GFC 5...a big wave

Ok, this Good Force Challenge is easy! This next week make sure you wave to someone everyday. Maybe it's your neighbor you have always meant to talk to or the guy on the freeway who cut you off (I do mean wave, no obscene gestures) either way a friendly wave always makes people feel better.

Your life....to music

Here's a little weekend activity I think will be fun.
Make a playlist of your favorite songs. It can be as long or short as you want it just has to have your favorites.
Make a list of your favorite places you go to regularly.
One weekend, take a musical tour of your life. See if your life set to music is what you expect, or better. Take some time to enjoy what you do everyday without the stresses and requirements that accompany it. Aren't all things better with a musical soundtrack? I think so.

Seriously

I've spent some time reading the news everyday. It's something that I believe is important for everyone to do and I truly believe not enough people do. It's been an exercise in self education for a while now. I don't know why but for the past few days especially, the news seems to me to be not a tool of education and understanding but a growing outlet for the negative, disgusting and frivolous things that take place (according to many news outlets) everyday. I do not believe, I can't, that the world is as dismal a place as many would have me believe. Yes, I understand fully that bad things happen all the time to many. I'm not airing grievance about others who do not share my views I'm simply tired. Fatigued not by the act of reading but depleted by what I've read. I believe I will have to find ways to educated myself that will balance description of current events both positive and negative. There has to be someone out there who can still see a silver lining and encourage people to act for good when so many aren't. I'll keep looking.

Something to Laugh At

One day a policeman stopped a motorist who had just gone through a four way stop sign and was about to give him a ticket when the motorist said. "Officer you can't give me a ticket for that!' "Why not" said the officer. "Because although I did not stop I slowed right down and its almost the same." "But you did not stop" replied the officer, "and the sign says STOP." "But the way was clear and it was safe" replied the motorist. The officer then pulls out his batton and starts hitting the motorist. "What are you doing!" yells the motorist in surprise. "Do you want me to slow down or stop" says the officer.

(Eric's clean jokes)

Thought for the day

Should vegetarians eat animal crackers?

GFC 4

After a horrific experience at Walmart tonight I had a thought for the next Good Force Challenge. Here it is. Instead of writing a letter of complaint or verbalizing a complaint to someone, send a note of thanks for something good. Even better, say it in person. Without going into a lot of detail, it will suffice to say that I was treated with rudeness and impatience at my local Walmart this evening. Even the manager on duty was curt and abrupt. It was my first reaction to tell him how I had been treated by his employees but when even his manner was cold I assumed it wasn't worth my energy. It was then I decided to contact the local Sears to ask about the same item I was searching for at Walmart, an experience that was in stark contrast with the other. The employee at Sears was courteous, kind and above all, patient. He went above and beyond physically seeking out my item. I felt compelled to express my thanks and explained to him that it was because of his treatment of me that I would purchase from Sears.

So there's the challenge and my story. Hope you all make an effort to make someones day a little brighter.

Stop That!

As a mother, I have come to wonder how many times I will have to repeat that phrase. Seriously, it has to be the most repeated phrase in the history of the world. I'm assuming Eve said it to Cain on more that one occasion and probably even Abel at times. I think that today alone I've said it twenty times. It got me thinking, would saying it in another language be more effective? It might at least get their attention. So here is the translation of "Stop that" in three languages and for those moms who think this might be a fun experiment, here's "pick that up" too.

"Stop that"
arretez-le (French)
pare esto (Spanish)
horen sie das auf (German)

"Pick that up"
Ramassez-le
recoja esto
nehmen Sie das auf

A couple of those have accentuation marks that I can't put in with this program but really, are they gonna know?

And for those moments when they actually do what we ask,

"I love you"
Je vous aime
Le amo
Ich leibe dich

Guten Tag!

