It seems like each year around Christmas, I spend a good deal of time in bookstores.

Books and other fun things found in bookstores just seem to make the best gifts...

One item that I found to be a "fun read" was the book 101 Things To Do Before You're Old and Boring by Richard Horne and Helen Szirtes.

Here are some of the things they say you just have to try before you're old & gray...

Before you non-scary-movie-people get too turned off by my discussion of yet another so-called horror movie, keep reading.

This one's not really "scary"... it's more like "a supernatural thriller." AND, it's based on fact!

It's about a case in the 1970's where the Catholic church agreed to allow exorcisms, and in the end, the girl died. At which point, the Church discontinued exorcisms, only to begin offering them again later!

When I first heard about the movie "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" a couple months ago, I rolled my eyes because I figured this movie about exorcisms was probably just some sorry attempt to take a few factual accounts and try to make an Exorcist IV or something.

Then, weeks later, I saw the previews on TV. While it looked mildly scary, I was more intrigued than anything else.

Finally, I took the time to research this movie AND the person that the movie is based on (Analiese Michel, also spelled "Annelise", "Anneliese") and one thing's for sure: I HAVE to see this movie!

Okay, so what was with all the ambulances buzzing around town on Friday??? During my drive between Davidson and Williamson counties, I must've spotted a dozen or more ambulances!

None of them actually had the siren on, but it seemed everywhere I looked during my lunch hour drive I saw an ambulance motoring about.

So much so, that I felt compelled photograph those I saw on my way back to work. I wondered if I would see HALF as many as I saw on my way to lunch... I did!

(Side note: I'm not really up on this, but I appreciate the time and energy of those who are.)

I initially became aware of this massive undertaking of bloggers to help Terri Schiavo when I happened upon a Blogroll on this site.

I was impressed when I saw the sheer number of blogs participating in this grassroots effort to help Terri live.

It seems it's coming down to the wire now (or again!), and time may be running out for Terri Schiavo.

I can't help it, but ever since September 11th... and then the Iraq War... and then the Tsunami, I've felt somewhat ashamed because I've managed to escape being personally affected in any way by three of the biggest life-altering tragedies to take place in the United States in my lifetime.