Christmas Entertainment Continued

While sharing my youtube channel with my family, I noticed that the play all feature is not working.  I hope these links will correct any problems if you have experienced any.

CHRISTMAS CARTOON CLASSICS

CHRISTMAS CARTOON RETRO

CHRISTMAS CARTOONS

WINTER

CHRISTMAS CARTOON ANTIQUES

CHRISTMAS COMMERCIALS

CHRISTMAS STORYTIME

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

Carpal Tunnel syndrome

As a writer it is important that I take care of my hands and wrists because repetitive movements, such as writing or typing, can be crippling.  My carpal tunnel is flaring up and I thought I'd share with you what I do when this happens.





This guy's stretches are amazing, they work every time.  Idealy if you have wrist problems you should be doing these exercises every day, not using them after the pain is already so bad that you can't use a mouse and keyboard, write with a pencil, or even grip a glass.  However, if you have gotten to this point don't think it's too late, these exercises work wonders!!! 

If you'd like to read more about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, click here.

If you'd like to read more about Tendonitis, click here.

If you'd like to read more about Arthritis, click here.

Christmas Entertainment

Every year around this time I love to turn the lights down low, turn the christmas tree lights on, and cuddle up with a soft, warm, fuzzy blanket while watching a good Christmas special. 

Well, nothing has changed, I still like it.  I thought I'd share some good links for you to some great sites that will allow you to either watch those Christmas specials online or inform you of when all the Christmas shows are appearing on the good old fashioned television.

101 Classic Christmas videos

My Holiday Youtube Channel

2009 Christmas TV Schedule

2009 Color Coded Christmas TV Schedule

Merry Christmas with Cartoon Network TV Schedule

Christmas Television Specials List (USA, Canada, UK, etc.)

Holiday Specials List

Ok.  Well, I hope you enjoy :)

A Cool Dream

Last night I had the coolest dream.  It was like I was in a ghost story, not a scary one, but an intriguing one none the less.  The funny part is at the end, Tom hanks was in it, and he played an important character.  Wow, it was so vivid, and so cool.  I woke up and kept saying get up and write to myself.  Well, I didn't listen to myself and there are holes now in my story, but I have written everything I remember and I think it is going to make a really good story.  When I am done writing and editing and perfecting it I will share it, or a little bit of it anyway, with you.

Just Smile

Not everything in life is fun and you may have had a real crappy day, week, or even year.  Well, I know that you have to keep working to stay positive.  I got layed off on Friday from my job, I graduated from college a year ago and still haven't been able to find decent, steady, well paying work.  I haven't bought myself new clothes in...I can't remember...a year...2...3...I'm not sure.  I've had to be really frugal, I've had to make sacrifices, I have holes in all my clothes, lol.  Yes, sometimes that gets me down, but I'm ok.  I'm alive, I'm healthy, and I know that I will make it through this rough patch.  I have dreams and goals that inspire me and keep me going.  I know that it will all work out in the end.

Some of the things that I do to keep myself from breaking down and giving up are:

1. writing in a journal
2. creating small achievable goals
3. walking for sanity, to clear my mind
4. drinking 16 oz of water before each meal
5. surrounding myself with humor and cute stuff (aka fuzzy stuff that makes you go awwww)
6. surrounding myself with people I love (family/friends)

Well here are some things that I found today that made me smile:

Loris liebt Kitzeln
by ChillClub

Bulldog Kisses Orangutan

U-ZOO | MySpace Video

See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing.

Are You a Writer Too?

If you like to write and want to become a better writer then we have something in common. I am and always will be trying to improve my writing by reviewing grammar rules, doing writing exercises, always being open to constructive criticism and well, reading, reading, reading. Oh and lets not forget the most important thing, writing.

I happened to have stumbled upon a pretty cool website while infact stumbling with stumbleupon.com's toolbar. It is awesome and I wanted to share the link with you. It has writing games, writing exercises, recommended websites, and even more.

Enjoy:

http://www.languageisavirus.com/
http://www.writerhymes.com/
http://www.oneword.com/
http://www.protagonize.com/
http://www.famouspoetsandpoems.com/

Thanksgiving Fun

So I thought I would compile a page of fun activities that I like to do on Thanksgiving.