Presidential Justice

Once again, I was reading MSNBC and the article about the new Supreme Court Justices and their role on the court really stood out to me. I'm sure in what was meant to be a concession to President Bush, the author makes the comments that Justice Alito and Chief Justice Roberts have ".....rejoined the Reagan judicial philosophy."
While I am a moderate conservative and am grateful that the court "swings that way" I can't help but be concerned by the fact that the highest court in our land follows any one presidents philosophy. Why do we have to categorize such things? Why can't we look at one branch and say, they act in a conservative manner or they follow a conservative rule of law. Why does everything have to be partisan? Wasn't it the point of the organization of our government for each branch to check and balance the others? I'm sick of the "Republicans did this or the Democrats did that" tantrum. It's time to stop being so concerned with who holds the power and use the power (whomever holds it) for the benefit of this country and the world.

Back to Reality

I know, I know it's been way too long since my last post. I have a good excuse, really! I went to Hawaii!! Yes, it was awesome and I had a good time and as soon as I have a minute I'll get some pics up. Maui was great, we stayed at The Renaissance on Wailea and it was pretty descent. We spent alot of our time at The Grand Wailea though (someone said Oprah stayed there recently) and it was jaw droppingly, blow-you-out-of-the-water amazing. Just a little FYI, if anyone is planning a trip to Maui, you've got to eat at Mama's Fish House in Pa'ia. The ambiance is amazing and the food is just as great.
I got some great jewelry and some much needed R&R but best of all it was great to reconnect with Ceetoe and just enjoy each other's company. All in all, I'd highly recommend Maui!

Use Your Brain

So I'm gonna spout off here a little. After an unpleasant brush with pornography (using the "next blog" button), I'm a little bugged at people who think I want to see their "business".

I found this article on MSNBC and I think it's quite true and illustrates my point. It reminds me of another article I read about our young girls dressing like prostitutes and our young boys being taught to act like pimps. (I'll see if I can find it) For the record, I don't believe that taking your clothes off for exhibition empowers you in any way. Call me a prude (I've been called that before so "sticks and stones") but showing your hooch to everyone doesn't make you a better person. It takes restraint, smarts and high self esteem to allure people in other ways. Yes, God gave us bodies for reproduction and pleasure but he gave us our minds so we could control ourselves.

Enjoy the article, it's worth reading.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18924743/

Ha Ha

I'm sorry but I can't think of anything fun or whitty to write about today. So I went online to get a joke. Hope you get a laugh.

"A woman named Shirley was from Beverly Hills. One day, she had a heart attack and was taken to Cedars Sinai hospital. While on the operating table, she had a near-death experience. She saw God and asked, "Is this it?" God said, "No, you have another 30 to 40 years to live." Upon her recovery, she decided to stay in the hospital and have collagen shots, cheek implants, a face lift, liposuction and breast augmentation. She even had someone dye her hair. She figured since she had another 30 to 40 years, she might as well make the most of it. She walked out of Cedars Sinai lobby after the last operation and was killed by an ambulance speeding up to the hospital. She arrived in front of God and said, "I thought you said I had another 30 to 40 years?" God replied, "Shirley! I didn't recognize you!"

(Eric's clean Jokes)

Good Force Challenge Week 3

In the wake of my grandmother's death I have not had time to present the GFC for this week so this week's challenge will extend into next. I'd like to make this week's challenge in honor of my grandmother, Esther. She loved to get letters and so for this week your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to get in touch. That's right! It's letter writing time. I know, I know, many of us have forgotten how to use pen and paper so this is your chance to practice your handwriting. You can make it as short or long as you like it just has to be to someone you haven't spoken with in a while. I hope everyone has fun doing this. I think it will be great.

Happy Writing!

School's Out for Summer!

Our last day of school was yesterday. My kids got up, got dressed and went to one and a half hours of classes and came home. I will admit to a tiny feeling of panic at the realization that I am the sole source of entertainment for my kids. I haven't put together any projects or anything yet so I have to get going. Today I think we are going for a picnic at the local park, (the one down the street, not the one behind my house). In the past I have always dreaded the first week of summer for the simple fact that my routine stops and I have to come up with some fun activities for the kiddos. I am looking forward to this year. I think as I get older I am getting better at this mom thing. Maybe by the time my kids go to college and move away I will be ready to be a parent.