Reflections

Another year gone and another chapter in the book of life is closed. Didn't I just write a post about closing out a year? Every year that goes by seems to move faster and faster and time just slips away from me.

Looking in the mirror and reflecting on the past year, I haven't done anything phenomenonal but I'm not unhappy with the year either. I'm still smiling and laughing, perhaps even grew a few more laugh lines along the way. Some say they wished they didn't have them as they see them as wrinkles and a sign of aging. I see them as charachter that comes with age showing a lifetime of love and laughter. I'm not saying I haven't endured any pain through out the year, although, I wish I could. Thankfully I have escaped tragedy this year and I've even met a few more great friends. All in all, 2008 wasn't all that bad.

Tomorrow begins with a blank page and a fresh start for new goals and life in general. Let yesterday be yesterday and look forward along the path ahead of you. Don't always take the path that people expect you to follow. Take risks and try new things. Be brave, keep your chin up, and put on your knee and elbow pads during the rocky moments. Stand up and face your fears. Don't hide under the bed, because those monsters are just as scared of you as you are of them. Stay true to yourself and be who you want to be, not who someone else wants or thinks you should be. Most importantly, be happy, smile often, laugh out loud, and love with all your heart.

It's almost time to close the door....don't forget to turn out the light when you go....

Off The Bookshelf

So a few weeks ago, the craze around here was the new Twilight movie that came out. I had not even heard of this before the kids started begging me to go see it, let alone knowing there was a series of books behind it as well. Opening weekend I had agreed to take them to see a movie as long as they got their rooms cleaned (yes, sometimes bribery gets you somewhere..heh). The plan made originally was to go see High School Musical 3 (ugh...the price of being a good mom and putting up with that stuff. Just kidding!). Anyways, at last they finished their rooms and had asked to see Twilight instead. Who was I to turn down a vampire movie as opposed to a bunch of high school kids singing? Let's just say they didn't have to ask twice :)

So off to the movie we went. It really was nothing of what I expected which I posted HERE if you want to read that again..lol. Basically I was partly expecting vampires like those in 30 Days of Night. Umm..yeah. Not like that at all! Actually was almost tamer than a G rated movie compared to 30 Days of Night...sigh. However, the love story line was good.

The movie was fair enough so I thought I'd read the books. The books are always better than the movie, well in most cases anyway. So I picked up Twilight and started reading and it was a fast read and totally different than the movie, much much better! Those that told me they read the book already but hadn't watched the movie, I told them not to waste their money in the theater, wait until its out and rent it if anything. It is like night and day. The ones that didn't listen, wished they had.

Anyways, I've read Twilight and the next in the series, New Moon, and I have started the third called Eclipse and I am about half way through it, then there is the final book called Breaking Dawn. Of course it was written for teen agers so the read is mellow but still keeps you guessing and then there's the love story which I'm always a sucker for! Heh.

Somehow through these books I've been sort of drawn to vampires. Yes I know they don't really exist..sheesh! ;) I've always like the blood and gore of vampire movies and never thought about the possibilities of romanticism so it has my mind peaked.

Soooo...today I was in Barnes and Nobles and picked up a book by Laurell K. Hamilton called Guilty Pleasures. I couldn't help but read the first few chapters already even though I haven't finished Eclipse yet and I know I will enjoy this, on more of an "adult" level! *grins*

Know of any other good books...about vampires, of course? Jot me a note and let me know :)

Merry Christmas - A Day Late

Well they do say "better late than never", hm? I'm only a day late..hehe! So MERRY CHRISTMAS!! I hope all of you had a fabulous Christmas (if you celebrate), and if not, I hope you had a fantastic day! :)

I had a really good Christmas except for the fact that I was so sick on Christmas Eve I didn't get to go to dinner. Thankfully on Christmas I felt much better, or at least well enough to function.

I can without a doubt say this will be one of the most memorable Christmas' ever, for a few reasons. One of which I will tell you about.

My Sister in Law and her husband came over for breakfast on Christmas morn. They also have a little girl who just turned one in November. I'm sure you've heard me talk about her....hehe! She was the one who made me an Aunt for the first time and I was so excited and I love that little girl with all my heart!

So I was in the kitchen making french toast and they had been sleeping downstairs and were just waking up so I hadn't seen her yet that morning. Her mom brought her to the doorway near the kitchen and set her down and she toddled into the kitchen. Of course I was elated to see her so I got all excited and said "good morning Maddie!!". She grinned from ear to ear at me. I happened to notice that she was wearing a t-shirt over her pajamas and didn't really think about it and went back to flipping the french toast. I looked back over to her and actually read her shirt which said "Big Sister". Mind you, she is an only child so I said, "Maddie, you're not a big sister, why are you......SHUT UP!!!!" (yes, I screamed "shut up!"...LOL) I don't remember how I got over to my Sister In Law but I was hugging her tight and crying because it had just clicked in as to why she was wearing a big sister t-shirt. It was because mom was preggo again!! Eeeeeppppssss! OMG I cannot even explain how excited I was, and still am. It was the best Christmas surprise by far! Of course mom was happy about my reaction as they had did the same thing at dinner Christmas Eve and it was barely noticed. I think I made up for their excitement too...*giggles*!

This is Maddie in her cute little jammies and t-shirt. Poor thing still looks tired...lol. I couldn't get her to smile for me but she is still a little angel!

Lovemaster and Machine Guns!

Eeeks! It's been 10 days since I've been here last! Apparently I haven't had anything good to say, or it could be that I'm just too lazy to write! :)

I was talking with a dear friend the other night about dancing and one liners and he told me about a comedian, Craig Shoemaker. At the time he had just quoted a few of his lines and they made me laugh and then he shared a link. We were in conversation at the time so I saved the link to watch later. I don't know if I was just in a goofy mood or what, but OMG this man made me laugh so hard my daughter says, "MOM...breathe!! Breathe!!". I hadn't laughed that much in a very long time!! So a big thank you goes out to my friend for sharing....THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Yes, of course I'm going to share. There are only a few out there, but these two were my most favorite, the second link being the one he shared with me :)

Unfortunately it will not allow me to embed this video as it has been disabled, but please follow the links to the videos. I assure you that you will laugh at least once!

