Vote: The Chicken or the Pig?

Did you Vote?

Confused about your choices here in the title? You should be. 

They are not the usual party affiliations, they are not even Boston Market choices...

Recently I have been struggling with going vegan and finding a way to live that is healthy and kid friendly. I want my children to strive not just survive. So with all the blogs devoted to crying over who won and who lost in the presidential election, all the commercialization of the process and the lack of real control I am writing about Living with the choices of others.

You really have two options in any election, vote and live with the choice of the majority or veto and live with the choice of the majority. It used to be drastically different and voters had a measure of control. As did the electoral body, the president and the lobbyists. Now? Not so much!

I have been very concerned about the health and well being of my children. It's been over a year since my near death surgery and my 'letters to my kids'. I feel even more confused with every new piece of information I find. It always amazes me at the age of the material I 'uncover'. These breaking stories and scandals have been brewing for years, even decades and no changes are on the horizon.

I'm trying not to be doomsayer but the election process is messed up and has been since big business bought off compassion. After World War II the population needed to be fed for less. They needed to feel like they mattered in the equation and they were frightened and worried about their children's future. Today... hmmm, sounds pretty similar to me.

I honestly think either candidate would have done similarly good and perhaps a similar level of bad. What I really worry about is how complacent we Americans have become in general and what legacy we are leaving our children.

I used to be proud to be an American. Proud that my father served. Proud to be living the American dream. Then I lost everything and realized that none of that mattered! We are not entitled simply because we were born American citizens. We are not even supportive of our service members current or past in this country. We say all the right things because we are a generation of politically correct cattle. It should be fitting that we are all going to slaughter but it's not my head dangling on the bleeding line, it's my children's. 

If you could wake up tomorrow with only three things, people, or senses each... What really matters to you? Your health? Your family? Your job? Your car? House? Family Bible? Grandmother's quilt? Pet? The real answers might elude you until you are literally faced with the options. I pray none of you or my children find yourselves in that situation.

There are many organizations out there speaking out against animal abuse across the species. I am not even touching on that in this post. Instead I want you to REALLY THINK about what you are eating, what is in it, what it is, where it came from, and if you need it.

We are so used to having what we want, how we want, when we want and for so cheap it might as well be free that we are selling our humanity and our children's health for convenience sake. Humans no longer NEED to eat MEAT! Yep I said it!! We don't need to! Why do we? Because it's hard to learn how to cook substitutes... because it's cheaper... because we like anything quick and easy... because we would rather spend our money on clothes, shoes, movies, or other want item... because we aren't used to being deprived of anything we want.

If you see a half starved, crippled cat, dog or horse covered in oozing sores and mangled with mutated genes and the effects of human cruelty and your first thought is "Yum, guess what's for dinner!" Then there is no changing your mind. You are always going to be a carnivore. But if your heart breaks and you want it put out of it's misery, healed and allowed to live a happy life... then why is it ok to eat grossly mutated farm animals covered in oozing sores, blisters and the marks of their confinement?

If you think going vegitarian or vegan is for wimps or bleeding hearts give this a thought: What keeps me up late tonight is the newly acquired knowledge that the last major flu to jump species and kill was caused by birds. And that's what they are now saying causes all the previous pandemics as well! Are you even reading this? PUT DOWN THAT CHICKEN LEG and pay attention!!! The genetically altered animals we now serve, buy and eat are the direct cause of flu viruses that have killed and are due to kill millions. These viruses are already present in migrating water fowl. Chickens and pigs are the incubators needed to spread these cross-breeds to humans. 

So if you don't care that your dietary CHOICE causes the proliferation of mutant animals that could never procreate or survive in nature due to the faulty genetics and drugs in their bodies, maybe you should CONSIDER that as long as the demand for these beasts as edible carcasses exists, the REAL threat of a worldwide virus spree is closer and closer.

I want my children to grow up strong and never sacrifice their compassion for convenience, their appetite for another's illness or their voice for financial gain.

Who's with me?

Kitchen Tips 101

My Mom was a whiz in the kitchen. My sister was her best pupil. I was always outside... getting filthy... playing with the boys in the dirt... I laugh thinking of it now, but i was terrified the first time I had to prepare a meal on my own. My mom was the one laughing then. She says, "I tried to teach you, but you never wanted to stay in the kitchen and learn". And she was correct of course. The only time I ever spent in the kitchen was when it was my turn to wash the dishes. Which it seemed to be often because I was forever trading turns with my sister in exchange for something or another.

Now in my thirties with two kids of my own and both too young to care about kitchen tips, I think it's time to log my tips and tricks for you to pick up and share. And maybe one day they'll look back on these posts and sigh with relief. I know my stand-by is calling Mom with even the simplest of questions. My favorite to date was probably, "Mom I'm making soup and it's too thin, how do I thicken it a bit?".

