How do you take your garbage?

I received this in an email today and thought I would share it. Something to think about. I'm not so good in the road rage department....*wrinkles up nose with a half smile*

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Law of the garbage truck...

One day I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded and missed the other car by just inches. The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital."

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck." He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, anger and disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it, and sometimes they'll dump it on you. "Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well and move on," he said. "Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, home or on the streets."

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so...love the people who treat you right. Have hope for the ones who don't. Life is 10 percent what you make it and 90 percent how you take it.

Have a great, garbage-free day. Enjoy your weekend.

I Wanna Talk About Me

I was tagged on Facebook to do 25 random things about me. I pretty much just copy and pasted from FB so if you've read it there, you're reading it again...lol.

I thought, hm, this could be fun. Then I sat down to think of 25 things. There are so many things that people already know about me so to think of things that people didn't already know (so I didn't bore anyone to death) I had to really think. It was kind of like pulling secrets out of a hat only I had to dig really deep!! Must have been some hat ;)

I am not going to tag anyone in the blogging world, but I definitely encourage you to do your own "25 Random Things About Me"...well...about YOU, not me...that might be weird ;)

Here goes nuthin'.....

1. I loved track and field in school, junior high, actually. Almost always placed first. High jump, long jump, and sprints were my favourites, along with relays. Now, I hate to run.

2. I have only ever purchased/owned one Barbie in my lifetime. It was just over 9 years ago when my daughter was born. The only reason I bought her was because it was a Birthday Barbie and she had red hair, like my daughter and myself. She is still in the box and worth less than what I paid for her on eBay!

3. I've sprained my left wrist twice. Once when I was like 10 playing tug-o-war. My friends decided to let go of the rope and I fell on a pile of bikes. Ironically enough, the second time I sprained it, I fell off my bike (clip-less pedals were not my friend).

4. I bought my first Meatloaf CD to impress my boyfriend (at the time) but secretly hated his music. I grew to love it and now Meatloaf is one of my favourite artists.

5. I love tattoos. When I tell people that I have them, I get the "you don't look like a girl that would have tattoo's" speech. I still don't really know what that is supposed to mean, but I have 5 tattoo's. One of which I got with one of my dearest friends and the images are identical, just "colored in" differently, and I have one more that I'm planning on getting in the next few months. :)

6. I have one brother who just turned 21. We are 11 years apart. I remember when my mom was pregnant and I wanted her to have a girl more than anything. I was with my grandma when he was born and when my mom called to tell us she had a boy, I was secretly on the other line listening in. When I heard it was a boy, I started crying. When my grandma called me in the other room to tell me the news, my tears were gone and I pretended to be happy. However, as soon as I saw him, I didn't want a sister anymore :)

7. I own a snake, a sweet corn snake that I call Fyre (sounds like fire). She was born on June 24, 2008! She is just a wee little thing right now, but she will grow to be about 3 feet long and about 2 inches 'round.

8. I used to own a Black Berry and I always said I would never get rid of it for the iPhone because I loved it that much. That was until the day I played with an iPhone. I no longer have a Black Berry, and actually do miss it sometimes. I am now an owner of an iPhone and I LOVE it! Yes, I know. Baaaaaaaaa Baaaaaaaaa....so shoot me! Wait, no. Just sheer my wool and I'll make you a cute sweater :p

9. I sleep with my contacts in. Every night. I'm not supposed to because they are not made to do so, but I do it anyway. I despise my glasses that much.

10. I am pretty much a home body. I've never been outside of the U.S. and other than Illinois, I've been to Florida, California, Nevada (Vegas), Arizona, Wisconsin (born here), Indiana, Michigan (lived here), Ohio (Sandusky Park), D.C., and South Carolina. I think that's it.

11. For a few years now, I've wanted to write a book. I've always made excuses as to why I haven't done so, like not having the time or unfortunate events happening. This year, I will begin.

12. I used to have straight hair and now I have naturally curly hair, that's naturally red :)

13. We have a Christmas tradition where every year on Christmas Eve the kids get to open two gifts each. Those two gifts are always a brand new pair of pajamas (because I wouldn't get them used ones...lol) and an ornament to put on the tree. When they are grown and move into their own homes and have their own tree, I will pass on their ornaments so they can decorate and remember years past.

