The buildup to Christmas Day is finally over. I didn't get too swept up by it and thus did not experience too much stress either. All the boxes and bows have been saved again to be recycled for another holiday season. My boys enjoyed their gifts: electronic gadgets, lots of clothes and an electric violin and guitar. The youngest, who is a teenager, came to me on Christmas Eve and said he would purposely not get up early the next day so that we old folks could get our sleep. I told him that if he still got that excited about Christmas, then he should go ahead and wake us up even if it was at 6 am, not too sure about 4 or 5:00 but 6 I could handle. I loved the fact that he was overflowing in anticipation like a little kid and I didn't want to put a damper on it in any way.
We went to see " I AM LEGEND" at the theater and then later went to the mountains. The boys downhill skied and snowboarded, my husband and I went cross country. The trees were beautiful with all the new fallen snow. In fact, our trail was not groomed so we had to blaze our own. Got a good work out that way. It was a wonderful time to be together.
With the holiday season almost over, it made me reflect on the past year and all the good things that have come our way. I was reading Bill Clinton's book, "Giving" and he talks about the many positive things that individuals and organizations are doing for others. The spirit of Christmas should not be just celebrated once a year but rather year round. The book definitely inspired me to want to do something for someone else and that is what I am going to do next.
Cashcrate- $20.57 month of dec
Inbox Dollars- $18.34
Send Earnings- $17.60
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
The True Wildlife Warrior
When Steve Irwin, the crocodile hunter, died back in September of 2006, I remembered being struck to the core of my soul, a terrible sadness that took many days or months to ebb. It was the same feeling when Princess Diana died tragically from an automobile accident. Once again, the world had lost another true hero.
I recently joined the Book-of-the-Month club and as part of the promotion got the book, "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin. It chronicles their incredible lives together and talks about their passion for conservation and wildlife. A controversial figure at times, I think Steve Irwin just wanted to show people wildlife as he saw it. He had such an exuberance for what he did that you could not help but be swept up by it. It was contagious. I do think he got a bad wrap from the press as they always tried to sensationalize things, for example when he took his son into the croc pit with him. Still in his short life, he was able to accomplish extraordinary things. He was the voice for wildlife and now his wife and family are keeping that voice alive.
His death was all too premature and left a great void. I usually don't feel that way about someone that I didn't know at all but there was definitely something special about Steve Irwin. He had a way with animals and his passion for what he was doing was so pure. The world has truly lost a great wildlife warrior and I will be forever touched by his life story.
Earned $16.27 for December on Cashcrate
I recently joined the Book-of-the-Month club and as part of the promotion got the book, "Steve and Me" by Terri Irwin. It chronicles their incredible lives together and talks about their passion for conservation and wildlife. A controversial figure at times, I think Steve Irwin just wanted to show people wildlife as he saw it. He had such an exuberance for what he did that you could not help but be swept up by it. It was contagious. I do think he got a bad wrap from the press as they always tried to sensationalize things, for example when he took his son into the croc pit with him. Still in his short life, he was able to accomplish extraordinary things. He was the voice for wildlife and now his wife and family are keeping that voice alive.
His death was all too premature and left a great void. I usually don't feel that way about someone that I didn't know at all but there was definitely something special about Steve Irwin. He had a way with animals and his passion for what he was doing was so pure. The world has truly lost a great wildlife warrior and I will be forever touched by his life story.
Earned $16.27 for December on Cashcrate
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Christmas Tree
Finally got our Christmas tree decorated. My son came home from college on Thursday and we decorated it on Friday. That was the latest day in our family history for decorating the house and tree. If I had done it earlier, it would not have been the same as we always film my boys putting the ornaments on the tree and have done so from the time they were little. Made some cookies for the boys to munch on. They were very good and really easy. I have to say initially the dough did not look too appetizing but after the cookies were baked, I got a thumbs up from everyone that it was good.
From Christmas-Cookies.com
Alabama Fudge- Pecan Chewies
1/4 cup butter
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
12 oz semisweet chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cp all purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Pre heat oven to 350. Combine first 3 ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly until chocolate and butter melt. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla, flour, and chopped pecans. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Press a pecan half into the center of each cookie. Bake 7-10 minutes. Remove cookies to wire racks and cool. I actually doubled this recipe and it was about right.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Tis The Season
It is the season for Christmas parties and I for one wasn't looking forward to any of them. It's been a long 6 months of difficulties and I wasn't in the mood to party. Call me a Scrooge but I would have been content to stay home and be a hermit. My husband talked me into going, we've been invited to 5 parties so far. I just want to appease him. Why should he have to suffer from my antisocialness?
The first party turned out to be a lot of fun. It was at some people's place that they had turned it into a small winery. Of course, there was plenty of wine and it turned out OK. In the end I was glad that I had gone. The second party, on the same weekend, was with church people. I usually do not hang out with them so I was a little apprehensive as I did not know them very well. There were games and lots of gag gifts. I usually don't care for games. This party was definitely a little on the wild side. More so than what I am used to. But in the end, it was good and it wasn't bad. I had a good time. Now there are 3 more parties to go. I am actually looking forward to them and maybe I won't be a Scrooge for Christmas after all.
