It's November!

No shade, no shine, no butterflies,
no bees
No fruit, no flowers, no leaves,
no birds! -- No-vember!
—Thomas Hood (1799-1845)

learning not to worry

One of the best things I've read all week...

"...one of the worst features about worrying is that it destroys our ability to concentrate. When we worry, our minds jump here and there and everywhere, and we lose all power of decision. However, when we force ourselves to face the worst and accept it mentally, we then eliminate all these vague imagininings and put ourselves in a position in which we are able to concentrate on our problem."

From How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

Stress is a cause of disease and illness

We've got a thousand different diagnoses and diseases out there. They're just the weak link. They're all the result of one thing: stress. If you put enough stress on the chain and you put enough stress on the system, then one of the links breaks.

Dr. Ben Johnson
The Secret, Rhonda Byrne

a car driving in the night

Think of a car driving through the night. The headlights only go a hundred to two hundred feet forward, and you can make it all the way from California to New York driving through the dark, because all you have to see is the next two hundred feet. And that's how life tends to unfold before us. If we just trust that the next two hundred feet will unfold after that, and the next two hundred feet will unfold after that, your life will keep unfolding. And it will eventually get you to the destination of whatever it is you truly want, because you want it.Your thoughts control your personal vibration. Change your thoughts, get emotional about them, and you'll change what is attracted to you.

watermelon man

I love this song and I think the animation is funny. Wait for the girl at the end, hmmm... I can think of a few people I wouldn't mind doing that too!!! Did I say that out loud? Sorry those were inside words that should have stayed inside. Please forgive me!

All I can think about today is going to the beach and not just any beach, a nice powdery, sandy, warm one.

funny pyramid game show (friends tv show with Joey Tribbiani)

Joey was always my favorite character on this show.

I love this song

Hayley Westenra sings this. She also is a member of Celtic Woman. I love her sweet voice.

relaxing

Remembering to take time to relax...music is a good stress reliever for me. I found this cute video on Youtube and had to share it. I love both Jane Monheit and Michael Buble. I've never heard them perform together.... sweet.. what a find!

another great movie

I'm reading this book. I saw the movie first, about 3 or 4 months ago and liked it a lot. Another clean movie... go rent it today, tomorrow or this weekend!

still sick and lots to do...

I'm still sick and have a lot to do but thought I'd post a movie review once or twice a week. I was once told there are NO good movies to rent. Well.... there are a lot that are bad, horrible, and completely inappropriate for children and adults. However, there are some good movies to watch and are even decent enough to watch with the whole family.

Have you seen this movie? You should, it's good. One of my favorite movies...


It is called I am David.

movie review

Sometimes Masterpiece Theater has really great movies. Have you seen this movie yet? You should, it's really good. The little girl, Lucy (Georgie Henley) that plays in The chronicles of Narnia plays young Jane Eyre. This is my favorite version of Jane Eyre so far.

sicknesses and beds

I went to the Dr. yesterday and she gave me a note to tell my teachers I'm sick, then she sent me home and told me to go to bed. You know you're ill when your Dr. tells you not to go to school and makes you go home and go to bed. Normally I go to school even when I'm sick and try to keep my germs to myself and sit where nobody else is. (sorry, I'm one of those who is a perpetuator of spreading nastiness at school and then everyone else is also spreading it around...it seems nobody is ever well...gross!)

Good thing I didn't drive to school, I was so dizzy and out of it, I wouldn't have made it home. I slept until 2 pm today and probably will go back to bed again... for the love of pete... somebody give me a magic pill and make me well! I have tons of homework to get done and don't have time to be sick!!!

Service providers need to set their thermostats higher in the summer. Being outside in 93 degree weather and then going into a 70-75 degree airconditioned area is bad for you. Plus some people, like me can develop severe complications, like only being able to use a quarter of my lung capacity and having to be doped up on medication so that I can breathe. I have severe asthma and have to take medication daily for it, so when I have asthma attacks or get sick, I have to take prednisone. Prednisone is nasty stuff... I try to keep well so I don't have to take it. So please turn the thermostat up and keep your places warmer... it's ridiculous to be sweating one minute and then have chills the next. I guess I should start bringing a light jacket with me wherever I go.