14. I own every Post Secret book and it's one blog that I read religiously every Sunday and never tire of. I like the Sundays where there are more happy secrets than sad ones.

15. The mere thought of eating Taco Bell food makes my stomach churn. Although those little cinnamon twisty thingys are pretty good!

16. When I was 16 I had my wisdom teeth yanked out. The doctors names were Dr. Payne and Dr. Pannik. Can you imagine how scared I was with names like those? In the end, it really wasn't so bad, but I woke up crying. They "said" it was from the anesthesia. Hm.

17. I have never ever had a broken bone and have never been in the hospital other than to have my children. *knocks on wood*

18. I don't like writing with pens that have black ink. I prefer blue ink.

19. I have too many hobbies that I can't even keep up with. I blame my creative mind for that. I read, knit, crochet, quilt, rubber stamp and other paper crafts. I also cross stitch and do counted embroidery (I think that's what it's called). Of course, I don't do them all at once, but I dabble between them all.

20. When I eat M & M's or Skittles or any candy that has multiple colors, I have to eat the like colors together. I can't eat a red and a green one at the same time and I don't like to eat just one. Usually two at a time, unless there is only one of that color. Weird. I know!

21. My absolute favourite ice cream is Haagen-Dazs Mint Chip! Mmmmm!

22. I can't even believe I am going to share this, but it's actually funny (now). Senior Prom. A bunch of us were outside walking along the river and then decided to go back in. We had to go through revolving doors that were made entirely of glass. Just inside and to the right they were taking Prom photos. As we passed through the doors I was talking and watching those getting their pictures taken. I thought I was at the opening until I made a face...no...a body plant, right smack into the glass. Instant mortification! Everyone turned and looked and of course, started laughing! Let's just say, that event coined my "Most Embarrassing Moment" and I will NOT use revolving doors if there is another option!

23. I owend a Dodge Intrepid that I had just over a year that I ended up turning back into the dealer using the Lemon Law. I loved that car, except when I was at a stop light and it would just lurch forward while my foot was still on the break! They never did fix it, at least not while I owned it.

24. I was definitely NOT born with a green thumb. I'm suprised that my bamboo plant at work has lasted 6 years. I guess that's why they call them "lucky bamboo plants"! Ha!

..and last, but not least...

25. I fell in lust with Christian Slater when I saw the movie Pump Up The Volume, which was about 17/18 years ago. To this day, his voice still makes me weak in the knees. :)

Ok. There. Torture is over! Wasn't so bad, now was it? :)

One thing I realized as I re-read this, I use smiley faces way too much! LOL! I guess that just means I'm a happy person with happy memories!

So this song by Toby Keith is so fitting! I Wanna Talk About Me!

Where? Neverwhere!

"This aye night, this aye night. Every night and all. Fire and fleet and candlelight...."

I just finished reading a reaaaallyyy good book by Neil Gaiman called Neverwhere. I've had the book since before going to California in September '08 but never got around to reading it. I actually forgot I had it until I started rummaging through a bag I had taken with me on the trip and found it in a side pocket. I had just finished the Twilight series and so I thought a good time to read it.

I knew that there was a television series done on it back in 96 but hadn't watched it because I wanted to read the book first. I didn't want any spoilers and I am sooo glad I waited to watch the six episodes. I did find it interesting, though, that the tv series actually turned into the creation of the book. Its usually the book, then the movie.

The book was fantastic! Gaiman captures your attention immediately and bounces from one scene to another making you think and move you along in the reading so you don't get bored. Soon enough it all pulls together and leads you into the minds of the characters as you start to build the world in your own mind.

The tv series was ok. You can go HERE to watch them, although, the DVD is much better. I knew the story and of course, parts were left out or dialog was changed, but it was pretty close to home. It was interesting to see the characters and how Gaiman saw them opposed to how I saw them in my mind. I was pretty close to all the characters, except for Hunter and marquis de Carabas. I loved seeing Carabas on screen. He was my favorite out of them all. He always had this goofy deceptive smile on his face. I won't say too much in case you've not read the book......

I also have a new appreciation for golfing...with frogs...lol! Sound effects are great! :)

Anyways, if you like a good fantasy, pick up this book. I think you will enjoy Gaiman's imagination and you might even learn a few new words along the way. My favorite was "circumlocution". I think that's because I know someone who is an expert at it....

