Did you see the movie Bucket List with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson? The premise of the movie is: they make a list of all the things they want to do before they die. That list is called a Bucket List. I haven’t seen it yet but I hear the movie was a combination of comedy and slight drama with a message about how you should live your life to the fullest, how your family is important and how you should be happy in life. Of course those are all things we know, but do we actually live day to day with the intent of being happy that day and living that day to the fullest?

Today I am going share 10 things from my newly penned Bucket List! I’m very excited. When I stop and think about all the things that have been in the back of my mind but have never come to fruition, I feel somewhat defeated! And life always presents road blocks to our dreams whether it is time, money, energy, raising the children, working the job, etc., but we still gotta dream the dream, set the goal and fill our Bucket List!

I do want to veer off my beaten path and do some really “out of the box” kinds of things but what you will not see on my list is bungee jumping, skydiving or anything that could end my life within a matter of seconds. I will leave the dare devil feats to my eldest brother! I also won’t put a night with Sean Combs on my list; I think that would be kind of tacky don’t you? Lol. I’ll just share my top ten dreams, desires and goals as I dump out my Bucket List for your perusal. These are in no particular order:

1. Visit Africa.
2. Go backpacking (I have paid my money and will embark on this adventure this weekend!)
3. Write and be published! (I have three books in the works. Pray with me on their success!)
4. Sit on Oprah’s couch as her guest.
5. See a kangaroo in its natural habitat.
6. Learn to ballroom dance. (Ummm…. I know this goes against my upbringing but… it is in my bucket)
7. (Even if it is just once) Be hired and paid as an interior decorator!
8. (Even if it is just once) Be hired and paid as a motivational speaker!
9. Help build a Habitat for Humanity home.
10. Play the piano.

Ok. So my list may be a bit boring but they are all things I want to do! I read somewhere that a true Bucket List has 100 things on it. It would take me quite a while, probably days, to come up with 100 things!

It’s your turn! Please share at least a few of the things in your Bucket List! Tell us what you want to do before you die! Who knows, seeing your list might inspire me to step even farther out of the box, out of my comfort zone and do something I have never dreamed of doing! Let the sharing begin!

Holla back!

Marvelous Monday Morning to you! You know me and my wandering mind! I’ve been thinking and these are the things I’m thinking about today:

1. If a song can be played on a Soap Opera during a sex scene, can that song also be called a “gospel” song? I’m on the fence with this one, and in my opinion, that is exactly where Benjamin and Priscilla Winans (BeBe and CeCe) reside, on the fence! I think playing it this way is lukewarm. I believe you can sing anything you want, this is America, but there needs to be distinction as to the purpose. I really don’t mind if BeBe and CeCe go secular. Many entertainers have recorded a combination of Christian/Gospel, Soul, Hip Hop, etc., music in their careers. No biggie. But when you claim to be gospel recording artists and your music is fit to be played in a sex scene, doesn’t that cross a line and take your music out of one category and put it in another? I am not getting paid to decide, I just have a problem with them seemingly, not wanting to take a stand on either side of the fence!

2. Is there NO ONE in the gospel arena, that lives the gospel daily, capable of hosting the BET annual Celebration of Gospel? Seriously? Steve Harvey himself talks about how surprising it is they asked him to host the show. He talks about how stunned his Kings of Comedy costars were and thought he was joking with them! He talks about how for two hours he can’t cuss! Is there no one else? I’m talking about someone who doesn’t have to put on their personal censors and deserves the honor and paycheck because they are a 365 day living example of the good news of Christ? Here me when I say, I love me some Steve Harvey! I listen to him every morning on my way to work. I even enjoy watching him on the Celebration of Gospel every year but I do get tired of the first 5 or 10 minutes being dedicated to him defending himself and justifying why he, of all people, is hosting the show! Enough of that! If BET can’t find a representative from the gospel community to host the show that would make them as much money as Steve Harvey, ok, just do it and move on! Don’t make us feel bad for wondering why a chronic and habitual curser, with a questionable lifestyle as a Christian is doing it! Don’t tell me I’m judging you when all I am doing is watching you sweat as you go overboard explaining why you are there! You’ve done it for 10 years, what’s one more! (and by the way, who was that husband and wife that sang on there this year??? Yikes!)

3. (Colts fan speaking…) Why did Peyton Manning keep handing the ball to the runner only to have him go straight into the cluster of big boys in Saints jerseys!? That play didn’t work the first time he did it, the last time he did it, or any of the times in between!!! I hate that play!!! I don’t like it if any team does it but… it did work a couple of times for the Saint didn’t it? I blame that play for our loss! It was the difference between Drew holding the trophy and Peyton holding the trophy… I’m just saying. (lol. I know nothing about football. I know there were other things that caused the fabulous Colts to walk away defeated but that plays drives me nuts!)

