A decade ago I retired. My employment record showed 35 years on the job. I was repeatedly advised that staying home would drive me crazy. I knew that was impossible since I am nuts already. The last ten years have been fulfilling ones for me. I am no couch potato. I’m still active, but now I can follow my interests. I don’t have any regrets about leaving the work force. I read, write, travel, pursue hobbies, volunteer, and bargain shop. I keep myself busy.

WARNER BROS. CONSUMER PRODUCTS LAUNCHES SCOOBY-DOO MOVIE MYSTERY SWEEPSTAKES

Fans can enter to win a trip for four to the set of the new Scooby-Doo movie!

Burbank, Calif., March 12, 2010 - Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) today announced the Scooby-Doo Movie Mystery Sweepstakes in support of the highly successful Scooby-Doo! Zoinks Points program, offering fans a chance to win a trip to Los Angeles to visit the set of the new live-action Scooby-Doo movie.

Fans of Scooby-Doo can visit www.ScoobyDooSweeps.com and enter by March 31, 2010. The grand prize winner and three guests will win a trip to Los Angeles and have the opportunity to take a VIP tour of the set of the new Scooby-Doo movie, experience the excitement of filmmaking first hand, view actual film sets and possibly meet the cast. The top 10 first-prize packages will include a Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins DVD and a Nintendo Wii or Nintendo DS version of the Scooby-Doo First Frights game.

The new Scooby-Doo film is a follow-up to last fall’s hit Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins and features the returning cast of Nick Palatas (Shaggy), Kate Melton (Daphne), Hayley Kiyoko (Velma) and Robbie Amell (Fred).

Scooby-Doo Zoinks Points, a consumer rewards program available at www.zoinkspoints.com, is the first program of its kind. It offers fans the opportunity to download and access free, exclusive online content with the purchase of all Scooby-Doo licensed products. Users have access to a vast and ever-expanding collection of online and downloadable content, including custom Scooby-Doo online games, video clips, wallpapers, screen savers, podcasts and more.

Mama told me there’d be days like this…. I find myself vicariously living all the experiences I passed on for marriage and family. LA recently returned from deployment in the Middle East. He had liberty in Thailand, and his stories of the country whetted my appetite. I’d love to travel again and one of those Thailand holidays sounded perfect. I was long ago enchanted by the story of Anna and the king of Siam so I researched Thailand, Siam’s official name since 1939. This Southeast Asian country has much to offer. Sports like boxing, sepel takeo, rugby and golf; beautiful eShores especially Pallaya Beach and Plunket Beach; cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, centers of cultures with temples as well as arts and crafts are main attractions. Then there is the shopping. I’m not much into goods and services. I’ll skip the rice, fish, rubber, cars, computers, electric appliances and their duty and shipping costs. However, Thailand’s tailor made holidays highlighting footwear and textiles–well, that’s different. Well-designed, custom clothes at prices that can’t be beat anywhere–I could never, never pass them by. LA brought the family souvenirs of handmade silk embroidered robes that cost him only pennies on the American dollar. He still groans and moans that his ship’s departure didn’t allow time for having a suit made. Oh, well, he can always mail order. Now I really need some new clothes, specifically blouses, skirts, pants, and jackets. I hate ill-fitting ones in styles and colors not for me. My closet is bare since I dropped many sizes and pounds this last year. A new wardrobe with quality fabrics like silk, satin, cotton, cashmere, and mohair selected for my taste would be the envy of every woman I know. Any suggestions on how I can convince hubby to book tickets? I’ll even buy him some custom apparel. He can select whatever he needs from the men’s dress shirts, pants, jackets, blazers, overcoats and suits that good haberdashers tailor–just measure, cut, then sew.

I should have been born a yuppie–loafing in boat shoes sans any hosiery. No athletic or diabetic socks, support hosiery, stockings or peds in them just my smelly feet. Seriously, I like to walk bare-footed. I hate footwear including flip flops. My doctor scolds me all too frequently on my shedding of slippers and shoes. It’s hard feeling either sexy or pretty in heavy orthopedics with laces. Too bad some manufacturer doesn’t design attractive sandals that protect the foot.

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Because someone I know was planning to get married, I was looking for a little something to acknowledge the occasion. In looking through wedding accessories, I found the ultimate thing: The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to Wedding Etiquette. The book gave contemporary advice for today’s bridal party. I bought one and was about to send it when I received a telephone call notifying me that the wedding was off.

Hmm, maybe I should have selected some other title. “Know Yourself” would have been good. “Know Your Real Mate” would have been better. Couples shouldn’t rush to get married for any reason. It’s liable to bring a lifetime of regrets.

I love Andrew Lloyd Weber. His play Cats touched my heart. Its characters like Rum Tum Tugger and Jellicles came straight out of Old Possum Elliot but better because they sang, danced, and really were bigger than life. His Phantom of the Opera stirred my imagination. Twenty years after seeing it the first time, I am still hoping for a quality sequel. I would like to see some other production of his.

Since television and I have been acquainted for more than three generations, I cannot remember the first one I saw on television. I have to say the same about films. I do vividly remember my first Broadway musical though. It was Fiorello back in 1960. Since a half century has passed, you can guess just how much I thrilled at my first real theater experience.

Hubby has written me several IOU’s promising to get me Broadway show tickets for a show of my choosing. He just never comes through. I need some tickets. Perhaps with the tickets in hand, he’ll stop giving me excuses and take me to the Great White Way. In the event he is not so inclined, I am independent enough to hop the train, breeze over to Broadway, and enjoy myself.

This post was not been monetarily compensated however I have received an entry into a drawing in exchange for my participation. This post is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.