Hope

One of my favorite movies is Hopefloats. I have watched that movie more than a dozen times and I'm sure I'll watch a dozen more. Although the movie starts with a betrayal, it shows if you follow your heart and find yourself amidst the sadness ~ you can find hope again.

A great quote from the movie..."Just give hope a chance to float up and it will"

More Hope Quotes...

He who has hope has everything.
- Arabian Proverb

Hope is a state of mind, not of the world. Hope, in this deep and powerful sense, is not the same as joy that things are going well, or willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously heading for success, but rather an ability to work for something because it is good.
- Vaclav Havel

For hope is but the dream of those that wake.
- Matthew Prior

Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul.
- Emily Dickenson

If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes.
- St. Clement of Alexandra

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
- Isaiah 40:29-31

Hope is like a bird that senses the dawn and carefully starts to sing while it is still dark.
- Emily Dickenson

Love comes to those who still hope even though they've been disappointed, to those who still believe even though they've been betrayed, to those who still love even though they've been hurt before.
- Anonymous

My Heart

My new friend Earl has many special qualities, but one in particular is that he isn't afraid to express his feelings. Many people, both men and women are often afraid to share their feelings.
Why is that?

I happen to find it extremely attractive in a man when they are in touch with their 'sensitive' side and can share with you what's on their mind. Expression is one way of being closer to another...a way to bond.

I just love what he wrote and hope you enjoy it as well.

Who ever wins that pedestal is going to be one lucky woman!



My Heart

In my heart there is but one pedestal...large enough for only one special person. The woman who stands on this pedestal will have all of my love, all of my attention, all of my fidelity! It's a pedestal that has stood empty for several years now. In a sense, I am proud that I didn't give my love, my heart...that pedestal, away as frivolously as I have in the past! In another sense, loneliness tempers the pride I feel in not being with someone simply for the sake of being with someone! That pedestal might forever stand unoccupied...but I'd rather it stand empty...than have the wrong person standing upon it again!

About Earl

Affects of the Full Moon

I swear the affects of the full moon make people act a little off kilter. I have already seen signs the full moon is approaching. I can zone in on the moon and don't even have to look at my calendar to check. Days before the moon is full (like today), I get calls or come into contact with people that say something or do something that makes me just shake my head and think...what the hell was that about...crazy people!
By the way, the calendar says the full moon is on Monday, July 30...

I know the moon affects the tides.. We are made up of mostly liquid, right? The full moon affects all liquid. According to astrology.com, we tend to retain more water during a full moon and, because our skull is unable to expand when fluid pressure increases, the excess water is sometimes manifested in "full moon madness." That's hitting the nail on the head....

It is said a full moon occurs when the moon is exactly opposite to the sun. This is a moon of high energy, the highest peak before it begins to wane. During this phase, your activities are brought to fruition and you will see the results of your efforts. Even if things have not gone well, during this phase, you will suddenly see clearly what was wrong.

As per Wikipedia,the full moon has been linked to crime, suicide, mental illness, disasters, accidents, birthrates, fertility, and werewolves, among other things. Some people even buy and sell stocks according to phases of the moon, a method probably as successful as many others.

Numerous studies have tried to find lunar effects. So far, the studies have failed to establish much of interest. Lunar effects that have been found have little or nothing to do with human behavior, e.g., the discovery of a slight effect of the moon on global temperature,* which in turn might have an effect on the growth of plants.

Of course, there have been single studies here and there that have found correlations between various phases of the moon and this or that phenomenon, but nothing significant has been replicated sufficiently to warrant claiming a probable causal relationship.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you notice a change in people just before the arrival of the full moon?

Are You Settling?

Every day, all around me, I see people "settling". Settling for what? They're settling for less. Settling for less than what will truly make them happy. Settling for less than what they truly deserve. Settling for less money because they don't really believe they can make more - or they simply don't want to do what it takes to change their situation. They settle for doing a job they aren't really happy in because they don't really think they can change their situation. They settle in less than fulfilling relationships because at least what they have offers them security, or maybe they just don't think it's possible to have all their heart yearns for.

People settle.

They settle because not settling is scary. It takes them out of their comfort zone. Not settling means they are going to take a risk and possibly lose what they have opted to settle for. So they settle. They decide that they really can't have it all, so they might as well settle for what they can - and pretend they're happy in the midst of it. They're not happy, but they prefer it to hanging out on a limb that might break.