Have you seen my tail?

Work has been a bit stressful lately with the new year upon us and departments falling behind and my department trying to help everyone else catch up, leaving the dust to settle on our own work. However, I can't complain, really. Well I can, but what good does complaining do? I am thankful to have a steady job. Nuff said!

Anyway, to lighten the mood in our department, some of us will send out jokes and things. It's a great practice, actually. It gives you a moment to stop and recoup your thoughts, and have a good laugh as well. So one of my co-workers sent this out and it made me chuckle :)

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A blonde was weed-whacking her yard and accidentally cut off the tail of her cat, which was hiding in the grass. She rushed her cat, along with the tail over to WAL-MART!

Why WAL-MART???

HELLOOOOOOOOO! ?

WALMART is the largest RETAILER in the world!!!!

~~you laughed..I know you did!! *giggles*

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I feel your pain, yitto kitty!!

more animals

Lie To Me. Wait, no. Please don't!

Last night a new show called Lie To Me started. When I first read up on it and saw the previews I was kind of like..'eh. Yeah, 'eh. It started right after American Idol last night so I got to see like the first 7 minutes or so and then the DVR kicked into another show! Of course, two shows were already recording so I couldn't watch it and I couldn't record it and I couldn't watch it on Fox's website cuz they won't post them the day of airing..hmmmpff! Wha Wha Wha! LOL.

So I waited alllllllll day and came home and watched it on Fox's website. It was actually pretty good. I thought it was just gonna be another beefed up show that I was going to hate. Just goes to show you I can be wrong...sometimes...heh. Now hopefully they will keep up the story lines to keep it on air. It was funny, suspenseful (of sorts), and just plain interesting, and yes, I even cried at the end. I'm such a sap! If you want to watch Episode 1, click HERE :)

Now, how many of you that watched it will go around looking for weird facial expressions and slight shoulder shrugs as you talk to someone?

Ok so at the end they played a really good song by Aqualung called Easier To Lie! Fitting I suppose....and one I've always liked.

D.A.R.E

My daughter had her graduation ceremonies from the D.A.R.E. program tonight and I was elated to be there. What a fantastic program for young kids, fifth grade, actually. Even more so, that one of the officers from our Police Department is the head of it and she does an amazing job. She connects with those kids on such a personal level. She knows how to have fun but also knows how to be serious that they understand and absorb the meaning behind her teachings.

One of the things that the kids were asked to do was to write a letter to themselves for when they become freshman's in high school. A letter reminding them of everything that they learned during the D.A.R.E. program with hopes that they kept true to what they learned and made the right choices to be drug and alcohol free as they enter high school. Even better, they actually save the letters for the kids 8th grade teachers, and when they close out the year, they are going to give them back to the students to read and see how far they have come.

Before they did the awards they had the kids recite a couple pledges that I thought were amazing for the kids, and even us as adults, to embrace.

This is the student pledge that they say every morning:

I am the one and only person who has the power to decide who I am and what I do.

I accept the consequences for my decisions.

I am in charge of my learning and behaviour.

I respect the rights of others and I am a credit to myself, my family, my school, and my community.

I believe. I achieve. I succeed.

And then the D.A.R.E. pledge:

Good. Better. Best.
Never let it rest.
Until your good is better.
And your better is best!

At the end they wrapped up with a photo video of all the kids thorough out the course of the program and played music along with it. The very last song played was Rascal Flatts - My Wish which is one of my absolute favorites! It can apply to so many different situations in life, and it fit perfectly to end the nights ceremony.

I Like You

This is just too cute not to post :) The very last paragraph is my favorite!

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I like you...

I like you and I know why.
I like you because you are a good person to like.
I like you because when I tell you something special, you know it’s special
And you remember it a long, long time.
You say, Remember when you told me something special
And both of us remember

When I think something is important
you think it’s important too
We have good ideas
When I say something funny, you laugh
I think I’m funny and you think I’m funny too
Hah-hah!

