Fill Your Life With Light

Day 30: Global Rich List

2010-05-24T23:39:00.001-04:00

Allrighty then! Get thee to this website and make yourself feel a whole lot better about how rich you are!

I'm the 59,029,289 richest person on earth!

Discover how rich you are! >>

Day 29: Yes On the Sarcasm Font!

2010-05-23T21:46:00.001-04:00

A lovely list from Lists Galore. And yes, Suzi, I'm thinking you should definitely take ownership of my computer history!

1
I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2
Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3
I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4
There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5
How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6
Was learning cursive really necessary?

7
Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8
Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9
I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10
Bad decisions make good stories.

11
You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12
Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13
I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14
"Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this — ever.

15
I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Darn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16
I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17
I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

18
I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

19
I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Bud Lite than Kay.

20
I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

21
Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

22
I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

23
The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.

24
I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

25
How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

26
I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

27
Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

28
Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year?

29
There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

30
As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.

31
Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

32
Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey — but I'd bet my behind everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

Day 28: Festive Festivals

2010-05-22T22:31:00.000-04:00

I have a new goal. Columbus Underground recently posted a list of festivals in the coming year, and I've decided that I'm going to go to at least five of them. Here's the list:

Hell City Tattoo Festival - May 21, 22 and 23
Eco-Chic Craftacular - May 22 and 23
Agora - May 22
Columbus Beerfest - May 28 and 29
Asian Festival - May 29 and 30
Columbus Arts Festival - June 4, 5 and 6
Park Street Festival - June 10, 11 and 12
Go West - June 12
City Hop - June 12
Juneteenth Ohio Festival - June 18, 19 and 20
Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival - June 18, 19 and 20
Columbus Pride Festival - June 18, 19 and 20
Comfest - June 25, 26, and 27
Red White & Boom - July 2
Doo Dah Parade - July 4
North Market Food & Ohio Wine Festival - July 9, 10 and 11
Parking Lot Blowout - July 10
Franklin County Fair - July 17 through 24
Shadowbox Sketch Comedy Festival - July 20 and 21
Jazz and Rib Fest - July 23, 24 and 25
Ohio State Fair - July 28 through August 8
Dublin Irish Festival - August 6, 7 and 8
Festival Latino - August 14 and 15
Greek Festival - September 3 through 6
Bike the CBUS - September 4
Hot Times Community Festival - September 10, 11 and 12
Riverfront Art Festival - September 17, 18 and 19
Independents’ Day - September 18
India Festival - September 18
Oktoberfest - September 24, 25 and 26
Italian Festival - October 8, 9 and 10
Circleville Pumpkin Show - October 20 through 23

I'm definitely going to hit up the Pride Festival, which was an absolute blast last year. I went to the Eco-Chic Craftacular last year as well. It was OK. It's very easy to get to, so I'll probably stop by there. The Columbus Arts Festival is my birthday weekend, and that seems like a lovely way to celebrate. I've always wanted to go to the Jazz and Rib Fest, so that's definitely on the list. Comfest. I have to go to Comfest this year. The Ohio State Fair is a must-go every year. Maybe to round things out I'll go to Oktoberfest, which is, oddly, in September. Go figure.

Day 27: Birds, Birds, Birds!

2010-05-21T21:16:00.000-04:00

I love birds. Hawks are my favorite, but I love all sorts of other ones. Here's a live hummingbird camera, if you'd like to check out a hummingbird raise her little ones.

And, being from Columbus, I have to give a shout out to our very own Peregrine falcons. Too. Freaking. Cool! There are two cameras--one inside the nestbox and one out on the ledge. Enjoy!

Day 26: Yep. I'm Sure They DO Like It!

2010-05-20T14:00:00.000-04:00

The original is from ProbablyBadNews.

Day 25: Thrifty Girl

2010-05-19T12:53:00.000-04:00

This girl is amazing!

Frugal teen buys house with 4-H winnings

Lindsay Binegar was 14 the first time she spent any winnings from years of showing hogs. She bought a purse. The second time, at 18, she splurged. She bought a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a two-car garage. And she paid in cash.

"I've never heard of a teenager buying a house," said Nikki Gasbarro, spokeswoman for the Ohio Association of Realtors. "Smart girl."

The Greenfield teenager has been saving money since she was 4 years old and won $100 showing a hog.

"I didn't get the money; it went to the bank," said Binegar, now a 19-year-old freshman at Ohio University's Chillicothe branch.

And so the pattern began. She'd raise a few hogs every year on the family farm in Highland County, show them at competitions and add any winnings or sales proceeds to her savings account.

"She's pretty tight," said Lindsay's dad, Gary. "She's always been big into 4-H, and every penny she made she just banked."

That included $15,540 for showing the reserve champion and grand champion hogs at the county fair in recent years.

By the time she graduated from Greenfield McClain High School last June, she had saved more than $40,000 for college.

But her parents had a proposition: They'd pay for college if she'd live at home and commute to Ohio University's Chillicothe campus.

The idea appealed to Lindsay's thrifty, practical side but left her wondering how to invest the money she'd saved.

Her dad, who runs Binegar Auction Service, had a suggestion.

"I said, 'You should buy a house,' " Gary Binegar said.

"I was like, 'Oh, Dad, that's a lot of money,' " she said.

But in August, Lindsay bought a house when her dad was auctioning one as part of an estate sale. She paid $40,000.

After painting the inside of the two-story frame house and adding new carpeting, Lindsay rented the house to a great aunt and uncle who wanted to relocate to Greenfield.

Walter Molony, spokesman for the National Association of Realtors, said it's extremely unusual for a teenager to buy a house.

Lindsay's dad, it turns out, did something similar - but not as grandiose - when he got out of high school. He bought a house, too.

"I paid $7,000 and there was 3 feet of snow in the living room," he said.

He fixed it up, rented it, then sold it and bought the farm where he, his wife, Mandy, and Lindsay now live.
Mr. Binegar, 44, isn't sure why his daughter is so fiscally responsible at an age when many teens spend every cent they get.

Then again, it fits her personality. She's always been at the top of her class academically. She volunteers each Friday at an elementary school to further her dream of becoming a teacher. She has been involved in 4-H for 11 years, was a cheerleader and was crowned homecoming queen her senior year of high school.

"We tried to lead her in the right direction and make her know the value of a dollar," her father said.

Lindsay said she hopes to finish college in three years, get a teaching job and raise a family in her hometown.
"I would never move out of Greenfield," she said. "I just love everybody here."

She's saving the $450-a-month rent payments from the house so she and her 22-year-old fiance, Heath McNeal, can buy a small house when they get married in 2011.

Eventually, the couple wants to buy land and build their dream home on top of a hill.

Her father has no doubt that'll happen.

"She's got a really good head on her shoulders," he said. "She's the perfect girl."

Day 24: k.d. lang's Hallelujah

2010-05-18T20:55:00.002-04:00

During the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics, k.d. lang performed a stunning version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. The video is available here (I couldn't embed it), but if you'd just like to listen, then click below and enjoy. The song is also available on iTunes. I listen to it just about every day. Breath taking.

P.S.: Am I the only one who can't spell "hallelujah"?

Day 23: Taiwanese Whitney Houston

2010-05-17T10:14:00.001-04:00

This video is from Taiwan's version of American Idol. Fast forward to the 1:10 mark and prepare to be amazed. More info is available here, if you're interested.

Day 22: Worst Website in the World

2010-05-16T11:02:00.000-04:00

I was going to do a screenshot to show you how amazingly wretched this is, but that would ruin the fun. This site IS suitable for work, but there's sound. Because it couldn't be the world's worst website without sound, of course.

Enjoy!

Day 21: I Want My Life Back Update

2010-05-15T16:16:00.003-04:00

IMG_7809_HDR, originally uploaded by II MONKIE II.