Craig Shoemaker - Machine Guns
Craig Shoemaker - The Lovemaster Cometh

Enjoy! :)

Random Stuffs :)

If this isn't one of the cutest things I have ever seen!! I want's hims..... :)

Everyone needs a Santa Puppy!! Want!

**Holds out heart**

Just too damn cute :)

Self Discovery

I see it all the time. People who put up these walls of defense to protect themselves from getting hurt by others. They refuse to get close to anyone, they are usually loners. Never in a million years would I have categorized myself there. I love people. I love interacting and making people smile and laugh. Knowing I made someone happy puts me on top of the world.

I've come into a harsh reality that I do fall into this very lonely group of people. I warm up to people really fast because I truly do enjoy people. I love to learn differences, quirks, likes and dislikes about music, movies, books...everything. It's especially enjoyable when I find similarities between us.

Then as I get closer I begin to question things. I don't have enough confidence in myself to understand why this wonderful person has any interest in me. That sooner or later they will realize I'm not worth the attention and leave. So the questioning and my insecurities slowly push them away until one day they are just gone. Of course, during the "phase out" I blame them, even though it has nothing to do with them. In the end, I blame myself, always, and apologize up and down. Hoping to get another chance. Too late.

I tell myself they are better off with out me and they will be happier. Meanwhile, I have a gaping hole in my heart from the loss. That feeling like you can't breathe, that you've lost a part of yourself, and wonder if you will ever feel happy again. After the damage is done, I realized that I was wrong. Those very people that I pushed away, I needed. Had they not thought I was worth it, they never would have bothered in the first place. Unfortunately, all realized too late.

What I do realize is that I don't want to be in that group of people anymore. It's lonely. It's depressing and horrible. Even though I wear my heart on my sleeve, and doing so is always prone to heart ache, the process of protection isn't worth the pain it causes to those that befriend me, to those I deeply care about.

Why is it so difficult for me to believe that I am a likeable person? I don't know. If I could answer that, I wouldn't be writing this post, which I'm hesitant to actually publish, for obvious reasons. I don't even think its about that. If I didn't think I was likeable, I wouldn't put myself out there at all. I would completely hide and not even interject with people. I think its fear of rejection. Perhaps I know that it's fear of rejection. If I push away first, maybe it won't hurt as much. Pain is pain, whether it be now or later. I don't want to be alone. I need to be able to enjoy the moment and see where it goes instead of presuming what may happen.

I will work at this. I will stop from second guessing. I will stop pushing. I will.....for me, and for you. Whoever "you" may be.....

Happy Turtle!!

It's no secret that I love turtles, and everytime I see this image I grin from ear to ear! This turtle has an incredibly happy look on her face, and I can totally relate! :)

Waking Up

"Time passes. Even when it seems impossible. Even when each tick of the second hand aches like the pulse of blood behind a bruise. It passes unevenly, in strange lurches and dragging lulls, but pass it does. Even for me."

The Finish Line

It's the last day of November and this is my 30th post in 30 days!! I can honestly say that I did enjoy it and I still wonder where it all came from. Most days I would have no idea on what to write about and when it came time to sit down and browse around my normal sites, something would always hit me.

Even though I enjoyed it, I do know that I wouldn't want to do this every month. After a while I think that it would become more of a job to write in my blog than the very purpose of why I even keep a blog to begin with. I keep this up so I always have a place to come and write about whatever I want to write about (well, almost anything) and to share things I discover with those that take the time to read my blog (thank you!!)

So for now, I will end a great month of NaBloPoMo with a great song by Snow Patrol called The Finish Line with the Dr. Who series incorporated. I have so many shows to watch yet to be caught up to the final season of Dr. Who, but I'm getting there, and enjoying every minute of it!

A Lost Art

I remember back when I was in school how letter writing was an everyday task for me and my friends. We would pass notes all day long and then go home, do our homework and then write more letters. So, I've been out of school for quite some time now and times have changed, dramatically. I wonder if letter writing even exists in the current generation, with email and text messaging. I'm just as guilty. It's so much easier to just turn on the computer and bring up the email account and type a letter. Lord knows I can type a hundred times faster than I can write, and you can "read" my emails. My writing, well, its legible as long as I don't write fast.

So, tomorrow I will sit down and actually hand write a letter. I'm going to use a pretty colored pen and I'm going to enjoy it!! :) I'm also going to sit my daughter down with me to write one as well. I think it's an exercise that we should all practice once in a while and perhaps bring back the lost art of letter writing, by hand!

If you really want to touch someone, send them a letter!

Hmm...

I really don't have anything to say today. Shocking, I know! :) Partly because I've been out and about the last two days and its been nice not having my nose stuck in the computer, which also means I haven't been able to dig into my book as much as I'd like to. I'm reading Twilight since I watched the movie and enjoyed it. I must say the book is much better than the movie!! I'm just over half way though and hope to start the second book, New Moon, by the end of the weekend!

So, I will leave you with a little something to think about. Perhaps we should all have these things in our daily appointment books, and to make sure we KEEP those appointments! :)

Give Thanks!

Today is a day for giving thanks for those things, and more importantly, those people, that are special in your life. We live in a country where we have so many things to be thankful for. I hope that you've taken the chance to sit back and realize the goodness of your life. Remember your past and the paths you have taken, the friends you have met, the choices you have made. Be thankful that you have made it to where you are. Be thankful for who you are and who you've become.

"I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

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He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

I was browsing through some photo art and I came across this dainty picture that made me smile instantly. I'm sure we can all recall playing the "he loves me, he loves me not" game as young girls, and perhaps, even so as older girls, too!

