Got Secrets?

I just wanted to remind everyone of this great website/project "Post Secrets". They evoke the whole range of emotions! Has anyone submitted one yet? Would you?

I'd love to do some research on this opportunity. Does it help people? How much? In what way? Lots of questions.

Sometimes I read them & my heart hurts so much for them. I wish I could just give them a HUGE LONG HUG! Hmmm is that a secret? Nah...well it isn't anymore if it was! HA!

No Laughing Matter!

Just got these today & thought I'd share them with you. It is pathetic though! Man! Click view larger to read them!

Bill Maher had on Ian McKellan (Lord of the Rings & now DaVinci Code) last night. Ian said he has solar panels on his roof & gets so much energy he sells it back to the electrical company. So basically he gets his electricity not only free but makes money. He also said he sold his car & walks now in London. Thought we should all walk to work...right! He has no concept of the suburbs! Ha! Said he was in CA walking & he was walking faster than the cars & buses. HA! Then he said that people get in their cars & they are isolated from others & get aggressive. He said when you walk down the street you can smile & shake a hand & connect. Interesting thought but there are plenty of people walking in metropolitan areas that walk right past each other and still do not do this. I mean some do shake hands, but it is not just because you are in a car that they don't.

World Tai Chi Day

 
Today was World Tai Chi & Qi Gong Day so I was with about 20 other people doing Tai Chi on this dreary & drizzly day! Ick! It was about 58 degrees but it is already going down & is 53 now! It also says rain almost every day for the next week! Ugh! But it was fun & good for the spirit. We were doing it at the same time as people were in 60 other countries. That really makes you feel connected to the world. We went out to the Chinese Buffet for lunch...which my tummy didn't like, so that is why I put frustrated on how I feel. I had some errands to do today & grading of course, but at the moment neither are possible. Hopefully later in the day. My tummy has been odd for the last few days, probably the Augmentin (sinus antibiotic) I just finished yesterday. Hopefully it will settle down soon.

I've been doing Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Yoga & Meditation (our combo package) for about maybe 7 years now? I'll have to check. Last few years I haven't been able to do much due to my foot. I starting to get back into it though. I left off on my Level II working on my Master Level to teach. I'm certified in Tai Chi in a Chair though. The first 10 months I did it was great & then I didn't go for 2 weeks because finals week was approaching & "I didn't have time!" RIGHT! I got a migraine. I went to take some migraine meds & I'm out. So I call my pharmacist & they say "Sorry!" I'm like "I have 3 refills what is the deal?" Not good to be aggravating a person who already has a migraine...not a happy camper. Well they had me look at the date...it was over a year old. I had not taken them in the 10 months I was doing Tai Chi! I really do love it & hope I can get back into it. Last summer just as I was starting again I tore the muscle in my foot they grafted, well the half they got back. We'll see what I can do this summer.

If you go to the Illinois World Tai Chi Day site you will find a link (scroll down) with an explanation of Qi Gong & then a Qi Gong Sitting Meditation which is really good. I just got finished doing it. I'm going tobookmark it myself. Can be a lovely break at work or at home if life is getting to you.

The Sneeze

My dad sent me this today & I thought you might like it too!

They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium.

With rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt.

Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears.

This class would not pray during the commencements----not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it.

The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families. The speeches were nice, but they were routine.....until the final speech received a standing ovation.

A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened.

All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED!!!!

The student on stage simply looked at the audience and said, " GOD BLESS YOU, each and every one of you!" And he walked off stage...

The audience exploded into applause.

The graduating class found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval.

Isn't this a wonderful story?

Pass it on to all your friends.........and GOD BLESS YOU!!!!

In God We Trust, United We Stand.

This is a true story; happened at the University

Weekend Asgn: Lesser-Know Work

Weekend Assignment #108: Show off (or link to) a lesser-known work from a favorite artist.

My favorite is Noel's work. In particular her Angels. The ones I like the most are:

Grace
Whisper
Mercy
Angel of the Lake

She also has some lovely books.

Extra Credit: When was the last time you were in an art museum?