I'm honestly doing very well with all of this. I tried three new food places this week, took the kids to the library, and went to Chuck E. Cheese's with Rohan. I've also launched a Cupcake Quest, but having eaten at Pattycake Bakery twice this week, I'm not going to be making any cupcakes right now. My body can only take so much!

I have a lot of things going on in my life. About the only one I feel comfortable discussing publicly is my job search. I need a job. Desperately. I had hopes that this week I would hear back from a promising interview, but unfortunately I did not. Let's hope I get good news next week.

But, I have lots of good things coming up. In a little over a week, a dear friend of mine takes his oath of citizenship. I can't wait! I studied with him for nearly a year, so it's almost as important to me as it is to him. I'm wearing waterproof mascara that day.

I'm heading to Toronto on May 28. My best friend and I are going to the I Can Do It! conference. No kids, no husbands, just the two of us. Wheeee!!!

So, I just need to get through the next week, then I'll have some diversions coming up. I'll be OK. Still need a job, but I'll be OK.

Day 20: Pattycake Bakery

2010-05-14T19:26:00.001-04:00

One of the things on my I Want My Life Back list is to try things that are outside of my comfort zone. You might not believe this, but I was pretty uncomfortable about trying out Pattycake Bakery. Why? Because it's vegan! VEGAN!!! No eggs! No butter! Seriously! Who wants to eat that?

But I heard so many good things about it that I finally announced to Rohan one morning, "I have a surprise for you!" and took him to Pattycake Bakery.

Um...he liked it. Loved it even, and I'm telling you, I felt the same way! Seriously! Their stuff is AMAZING! I mean, it's not just good by vegan standards--it's GOOD, period. Honestly, I had a fleeting thought while I was there that perhaps they lie and really do use eggs and milk. Then I realized there were an awful lot of people working in the back and at least one of them would have spilled the beans if that were the case. That good.

I tasted the chocolate cupcake (amazing), the lemon cupcake (good), the Toll House cookies (how in the HELL can these be vegan?!), the pumpkin whoopie pie (swoon), and the vanilla cupcake (delightful). Yeah, I brought home some stuff for the rest of the family. And, I might have presented it thusly: "Isn't that cookie amazing?! Yeah, well guess what? IT'S VEGAN!!"

Fun thing, that goal of trying things outside of my comfort zone!

Day 19: Spoon Prank

2010-05-13T20:31:00.000-04:00

Oh gosh. I know this is a little mean, but it's so funny!!!

Day 18: The Cupcake Quest

2010-05-12T16:13:00.003-04:00

Purple n Silver, originally uploaded by ShamsD.

I am adding something to my I Want My Life Back list: I want to find the perfect cupcake recipe. Details are hazy. I'm not sure what the "perfect" cupcake would be, but I guess I'll know it when I taste it. I got a bunch of cupcake books from the library, figuring that's as good a place to start as any. I hope to make my initial batch this weekend.

P.S.: I am under no delusions that my cupcakes will look anything like the gorgeous ones that grace today's entry. :-D

Day 17: Asking for Help

2010-05-11T21:14:00.007-04:00

Today I called my dear friend, Khalid, to ask him why he wasn’t in class last night. He called me back a few minutes later, obviously harried.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there last night. I'm sick.”

“What’s wrong?”

He explained to me that he had a terrible toothache. He called for an appointment, but the dentist couldn’t see him until the twenty-fifth. In the midst of this terrible pain, he was on his way to drop off his brother Ali for surgery to have his tonsils removed. And he'd just finished dropping off his sister, who had to take her son, Ismail, to get braces. After he took Ali for surgery, he was going back to get Khadija and Ismail, then back to the surgery center for Ali.

“Oh my God, Khalid! Why didn’t you tell me? I’ll call my dentist. She’ll be able to get you in and look at your tooth."

“OK. I’ll call you after I’m done with Ali.”

I hung up and immediate called his sister, Khadija. Her English is much better than Khalid’s. “Khadija, can I come pick you and Ismail up so Khalid doesn’t have to do it?”

“Yes please!”

I went over and picked them up, then we went to the surgery center. After getting Ali settled at home, Khalid and I went to my dentist, who not only saw him today, but also fixed the lost filling. For $60 cheaper than what Khalid’s dentist was going to charge him two weeks from now!

Why do I mention this? No, not so you all will think, “Oh, she’s such a wonderful person.” THIS is why I tell you this: sometimes you simply have to ask for help. I was truly angry with Khalid that he didn’t ask me for help. He’s in pain, his brother is having surgery and his sister has to take care of her son. Why in God’s name would you NOT ask me for help?

He said he didn’t want to bother me, of course, which is what we would all say. And it’s absolutely true—we don’t want to bother people. But I’ve noticed that the same people who never ask for help are the same ones we’d do anything for. My best friend Suzi almost never asks me for help. Occasionally she’ll ask my advice on how to write something, but generally she goes it alone. It’s a little annoying. :-)

I totally get the “not wanting to bother” people idea. I feel the same way most of the time. But I’ll tell you what--being on the receiving end of Khalid’s not wanting to bother me felt really horrible. I was truly sad that he hadn’t asked me to help lighten his load today, not to mention it was terrible that he'd had to suffer so long with a toothache.

So next time you’re in a situation that could be made better by the help of a friend, reach out and ask for it. Sure they might say no, and that would be unfortunate. If they do, don’t take it personally. It’s possible that I might have had something going on if Khalid had asked for help, and I would have had to tell him no. But what would have been the harm in asking?

The adorable photo on this entry is Kitty Rescue by fofurasfelinas.

Day 16: Photobomb

2010-05-10T12:36:00.000-04:00

A photobomb is when someone or something unexpectedly shows up in your photo. There's a whole site devoted to this phenomenon. OK, probably more than one, but there's only one that I go to frequently. I thought this one was hilarious.

Day 15: Popcorn!

2010-05-09T22:23:00.001-04:00

One of my goals is to make two new recipes a month. On Friday, I made a rice salad that my friend Khalid's mother taught me a few months ago. Today, I impulsively decided to make real popcorn. You know--the kind you make on a stove with oil and popcorn kernels.

Eh.

It was OK. Well, technically, it is OK because I'm stuffing my face as I type this. I mean, it's good. It's just that it's kind of a pain in the ass to make, plus I fully recognize that I'm eating a crapload of calories thanks to the oil and real butter it contains. I like my air popper better, but hey! I tried something new. Wheeeeee!!

Day 14: I Want My Life Back Update

2010-05-08T18:36:00.002-04:00

I think it might be a good idea to update every Saturday how I'm doing on getting my life back.

I'm happy to say I did very, very well this week.

I worked in the garden with my three-year-old son, Rohan two days this week. We also planted a bunch of seeds (zinnias, cosmos, and basil), which he's happily watched sprout.
I went to the Gahanna Herb Festival today. I didn't buy anything, but I went. In the past, I tended to think about doing such things, but then I would think it was just too much trouble and I wouldn't bother going. Today, I followed through.
To my great joy, I set up my outside fountain. The birds are enjoying it, too, truth be told. :-)
I did spend less time on the computer this week. Yay!
I exercised five times this week, and what a wonderful week it was. Last night I went for a walk at 8:30. It was still warm, but the wind was amazingly hard. I love wind.
I cooked Moroccan food for the family last night (which is pictured on this entry). Moroccan main dishes are heavy on meat, and since my kids and my husband are vegetarians, I had to adapt a recipe for them. It came out very well, and Rohan told me, "Thank you for cooking me Moroccan food, Mommy!" Melt.

An amazingly successful week, in my estimation!

Day 13: Go Bucks!

2010-05-07T14:43:00.004-04:00

All right. I'm an Ohio State alum, so I do admit I might be biased. However, I think I might enjoy this video even if it were performed by Wolverines instead of Buckeyes. 'Course, they wouldn't have Gordon Gee and Brutus, so it couldn't possibly be as cool as this one, but still.... ;-)

Day 12: Smart Ass

2010-05-06T22:02:00.000-04:00

A friend sent this on to me. SO glad there's finally an explanation for this!