And for a moment, I understand that I have friends on this lonely path; that sometimes your place is not something you find, but something you have when you need it. — Libba Bray

A Short Love Story That Lasts A Lifetime

It's no secret that I am a sucker for a love story, or twelve! This love story is no exception. In a matter of seconds the artist captures your heart and keeps it until the very end. It begins with white birds flying over house tops and then invites you into a small school room where a young girl is dreaming and drawing, with a young man holding her interest. She smiles at him and he smiles back at her. The story then flows into their courtship, marriage, their first child....then the couple as they are old and gray, still sharing their life together and reminiscing about their younger years together.

Yes, I have tears dabbling down my face by now. It's just a touching story with amazing art and creativity and an amazing musical background to boot! Have a look for yourself, even if you're not a sucker for a love story, at least watch it for the appreciation of the art. You can go HERE to read up on a bit more of the making of this sweet story.

I had seen this a few months back, had saved it with all intent to blog it, but sadly had forgotten about it until I read another blog. Of course, another Twitter friend, @genart is the owner of this blog, so a BIG thank you goes out to her for tweaking my brain to remember to post this video. Please, if you have a chance, visit her blog called Spit Happens. She is an amazing digital artist and her work is breath taking. It is like reading a good book, you just keep flipping the pages to take in more and when you get to the end, you're disappointed there's no more to look at! My absolute favorite is found HERE. Lost in a fairytale, a dreamer, a lover, in a beautiful land....If I could order that and have it framed......

If You Forget Me

If You Forget Me by Pablo Neruda

I want you to know
one thing.

You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.

But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine

Just My Luck

Wow! This made me laugh out loud! This guy was supposed to just go off on his merry way and he puts the car in reverse instead of drive and backs up...right up ON the police car!! WTF?? Was he seriously that nervous that he kind of forgot what he was doing?? Maybe he was just having one of those kinds of days....heh.

Keep this video in mind the next time YOU get pulled over. Make sure when you leave, you put your car in Drive, not reverse!! :D

Twilight

"And so the lion fell in love with the lamb." ~ Edward to Bella - Twilight

I took the kids to see Twilight tonight and I must say it was pretty good! It wasn't jaw dropping, hold your breath kind of good, but just the same, good. A lot of reviewers said it is a chick flick, and I would agree. It's not your typical vampire movie. Myself, I would have preferred more of a scary twist than a romantic twist, for this kind of movie, anyways. I heard "vampire movie" and was expecting scary, bloody, gory parts. Not saying that there wasn't any of that at all, just I preferred more.

I did enjoy the romantic story line. A couple that were never meant to be together, fell in love. She loved him for everything he was, even though she shouldn't have. She looked past his faults and wrong doings and loved him for all that he was, unconditionally. He tried to do the right thing and push her away knowing that they could never really be together, but she pushed and was determined in love not to lose him because of what others thought couldn't be.

I don't want to say too much more as you should see it for yourself, but it's a movie that I would watch again and I think that it will be the next book I read. The books are almost always better than the movie.

One of my favorite songs played in this movie....Linkin Park - Leave Out All The Rest

Ease is everything..

Wow, I've really seen it all now. I was on twitter today talking about how I suck at flipping pancakes and someone commented about me reminding them to make their batter blasters in the morning. I had never heard of this, so he enlightened me and I'm still up in the air about this new way of pancake making.

It's pancake batter in a pressurized can, like the EZ Cheese cans, where you press the tip and the stuff comes out (no dirty mind here please...lol). It's interesting, but at the same time its like...what?! I think its goofy to watch and I have no idea how they taste, but hope to get a report from my fellow Twitter friend, @shpef.

Proud Mum

I have always prided myself on the fact that my kids are kind, generous, well behaved, respectful, polite, intelligent, and all around well balanced children. Yes I am bragging a bit here, but I do feel that I, as a parent, have a lot to do with how my children have grown up to be the little people that they have already become. I can only hope that what I have taught them, they hold on to and as they grow, that they continue to make good choices, and be caring to all.

I had conferences for each of my kids tonight and I am so proud. Both of them are doing very well, excelling in reading and math. Their teachers had nothing but good things to say about each of them and complimented on how personable they are.

Even with all that, they still have their moments where kids will be kids and mum hast to set things straight, especially when it comes to sibling rivalry! Hence the below photo :)

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Wheeee!

Ok, so it's been a few days since I've written anything actually worth reading and one of these days something mind blowing will hit me and I will definitely share it. Until then, watch this funny kitty take a ride on a roomba :) I wonder if cats can get dizzy as I suspect this one would quite often!

Croiky! Iz A Croc!

I couldn't help myself. I was checking out LOLCats today, and they had a TURTLE picture from the other day!!! I love me turtles...*soft smile*...

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And I had to share this one too...cuz it made me giggle at the mental picture :)

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Smiles and Laughter

"Smile! It makes people wonder what you're up to." My grandma had a plaque hanging in her house that stated this. It always made me smile, and it still does, even though my grandma is no longer with me. My grandma had a sense of humor as she had this plaque hanging in her bathroom. Still makes me chuckle.

I speak of smiling and laughter because today was a rough day at work. I don't want to sit here and complain about it because, for one, it won't do me a bit of good, and two, because I am thankful I have a job and I know there are people that have it so much worse than I do.

So instead, what better way to wash away the stresses of the day than with smiles and laughter?

Be careful with that fermented fruit :)


Don't ask my why, but this makes me giggle EVERY time!

And of course...Simon's Cat - TV Dinner!

Love Rocks

I saw this commercial play today and I was enamored by it. I even rewound it and watched it again. I smiled and my eyes welled up with tears.

I love romance whether it be in a movie, in a book, or witnessed in real life. It's a special connection between two people, sometimes bold such as in the commercial and sometimes very subtle. It always warms my heart when I see it. I only wish I personally experienced it more in my own life....