When James did pick me up and bring me home, I thought magic fairies came, who else would do my dishes, run the dishwasher, have my kitchen sparkling clean, and run two loads of laundry? I told James I would have to thank Heavenly Father for blessing my home with magic fairies. I love you magic fairies, please come again!!! You make my life much more tolerable and nice and wonderful and happy... did I say I love magic fairies? I do, I really really do!

I was laying in bed and wondering if beds were made with tvs or computers in them. Wouldn't that be nice? I could get so much done if I could have one. I found that such things actually do exist...

weird

I thought I'd post this... probably everyone has seen it already, but in case you haven't here it is. Enjoy Donny Osmond's nerdy dance!

presents

Thanks to all my family and friends for getting me almost everything I asked for on or after my birthday. Very sweet of you. I'm still hoping to go on a family hike though. I don't know if everyone is able to go because Mom has bad knees and James has a bad back. We do have a nice walking stick though and we can get a few more. There are several hikes I'd like to go on this summer. I'd like to hike Cascade Head,Multnomah Falls, Cape Disappointment,(James and I did that one last year)Neahkahnie Mountain, there are also lots of day hikes in Portland to go do.
It's going to be an awesome summer...

Funny

I thought I'd share something funny today. "I don't want to get bit by Scooby Doo" There was a missionary on my mission that used to do funny Ms. Swan impersonations. It was great.

dancing with the stars

Here are the children finalists on Dancing with the Stars. Brandon and Brittany are my favorite, they are dancing to Phantom of the Opera.

May 14...

Today is my birthday. I get to go to the Portland Art Museum with my Art class. We are going to the museum to look at paintings of people. (I love the museum) We are going to look at the different uses of media at the museum for our next project. We are to choose a photo of a person that includes their head, neck, and shoulders. I haven't decided who I'm going to do yet. (I think I'm going to my mom's house on Friday to look and rifle through her photos, maybe I'll be able to find something good. I hope I can find some good photos of myself.) I'm excited about this project.

James and I are celebrating my birthday on Thursday evening since I don't get home from school on Wednesdays until 10pm. I am in school all day and am very wiped out when I get home and usually fall asleep on the couch until 1am and then slink off to bed to lay there unconciously until 10am the next day. (sometimes I go back to sleep until noon... I like getting thirteen hours of sleep, I think that is why I look so much younger than my age, I get lots of sleep and don't have to wake up with little babies.) I love Thursdays, I sleep in, clean a little, do homework, and wear my pajamas all day... it's great. But this Thursday, I am going to primp, polish, and paint for my date with James. I'm looking forward to going out with him.

Today I got one of my birthday wishes... my acupuncturist, Gidon gave me an acupuncture treatment and then he gave me a wonderful massage. After that he did cupping on my back... I have never felt better and I've been wanting to get a massage for awhile. That is one of the reasons why I miss working at a Spa... free massages. I really like my acupuncturist, he is great. I thought Jen was the best, but she left and went to Indonesia for 6 weeks. I was sad, but I like Gidon.... he gives me extra treatments and is more thorough.

Today will be a busy day, but it will be a good day... we are supposed to get some lovely weather... in the 80's this week. My birthday usually is the start of great spring/summer fun!

For My Birthday

I would like...
To be with my family all day... (yes, this is going to happen!)
Go see a movie with my family... (I love movies, we're going to see this.)
I would also like these things:
A new bra. (by Victoria Secret)
Someone to come help me organize and clean my house with me.
Dirt for my garden box.
Wii
A treadmill
A bike with a cushy seat that doesn't hurt my bum.
A camera
To go on a hike
a vacation
Shoes that don't hurt my feet or insoles like these... I hear they're wonderful.

My friends and family to give me hugs and kisses...
and lots of love from James...(oh yeah...*whispering* and a baby!!!) So I know that isn't happening yet... how about a massage then? That would be wonderful....

Thanks.....

Bored?