With time, women gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.

Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, "Good grief, look how smart I am!"

Must be where 'Smart Ass' came from!

Day 11: Monkeying Around

2010-05-05T13:52:00.000-04:00

Spotted recently on Fail Blog.

Day 10: Boiled Water

2010-05-04T10:07:00.001-04:00

One of the new recipes I tried last month is from Mark Bittman's book, How to Cook Everything. I have both the hardcover version and the iPhone app, and I recommend both highly.

This soup, dubbed Boiled Water because it's just about that easy to make, is surprisingly delicious.

BOILED WATER

6-10 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 thick slices of bread
1/2 freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Chopped fresh parsley leaves for garnish

Combine four cups water with the garlic, bay leaf, and some salt and pepper in a saucepan or stockpot. Bring to a boil, cover partially, and turn the heat to very low. Let the liquid bubble gently for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, put the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, brown the slices of bread in the oil, turning once, for a total of about 5 minutes.

Put the bread in bowls and top with the grated cheese. Strain the soup into the bowls, garnish with parsley, and serve.

Day Nine: Go Green

2010-05-03T10:04:00.002-04:00

A new study by the University of Essex found that exercising outdoors for just five minutes a day can improve your mental health. I've noticed this works in my own life. However, I do sometimes look at it as all or nothing--if I can't do a full 30-40 minute work out, I don't bother to slip outside for a walk around my yard and a little weed pulling. I need to do that, and I'm going to endeavor to go outside for a least five minutes a day. Even if they weather stinks.

Photograph: Landscape at Goetre belongs to DaveRoberts3 of Flickr.

Day Eight: Pound for Pound Challenge

2010-05-02T12:34:00.016-04:00

Wheee! If you need to lose weight, you can help the hungry in your community. Simply go to the Pound for Pound Website and click on the Pledge Now Button. All you have to do is enter a few bits of information, and they'll donate 14 cents to your local food back for every pound you pledge to lose.

I Want My Life Back

2010-05-01T15:58:00.000-04:00

For the past year or so, I've been hopelessly distracted by a bunch of things that are happening in my life. I kept motoring on, hoping that things would settle down or go away or be resolved and then I could get back to my real life. But it's been a year now, and there's no end in sight to the distractions. Worse, there are more things looming on the horizon, and it might be the end of the year before I can relax.

I don't want to wait until then to get my life back.

So, I've decided I'm going to take my life back. I'm going to get it back myself, and I'm not going to stand helplessly by and wait to be rescued by fate. As of now, no matter what's going on I'm going to live my life as best I can, as fully as I can. Here's my plan for how I want to take my life back:

Do strength training 2-3 times a week
Continue exercising 5 times a week
Get my finances in order
Try two new recipes a month (I did manage to do two in April)
Learn to cook 10 Moroccan dishes (2 DOWN, 8 TO GO)
Cultivate new and existing friendships
~~Organize my jewelry collection~~ DONE!
Spend less time on the computer
Read magazines
Read books
Complete my 365 day blog project
Go do fun things with the kids
Try new restaurants
Take a class
Learn Arabic
Get a job
Care about my garden again
Set up the outside fountain
~~Set up the inside fountain~~ DONE!
Finish writing my book
Try things that are out of my comfort zone

My goal is to do at least two things a day from this list. So, what's on your list of things you'd like to bring into your life?

Day Seven: Northern Coastline Magic Hour

2010-05-01T15:32:00.004-04:00

Northern Coastline Magic Hour, originally uploaded by CHEZ ANDRE 1.

Enjoy this gorgeous photo from one of my favorite flickr artists, CHEZ ANDRE 1. Amazing!

Day Six: To The Rescue!!

2010-04-30T13:12:00.000-04:00

Aw...this one made my day! :-)

Tiny Dog Helps Save Woman's Life

BOSTON (WBZ) ― Cheeka is her name; being intelligent, alert and swift is her breed's claim, according to dooziedog.com, a dog breed information Web site.

Cheeka's human would agree after the events of Tuesday night, about 10:20. "The dog woke me up. I looked all around, didn't see anything. I said, 'c'mon, let's go back to bed Cheeks' and she wouldn't go back to bed. She kept barking," said Ed McCollum of Gloucester who adopted Cheeka more than two years ago from the Cape Ann Animal Aid shelter.

He says she's on medication for a liver illness and rarely barks.

McCollum explained Cheeka ran to a first floor window after running downstairs, which she never does alone, so he took her outside and she took him to an accident scene at the edge of his yard, a van on its side.

He said he called 911 bringing rescuers to the scene in minutes.

Inside the van was a woman, Mary Orlando, bleeding, pinned upside-down. "She didn't look good. She was having hard time breathing," said McCollum.

She was taken to Beverly Hospital where she remained Thursday night but was listed in good condition. "She could have been in there (in the van) all night long. Nobody even knew where the car was," said McCollum adding, Cheeka is such a good dog she would have dialed 911, if she could have, and let him keep sleeping.

Gloucester Police have not concluded what caused that crash and say no charges have been filed but it is under investigation.

Day Five: Kindness of Strangers

2010-04-29T10:09:00.001-04:00

I read about this couple last week. So happy to hear that strangers have reached out to them!

Miss. tornado couple receives wedding dress, trip

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS, Associated Press Writer Emily Wagster Pettus, Associated Press Writer – Thu Apr 29, 5:49 am ET

JACKSON, Miss. – Days after a tornado obliterated their home and delayed their wedding, a Mississippi bride and groom say they feel blessed by the kindness of strangers, including the gift of a wedding dress from a jilted bride in Kentucky.

"I think it's great, because I never really expected this much help," Morgan Hayden said Wednesday from a hotel in her hometown of Yazoo City.

Hayden, 27, and her 31-year-old fiance, Josiah Moton, huddled in their bathroom with three relatives Saturday when a tornado blew apart the house the couple had helped build a few months ago in a wooded area just outside town. The storm left them homeless — but uninjured.

The National Weather Service said the tornado was 1.75 miles wide — a record for Mississippi. It killed 10 people, injured at least 49 and damaged about 700 homes as it plowed nearly 150 miles through state.

Left with few belongings beyond the clothes they were wearing, Hayden and Moton delayed their plans to go to Little Rock, Ark., on Monday for a small, informal wedding. Hayden said she had not purchased a wedding dress but was planning to wear something from her closet.

Katie Smith, 20, who lives near Louisville, Ky., said she read about the couple in an Associated Press article and decided to find Hayden and offer her the dress.

Smith said she had planned to marry this summer, but her fiance from England broke their engagement last month.

"Honestly, it still hurts like hell," Smith told the AP Wednesday. "But life goes on."

Smith said she has been trying to give away the wedding items she'd already purchased, including the dress she bought on sale for $350. She described the gown as "the perfect combination of innocent and slightly seductive," with plenty of ribbons and lace.

Hayden accepted the offer, and Smith said she mailed the dress Tuesday.

"I know every girl wants to look pretty on her wedding day," Smith said.

An executive at a resort in the Bahamas also said Wednesday that he had read the AP article and the resort offered the couple a honeymoon when they're ready for it. Rick English, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Baha Mar Ltd., said the resort will provide two round-trip air tickets and five nights with an ocean-view room "as kind of a way to make some new memories and help them get past what happened."
Moton said he and Hayden accepted the honeymoon offer Wednesday.

"I think it was wonderful. I really do," Moton said.

Hundreds of tornado survivors in Mississippi are getting help from strangers. Charities are providing meals and bottled water. Church groups, civic groups and random people from in state and out of state are in the storm-damaged areas to cut fallen trees and clear debris.