I love thee, I love but thee
With a love that shall not die
Till the sun grows cold
And the stars grow old.
~ by Willam Shakespeare ~

Be The Rock!

We go through life and think and feel that many things are impossible to do. In many cases, if you just put your heart, mind, and soul to it, anything is possible. Sometimes, you just gotta be the rock and you will make it anywhere you want to go!

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Somedays...

Puppy Love

Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies. ~~Gene Hill

I can't help it. I'm addicted to these wee little ones! I've been watching them now for about two weeks and I giggle and smile everytime I take a peek at them. Have a look and I bet you go back for more :)

Streaming Video by Ustream.TV

Sweet as Sugarland

I was watching the 2008 Country Music Awards (CMA) tonight and was glad to see that Sugarland had a couple of awards up for grabs. Jennifer Nettles is a beautiful woman and has a brilliant voice that's uniuqe and touches the heart. Then there is Kristian Bush who plays guitar and sings back up. Together they are a fantastic duo.

Her song/video "Stay" won Song of the Year this year and it doesn't surprise me one bit. Every time I watch this video, tears well up. You can't help but feel what she is feeling and know just where she's coming from. Perhaps because she is so expressive, perhaps from personal experience...it's a very emotional song.

Sugarland - Stay

The other award that she and Kristian won was for Vocal Duo of the Year with Already Gone. Have a looksie and see if you like this one too :)

Sugarland - Already Gone

A Time To Remember...

I just want to take a moment to stop and think about what today means. Something that should be thought about everyday, not just one day out of the year. A chance to thank all the men and women who put their lives on the line to fight for a country they love and for what they believe in. Our freedom comes at a great cost, and to those that fight for it, we are greatly indebted.

Thank you, to those that have fought in the past, that are fighting now, and those that will fight in the future. Thank you for standing up for what you believe in and for standing behind your country at all costs.

Be true to yourselves, stand proud, and come home safe......

Very Special Christmas

Christmas, you ask?  Yup!  Can you believe it's really just around the corner already? Time flies when you're having fun!  

Ok, so Christmas and why am I already posting about it.....

I received an email today that I was very excited about!  Jeff Dunham is coming out with a new DVD on November 18th called Jeff Dunham's Very Special Christmas!!!  Yahh!!  If you have never seen Jeff Dunham, you are missing out.  I remember the very first time I heard of him and when I was told he was a ventriloquist I wasn't the least bit interested.  Most of the time ventriloquists are boring but the first time I watched Jeff, I nearly peed my pants!  (yes I just publicly admitted that!!) 

Even more exciting is that they are going to be premiering it on Comedy Central on November 16th (Sunday) at 9PM.  I actually checked my guide and it says it's playing at 8 and 9 Central Time, but check yours to be sure :)  

Here's a clip from the show to tide you over until then :)

Jeff Dunham's Road Kill Christmas Pop-Up Video

Perfect Timing

It never ceases to amaze me how certain things hit you when you least expect it, and today was no exception.  I had been watching football, the Packers vs. Viking game, and after a near win I was disappointed at the final field goal shot being missed.  So I was pouting and sulking and flipped the channel to USA and starting watching one of my favorite movies, National Treasure.  During one of the commercial series they played a Trident commercial that I had not seen in probably two years or so, but upon seeing it, it made me laugh all over again.  Granted, the commercial is not terribly funny, but it is to me and I can laugh now just thinking about it, because it brought back a memory of my mom.  

I remember that I had called my mom one day and we were talking and for some reason we were both in a really good mood and found everything funny.  You know those times?  Where you are just plain silly for whatever reason?  Yeah....those are the best.  So during the conversation this commercial played and I had been watching it and started laughing so hard I had tears running down my face.  For some reason it just struck me really funny, probably because of the mood.  Of course my mom was clueless as she had not seen it but was laughing just as hard with me, just because I was laughing.  Once I caught my breath and could muster a word or two I tried to explain the commercial to her but could barely explain it because I could not stop laughing.   At that point, the actual commercial or what it was about was a mute point. We just laughed at laughing.  

I smile and remember how my face was wet with tears, my cheeks hurt from smiling and my stomach hurt from laughing so hard.  

Funny how a silly little commercial about a squirrel can mean so much to me.  More than I can put into words.  

I'll Keep Your Memory Vague

"No matter how long we exist, we have our memories. Points in time which time itself cannot erase. Suffering may distort my backward glances, but even to suffering, some memories will yield nothing of their beauty or their splendor. Rather they remain as hard as gems."
~~Anne Rice~~

The house was really quiet at one point in the day today. It was actually really nice to be able to sit in silence, or near silence. The house is always so full of hustle and bustle, it's a rare occasion that I can just sit, close my eyes and hear nothing but the wind out doors.

It's times like these that give you the opportunity to think about things present and past. Today I thought about the past, about where I came from, the people I have met along the way to where I am today. I could smile and think about friends I had in school, in the jobs that I have had, in life experiences, and even on-line. Yet at the same time I could frown when I thought about how I don't have contact with most of those people anymore.

I moved so much as a kid, it was hard to establish a steadfast friendship, let alone carry it with you. I didn't really stop moving until I was in the 7th grade, so those friends are the ones that I remember the most. Again, with life changes, even some of those have been lost.

I have wonderful friends now and I can't imagine my life with out them, but the ones that I have lost contact with or the ones that have went in a different direction...I miss them. I miss them a lot.

People will always come into our life. Some will stay forever and some only a short time. No matter how long or short of a journey you have with them, the memories will forever remain, etched on your heart. I'm thankful for that and I'm thankful for a lifetime of memories....and those yet to come.

Even though this video is about a break up, it fits into this post. We've all been through it. We all have memories that we try and tell ourselves to forget, but they stay with us. The only reason we try and convince ourselves to forget is to try and lessen the pain. I don't think it works and I don't want to forget.