A year ago May. I went to see the Rembrandt exhibit after the MPA conference. I lucked out! It was sold out but a member donated a ticket & because I was alone they gave it to me. I think got the audio tour at the membership rate. I am so glad I did the audio tour. Totally worth it! I would have never known the info it explained or picked up the points in the painting they suggested. I found my self so excited. I was learning something so new. I was not really into art so this was all totally new to me.

I Can See...I Can See!

I went to get an eye exam today so I could get some fresh contact. It had been a year already man! Well, the first thing I find out is I'm not suppose to be using my Renu Moisture Lock. I had no clue. I had heard about the eye fungus thing but not that this solution was possibly linked. I don't watch the news a lot & didn't see it on the web news.

Sorry...interruption here to scream that the White Sox lost! I'm a Cubs fan but I'll still watch!

Ok so back to my eye exam. He told me that of the 30 people who got the Eye Fungus thing, 26 used the Renu solution. He did add that Renu is the #1 solution though sooo...great example for me to use in class to show between Correlation & Experimentation. So he told me to just hang on to it & gave me some OptiFree.

So next he asks me if I want to try the new AcuVues. I have used Biomedics for years. I inquired & he said they are made of silicon and thus breathe better & don't dry out by the end of the day. Hey...that would be good as I am having that problem more as I get older. When I was in college I could fall asleep with them in, and that was not the time they had those types, and I'd wake up & never even realize I did...except when I realized I could see across the room Ha! Ya, I can't see far! So I say sure! Now does that mean I can answer YES to having silicon implants! HA! So I'm trying the trying the these new ones. Probably 10 years from now they'll tell me I'm blind because of them! (Knock on wood incase I'm supersticious!) They say all the other companies using plastic ones are going to change to silicon. We'll see.

Well I am happy to report my eyes have not gotten worse! YAAA some part of my body is not getting worse! I could see the teeniest, tiniest print up close clearly! YA!!! Perfect on the new machine that does peripheral vision too. And considering my baby brother (shhh you didn't hear me say that) has worse eyse & he is 6 yrs younger than me I'm thrilled! :-)

I do have to go back in a few weeks to get them dialated & check a bit more. I couldn't today since they said I couldn't read up close for 3-4 hours. I have to grade papers so no way. Once school is out then I can...I'm just go shopping! HA! I can do that...just tell me where to sign! HA! I do want to get the more detailed exam as my mom just had a cornea transplant last year & I look like her & have some of her health issues. I also had a head injury in 8th grade that pushed my eye back & cracked my sinus cheek bone from the force. At that time that eye was worse in vision a bit...now with age the other has caught up. My eyes are really not that bad...I think 3.25 is the prescription so but just good to keep tabs on them I figure.

You know at the teachers conference I go to last year we were asked which we felt we could do without hearing or vision. What would you pick. I, and a few others, did ask if we were originally born with it & lost it or just born without. That seemed to make a difference somehow. Tough one...to not see children's smile...my nieces...to not see your mate? But then not hear their voice or laugh? To hear MUSIC! Ugh! I'm not sure still but just so grateful today I have both. Mom still has stitches in her eye & it is almost a year. She can't drive still & then she is likely to get the other eye done so that is another year! And she has a convertible Seabring so that is really hard not to be able to drive it. She would live in it. You should see how many times you would have to vacuum the dust from it! HA!

Well fresh contact & I can see so clearly now...maybe that is not so great...man I have to vacuum in here! HA! Let you know how the contacts do later!

The Eagle is Landing!

Here is another one I got that is cool....

Check out what some of our boys overseas did to their helicopter.

Some Afghan is probably freaking out rightabout now.

The story is: this very specialMi-24 helicopter is presently flying in Afghanistan, where it is no doubt causing quite a stir. God Bless the U.S.A.

Now That's A Fish Story!

Did you guys get this one in your email lately? WOW!



A Fish Story

A resident in the area saw a ball bouncing around kind of strange in a nearby pond and went to investigate.

It turned out to be a flathead catfish who had obviously tried to swallow a child's basketball which became stuck in its mouth!!

The fish was totally exhausted from trying to dive, but unable to because the ball would always bring him back up to the surface. The resident tried numerous times to get the ball out, but was unsuccessful. He finally had his wife cut the ball in order to deflate it and release the hungry catfish.