I see it all around me. People settling. It makes me sad when I see one of my friends settle thinking they're not worth more.. And it makes me want to scream. I want to grab them and somehow convince them they are worth so much more than that. They deserve to have it all. They deserve to have what makes them happy. They deserve to not struggle from day to day. They deserve to do something that fills their heart and soul with fulfillment. They deserve to have relationships that make their hearts explode with joy. They deserve to not settle for anything less than what they want.

Each person has to convince themselves and believe they can change what they believe about themselves - and about the world they are creating for themselves.

Are you settling? Be honest. If you are, then only you can change it. Only you can decide to step out of your comfort zone. Only you can opt for the courage that will make you live in the "fear zone". It's in the fear zone that the greatest fulfillment and success is found.

It's in not settling that you learn to truly live!

My Mother Taught Me

While at my friends' daughter's 6th birthday party over the weekend, I stood by watching the kids enjoy the festivities.
As you can imagine having 20 little ones together can keep parents pretty busy . There were a few trouble spots over the 4 hours we were all together.... one little one wouldn't share or one didn't want to play with a certain child, pushing started or the occasional "tap".

I listened as the parents tried to teach their child the appropiate behavior...I couldn't help but laugh out loud when I heard "fight nice"...fight nice? My mom actually use to tell my brother and I that very same thing. Of course I never really knew what that meant. Maybe it was the shock value of hearing it, but I remember my brother and I would stop fighting...

I also heard...do you want me to call your father? That's a good one...and try putting a child in time out while a birthday party is going on....that was pure hell to watch.

Hearing some of the comments spoken to these kids in order to teach them a valuable lessen did bring back some memories of my own childhood and the rare times I spit out the very same comments to my own son.

What did your Mom and Dad teach you while growing up?

Here's a few...
My mother taught me to APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

My mother taught me about RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

My mother taught me about LOGIC.
"Because I said so, that's why."

My mother taught me about FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

My mother taught me about IRONY.
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks like a tornado went through it."

My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times.. Don't exaggerate!"

My mother taught me about the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
"Stop acting like your father!"

My mother taught me about ENVY.
"There are millions of children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get home."

My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
"You are going to get it when you get home."

My mother taught me about MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

My mother taught me about ESP.
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you'll be cold?"

My mother taught me about HUMOR.
"When that lawnmower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

My mother taught me about GENETICS.
"You're just like your father."

My mother taught me about WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand.

My mother taught me about SHARING.
"I'm going to give you a piece of my mind!"

and my favorite one....
My mother taught me about FEAR.
"One day you'll have a child who'll do the same things to you." How true I found this to be...

Victory is Ours If We Don't Give Up !

Outside the window at work, some co-workers and I noticed a baby woodpecker fell from his nest. He was clinging to the bottom of the tree.

He stayed in that one position for hours and hours. Squawking and squawking....finally his mother came to feed him. I saw this happen about 3-4 times through out the day. Finally he started to inch up the tree. The hole to the nest was at the very top of the tree and you just knew that's where he wanted to be. Maybe he hurt himself when he fell. He was too big for the mother to carry him to the nest.

The mother checked in on him every now and then. Leaving for work that day, we all wondered if he'd be there in the morning...He hadn't inched up very much. We were afraid a stray cat or another animal would 'get' him.

The next morning, to our surprise he was still there. Now he was becoming more of an interest to other employees. We were all routing for him to make to the top. He was only half way up to his nest. Little by little, inch by inch.

We left work and returned the next morning to find woody only moved about 3 feet. Still a ways to go.. More and more employees were outside looking for woody...he became the talk of the office...

After 2 days of inching up this tree, woody made it! He look so proud...he actually opened his wings. That's what probably got him in trouble in the first place..he can't fly yet.

Well, you are probably wondering why on earth I am writing about this baby woodpecker. After watching this tiny bird for two days try and try to make it back up into his nest, I just kept thinking about determination.

When you want something, have a goal and willing to keep going and not give up...you can accomplish whatever it is you're after.

Sure you may take 2 steps forward and three steps back, but if you don't give up, you'll eventually get where you want to be.

Victory is ours if we don't give up !

Take Care of Your Bones: Take Calcium

When I was 14 yrs old, I had scoliosis surgery (curvature of the spine) and 5 yrs ago, I had another surgery which fused one of my disks. Due to the previous issues with my spine and now that I'm getting older, I have to take extra care of my bones/spine. I certainly don't want to develop osteoporosis or be affected with low bone density.