Sensory Overload

Wow!  I just happened to run across this video on You Tube today and I've watched it like ten times!  Each time wishing I could have been amongst the fans at the live show at the Milton Keynes National Bowl!  

November 25th is the magic date for the CD/DVD release that will be in my collection that day!  I can't wait to see the entire DVD!!!!  If you enjoy Linkin Park, have a look and you'll see what I mean by sensory overload!  My heart gets pumping just watching it :)

Feelin' Lucky?

So we all have those days where we just want to go crawl into our shell, get our job done and go home with out all the crap in between. That was my day today. I don't know why, really, because even though it's work, I usually try and have a good time with my work buddies. Today was different though. I didn't want that camaraderie or chit chat time. I just wanted to get my work done and go home. I think the main reason was that I had a headache from hell today. After taking 3 Aleve it finally subsided, somewhat. I think I must have had the same look on my face as the pup below has on his face, as everyone pretty much left me alone today...lol. Tomorrow will be a better day and I will be back to my normal chit chatty self, or my friends hope so anyway :)

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Got Sticky Notes?

A friend of mine shared this video with me a while back. The first thing I thought was that I wanted to blog it to share it with my readers. He said it had made it's way around the block for the most part, but I had not seen it and thought it was pretty neat. So I'm gonna share it anyway, because I think it's that cool and if I had that many post it notes to play with, I'd give it a go. Anyone wanna pitch in? *lol*

Anyways, if you haven't seen this before, enjoy. If you have seen it already, watch it again because it's fun to watch and its just plain awesome!

EepyBird's Sticky Note experiment from Eepybird on Vimeo.

Election Day '08

I hesitate in even thinking of writing a post about today and the events taking place but here goes nothing.....

I hate presidential election years. I just get so irritated and frustrated with everything that goes on. Don't get me wrong, this "event" is very important and I am in no way trying to say it's not, I just get tired of all the crap that goes along with it. I get tired of feeling like I have to remain "in the closet" about my political choices because no matter where you go or who you talk to, you feel like you are gonna get ripped up one side and down the other because people do not agree with you. Yes, everyone has a right to their opinion but does it have to be so brutal?

You have, in this case, two men who feel that they are up to the job of running the country. Wow. I mean, really, how many people feel that they are up for that? Apparently not many, out of millions and millions of people. Yet those that feel they are up for the duty, put themselves out there along with their family. They get slandered and berated and drug through the mud because they want to help make a difference in this country. It's depressing to watch as the election moves along, the things that are dug up about each man. That "we the people" think that is what we have to do to get ahead in this world, to get what we want, to get the man who we feel is best, a spot in the Oval Office. It's nauseating, actually.

We have two men. Each of whom have their good and their bad. No matter who gets the presidency, there are going to be mistakes made and poor decisions, along with many, many good ones. Even the man you want to "win" who gets in office will make decisions that you don't agree with. Even the man you don't want to be in office that obtains the title, will make important decisions that you agree with.

It's part of life, of the ebb and flow of things. It's just so frustrating that it has to be so bloody.

So that's my take on it. My selection will remain a secret. Best of luck to whom ever becomes our next President. If you don't like it, maybe next time YOU should run for President :)

Simple Man

It's no secret to those that know me how important my music is to me (and my sanity) so I am always listening and searching for new songs and artists that I enjoy. Of course in doing so, you come across music that isn't your cup of tea but when you find something you really like, it's worth it.

A few months ago I came across a group called Shinedown while I was poking around Last.fm. I gave them a listen and I was immediately hooked. Brent Smith has an amazing voice and it is so unique. I suppose that is one of the reasons why I like them so much.

The song that I first heard was called Simple Man, which Shinedown did as a cover to Lynyrd Skynyrd. It's an emotional song about a mother telling her only son about life and growing up. She tells him not to hurry though life, that troubles will be endured and overcome. She tells him he will find love and to love himself, and if he gets lost along the way, to follow his heart. She tells him to be a simple man, and most of all to be satisfied.

The words are simple, yet powerful. They ring true to the heart and everytime I hear it, it brings me back down to reality. Its sort of my "bring me back home" song. We all rush through life like we have to get to the finish line first, when we really just need to stop, or at least slow down, and enjoy the things IN our life. We don't have to make things so complicated for ourselves. We all have to remember that trouble will find us, but those same troubles will be dealt with one step at a time and become a thing of the past. The most important, and most difficult for me of all these things, is to be satisfied. Be satisifed with yourself and what you have become and what you will be in the future. Take pride in who you are and love yourself. Don't dwell on the wrongs you have done, but think about what you can do now to keep things right. Cherish your family and friends because they will be the ones that will always be there for your highest highs and your lowest lows. Just....be....happy........

Shinedown - Simple Man


Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man

Meet Fyre

On September 20th my son had an outing for Cub Scouts that had activities of every kind. They had stations where you could shoot a BB gun, shoot an bow and arrow, wall climbing, and some craft stations, amongst a few other things to keep all the boys busy, parents too! Alongside the "mess hall" they had displays of animal skins and information about them, as well as displays of trapping, hunting, and fishing. The other thing that they had in the mess hall was a gentleman who had 2 corn snakes and 1 king snake with him. The kids were allowed to hold them if they wanted to. They were very young, 6 months if I remember correctly, so they were quite small. My kids were instantly attracted to that display and I think we spent the most time there. I have to admit that I could have stayed there a bit longer too. It was a great station as the kids and I asked a lot of questions about them and the gent was very knowledgeable. I remember laughing because he said to the kids, "When I was a kid, my mom wouldn't let me have even one snake, so now I'm making up for it and I have a whole bunch!" After this statement he looked right at me as though it was a bit of a warning...lol! Needless to say, you can imagine the next questions that were posed. Funny thing is that I think I thought about getting a snake before the kids did!

