Saturday, December 31, 2005

Your Mail in 2006: DOn't Forget to Add Two Cent Stamps

Your Mail in 2006: Don't Forget to Add One Two Cents Stamps


Please remember to add a two cents stamps to your mail. Otherwise the mailman will return your mail.


Happy Holidays!


 

The Red Sox Blues

The Red Sox Blues


Would someone please explain to me why the Red Socks would trade Manny Ramirez and Mat Clement for Miguel Tijada?????


Manny Ramires is the best hitter of the American league and Matt Clement has a huge effect on the Red Socks pitching staff. He made the Red Socks what they are today.


Migule Tijada is too old and he could have a not too hot season this year. He will probably struggle and how could he ever get as good as Manny is?


Pleas explain! I have teens here who love baseball and they are not Monponsett!Or nightmaremom!help!


 


 

What I want to do in 2006

What I Want to do in 20006


( Hey..put what you want to do in the comments!K?!!!)


What I want in 2006 in  this :


1. To be more pro active in writing, walking, encouraging the kids, encouragin their coaches and teachers, encouraging my neighbors more.


2.To stand up for people more, not less.


3. To create more community, not less.


4. To be more farsighted, less nearsighted! (I hope!)


5. To focus more and draft more ideas ( creative ones  I hope!)


6. To create more of a community here with like minded here.


7. To love more, live more, laugh more and cry more.


8 To travel more when there is time left over.


Viola! How about you ?


Happy New Year!

A Story to Honor Our Deceased Troops

A Story to Honor our Deceased Troops


Remembering Scott O'Leary


Holly gazed over the fence and into the cemetery. She saw all of he white crosses, one after the other, in the long rows that reached up the hill.


There was a light mist floating in under the clouds and a light sunlight fusing the sky with a pale white light. She sighed.


Holly walked up the hill and down the row where her brother lay. She met his cross with a sigh. Scott O'Leary ... born ... --- died ... --- ... She sat quietly, placing ehr daffodils on his grave as she folded her legs under her.


She thought of the Memorial in DC to the soldiers - the eternal flame. The feelings seemed to be:"Hope Springs Eternal."


Humm..In what way did hope spring eternal? Eternal for whom?


She brushed her bangs aside as her tears fell on the ground. She felt the huge pain in her chest and she hugged her knees, missing her brother...Her brother, the one who always looked after her when they were growing up. He was always there, looking after her, helping pick her up when she  fell, helping her with her problems.. and now? Who would be there for her/


She still remembered him playing football at college and that time they went to prom together...


Holly sighed. She thought about how Scott was a veteran. He was dead, dead in her arms, but still a veteran...


Was this was like World War II? she frowned and looked out in front of her...Then we  had a common enemy who, like now, would fight us to the death. An enemy, Alkeida, who wanted us to loose all of our freedoms, because they had no use for them..in that way it was like World War II. But the gripping fear that Americans felt, not knowing where Alkeide might strike again, and in Iraq, not knowing which hospital, school, house or tank might receive the blast of a grenade, that was hard..she shuddered...


Scott had not t about his fears in this letters or spoke of them in his phone calls. He was too big of a man for that. But she knew.


Why were these criminals mad at us? Why did they hate our culture so much that they were willing to kill their own kind , including women and children and innocent non military families to make their point?


Just because they didn't like Coca Cola and Taco Bell and they wanted their women to keep wearing veils, why attack us for that?She bit her lip...Why did they kill her brother?


She reflected on her town...Did they appreciate Scott's sacrifice?She nodded..Oh yes.. She remembered the yellow ribbons when Scott's brigade had to go in a difficult territory.. A  lot of the tree around the square had them.. And the parade when he came home on break LAst TIme! He was on a float with o<SPAN class=spell id=sp-28 title="Click here to replace with: the, there, thee, then, them, they, the troops,


waving his flag! They were all so proud! ..


And then when his coffin came home, so many people flooded the church and brought flowers... There were people commiserating with her parents and other families everywhere...She sighed. She put the flowers down and picked up her feet. She would go visit her parents later... 

