I got an email from my wife today. She's started a non-profit organization to benefit needy families in the Burleson, TX area. Below follows an excerpt from that email...

I am writing to ask for your help. I have started a non-profit organization called "The HPJ GIVING TREE" to help the no/low income families in the Burleson, Texas area. I am trying to provide food, clothing and basic necessities (such as toiletries) to these families.

The Holidays are coming up and so many people need help; however, I never really understood why people only donate during the holidays, when families need to eat 365 days/year, not just on Thanksgiving or Christmas! So I am asking that you help my organization not only through the Holidays but throughout the year as well. I have a mailing list that you can sign up for on my site, so I can keep you informed of what is happening with the donations, happenings, etc.....

I am donating the monetary gifts to the needy families of Burleson (via the local Churches) and The Harvest House of Burleson - The only food pantry in this huge area. These will be monetary gifts of cash, clothes and grocery store gift cards to these families, there will be NO TOYS, as I do not believe that toys are essential necessities. Any amount that you would be able to give would be greatly appreciated, even if it is only $1.00 - they add up!

Please visit my website for further information: The HPJ Giving Tree provided by Bravenet.com (http://www.Thehpjgivingtree.org) . PLEASE PASS THIS WEBSITE ON TO YOUR FRIENDS!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!

You may make a donation using your credit card, debit card or check, OR you may send a check or money order or grocery store gift card to the following address:

The HPJ Giving Tree
c/o Sally Blessing
251 SW Wilshire, #124
Suite#517
Burleson, Texas 76028

May God Bless You,

Sally M. Blessing, Founder
The HPJ Giving Tree
hpjgivingtree@aol.com

The HPJ Giving Tree provided by Bravenet.com (http://www.Thehpjgivingtree.org)
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Thus proving that I wasn't entirely nuts for marrying her.

What does she mean toys aren't necessary?!? That's part of a child's healthy development(see, Zippy? I know big words, too!)

By the way, Glad she wants to help the poor! Can she send some of it my way?

Good for her! I wish I could help. I'm barely(meaning not even) scraping by, myself.(sigh) The worst part is that there's always someone less fortunate. I hope she can raise enough money for those needy families.

I wish I could help, too, but honestly I'd rather be helping those in my own area first. I do know that there are several clowns here from the Dallas /Ft. Worth area, so thought they might be interested. (Burleson tx is near Ft. Worth.)

She's wrong, though, about the toys not helping. I grew up the in the poorest family in my area(or so it seemed) and had nothing, really. One day, my mom asked me to make a list of everything I wanted for Christmas. Some college organization was going to go Christmas shopping for us. To everyone's shock, My brother and I got everything we asked for (we never usually asked for much-we couldn't afford it, anyway so we didn't want to hurt my parents.) It really made poverty more bearable. Looking back, it still wasn't much-not as much as LuLu's nephews get every year, that's for sure, but it seemed like a wonderful treasure to me. I still look back fondly on that Christmas. For once, I didn't feel poor.

Toys! I thought for a minute, she said no boys! Now that'd be sad!

No Matter how poor you are a child does not need the most expensive but they do need toys. A child without toys is really really sad

That bit had been nagging at me for a while, but I wasn't sure what it was until now. Thanks, folks...I've passed the general consensus to her. I advised that she could refer folks to toys4tots or pass along any toy donations she receives to them. Also suggested that if she were to remove all the toys and games from her 3 kids, she'd soon come to the conclusion that they are indeed necessities for kids. We shall see what comes of it. :)

I have now added toys to my list of donations for little children on my website. WWW.THEHPJGIVINGTREE.ORG (http://www.THEHPJGIVINGTREE.ORG)

But, please let me explain what I meant by toys are "Not Necessities"
When there is a child that has NO FOOD to eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and goes to bed hungry, Well, at least he has a toy truck???????? Does that make him less hungry???

I am just saying that Food has to come FIRST, then essentials (like tooth paste, tooth brushes, soap, toilet paper), then toys.

Didn’t mean to offend anyone, just thought that kids don’t need to be going to bed hungry, and a slinky or a game boy will not keep their little tummies from growling.

You can live without toys, but a person MUST have FOOD and WATER!
That’s all I am saying.

(I know that you all have a bad opinion of me, from Dusty’s previous posts, but I am really a nice person and without getting too personal (Like he did), There are 2 sides to every story!)

Thanks for reading!!

Sally Blessing

(I know that you all have a bad opinion of me, from Dusty’s previous posts, but I am really a nice person and without getting too personal (Like he did), There are 2 sides to every story!)

My apologies to all for inspiring the above quote. She saw a few of my older posts during the time we were in conflict and I think it just caught her off guard. I take full responsibility for posting anything that looked like wife-bashing, and probably was. I needed a place to vent where I was reasonably sure it wouldn't get back to her and exasperate the situation. Thanks for your patience with me during those times, and I assure you all that I'm no longer in need for expressing my "humor with fangs" as I did before.

She CAN be a nice person, and I never meant to imply anything to the contrary.

Dusty's Wife's Husband, Dusty B.

I think it got back to her! LOL! Don't worry, Dusty, I think most of us tend to judge people on their actions that we see, not what their soon-to-be-exes say.

Glad to hear your side, Sally. I'm sure Dusty wouldn't deliberately deceive us, but relationships tend to be shaded for every individual based on their personal feelings. Everything Dusty said was true to him at that moment. He's a really decent guy. And I'm sure you're a pretty decent woman to marry him.

Hello, Sally! I just have a few questions to ask you!


How did you end up with a clown like Dusty, anyway?


Is it winter where you are?


And, most importantly:





How many penguins fit in a bag of skittles!?!


You know don't you? I know you know! So out with it!

GROAN, Zippy! Enough with the mushy, everyone's a good person stuff! I suppose you'll say I'm a good person, next! BORING! I wanna play with those toys! Or was it boys? Either way, sounds like fun!



Did I mention I mean grown-up boys?

Thanks everyone, but Ill leave the posting to Dusty. He is a good guy and a good friend to have. I wont be posting anymore, but I can't find out how to delete my account. This is Dusty B's territory, not mine. Thanks for the laughs though!!!!

Dusty B's Wife:)

Typically, accounts around here tend not to get deleted. Instead, their user names get changed to odd things like "The Governor of Florida in 1682!"

We clowns think a little differently than the typical, average, everyday man on the street.

But there's a positive aspect of that, too. Just think.... now you get to tell others than your ex was a "real clown" and mean it. He won't even be offended!

Good luck, nd best wishes with your new endevor!
And Welcome to the forum!