So here is my first post of Kitchen tips I have picked up either from searching or from trial and error.

My all time favorite TIP:

When boiling pasta of any kind (Mac N Cheese to Ziti) add a teaspoon or splash of olive oil, or your favorite oil, to the water. Add it after filling with water and place on the stove.

If you like to add salt to your boiling water like me, add the salt when the water starts to boil, before adding the pasta.

Once you drop in your pasta, swish with a spoon.

Cook as usual. You should notice that it sticks less, esp when draining!

If you have trouble with pasta sticking to the bottom of your pan, spray with pam (or other brand) before adding water and/or stir more often.

Hope this helps! And YES, it really does work! (That's why my olive oil is next to the stove always!!)

Valentine's Day #116

I remember feeling so sad on this Holiday in my youth above all others. Valentine's day seemed to be about what you GET and not what you share. So, in a better judgement moment, I decided to define love instead of focusing on what I lacked, and this is what I found:

My search took me to two great 'chapter'. One of my all time favorite sonnets is Shakespeare's #116. In my eyes it is the definition of love similar to the "Love chapter" in the Bible. They both parallel the meaning of TRUE love to me. So, here is my paraphrasing of the two:

Shakespeare's Sonnet #116	In My WORDS
Let me not to the marriage of true minds	I am not trying to implying that what you have is
Admit impediments. Love is not love	not real, but to me Love is not true
Which alters when it alteration finds,	When it changes to meet different circumstances,
Or bends with the remover to remove:	or tries to erase faults like an artist with an eraser.
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark	It is like the north star in the unchanging night sky;
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;	that can look on hurricanes never flinching;
It is the star to every wandering bark,	or like the beacon that leads lost ships home,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.	which can be seen, and is worth the most to those saved
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks	Love is not fooled by youth and lust
Within his bending sickle's compass come:	which fades with time and can never outlast death.
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,	Even if shared for a short time, it remains
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.	unchanged even at the very end.
If this be error and upon me proved,	If I am proved to be wrong about all this then nothing
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.	I have ever written is true, and no one has ever truly loved

And why do I think it correlates to the Bible?

1 Corinthians 13

...⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away...

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 

In MY Words:

The Definition of love is that it show these qualities: Patience, Kindness, Honesty, Humbled, and not be Jealous, Selfish, Violent, or Begrudging. If someone Truly Loves you they would never find it funny or laugh at your misfortune. They would show sincere applause when you did well, even if it was better them them. True love nurtures, protects and has faith in you. True love will outlast and obstacle even the end of all civilization.

It is important to have faith and keep your hope, but it is Love that is the greatest and most powerful of these. 

A side note: relationships that are about hoping that it changes and having faith that it will, are not based in honesty. And since love can be described as honest, those relationships are not in a mutual true love.

Love is amazing and doesn't always have to be romantic. I hope that those that are without a "Valentine" today will look instead for the True love they already have in their lives and instead return THAT love and feel truly special this year.

Above is a snapshot of today's news reel from a popular news site.

There are places to share the story and then highlights on the presidential candidate race and below all this in bold pictures was info on the celebrity awards. I wonder how many of us even read this?

War is all around us. Nations are clashing and people are are suffering for no reason other than greed and power struggles. Why? Are we so worried about movies and popular votes to not even see this?

What I want to drive home was better said by George Santayana, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". And although I completely agree, as a kid history was my least favorite subject. It might have been that my teachers seemed bored to tears to pass the knowledge on, and that so much of it was dumied down and falsified to benefit the US. Awhile back, they didn't really want us to know all. Now that it is generally accepted that the truth must be known fully to prevent repeat failures, no one seems to care.

No matter what your teachers lack in charisma, please pay attention to our past. Not everything in the text books is correct, so when a story grips you, research for yourself to get to the true facts. You may not be rewarded in class, and may even be discouraged from sharing this new find. But you will know the back story and be able to recognize a similar path when it approaches.

No clue what I mean? There is usually a greedy or power hungry source to almost every dramatic war or atrocity. How they hide this agenda is what you need to see in order to avoid being the victim of or unwilling participant in this act. How many people would have knowingly assassinated another race or tribe? But how many paid and supported the leader and groups that carried out the crimes? Do you see now? 

It is not enough to sit by and avoid confrontation anymore. We have to become more involved in the direction our country is taking or we won't have a country to call ours and take pride in for very long.

The Soda Pop Perils

So, first I would like to thank all the informative, if not scary, emails I have received over the years about the contents and effects of pop. If you didn't already know I am a self proclaimed Dr Pepper addict.

I used to be blatantly addicted to CocaCola but when we were about smashed by a Coke Truck I switched to Dr P and never looked back. Now after 2 decades of drinking my favorite brown soda, I'm inclined to quit the habit.