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Water Wars

Water Wars


Time Magazine


September 5, 2005


Madeleine Nash


Introduction


This article covers a subject which sticks in my crawl space! It is about some state buying and reverting some natural river and tributaries to their own state.


Las Vegas,Nevada wants to move and pump water from remote springs in Utah and in Colorado to Las Vegas!


Nash points out that Great Basin water fro these regions is already in trouble due to sever srying in our environment. Naturally there are some zoologists like Greald Smith of the University of Michigan who point out that if we dry out these regions we will alos loose tiny organisms who have lived there all of this time.


In Colorado Nash says the Colorado river's tributaries are going down dramatically.


Nash points out soundly that until scientists can report the effect that these projects will have on the environemnt that they should not be undertaken.


What do you think?


 

More DDT is Requested to Fight Malaria in Africa

More DDT is Desired in Remote Spots of Africa


The Editors


Scientific American


December 2005


Remember in 1972 when due to Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring" DDT was banned in America due to the fact that we feared that DDT would damage the genes in some animals and kill off some strains of insects?


Enter South Africa with its' dire situation of so much malaria and not enough weapons to fight it. In the Sahara of Africa, Africans would like America and Europe and other developing nations to donate DDT and to allow the spraying of it in responsible ways.


What do you make of this?

HIdden Money Awaits Veterans and Wives of Veterans of Wars

Hidden Money Awaits Veterans and Wives of Veterans from Wars


Friday, December 23, 2005


Knight Ridder Newspapers


The Deparment of Veteran Affairs has aproblem. They have + or - 22 billion dollars a year in pensions from the U.S. government that should go to imporverished veterans and veterans' widow. there's only one problem; the Department of Veteran Affairs cannotlocate most of these veterans and widows. Only one in seven of the survivors of our veterans who should get these checks do get them. the DVA says that poor veterans don't know that this program exists.


A VA report in 2004 reccomended that the agency get the word out better.


In 2005, the total number of pensions carried by people fell to 541,00 nationwide.


The VA Commission said that since WWII and the Korean Wars many veterans of wars are dying and falling off the rolls. It is now difficult for the VA to demonstrate the effectiveness of the program. Last year Knight Ridder said that about 572,000 people might be mising a supplement whihc could amount to somewhere between $112 to $2,393 a month to theri income.


Veterans and widows who want to apply must have a veteran in the family who:1. served in a war, 2. is at least 65 years old or disabled.


The phone number is:(800) (827-1000).


The Internet address isthe VA Headquarters:


www.vba.va.gov/bin/21/Milsvc/Doc/Pensoneg.doc


If the person is a widow of a veteran, she goes to thie address to apply:


www.vba.gov/bin/21/mifsvc/Docs/Opening.doc


 


If you know anyone who might aplly for this, please give them this information. Apparently this fund needs to get more use in order to keep getting funded by teh federal government.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year To Jland, Troops, Heroes and Families!To singles too!


Happy New Year to all of my dear friends in Jland, to all of our troops abroad, to all of our heroes, firemen, teachers, administrators, professors, policemen, artists, musicians, and family people. You Rock! Applause!


( I stand up and look at you).

Sunday, December 25, 2005

Happy Holidays to Our Troops Abroad

Happy Holidays to Our Troops in Iraq and Other Places


If you are  in the Army, Navy, Marines or US Military Intelligence, we wish you a good and decent holiday!


We hold you with honor in our thoughts and we wish you a safe and good tour of duty with a safe trip home!


Happy Holidays and Best Wishes!


 

Saturday, December 24, 2005

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and Happy Winter Soltice and Happy Kwanza


Have a great holiday and I hope you receive love, joy and Happiness !


natalie

Ten Things that Make me Happy

Ten things That Make Me Happy


1. My kids doing well at lots of things and having fun.


2. My friends getting together with me and my family.


3.Writing a story or a poem.


4. Eating at an exotic restaurant wiht family or good friends


5. Helping a friend solve a problem.


6.Reading a great novel.