Hayden works for a company that collects child-support payments under a contract for the state, and Moton was laid off from his job as a house painter in December. They have four children.

Hayden said a homeowners' insurance policy is paying hotel expenses for a week, and she and Moton hope to move into an apartment. She said they'll reschedule the wedding when life becomes somewhat normal again, and the ceremony will probably be in Yazoo City.

Day Four: Wham-O!

2010-04-28T12:30:00.001-04:00

The Daily Show ran this hilarious piece on toy company Wham-O moving jobs back to America from China. Enjoy!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Wham-O Moves to America

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

Tea Party

Day Three: More Sex for Better Health

2010-04-27T11:50:00.001-04:00

I love it! A Brazilian health official is urging his fellow citizens to have sex more often in order to reap the cardiovascular benefits it provides. Thankfully, he tells them to make sure they're having sex with protection.

This isn't the first time we've heard about the benefits of sex. Dr. Oz, of Oprah fame, also sings its praises, saying "If you have more than 200 orgasms a year, you can reduce your physiologic age by six years." Um...sign me up!

What if you're single with no prospects in sight? BOB (battery operated boyfriend) provides nearly the same benefits as sex with a partner you love.

Day Two: A Bra's Tale

2010-04-26T10:10:00.001-04:00

This story is from NPR. Enjoy!

A Bra's Tale: Detour On A Daughter's Trip Abroad

As a young woman, Betty Jenkins received a gift from her mother that was meant to attract the attention of young men. But as Jenkins, who is now 94, tells her niece, the attention she got wasn't the kind she was expecting.

"I was very skinny, and I didn't have any curves. I guess my mother got kind of worried, because she didn't think I had enough boyfriends," Jenkins said.

The gift was an inflatable bra that was designed to enhance its wearer's figure. A straw-like tube was used to inflate pads in the cups.

"I was real excited, so I blew and blew to about [size] 32," Jenkins said.

But things didn't go smoothly during a plane trip in South America. The plane was flying near the Andes Mountains when Jenkins began to feel pressure and sensed there was a problem.

It turned out the cabin was not pressurized, and the bra was expanding.

"As the thing got bigger, I tried to stand up," Jenkins said, "and I couldn't see my feet."

The instructions said that the bra's pads could be inflated up to a size 48.

"I thought, 'What would happen if it goes beyond 48?'" Jenkins recalled.

"I found out what happened," she said. "It blew out."

Only one of the cups burst, Jenkins said. But the noise was loud enough to seize the attention of everyone on the plane.

"The co-pilot came into the cabin with a gun, wondering what had happened. The men all pointed to me."
Jenkins then tried to explain in Spanish what she could hardly explain in English, "that part of your anatomy just blew up."

The plane made an emergency landing, and Jenkins was handed over to the police. She was ordered to strip, as the officers looked for what they assumed could only be a bomb.

After she showed the officers the hole in her bra, Jenkins was allowed back on the plane and her trip continued.

"A month later, I got a bill from the airline for $400," Jenkins said, "for an unscheduled stop."

Her mother enjoyed the story so much that she kept the broken bra. Her mother died in 1967. As for the bra, Jenkins says she no longer has it.

Produced for Morning Edition by Nadia Reiman. The senior producer for StoryCorps is Michael Garofalo.

Day One: Sweet Nothings

2010-04-25T16:16:00.008-04:00

Things in my life have been pretty bumpy lately. Nothing I can talk about right now; but I'm sure it will all come out as we travel together this coming year. I've decided I need to do something to get myself out of this rut I'm in. I need to give myself something positive to focus on, so I've returned to my beautiful blog, ready to dedicate myself to something fun, something that will lift me out of my doldrums if only for a few minutes a day.

For the next 365 days, I hereby commit to posting something beautiful, something uplifting, or something that just makes me grin. Every day I'm going to add a new item to the list of things that fill my life with light. Starting now.

Today I read the blog Cupcakes Take the Cake, and these lovely wedding cupcakes from Cupcake Occasions brought a big smile to my face.

How much fun would it be to see these at a wedding?! I can imagine the delight of the guests when they were choosing which one they wanted. I've always been a fan of Animal, but the Gonzo ones are calling my name. Honestly, though, I don't know if I could eat it! Too beautiful.

Fun!

2010-01-17T22:23:00.005-05:00

This guy must be fun to have at parties!

NYC cab driver praised after returning over $21,000 lost by visitor from Italy

2010-01-12T11:50:00.000-05:00

What a beautiful story! Original is here.

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. — A New York City cab driver is being praised for returning over $21,000 lost by a visitor from Italy.

Felicia Lettieri, who's 72, left her purse in a Manhattan taxi on Christmas Eve. It contained travelling money for her and six relatives.

Police told them not to get their hopes up about finding it.

The cabbie drove about 50 miles (80 kilometres), to a Long Island address he'd found in the purse. No one was home, so he left his phone number, and later returned with the money.

Lettieri's daughter, Maria Rosaria Falonga, told Newsday from Pompei, Italy that the cabbie also left a note.

He told her: "Don't worry, Felicia. ... I'll keep it safe."

The driver, Mukul Asaduzzaman, could not be reached for comment.

He refused a reward.

Wedding Entrance

2009-07-24T13:15:00.003-04:00

Career Altar

2009-07-07T10:14:00.003-04:00

With so many of us going through career transitions right now, I thought this advice from Interior Alignment might be helpful.

CREATE A CAREER ALTAR
-Dawn Gettig, CPIA

How do you create a career altar?

1. Decide what you would like in a job/career. Do some soul searching.

2. Create your altar on a table or shelf. Any small space will do.

3. You may want to cover the altar with a piece of fabric.

4. Next, write an intention (in present tense) for your career. Example: I now have a job that pays well, utilizes my talents (list them), and I love what I do. Put this on the altar.

5. Find pictures or objects around the house or out-of-doors that symbolize your goals for a new job. For example, you might use a paintbrush if you desire a job with creativity or a rock if you want a job with stability. Add a journal or pen if you’d like to write or want to work in an office. A small metal star represents you would like to be a “star” at work. These are just a few examples – as you can see the possibilities for creating your altar are endless!

6. For best results put the altar in the career area of your home/office or space you live in. This is approximately the front/middle section of your environment. The front section of your home is determined by where your front door or room door is located.

7. Activate your altar daily or at least weekly with one or more of the following; fresh flowers, light a candle or incense, ring a bell, say a prayer.

8. Be sure to be specific with your intentions and carefully chose your symbols so you find the job/career that really suits you and what you love.

9. And believe you will find the right job!

Smart Actions

2009-07-02T12:33:00.005-04:00

Cheryl Richardson is a wonderful life coach and Hay House author. I had the privilege of seeing her at the I Can Do It! conference in Toronto, and I've been a subscriber to her free newsletter ever since. Here's a great article from her:

Topic of the Week

Smart Actions

"Security is not the meaning of my life.
Great opportunities are worth the risks."
-- Shirley Hufstedler

I love simplicity. As a coach, I especially love learning about small behavior changes that can reap big rewards. For example, I use a technique that's made an enormous difference in both the success of my company and the quality of my life. This week, I'd like to share it with you.

In the morning when I start my workday, I begin with the following question:

"What action do I most want to avoid doing today?"

Then, once I have an answer, I do two things. First, I identify the cause of my resistance. For example, does the task feel too tedious or difficult to complete? Do I need more information or guidance from someone who's done it before? Is it related to a goal that no longer serves me? Or, am I simply afraid? Then, once I know what's going on and feel convinced that it is, in fact, important, I take this action right away.

Starting your day with this simple step has several key benefits. First, you'll quickly discover whether or not the items on your to-do list are truly designed to move you toward a worthy goal. Second, it will save you time and energy by keeping you focused on the actions you really need to take rather than the busy work we all tend to get caught up in when trying to avoid something that feels uncomfortable or risky. And finally, once you've determined that this task is indeed important, by doing it first, you accelerate your progress toward your goal. Let's look at a couple of examples of what I mean.