4. After last night’s performances, I must ask, didn’t Jennifer Hudson and Faith Hill have the right idea to lip syncing their performance at the Super Bowl?! Even the little award winning Carrie Underwood struggled with that last note, did she not!!! I love my Queen but…. And the Who?????????

5. Why on earth does Face Book keep changing their layout!!! I don’t know what I am doing anymore! My coworker told me I need to update my browser. Ok that is fixing something that is broke! In my opinion, Facebook wasn’t broke, my browser wasn’t broke and my computer wasn’t broke! Now nothing works right!!!

Holla back!

UPDATE:  Thank you to all the prayer warriors who prayer for my co-worker.  The last report I got was that she is doing much much better!  Look at the power of prayer!  She went from a 0% chance to live, to a 5% chance to live, to doing much better!  The chemo is working, she is repsonding well and they are struggling to keep her calm so she won’t pull out her IVs and tubes.  From the report I got, unless something unforeseen happens, she is gonna live and not die!  Thank you for your prayers, but don’t stop, please keep praying!

NEW REQUEST:  The below prayer request is from my co-worker and fellow Indiana-ian Trish.  Please join me in intense prayer for her dear friend, her friend’s husband and the family.  We have seen what God can do for a breast and lung cancer victim!  God loves showing off!  Removing the “worst kind” of cancer and healing Pancreatitis is all in a day’s work for Him!   I await more miracles and healings and recoveries! 

In the meantime, we aren’t stupid here, we know both situations ”look” bleak and quite honestly totally hopeless but we know a greater God who loves to take the dreariest of situations and bring light!  Please believe with me and hold Trish and her friend and family up in prayer!  I’m looking for a miracle!  I expect the impossible! 

Holla back!

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I’m sure you know kleverkathy is an interactive site and I ALWAYS encourage opinions and comments, etc. Today I would especially like everyone who reads this to communicate with us.

I am posting a prayer request and ask that you add yours and so on and so on. The power of prayer is still the most dynamic force we have to fight with and if we combine those powers… wow! Miracles will unfold, healings will happen and what seems impossible will be made possible!!! I know you have something you need prayer for. Please contribute and then let’s pray… together!

I have a coworker that was diagnosed with breast cancer. They did surgery but had yet to start chemo when she began feeling bad. She went back into the hospital and they found fluid on her lungs. At first they couldn’t identify the fluid and said it was unlike any fluid they had ever seen. Tests revealed cancer in both lungs. But by then, her health was rapidly declining. They gave her a 0% chance to live. ZERO! They called in the family and basically did nothing else. They said if she lived through Monday, they would start radical treatments of chemo. She did! Now they have given her a 5% chance of living and now they are hitting it hard! They are giving her double doses of chemo twice a day for eight days. Eight days. If at the end of those eight days she is responding, they will continue doing everything they can for her to live and not die! If she is not responding, the family has to make some big decisions to make. But… she is a fighter and I know a God that will have EVERY doctor in that hospital standing over her, shaking their head in amazement at her recovery! And that is what I am praying for!

So now we are at day five. I have been praying but I need additional warriors who will go with me and add additional strength to those double doses of chemo twice a day! I want to be a part of a 2010 miracle! The doctors have given her a 5% chance to live but without a doubt, God can make up the other 95%!

Please pray with me for her healing and total recovery, with no signs or traces that cancer ever resided in her body!

What can I pray for with you?

Holla back!

Good news! It is not too late to be a part of the Kleverkathy 2010 Couple’s Caribbean Cruise! All you need is a partner (of the opposite sex), a deposit and an attitude for fun! Currently we have 9 couples on our adventure and there are a limited number of spaces left! We’d love to have you join us! Of course you can go on a cruise anytime but here’s the thing, this one is already planned and ready to go! All you have to do is pay your deposit now, pay the balance on or before August 1, 2010 and get ready for a fun, sun filled, extraordinary excursion set on the breathtaking back drop of the gorgeous Caribbean! What more could you ask for? Because we are going as a group, there are perks and bennies that you’ll receive with the group that you won’t get if you travel alone. But…. just because you go with us as a group doesn’t mean you and your sweetie have to vacation with us!  Please take advantage of this prearranged expedition and make it your romantic getaway for two! We go as a group but we vacation in whatever style suits us best!

Please read all the information below so you will know exactly what you need to do to be a part of our exciting voyage!

DATE:
The date of the Kleverkathy 2010 Couple’s Caribbean Cruise is October 24 – 31, 2010.

ITINERARY:
Day #1 – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Day #2 – At Sea
Day #3 – Bridgetown, Barbados
Day #4 – Castries, St. Lucia
Day #5 – St. John’s, Antigua Day
Day #6 – Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Day #7 – St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Day #8 – San Juan, Puerto Rico

TRAVEL AGENCY:
Omega World Travel Leisure Office. Our agent for the Kleverkathy 2010 Couple’s Caribbean Cruise is Aleece Rothandler. Aleece is very happy to be working with us and comes to us out of the corporate office in Fairfax, VA.