The first party turned out to be a lot of fun. It was at some people's place that they had turned it into a small winery. Of course, there was plenty of wine and it turned out OK. In the end I was glad that I had gone. The second party, on the same weekend, was with church people. I usually do not hang out with them so I was a little apprehensive as I did not know them very well. There were games and lots of gag gifts. I usually don't care for games. This party was definitely a little on the wild side. More so than what I am used to. But in the end, it was good and it wasn't bad. I had a good time. Now there are 3 more parties to go. I am actually looking forward to them and maybe I won't be a Scrooge for Christmas after all.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
When a Duck Shows Up
A funny thing happened the other day, a wild duck or maybe it wasn't wild showed up in our yard and decided to make himself at home. He quacked and waddled all over the place much to the dismay of my dog and cat. They didn't know what to make of him and they kept their distance. Many times I thought he was gone only to hear him a little later, quacking away.
I was also reading my book, A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle for the second time and in there he says, "Even a stone, and more easily a flower or a bird, could show you the way back to God, to the Source, to yourself. When you look at it or hold it and let it be without imposing a word or mental label on it, a sense of awe, of wonder, arises within you. Its essence silently communicates itself to you and reflects your own essence back to you." Perhaps this duck was that bird.
Exercising on my bike in the garage with the door open and I saw the duck come into my site. He was picking up tree seeds off the sidewalk and waddling back and forth. I then saw him stretch his neck out and flap his wings. He did that several times and I didn't why he was doing it.
The next day I was reading my book again and lo and behold, Tolle writes about a story from his Power of Now book, where two ducks get into a fight. It never lasts long, they split up and fly off in opposite directions. "Then each duck will flap its wings vigorously a few times, thus releasing the surplus energy that built up during the fight. After they flap their wings, they float on peacefully, as if nothing had ever happened."
I do believe that it was not a coincidence that duck showed up in my yard. It was meant to show me that I needed to release and just let go of the negative energy that has been accumulating over the last few months. With my son and my dad being sick, I have been extremely worried. Now all I have to do is envision the duck flapping its wings and I release my negative emotions, thoughts and whatever.
So when a duck shows up in your yard, pay attention, it might have something to teach you. It certainly taught me.
I was also reading my book, A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle for the second time and in there he says, "Even a stone, and more easily a flower or a bird, could show you the way back to God, to the Source, to yourself. When you look at it or hold it and let it be without imposing a word or mental label on it, a sense of awe, of wonder, arises within you. Its essence silently communicates itself to you and reflects your own essence back to you." Perhaps this duck was that bird.
Exercising on my bike in the garage with the door open and I saw the duck come into my site. He was picking up tree seeds off the sidewalk and waddling back and forth. I then saw him stretch his neck out and flap his wings. He did that several times and I didn't why he was doing it.
The next day I was reading my book again and lo and behold, Tolle writes about a story from his Power of Now book, where two ducks get into a fight. It never lasts long, they split up and fly off in opposite directions. "Then each duck will flap its wings vigorously a few times, thus releasing the surplus energy that built up during the fight. After they flap their wings, they float on peacefully, as if nothing had ever happened."
I do believe that it was not a coincidence that duck showed up in my yard. It was meant to show me that I needed to release and just let go of the negative energy that has been accumulating over the last few months. With my son and my dad being sick, I have been extremely worried. Now all I have to do is envision the duck flapping its wings and I release my negative emotions, thoughts and whatever.
So when a duck shows up in your yard, pay attention, it might have something to teach you. It certainly taught me.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Winning is All That Matters
We just came back from watching our high school football team play in the state championship game. It was great! After coming in 2nd, two years ago and 3rd, last year, we finally won it. But it was a little bittersweet as my son was on the team the last two years. They were the dream team but things just did not go their way and they couldn't pull it out. Still, they had nothing to be ashamed of .Coming in 2nd and 3rd was nothing to sneeze at,yet there were no celebrations when they came home. They were treated as losers and I just didn't think that was right.
Winning seems to be all that counts these days and it doesn't matter how you get there as long as the final score puts you on top. I have noticed over the years how downright bloody it gets on the field. Some kids are doing illegal tackles, behaving in unsportsman like conduct, and just being plain obnoxious. Some coaches were supporting that kind of behavior and have been kicked out of the league as a result. My friend's daughter was injured when the other team's player intentionally slide tackled her in a soccer game. I've been to games where I have seen parents threaten the ref because their team did not win. In this case, the ref was a high school kid just earning some extra money, but after that incident, only adults were allowed to ref those games. It is really sad.
Whatever happened to "It's not if you win or lose that counts, it's how you play the game"? I am afraid this has been replaced by " Winning isn't the only thing, it's everything".
Winning seems to be all that counts these days and it doesn't matter how you get there as long as the final score puts you on top. I have noticed over the years how downright bloody it gets on the field. Some kids are doing illegal tackles, behaving in unsportsman like conduct, and just being plain obnoxious. Some coaches were supporting that kind of behavior and have been kicked out of the league as a result. My friend's daughter was injured when the other team's player intentionally slide tackled her in a soccer game. I've been to games where I have seen parents threaten the ref because their team did not win. In this case, the ref was a high school kid just earning some extra money, but after that incident, only adults were allowed to ref those games. It is really sad.
Whatever happened to "It's not if you win or lose that counts, it's how you play the game"? I am afraid this has been replaced by " Winning isn't the only thing, it's everything".
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