You probably wouldn't have believed this, if you hadn't seen the following pictures...

What Makes You Happy?

 
Hey everyone....Cyndy has an awesome posting on happiness! I also added some ideas & some sources in the comments. She could have taught my class with that posting...totally correct. In fact I just showed the Happiness movie to my class I mentioned on Cyndy's posting & before I do I ask my students to jot down what makes them happy & what will make them happier. We go through some of them. One said "Bubble Wrap". I had just happened to have a box in class with a panel of it & I gave it to her! HA!

I'd add "Bubbles!" I love making baskets of massage oils etc for wedding showers & then I think for birthdays baskets of fun things to make that inner child be an outer child more! Imagine if we took people from nursing homes outside (heck do it inside!) and had them play with bubbles! :-) Maybe if everyone went out for lunch & played with bubbles the rest of the day would go along much better. Hmmm sounds like a fun experiment for my students! :-)
 
Kids are so much fun! They really get what life is about! Getting dirty & playing until you are so exhausted you fall asleep at the dinner table! Remember those days? HA! When is the last time you played. God I remember the day I was too exhausted to take my nieces toys out of the bathrub. I got in with them. Did I feel weird....WHY! I had to force myself to play with them. And wow did that help. I think I'll add that to my wedding baskets! I mean it could be fun! ;-)
  
I love her part about kids! Can you imagine if instead of road raging we just smiled like this girl & stuck out our tongues at people. Ok, so if everyone didn't change at one time it might piss off some goof but just trying to make a point. The smile does make a difference. Oh if we could only stick out your tongue at a parent, boss, spouse etc...seee! Like when a kid does it to you, you do it back to them! HA! We might be better off! Ok, so when you go back to your office you can do it there! HA!

I'd also add how pets are tremendous help in reducing stress & making people laugh. Ok, so sometimes a source of stress too but that is the point...balance it more good than bad. Watching Country looking in the fridge for food just made me laugh hysterically. That cat would eat everything in that fridge. He is just like his daddy (my baby bro!). No my baby brother is in great shape, but when he was in HS playing football he drank protein shakes & ate like you wouldn't believe. Still great shape just worked it off. Dusty is pissed now with technology! He has signs made to boycott flat screen monitors! HA! Such a lovely warm tanning bed he had before! HA! Just petting dogs or cats or even watching a fish reduces blood pressure. Then the laughter man...
 
Country loves to play when I'm changing sheets. Now one could take that as "this cat is being a pain & I can't get my 'chores' done" but he is just so cute (I think that is what happens with "guys" pain...but sooo cute too! Ha!) And some might say "Ugh the cat is is getting cat hair all over my newly washed clothes!" Pssst! Who cares! Using a brush is worth the laughter to me or you know anyone who has a problem with some cat hair on my clothes doesn't really get what life is really about. They are the reason we have the expression "Get A Life" Ha! At least they weed out the nonanimal lovers for me & I won't waste my time! HA!
  
Just watching them (well we should get our bodies moving too but...) can be filled with laughter. Country actually thought I couldn't see him since his head was not out! HA! That is just like kids up to a certain point! This is why Peek-A-Boo works etc.
 
Now just combine kids with pets WOW! HA! Ok, now that I'm thinking about all this I need to get out of here & enjoy some nice weather & go find some kids to watch! HA! Have to grade papers & I'm sure my students would appreciate me being in a good mood when I'm grading them! HA!
 
Of course some occasional chocolate doesn't hurt either! HA! :-)

Ok, don't forget to check out Cyndy's Post!

My Carrots are on Steroids!

Well, I headed to my local Natural Food Store today to get my Penta Water  (reverse osmosis water part of 13 purification steps!) and when I was there I ended up getting a few more things. Look at these carrots. I have NEVER in my life seen carrots this big. They could be used as a weapon! Guys would have an inferiority complex! HA! That white you barely see in the plate! Look at the difference between my regular carrots I still had left over. What are they feeding these carrots to get this big? I love stir fried carrots. I'll eat them all by themselves! They are so sweet. They were even bigger than the big mushrooms I usually get. Made another "creative salad!" HA! This one had the following:

* Paul Newman Baby Spinach
* 2 Eggs (gotta get rid of those colored eggs!)
* Pine Nuts (I like Cashews too)
* Shrimp
* Brocolli
* Cauliflower
* Grape Tomatoes
* Crumble Cheese
* Mushrooms
* Celery
* No Salt Spike

Mmmm the salad was soooo good!

