so much

100. Is there someone you wish you had:  Had what???????? ( Durn trick questions! )

Your Turn!

 This is a song that I love, everytime I hear it!

   It's sung by Nichole Nordeman

What If

What if you're right?
And he was just another nice guy
What if you're right?
What if it's true?
They say the cross will only make a fool of you
And what if it's true?

What if he takes his place in history
With all the prophets and the kings
Who taught us love and came in peace
But then the story ends
What then?

But what if you're wrong?
What if there's more?
What if there's hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He's more than enough?
What if it's love?

What if you dig
Way down deeper than your simple-minded friends
What if you dig?
What if you find
A thousand more unanswered questions down inside
That's all you find?

What if you pick apart the logic
And begin to poke the holes
What if the crown of thorns is no more
Than folklore that must be told and retold?

You've been running as fast as you can
You've been looking for a place you can land for so long
But what if you're wrong?

...

 Wow! I was pleasently surprised at the responce to my last post! :)
 It was great to hear from everyone, and I will definelty have to check out some of the music that everyone recommended! Thanks!

 So.....the first time I heard the song from the Newsboys that I posted previously, it was actully on a Veggie Tales dvd....it was the Jonah and The Whale movie....so here is the other song that I instantly liked from the newsboys in that movie, approprietly titled, "Belly of The Whale"!

 Artist: Newsboys

Song Title: Belly Of The Whale



Up to my ears
In bitter tears.
Can't believe I've sunk this low
As I walk the plankton
Inner sanctum.
Got outta Dodge,
Sailed on a bon-less
Bon voyage.
You said North,
I headed South.
Tossed overboard.
Good Lord, that's a really large mouth...

I'm sleeping with fishes here,
In the belly of the whale.
I'm highly nutritious here,
In the belly of the whale.
Bad food, lousy atmosphere.
I don't wanna bellyache.
How long is this gonna take?

Woke up this morning kinda blue,
Thinking through that age-old question:
How to exit a whale's digestion?
It might behoove me to be heaved.
Head out like a human comet.
*Larry the Cucumber*
Uh, guys? You might not wanna rhyme with comet!

I'm sleeping with fishes here,
In the belly of the whale.
I'm highly nutritious here,
In the belly of the whale.
I'm ready to reappear.
I don't wanna bellyache.
Lord, how long's this gonna take?

End times, they come rolling around.
Enzymes, they come breaking us down to the core.
The good Lord grants we all get a second chance.

I'm one of the dishes here,
In the belly of the whale.
They say I'm delicious here,
In the belly of the whale.
Lord, please make him chuck it all.
It's a gut call
In the belly of the whale.

I'm in the belly of the whale.
In the belly of the whale.
I'm in the belly.
In the belly of the whale.
I'm in the belly of the whale.
In the belly of the whale.
I'm in the belly...

In the belly of the whale
In an underwater jail
It's a tight squeeze.
It's a-gettin' to me,
But it's roomier
Than the tail.
Hey, sailor,
Got my flow free
Like a salmon to the sea
From the L.A. Symphony.
I'm a paddleboat
Paddlin' in their wake,
A fake free-styler,
But my unemployment pays.
I'm avoiding cliches
Like "whale of a tale" say
Or "you can't keep
A good man down,"
'Cause you can
And I've been there, man.
But I've been expectorated.
I'm elated!
I'm free like Willie!
Happy Day!
Oops,
That's a bit of a cliche.

In the belly...

 ...              Willie The Whale from The Enchanted Forest, was also the whale from the Jonah and the Whale story, and used to have Jonah sitting inside of his mouth, on a little wooden raft, with a fishing pole!  so.....here's another picture of Willie The Whale - ( bet cha didn't know he had a name! )     

I heard this song today, I've heard it before and I really like it! It is sung by the band called Newsboys.

                                            www.newsboys.com

Newsboys ~ Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye) ~ Lyrics

.

