Facebook Reunites

When I first joined Facebook, I really didn't think about connecting with anyone from my past. I was actually just socializing with people I already knew and family.

Then came the games my friends got me hooked on. I can not believe how addicting they can be. I find myself playing 4 different games daily. geez...

Well, this last week, I have reconnected with most of my childhood friends. People I knew from when I was six years old until 18. I can't tell you the memories that came flooding back. The happy times at eachothers houses. Life really was simple back then, wasn't it?

Wiffle ball, hide and go seek, bicycle riding, tag, kickball, pool parties and even collecting lighting bugs!

One of those friends had a great idea and put us all on a email group list. Now we can write to eachother and catch up. Most everyone has written an email. It has been really nice to catch up on our lives...what has transpired since we were all about 18years old.

Has anyone else experienced such a nice happening while using Facebook? I know social sites can cause damage to relationships and I have been hearing that alot lately. It even touched my own life in that way recently, but that's a whole other story...

Swimming With Dolphins

Back in February I posted about “My Bucket List”. This list contained some things I wanted to do or get done this year. With my recent trip to Mexico, I did get to cross off a few items on that list: My first plane trip, visiting an island (Cozumel), seeing something majestic and one of my favorite things I was able to do while in Mexico was to swim with dolphins. What made it more special was being able to experience this with my guy.

Oh boy it was amazing! We were in the water at least an hour. At first I was taken back because I didn’t know the dolphins would swim so close to you. Like a cat, they rubbed up against you…looked you in the eye…and as if they’re smiling at you they’re saying….I want to play! Before getting into the water, we received instruction on what to do and what not to do. They told us that you couldn’t touch a dolphin on the top of their head and they really don’t like their fin to be held onto. I was being so careful as to not hit those spots.

To me, a dolphin felt ‘fake’….like rubber or vinyl. Very Smooth and silky. I did get to experience some of their power because as the trainer stood on the platform above us, he threw a fish to our dolphin who was just swimming around in front of me. As the fish hit the water, a bird came swooping down to try to snatch it up and that made the dolphin swim faster. As our dolphin came around, her tail hit my leg. Wow…that moved me in the water! Such power! I can imagine the power and strength this aminal has. My leg stung for a bit, but I was so excited to be playing with dolphins, I forgot all about it. Hopefully you can make all that out in the picture below…..the bird is the blurry spot on the right hand side.


I have gotten my first “kiss” from a dolphin and below is the picture when she came up and landed in the palm of my hand.


After a little play time, the trainer showed us some of her tricks…My guy and I locked arms and the dolphin danced in front of us, splashed us in the face and then laughed at us, jumped over us and swam so fast around us, we were stuck in a whirlpool with waves! It was great ... That was the best hour spent! Truly an amazing experience.

Have any of you swam with dolphins? Such beautiful, friendly and loving creatures of the sea. Did you know the dolphin is a descendant of the wolf? That’s pretty crazy right? But, that’s what we learned.

Our Sense of Scent is Powerful

While in Mexico, I noticed a certain Scent among the men. Both my guy and I commented on it. It was a bit sweet, but powdery. Not sickening sweet, not floral. Clean. It was almost comforting and relaxing. The men working at the resort, the men in town, the taxis....all had the same scent.

Is it the only men's cologne they have in Mexico? Apparently it is the most popular if it isn't. I kept forgetting to ask what it was they were wearing.

It got me thinking how powerful our sense of smell is. When you 'smell' something, does it bring back a happy(or not so happy) memory? Does it remind you of someone? an ex? your husband, boyfriend or family member?

I know scents do remind me of things and certain scents affect me differently. The scent of the men's cologne "joop" gets my hormones roaring...haha...can't explain why, but my boyfriend learning this, went out and purchased some.

As a young child, I was always sick with croop. I would break the blood vessels in my throat from all the coughing I did. My mother on the advice of the doctor, gave me ipecac. For those who do not know what that is, it's a liquid medicine to make you vomit. The thought was to get rid of the phlegm, so I wouldn't cough, choke and break anymore blood vessels. Anyway, to this day, if I smell anything that remotely smells like ipecac, I gag.

Back to more pleasant scents....How many of you wear different scents in Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer? I do. I'm known at work for the scents of spring/summer. I usually wear vanilla all year round, but once it gets warmer, my coconut perfume comes out. It just reminds me of the beach. My co-workers all tell me they look forward to smelling that perfume. In winter, I stick to the more muskier scents.

Well, now I can add a scent memory to the mind bank. If and when I smell something similar to that certain scent the men wore in Mexico, it will always bring back wonderful memories of our first trip together.