CONTACT INFO:
Aleece Rothandler
Omega World Travel Leisure Office
3102 Omega Office Park Ste 100
Fairfax VA 22031,
Phone: 703-359-8888
Email: arothandler@owt.net

CABIN COSTS:
Keep in mind; these are all PER PERSON costs based on two occupants per cabin:
Inside cabin – $704.83
Oceanview – $804.83
Balcony – $944.83
Suite – $1443.40
What’s your pleasure? Which cabin would you like? You gotta let me know ASAP as we are already rolling!

PAYMENT INFO:
* NOW – initial down payment of $500.00 PER CABIN (not per person) is due. This holds the actual room you will occupy during the cruise.

*August 1, 2010 – Final payment is due! So after your initial deposit, you don’t actually have to pay another dime for 8 months at which time, your final payment is due. I don’t recommend waiting until the final due date, but it is up to you. I foresee February – April cruise payoffs with your income tax returns!

* Flight breaks – We will possibly be able to get deals on our flights! (Remember, flights are not included). I will stay on top of that and I will get with Aleece on flight breaks as soon as she is able to do it. Good to hear huh?

CANCELLATIONS:
If for some reason you would have to cancel your trip, you can cancel up to 60 days in advance and get your full refund. After that you loose 20%.

VERY IMPORTANT:
It is BEST to pay by credit card. If you do have to cancel and are awaiting a refund, receiving you refund after paying by cash will take up to 16 weeks, however, if you pay by credit card, you will receive your refund within 3 – 5 days, big difference. Hear me on this one! I don’t want anyone’s feelings hurt if you need to cancel and have to wait four months for your refund. You will blame me! And I won’t blame you for wanting to blame someone, but I am telling you now. If you haven’t heard anything else, please read and re-read this.  But understand; paying in cash is acceptable. Just be aware of the above stipulations before you decide your payment method.  Also, at the time of deposit, Aleece will need to know your full address and birthday.

PASSPORTS:
If you don’t have a passport, run, don’t walk to your local post office and ask them to help you get started with the process. Passports are a must have when cruising!

Q & A:
Ok, I think I have covered the initial things necessary to get started. I’m sure many of you will have questions and concerns I haven’t thought of. If so, please do not hesitate to shoot me an email letting me know. More than likely it is something all of us will want to know too.

I am always available to you!
Week days from 7:30 – 4:00 pm eastern time:
Kathy.a.curry@us.army.mil
706.545.3328

Evenings and weekends and anytime:
kleverkathy@gmail.com
Aanp37@aol.com
Kathy@kleverkathy.com
812.369.0914 – 24/7
706.225-7849 – evenings

I think that is all for now. Got a question? Just ask! That is what I am here for! I am really trying to make it as uncomplicated as possible!

Need anything…. (say it with me) Holla back!

Happy Thoughtful Thursday to you! It’s a good day! I’m doing well and hope you are too! Yes, this is a long post today, but please read it all. Maybe it will help save a life!!!

Did you see Oprah Monday? I had seen previews and purposely set the DVR to tape it. It was about driving while talking on your cell phone and texting. Wow… It was a sad show. There was a wife and a daughter whose husband and father (two men traveling together) were killed due to a young man driving while texting. Surprisingly, the young man who caused the accident was on the show also. As it goes with life, he was not part of the accident he caused and he walked away without a scratch. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, community service and a few other mild punishments. But he was remorseful and very sorry for his actions. Although the two women lost their loved ones, I almost felt sorrier for the young man whose life is forever changed for being the catalyst of taking two lives.

Rarely do I get mad at Oprah but I was getting irritated because every time she addressed the young man about the situation she would ask questions or make statements like: “how do you feel about killing two men”? Or “after you learned you killed two people…”. I’m sure it was not easy for him to come to the show and put himself out there like that (he teared up and shed a few tears) and then to have Oprah keep making statements saying he killed the men, well I just thought it was insensitive and unnecessary. With years of interviewing skills surely she could have opened her vocabulary to a more compassionate way to address the young man. As he said and I can imagine is true, he has to live with what he did for the rest of his life! It haunts him and he can’t make it go away! But that is not why I’m writing.

I just could not believe the horror stories and statistics I was hearing. Not only did they talk about texting, they talked about simply talking on your cell phone while driving. Here are the stats. Talking on your cell phone while driving, is equivalent to driving while drunk. Chances of getting in an accident are 4 times greater when driving while talking on your cell phone. The same as while driving drunk. Chances of getting in an accident while texting and driving are 8 times greater!!! What are you going to do?