7.Discovering something new.


8. Travelling somewhere new.


9. Meeting new people.


10. Biking, skating, hiking volleyball, or watching basketball or soccer or baseball.


OK If you read this and you would like to do it, please be my guest!

Holiday Haiku

Haiku Bicycle


Happiness is short


Living a hard life shorter


I can sing this song


 


I fell in love


While in Katmandu I met


A wonderous guy


We dined on figs


While he played his great sitar


And watched lotus flowers bloom

Friday, December 23, 2005

Dad It's cold....when can we go home?

Dad it's cold; When can we go home?


Yasir clutched the border of his jacket. He lived in Pakistan near the border with India. All of his homeland was in the high elevations and for a long time he and his family had been fine. Then the earthquake came and all was lost... all of their wonderful homes, their school, the monster of a storm even took out their hospital.


Yasir shivered.. they slept in a clear tent like the other Pakistanis , wrapped tight in blankets and shivering...


Yasir sighed... Soon it would be Ramadan, the HIgh Holy Days. Their people were a good people and he wondered when would the world come and help them?


His father said that it would all take time..becasue they lived high up and it was considerably hard to reach them..


"Hummmm.." Yasir thought...


It better be soon...


Yasir's grandparents had persihed in the earthquake.


It took awhile for his dad and his uncle to find them in the rubble..But now he worried about his mother , who had recently taken ill..


He climbed up on a tree to look out and see if his friend Bathar was about... Yup! He spotted him. He ran over to see what Bathar was up to... maybe they could build a fort out of the stones from the temple and they could be pirates today! He rushed over to


Bathar to find out...


 

Lara and Babushka

Lara and Babushka


Lara was visiting Grandma with her doll Babushka in Kiev.


Grandma would be taking her to the Chernobyl cancer center after tea. Lara didn't remember much about Chernobyl; grandma had tried to explain about Chernobyl; how it was like a big white storm with bad white stuff floating over everyone and everything. She had explained that Russia was not prepared for it when it came and so Kiev had rallied the little funds and docotrs it had to create this clinic. Lara cradled her doll and rocked her to and fro...She loved this doll and she lvoed her Grandma so much.


Grandma came in with some sweet apple cider;warmed by the stove. She smiled down at Lara and sat next to her. Lara smiled back;warmed by her Grandma's love. "Grandma? Can Babuschka have some cider too please?"


"Oh sure Lara! " She went back into the kitcken, poured some cider inot a small cup and brought it back. "Here!".Grandma smiled big.


"Thanks Grandma!"


Lara cradled her doll and gave her the semblance of a drink.


Lara reflected on her upcoming Christmas.On Christmas Eve, her family would go to the Russian Orthodox mass in teh big cathedral. That church had huge paintings all over the ceiling..lots of people,etc. and there would be candles and incense.


On Christmas day they would sit together in their living room with her mother's friends and open presents. There was always some small gift that her mom had managed to get for her..at great difficulty because their gas and food bills were so high. As little as Lara was she really appreciated her parents' travails and efforts. Then, her mom would cook a big potato meal (yumm!) including sweet potatoes and dumplings. Meat was expensive so they might not get that but even so...then after the meal they might have a fruit or a pudding. Lara loved to take a stroll after dishes with her dad. She smiled to herself.Not everyone had such dear parents who loved their kid so much..Ah.. but she did!She smiles and wrapped babushka up warmly in a baby blanket and held her close...

Thursday, December 22, 2005

The Bodhishivatti Doll

The Bodhishivatti Doll


The girl Kali was about ten or eleven when I knew her.


She lived in a small village in India. She had fashioned a doll for herself out of extra cloths that her mother had left over in the kitchen. She called this her Bodhishivatti doll.


The family had not a huge amountof money to live on;


yet they were agood solid family. They had a shrine or alter to Buddha in the back of the house with a stool to kneel on. She wanted to be good and compassionant like Buddha. The story went that if she could attain a high level of doing good for others in this lifetime she might become a Bohishivatti one. This being lives for the good of others. She lives on such a high plain that it is hard for people to understand. Kali aspired to become this and her doll was there to remind ehr and to encourage her good way of thingking and doing for others. Kali smiled at the doll. They sat down tot eht able together. All is well.