I like you because you know where I’m ticklish
And you don’t tickle me there except just a little tiny bit sometimes
But if you do, then I know where to tickle you too
You know how to be silly
That’s why I like you
Boy are you ever silly
I never met anybody sillier than me till I met you
I like you because you know when it’s time to stop being silly
Maybe day after tomorrow
Maybe never
Too late, it’s a quarter past silly

Sometimes we don’t say a word
We snurkle under fences
We spy secret places
If I am a goofus on the roofus hollering my head off
You are one too
If I pretend I am drowning, you pretend you are saving me
If I am getting ready to pop a paper bag,
then you are getting ready to jump
HOORAY

That’s because you really like me
You really like me, don’t you
And I really like you back
And you like me back and I like you back
And that’s the way we keep on going every day

If you go away, then I go away too
or if I stay home, you send me a postcard
You don’t just say Well see you around sometime, bye
I like you a lot because of that
If I go away, I send you a postcard too
And I like you because if we go away together
And if we are in Grand Central Station
And if I get lost
Then you are the one that is yelling for me

And I like you because when I am feeling sad
You don’t always cheer me up right away
Sometimes it is better to be sad
You can’t stand the others being so googly and gaggly every single minute
You want to think about things
It takes time

I like you because if I am mad at you
Then you are mad at me too
It’s awful when the other person isn’t
They are so nice and hoo-hoo you could just about punch them in the nose

I like you because if I think I am going to throw up
then you are really sorry
You don’t just pretend you are busy looking at the birdies and all that
You say, maybe it was something you ate
You say, the same thing happened to me one time
And the same thing did

If you find two four-leaf clovers, you give me one
If I find four, I give you two
If we only find three, we keep on looking
Sometimes we have good luck, and sometimes we don’t

If I break my arm, and if you break your arm too
Then it’s fun to have a broken arm
I tell you about mine, you tell me about yours
We are both sorry
We write our names and draw pictures
We show everybody and they wish they had a broken arm too

I like you because I don’t know why but
Everything that happens is nicer with you
I can’t remember when I didn’t like you
It must have been lonesome then ….

by Sandol Stoddard Warburg

It's Here!

Ok, so it doesn't take all that much to excite me! Just the other day I posted a video: Fifty People One Question - New York and mentioned that one for London was coming soon and I couldn't wait! Guess what I got in my email today? Yup! London's video! Woo Hoo!!

This time the question was: If you could wake up anywhere, where would it be?

I am a people watcher and these videos intrigue me. (No the accent has nothing to do with my interest in this video..hee hee!) I love to watch how different everyone is and how unique each answer may or may not be. Some take it in a literal sense and some reach to the back of their imagination and pull out fantastic answers. (Like the girl who wanted to wake up on a planet made of cheese...lol). I love how some people are so comfortable and happy in their life that when asked if they could wake up anywhere, ANYWHERE they could possibly want, they chose their own bed.

Fascinating!

If I could wake up anywhere, with out a doubt, it would be Killarney National Park. Waking up to the beauty of Ireland would be breathtaking!

Never To Sleep Again

I never really used to dream, or rather, if I did, I never remembered them. If I did happen to remember a dream, it was one that was so far out of this Universe that I couldn't make any sense of it. They would be like a puzzle where each piece was from a different puzzle, impossible to piece together let alone understand what they meant.

For the past several months, more as of late, I've been dreaming the same sort of dream. Each dream is a little bit different but the outcome is always the same. I always wake up crying and terrified to go back to sleep.

It always begins with us being together, happy, having fun. It's always about things we did in the past. The memories that I want to hold on to, that I want to imprint in my memory so that I never ever forget. A memory that you know, with out a doubt, that it actually happened and you remember it happening, not that it's just a story told so many times to you, that you think you remember it happening. I dream of hugging her and telling her I love her and hearing her laugh. I can't forget the sound of her laugh, her voice, I just can't.

That's the good part of the dream, the part that I wish I could dream about every night, because I miss her so much, because it makes me feel that she's still here with me.

It always ends the same. Every time. I can't stop it because in the dream I don't know it's coming. At the end of the dream I am waving goodbye to my mom, watching her drive off, smiling. Then I watch the accident happen. I watch her car collide with a truck and there's nothing I can do but stand there. I can't move. I can't get to her. I can't help her. I just stand there screaming and crying. Knowing that she's gone.....

I can't escape this dream, and part of me doesn't want to because of the good parts. Then part of me is terrified to sleep and wishes that I never had to sleep again. Thinking about it now, makes my chest so tight that I can barely breathe. I am so tired, and I'm so scared. I don't know how much more of that I can take. How many more times will I have to watch it. How many more times will I have to watch her......I can't even say it.