I did a bit of research online, visited a few local pet stores to see what was available. I wouldn't recommend getting any kind of exotic pet from a pet store unless it's one that specialize in them. They just don't know enough about them nor did I feel the care was adequate.

I located a breeder about an hour north of me and I called him up made an appointment to go see what he had to offer as well as to see his set up. He had so many different things from snakes to lizards, turtles (I so wanted to take one home!!), he even had a bird eating spider (yes you read that right)! He pulled the container out and I almost ran up the stairs and out the door. HUGE!! **shivers** Anyways, we were fascinated with his stock and out of pure curiosity, asked him questions about each animal and he had an answer for each one. We finally got around to seeing the corn snakes he had and decided on one of the younger ones. My daughter wanted a female and chose a really sweet girl.

So on September 25th we brought home Fyre (sounds like fire). She is so tiny and the cutest thing. The kids love her, as do I. Especially my daughter. She takes her out just about every night and loves it when she tries to slither on her face and into her hair. She giggles every time!

Without further adu, I give you Fyre....isn't she cute?

One Year Later

A year ago today, was the worst day of my entire life. (blog post) A year ago today, my dad was telling me that my mother had been in a car accident and didn't survive. I remember it as though it was yesterday. I remember calling my dad after a message had been left knowing something was wrong, but never in a million years did I ever think I would have heard the news that I heard that night. The pain is still so fresh when I think of it, which is often. Not a day goes by that I don't think of my mom and miss her terribly. Not a day goes by where I don't feel that knot of sickness in my stomach, that feeling that it just can't be real, that she just cannot be gone, not forever.

She was so young. At 49 she had an entire life ahead of her. The worst part, it was unexpected. It just happened. She was here one day, and gone the next. No warning. No time for a goodbye. No preparation for the loss...she was just...gone. I didn't get to say goodbye. I didn't get to tell her that I loved her one last time. I didn't get to give her a hug and tell her everything would be ok.

I miss her so much. Today was a hard day. Emotionally draining. I don't think it will ever get easier. I can move on, take each day one at a time, put one foot in front of the other, but the pain of missing my mom will never lessen.....never.

Mom, I told you every time I saw you, or spoke to you, but I love you so much.....

"Does the sun shine up at you when you're looking down? Do you get along with the others around ...."

Happy Halloween!

Just a quick note to wish everyone a Happy Halloween! I hope your day, and night, was filled with lots and lots of sweet treats, and even a few tricks!!

I wanted to share a couple of comics that I found as I was poking around. They made me laugh, I hope the do the same for you :)

Bizarre Foods Surprise

Things have a funny way of happening, it seems, and in this case it is definitely a good thing.

I'm sure you've heard me talk about Twitter before and how much I enjoy it (most of the time) and how many fantastic people I've met along the way. Well one more good thing came out of Twitter for me! Woo Hoo! Let me tell you....

A few days ago I posted about the show called Bizarre Foods and the Halloween special that was on (I hoped you watched it because it was GOOD!). Anyways, a month or so ago I found Bizarre Foods on Twitter (@BizarreFoods) and followed them. Low and behold, they actually followed me back which surprised me because usually you get lost in the mix of rush of other followers. So upon the follow back I sent an @ message to them about a previous episode. Another surprise is that they actually research that kind of thing. They saw that I tweeted about Bizarre Foods, looked at my profile, obtained my blog address, which let to my email address and one of the Travel Channels online team member emailed me (on 10/18/08) about the show and offering to add me to be on the emailing list, but it was very personalized, which was great! Another thing in the email (yes, I'm getting to the Woo Hoo part...lol) spoke of getting free stuff such as an autographed photo of Andrew, a DVD or perhaps some edible crickets..mmm! All I had to do was send my address and see what happened. Honestly, I sent my address to her but wasn't going to hold my breath that I would actually get anything.

Can you believe that today, 10 days after the email, I got all THREE items!!?? The autographed photo, the edible crickets (no, I am NOT going to eat them) and the DVD Collection 1, which is the first season!! Wow! How cool is that?

Not only is the show awesome, but so are the ones behind it. I am very impressed and very happy!!! Thank you so much Travel Channel/Bizarre Foods!!!

November

I can't believe that November is fast approaching us. Amazing how an entire year can whiz by you and leave you thinking as to where all that time went to. A year full of memories to tuck away...

A year ago I was planning to do NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) for the very first time. I had started an outline and was getting excited to start a new adventure into writing. November 1st was the day to begin that adventure, but a tragedy happened and I just didn't have it in me to do it.

My plans were to get through the year and try again. As November approaches, I just don't think I will have the time to commit to such a big endeavor. I'm not saying I will never do it, because I will, because I want to, it just won't be this year.

So instead of dismissing it completely, I'm going to participate in something else a bit more manageable at this time. Its called NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month). For the month of November I will write a blog post each day. That's it. There's no magic number of words or storyline to follow, just a post a day for the entire month of November. From what I can see, it's done more than just in November and perhaps they have themed months as well for variety. This will be a manageable task for me and I encourage you to do the same.

Who knows, maybe I'll stick a short story or two in during the month :)

Bizarre Foods

I was introduced to Bizarre Foods on the Travel Channel a few months ago and immediately loved it. It's one of those shows that causes a reaction from its audience every time. Sometimes you laugh and point at the T.V. saying "OMG", or you have to cover your eyes saying "why oh why would anyone eat that?", and other times you want to "lose your cookies".

I love the show because every time it is a new adventure into a new culture. It's not just entertaining, but educational. You learn about the country and it's people, their cultures, beliefs, and traditions. Along with all that, you get to see Andrew explore the most bizarre foods of the world and laugh at him along the way, too. Yes, I said "laugh at" him. He has quite the personality and isn't afraid to jest in regards to himself or where he is visiting. It is definitely an entertaining show and I encourage you to watch it, even with the "gross out effect" (which of course is the absolute best part)!