Robert's Christmas Present

Robert's Christmas Present


He was tired and dirty as he walked in the door but it didn't matter; he was totally focused on making a Christmas gift for her.


She wouldn't be home yet for alittle while: time enough for him to go out in his shop and finish his woodcarving.


Last year he had made a couple of boxes for her and she had enjoyed them. The look in her eyes when she held them up and pulled them out of the giftwrap had brought tears into his own.He had made them and she had seen his work in it.


He looked out of the window at the trees swaying in the breeze... He was thinking of her and how he loved to hold her against his frame when they were stretched out next to the fireplace...mmmmm.


He picked up the little bird he was carving. It reminded him of the birds that came to their porch in the spring...


He chuckled and he began to whistle a tune...


Christmas came but once a year! Why not make the most of it?

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Treasure ship Found in the English Channel; treasure recovered!

Treasure Found in the English Channel


The Week December 23,2005-January 6, 2006


The Dutch government found tens of thousands of dollars worth of silver bullion that was retrieved from a shipwreck in 1739, from the Rooswijk, a company owned by the Dutch East India Company. The ship had just left Holland for avoyage to teh East Indieswhere the silver was to be made into coins when it sank.There were no survivors among 250 crew and passengers.

New York in Peril: Bloomberg to Seek Restraining Order

New York In Peril: Bloomberg to Seek A Restraining Order


CNN,December 21


The mayor of New York, Mr. Bloomberg, is requesting a restraining order for the city's subway and bus system. This si the second day of the strike which has cost the city a loss of upwards of 343million dollars.


New Yorkers must walk over the bridge to work or put otgether a group of people to carpool to work.


(see Scalzi's article yesterday).


Bloomberg talks about the need for transportation;people do have to go to work to pay their bills and some people are now at risk because they cannot acces their health care provider.

Sunday, December 18, 2005

Why do we Celebrate Hannukah?

Why do we Celebrate Hannukah?


You have seen the candle holders with the seven candles. Why do we do it?( What are we remembering and celebrating?)


Did you have a particularly wonderful Hannukah week that you would like to tell us about here? Please post a comment with your link and write astory about it in your blog so that we can all enjoy it!

Who were the Wise Men?

Who Were the Wise Men?


Who were the wise men? Why did they seek The Christ Child?


How did they find him?


Do we celebrate a holiday after them and if so when is it?


 

John Scalzi's Request for Christmas Stories

Scalzi's Request for Christmas Stories


Hi! One of my favorite Chrismas stories is my next entry. If you like, you can post a link to your favorite story in your blog on John Scalzi's blog. Just look for Christmas stories.


You can also leave some here.

Favorite Christmas


I'm not sure what my most favorite Christmas would be. Christmas is a joyful time, full of family sharing and being together.


One Christmas, my mother decided that she would invite some people to join us; a recent widow, a grandfather from another town, and two couples who's kids were not inviting them!


My mother always made everyone feel as if God had reserved a special place for them at the table! The furniture was newly polished, the tablecloth was on, and the Christmas tree was lovely.She played wonderful Christmas music and she wore a fun long dress; very Christmas like!


After a leisurely meal the kids were trying out their presents.I remember being twice grateful; once for the spirit of the event and the blessings of family and two for my wonderful mother and my family.


 

Friday, December 16, 2005

Who is this man?

Who is this man?


In line with the holidays I post this request: please leave me a comment on who this man is.I will leave the answer next week.


Hints:


1.He and his assistants arrive on the roof.


2. His assistants are Moors from Africa.


However, he himself is not from Africa.


3.He leaves you good things if youare good :), and bad things if youare not!:(


4. He collects nice toys and things and he delivers them to the poor kids in town.


Okay! please let me know!


_______________________


Nicole guessed correctly...