Imagine that you'd like to become an actress. You begin your day by reviewing your to-do list and notice that the action you most want to avoid is calling a local theater that's holding auditions for a new performance. When you think about making the call you feel nervous and excited at the same time (a good sign!). You not only recognize that this is the step you most want to avoid, you also know it's the one that could be most significant in terms of moving you closer to your goal. So, rather than spend time reading trade magazines or updating your bio once again, you make the call.

Or, let's imagine that you want to change careers altogether and the action you most want to avoid is writing a resume (most people hate this step, by the way). When you consider your resistance, you realize that you haven't done one in years and you don't know where to begin. So, instead of dreaming about a new career, or talking with friends about the change you hope to make someday, you call a colleague who recently changed careers, get a referral to a good job counselor, and you get the resume done this week. Then, you're ready to get the ball rolling!

It's really pretty simple. So many of us dance around the action steps that matter most because of the anxiety they cause. Understandably so. After all, using this method does mean that you will, on occasion, experience disappointment or rejection, or come up against the need to ask for help. But, what's the alternative? Would you rather waste time doing things that really don't make that much of a difference? Are you willing to keep putting off your dreams? Since there's a good chance that you'll live through disappointment or rejection, why not face your fears head on?

Believe me, you have far more to gain than you have to lose!

Life Makeover for the Year 2009(sm) is written and produced by Cheryl Richardson.© Copyright 1999-2009 Cheryl Richardson, P.O. Box 13, Newburyport, MA 01950, www.cherylrichardson.com. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Pride Festival

2009-06-21T15:35:00.004-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Hiren was out of town for 16 days and my world was limited to just getting through the day. I used to be a single mom, and I can't remember how I did it. I know I did it, but I seem to have lost those skills somewhere along the way. I give it up to the women who do it every day!

Things are blissfully back to normal, however, and I had lots of interesting things happen while he was gone, so I shall get to posting!

Yesterday we went to the Columbus Pride Festival and had a delightful time. It was a fun, festive atmosphere and I can truly say that it leaves all other festivals behind in terms of sheer playfulness and humor.

We were fortunate to see the parade as well, which was a riot. We laughed and whooped at most of the floats, but the ones demanding marriage rights brought tears to my eyes. All day, I looked around and saw love everywhere. It didn't matter what package that love came in; it simply existed and was honored. It is an inexcusable tragedy that homosexuals can't avail themselves of the same privileges and responsibilities that I've taken for granted most of my life.

Parkour

2009-05-29T14:06:00.005-04:00

Have you ever heard of parkour? It's really quite amazing, and this Damien Walters video showcases it extremely well. This guy is a combination of Bo Duke, Spiderman, and a really motivated criminal who's fleeing from the police. LOL!

Wonderful Stuff

2009-05-27T13:24:00.003-04:00

This is an awesome story! Find the original article here.

Rolle dreams big, works even harder
By Jason Cole, Yahoo! Sports

ORLANDO, Fla. – Myron Rolle came to the right place to turn his oversized dreams into reality.

Disney World, the place that proudly proclaims at its gates that it’s “where dreams come true,” has become the backdrop for a 22-year-old man who thinks at once of being a great football player and a neurosurgeon.

Yes, at once. Most people would be happy to be just one in their lifetime. For Rolle, his desires run on a dual track.

Such an instance took place Tuesday when Rolle spent two hours training under a high blue Florida sky complete with the typically hot sun that sends Coppertone stock prices soaring. By Rolle’s side is Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes who is still living off his own dream come true from February’s game-winning TD catch. Both of them take direction from trainer Tom Shaw.

But where Holmes will eventually head back to Pittsburgh to resume his football career, Rolle is putting that part of his life on hold. He’s heading to Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar in September as he takes a year away from the game to chase the neurosurgeon gig. Even as Rolle keeps himself in shape these days, hoping to maintain his status as a first- or second-round pick in the 2010 NFL draft, he has made the medical gig a high priority as well. After a day of training, Rolle has spent afternoons shadowing orthopedic surgeon Dr. Brad Homan at nearby Celebration Hospital. He has gone on rounds and even observed Homan in the operating room.

“I didn’t set that up for Myron,” said Shaw, one of the best-known trainers with a client list featuring the likes of Deion Sanders and Michael Vick. “He did that on his own because he wanted to. Most of the guys I have here, they want to go test drive a car at Richard Petty’s track or go fishing or get on the golf course when they’re done working out. Myron spends his afternoon thinking about what he’s going to do next with his life.

“You’re not talking about somebody who is just driven. You’re talking about somebody who is truly special, the kind of person who becomes a president or a world leader … he’s different.”

In his spare time, Rolle goes on speaking engagements around the country and has worked on developing health programs. This Friday, he’s heading to Madison, Wis., to speak to high school kids. Next week, he’s heading to the Bahamas, where his parents and three of his four brothers were born, to work on a long-term healthcare project.

A week after that, he’s doing a leadership and fitness program for 100 children at Camp Blanding in Starke. Then he heads back to the Bahamas.

“We’re not in any place for too long,” said McKinley, Rolle’s older brother who manages Myron’s busy schedule.

Rolle accepts that fact with a minimal fight. Yeah, he’s smart and he’s not going to pretend otherwise. At the same, he’s not lording his intelligence over anyone and he doesn’t want to be defined by intellect.

“When I was at Florida State, they played up how I was really smart, this brainiac-type of guy, and that was fine,” said Rolle, who graduated from FSU in 2 ½ years as a pre-med student. “But it’s like they would talk about how smart I am and then that was it. I’m thinking to myself, ‘I don’t want to just be great in that. I want to be known as a great football player, too.’ ”

Rolle has the physical tools for the NFL. Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, who has spent 25 years at the school, said last season after playing Miami that Rolle played the most complete game at safety that Andrews had ever seen at FSU. Early in Rolle’s career, Andrews compared Rolle to Sanders in terms of the ability to pick up the nuances of the game. Rolle did that all while balancing the athletic-academic equation the way Einstein worked out E, M and C.

Now, he’s taking the balancing act to a different level and a different country.

While studying for his masters in medical anthropology in London, Rolle plans to work out to maintain his standing in the NFL. In December, he will get a six-week break to return to the United States. That’s when he plans to work out for NFL scouts, coaches and executives in advance of the draft. To be ready, there’s no time off, no wasted moment.

This is the Rolle family philosophy, a combination of respect and drive. Mother Beverly, who moved to Tallahassee at her son’s request for college, was strict about order and approach. Her sons address everyone, even each other, with “Yes, sir” and “No, sir.”

“If someone asked a question, there was never any of them saying, ‘What?’ to each other. There’s a proper way to do things,” Beverly said. If she drove the boys around, the eldest one of the group always sat in the front seat. It was a privilege that also created a pecking order of who was to be followed if she or her husband weren’t around.

Father Whitney set similar examples, asking the boys questions when they drove around instead of letting time simply slip away.

“Idle minds get into a lot of trouble,” said Beverly Rolle, whose other children include a banker, a lawyer and a nursing student. Myron not only got a 4.0 in high school, but also he was offered a scholarship to an acting school in New York after a prep career that included an inspired effort as Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof.”

All of this is deserving of the highest admiration. Rolle’s life is a picture of accomplishment. Between the athlete and doctor aspirations, you can put him on the list of the 50 most eligible bachelors in the world already.

Plenty of women have already taken notice.

“Yeah, there are plenty of them around,” Beverly said, the motherly suspicion dripping from every syllable.

Then again, fitting in a personal life with everything else seems just a bit over the top for Rolle right now. Like his father, Rolle wakes up intrinsically knowing everything that he needs to do and how long it will take.

“He’s the most disciplined person I’ve ever seen like that,” McKinley said, mentioning that his brother doesn’t eat fast food, doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke and doesn’t waste time.