A Smile For You

This morning when I was out doing some errands, I returned home with a feeling of contentment. I'm not sure what came over me, but all of a sudden I felt comfort. Maybe it was the smell of fall in the air... the leaves on the ground gave off a warm, sweet scent. It even brought back a memory of childhood when my father and I would rack all the leaves in a pile. He'd then give me that smile...the one I understood...it was okay for me to jump in the pile of leaves.

Have you ever just felt a sudden feeling that everything in your world is going the way it should, feeling contentment and comforted? If so, was there a memory attached to this feeling?

I pass along a smile to you
God's way of saying "SMILE"...

In Remembrance

Do You Believe in Wives Tales?

The other day at work while a few of us were discussing a project, my left palm started to itch. I blurted out...ohhh, I'm going to get some money!

While a couple people looked at me like I was crazy, one person knew what I was referring to when I explained about my palm itching. An old wives tale...

I heard so many while growing up. Our conversation then turned to the tales we've heard. We are all from different backgrounds, lived in different states as kids and it was interesting and fun to hear the different tales we've heard from our parents. We laughed alot at some of the tales we were sharing...

Here's Some:

Drop a spoon off the table and you'll have a visitor

If you Knock over the salt shaker, you have to throw some salt over your left shoulder to ward off bad luck

If your Right palm itches, you'll have a visitor

If your Left palm itches, you'll receive money

If your nose itches, you'll get into a fight

When you hear ringing in your ear, someone is talking about you


What is a Wives Tale?

An old wives tale is said to be much like an urban legend. These tales are generally passed down from generation to generation. Such 'tales' usually consist of superstition, folklore or unverified claims with exaggerated and/or untrue details.

Most old wives' tales are false and are used to discourage unwanted behavior, usually in children.

Here are some tales from Wikipedia that parents might have used on their children. Have you heard any of these?

Handling a baby bird will cause it to be rejected by its parents. False. Most birds have such a limited sense of smell, they can't detect the scent of a human

Habitual knuckle-cracking causes arthritis. False.

Eating faster will make you fat. False

Chewing gum, if swallowed, remains inside your body for seven years. False. Chewing gum is excreted like any other undigested piece of food or stray object swallowed

If you make a face and the wind changes direction, your face will stay that way. False

If you touch a toad, you'll get warts. False

If you have a stye, you must have read or watched pornographic materials. False.

If you sneeze with your eyelids open, your eyes will pop out of their sockets. False

I have to admit, as silly as some of those are, my mom used a few of them on me.

While the subject of wives tales can be superstitious to some, others believe a few they've heard. Coincidence or not, I do really get money after my palm itches!

Well, this subject made us laugh and brought back some memories of our parents and growing up as a child. I hope you experienced the same.

Why don't you share some old wives tales you've heard while growing up. Please leave a comment...

In My Perfect World...

In a perfect world, I would have a log cabin in the woods in the mountains and a cottage like home near the ocean to live in. They are my two favorite places....the ocean and the mountains.

This weekend I had the opportunity to get away for the weekend at my friends trailer at a campsite in Cape May. It wasn't exactly camping nor roughing it in the woods. Unlike some, we had all the amenities of home...running water, a bathroom/shower, wide screen TV, electric, stove etc..

But, we still had the feeling of being in the woods...connecting with nature. With the other campers, we lit our fire at night in the fire pit, we sat around just bonding and talking. It was a great feeling. The air was clean and the smell of the fires lingered in the air. It was just so peaceful and quiet.

The best part was that we were only 10 minutes away from the ocean. In the morning, we packed up and went to the beach. Spent the day absorbing the sun, listening to the sound of the waves and then the most wonderful, peaceful thing happened. We were able to watch dolphins frolic in the water. They came in pairs... jumping out of the water for us to watch. More came, then a mother and her babies. The dolphins stayed in front of us for like 15 minutes. I just wanted to swim out to them and play along...

The dolphins weren't that far off from the beach. It was the most beautiful thing to watch and a calm feeling came over me.

When we were ready to leave, we packed up and headed back to the campsite. Barbecued dinner and then relaxed...and we knew we could do it all over again the next day.

It was a really great weekend. I felt I was able to get a piece of my perfect world, even if it was only for the weekend. A getaway that was much needed...

In a perfect world, where would you live?

Planning a Vacation This Summer?

I know many people look forward to the summer months when the kids are out of school to plan their vacation.

I remember way back when, taking my son to Orlando to experience the wonder of Disney World.
What a wonderful time and the memories are still fresh. Seeing Disney through the eyes of my son when he was young, brought a new dimension to the trip. The best memory was when he was feeding the dolphins at Sea World. The look on his face was priceless. He just couldn't believe he was that close and actually touching a dolphin. He just kept looking at us with this look of amazement. We literally had to drag him away when it was time to go.