His name was Saint Nicolas.


He worked the poor neighborhoods in a small town in Spain. He became famous in Europe , where his birthday is still celebrated on December th 5th.He was famous because he loved all people and all children and he tried to see to it that the poor children receive toys too.


On December 5th, children will go visit this man with the bishop's hat and mitre in Europe and in parts of Amercia. The bishop will mention what the child has done very well and also not so well that year. The child will receive asmall token of the Saint's admiration, as long as he or she was good. The child knows that if he or she was too bad, the Moors ( assistants to Saint Nick) will throw them ina bag and take them off to Spain!


This character was the model for Santa Claus. His hat and suit were modified but his spirit of generosity remained the same!

Caroling Through JLand

Caroling through JLand


Jlanders!we have a new homework job to do! Tell everyone your favorite holiday song, and then leave a blog for others to do the same!


My favorite is Handels' "Messiah".


My second favorite is the children's classic:"The Little Drummer Boy".


Please write down your favorites and leave your link so that others may visit your blog. Cheers and Holly Jolly!


 

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

What are you Favorite Holiday Stories?

What are your favorite Holiday Stories?


Please write them down in your comments and leave a link to your journals!


My favorite is: "The Gift of the Magi". It is about a couple who learn about the wonder that happens from giving  this time of year.


There is also a fairy tale about a statue of a prince. He decides to let these sparrows steal gold from himself in order to feed the poor.


There is a fairy tale about some elfs who help a poor cobbler by bringin him leather every night.


 


 

He Made Me Glow

He Made Me Glow


 I was watching a film last night and something about the kindness I saw in the leading character reminded me of him; he made me glow...I remember first seeing him out by the fire where the entertainers were playing music and we were all dancing... the fire lit a glow across the students. My girlfriend introduced me to him.. it turned out she had known him in the school play he had been in. It was a Greek play about loyalty and self sacrifice.He smiled at me and took my hand to ask me to dance.The breeze surrounded us and made us giddy as we danced...


It turned out we were to be great friends, and more..

Friday, December 9, 2005

What I want for Christmas

What I want for Christmas


I would like an international group of buildings, a food budget and a staff budget that would enable me to host a number of orphanages for needy children.I would really put some work into helping these children:a. find suitabel homes with parents who care, b. helping them to develop their interests and to love themselves.


Extra credit:


If some one gave this to me I would go nuts with happiness and catch the first plane to the first site.

Honor Veterans of Pearl Harbor

Honor Veterans of Pearl Harbor


December 7, 1941


Our naval officers and sailors were minding their own business and working away when the Japanese airforce made them an early grave. This one act swept our nation into World War II with a fierce passion!


People who had never thought about going to war signed up to protect our nation and freedom and liberty around the world. Women and invalids signed up to help out the war effort by building bombs and putting together bandages and other Red Cross supplies for our forces in Europe and later in Africa, in the Pacific, in Indonesia and in other countries.


Man were we fired up!:):) And I feel the same dedication and total loyalty and pride every time I complement one of these loyal veterans! Thank you so much for saving he world from tyranny!

Thursday, December 8, 2005

Hope for a better tomorrow

Hope for a Better Tomorrow


As the nurse bent over to chage his mother's I.V. Jerome rubbed his middle fingers of his left hand against the last two fingers and he reflected on what the doctor had said...he sighed; and as he did he felt that little catch in his throat, followed by a dull pain in his heart...


he looked over at his mother..


What should he do?... Should he tell his father the real truth about what the doctor had said? He thought about it as he looked up at the ceiling...He imagined his father's face before him; his eyes saddened by his mother's weakened condition; yet sometimes bright and strong due to some perceived improvement or good day that his mother had had.He hesitated to give his father any news other than news of a full recovery because that was what his father craved ; and after all his father was all that he had left. If he were to tell him that the doctor was not sure of her recovery, then he imagined that his father's health might soon fail too...


His parents had always taken good care of each other


He focused on the top of the window pane. His father's words last night had cheered him up..he had said "Don't let the saddness seep in son! Always be viligant in bringing in the light."His father's words made sense to him.