So you know who you are, Thank you for all the emails, videos, posts and info you have all sent my way. I am finally kicking the habit and going back to water. Why?

If you don't have great friends like mine you may be unaware of the dangerous side effects of brown pop. Besides giving you a hideous smile and terrible breath it has been studied to add 'hidden' fat to your bodies organs, like the liver! (This will kill you) and slowly zaps away your magnesium levels which can cause a plethora of symptoms including heart palpitations, muscle cramps and nervous ticks. Caffeine alone is linked to several health risks, and diet soda is the worst offender of all. My fav Brown pops though will also plummet you into diabetes faster, mess with your metabolism of sugars and cause your skin to loose it's healthy glow.

We now have a dark circled eyed, overweight, one the verge of diabetes, and cramped up generation of pop addicts in our country. And why do we keep at it? Study any addictive substance and you'll see your answer. I have known for years that it was my biggest fault but kept drinking it. Now that it has landed me in the ER on two different all nighters with kidney infections and has me at this very moment jonsing for a hit, I have said "Enough!"

I don't know what it will take for you. But if you have a sugar or soda habit, take my advice and look at it very carefully. Find the facts for yourself and just try to go ONE DAY with out a sip or taste. If you dislike the way you react when the thought of loosing this beveridge or sugary snack is removed, do something about it now before you are overweight, crippled by muscle cramps and having heart issues.

Think I have over exaggerate? In fact I've UNDER played it. I've denied the facts for decades and have finally had enough of feeling like crap and looking like it too. It's back to water for me and I'm moving back to the natural in my pantry as well. It will take some time to switch out everything, but my kids are worth it and we are too. I have deliberately left out most of the claims, you should always find them for yourself, I'm just trying to push you to get the REAL nutrition facts and risks today before your decades are enslaved like mine were.

I encourage you to seriously consider your next sip.

Your Own Worst Enemy

OK, maybe "enemy" is a little too strong, but I recently discovered that often it is what you most aspire NOT to be or do becomes what you always do and are. Confused much? Ok, say you really dislike it when your bestie calls you pet names. Silly, endearing or stupid names really get on your nerves. So you start listening for them everywhere. And guess who is the biggest offender? Yep, YOU are.

Maybe you don't have this issue. But I have discovered that, just like in goals, what you focus on is what you bring into being in your life. So if you are zeroing in on what you like least about this or that, watch out or you just might become your own worst enemy!

Hail Aspartame! / Diet Drinks Kill

I have been avoiding aspartame at all costs since it's emergence as the wonder diet solution. My Mom fell in love with it. But it gave me instant painful migraines and even the powder used to test TB mask fit would trouble me for hours. I was told that my allergy is not possible, but even when I'm unaware that it has been added I get tremendous pain after ingesting a small amount.

So I was not surprised to hear it can cause you to gain weight. Almost any unnatural substance can cause your body to change it's structures to deal with it. But natural sugar can make you gain weight faster. Now I read all over that it is a poison and slowly kills thousands. That it is directly linked to brain cancer, MS and systemic Lupus.

Well, I have avoided it like the plague and I had a brain tumor removed this year, and am being tested for the others. So I know it wasn't the 'cause' for me. Our society is a bit scare crazy. Everything causes cancer anymore. But really, just breathing shortens your life span, should we stop doing that too?

While I appreciate that aspartame is not great, I do not believe diet drinks are killing anyone. Maybe obesity is offing Americans at alarming rates, but we can't really blame soda plants for that. Marketing people? Hmm, well that would mean it's their fault for telling us what to do and we are blameless because we did as we were told. Which always makes me hear my Mom's voice; "if they jumped off a bridge..."

The truth? You can never take anything as fact. Yo must ALWAYS research it and make your own decisions. Just as I CHOOSE to avoid aspartame, I do not avoid diet drinks because of fear. I also choose to eat less processed foods, and try to store things in BPA free containers. I don't do this always, but as often as possible.

Why? Because I have seen a 10 year old water bottle distorted and yet intact. Because I was given aluminum cups of Koo-laid as a child, and because it's an easy thing to avoid. I believe that it breaks down, very slowly. And I choose to stay away from cans because it reminds me of that metallic taste I hated as a kid.  My choice. Not because of marketing propaganda.

Which makes me think of Hitler. I know, WAY huge leap! I have been watching History channel again. What amazes me is not what we did not know, but that so many questions were never asked. The people that GAVE him the power to do heinous crimes in their name were unaware of the evil he was plotting. He spread lies like we share supper bowl commercials.

Why am I even thinking of this? Because it just proves that you must ALWAYS ferret out your own information! This goes for anywhere you find yourself. I truly believe this. Not that I want my children to be cynical, and ever un-trusting, but I do want them to be informed and confident. We have a generation of children that have watched their parents lay back and reap the rewards of their own parents labors and truth gathering.

