Réflexions sur la culture et les différentes cultures, Reflexion on Culture and on the different cultures (Mixture of French and English)

Crackers are typically pulled at the Christmas dinner table or at parties. In one version of the cracker tradition, the person with the larger portion of cracker empties the contents from the tube and keeps them. In another each person will have their own cracker and will keep its contents regardless of whose end they were in. Typically these contents are a coloured paper hat; a small toy, small plastic model or other trinket and a motto, a joke, a riddle or piece of trivia on a small strip of paper.^[3] The paper hats, with the appearance of crowns, are usually worn when eating Christmas dinner. The tradition of wearing festive hats is believed to date back to Roman times, and the Saturnalia celebrations, which also involved decorative headgear.^[

Cathy (Hier, à 05:26)
I've come to accept that happiness is a futile pursuit. It's an illusion we use as motivation to get up in the morning and do shit. Oh well, at least there's work. Gotta have something worthwhile I suppose. Every dog has its day? Life's a bitch and then you die.
Raymond I share your thoughts; I've come to the conclusion that good health is what we must target to lengthen our days on this planet. Bonne semaine quand même.
Cathy Indeed. Good physical, mental and emotional health are vital to long lives... It's been so long since I've had either that it amazes me that I still breathe. It all goes back to happiness. If that hope is there, we keep on trying just to spite the alternative. Many of my friends over the years have mentioned that I am strong. I'm really not. I just don't like the alternative and there was always some obstacle to overcome to keep me motivated. Now it's mountains upon mountains on top of ice. Those obstacles I can't overcome however much I would want to. In the famous words of Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon, I'm too old for this shit. I may not have the numbers, but I've got the scars to equate to it. There is not a single day that goes by that I'm not in pain. I'm writing this now because I can't sleep and it keeps my brain from wandering. This is why i stayed off fb for a while. I really don't have much in the way of positives to contribute. But since I don't really get to talk to anyone about shit like this, it has to go somewhere. Sorry for being a downer. Thanks for caring. It is appreciated.
Coly Can't argue with that. On the other hand doing new things is exciting and you have taken some huge steps that must have felt satisfying for a while.
Pieter {{hugs}} and chocolate help.
Tammy The days are getting longer & therefore more sunshine on the way. {{hugs}}
Joyce I think it's human nature to always be wanting to improve. The pursuit of happiness is ongoing I think. We attain something, then wonder why we still feel not quite fulfilled. So we just try and find a new thing to please ourselves... and the beat goes on, right BFF?
Cathy Coly, yeah but what that improved was just one part of my life, mostly things (as it should be). As I said many times in my life, I don't do the whole change thing well so it required a lot just to make those things happen. I can't put that amount of effort, will and focus into the rest that needs improvement. No amount of wishing will make my personal life suck less. Those were some of the thoughts going through my head last night as I lay there waiting for oblivion.

Pieter, you know they do.  {{{{ hugs }}}}} (just had to give you a lop-sided hug)

Tammy, I can't imagine going through another Canadian winter..... we've had a taste of real winter the last couple of days and my gawd I'd forgotten how much it sucks.

BFF, you perhaps know me best of all. I don't ask for much out of life, yet it seems I ask for too much. Goals are one thing, they distract you from the rest for a while, but when it gets dark and silent, those goals can't keep the ghosts out.

I look around and see happy, normal people going through their routines. They go to work, they pay their bills, they go on vacation....etc. They have family, husbands, wives, kids... cousins, in laws. They do things together, and it's as normal as normal can be. They all have zero idea of what it is like to have it all disappear in the blink of an eye. To one day wake up and realize that you aren't part of any of that. That it was all a big illusion. To go through the motions anyway because that's what is expected. To go to work (the only time when you're not reminded of just how bad your life sucks) and be content for a few hours. To return to an empty house that is almost exactly the way you left it (the only difference being the mess the cats make while you're gone)... It hits very hard, every single day. I'm not young anymore, I can't absorb it and keep going as if nothing was wrong anymore. And the depression is the most real thing there is in a world full of illusions.

Just some more thoughts. Ignorance is bliss.
Corrine Not cousins, in-laws or the like but as I look at the names above, and know the caring involved in the replies, I see another form of family. Although not physically there at the end of the day, always around with {{{HUGS}}}.

So, although we can't help with the physical pain you live with, know how much we care.
Robert In the pursuit of happiness, I think happiness is easy to find, it's contentment that makes it all worthwhile. It's harder to find and to attain. I think many philosophers have said this before so it's not a new concept and I take no credit for it. Nonetheless, it's sure got a ring of truth to it.
Nancy There are many positives about you so although it's natural to feel down sometimes, try to think of good in your life! Don't forget all your accomplishments, which others have alluded to and of which there are many!! If you think positively, good things will come to you!!
Coly Ever think of getting someone to share your house?
Corrine ^^^ In addition to Mary & Pippin.
Cathy Thanks guys (and gals). Life's still a bitch, but I know you care and that means a lot. I had a good evening with Jessica, AJ and the kids. Sometimes just being surrounded by people who care enough to give you hugs and share their time is enough to renew (or revitalize a little) me for a while.
Jessica (il y a 12 heures) You're very welcome. I missed you!

The twenties were the first decade to emphasize youth culture over the older generations, and the flapper sub-culture had a tremendous influence on main stream America; many new words and phrases were coined by these liberated women. Many of these are still used today!

Address: 7701 Interstate 40, Amarillo, TX 79118
Phone:(806) 372-1000
Schedule: Mondays-Sundays 08:30 – 22:30

The Big Texan Steak Ranch is a steakhouse restaurant and motel located in Amarillo, Texas, United States which opened on the previous U.S. Route 66 in the 4500 block of East Amarillo Boulevard in 1960 and moved to its present location on Interstate 40 in 1970. Fire gutted the west wing of the restaurant in 1976 and destroyed $100,000 in antiques. The restaurant reopened as a larger facility in 1977. The building is painted a bright yellow, with blue trim. A large cow statue advertises their free 72 oz. steak (see below). The now-closed Texas Tornado Museum resided off in a far corner of the parking lot on the property

3/24/08 Joey Chestnut 8:52 mins 220 24 Vellejo, CA. There is a new champ in town!

Meal consists of: Shrimp Cocktail, Baked Potato, Salad, with Roll, Butter, and of course the 72 oz. Steak

Everything is big in Texas!

3/24/08 Joey Chestnut 8:52 mins 220 24 Vellejo, CA. There is a new champ in town!

Cathy XYZ
So I managed to remote in this morning and get *some work* accomplished. Then Dave was kind enough to give me a ride in the truck to get the rest of the day in the shop. AND, I came home to a cleared driveway and walk path to my door thanks to Jessica and Michael! I don't quite know how to express the gratitude right now. But these people rocked my socks today. LOL! Thanks much!

MurielB a écrit:Hi Gérard
Is it because "refer" comes from the Latin "referre" ?

It is not true with "referee, reference, referent, referential...