I love reading the comics in the paper: Peanuts and Garfield are my favorites, but I couldn't find embeds for them, so here are some other goodies:














I love crossword puzzles and other similar fun word games:

http://holidays.kaboose.com/thanksgiving/thanks-word.html

http://www.mahalo.com/thanksgiving-crossword-puzzles

http://www.theholidayspot.com/thanksgiving/activities/crossword/

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/thanksgiving/wordsearch/index.htm

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/thanksgiving/wordfinds/thanksgiving-challenge.html

http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/game.htm




I also love to watch a good movie or television special on Thanksgiving:



























I also like to read a good book:

http://www.ipl.org/div/subject/browse/hum60.60.00/%3C/


http://books.google.com/books%3C/

http://www.readprint.com/%3C/

http://educhoices.org/articles/Online_Libraries_-_25_Places_to_Read_Free_Books_Online.html%3C/

http://www.childrensbooksonline.org/%3C/

http://classicbook.info/

Yea, so pictured a more fun interactive page, but I think this one still does the job.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

Time to Give Thanks

I was going to individually thank everyone for all the big and little things they have done for me throughout my life. That seriously was taking forever, and I wasn't even a quarter of the way done when I decided that I needed to take a different approach. Just try to picture your own name in this message, because in a year or so I probably would have been done with an individual thanks for everyone.





I wanted to thank my family whom I love with all my heart for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for teaching me responsibility, love, integrity, and unity. I love each and every one of you, my sisters, my brothers, my mom and dad, my Grandmas and Grandpas, my cousins, my Aunts and Uncles; thank you all of you.





I wanted to thak my friends whom I love. Thank you for being a shoulder to cry on. Thank you for your companionship. Thank you for helping me see the best side of myself. Thank you for not giving up on me, even when I should have called or written. Thank you for understanding me. Thank you for all the time you have given to build and keep our friendship alive. Thank you for your strength, your courage, your honesty, your wisdom. Thank you for being a friend.





I also wanted to thank my teachers. I have had many wonderful teachers, whether it be from school, church, or the walk of life. Thank you Grandpa for teaching me your wisdom. Thank you Grandma for teaching your love. Thankyou teacher for teaching me a formal education. Thank you teacher for teaching me values. Thank you teacher for helping me build my future. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for investing your time in me. Thank you for helping me get my Associates degree. Than You for leading and guiding me.

Thank you all for walking beside me and helping me find my way.

I love you all, and as you can see, this thanksgiving I am thankful for you.

Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween everyone! What an awesome year. I had so much fun, I wish I could do it again this weekend.

Saturday I was able to take the day off from working so that I could enjoy the festivities of Halloween; I love Halloween!!!

I dressed up like Mrs. White from Clue...You know:

I was able to experience my nieces very first trick-or-treating, we had a blast, and scored big.  Lots and lots of candy.  Everyone on her block seemed to be a Halloween humbug, so we scouted out the best neighborhoods and chose our spot by how decorated every house was.  We did good!

It was an awesome Halloween, I felt like a kid.

Flip Flop

This summer has been a wierd one. I had planned on it being more leisurely and fun, but it has been busy and stressful. I was on a very wonky schedule as well, went to bed at 6 A.M., woke up about 1 or 2 P.M. To be honest, I hated it, but couldn't get to sleep at night right away when I would come home late from work, so my sleep schedule just got all screwed up. Well, I decided I hated that, so I changed it.

Chris and I decided to stay up all Saturday night last weekend and stay awake until Sunday night. We are now on a 9ish P.M. to 6 A.M. Schedule and I love it. I love waking up early. It wasn't easy at first. I was so tired this week, but I knew if I stuck with it I would soon be wide awake come 6 A.M. I've noticed a change in my attitude as well. I feel happier, more positive, and I am more motivated.

Another thing that I did to make a change that I didn't like was to put myself on a cleansing diet. I had been feeling sick alot and kept getting heartburn and indigestion. So I researched until I found a cleansing diet that seemed sound, and only lasted for 3 days. I ended it last night and I can honestly say that I felt it work. I immediately felt my heartburn leave, after only 1 day I could feel my digestive system working again, I no longer had a lump in my stomach. Here is the diet if you want to take a look: http://www.guideforbetterhealth.com/bodydetox/detoxdiets/3-day-detox-diet-plan.html.