I also got some Naked Tropical Juice. Pretty good. Bought some Namaste Pizza Dough mix. It attracted me since I do know what Namaste means since I do Yoga, Tai Chi & Qi Gong...well did routinely until my foot surgery. Actually, I just got the green light to start back up slow, minus my favorite cat pose right now. I'm going to start in 2 weeks when classes are done. Finals week I'll need it. Ok, so Namaste means "The Spirit within me honors and respects the Spirit within you." Isn't that lovely. This pizza dough mix is free of wheat, gluten, corn, soy, potato, dairy & nuts. That intriqued me. They have other cake and pasta products too. I'll let you know how it is when I make a pizza!

Naked Carpenter...OK!

Ok, did you guys hear about the naked carpenter? No this is not a joke! HA! Check the link...this guy gets naked to crawl under a house. The homeowner walked in on him naked. He says, he was naked "because he didn't want to soil his clothes and that it gave him a better range of motion & that a skilled craftsman can work clothing -- and injury -- free."

If that isn't just a typical male excuse. Ya, all the guys will be saying "I'm a 'skilled craftsman'" HA! How come I don't get the guys who want to work on my car or do repairs for me nude? HA! Ladies, are your boyfriends or husbands working around the house nude for you?

Can you imagine the officer listening to this one! All the officers would go naked because they didn't want to get dirty. Then before you know it the firemen, landscapers, and construction workers would not want to get dirty....oh man....give me a few minutes here to imagine this! ;-) Ahhhhh! HA! Oh....ICK...sorry all of a sudden I remembered we just may not wanted all of them naked! HA! 

Then the guys says, "In certain situations such as demolitions where you are smashing rock you want to be clothed and protected because this rock can harm you," Well isn't he a smart one! They didn't have a picture! I'm thinking he isn't Mr. McDreamy you know! HA!

Moment of Silence for Pam

Not sure how many of you I will catch in 10 min but Pam's memorial service will start CA time at Noon I believe which will be in about 9 min. I thought a moment of silence might be nice. Even probably within the next hour or so if you took a min to think of her family & send them some prayers of strength for right now it might be helpful. I believe it will be.

Also if you got to Pam's tribute for the newspaper obits you can send a message to the family. It is up to 9 pages of messages currently! You should see all the people from around the world leaving messages! Tells you how loved she IS!!!  

Dreams & Wishes!

Natalie has a lovely poem "Will You Meet Me In Your Dreams" which is being higlighted in CarnivAOL that I love! I think we all can relate to meeting someone in ours (or their) dreams! :-) It reminds me of Diamond Rio's song "One More Day" (Watch Video) which I love but it makes me cry all the time! :-(

I love the "Will you Dance with Me" in the poem. I would add...

Hold My Hand Again
Kiss me
Hug me/Hold me

Oh boy...better stop there.... ;-)

Family, Holidays & Night Crawlers

I couldn't journal on Easter when I got home after reading that Pam had passed away. It also feels odd now even posting so soon, but I think this would also be best to do & she wouldn't want us not to.

Ok, I'll go slowly...

Well that is me in the picture outside my maternal grandparents house. Look at those cars! HA! You know my mom still has that Easter Basket! HA! Ahhhh! I was headed to bless baskets I'm sure! You know I can still tell you who use to live in those houses & sometime I'll have to tell you about the lady who has a burger place around the corner...she is still there!!!!I have no idea how old she is.