What Would You Wish For?

I ran across this video while reading one of the blogs I enjoy and it truly made me smile. Not that "aww how cute" kind of smile, but that deep down happy thoughts kind of smile.

It's a montage of clips in New York City where 50 people are asked the same questions and their answers are filmed. Totally on the spot. Not rehearsed. Candid answers.

My favorite happened to be the gent at the end who says, "I wish I had began the day with a wish, actually. Maybe I'll wish that for tomorrow." What a nice thought, to begin each day with a wish...

What would YOU wish for?

Would you like to see more videos or read some of the responses? You can find them at their website HERE. :) Me personally, can't wait to see the responses from London. It says "coming soon". Have I ever mentioned how much I hate the term "soon"? It's so indefinite, its annoying. That's another blog post in itself...lol!

Who Watches Over The Watchmen?

Last weekend I went to go see Seven Pounds, which was a fantastic movie, and one of the trailers played was for Watchmen. I don't watch many commercials on t.v. so I hadn't previously seen it. In under three minutes my attention was captured and will be a must see in March. (That is of course pending it actually releases in March with the lawsuit Fox has won against Warner Brothers). With Zack Snyder as the director, I have a feeling I won't be disappointed. He did a phenomenal job with 300. I chose this video, which isn't the current trailer, but I liked the song that went along with it, Smashing Pumpkins - The Beginning Is The End Is The Beginning.

Its funny to me how things link up in life. Something as simple as actors in movies we watch. I've liked Jeffrey Dean Morgan ever since he appeared in Grey's Anatomy. I don't know why. He's not especially gorgeous, but easy on the eyes. Just something about him I like. His presence I guess, perhaps his smile. Warm. Inviting. Anyways, he plays in one of my favorite movies called P.S. I Love You with Gerard Butler (another favorite). So when I saw that Jeffrey Dean Morgan was also in Watchmen as Edward Blake (Comedian) I was excited. Then with Zack Snyder directing, that linked to 300, in which Gerard Butler played King Leonidas. Did you follow all that? LOL! Just my twisted way of thinking, I suppose.

Virgo!

So I don't usually keep up on my horoscope, for a lot of reasons. Mainly because I'm not sold on the whole astrological signs and alignment of the moon and stars and all that "stuff", but I have to admit, sometimes its fun to read what is supposedly in store for me.

My home page is set to Yahoo.com and today's feature was: "Your 2009 Horoscope". I know with the new year we are "supposed" to set resolutions but I've never really been one to do so. I guess to me it seems like setting yourself up for failure every year, at least with the typical resolutions. Who wants to purposefully do that? Failure is difficult enough as it is. I'm not saying that resolutions are not a good thing or that you shouldn't set them, they are just not for me. Besides, who says you have to make a resolution on January 1st every year, why not June 1st or September 7th (that's a good day..heh)?

I guess I just feel you should embrace the new year, accept the changes that come, be a good person, a good friend, and make good choices as you go along. If you end the year being happy, you've reached a wonderful goal!

Ok, yes, back to the horoscope thing. I ramble sometimes...lol. I was reading the horoscope they have written for me and every other Virgo out there (only a few million I suppose) and it's actually pretty interesting and gave me some food for thought. I've included what mine is...click HERE to find out what your's is.


"Wonderful things are in store for you this year, Virgo! You're experiencing tremendous feelings of rebirth and, as you release old ways of expressing yourself, you'll find yourself walking into all kinds of new experiences. Virgo loves to make sure everything is clear, concise and methodical, and this will help make it easy for you to graciously receive and beautifully adapt to the growth you are experiencing. You'll feel very peaceful with the changes happening both inside and outside of you, and you welcome the opportunity to express the new knowledge you gain.

There's a renaissance going on within you that seems to have been asleep for sometime now. You discover where the doorway is and are ready to consciously find new meaning in your life, and to manifest who you are in your own way. Mentally, culturally, instinctually and spiritually, you'll be going through incredible transformation this year. Your fresh take on life will give you the ability to manifest a new reality. You take a big leap forward as you share these changes with others.

A re-emergence of your inventive and creative self will give you new ways of taking action and bringing your talents into the world. You will feel secure, safe and centered, which allows you to achieve anything you want in your life. You will feel more spiritually balanced in 2009 than ever before."