He would tell his father what the doctor had said in passing; but with a new twist: he would emphaisze the the fact that his mother had agood chance to make it. He smiled.


 

Monday, December 5, 2005

Scientists have created the first molecule that can move in a straight line by itself

Scientists have created the first molecule that can move in a straight line by itself


Scientific American


CharlesQ. Choi


December, 2005


The molecule (dithioanthracene) is composed of coal and tar derivatives. These elements are linked to sulfurous organic compounds. The compounds that are linked in the molecule moved when heated by alternating ,; so that only one was lifted from the surface at a time. The "foot" helped the molecule from falling off course; even when the scientist pushed it along.


the DTA took 10,000 tests without rails or grooves helping it mark its' course and without loosing its' balance. Scientists at UCLA Riverside think that this project could potentially lead to molecular computers; with these DTA or other similar molecules operating in " nano-abacuses".

Pat Morita of Karate Kids has died

Pat Morita of "Karate Kids" has died


People Magazine, December 12, 2005


Pat Morita, a man of rare ocurage in his personal life, and termedous talent in his professional life, was born in 1932. At two years old, he was diagnosed with spinal tuberculosis  when his legs went paralyzed. For a few years, he wore a cast from his shouilders to his knees. In 1942, he underwent experimental surgery and this helped him to learn to walk again in the sanatorium where he got better. Unfortuantely, after this ordeal he and his family were sent to an internment camp (prison camp) for Japanese families during World War II in Arizona. 


Later in life he became a funny stand up comedian and then he worked in the series "Happy Days" and later in the movie "Karate Kid".He was wonderful in that movie and he managed to inspire many young people to stand up for themselves and to try to acheive  high goals.


His second wife said that he spent his adult life trying to make other people happy.

Thursday, December 1, 2005

Hero policeman in Philadelphia saves his grandmother and five more

Hero Cop in Philadelphia saves his grandmother and five more people


Mr. Rudy Muller , a local policeman went into acomplex, strapped his grandmother on his back, took ehr out of a burning building, turned arouind and pulled five more people out of the blaze! What an awesome guy!


Apparently he alos saved a woman and her dog froma fire five years ago.

taking your face off as in Travolta's movie now possible

Taking your face off and receiving another as in Travolta's "Face Off" movie now a reality


November 30, 2005


According to Anderson of CNN 360degrees report burn victims now have the option og getting a new face as in the movie "Face Off".


The new face will be attached to the border of the patent's face. Anderson cautions that this is only for burn victims and that the victim will not look like the person whose face he or she is getting.

In the public arena Single sex charter schools

Single sex charter schools for high school kids ;what do you think?


November 31 CBS


According to Legislators in Milwalkee, Wisconsin where  pioneers  have set up a new single sex charter high school for girls, the girls are noting as a group that their overall grade and comprehension scores have skyrocketed due to the absense of dating and dressing up pressure that they felt before.Note that not all girls or boys have an issue with this, but ti seems to work for those who do. What do you think?

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

The Chinese feel insulted by the US and by the Japanese

The Chinese feel insulted by US and by the Japanese


Did you see in US News and World Report that the Chinese are not too happy about our foreign realtions recently? Apparently, while in Japan Our President Bush made some comments about how China is not honoring our few trade zone agreements; the result of whihc is that they end up not buying some thing and not paying some things and we end up short.


I wonder what the Japanese thought about this.


In this article it was stated that the Japanese people are worried about China's increasing power and dominance in Asia's arena.They cited North Korea s an example and they stated to the world press that North Korea assumed that if they "played fair" other nations woudl treat they well. North Korea was hugely dissapointed in the ned in how others treated them.


Japan is rethinking whether being the "nice guy" in Asia will give them what they need as a country or not.

Is it okay to clone a dog ? what do you think?

The Koreans clone a dog using a human embryo


Time magazine and United Press International have had a field day reporting the cloning of a dog by Korean scientists using a human embryo.