On Holy Thursday we'd go to dinner, sometimes I think mass & then you would go to visit 7 churches to see the decorations and say prayers. Now where my folks grew up (they only lived a few blocks from each other) there are churches every couple of blocks so many would walk it. Some churches just had lovely flower displays but others would have a whole last supper table display etc. Friday was coloring Easter Eggs, making cakes etc. Saturday we blessed baskets and beg our mom to eat some of the Easter Candy.  We couldn't eat the blessed stuff until Easter & man was that hard as a kid....ok it is still hard to do! HA! As I got older we blessed baskets at a church where are favorite priest was pastor. He was a young priest when my folks were young. He knew my grandparents generation & so we've known him a long time. He'd come to our family parties, married I don't know how many of us. As he would get to my family, he would take pleasure drowning us with the holy water & announcing to the whole church that we really needed it! UGH! :-) Last year he past away before Easter. Actually he was burried on my birthday & it was extremely difficult for me. I can't believe it has been a year now. I miss you Uncle Richie!

Now I guess I should explain how Easter use to be. When I was a kid Easter brunch was rotated to a different relative's house each year. Christmas Eve was always at our house since it was my dad's birthday but Easter was different. We would have...hmmm let me count...about 40+ people. That is including kids & then later as we got older it grew higher with spouses & their kids. With each year though of course some passed away & in laws for those who got married reduced it as well. We would have our traditional Polish brunch. Now when my folks were young it may have included other items (Christmas too) but what I remember is home made bread, cold chopped up Fresh & Smoked Polish Sausage, Ham and Eggs. We would haveBoszcz (soup made with sausage water & sour salt...definitely an aquired taste!) where you could put the sausage, ham & egg in it. I was looking on the internet now to find a recipe & the one they have are with beets & we never had that. It was a white one. I'll have to ask mom! Then in the evening a hot ham with the trimmings. All the kids would get into their Easter baskets and if the weather was good get grass stains all over their new Easter clothes! HA!

Now with each year our big extended family has slowly moved away, in laws came in the picture etc so it has not been very big. This year my folks remained in AZ it turned out I went to my sisters & one of my brothers came. The other? I have no clue! He was invited & called many times! His loss. Seems so odd since I remember (& LOVED!) the big family parties we use to have. I went to dinner, mass & 7 churches with my cousins up north. It was really fun. I was kinda sad since I have been going since college with my folks & they would not be here this year but it was different but really fun. My uncle is a hoot! I journaled about this earlier! Well we had the sausage, ham & eggs for brunch & then warm ham dinner but didn't get to make the soup...well considering it is just my dad & I left who really like it, I figured I can make it some other time. My sis gave us a chocolate bunny! :-) Mine now looks like the cartoon...he can't hear! HA! We actually watched the last Harry Potter in the afternoon! Just not the same! My nieces were with their mom this year so I still have to give them their baskets.

Ok, I suppose you are wondering about that 3rd item in my title! HA! The Night Crawlers...well you see we had pretty bad storms Easter Sunday & so when I was leaving my brother was helping me out with all my bags. The last trip down I went with to leave & he forwarned me about all the worms out. Now let me just say first, I don't hate worms. I feed my turtles superworms, I LOVE fishing & I do put my own worms on my hooks, but I don't particular care for stepping on them & making them squish, especially with fancy tongs sandles. Lovely white ones with a great gold medallion on the top my foot! :-) Well I didn't even see them or say anything to my brother as it was dark already. He just right away says, watch out for the worms. I'm like "worms?"  He then tells me "left", "right" etc as we are walking along the sidwalk. Isn't that sweet. Even one time said "Just a stick" I was laughing so hard. Reminds me of Twister, "'Left...Right...Cow..." HA! He is a sweetie at times! Especially on Thursday...I called him 3 times...went on "explorations" :-) Had to find out how to still end up where I wanted to be. I was up north by to see the doc & shop a bit before my tour of the churches. He is a human map! A few weeks ago he even said to me he & my nieces would take care of me if I came up by him with my headache! I tell ya! We are going to the Depeche Mode Concert together next month. I got him hooked. Took him once when I was in college. I had a friend in college who introduced me to them. Ahhh the 80s music! HA! So no worm was actually harmed on Easter! :-) HA! Would have been a great time to collect them though & go fishing! Remember that scene in Grumpier Old Men? That is the kinda fishing I would like! HA!