This year I won't be taking a vacation due to the time off I have had due to illness, but since I live so close to New York, there are so many Things to do in New York City. I can escape to New York and go see a play, take a tour, visits museums and art galleries, go to Rockefeller Center, eat at fabulous restaurants, visit the Statue of Liberty (which I have never done) or even take a relaxing lunch or dinner cruise.

Trusted Tours & Attractions may be able to help you with ideas about where to take your vacation this summer and things you can do. On their site they provide reviews of tours, so you can make the best decisions and make the most of your trip. Take a look at their top picks because that might also help in making a decision on where to go.

They offer discounted tickets to the best sightseeing tours in 23 cities across the United States, which will save you some money.

Trusted Tours & Attractions also provide a 100% guarantee. If you are not satisfied with any of their tours, you can contact their customer service department and receive a full refund. Can't beat that...

Visit TrustedTours.com and you can have the chance to win a $150 itunes gift card by signing up for their newsletter. The contest ends May 31 2008.

Back When I Was Engaged...

I remember the difficult time finding the right wedding invitations, thank you cards and the perfect favors. I had to get in the car and travel from store to store to compare prices and find my favorite invite. This was so time consuming and I couldn't make the decision without my then finance. Getting him to go with me to one store was hard enough, but several was a struggle. He just didn't understand why I needed to go to every store to seek out the perfect invitation or favor.

My how things have changed ! Enter advanced technology and the internet. My younger cousin is planning her wedding. She's got everything under control and showed me how easily she accompished this. She visited one site on the internet. One! Wedding Needs boasts about having all your weddings needs in one place. They aren't kidding.

My cousin not only picked out her wedding invitations, but her thank you cards were free. She also picked out her favors and the bridal party gifts.

What amazed me was she didn't have to travel back to a store to review and approve her wedding invitations. She was able to do that online. She'll receive her order in about 48 hours. I remember waiting about two weeks.

I think her finance is lucky. He didn't get dragged around from store to store for the various items needed to plan his wedding.

What are some of your memories when you planned your wedding? Did your finance mind the time it took to make all the decisions, select the invites, the gifts etc...?

The Scent of Clean Laundry

When you were a young child, did your mother hang the wash outside on a clothesline to dry?

Mine did and I remember when she pulled in the clothes. They were stiff from the sun, but they smelled soooo good. Must be why I love the smell of clean linen candles and air freshners. Memories of being a kid in the house I grew up. When Mom changed the sheets on the bed, I remember smelling them and somehow that made me feel good.

I have a 120lb Black Lab/Shepherd. She's my baby and when it's time for me to go to bed, she hops up on the edge of the bed and goes to sleep. I have put a blanket over my bedspread, so it doesn't get ruined.

Of course I wash that blanket quite often, but I've noticed something. Every time I wash her blanket and put it back...my dog smells it, rolls over and buries her head in it. Could it be she likes the smell of clean laundry too?

I laugh every time she does this and it reminds me of being a kid and doing the very same thing.

If I was given a choice of a 'special power', it wouldn't be wanting to fly, be invisible or read people's minds...it would be to communicate with animals. I would love to know what my dog is thinking as she's enjoying the smell of her clean blanket!

Coping With Grief

Losing a loved one can be one of the most difficult and stressful experience we ever face in our lives. Yet an experience we all, unfortunately, will have to face and cope with at some point in our lives.

As my Dear Zubli wrote in a comment he left for me:

For each of us the inevitable moment. The one has returned to reality. While we are still in this movie, we shall prefer to say, I know that I shall pass this way but once, lest I forget to safeguard my only one chance, let me give purposefully the best now here and in the here after I shall gain, for I shall never ever pass this way again.

Loss can include the break-up of a relationship, a miscarriage, the termination of pregnancy, separation from family and friends (homesickness), loss of health, moving. Other forms of loss can still touch us so profoundly, such as the death of a pet or if you happen to be a medical or nursing student, you may have experienced feelings of loss when a patient dies. With loss comes a strong feeling that part of our emotional world has changed forever and can never be retrieved or made good.

When my cousin unexpectedly lost her husband at the age of 47 in April 2007 and then loosing her mom (my aunt) one month later, I wrote a Squidoo Lens on How To Cope With Grief.

Truth be known, it really was a way to help myself over come the grief I was feeling. Losing my Dad 7 years ago still feels like yesterday. I find that when someone close to me crosses over, it stirs up memories and sadness I felt from a loved one that previously passed on.

Doing research for my Squidoo Lens on the various forms of grief and finding ways to help get through it, made me realize that what I was feeling was a normal response to loss. It was very helpful to me and so I wanted to share it with others.

Now as I feel myself riding this carousel of loss once again, I turned to my own Squidoo Lens for support.

If you are experiencing any type of loss, please read How to Cope with Grief.
I hope it offers support and helps get you through.