Still, you’d have to think that something has to give somewhere along the line. By Rolle’s own assessment, he’s not some “alien super-being” that some people seem to view him as from a distance. He has noticed people being downright intimidated when they talk to him.

While Rolle is special, he’s still human. He still enjoys a good weekend on South Beach, looking at the women, the cars and the bling. No one would blame him right now if he passed on the Oxford gig to chase the NFL right now.

“Yeah, that stuff is nice and it’s fun to look at for a weekend, but then you put that away and get back to real life,” Rolle said.

Still, you keep looking for something else in this dream to give. The doctor-football player idea sounds cool, but it’s a pretty tough reality to pull off.

“It didn’t for Bill Bradley,” Rolle said, mentioning the former Rhodes Scholar, NBA player and politician who Rolle admires above all others. Rolle went to high school in Princeton, N.J., where Bradley went to college. “That’s the person that I look up to, the icon of what I’m talking about.”

Rolle says that in all seriousness, without even a hint of bravado or arrogance. This is what he has always wanted, what he intended even before he signed with Florida State. When he went on recruiting trips, he didn’t just talk to coaches about his football aspirations, he talked to counselors, professors and school presidents to make sure everyone was well aware of his plans.

“Everybody had to be on board with what I wanted. They had to know what I wanted and what they were signing up for,” he said.

This is how you make dreams come true.

Infinite Wisdom

2009-05-26T11:15:00.004-04:00

IMG_5805color
Originally uploaded by Charlie32480

We went home to visit my family this weekend and had a lovely time. My brother Josh was visiting from Atlanta, so all the siblings were there except my sister who is studying at Trinity in Dublin. Good excuse! :o)

Josh is an exceptionally talented photographer who took the photo gracing today's entry. I'm trying desperately to get him to sell his work on Etsy. Stay tuned for that.

I read this in the car on the way back from Pennsylvania and thought I'd share it here. It's from the June 2009 edition of O Magazine.

"This, I submit is the freedom of a real education, of learning how to be well-adjusted: You get to consciously decide what has meaning and what doesn't. You get to decide what to worship.... Because here's something else that's true. In the day-to-day trenches of adult life, there's no such thing as atheism. There's no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship. And an outstanding reason for choosing some sort of god or spiritual-type thing to worship--be it J.C. or Allah, be it Yahweh or the Wiccan mother-goddess or the Four Noble Truths or some infrangible set of ethical principles--is that pretty much anything else you worship will eat you alive. If you worship money and things--if they are where you tap real meaning in life--then you will never have enough. Never feel you have enough. It's the truth."

David Foster Wallace, 2005 commencement address at Kenyon College.

Playing for Change: Stand By Me

2009-05-19T08:29:00.005-04:00

This video is absolutely amazing. I think my favorite is the guy at 1:55, Clarence Bekker. He's superb! But together, the ensemble is breathtaking. I'm so grateful that there are creative people in the world who share their art with us.

Breakfast in Texas

2009-05-18T08:32:00.002-04:00

What a great way to start the day!

Going Beyond

2009-05-17T14:55:00.006-04:00

When the hysteria surrounding swine flu hit, the Egyptian government ordered that all pigs in the country be killed. It was actually pretty sad, because the people who were raising the pigs were very poor themselves. The government made the farmers pay the costs of the slaughter, and they didn't reimburse them for the loss of their animals. You can read the in-depth story here.

Someone else read that same story and decided to do something about it. Yay!

Americans make difference for poor Egyptian family
By Charlene Gubash, NBC News Producer
CAIRO – The aisles were empty in Country Homes Furniture in Wilbraham, Mass., and owners Hazel and Nazih Zebian were sitting in their office doing what they described as the "usual whining and complaining" about how bad business had become and questioning how much longer they could last.

"Like so many people in these economic conditions, furniture has been hit hard," Hazel said. "It’s the last thing people want to buy."

Out of boredom, she began to surf the Internet and came across a story on msnbc.com about another man half a world away facing hard times: Abu Sayed in Cairo.

We reported on how Sayed had just lost his small herd of pigs, the only source of income for his extended family of 14. The Egyptian government began culling all pigs in a misguided attempt to prevent swine flu. But pig farmers, most of them living below the poverty line, lost everything when police seized their swine herds without any compensation.

Sayed was no exception. He was beaten by police when he asked what would happen to his herd. He had no idea how he could continue to feed his own children or help provide for his brothers and sister.

But after reading Sayed’s story, Hazel silently calculated how much it would cost to replace the 25 pigs.

"I read it to my husband and as I started reading it, multiplied in my head and all it amounted to was $1,125. I said, ‘I wish we could give that to him ourselves.’ And he said, ‘If that's what you want to do, just go ahead and do it.’"

Soon after, I received the following email from the Zebians: "I would like to know if there is any way possible I can make a financial contribution to this man and his family… I want someone to physically hand him the money on behalf of myself and my family so that he does not go without the income his pigs would have brought in for him."

A few days later, after a flurry of e-mails and a trip to Western Union, the grateful Egyptian family was given a fresh start.

"I was astounded when I found out there are people who care and are still good," Sayed said. "They are good people. Human beings should support one another and they are a good example of that."

Sayed plans to buy a flock of sheep with the money to replace his herd of pigs. "God willing, this will replace what I have lost."

He and Nazih, a Lebanese-American, spoke briefly by phone. "I thanked him and expressed my appreciation," Sayed said. "Nazih is a respectable person and he wished me luck." Nazih said he hopes to come to Egypt and meet him in person.

By giving Sayed a second chance, the Zebians gained a fresh outlook on their own struggling business.

"After reading the article, we just thought, ‘What are we complaining about?’ and felt really good after doing it," said Hazel. "We will never forget."

Happy Saturday!

2009-05-16T14:07:00.003-04:00

I read this in the January 2009 edition of Reader's Digest:

For the holidays one year, rather than send gifts, my friend decided to enclose checks in her greeting cards. Inside each gift she wrote "Buy your own presents" and then sent them off.

A few months later, she discovered the checks she'd "mailed" under a pile of books.

Aw, Nuts!

2009-05-12T20:40:00.005-04:00

Last week we took Rohan to his allergist for a six month checkup. When we took him there in October, we found out he was allergic to cashews and pistachios. We have to carry Epi-Pens with us at all times, and we have to be vigilant in what he consumes. It's a serious--potentially deadly--issue. When we went in this time, I asked for him to be re-tested, and the nurse was surprised by this request. Children generally don't outgrow tree nut allergies, so there's no real reason to do a re-test. But, I've been using Reiki and positive visualizations and felt confident that his allergies would be greatly diminished.

Well, he didn't react at all to the pistachios! The doctor was shocked and said he'd never had this happen. He's not going to pronounce Rohan as being non-allergic to pistachios until he tests negative again in six months. That's fine, of course. He's a medical doctor, so it's his job to be cautious. My job as a mom and a Reiki pracitioner is to be optimistic and to continue doing what I'm doing. I'm confident that next time we take Rohan in, he won't react to any allergens. :o)

Know Better, Do Better

2009-05-03T17:41:00.001-04:00

Fishing @ Tip
Originally uploaded by Azmi AAM

Last weekend, I was blissfully puttering around my house, enjoying the breeze and the lovely smells of spring that were coming through the open windows. My family was out, and I had the house to myself, so I was reveling in the silence, until someone down the street began blaring music. The music itself wasn’t offensive, in fact under normal circumstances I probably would have listened to it myself. I just didn’t want that beautiful day to be marred by something so jarring.