Osteoporosis is a condition that features loss of the normal density of bone and fragile bone.
According to Health Reports an estimated 10 million Americans over the age of 50 years old have osteoporosis. In addition 33 million people, mostly women, are afflicted with low bone density, placing them at an increased risk for developing this condition. At menopause, bone loss can range from 4% to 8%

Magnesium is an important supplement to add to your diet.Magnesium suppresses the hormone that tells your body to pull calcium from the bones, and stimulates the hormone that tells the body to put calcium in your bones.

A diet rich with calcium not only can help build strong bones and teeth, but also may help prevent osteoporosis, reduce the risk of colon cancer, control blood pressure, ease PMS and calm your nerves

The National Osteoporosis Foundation's daily recommendation of calcium is 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams each day.

Here's what you need at every age and stage of your life:
Ages 1 to 10: 800 to 1200 mg
Ages 11 to 24: 1200 to 1500 mg
Women 25 to 50: 1000 mg (pregnant & breastfeeding women should check with their doctor)

Men age 25 to 65: 1000 mg
Postmenopausal Women: 1000 mg if on hormone replacement therapy
1500 mg if not on HRT
Men over 65: 1500 mg

Health and Diet / True or false: The calcium content of low-fat dairy products is equal to regular, fat dairy products? True!
They both have the same amount of calcium, but the fat content is different. To cut down on the fat and not the calcium, choose 1 percent or fat free milk (or other low-fat dairy foods). Calcium is crucial for healthy bones and to ward off the effects of osteoporosis. Both men and women are susceptible.

Best calcium rich foods:
Nonfat milk, Ricotta cheese, yogurt, calcium-fortified soymilk, tofu, spinach, sardines, swiss chees, legumes, almonds

See 14 Calcium Rich Recipes from Better Homes & Garden


Don't fall behind with taking your calcium. Take Care of Your Bones!

Source: http://www.ediets.com/

Things That Make You Ask "WHY"

My personal email inbox gets swamped with forwards from friends, relatives, co-workers etc...God forbid I can't get to my inbox for a few days...the amount of mail is out of control and that's not including the 'spam' folder. I try and read as much as I can and then my 'delete' finger just takes over.

Every once in awhile I read something that inspires me, makes me laugh, offers encourgement or makes me ponder on things.

This email was sent by my cousin and I have to admit, I laughed outloud at some of these...

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting dead?

Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough money?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?

Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "Lisp"?

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

I have to admit to actually doing this!

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, "It's all right?" Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, "That hurt, you stupid idiot?"

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?

Why is it that you never hear father-in-law jokes?

Why do they put Braille dots on the keypad of the drive-up ATM?

“Laughter is the spark of the soul”

“Laugh often, Dream big, Reach for the stars!”

Do You Have Registered Sexual Offenders Living Near You?

Awareness is your best defense.

Family Watchdog allows you to see where registered sexual offenders live and work around you.
Sexual predators have no physical borders, and are not confined to any given socio-economic group.

Tips to Stay Safe

• Parents:
  Always know where your children are.
  Put your children's emergency identification (name, address, phone number) on their clothes.
  Teach your children your home phone number and to how call 911 if there is an emergency.
  Agree on a specific time when children must return home.
  Contact law enforcement authorities immediately if there is any suspicious or unlawful activity.
  Purchase and watch The Safe Side video with your children.

• Teach Your Children:
  To Always tell you where they are going.
  Never enter any home without getting your parent's permission first.
  Never get into any vehicle, unless your parents know and have said it's OK.
  Always wear reflective clothing at night.
  Never approach any house that is not well lit.
  Remember anything weird that an adult says or does to you and tell your parents immediately.
  Run away from people who offer you candy or other treats or want you to help look for their puppy or kitten.
  Scream, run and fight if anyone tries to grab you or make you to go with them.
  Don't play in areas that you are unfamiliar with.
  Stay on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, always walk facing traffic.

Go to Family Watchdog

Find out if any offenders are living near you. You can search by location
or search by name. This is a free tool

What's Your Spiritual Type?

"What's your religion?"

It used to be such a simple question to answer. But now you might be "spiritual but not religious"--or raised in one faith but practicing another. Maybe you're a Methodist but think of yourself more as an evangelical, or a seeker who is anti-religion--or born again.

The old categories don't seem to work because the religious landscape has changed so much.
The quiz is meant to help you learn about your self, see how you compare with others, and have a little fun. Please allow about 10 minutes for completion. Afterward, you might want to visit our message boards to meet others with similar scores.

http://www.beliefnet.com/section/quiz/index.asp?surveyID=27

Never Give Up

How many times have you been discouraged because someone else didn't see the brilliance of what you created, thought of, or wanted to do? How many times have you walked away from something because you decided it wasn't a good idea, too?