This Tuesday (October 21st) he is doing a Halloween special that is sure to be extra creepy and gross! Check out the below clip and you will see just a wee bit of what I am talking about!

Enjoy.....mmmmm :)

Memories Matter...

I had to get up early this morning (well, early for me) so I stopped and got myself a treat on the way to work. A venti white chocolate mocha at Starbucks. Mmmmm...

I don't usually pay too much attention to the cups, but today I did, and I am glad because it made me think, and it made me smile. I will definitely pay more attention to my Starbucks cups from now on! Here is what it said...

The Way I See It #292

The way we get to live forever is
through memories stored in the
hearts and souls of those whose
lives we touch. That's our soul
print. It's our comfort, our
emotional nourishment and at the end
of the day and the end of a life.
How wonderful that they are called
up at will and savored randomly.
It seems to me we should spend our
lives in a conscious state of
creating these meaningful moments
that live on. Memories matter.

~~Leeza Gibbons~~

Changing Seasons...

Living in the mid-west with the changing seasons, it seems I'm always asked which of the seasons is my favorite. I love them all of course, but I do have my favorites and I can't imagine living anywhere that I could not enjoy all four, as I do now.

I love winter (yes, even winter) because it's a time of year where its difficult to explain the beauty of the first snow fall of the season. Where the trees are outlined with snow covered branches. The ground and roads are blanketed with the purest of white, and when the sun shines on it, it sparkles like diamonds. That first snow where everyone smiles and can't wait to go play in it, whether it be to make snow angels, build a snowman, and of course, that first snowball fight of the year! As you come in from the cold, you make hot cocoa and sip it sitting next to the fire. Yes, that is what I love about winter.

Spring would have to be my second favorite season because I love it just as the weather starts to warm up and the trees are budding, the tulips, crocus', and daffodils are blooming, the first Robin sighting and the days when you can go outside in just your t-shirt even though its only 50 some degrees. After a long winter, it feels so nice to feel the warm breeze and the sun on your face. Yes, spring is a delight.

Summer is full of fun. The trees are full of bright green leaves, the grass is fresh and soft against bare feet, the birds are all around again chirping and making a mess by the bird feeders. The neighborhood is full of children laughing and playing and you can even hear the ice cream truck coming around. You have your warm sunny days to go swimming and long walks along a beach, vacations to see friends and long bike rides. The summer is full of opportunity just waiting to be grabbed up. I think summer is the most fun of the seasons.

Autumn is my favorite season, by far. Days like today where its nearly 60 degrees, the sun is shining and there is just a slight breeze. The trees have all changed from their bright greens to reds, oranges, yellows, and browns and eventually finding their way to the ground as they fall off the branches. The days where the air is just crisp enough for you to wear a sweater and perhaps a scarf just to keep that chill away. Long walks through a nature center, leaves crunching beneath your feet, the smell of the dried leaves. Then there are the visits to the pumpkin patch to get those perfect pumpkins for carving and to get ready for the trick-or-treaters. You have your bonfires, hay rides and of course, haunted houses! My favorite part of Halloween is answering the door to hand out the candy and see all the little ones all dressed up and proud. I love how they giggle when I pretend to be scared or tell them how pretty they look. Yes, autumn is definitely my favorite season.

See what I mean? How could you not live in a place that is so diverse? A place that touches your senses in so many ways, and differently, depending on the time of the year. I wouldn't want it any other way!

In honor of autumn, I leave you with one of my favorite videos by A Fine Frenzy called Come On Come Out, and of course, it takes place during my favorite time of the year. Relax and enjoy : )

For the love of the game...

Baseball. Still a great american past time.

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend game two of the NLDS with the Chicago Cubs vs. LA Dodgers. I say fortunate because it was the luck of the draw that I was even able to go. Cubs.com had held a drawing. You put your name in, if you were chosen, you received an email with a password and a time for you to go to their web site and get "the chance" to get tickets. You only had one chance. The email came, along with the password and time to log into the site. Seems silly, but I was totally nervous. If I screwed up, I would have lost the chance to go. I logged in, put in the password and was put in a "waiting room" to purchase tickets. I figured at that point, it was all over, but I waited and after about 10 minutes it said it was my turn! I got the confirmation and I was going to Wrigley Field!! Yah!!

I had been to baseball games but I had never been to Wrigley and I can tell you that nothing compares. We all got off the bus and there were Cubbie fans everywhere! Everyone talking about the game and the game from the night before. There were stands all over the place selling souvenirs of all kinds, people passing out flyers, others asking if anyone was selling extra tickets. I couldn't stop smiling.

Walking into the staduim made me jump and giggle. I was so excited and I hadn't even gotten to the field yet. More vendors selling everything under the sun with the Cubs logo, music blaring, the smell of ball park food lingered. You could feel the excitement and energy and what an amazing feeling.

Walking up the stairs to the stadium was like walking in slow motion. You could see the lights but thats all you could see until you reached the very top of the stairs and then you just stopped and stared in awe. The players were on the field warming up and the fans were piling in. It was almost game time. I got to my seat and just sat and took in everything, snapped a few pictures, and waited for the game to begin.

Even though the Cubs lost the game, it was the most fun I had had in a long time. The cheering, the chants, the high-fiving of the other fans around you, the vendors selling beer, hot dogs and peanuts. When a big play happened and everyone stood from their seats at the same exact time, more high-fiving. Even the wasted guy that sat in front of me was entertaining. Oh, and then....there was, I believe, only ONE Dodger fan in the entire stadium and he was sitting right behind me. Young guy and not afraid to cheer for his team when everyone else was silent. He got a lot of shite from the fans surrounding us but he handled it quite well.