Oh speaking of going to the doctor...apparently I have a sinus infection so major antibiotics now. Yep, eating yogurt! Good thing is it may get rid of the headaches I've been having. Two of these HUGE horse pills twice a day. Man! That may have been the problem this time last year. They said the year before I was actually treated for one so maybe with all the funerals I had last year I didn't realize & didn't go in. I don't have a fever or a lot of obvious symptoms but fluid in my right ear again & other symptoms she could see. We only have 3 weeks before finals week so I'm very happy to catch this before it gets worse.

Ok, well that was my more subdued & quiet Easter this year. It was still nice but maybe next year my nieces will at least been in. Holidays are just so much more fun through the eyes of children aren't they. 

Pam is an Angel Girl Now!

I am saddened to hear of Pam's passing away tonight! Links are below. I always called Pam "Angel Girl" because she was just an angel to all of us. So inspiring & full of life & cheerful. I hope she would not mind me including this picture in my posting, but if someone reading this did not know about Pam I want you to see who this INCREDIBLE spirit was! Look at that smile! That is what she would want us all to remember! I also wanted to let you know she has two beautiful children who I know are in much pain tonight. Pam loved them with all her heart & I know her first thoughts would be of their welfare.

I didn't think this would happen so soon with Pam's spirit being such a strong one. She has fought this battle of lung cancer so bravely! My aunt had gone through this about 15 yrs ago now.  

Pam inspired many of us in JLand & JLand will never be the same without her.  If you never read Pam's journal, I really suggest you start from the beginning & read an entry a day & you will understand why so many of us have been so blessed to have her in our lives, even if just virtually.

You know I was just thinking of her in heaven now & being able to look down on all of us & actually getting to realize how many people she gave joy to & seeing all of us in JLand! Seeing what we look like & where her words spread across the globe. That brings a smile through the tears.

Pam's First Journal

Pam's New Journal

Announcement on her Passing

I also want to share these two pieces with all of you at this time. The first was read at one of my relatives last spring & the second at my colleague's daughter's funeral last fall. She had died tragically in the Chicago train crash.

1st Piece:

The Water Bug Story

Down below the surface of a quiet pond lived a little colony of water bugs. They were a happy colony, living far away from the sun. For many months they were very busy, scurrying over the soft mud on the bottom of the pond. They did notice that every once in a while one of their colony seemed to lose interest in going about with its friends. Clinging to the stem of a pond lily, it gradually moved out of sight and was seen no more.

"Look!" said one of the water bugs to another, "one of our colony is climbing up the lily stalk. Where do you think she's going?" Up, up, up it slowly went... Even as they watched, the water bug disappeared from sight. It's friends waited and waited but it didn't return...

 

"That's funny!" said one water bug to another...

 

" Wasn't she happy here?" asked a second...

 

"Where do you suppose she went?" wondered a third...

 

No one had an answer. They were greatly puzzled.

 

Finally one of the water bugs gathered its friends together. "I have an idea. The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come back and tell us where he or she went and why." "We promise" they said solemnly.

 

One spring day not long after the very water bug who had suggested the plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk. Up, up, up he went. Before he knew what was happening, he had broken through the surface of the water and fallen into the broad and free lily pad above.

 

When he awoke, he looked about with surprise. He couldn't believe what he saw. A startling change had come over his old body. His movement revealed four silver wings and a long tail.

 

Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings... The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from his new body. He moved his wings again and suddenly found himself above the water.

 

He had become a dragonfly. Swooping and dipping in great curves, he flew through the air. He felt exhilarated in the new atmosphere.

 

By and by the new dragonfly landed happily on a lily pad to rest. Then it was that he chanced to look below to the bottom of the pond. Why, he was right above his old friends, the water bugs! There they were scurrying around, just as he had been doing some time before.

 

Then the dragonfly remembered the promise. Without thinking, the dragonfly darted down.

 

Suddenly he hit the surface of the water and bounced away. Now that he was a dragonfly, he could no longer go into the water...

 

"I can't return!" he said in dismay. "At least I tried. But I can't keep my promise. Even if I could go back, not one of the water bugs would know me in my new body. I guess I'll just have to wait until they become dragonflies too.

 

Then they'll understand what has happened to me, and where I went."

 

And the dragonfly winged off happily into its wonderful new world of sun and air...