Consider these...
* The movie Star Wars was rejected by every movie studio in Hollywood before 20th Century Fox finally produced it. It went on to be one of the largest-grossing movies in film history.

* As a child, Sylvester Stallone was frequently beaten by his father and told he had no brains. He grew up an unhappy loner. He floated in and out of schools. An advisor at Drexel University told him that based on his aptitude tests he should pursue a career as an elevator repair person. It's not a bad profession but it's certainly not where "Rocky" ended up!

* Einstein was criticized for not wearing socks or cutting his hair. He didn't speak until he was four, and didn't read until he was seven. One observer noted, "He could be mentally retarded"

* An expert said of Vince Lombardi: "He possesses minimal football knowledge. Lacks motivation..."

* Beethoven handled the violin awkwardly and preferred playing his own compositions instead of improving his technique. His teacher proclaimed him hopeless as a composer.

* Walt Disney was fired from his job as a newspaper editor for lack of ideas. He also went bankrupt several times before he created Disneyland.

* Henry Ford failed and went broke 5 times before he finally succeeded.

* Louisa May Alcott, the author of Little Women, was encouraged to find work as a servant or seamstress. She would certainly never be a writer.

* In 1944, the director of the Blue Book Modeling Agency, told modeling hopeful Norma Jean Baker (Marilyn Monroe), "You'd better learn secretarial work, or else get married."

So... what are your ideas? Your thoughts? Your dreams? Who cares if anyone supports what you want to do?

The important thing is for YOU to believe. For YOU to ignore the people who say you can't do it - and DO IT ANYWAY! It takes courage. It takes persistence. It takes believing in the "voice inside" when no one else does.

Ideas, dreams and visions are planted within you because you have the ability to make them happen. You'll learn, grow, scramble, fail, and get back up again! The important thing is to simply never give up.

Make great things happen!

July Awareness

July 2007 ~ Health Related Current Events
Awareness Event:

Int. Group B Strep Awareness Month: World
The Jesse Cause

Sickle Cell Awareness Month: United Kingdom
Sickle Cell Society

Hemochromatosis Screening Awareness Month: United States
American Hemochromatosis Society

Eye Injury Prevention Month: United States
American Academy of Ophthalmology


July 2007 Health Awareness Weeks

Alzheimer's Awareness Week: 2nd - 8th
ADEAR

Gut Week: United Kingdom 18th - 24th
The IBS Network

Children's Safety

I witnessed something today that disturbed me.

While I was out and about running errands, I noticed a school bus stopped on the opposite side of the street. The flashing red lights were on and the 'stop sign' extended.

Summer school is in session and apparently it was time for the kids to return home.

Here in Jersey, we all know that when you see a school bus about to let children off the bus, you are suppose to STOP and allow the children to safely cross the street. With kids, you never know where they may dart from...

Much to my surprise, I saw not one, but THREE cars pass the school bus! Not one of those cars stopped. I was just amazed. I felt road rage coming on...well, not exactly, but I was really ticked.

Are we that much in a rush that we just ignore the safety of the children coming off a school bus?

What if the drivers of those cars had children coming off another bus and someone didn't stop for them? I wonder how they would feel if their child was 'hit' because a person was in a hurry and just didn't care.

What are your thoughts about this?

Shop & Earn Mall

Let’s start with some facts you may not be aware of. There are more women on the Internet than men. Women do more online shopping than men. And women are responsible for three-fourths of the purchases made online. These facts tell me what I already know – WOMEN are the power behind Online Shopping!

I came across this interesting and totally FREE way to make some extra money online. In the many blogs I have come across recently that share tips to earn some spending money, I have yet to see this out there. I decided to share this potential money maker. You check it out and let me know what you think.

It is really free and you earn as YOU (or family/friends) shop. Crazy, right? But really, if I'm about to make a purchase online, why not make something on it. Like a discount...

The holidays will be here before you know it (did I just mention the holidays?! geez..I'm just starting to enjoy the warm weather, but this shop & earn idea has me thinking) and if I shop at this Shop & Earn mall, I'll see a cash return on my gift purchases. Hmm...

Woman you should be able to benefit from what has been created with MY POWER MALL.

Featured Shops:
Bidz.com, Stamps.com, VistaPrint.com, Avon, Kohl's, 911HealthShop.com, Adagio Teas, Inkgrabber.com, Auto Parts Warehouse, Drugstore.com, FragranceNet.com

The directory search includes:
Automotive, Beauty & Fragrances, Books/CD/DVD/Movies, Business/Office Supplies/Clothing & Accessories, Computers, Education & Family, Financial Services, Food & Drink, Health & Personal Care, Home & Garden, Pet Supplies, Specialty/Dept Stores, Sports & Fitness, Telecommunications, Travel and Web Services.