The last two things that I did to make a change was to recommit to taking care of my body and my mind. The first thing is that I have been belly dancing every morning as soon as I wake up, followed by meditation. The second thing is writing in my journal every night before I go to sleep. It is helping me sleep better at night. My dreams are getting better too. They are no longer stressful dreams, they are just good dreams.

"I'm gonna make a change, for once in my life. It's gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference, gonna make it right...I'm starting with the man in the mirror, I'm asking if he'll make a change...If you want to make the world a better place take a look at yourself and make a change." Micheal Jackson

Reflections

I've been having some really wacked out dreams lately. They are so extremely vivid, and they are the kind that are branded into your memory, giving me no choice but to ponder what they are trying to say.

Over the summer I have been doing nothing but work, sleep, and search for that job that every college graduate went to college for in the first place, as well as that job that is a definate upgrade from the one I have now but is not exactly "the one."

Well, my dreams have been telling me, some of them yelling at me, that I am doing it all wrong. In every dream I've had I see myself pondering out loud about my education and how my job search is going in the wrong direction. My dream self keeps saying in each dream that I should be writing, and that I have been moving further and further away from what I was born to do. I keep seeing myself surrounded by people that I have known throughout my life, and others that I don't know at all, and I keep explaining to all them that to do what I have always dreamed of doing I don't even need a college education for, and I ask them all why I haven't been writing. I go on further to tell them that I have always had the potential and ability to write and that I keep putting off what I should have been doing all along. Over and over, the same thing every night. The jist is is that my inner self is pleading me to write and I really have not been doing this.

Why? I don't know, but just maybe...

Fear of failure. Fear of being without income. Fear of success.

A Big Scare

What are your worst fears?

There have been questionnaires that have been sent around friends and family on Facebook, MySpace, and even by email, and one of the questions always seems to be: What is your worst fear?

In almost every questionnaire result, the answer had been the loss of a loved one, or to have a love one hurt. Well, yesterday, May 2nd I woke up to a frightening phone call. My mother was in the hospital.

Why was she there? Good question, I wish there was a better answer. Doctors were baffled by the large and sudden spike in her blood pressure. She woke up that morning and was feeling very dizzy and very ill. A normal reaction, if you know my mom, would have been to go and lie down and rest it off, but she was feeling so terrible and so dizzy that she decided it was necessary to seek medical attention. When her doctor checked her out he declared that she needed to go to the hospital immediately.

I was informed later on, as I had been catching up on some sleep due to studying for midterms. I neglected to answer the phone when it had rung and so when the message finally reached me I felt so guilty and awful for sleeping through them. I was informed that mom wasn’t able to come home from the hospital until the doctors could get her unusually high blood pressure to come down, they said that she was at risk for either a heart attack or a stroke.

Well, forget about being able to focus on homework after being told that your mom is in the hospital and might have a heart attack or stroke. I tried to remain calm, but I couldn’t get the thought of my mom out of my head.

Chris and I decided to join Bryan for a movie, so we headed out got in the car and found one of our tires to be completely flat. Well, that ended my plans for going to mom’s house for the night, I was stuck at home. We tried to go to Less Schwab before it closed, but it was 5:30 PM when we found the flat, and Less Schwab closes at 5PM on Saturdays. We decided to go to the local theatre instead and saw the new X-Men movie “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” During the previews was a big long ad about mother’s day and boy did the tears well up in my eyes. I kept praying “Please let mom be okay” over and over. I had already called twice for updates before we left and no change had occurred.

The first thing I did when we got home from the movie was to call Tiffy. Thank heaven, when I called she said that mom’s blood pressure had finally come out of the danger zone and they were able to send her home. They did caution however that it was still very high and they gave her a monitor and some medication and told her to come back for a checkup in a week. I was so happy that she was doing better, as was everyone else.

I decided that that was to close a call. Mom is way too young. It is time for a lifestyle change. I intend to help mom, dad, myself, Chris, Bryan, Tiffy, and anyone else to start anew and begin a healthier lifestyle that will bring vitality, strength, and longevity to us all. I don’t want to experience another scare like I had yesterday. I want to nip it in the bud before it can happen, I want to prevent it instead of cure it. I want to be proactive with my health. I pray that we can all start and/or continue a healthy lifestyle and live a long, healthy, active life.

What if animals could talk?

Have you ever wondered what an animal would say to you if it could talk? Maybe you've cought your dog or cat give you a look that made you wonder what they were thinking?