I do not intend on giving my children their education. I plan on teaching them. One of my  toughest lessons was learning to ask the right questions, and finding where to go for accurate answers. But once you find an answer the hard way, you'll never forget it. That's simple brain physiology. But don't take my word for it!

InBox Inspiration

You know those forwarded messages that you get hundreds of in your email inbox? Try reading a few now and then, because most are sent with powerfully positive intentions and could well be exactly what you needed to uplift your spirits that day.

I'm usually not one for forwarding, but I do read what my friends felt pressed to send me. And this one I'm about to share here you may have seen before. It does have an air of familiarity about it, so I'm sure this is not the first time it's been passed around, but I want our daughters to be sure they know they are not alone in one universal 'fault' we women share. And I want our sons to be able to recognize and appreciate the divine differences in our sexes.

The following is as it was sent to me and not my words;

Women have strengths that amaze men....

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy

and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in..

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about

a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they

think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss

can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what

makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their

family and friends.

Women have vital things to say

and everything to give..

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN, 
 
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.  

As women we are made as nurturers and it so easy to forget to pause and refresh our own spirit and mind. I remember the first time someone told me about taking care of myself first and I struggled with feelings like that was selfishness, or it just felt strange. But then I came across the scripture stating to daily renew your mind, and it came to me that this just may be the key.

As women we seldom think of our own needs until we are exhausted beyond normal. Yet, by daily refreshing and renewing our focus, we can avoid the crash. It sounds simple because it is.

Face it ladies, we are just wired differently than the guys. I recall a study regarding women and men and brain waves. A group of men and women were shown images of what society deems attractive men and women while studying brain patterns. The women had activity in their brains equally for both sexes, where the men only reacted to an attractive female. But, before you roll your eyes and tell me you could have predicted that, hear me out.

We ladies see beauty in so much more than our balancing counterpart men. So take my other favorite scripture from Phillippians (4:8) and train your thoughts to meditate on positive things, not all the potential negatives you see around you. Take in the view while calming your active mind. If if your view is not at all soothing, try a photo, a sound, or simply sitting quietly with your eyes closed.

When is the last time you truly tasted that favorite morning beverage or treat? I mean really tasted it! Eyes closed, smelling that aroma, savoring the first splash of colors, smells, and taste as it travels across your tongue. In the shower, take a pause and look down. Watch the water flowing off you into the drain and away. Imagine that water as carrying any thought, feeling, emotion, or worry away with it and breathe deeply.

Sound a little too much for you? You'd be surprised how the mind reacts to these very simple and relatively time free actions. You have more time in your day for yourself than you realize if you clear out all the static and worry. Remember to be amazed at the little things daily by resetting your focus and watch your energy and self giving grow!

Want a boost with imagery? Today in my art blog I posted a beautiful scene that is completely nature at it's most manicured and well tended. Maybe it will inspire awe for you. Go There Now.

Sex, Lies and VideoTape

There are few things more important than Honesty and Virtue. And in this modern world where even the darkest images are in bass relief, these basic values have never lost their strength.

As a kid, I remember harsh lessons in honesty and overcoming those butterflies in your belly as you walk up to an adult to apologize for say, picking a rose without permission, or grabbing that pack of gum without paying. My Mother didn't spare my feelings when making me or my siblings face our faults. Sure there were soft words and serious lessons afterward, but the traumatic experience itself was never sugar coated or rushed.

I think this is part of the reason later lessons where so easy to accept and include in my life later.  We try to make things easier for our children, but they already have it so much easier with modern technology. Sure, I had a computer as a kid, but not until 4th grade, and I only used it at school under supervision. We didn't have texting, or even cell phones. If we wanted to chat we walked up the street or sent actual paper letters.

But I'm not writing about how I walked to school uphill both ways in 4 feet of snow... I am trying to instill the importance of some basic lessons for my children and any readers that happen along.

I've talked before about Honesty. I even eluded to the importance of choosing a good core group of friends since a potential spouse is usually among them. But with today's modern contraptions making it so easy to give away our innocence with a click of an image or key, I wanted to write a bit on Virtue.

Today it is so easy to write a naughty line or post a compromising photo. It is so normal and common in our society that those that do not participate are branded prudes or some new term. Never let others presure you to do anything that makes you compromise who you are! Which sounds as simple as it is, but in reality it is only that simple if you know who you are!

Learn to listen to that inner voice. Slow down when you feel that push, buckle up when you get that feeling, and pause and think things through before acting if you ever get the feeling that you are about to do something you'll later regret.

Most of us are tattooed and pierced these days and even our most famous actors and artists loudly proclaim their disrespect for core values. Never follow a crowd. It is human nature to want to belong and 'fit in', but crowds seldom think before they run. With so many feet propelling them forward there is little time to look very far ahead. They may get lucky for awhile, but sooner than later those feet will find an impassable point and those in the front with get the crush or push first, the last may never even see where they are ending.