Spiderman 3 was on today all evening and it was getting on my nerves so I came into the office to get away from the noise. Now don't get me wrong, I don't mind watching movies like that, but it was certainly not something I wanted to watch last night. I have very sensitive hearing and I don't like the tv to be up loud at night (which it was). I found out that Masterpiece theater is airing Cranford and they have it online. It is in three parts. I've watched part 1 already.... you can too. Masterpiece Theater's Cranford

I love ballroom dancing...

I don't watch much TV, but I sporadically watch this show on the Internet when I don't feel well or need a break from homework. I'm glad it's online, otherwise I'd never get to watch it. The children are my favorite, they dance better than the adults... I bet their parents are so proud, ah to have such talented children!!!

I need to get her CD. Emmy Rossum for those of you who don't know played in Phantom of the Opera and I thought she had a gorgeous voice them, I'm glad she has a CD out. I love her large curls.

James and I made a deal. I lose enough weight and get healthy enough so my high blood pressure isn't an issue (My father in law has better blood pressure than I do and he's 70!) and we'll go through the process of a reversal vasectomy. I'm so excited!!! When we got married two years ago, we had planned on getting pregnant in two years. Well after two years, we went to the Dr. and she said no way would she recommend that I get pregnant, in fact she pleaded with me not to. She said my blood pressure is too high, I'm too stressed out, and getting pregnant would probably kill me or possibly cause me to have a stroke. *sigh* So, as I was washing my face and brushing my teeth, James got in the shower and we had the conversation of losing weight... I don't necessarily need to lose a lot of weight, but I do need to exercise to get healthy, eat healthy, learn to relax, and not stress out. That will be the hardest part... not stressing out especially entering my last term at Portland State University. So, wish me luck. I plan on changing our eating, movement, and coping strategies. It's spring after all and not only do I need to spring clean the house, I need to spring clean our lives....

Flight of the Conchords. Funny!

I wanted to see this movie and finally rented it. It sounded cute, etc. James and I sat down to watch it and he said "OH NO!" I just laughed and said, it's ok just deal with it, it'll get better. (crossing my fingers) Halfway through James said, "I don't think I can take anymore." I said, "Just wait, it's almost over now." HA ha ha ha ha ha....Sorry James! He did stay and watch the entire thing and afterwards shook his head. I liked the actress, but the movie wasn't exactly one I'd watch again.

Take the QuizThis silly test doesn't surprise me at all. When James and I were dating, he wanted to know who my favorite actor was. I told him Will Smith. He was surprised and said, WHAT?? and WHY?? I said because he is hilarious and makes me laugh, there is something sexy about a man who can lighten up the mood by making people laugh in a light hearted way, he also makes fun of himself, and seems to be a great husband and father. James said that was one of the things he liked about me...that I picked someone I liked based on their ability to make others' laugh, he says most women pick celebrity men they like based on looks alone. If you haven't seen Hitch, you MUST! It is hilarious, then you must go do the sprinkler dance... James and I were going to see I am Legend over the Christmas break, but I think it is a scary movie.... yeah, no thanks!

I love making jewelry. I haven't had much time to work on anything lately. I made a few people some jewelry for christmas and I had a great time doing it. I never took any pictures because I was in a rush to get everything done and sent before Christmas day. (It's hard to make everything for Christmas and get it done in a couple months.) Anyway, I saw this picture of a necklace and loved the colors. I made a necklace with something similar to this design a long time ago but not with these colors. I think this would look really lovely on my mother in law. (She's a red head and the colors would look great with the professional attire she wears to work daily.) I probably should get a jump on it since mother's day is around the corner. Now I just need to figure out what to get my own mother... she doesn't care for jewelry...(I never understood a woman who doesn't like jewelry. What's not to like? It's sparkly, pretty, and makes you feel girly...)

You Are a Dash

Your life is fast paced and varied. You are realistic, down to earth, and very honest. You're often busy doing something interesting, and what you do changes quickly. You have many facets to your personality, and you connect them together well. You have a ton of interests. While some of them are a bit offbeat, they all tie together well. You friends rely on you to bring novelty and excitement to their lives. (And while you're the most interesting person they know, they can't help feeling like they don't know you well.) You excel in: Anything to do with money You get along best with: the Exclamation Point

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

Well... OK then...