2nd Piece:

There is a story told of two men, one old, one young. One day, the young man was showing people how absolutely beautiful and perfect his heart was. And it was as beautiful and perfect as the day he was born.

When the old man happened by this young one, he shook his head. “Oh, young one,you believe your heart is perfect, but have you loved? Have you been loved?”

As the young man contemplated this, the old man removed his own heart to show those who were gathered. His heart was gnarly. There were huge chunks missing, pieces sewn in haphazardly, little pieces/big pieces all together in one big lump of a heart.

“You see, young man, all of the pieces that are missing are pieces that I gave to people when I loved them. The bigger the piece, the bigger the love.”

“The same goes for the pieces sown in; those are from people who have loved me.”

“Thus, my heart is greater than yours, because I have loved.”

The young man fell to his feet, tearing a chunk from his heart, pleading with the old man to take it. The old man took a chunk from his own heart to give the boy. Thus, a friendship was born.

I think of Pam with a huge heart from all the people she touched & every one of us has pieces of hers in ours! :-)

Happy Easter

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter...technically it is Easter! :-) Haven't seen the Easter Bunny yet but if he plans on hiding any eggs here or dropping off some chocolate he'll have to wait about another hour as I'm still coloring eggs! HA! I know pathetic but well mom & dad are in AZ so this is the first year I'm not doing them with them or my nieces on Friday. We usually get them & the rest of our easter baskets blessed on Sat but guess this year will be different. Perhaps it is better. It would be the first year without Father "Uncle" Richie drowning my family with the holy water! He'd always announce to the whole church we really needed it! HA! I really miss him!
  

I did go to 7 churches on Holy Thursday. Usually I go with mom & dad but this year I went with my aunt & uncle and my cousins & I had a blast. First we went to church up north where my cousin built a house. New church & it was lovely. My cousin's little 14 month old is a hoot. She only says a few words but knows over 40 signs, one of which is Monkey (hand under armpit & then monkey sound) because I bought her for her birthday "5 Little Monkey's Jumping the Bed" book which came with a glove & monkeys on each finger. Well in the middle of mass she starts making the monkey sign & sound! We were all cracking up. Probably Father Richie from Heaven saying we are all a bunch of monkeys! HA! Storms rolled in, spectacular lightning but we still had fun. Dinner at Portillos & then there was a bad start with 1 car (out of 4 at first!) getting lost. Actually, I can't say anything since I went on "explorations" 3 times that day! HA! But I had fun & found some new places so hey it was meant to be! My uncle is a hoot. He is like my dad...fast, one liners. Like my cousin made a comment that she should of brought "the sheet" meaning the piece of paper with the church names & he says, "well at least a pillow case"...ugh! Then when it was raining he says, "April Showers, so she closes the curtain." Ugh! This is the man who when I met him for the first time when he was going to marry my aunt I was coloring with my sis & he says, "Mmm I love the green crayons, they taste so good!" I'm thinking this good is a bit odd. Now, I'm not too sure that was such a great idea to say to a kid! HA! Eventually, we all packed into my cousins big SUV which was much better. When I was a kid you would walk to all the churches because in the Chicago area there is a church like every couple of blocks. My aunt, uncle & I talked about this. Chicago was pretty much sectioned, not purposely but just all your relatives lived nearby. You'd have the polish area, german, irish etc. So then you would have churches for those who lived in that area. I crashed at my folks house because we didn't finish until like 12:30am!

My nieces won't be in so it will just be my sis & I think only 1 bro? The other one has not been heard from lately...goofy boy! His loss. I think a few friends may end up coming too. We're decending upon my sis! HA! I should be sleeping. Just a bit more coloring & I should be...YA! Had to take those nasty Antibiotics so I had to eat something with it.

I actually have a cute bunny hanging around my place lately! I wonder if there will be baby bunnies soon? Hopefully the lawncare will not disturb them. I don't really want to be feeding baby bunnies. My mom had a knack for always finding abandoned bunnies & bringing them home. No wonder I have a zoo! HA!

Have some fun:

PaZing (Easter Bunny Pong!)

I thought this was hysterical when I found it! HA! Well you know what they say about rabbits! Who Hoo!

Left 2 pix for you to enlarge to see better! This one was too funny! Anyone want to have fun making a caption?