Make sense? Basically Never send personal information to anyone by unsecured means. Do not give away what is irreplaceable. And do not rush into judgements. (Whether you are trusting someone with your heart, your virginity, or your financial information, the concept is the same) Why is our society more protective of puppies than babies and Credit Card numbers before teens?

My children, do NOT allow yourself to be recorded or captured in compromising ways, do not lower your self worth for anyone, and never give away pieces of yourself.

Tempering the Nails

One of life's most repeated lie:

Sticks and stones may break may bones, but words will never hurt me."

When I was a little girl. My biggest obstacle to learning something new was my temper. I always assumed I got it from my Dad. But when I was grown and asked my dad how her learned to control his temper, he stated he never had trouble with it. Growing up without him in my life, maybe it was just childish frustration that made my temper burn hot and constantly at the surface.

I'm still learning to master that emotion, and I see my son struggling often with the same battle. So when I stumbled across this story, I felt it needed to be marked and remembered. If you have trouble with a short fuse, give this next passage room for change.

NAIL IN THE FENCE

There was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.

The first day the boy drove 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally, the day came when the boy didn't loose his temper at all. He told his father. The Father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day he could hold his temper. The days passed, and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. the Father took his soon by the hand and led him to the fence.

He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. Remember... You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how often you say I'm sorry; the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one."

Remember that when you ask to learn patience, the line before you will get longer... if you ask for understanding, your tasks will become more complex...and if you ask for help controlling your anger, you will be faced with the most annoying situations yet!

Life is a process. Every experience is a situation for change. How you react in each circumstance will affect more than just your outcome. Be gentle with each other and use your anger to fuel positive change and not to tear down others. Just as we are each unique, our tempers and anger are expressed differently as well. It's a constant choice to temper your anger, just be mindful of the ones that look up to you. They will model what they see until they are old enough to choose for themselves.

My quest for a present life brings this subject up often. I am always faced with situations that flare my anger, seeing through it and knowing that the cause is often unrelated has helped me. I hope this story will help someone else. Like the English used to say, "Keep Calm. And Cary On."

The Mayonnasie Jar

There may be many who have heard this story before, but it bears refreshing, and is something I want my children to understand completely.

Here it is as I read it:

"A professor stood before his philosophy class with a few items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook it lightly. the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He asked the students again if the jar was full, and they agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up what space was left. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes".

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty spaces between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, family, church, health, friends, and favorite passions - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter, like your job, house, and car. The sand represents the small stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you."

"So, pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18 holes of golf. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled, "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

In closing: When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

To My Children, Remember This

Shakespeare's Famous quotes of wisdom as spoken by Polonius:

Neither a borrower nor a lender be,
For loan oft loses both itself and friend

This above all: to thine own self be true

His meaning at the time might be a bit different than it's common use today, but these two phrases are so very true. If you live by any motto, remember to think on these.

The first, talks of borrowing and lending in general and then to friends and family. It is always a good idea to only spend what you can afford and to live well below your means. Know exactly what you earn and need to pay. And only spend above that when all your priorities have been met. Shakespeare never trumps the Bible, so give due diligence to paying your tithe of 10% first.

Lending to friends and family is never wise. It can cause hard feelings and uncomfortable situations. If you want to help, give it completely or not at all. I try to always give as a gift to friends and family. Later if they are able and pay you back in any way you are both pleased and there are no hard feelings either way.

The second quote was used to continue the theme, but has become the sentiment of a generation. They even use it to excuse their selfishness. Polonious was counseling his son to take care of himself first so he could then help others. Similar to the procedure in an airplane that is crash landing. Always put on your own mask so you'll be coherent enough to help those next to you. 

I do however agree that you should be true to who you are, as many use this quote. Maintain your integrity and individuality always. Anyone that tries to change you doesn't accept you as you are. Love for yourself is the most important self realization tool we have. You must love yourself first in order to share that love with another.

So meditate, spend hours in reflection, pray, seek knowledge, do whatever it takes to find what makes you feel alive. And then share that aspect of yourself with those you trust. Expand from there to include others you may not even know. Always be gracious of compliments and thoughtful of critiques. Feedback is needed for growth, so take the good with the bad and try to only focus on what is helpful and learn to let go of the hateful or negative backlash.

There will always be those negative few that try to infect others with their sarcasm and self hatred. Learn to spot them early and avoid that interaction as much as possible. When you feel like you've failed, remember that it doesn't have to perfect, it only needs to be your best. Some of the greatest moments in history are the result of what we do after we've fallen.

Never forget that your Mother and Father love you regardless your outcomes. There is no action or reaction needed to gain our favor. You have it simply because you are. Living is being under stress, your best effort is all that is needed, success shouldn't be measured by any other means.