Time mentioned the honor that was bestowed upon the scientist because it is the first cloned living thing after that famous sheep a few years ago in Scotland.


UPI was baffled why using an embryo created for a human child would be used to create a dog.They mentioned that it might not be such a high moral ground for this scientist to tread.


What do you think?


Do you remember that the people who pushed for stem cell research specifically promised everyone that this type of cloning would not go on?


 


 


 

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Scalzi's Who Let the dogs out?

Scalzi's Who let the dogs out?


John Scalzi never wrote this song but he has a dog in his entertaining book "Agent to the Stars"!...:)...


You see, the dog befriends the agent's client , who is a very amuzing Alien! :):):) A must read guys!


so...you never know...who might leaving the dogs out..and what adventures they might have! ..Believe me the Alien and the dog have a world full !

Catch a Falling Star

Catch a Falling Star


Do you remember this song ?I have always loved it.


"Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket,


Save it for a rainy day!


Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket , Save it for  a rainy day,


""Cuz love may come and tap you on the shoulder


some rainy day,


And when love comes and taps you on the shoulder, you'll need a pocket full of starlight!"


It fits becasue we all need extra love during the holidays and I miss the beach ! I can imagine going along the beach and admiring all of the starfish!


hugs!


 


 


 


 

Monday, November 21, 2005

Plittle's CarnivAOL is Back!

Paul Little's CarnivAOL is Back!


Please consider submitting an article to CarnivAOL.


Paul Little is asking us to submit Add blogs or (original) creative writing blogs this week. Just email PLittle a link to your favorite story.


Every two weeks you can send one in! It's fun for the rest of us to read because when he is finsihed it is truly a tapestry of Jlander works that flow well together!


Happy THanksgiving and see you in the funny papers!(H.G.Wells)...or...in CarnivAOL!


hugs!

Thursday, November 17, 2005

What I'm thankful for

What I'm Thankful for


Wow.. the list is a long one!I'm thankful for my family and grandparents. I'm thankful for friends and good teachers and mentors. I appreciate Jland friends, helpers and our Jland teacher. I appreciate those people who have reached out to help people here.


When I mentioned that someone needed help, Joe and Jouell did step up to the plate.Paul Little helped many of us here; weaving a rich tapestry of journals so that we could learn about other Jlanders and mutually support one another. I miss him here so much.John inspires us to learn more about journaling.


GaBoatman (Sam)((http://journals.aol.com/gaboatman/Docklines/entries/602) is such a friend to all; he visits many bloggers and encourages us by mentioning all of the good things that we have done to reach out to others in our blogs. Likewise, Ondine Monet has been known to champion new bloggers; encouraging them along and asking them to continue writing!I miss Ondine alot. I have seen her new space and it is beautiful.


Nicole (Sugar1337) is a wonderful friend here. She is a talented writer who always makes time to write of her enthusiasm in her blog;"Disobeying he Rules of Convention, I may be.." Nicole would like some new readers. She is a very imaginative writer so please email me if you are interested so I can tell her.


Lisa of "Lisa's Mommy's Journal" is very interesting too.


She does magic tricks with fantastic graphics and beautiful photos of her family in her blog. Email me please if youare interested and I will tell her.


Marti (Sunnyside46) is a wonderful mother and a gifted teacher. She has brought me alot of inspirtation here and she would love some new visitors to her blog.


Michael ( Madman ADDH) would love some new readers too. He is a very descriptive and romantic  writer; he uses wonderful words to desrcibe his inner Don Quixote! (very cool) Let me know if you want to visit him.


Deborah (psychfun) offers an amusing blog that covers a number of experiences and thoughts about things that happen to her. You will really enjoy her blog.


Maria(curvyanglintexas) has alot to offer. She includes wonderful expressions on her blog.She would love to meet new bloggers.


Dawn(Carpe Diem) (http:journals.aol.com/princesssaurora/CarpeDiementries/1264)


has Lupus and she has taught me alot about the disease. She has shown me so much courage about life that I feel stronger just by knowing her!Dawn would  love a visit from you!She is great!She is a good poet as well as a writer.