As I ruminated on how rude it was of someone to impose their musical choices on the rest of us, I realized I’d done that same thing many times. This must be some sort of cosmic payback for my past thoughtlessness. Immediately, I felt shame, and my thoughts flitted to what a ridiculous individual I was when I was younger. How many times had I been out with friends and carelessly ruined someone’s quiet dinner? How often had I cussed in front of people who were offended by such language? How had a hurt my coworkers with my poor work ethic? These were the minor issues that crossed my mind; I’m not even going to detail the illegal or immoral choices I’d made in my youth.

Suddenly my thoughts came to a screeching halt with one sentence, that popped into my head: “Know better, do better.” It’s true; I hadn’t before realized how disturbing it was to be forced to listen to someone else’s music when all you want is quiet. Like dominoes, all the other things I’d done fell down before me. I wouldn’t do any of that now. In fact, I’m so far removed from all those things it’s almost as though I’m a different person. I know better, and I would never behave like that now. I try to live my life in integrity, and although all of us fall short from time to time in general I’m fine with how I’m doing.

I can’t change the past. I can learn from my mistakes and endeavor to do better in the future, but now matter how shamed I am or how much I fret about my actions, I’m never going to be able to erase it from my memory or my history. I need to focus on what I can do now to be a better person. If I’m always looking to the past, I’ll never be fully present.

Free Guide to Herbal Supplements

2009-05-01T13:20:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago, I discovered the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Part of the National Institutes of Health, NCCAM is responsible for conducting scientific research on a variety of alternative and complementary medical treatments.

NCCAM offers a free book, Herbs at a Glance: A Quick Guide to Herbal Supplements, which I ordered. It's actually a very nice reference guide, although if you're an alternative medicine proponent, you might not agree with everything that's written. Still, it's nice to add to your library, and you can request a copy even if you don't live in the United States.

Shhhhh!

2009-04-29T14:57:00.005-04:00

The American actress Gwyneth Paltrow has a website called GOOP. Her latest newsletter brilliantly deals with gossip and how it negatively affects all of us. This particular excerpt was written by spiritual leader Michael Berg. Check out the rest here.

"Most of us don’t give much thought to the things we say. We assume that once we’ve said something, it’s over and done with. Spiritually, this is not true. Words are energy and they live on. The comments flowing out of our mouths do not simply disappear into thin air. They remain with us at all times, hindering or helping our spiritual growth.

When we speak positively and refrain from evil speech, we surround ourselves with more and more positive energy, therefore sustaining our spiritual growth. Conversely, when we speak negatively about others, our words stay with us wherever we go, blocking our happiness. For instance, when we wake up in a bad mood for no apparent reason, Kabbalists explain there is a reason. The energy we created by maligning someone’s character yesterday adversely affects us today. And if we don’t go through a process of cleansing that energy by apologizing or committing to never do it again, it continues to stay with and influence us in negative ways."

Creating Myself

2009-04-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Mt Ranier
Originally uploaded by HDRob

When I was just starting to get over my depression, I went to a lecture where the speaker asked us, “What do you want to create”? Instantly, my soul responded, “I want to create myself.” For some reason, I sensed that I had been living a life that wasn’t a true representation of my desires and my needs. I’d been living my life the way I thought other people wanted me to live it and ignoring what I wanted to do.

I decided the labels of the past were no longer relevant. I wasn’t going to be “strong” or “outgoing” or “tough.” I’d assumed those mantles as a way to protect myself, and just because I’d acted a certain way at some point in my life didn’t mean I had to be that way forever. I, like you, are infinitely more complicated than a few labels, and I decided to claim that complexity for myself.

Then came the fun part. I got to decide what I am. I’d never liked poetry very much, but the day I started thinking about creating myself, I thumbed through O Magazine, and found a blurb about having free poetry emailed to you--a new poem every day for the month of April.

"Oh," I thought immediately, "I don't like poetry."

But then I realized I'm creating myself. Maybe I DO like poetry. I signed up for the email and read every poem that I received that month. Guess what? I do like poetry. I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite thing ever, but some poems are beautiful and inspiring, and I enjoyed the process very much.

I quit having expectations about who I was. I remember how I always used to surround myself with people. It was a lot of fun at the time, but that wasn’t what I wanted now. I may have been outgoing then, but right now at this moment, I want some alone time. Tomorrow might be different.

I'm afraid that we've become a society that ignores our fun, independent side. We “can’t” take an art class because we don’t have time. You know, because we're so busy doing things that a month from now aren't going to make a bit of difference to anyone. We refuse to set boundaries and ask people to respect those boundaries. We wear clothes that fashion magazines say are in style or decorate our homes and yards in a manner that's currently in vogue, all the while ignoring our desire to have a living room with purple walls or pink flamingos on the yard. What does that get us, really? Does it matter if our guests go home after a party whispering about our purple walls or pink lawn ornaments? If it’s something that makes us happy and doesn’t hurt others, we should feel free to express ourselves any way we want.

About eight years ago, I read an article that disparaged those decorative flags we hang outside our house. The author of the piece thought they were tacky, and I took her assessment to heart. I got rid of my entire collection because I didn’t want someone to think I was tacky. Never mind the fact that I’d proudly accumulated a flag for every major holiday and season, and that I really enjoyed seeing them flutter outside my house. Nope. Someone I’d never met thought it was a horrible decorating move, so I need to get rid of them.

Finally, this year, I came to my senses. I still like those flags, and I miss the effortless way they decorate my house to match the seasons. So, I went to the store and bought myself a lovely pole and three starter flags. And you know what? Every time I pull into my driveway, I smile at my beautiful fluttering flag. It’s so ridiculous that I deprived myself of that simple pleasure for so long just because I wanted to please others.

Thank You

2009-04-24T22:43:00.001-04:00

To Be Free
Originally uploaded by
..Peter...on holiday until June :)

I had an amazing day today. My two-year-old son and I spent hours outside. It was gorgeous--82 and breezy. He alternated between playing with his toys and coming over to help me out. Surprisingly, he was actually helpful, grabbing handfuls of mulch and gleefully placing them where I directed.

We laid out eight bags of mulch, cleaned out several beds, laid down edging and pulled out about 15 square feet of sod. I've never had so much fun doing yard work, but the weather and my pleasant child made it a joy. So glad spring has come!

Positive Affirmations

2009-04-22T13:56:00.001-04:00

Joshua Tree Sunset
Back-lighting
Originally uploaded b
Bill Wight CA
(Away In Lone Pine)

One of the most important things I did to pull myself out of my depression was to change my thinking. It's not the ONLY thing I did, of course, but it's crucial. The circumstances of my life are pretty much the same as they were when I was contemplating suicide: same house, same car, same husband, same kids. What changed was my thinking.

I started off by putting a sticker on my mirror. Everytime I saw that sticker I said to myself, "I love you, Nicki." It was ridiculous. I felt shameful when I first started doing it. Eventually I could look myself in the eye when I said it, and after a while I was able to be playful and flirtatious about it.

I began to think positive thoughts as much as I could. When I found myself focusing on something negative--like a driver who cut me off--I would turn it around immediately and think about how happy I was that I was able to avoid an accident.

Louise Hay, the founder of Hay House, is THE guru of positive thinking. Her book You Can Heal Your Life has changed the lives of countless people around the world, and I recommend it highly. She posts daily affirmations on her website and if you sign up for her free newsletter, she gives you a free audio download, Receiving Prosperity. For those of you who have not yet experienced the magic that is Louise Hay, I urge you to check her out as soon as possible.

25 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Your Body and Health

2009-04-21T14:03:00.001-04:00

orchards of Niagara.1
Originally uploaded by anj_p

This article from MSN is pretty interesting. I use nasal irrigation every night to clean out my sinuses. Before, I used to have a huge problem with allergies and sinus issues, but they've gotten much better now.

In the spirit of those annoying, addictive, you-know-you're-reading-them-even-though-you-wish-you-weren't Facebook notes popping up everywhere, Health.com presents its list of 25 random things you might not know about the human body, nutrition and exercise, sex, sickness, and health. Go ahead: Pass it on to your friends.