65 words

Speed test

Happy Easter to our beloved family and friends.
Artwork by Greg Olsen

It's good to have a little perspective

"Life is not just a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: WOW.... WHAT A RIDE !!!"

I think I've always taken the easy route in life. I've always wanted to remain safe and secure, not taking any risk or making any waves. I decided a while ago... that isn't how I'm going to live anymore. I want to make a difference. I admired the young adults in my capstone class this term. Most of them are fresh out of high school and want to make the world a better place. I think so many people only look out for themselves and only care about who is immediately surrounding them. So many look only to make a good impression on other people and say what we think they want us to say. Someone I know once told me that they don't want to make a difference in the world, only to take care of themself and their family. I think that is a very selfish attitude. I think if people look around and take care of one another and those in need, we'd all be much better off. I'm trying to find meaning and purpose in my life. I don't think that can happen unless I start making some bold decisions. I see bad and distressing things going on in the world and it is easy to think, I'm just one small person, how can I make a difference. If you make a difference to just one other person, you made a difference to the world. I keep thinking Easter is this weekend, a time of renewal and hope.... I think I will reserve this time for thinking about what I have accomplished so far and what I want to accomplish in the next year. Maybe I need to be like the students in my class and look for a deeper meaning in life... perhaps that means taking the road less traveled...

poetry class

I finished my last paper for my poetry class and my last poem. I loved this class and now hope to continue writing, writing, and writing.

Ars Poetica

Choosing words to express feeling
rhyming words or use of form
cluttering the head with rules of meter
worry for fear it is wrong

Allowing words to flow on paper
even if they don’t make sense
gives the poet something to mold
something to create and shape

Critique and comments are most helpful
when they are used to polish
words that already are on paper
that need a fresh approach

Manipulation of words form poetry
maybe beautiful or not
rewriting a poem can cause magic
when the words say what you want
By Angela

Sick

I am so sick, I missed most of my classes this week. I can't seem to be able to do anything but sleep. Thank goodness it is "slush/slack" week (the week before finals week). We didn't do much of anything this week but tell everyone good bye, exchange numbers with other students, and fill out evaluations on the professor. I think my favorite class was my Poetry class.

My least favorite was Psychology. I would have liked that class, but I disliked the professor too much... everyone outside of class that I talked to couldn't stand him either. My capstone class was awesome, but actually going to the inner city schools was difficult, depressing, and painful. All the things that we discussed NOT to do with refugee children was happening in the school I was tutoring in. It made me upset and when/if I have children, I know I'm definately putting them in a private school. Teachers shouldn't be labeling children and calling them mean and nasty, nor yelling at them, or causing them to have bad self esteem, and they SHOULD be more than willing to work with tutors so the children can get the extra help they need....

OK so on to HAPPIER thoughts, I dragged myself out of bed and went outside to see what more I could find that was blooming in my yard... I found little purple flowers blooming around my waterfall/pool...

The Quince starting to bloom in my backyard....
A close up of the flowers, they look orangey, but it's my camera... they're really bright pink.
and my white clematis is blooming as well.
These things make me feel better. I love spring and I'm looking forward to Easter, Spring break, General Conference, my last semester because I'm taking more art classes, and then SUMMER and a degree!!!

Acupuncture was weird yesterday. I bled from every point after Jen took all the needles out. She said that was good... and it felt good too. I felt this warmth and rushing of blood coursing throughout my body. Now I have to brew herbal tea to drink and it smells and tastes disgusting. I pulled barks, leaves, and other nature-y things out of the bag Jen gave me and put them in my teapot to simmer for 45 minutes. Jen says the tea is a cleansing, healing formula, she mixes it herself and customizes the formula to each patient she has. BOTTOMS UP!!!

Personality test

You Are Cayenne Pepper

You are very over the top and a bit overwhelming. You have a fiery personality, and you can give anyone a good jolt. You can easily take things up a couple notches, no matter what crowd you're running with.

What Spice Are You?