Win or lose it's all about having fun, and that I did. It's an experience that I hope I can repeat again. I didn't take as many photos as I would have liked to as I was into the game, but here are a few of my favorites =)

1 - This is the sign when you enter Wrigley Field
2 - This was the view from where I was sitting
3 - Zambrano warming up
4 - Umm..this is Soto's backside as he was stretching *blink* =)

Moving On

Tomorrow will mark eleven months since my mother passed away. It doesn't seem possible that that much time has already gone by, but I miss her every day. Some said that as time passed, it would get easier, that the pain would never go away, but it would get easier. I'm not convinced of that. My heart hurts thinking about her and everything that she is missing, or maybe what I am missing with her. Every time something exciting happens or when something goes wrong, the first thing I want to do is go tell my mom and I can't do that anymore. I don't have that confidante to go to, to laugh or cry with. I know that I have others in my life that I can go to, yet it's not the same.

The hardest thing that is happening right now is that on Friday, October 3rd, my dad is getting re-married. He loved my mom with all of his heart, and he still does. I know that for a fact. In losing my mom, he lost a part of himself and his world. They were married for 20+ years and loneliness set in. He loved and missed her, but he met someone else quite soon after. I was devastated when I learned of this and I know that it was a selfish feeling and it wasn't fair, but that is how I felt and sometimes still do. I just cannot imagine my dad with anyone but my mother. Now he is going to marry someone else.

I met her almost two months ago, and she is wonderful. She is kind and loving. She is funny and honest. There are so many things I like about her and I know why my dad fell in love with her. She makes him happy, and when all is said and done, that is what is important. Things happen in life that we cannot control, nor do we have any say over, and we have to move on in our own time.

My dad was lucky to have found love with my mom and now he's found that once again. A different kind of love, as he will never love anyone like he loved my mother. Just the same, he found something twice, where some never find it at all. I cannot begin to understand how love works, but to find love is an amazing thing, and when you find it, you should hold on to it, treasure it, and give it back two fold.

Congratulations Daddy...I wish you and she all the happiness in the world.....I love you, and I love her too!

Chantal Kreviazuk - Feels Like Home

On the bookshelf...

Life gets so unbelievably busy. It's during these times that I just want to get lost in a good book. Forget about the hustle and bustle of life for a short while, and immerse myself in a new world. I'm not looking to escape my own life, necessarily, just take a break.

I haven't been able to do this in quite a while and I thought it about time I stuck my nose back in a few books.


Before going to California, I was introduced to a new author, Piers Anthony. He has written several, and I mean several books. The series suggested to me was the Xanth series so that was where I began. Book One: A Spell for Chameleon. I must admit, when I first saw the cover, I wasn't interested. I know, I know. Don't judge a book by its cover. Right! I'm ever so glad I took a chance on this book.

In short, it's about a young lad who has to be able to demonstrate that he holds magic or he will be banished from the land of Xanth, which has been his home for nearly 25 years. His journey takes him through obstacle after obstacle, overcoming each one. Throughout the fantasy, he learns many things, things that can and should apply to our own lives. Anthony really makes you stop and think at certain points in the book, yet he is so witty at times to draw you away from the seriousness of the situation. I won't give any more of the story away, because it really is a fun read, and if you like fantasy, I highly recommend it. The book takes you through a lot of emotions: Happiness, sadness, sorrow, excitement, anxiousness....on and on. I remember being on the bus heading home from California and I was nearly finished. The woman sitting behind me leaned up and said, "That must be a really good book you have there. You keep turning those pages faster and faster". We both laughed, I agreed and stuck my nose right back in. Give it a go and let me know what you think. =)


The other book that I read was Nights In Rodanthe. A friend at work was talking to me about it and asked if I wanted to read it and that it was a fast paced book. I said sure, why not. I wasn't really excited about it because I had tried to read another Sparks book called The Wedding, and I just couldn't get into it. Well, this one was different. I started reading it on September 22nd and finished it on the 24th! I would have had it completed sooner had it not been for work...lol.

Anyways, it was a sappy love story, well written, and like my friend said, fast paced. It's your typical man and woman meet in an unusual circumstance, fall in love romance. I don't mean for my words to sound trite, as I am all for a good romance, it's just difficult to describe it with out giving away too much.

What I loved most about this book is the way Sparks portrayed how strong of a woman Adrienne is. She experienced a lot of heartache and yet, moved on and lived her life. The past was just that, the past, and she moved forward. She was able to find happiness in the midst of a terrible tragedy, learned from it, and passed it along to her daughter.

This book was not only about a wonderful romance, but truly, about learning lifes hard lessons and the choices we can make to overcome them.

Tune It Up #2

I sort of forgot about doing this, adding videos of my favorites. I have three that I'd like to share today, one being my favorite as of current and two others that I have found in using Blip.fm (you can find me there, if you click HERE).

When I first saw Blip, I rolled my eyes. I just figured it was another "Twitter" (which I love) and I didn't need something else like that. Much like Jaiku, Plurk, and a few others that I tried, they all eventually dissolved and I went back to Twitter. However, I will try almost anything at least once, try it out, and decide after that.

I've decided that I really do enjoy Blip and its not really like Twitter at all. Sure, you can converse and enjoy friends and give props and all those fun things, but I like it to become exposed to music that I've never had the pleasure of hearing before. There is so much out there waiting to be heard. I can't wait to see what else comes along for me to enjoy.

Staind - Believe (current fave)


Sia - Breathe Me

This video intrigues me. It's unique...

Mew - Special

Marbles

more animals

When I saw this posted on icanhascheezeburger, the very first thing I thought of was a favorite fairy tale of mine, Peter Pan (Lost Boys). Tootles had been one of Wendy's orphans and in the story he was now an old man who had said that he lost his marbles. The story lead you to believe that he has lost or is losing his mind or becoming senile, when all in all, in this tale, he literally did lose his marbles. The glass kind. Peter retrieved these from one of the boys in Neverland and returned them to Toodles. Upon the return, a bit of fairy dust spilled out of the bag, and he was able to return to Neverland. I hope, that when I am old and gray, and have lived a fulfilling life, that someone will return MY marbles, and I can fly off to Neverland.....