 Ok, I was inspired by Doe this morning, and I "did my time"!  Translation - I put on my trusty ped-o-meter and went to work around the house. - It's in need of a serious cleaning, cause we will be having company coming at the end of May, (but more about that later).

 So I cleaned up the upstairs room some more, and got some things packed away to make room for our guests to use that room as a bedroom.  Although I am taking it a little bit at a time, I actally got quite a bit done today! (yep, I'm a pack-rat!)

 I was also inspired by the warm weather, to go get some plants at our nearby nursery to plant the empty pots on our porch, ( something I do anually). I got the two large pots planted up and they turned out great! I also have three more to put in smaller pots to make the rest of the porch more inviting. We always use the porch alot in the warmer weather, and we also have our grill out there, and enjoy cooking on it during the warmer season. 

 So....all said and done, my # for today was......*drum-roll*....3199 !  ok, ok..not alot...but not bad either, for being inside doing "inside work" for the better part of the day!  

 WHEW!  -  I'll try for a little better for tomorrow!

 Not sure what the "Florida" reference is all about - do-do-do-do  do-do-do-do  - ( twilight zone?)

You're Confessions!
by St. Augustine
You're a sinner, you're a saint, you do not feel ashamed. Well, you might feel a little ashamed of your past, but it did such a good job of teaching you what not to do. Now you've become a devout Christian and have spent more time ruminating on the world to come rather than worldly pleasures. Your realizations and ability to change will bring reverence upon you despite your hedonistic transgressions. Florida will honor you most in the end.
Take the Book Quiz at the Blue Pyramid.

                                                                                 
...

 Avatar pick of the week... ( Made me think of Trish and Leo's Kittie Cats!)

.

.

APRIL 14-15, 2007 ENCHANTED FOREST WEEKEND. "Experience the Enchantment at Clark's Elioak Farm" Come see the new items we have moved from the Enchanted Forest and restored and installed around our petting farm. We are so excited to have these wonderful memory-filled items from our past here to delight and enthrall a new generation of Marylanders. We will have special activities including costumed characters, story times, facepainting, and Enchanted Forest memorabilia, original artwork and painted Enchanted Forest stones for sale.   www.clarklandfarm.com  
- also see The Enchanted Forest Preservation Society's website at: www.EnchantedForestMD.org  (or click on the link in my blogroll) -

                 Funnies.....ENJOY!

LIFE AFTER DEATH:
"DO YOU BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER DEATH?" THE BOSS ASKED
ONE OF HIS EMPLOYEES.
"YES, SIR," THE NEW EMPLOYEE REPLIED.
"WELL, THEN, THAT MAKES EVERYTHING JUST FINE," THE
BOSS WENT ON. "AFTER YOU LEFT EARLY YESTERDAY TO GO TO
YOUR GRANDMOTHER'S FUNERAL, SHE STOPPED IN TO SEE YOU!


PALM SUNDAY:
IT WAS PALM SUNDAY AND, BECAUSE OF A SORE THROAT,
FIVE-YEAR-OLD JOHNNY STAYED HOME FROM CHURCH WITH A
SITTER. WHEN THE FAMILY RETURNED HOME, THEY WERE
CARRYING SEVERAL PALM BRANCHES. THE BOY ASKED WHAT
THEY WERE FOR. "PEOPLE HELD THEM OVER JESUS' HEAD AS
HE WALKED BY."
"WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT," THE BOY FUMED, "THE ONE SUNDAY
I DON'T GO, HE SHOWS UP!"

CHILDREN'S SERMON:
ONE EASTER SUNDAY MORNING AS THE MINISTER WAS
PREACHING THE CHILDREN'S SERMON, HE REACHED INTO HIS
BAG OF PROPS AND PULLED OUT AN EGG. HE POINTED AT THE
EGG AND ASKED THE CHILDREN, "WHAT'S IN HERE?" "I
KNOW!" A LITTLE BOY EXCLAIMED. "PANTYHOSE!! "

SUPPORT A FAMILY:
THE PROSPECTIVE FATHER-IN-LAW ASKED, "YOUNG MAN, CAN
YOU SUPPORT A FAMILY?"
THE SURPRISED GROOM-TO-BE REPLIED, "WELL, NO. I WAS
JUST PLANNING TO SUPPORT YOUR DAUGHTER. THE REST OF
YOU WILL HAVE TO FEND FOR YOURSELVES."