I'm pretty sure if my cats could talk they would say, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy...wake up and feed me now, I'm hungry. Will you play with me? My litter box is gross, I'm holding it until you fix it. Will you rub my back? Ok, now go away, I'm trying to take a nap. Oh, wait, what do you have in your hand? Let me smell." So yeah, my cats would talk talk talk, but probably only to get what they want when they want it. However, at night when they become cuddley, they would be more likely to say, "I missed you. I'm so glad you're home. Can I lay on your tummy? I love you."

Now, I know that my cats would carry on a conversation with me if they could talk, but what about a chipmunk or a squirrel? Well, I imagine that that would be a funny conversation to listen to. I imagine a fast high pitched voice. I can see a chipmunk running along the ground just under a tree collecting nuts mumbling to itself, "This to, this to. Need this and this, and oh my gosh a human. Do you think she saw me? Yes. Oh no. Ok stand perfectly still, she might think you are a rock if you stand perfectly still. What if she takes my nuts? Oh no, she's still looking. NOW, RUN, The TREES GET UP THE TREES!" At the top of the tree you see the chipmunk glaring down in hostility shaking it's fist "I'll get you for this you big smelly monster, you better leave my nuts alone!" It begins throwing twigs at you and hitting you in the head.

Now, if you went to the zoo, I wonder the conversations that were carried on would be like. Let's see. You walk through the entrance gates and start your adventure with the penguins. To your surprise they are speaking and you understand every single word they are saying.

"Hey Dave, try the slide this time, race you to the top!" Penguin Dave looks at Penguin Lucy. "You're on Luc! First one to reach the top gets dibs on fish today!" Penguin Lucy looks at Dave, "Yea! You're so on!" They race to the top, Lucy's giggling, Dave is panting, but Penguin Bob jumps in front of both before either reaches the top, and down the slide he goes! "HaHa!" cries Penguin Bob, "I win, I win! I get dibs today!!!" Down the slide they follow and a water splashing fight begins as they dive above the water and flop back down under.

Moving on from the penguins you decide to go visit the Lions. It is a warm day, and they are lying still in the shade. You hear a voice, that almost sounds like a growl, but you can make out the words.

What did they say? Can you add to my story? Are you up to it? Can you keep it going and growing? Try it. Come on, I dare you.

Crossroads

I once heard a talk at church that has always stayed with me. I can't remember who gave it, or exactly what the message was about, but I do remember it talking about life choices and the road in life and the direction you want to take is not always straight. He talked about comming to crossroads alot throughout life, and you will have many crossroads that will change the direction of your life depending on which road you choose to take.

He was right. I remember many crossroads growing up, whether it be the school I chose to go to, the job I chose to take, or the boy I chose to date.

I am yet again at another crossroad. I have just graduated school, and am back to work in the real world. It is a hard transition because I got use to my routine and I was a very good student and enjoyed every minute. Now I don't have a paper due by next Tuesday, a math test to study for, a final to study for, I just have one job and many many dreams. I just think I'm in shock. How odd though right, I miss homework, I miss classes, and I miss my proffessors. I loved them all, with a few exceptions.

Chris and I just had our 8 year anniversary and I'm still madly in love with him. We began dating in 2001, and we made it official that fall. We had such an awesome adventure the first summer being together. We moved to New Hampshire and lived in the town of Dunbarton for the first few months. Believe it or not, we built a tent and set it up in the woods and lived there while we both worked at a hotel. We would always go to work early to freshen up and go for a swim. It was so nice when we got our first apartment. We rented an apartment in Manchester, NH. The first thing we did when our realator left was fall to the floor and appreciate the comfortable carpeted floor. No dirt, No rocks, No Tree roots, No bugs. :)

That was a fun adventure but I grew so homesick for my family and friends, so a year later we packed it up and moved home. We ended up moving to Eugene, Oregon; what an awesome and beautiful city. We loved it. Our roommate however we did not love so much. The only good thing about living with her was that she gave me Tenshi my sweet, fluffy little kitty. We soon moved to the other end of town which didn't last very long because we needed something that costed less money, so we found a house in Springfield, OR.