Show Your Heart

 Show Your Heart on facebook today. Change your profile pic to show your heart and update your status with the following link to raise support for these children.

This family has been forever changed as of July 3rd while returning from an annual family road trip in Colorado back to their home in Houston, Texas. The Berry Family found themselves to be victims of a horrific and tragic fatal car accident.

Their Minivan carrying parents Joshua and Robin Berry and their children Peter age 9, Aaron age 8, and Willa age 6 was hit head on by another vehicle who had crossed into their lane of traffic. The parents Joshua and Robin Berry were tragically killed leaving their 3 children behind. While the children did survive the crash, both boys sustained serious spinal cord injuries and they are both paralyzed below the waist. The children are currently being treated for their many injuries in a Houston, Texas area hospital. 

Go to http://www.showyourhearts.org/ to learn more and donate.

They are asking for as many people as possible to update their facebook profile picture today only.

My Final Fantasy

Visit Author's Site

If you know me, you know I love paranormal and historical romance novels. My absolute dream reads are those books that combine the two. I have been swept away with popular titles like everyone else, but I always go back to a talent.

So when I was looking for some new world to enter every night before bed, I thought this cover looked promising. It was set in Old England, one of my favorite places, and steeped in fantasy, my mainstay.

I was captivated by the first paragraph. Funny how many books I read and then pass along. This one is staying in my Keep Stash! You'll have to turn to smoke and steal it to get my copy. :)

I have always loved words, and my feeling is that this author does as well. The way she sets her backdrop is absolutely dreamy. Her characters rival those of Gone With The Wind (Margarette Mitchell) and breathe life into the historical romance.

I'm a new, and permanent fan. It's not often that I write about a book like this, but I wanted to share this mystical place of dragons and strong willed players with all of you.

Read along with me and follow this series by going to my facebook Group Page for Historical and Fantasy Novels. For the rest of this month we'll be discussing this innovative tome.

Leave the Gun, Take the cannoli

Cannoli are a Sicilian pastry dessert, meaning "little tube". One of my favorite quotes from "The Godfather" featuring this puff pastry is generally about how to handle a hit situation.


In relationships, I'm reminded of this quote when trying to explain how to talk your way through conflict with the one you love. Leaders are taught to open any negative discussion with a positive first. So many of us try to skip this step by saying, "You know I love you, but..."


No matter how serious the conversation, or how deadly the weapon your words become, try to remember to open with a positive. Don't rush this step. It just may be the difference in what response you get in return. 

No one likes to be shot down with words, so try to be gentle and aim for truth, not always the quick.

Remember to leave the gun when speaking to your love, but not because you are thinking of an escape plan. Also, conversations are double sided, it's much easier to choke down kind words when returned to you later. Be sweet first and concentrate on facts, not feelings, when discussing serious matters.

Why it's called a Practice

We all have been to a doctor at some point in our lives. From our first day on earth to our last, it is a doctor who stands up for us. When I chose to become a nurse, it was because I knew to become a doctor I would have to leave a large part of my empathy outside the patient door. I doubted I would be able to do that day in and out and chose to do the 'lesser' job of nursing instead.

I knew that most doctors look down on nurses, even though it is the nurse that either carries out or is responsible for the doctor's orders.

I never regretted my choice and I still miss my work as a nurse to this day. Ironically one of the things I miss most is the work I did helping the doctors directly.

Could I have been a doctor? Without a doubt. But I'm proud to have been a nurse and would go back tomorrow if I could. What scares me the most about my former profession is the lack of quality nurses there are left in the workforce.

I hear horror stories of good nurses being railroaded, new nurses getting discouraged right out of the gate and seasoned nurses quitting due to stress. I think these are more horrific than the ones I hear of so called bad nurses because without the majority of nurses being the caring empathic souls they have always been, the field is heading for disaster.

The malpractice industry is booming and doctors and nurses are struggling to hold on to their jobs. I used to think that the main problem was colleagues that were in the medical field for money or glory. But honestly I don't see why anyone would stay in the medical field for such nonexistent means. They would be better suited for claims lawyers or some such leech on the medical community.

Not that I hate lawyers. Far from it. Just as I do not dislike doctors, or excuse all nurses. I'm just saying that the real problem as I see it is overworked and underwhelmed professionals in the medical field as a whole. I think that this all started with idealistic nursing students that thought they would float along the halls being graceful and gracious and some gorgeous Doctor would take notice and save them from their 9-5.

There are several things wrong with that way of thinking. First, nurses never float, they run. They run full out all day in shoes that are made to absorb shock and prevent falls, not be fashionable. Second, most are short tempered and shorter vocalized than anyone else on the planet due to the demands of getting your needs communicated fast and efficiently. Third, almost all med students are working on fumes, getting no sleep and learning to abuse the system they are sworn to protect just to make it in. Those that are well slept and not abusing meds (legal or not) are already in committed relationships. And lastly, I have never met a nurse with a nine to five schedule. In fact I spent almost all of my time with nurses, including holidays while working alongside them for several straight shifts.