1. Rinsing your nose with salt water can help keep you healthy and ward off allergy symptoms. Nasal irrigation is a cheap and easy way to find relief if you have spring allergies, nasal congestion, stuffy noses or post-nasal drip, says Dr. Melissa Pynnonen, co-director of the Michigan Sinus Center and an assistant professor in the University of Michigan's department of otolaryngology.

2. Dogs can smell cancer and low blood sugar. The Pine Street Foundation, a cancer-education and research center in San Anselmo, Calif., published a study showing it was possible to train dogs to identify, based on breath samples, which patients had lung and breast cancer. Now the organization is recruiting ovarian cancer patients and dogs for a new study. In diabetics, the presence of ketones—substances made by the body during the metabolic process—can be smelled in urine and on the breath when blood sugars are high. Dogs can pick up on other smells that humans can’t when glucose levels drop.

3. Researchers at Cornell University found that people who pass through an entryway near the kitchen tend to eat 15 percent more than those who use the front door.

4. You're more likely to have a heart attack on a Monday, or up to three days after you've been diagnosed with the flu or a respiratory tract infection. The risk of dying from a heart attack increases by a third during outbreaks of the flu and related respiratory diseases, found researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. The study authors estimate that 90,000 coronary deaths could be prevented a year in the United States if more heart patients simply got a flu shot.

5. You can't get a tan from your computer screen. The Computer Tan Web site was created as a hoax to raise awareness about skin cancer.

6. Obese people spend approximately $485 more on clothing, $828 on extra plane seats, and $36 more on gas each year than their thinner counterparts. Researchers say an overweight driver burns about 18 additional gallons of gas a year. Plus-sized clothing costs 10 percent to 15 percent more than smaller-sized clothes. When it comes to jet fuel, a recent issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicineestimated that the extra weight of obese Americans caused airlines to spend $275 million to burn 350 million more gallons of fuel.

7. Smokers are four times as likely to report feeling unrested after a night's sleep than nonsmokers. Smokers often experience withdrawal symptoms at night, thus causing periods of restlessness and waking. Smokers were also 1.69 times as likely to develop hearing loss than non-smokers, as smoking may affect antioxidative mechanisms or the blood vessels that feed the auditory system.¹

8. Eating fruits and vegetables may help the human body make its own aspirin. Findings from the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistryindicate that study participants who received benzoic acid, a natural substance in fruits and vegetables, could make their own salicylic acid, the key component that gives aspirin its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.

9. A 20-minute nap can improve your overall alertness, boost your mood, and increase productivity. William Anthony, co-author of The Art of Napping at Work (Larson Publications, 1999),says the post-nap boost can last for several hours. In addition, your heart may reap benefits from napping. In a six-year study of Greek adults, researchers found that that men who took naps at least three times a week had a 37 percent lower risk of heart-related death.

10. Your kitchen sink is dirtier than your bathroom: There are typically more than 500,000 bacteria per square inch in its drain. The faucet, basin, and sponge are crawling with germs as well. Bacteria colonies with a total population exceeding 50 million can live on a single dirty sponge. And just think—that's what you use to wipe down countertops, forks and drinking glasses.

11. Four out of five doctors in the UK don't work out enough. Heavy workloads, lack of time and poor motivation contributed to the lack of exercise.²

12. Baking soda can whiten teeth, garlic can help treat athlete's foot, and honey can soothe a hangover.

13. Using a food diary can double a person's weight-loss efforts. Your food diary makes you accountable to yourself and provides you with clues on where the extra calories are sneaking in.

14. Regular exercise can lower a woman's cancer risk—but only if she's getting enough sleep. The National Cancer Institute followed 5,968 women for almost 10 years, during which 604 of them developed some form of cancer. Women in the top half of physical activity levels showed an approximate 20 percent reduction in cancer risk compared to those who exercised less. For a segment of those women, sleeping less than seven hours per night had a decreased benefit to exercise. Their cancer risk was greater than those who exercised but slept more—but still lower than those who exercised the least.

15.Watching yourself run in a mirror can make a treadmill workout go by faster and feel easier.

16. Third-hand smoke—the particles that cling to smokers' hair and clothing and linger in a room long after they've left—is a cancer risk to young children (and pets).

17. Walking against the wind, in the water, or while wearing a backpack burns about 50 more calories per hour than walking with no resistance. People who wear pedometers also tend to burn more calories and lose more weight.

18. Trained sexologists can infer a woman's orgasm history by observing the way she walks.³ In other research news, men find women who wear red sexier than those who wear "cool" colors such as blue and green.

19.Foreign accent syndrome and exploding head syndrome are real (but very rare) medical conditions. The American Sleep Association explains that a person with exploding head syndrome experiences a a loud, indecipherable noise that seems to originate from inside the head.

20. Vitamins don't seem to help older women guard against cancer or heart disease.

21. Some men experience pain, headaches, or sneezing as a result of ejaculation. The increased activity in the nervous system during orgasm may be the culprit in triggering headaches.

22. Germ-killing wipes can spread bacteria from one spot to another if you reuse them. Researchers at the Welsh School of Pharmacy at Cardiff University in Wales issued their concern on the use of the wipes in hospitals and the importance of a routine surveillance program in reducing risks of infection to patients.

23. Oatmeal, citrus fruits, and honey can boost your sex drive and improve fertility. Oats produce a chemical that releases testosterone into the blood supply, increasing sex drive and orgasm strength. Vitamin C found in citrus fruits improves sperm count and motility, while vitamin B from honey helps the body use estrogen, a key factor in blood flow and arousal.

24. Twenty-nine percent of Americans say they have skipped filling a prescription due to the cost, and 23 percent use pill splitting as a way to save money.

25. Facebook may be good for your health: Studies show that staying in touch with family and friends can ward off memory loss and help you live longer.

Numerology

2009-04-21T12:59:00.000-04:00

I've never really been drawn to astrology or numerology, but I recently came across a fun website I thought I share with my readers. It's called the Virtual Numerologist. Enjoy!

Shaheen Jafargholi

2009-04-20T12:00:00.001-04:00

Ai vem a tempestade !!!
Originally uploaded by _ R i C a R d O _

Most of us have been won over by Susan Boyle's amazing voice. I for one thought she was going to win Britain's Got Talent without any trouble whatsoever. But I didn't know about Shaheen Jafargholi, an amazing 12-year-old from Wales who is so good Simon Cowell actually gave him a standing ovation. Enjoy and Happy Monday! :o)

Happy Birthday, Signora Montalcini

2009-04-19T17:14:00.001-04:00

do I dare disturb the universe?
Originally uploaded by lumuru

What a wonderful story! A truly amazing woman and an inspiration to us all.

Italian scientist, turning 100, still works
ROME –Rita Levi Montalcini, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist, said Saturday that even though she is about to turn 100, her mind is sharper than it was she when she was 20.

Levi Montalcini, who also serves as a senator for life in Italy, celebrates her 100th birthdayon Wednesday, and she spoke at a ceremony held in her honor by the European Brain Research Institute.She shared the 1986 Nobel Prize for Medicine with American Stanley Cohen for discovering mechanisms that regulate the growth of cells and organs.

"At 100, I have a mind that is superior — thanks to experience — than when I was 20," she told the party, complete with a large cake for her.

The Turin-born Levi Montalcini recounted how the anti-Jewish laws of the 1930s under Benito Mussolini's Fascist regime forced her to quit university and do research in an improvised laboratory in her bedroom at home.

"Above all, don't fear difficult moments," she said. "The best comes from them."

"I should thank Mussolini for having declared me to be of an inferior race. This led me to the joy of working, not any more unfortunately, in university institutes but in a bedroom," the scientist said.

Her white hair elegantly coifed and wearing a smart navy blue suit, she raised a glass of sparkling wine in a toast to her long life.