Oprah came on the screen at the end of the show making a plea to us not to use our cell phones while driving. She asked for a commitment. I have made that commitment. What she said and it’s so true, we all think: “I can handle it! That won’t happen to me! I got this!” Well… the young man on the show responsible for the death of two men said the same thing! He thought he had the skill down pat! But when he looked up one day and had crossed over the line on the highway, thus causing a fatal accident, he knew different! And I am guilty! Although I am not a 20 year old, I still fall within the “texting frenzy” age of 18 – 49 and I am by no means a shabby texter! I can hang with the best of them!!! I’ve been known to crack the 1000 mark in one month! Uh huh… And if I do it while driving, and I have, I am wrong! Living and working on a military installation kind of keeps it all in control because driving and talking on a cell is not permitted and carries a fine of $75.00. And yes, I have been pulled over once for driving while talking on a cell and was blessed with only a warning. Done with that! Next!

I can’t remember all the stats they quoted on the show but I do remember them saying that 6,000 people have died due to cell phone related car accidents. That is 6,000 too many.

One more thing. I do have one question about all of this. Weren’t the first non-land line phones car phones? Weren’t we encouraged at one time to use mobile phones while driving? Now we aren’t! With law after law coming into effect, what use to be the newest and greatest recommended innovation is becoming a no no. Because here’s the thing, forget the devices that allow you to talk without actually holding the phone in your hand, that is not what they are talking about! They are saying, studies have shown that talking while driving period is a distraction and wrong! It doesn’t matter if you have an ear piece, Bluetooth, or the real fancy systems where you are connected through your car’s system, don’t do it! Talking in and of itself is distracting. I must concur. I use to ride with a coworker to different cities. He would be hands free on his phone and I would be pointing at the exit and he would just by pass it time and again. He wasn’t texting. He wasn’t holding his phone in his hand. He was simply talking on the phone and he was distracted. I did it myself the other day, drove right pass my exit because I was caught up in my conversation. And several years back, I was that one that had an accident due to talking on my phone. Being engrossed in my conversation, I gauged what block I was on incorrectly and an SUV hit me on the back end of the driver’s side of my car. I went to the hospital but was blessed with only a giant bump on my head. Had I not sped up when I saw him coming, I might not be here writing this to you and imploring you to change your lifestyle and habits, and NOT use your cell AT ALL while driving!

I love to talk on the cell phone on the highway when I am driving alone and I think straight highway driving is safer than city driving but I am going to try to stick with my commitment and not cell and drive! It could be a matter of life and death!

Holla back!

Welcome to Thoughtful Thursday. Today I have a mixture of five random questions, thoughts and concerns. You’ll see by my list, I’m all over the place but it is a good day! Despite my circumstances or the circumstances surrounding me, I’m employed, I’m healthy, my family is employed and healthy, I’m happy, blessed and highly favored of God! Here we go.

1. I am so sad about the catastrophe in Haiti. My husband, brother, sister-in-law and I stopped there during our cruise in 2007 and got to see a snippet of that country. To know that so many families are [...] Continue Reading…

Today I’m happy and I just wanted to share!  I hope you are well and succeeding at whatever you are attempting to accomplish.  I hope your dreams are becoming reality.  I hope everything is working out the way it is meant to work out. 

Here are the five things I think you should know.

-The first thing you should know: my three year old Grandson can recite The Pledge of Allegiance! Holla! …and he can count to 80. (of course he can!  by the time he was two he could say and identify EVERY letter of the alphabet!)  Grandmother loves it!

-The second thing [...] Continue Reading…

Hello! I’ve been away from the computer and kleverkathy for about two weeks while submerging myself in my holiday enjoyment! I am not all the way back yet but I wanted to quickly say: I hope your holidays were spectacular, family filled and relaxing… and I double hope the New Year brings you overwhelming joys and blessings in all areas of your life!

We’ll talk soon!

Love,
Kathy

This morning was a typical morning. After I got out of the shower, I turned on the weather show Wake Up With Al. Do you wanna hear what the forecast was for my area? Abundant Sunshine! Have you ever heard that particular adjective when referring to sunshine? I hadn’t and to be honest, it caught my attention and made me want to go out and be a part of a day with abundant sunshine! But that is not the only reason I want to go out and cheerfully be a part of this day. The other reason is because [...] Continue Reading…

Happy Holidays and Marvelous Monday to you! Tiger Woods……

What can we say with so much being said! I am so torn when it comes to definitive feelings about Tiger.  Lol, like I am anybody and it’s my concern but….when it is on every news broadcast, on the front page of nearly every online search engine, on the front page of most magazines at grocery store checkouts, the breakroom conversation, the water cooler chat, etc, what can I do but think about it and form an opinion. First and foremost, let’s pray for Tiger.

Twice now, my husband and I have been in [...] Continue Reading…