The moral? The problem with our medical teams is simply the same problem with every other system in America. They are completely an exhausted resource that is running on empty, no longer disillusioned with their efforts and quickly loosing humanity.

Of course, this IS an opinion blog, so that is just my opinion. I have been taught to never bring up a fault without a solution and therefore I would be remiss to leave out that most important opinion. The positive one.

To afford a change in the medical field or any that is suffering it's effects, You must first understand that even the 'man' at the top is only human. The administrators need to be made to 'see' the reality and start putting forth real concerted efforts to increase satisfaction in the workforce. We all need to be more understanding of one another and do a little more than our share, but not allow ourselves to become burned out at both ends.

We also could do with remembering that it's called a 'Practice' for a reason. We should always be growing, adapting and accepting of those around us. To all those brittle soldiers still out there plugging along in the medical field without a care or thought for your fellow man, please try to get back to your humanity and see your patients with patience and new eyes again!

Creation or Alien Drop Off?

As always, the following is my opinion offered to inspire thought, not debate.

More of my thoughts on Aliens throughout History:

If you take the Bible as fact and God created everything, and you factor what we 'know' to what we 'understand' I think it leaves you with both as fact. I happen to believe that God created the Earth and all on it, and that it took him HIS six days. Which if you read the Bible you would know that His days are as thousands of years to us. Add to that interpretation difficulties and what exactly is involved in creating a living planet and you have eons of time just to start the earth forming and rotating.

In the first chapter of Genesis, "The Creation Story" says clearly, that he created male and female in his image. Yet in the second chapter he breathes "Life" into the man he crafted from the Earth and took a rib FROM HIM to create 'a' woman. Not THE woman, or FIRST woman, A Woman! hmmmm

Where I disagree with most theologians is that I happen to believe that these first 'men' and 'women' must have been amazing to survive in this evolving climate!  If time was so difficult to measure then, and if you take the first "let there be light" to mean revolutions and not just literally the sun, there was extreme weather happening on Earth!

Also, there were many children being born, and wives taken. If they were to survive they must have been a different gene pool. Those first men and women in God's image would supply that gene pool.

The only children/families the Bible really follows is those made from the Earth. And the ages of their deaths are spectacular but constantly decreasing. Another verse that intrigues me is that Adam and 'His wife' were never documented as conceiving until after their 'Fall' and being evicted from the Garden of Eden.

So is the Garden of Eden another planet, spaceship or a section of Earth? Was is the Lost City of Atlantis, blotted off the surface of the Earth, or removed by other means? The speculations have been limitless.

The real key to me is that the Bible is a book that depicts a complete story. And the beginning of THAT story is the true purpose of the explanation of creation at all. I mean, if you later say that Jesus was a direct descendant of Adam and a true son of Man AND God, you have to give the back story.

There has to be  reason that the first men and women are left out of the account and later wiped off the face of the Earth by flooding.

And what of the story of the Ark, what are the Nephilim? They are supposed to be Giants, super men. They were capable of spectacular feats, but overall God saw the evil they constantly thought and acted on, and sought to destroy them in the great flood. I agree with several others that God chose Noah because he was of a pure blood line, no commingling with the Naphilim and a direct descendant of Adam. And destroyed the others so that Jesus could be born of a virgin later as was His plan.

Supposedly Fake picture of a archeological find

These Nephilim are thought to be children produced by women being impregnated by angels. Then there are some that say these were not angels but aliens, which is part of the Ancient Astronaut theory. Regardless, the Bible mentions them twice, and each time they were gigantic.

While it could be amazing genetics, giants that would make others seem like grasshoppers, would be hard to imagine unless the supernatural or alien was involved. So we are a people constantly struggling with abstract ideas and wondering about 'beings' from outside our know world. 

I believe that there were Nephilim here on Earth and they fuel the Ancient Astronaut theory. Just as I believe God is helping us along, encouraging us, but allowing for freewill.

I think this freewill in itself is what causes our troubles. Our own freewill. 

It is our search for what we truly are, that creates these ideas of alien visits. We all carry our own ideas and interpretations, so we evolve differently yet similarly in that we all go through the same quests at some point in our lives.

Study nature all around us, and we will see the very inspirations for what so many believe was Alien given. While I agree that may be possible, it is more probable that each civilization looked at what our very Earth had already modeled and perhaps had a divine inspiration.

But if it is true that ancient humans had to either be visited by aliens or helped by giants, what if those Nephilim were both?