Springfield. The only thing I can say about springfield is that thank goodness I don't live there anymore. I called the police at least once a month with people trying to break in my house and all sorts of crazy stuff. I hated that. The house itself I liked, and being close to Eugene was cool, but living in springfield was like living in a stinky, drug infested armpit.

I love the town I'm living in now, it is my favorite. I loved Eugene, but it was still to far away from my family and friends. Now I'm directly centered so that for almost all my friends and family it is only a 20 minute drive.

Life has had some twists and turns, I've been up and I've been down. I'm 30 years old and hoping to live for another 90 years. Who knows what crossroads I will come to then? Who I will become, where I will go, and where I will end up? Hopefully, it will be with the ones I love doing something I've always dreamed of.

Vote For Pedro

Don't you love those commercials that have absolutely nothing to do with what they are advertising? Yeah, well it grabs your attention though doesn't it...mmmhmmm.

So I've been extremely busy trying to find a job. I won't lie, it is hard out there. I had over four temp agencies, my school alumni job center, and the Employment Office helping me look. I was using all of the job search resources that I recently learned in my career and life planning class which I took this fall.

Well, the good news is that I finally found a job, thanks to an answer to the email I sent out to all my family and friends telling them of my need for a job. The bad news is that I'm late on all my bills and have lost my phone service. If you want to reach me, I am most easily contacted by email, or you could call my mom or brother and have them relay it to me so I can call you back.

I live with my brother Bryan now, and have since February. Chris and I are liking it alot. Dominique is so fun. One of my favorite things to do is read Dominique a story at bedtime, we are currently reading Inkheart by Cornelia Funke; Dominique loves it. She told me "I want to be more organized, and I want to be smarter." Well I think those are awesome goals and I'm excited that she is letting me help her reach them. I enjoy helping her with her school work and I'm excited to help her organize her room.

Please keep me in your prayers, I really need it right now.

Saint Valentine: A Martyr for Marriage

There is a legend that I like to think of on Valentines Day. Forget the modern day holiday that is meant for romance and courting, this legend is about uniting a love that is deeper than crushes and lust.

During the third Century when the Emperor Claudius II reigned, a terrible law came into effect that put marriage on the path to extinction. Claudius outlawed marriage with the belief that his married soldiers were weak because of love; with their families back home they would often be homesick and half hearted while out on the battle field. To create a stronger army, he passed a law that prohibited young men from getting married. By doing this he would have his pick of soldiers with their hearts dedicated to their work, ceasing any worries of their loved ones back home; a strong heartless army.

There was a priest who disagreed with Claudius and began to secretly fight the outlawing of marriage. Soon after marriage became illegal, Valentine risked his life by meeting young lovers in secret to marry them, keeping the sanctity of marriage alive.

When Claudius discovered Valentine’s treasonous act, he had him arrested and sentenced him to death. While Valentine was in his prison cell, young couples that he’d married slipped him notes through the bars of his cell thanking him for his brave acts. It is said that while in his cell, Valentine fell in love with the Jailer’s daughter. The night before he was put to death he wrote her a letter and signed it “from your Valentine.” A saying that is now used every Valentines Day.

There are other legends that portray Saint Valentine a hero to the Christians not only for assisting in keeping marriage alive, but assisting Christians to escape Roman prisons where they were being beaten and tortured.
These acts of bravery and love should be remembered each Valentines Day. Valentine became a hero to love, families, and marriage.

So, where did the idea to give Valentine Cards come from?

Some suggest that Valentine’s letter to the jailer’s daughter started the tradition. While this may be true, the oldest existing valentine today is found to be a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife after being captured in the Battle of Agincourt. He wrote it while he was locked away in the Tower of London in the year 1415. It can now be found at the British Library in London, England.

It wasn’t until the 17th Century that Valentines Day became popularly celebrated in Great Britain and America. By the 18th century it was common to exchange hand written notes or small gifts of affection. Printed cards began to replace the hand written notes by the end of the 18th Century.

Esther A. Howland became the first to sell mass-produced Valentines in America in 1840.

When people hear Valentines Day they don’t think about family and marriage, instead they think of romance, chocolate, flowers and cards. It is unfortunate to the man who gave his life to keep families and marriage alive, that no one today celebrates this day in his honor, but instead believe this holiday was invented by the “card companies.”

Now that you know about Saint Valentine, maybe Valentines Day to you like it has for me will become more of a family celebrated holiday than a quest for romance and candy.