FIRST TIME USHERS! :
A LITTLE BOY IN CHURCH FOR THE FIRST TIME WATCHED AS
THE USHERS PASSED AROUND THE OFFERING PLATES.
WHEN THEY CAME NEAR HIS PEW, THE BOY SAID LOUDLY,
"DON'T PAY FOR ME DADDY. I'M UNDER FIVE."

PRAYERS:
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER ASKED, "NOW, JOHNNY, TELL
ME, DO YOU SAY PRAYERS BEFORE EATING?" "NO SIR," HE
REPLIED, "WE DON'T HAVE TO, MY MOM IS A GOOD COOK!"

CLIMB THE WALLS:
"OH, I SURE AM HAPPY TO SEE YOU," THE LITTLE BOY SAID
TO HIS GRANDMOTHER ON HIS MOTHER'S SIDE. "NOW MAYBE
DADDY WILL DO THE TRICK HE HAS BEEN PROMISING US."
THE GRANDMOTHER WAS CURIOUS. "WHAT TRICK IS THAT?" SHE
ASKED.
"I HEARD HIM TELL MOMMY THAT HE WOULD CLIMB THE WALLS
IF YOU CAME TO VISIT," THE LITTLE BOY ANSWERED.

.
..
THE WATER PISTOL:
WHEN MY THREE-YEAR-OLD SON OPENED THE BIRTHDAY GIFT
FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER, HE DISCOVERED A WATER PISTOL..
HE SQUEALED WITH DELIGHT AND HEADED FOR THE NEAREST
SINK.
I WAS NOT SO PLEASED. I TURNED TO MOM AND SAID, "I'M
SURPRISED AT YOU. DON'T YOU REMEMBER HOW WE USED TO
DRIVE YOU CRAZY WITH WATER GUNS?"
MOM SMILED AND THEN REPLIED..... "I REMEMBER!!"


A new teacher was trying to make use of her psychology
courses. She started her class by saying, "Everyone
who thinks they're stupid, stand up!"
After a few seconds, Little Davie stood up. The
teacher said, "Do you think you're stupid, Little
Davie ?"
"No, ma'am, but I hate to see you standing there all
by yourself!"


Little Davie watched, fascinated, as his mother
smoothed cold cream on her face
"Why do you do that, mommy?" he asked.
"To make myself beautiful," said his mother, who then
began removing the cream with a tissue.
"What's the matter?" asked Little Davie. "Giving up?"





GRANDMA'S AGE:

LITTLE JOHNNY ASKED HIS GRANDMA! HOW OLD SHE WAS.
GRANDMA ANSWERED, "39 AND HOLDING."
JOHNNY THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT, AND THEN SAID, "AND HOW
OLD WOULD YOU BE IF YOU LET GO?"

    .                                             

 I don't know who runs this site, (although I do realise that Rocky and Nickster do a great job with admin. on here!)...but I would like to give a "shout-out" to ShoutPost!
This has been a great site, a very enjoyable place to be! - Where there is a diverse group of people, and I can speak my mind. I don't have to impress anyone, I can express my beliefs, my concerns, something that strikes me as funny, or just talk about my day. I don't have to belong to certain group, and I don't have to say things a certain way in order to "fit in" or feel part of this site. If I wish to be creative, I can be, or serious, or silly, it doesn't matter, and if I make a typo, that doesn't matter either.  It has been nice meeting others on this site too, and I, like others, have enjoyed the feedback, and the conversations.
   So Vive la ShoutPost! And Have a Great Day!