What if they were once the physical beings that were documented and now seen as alien visits, and then were remanded to the ethereal form where they had less ability to interact and therefore affect our human existence. (Unless you believe they were given permission to test and torment until the final judgment) Which would say that they are what we consider evil spirits or demons and that hosts of them still reside with our God as Angels. (they are seen as good and able to show themselves on Earth to warn, guard, or aid us)

So while I do not think aliens are coming to attack us, I might believe that they were invented to explain the visits of the Nephilim through the ages.

What this leaves me with is a feeling of loss at the human spirit. While I believe that we are born to search for meaning and ultimately our maker, I find it sad that so many would rather believe what they are told and never find their own answers.

Is it really so much easier to do as your told?

And finally I find myself thinking would we be better off without religion. I find that faith is a necessity, at least in my life, but I have only ever been disillusioned by organized religion. To me the real problem is the organized part and not necessarily the religion part.

So, my motto for religion is to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling". This simple scripture has been the backbone for my spiritual awareness. And when applied to the alien debate, I think it applies even more. Do not look to aliens for your source of salvation, look inward. It was in fact humans that created the works that even lead scientists to believe in other intelligent life, and if aided by Nephilim, they are still half human after all.

I believe the concept of good and evil are more than words or abstract notions. We could learn a lot from each other as religions. Taking what is common to all, and learning to put aside the power plays that have lead to such bloodshed in the past.

It is not meant for us to control one another with the knowledge, perhaps that is why the Naphilim were outcast to begin with. Their superiority complexes became too great and they were taught an eternal lesson.

I choose to live life fully and abundantly with love and generosity. I find it sad that too many would rather find ways to exploit and control instead of lift and aid.

In closing, I would say, live your life in a way that your children's children would be proud to claim you as their progenitor, and only add to yourself what is positive and encouraging. Use that brain but do not neglect your heart!

Hello Cosmos

I'm watching a Ancient Alien Theory show and as always love sci/fi and anything to do with Stargate. But with all the end of the world propaganda out there I feel compelled to weigh in on this debate.


So, the following is my opinion on life out there.


I believe that there is intelligent life out there. With that said, let me explain my theory, Gail's Theorem, if you will.

I am a firm believer in God and a lover of science. So my mind is way open to ideas of aliens and evolution. I'm always questing for knowledge and able to seriously consider ideas that are in direct conflict with my own.


Sentient in our very DNA is a connection with all life on Earth. I believe that we are all evolved from one source. The reason? Mammals look amazing similar in the first stages of life. Extreme close ups of our skin resemble the veining in leaves or the 'skin' of plants. The whole of life can be decreased down to very basic and similar properties.

We are all born with this innate knowledge that we are more than what we appear. This knowing propels us in our search for a higher power. Even Paul preached that we were "made to search for God" even though "He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we breathe, and move, and have our being." We are repeatedly called the 'children of God' in the Bible, and told that God lives in us.

I happen to believe that this Ancient Astronaut theory is just another form of this inner search for answers as to where we come from. We find it impossible to think that humans evolved with their knowledge on their own. They must have had help. They must have been helped by aliens or angels. But what we call alien, really means not from here, so aren't we all then alien?


It gets very confusing if you try to think your way through it. Where religion comes in, is that you go on faith and not knowledge. So maybe the real answer is the blending of the two. Take what you know to be true, and add what you feel to be right. That's what I try to acheive.


I know that there is something more than you and I, and I know that it connects and fuels us all. I know that it is loving and encourages a full loving life in us. And the whole purpose of the Bible's teaching is that we should 'love one another as God loved us'. And if God is seen as a loving parent by our own words...



I know if I saw my children heading toward disaster I would try to guide them a different way. But if we are but children, we are prone to misunderstandings and selfishness.


If it is possible for me to believe in the divine by Faith it would follow that I would believe in aliens. But the reason I believe in the divine so completely is that I feel it to be true. I feel it's rightness and it seems to whisper all around us. I have never seen or heard any alien story that fills me with this same feeling.


True it may be that I am reacting from what I was taught, but why do we believe in the invisible so much easier than we do even a tangible proof of alien? We experience the invisible more? More people believe in spirits and ghosts than those that do not doubt alien life.

We really don't know. But I believe in what I know to be true in my heart. And Faith plays a large part of that. There have been many beliefs that have been later proved and disproved. But if you really want to stay true to your belief you will compile whatever statistics and facts that support it and ignore the others, so proof is of little consequence.


I don't require proof to what I believe. I do not try to make everyone else believe it as fact. And I do not scoff at what others believe in their souls to be true. I try to grow and adapt and stay true to myself and what I believe is the ideal moral guide.


If you believe in alien encounters, why do you feel it so strongly? Is it that you know we are more? Or do you only believe that there is other intelligent life out there that is more advanced than we are as a human race? Aren't both those just another form of what I feel to be true anyway?