I give you this one thought to keep

I am with you still -- I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not think of me as gone -- I am with you still -- in each new dawn

Internet Bonds of Friendship

For anyone who thinks it is not possible to form strong bonds with "Internet" friends, you are mistaken. I have mentioned on several occasions friends I have met through myspace. A couple friends have even been guest writers here.

With all the bad hype myspace and other communities receive, I will defend it. It is up to you who you choose to connect with. Like attracts Like. If it wasn't for myspace or mybloglog, I would never had the opportunity to meet such special people. It is a wonderful feeling that warms ones heart.

The bond that forms is so strong, the friendship so real. This type of friendship is on a whole other level...it involves the mind, the soul and the heart, not the physical. The connection goes deeper.

Is it because you aren't face to face, in person, and can share your inner most thoughts and secrets? Is it because you are not being judged by how you look, what possessions you have or what job you go to day after day? Is it because when you write to one another, the truth comes out and you aren't afraid what the other person is thinking? Is it because the 'real you 'comes out?

The reason for this post is because one of my friends...Hippie (aka Natalie) needs our prayers.

Hippie is from Oklahoma. We began our friendship about a year ago. Starting with emails,that went right into IM's, quickly growing into phone calls. We even spoke about actually meeting each other one day.

I can't tell you the countless hours spent as we sat in front of our computers,using our web cams, laughing hard and out loud. The countless hours, days, months of chatting girl talk on the phone, telling our secrets, supporting each other through good and bad times. Whenever we needed each other, we knew we only had to 'log in' or call and bamm..we were there for each other.
Both of us going through break ups, we really leaned on each other for support.

I remember sitting in front of our computers; her helping me with my web site, me helping her with html and then realizing we had household chores to do, telling each other we'll meet back in 2 hours...I remember being on the phone while decorating our Christmas trees and telling each other the meaning behind each ornament we hung on the tree. I remember having a drink while being on the phone to toast the New Year. I remember all we shared and all that we know about each other, our families, friends and children.

I received an email that Natalie was in a motorcycle accident in Colorado. She is in a coma, had to have immediate brain surgery and is on life support. I spoke to her daughter last night and the chances are uncertain. I'm so far away and feel quite helpless. This news hit me like a ton of bricks.

So for any who are afraid to form a bond with an Internet friend..you are missing out on the wonderful friendship you can form. For anyone thinking it's not possible, you are wrong.

I believe in the power of prayer. If you are still reading this post, please include reading the prayer below...for Natalie...for anyone you feel is in need...and for YOU.

Prayer for the Sick
Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give your angels charge over those who sleep.

Tend your sick ones, O Lord
Rest your weary ones.
Bless your dying ones.
Soothe your suffering ones.
Pity your afflicted ones.
Shield your joyous ones.
And for all your love's sake. Amen.

Saint Augustine


Please let me end this with a plea to anyone who ride motorcycles...PLEASE WEAR A HELMET

The Sweet Smell of Childhood

It is amazing how the sense of smell can bring back so many memories. You catch a scent of something….perfume, cologne, food, clothes just washed and hung out to dry…it takes you back to a time in your life…hopefully a happy time, but it could even stir up an unpleasant memory.

I recalled a memory this morning that kept with me the entire day. Luckily for me, this was a pleasant memory. We even had problems in the office today, but since I had such a feel good memory on my mind, I was able to just breeze thru any issues that arose.

As a child, my family would visit my aunt, uncle and cousins who lived by the beach every Sunday. A tradition that went on for many years. Our family is Italian and there’d be a house full of people…more aunts, uncles and cousins… eating macaroni and gravy (yes, gravy! And of course homemade macaroni), meatballs/sausage, braciole, salad and then of course there would be many deserts to choose from.

They lived on the bay side and allowed us kids to walk down to the dock. There, we would fish or watch the other fishermen, look for shells, watch the boats, be lazy watching the small waves rock to the shore.. We’d walk around for hours, thought how lucky we were when one of the fishermen asked us to help them. And, what a prize we had, when we were given a minnow for our pail.

I distinctly remember the smells at the bay: the salty air, the seaweed, the fish (that’s probably why I don’t eat fish now!) the railroad ties that lined the dock. When the sun beat down, you were able to smell the tar on the railroad ties.

I passed construction taking place on a bridge as I drove into work this morning. I caught a whiff of that very same scent: tar on a railroad tie! Instantly, I was brought back to being a child at the bay, hanging out on the docks. What a great time! Carefree, with skinned knees, laughing with my cousins and remembering when we got back home to my aunts, we’d all have to wash our feet. We never had shoes on. While I drove, I had a smile on my face while in my mind playing the movie of the days at the beach…I remember it just like it was yesterday.

Even now as I am recalling this to you, the smile returns….