Check out:

Peep Jousting

Peep Research

I can't believe I'm going to say this! Ugh! You know they just don't make things like they use to (shaking head!) Ugh! I was fine with the single colors but I just finished the swirl ones. Now my family has done these since I was a little girl. The dye we use to get came in little bottles with bunny head/ears as the cap. They worked great! Now they have these package ones & they are horrible! They don't mix well so it is just oil. They are not bright colors! Just horrible! I'm going to get my pictures out from when I was a kid & send them to this company & tell them to get their act together or get out of the business! HA! Now I just have to pray I can get them to my sis' without cracking them all. Remember "Truvy's" eggs in "Steel Magnolias" HA!

One other note to self...don't get manicure until after I color eggs! HA! Good thing there isn't anyone around tonight...I would leave a trail of "where I had been during the night!" HA!!!! Can you imagine explaining that one to the relatives when you show up for dinner! HA! Well I hope the Easter Bunny is good to you! I better get in bed & get some zzzzzzz! Oh man, I just put brand new sheets on my bed. If there is even one spot of color this company is going to be buying me new sheets. Maybe I'll use my Mary Kay scrub first. Ok, have fun!

Where's My Gym Shoes?

Anyone know where my gym shoes are???  Ugh! HA! Ok, I live by myself...ok with my zoo but still...small place & I can't find my gym shoes? This is pretty pathetic. Think my babies are playing games with me?

"Hide the shoes...she'll stay home & play with us!" Maybe it is revenge for a few late nights & them having to wait for their dinner?

I did go shopping for them though. Found a Natural Pet store up north that has organic & natural products in their foods. Freeze dried & frozen treats & food...cool. I have a spreadsheet going on what they like & don't like. It was also near a Whole Foods so I got to get some organic groceries too! :-) (Don't you think AOL needs to put a smiley's button on the journals so we can use all the smileys available for email!)

I've looked in my "typical places" but they're missing. "Someone stole them" Ha! Did you hear Jeff Foxworthy's routine on when guys yell someone stole the remote! Ha! His wife is so funny!

HA! Found them. Opened box lid was down & hiding them underneath! They weren't in the typical spots though so...

I found this book on the internet  & it is cool. Apparently, these magic shoes will let you do anything you want when you have them on. Ahhhh...wouldn't that be nice? Interesting! Hmmm? Have to think about this some more!

What would you do if you could put these shoes on & do anything you wanted? :-)  

Self Exploration

I got this from Jessica! I thought it looked like fun & worth exploring to see what I would actually come up with.

I AM:  Feeling Achy...probably the rainy weather.

I WANT:  A long vacation on a beach to lay in the sun, walk quietly & find sea shells & listen to the ocean waves & sea gulls. Even better would be to move to the beach! :-)

I WISH: I could move to the beach...or woods with a lake.  

I HATE: Well my Grandma said never to "Hate" but what would come close is people who judge but see isn't that judging them and hating them is just as bad. Ok how about this...I hate being in pain.  

I MISS: HIM!

I FEAR: Hmmm? People who hate! HA! But I guess that would be true & reasonable.

I HEAR:  My chimes on my deck & Grumpy Old Men Movie.

I WONDER: If he still thinks of me.....

I LOVE: Babies & Children....LOVE! Flowers, cats, really most animals, my family, Vanilla Bean Cheesecake at TGI Fridays (well I do! Ha!), Christmas, surprising people, gardening, being on the beach or in the woods, being loved & loving someone, helping others learn & changing their lives for the better, Noel's artwork, Moonflower scent at the Body Shop, when I'm out of pain, chocolate, gummy bears in Malibu Rum & Pineapple juice (yes, someone understands that Ha!)...this can just go on forever! :-)
 

I ALWAYS: But I'm a psych prof...there are no "Always" or "Nevers" :-) Hmmm? I always "try" to give love, learn, and help others.

I AM NOT: PERFECT....and others better accept that and not expect it!

I AM NOT ALWAYS: able to think clearly when I am hurt by someone.

I NEED: Love! Doesn't everyone? Just like LeeLoo!

I SHOULD: have told him how I felt about him!