Acupuncture

I've had three treatments of acupuncture now. I wished I'd have done this a lot sooner. I'd always wanted to, but didn't ever take the time to research more about it. At one point I called a place last year that I wanted to go to, but I could never get anyone on the phone and nobody ever returned my call. Hmmm...... I was complaining to James about how much I hurt several weeks ago and said I was at the point of just screaming and/or crying all the time because the pain is so intense. It causes me to not sleep at night and most of the days I walk around like a zombie because I never have enough sleep (2-3 hrs usually) and then I spend the days trying to keep awake during classes, homework, and my studies. Well James called this place again for me. Of course, when he calls, they respond right away and make me an appointment. I have been seeing Jen. She is amazing. I don't like her so much when she is sticking needles into the painful parts... wrists, between the fingers, palm, hand, forearm, arm, and feet, but I like her very much when I go home later that evening and am able to go to bed without pain. Today I had over 20 needles in just the right hand. I love you Jen, except today when you stuck a needle in my arm and turned it all black and blue, that hurt and it is still sore, but I'm sure I'll love you again tomorrow when I lay down to sleep and I wake up refreshed in the morning.

Tutoring

Tutoring takes a lot of energy out of me, yet I know I am doing a good thing for the African refugee children who are immersed into American schools. I just have mixed feeling about doing it. I know that the children need me and I love them. It is their teachers and the principal and everyone around them who are adults that are the problem. When I went to tutor last Friday I had the most hellish day. At recess, the teacher on duty ran around the yard and yelled at the children to not play tag. So I was gently reminding them so they wouldn't be bawled out by this teacher. When the bell rang a little boy was slowly getting off the play ground equipment and she SCREAMED at him to get off and get in line. I was picking up the equipment and putting it away for the children and then I saw this little boy start to cry because she was yelling at him and she called him a crybaby and screamed in his face to get in line. OH MY!!! I can't believe people like this are actually employed in an elementary school. Then I witnessed the principal in the middle of the lunch room with a microphone yelling at the kids to be quiet, sit and eat, and when they were done and sitting quietly she'd let them dump their food and go to recess. I don't think children should be yelled at like that. Children are so innocent and to see this stuff go on makes me want to vomit. Then I go into a classroom to help tutor a child from Somalia and the class is PURE chaos. The teacher doesn't know her left hand from her right and finally sends three kids out of the class with me. These kids were required to do some reading and answer the questions. These children could read but had NO comprehension of the piece and these kids are not getting ESL time. These were only a few of the problems I encountered that day. There were so many that I wrote three pages to my professor. He said inner city children rarely get the help they need and the teachers show signs of frustration and are probably worn out. He agreed with me that the adults' behavior was inexcusable. I told James never on earth will I EVER put my kids in public school. I tutored last year at a different school and had a miserable experience with the teacher there as well. She was MEAN to the poor babies in kindergarten and she wondered why the kids didn't like her. Oregon has some of the highest qualifications to get into teaching, but these teachers are seriously lacking. I guess the most I can do is keep going back and hope I can help as many children as possible and love them because they are God's precious children.

Penn State

My cousin sent me this. I thought it was hilarious. They should've gotten their story straight before they told it to the professor!

At Penn State University, there were four sophomores taking chemistry and all of them had an 'A' so far. These four friends were so confident that, the weekend before finals, they decided to visit some friends and have a big party. They had a great time but, after all the hearty partying, they slept all day Sunday and didn't make it back to State College until early Monday morning. Rather than taking the final then, they decided that after the final they would explain to their professor why they missed it. They said that they visited friends but on the way back they had a flat tire. As a result, they missed the final. The professor agreed they could make up the final the next day.
The guys were excited and relieved. They studied that night for the exam.
The Professor placed them in separate rooms and gave them a test booklet. They quickly answered the first problem worth 5 points. Cool, they thought!
Each one in separate rooms, thinking this was going to be easy.... then
they turned the page. on the second page was written....

For 95 points: Which tire? _________

afghan

Here is the afghan I made for my inlaws. James says it's the most incredible handmade thing he's ever seen. Very sweet of him. I didn't get the afghan done for my inlaws for Christmas, because I couldn't work on it as much as I wanted to. So perhaps I will send it to them for Valentines' day!