It is totally new, totally FREE, very simple, and can be done in conjunction with anything else you are doing to generate financial freedom.

You could easily be making $4 - $6000 a month, but your income potential is unlimited. If you're Interested ~ Click the button below! It will only take a few minutes to determine if their FREE program will work for you.

SHOP & EARN MALL

Take Charge of Your Finances

“I am woman… hear me roar!” sang Helen Reddy back in the 1970s. Today women are roaring all right, but all too often it’s from the pain of addressing their financial state. Did you know that over 70% of women say that money is a source of stress in their lives today? Or that women are 2x more likely than men to live out their golden years in poverty?

It’s time for women to roar with financial strength.

I met Manisha and Sharon, who are co-authors of ON MY OWN TWO FEET on MySpace. Together they are teaching women to take charge of her finances.

ON MY OWN TWO FEET is all about teaching women how to live their lives from a position of financial strength. Learning a few simple yet powerful financial lessons while you are in your 20s and 30s will both increase your confidence today and your financial security tomorrow.

The shocking truth is that most Americans live paycheck to paycheck. That means they are waiting for their next paycheck to pay bills like their rent or mortgage. If an emergency should arise, most don't even have enough in their savings to cover the unexpected expense. It is suggested that one has 3-6 months in savings as an emergency fund.

From the American Payroll Association’s “National Payroll Week 2005 Survey.” In this 9/9/05 survey of 29,955 individuals, a whopping 73.9% of respondents said they would find it “very” or “somewhat” difficult to meet their current financial obligations if their paycheck were delayed by a week (americanpayroll.org).

Tip on how to payoff debt:
Concentrate on the smallest debt first. Pay what you can on it, over the minimum payment. Once the smallest debt is gone, add that former payment to the next outstanding debt payment...and so on...and so on (the "debt snowball").

On My Own Two Feet will Teach You:

• How much of your income to save
• How to avoid the perils of credit card debt
• How to create a budget you can live with (and still have fun!)
• How to invest wisely using a powerful, keep-it-simple plan
• How to deal with real life situations - such as figuring out how much home or car you can afford & how to handle money when you couple up with that someone special
  

Whether you are going to run a corporation, a household, or your own extraordinary life, women should learn how to be financially secure.

Check out their profile here

On My Own Two Feet Web site

Healthy Reasons To Eat Watermelon

Big or small, seedless or not, red or yellow, nothing says summer like a big, juicy watermelon (or a seed-spitting contest off the deck). But there is a lot more to this melon than water.

Turns out it's packed with phytonutrients, vitamins A, C, and a good hit of potassium, plus some B6 and thiamine -- everything except fat, sodium and calories.

Watermelon has lots of lycopene, a key plant antioxidant that is famous for fighting heart disease and prostate cancer. Tomatoes are usually considered the lycopene all-stars, but you have to cook them in a little oil to release it.

Watermelon not only needs no cooking to unleash its lycopene but, cup for cup, it has 40 percent more than tomatoes.


Get your C: A big slice of watermelon (about two cups) fills almost half your vitamin C quota.

Fight infection: Two cups of the juicy red melon also supply nearly a quarter of your daily beta carotene, which your body uses to make vitamin A. Running low on beta c can leave you vulnerable to viral infections and vision trouble.

Heal faster: Watermelon (especially yellow-orange varieties) is one of the rare food sources of citrulline, an amino acid used in wound healing and cell division. Slurp up the juice but bite down too: There's extra citrulline in the white and green part that most people toss.

Sooth stress: Watermelon is a good source of potassium, which helps control blood pressure -- making it the perfect snack for stressful family reunions.

Quench cravings: There are only 96 calories in two fill-you-up cups of sweet watermelon, and its high liquid content makes you feel full. So start your dessert course with a wedge and you're less likely to go overboard on Aunt Edith's brownies..

Leftovers? Make these the next day.

EASY WATERMELON SLUSHIES:
4 servings
3 cups diced watermelon
2 Tbs. lime juice
1 Tbs. sugar
1 cup crushed ice
½ cup water
Dash of black pepper or cayenne -- optional flavor twist for heat-lovers

Combine all ingredients in blender or food processor and blend into a frosty slush

SPACE-SAVING TIP FOR SMALL FRIDGES: Store uncut watermelons at room temperature. They continue to develop nutrients after picking and refrigeration halts the process.