Hadonfield can and will inspire you about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness! He also tells you about the trials and tribulations of parenthood and I ahve enjoyed his blog alot.


Monponsett has agreat sports blog! Last night after I wrote this I stood up in  bed!!!!! Monponsett I said! You funny smurf! I've got to go tell people how much I love your jokes and your great photos and sports stories!So go visit Monponsett guys! She has really helped this soccer, basketball, and Lacrosse mom!


Felicia (dragonrose3911) tells us about her life as a pledging psychologist and her married life ,(she is married to a fireman).Her blogs are very energetic and full of the meaningful life.


Marina (STANSGIRL2004) has a very intriguing blog; lots of humor , lots of touching stories about herself and her family, and lots of pretty graphics. She has a great journal !!! And she would welcome new readers. 


Unicornsteph 80 is back after being away.She is a great friend here and a wonderful mother of two.


Mary Anne was nice to me too. She has moved her journal to: TheDark Side of the Moon.


Cneinhorn has a wonderful photography blog about her husband at sea and her family living in a beautiful village there.


There are two new people I would like to recognise; Kiplingcrissy,(http:journals.aol.com/kiplingcrissy/novelstories/ atalented young mother who is a good writer. Also, Courtenaymphelan is a great poet who you may want to discover in her journals. I know the Discernment journal.


Lately, I have become aquainted with Lisa (queeniemart). She is very encouraging to people in Jland and her life and her family's experiences are very interesting:http://journals.aol.com/queeniemart/Damaged Goods/


p.s. Paul Little has returned!It's called Paul's online journal!


 

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Magazines I like...

Magazines I like...


John M Scalzi, our journal teacher, told us to write up magazines that we like.My favorites are many.


I love "The Week" because it covers alot of what makes the world tick.. sometimes I like "U.S. News and World Report" because it brings new light to tired subjects, due to new information.


Speaking of new information," Scientific American"


is fun. I love reading about new discoveries in outer space.


"National Geographic" and for kids "Discovery" are very interesting to learn about the world.


I love the stories about Animals in Audubon and sometimes in Sierra. I like reading about our national wildland preservation in conservation magazines.


Sometimes I like to read Art in America.

Steve Martin received the Mark Twain Award

Steve Martin received the Mark Twain Award!


Tom Hanks gave Steve Martin the Mark Twain award on PBS tonight, Sunday, November 13.


Tom Hanks said that Steve Martin defined who we were as people.


Martin Short played across Martin in "Three Amigos" and " Father of the Bride , Part I" and "Father of the Bride, PartII." Short said he admired his friend very much.


On clip of Martin showed him playing the banjo with a fake arrow running through his head.


Lily Tomlin sad he brought us to "sublime silliness and devine comedy!" She continued her description of her friend:" He has dachshund shaped ballons, a really big brain and abig heart with an arrow running right straight through it!...Everything else in him is rubber!"


Paul Simon of Simon and Garfunkel sang "The Sounds of Silence as a tribute to him and Dian Keaton sang a song to him. It was a beautiful show.


 


 

Friday, November 11, 2005

Veteran's Day

Honor Veterans Today


Today is Veterans' Day. I want to thank all of the veterans for the great job that they have done through two World Wars, the Korean War, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Persian Gulf, and Iraq.


If you are serving right now in Iraq, I am sending you appreciation for a very difficult job. And may you come home soon; and may you stay safe!


Note: Joe, our Journals' Editor encouraged people to honor  veterans today:


http:journals.aol.com/journalseditor/magicsmoke/entries829


and JohnM.Scalzi has two journals that honor our veterans:http:journals.aol.com/johnscalzi/theway/entries/5050


A journalist at CNN was just on air reminding all of us to honor the people who have helped us maintain our freedoms so valiantly!

Thursday, November 3, 2005

Oh No! Jim forgot to turn on the configuration button....

Oh No! ..Jim forgot to turn on the configuration button.!..http://hometown.aol.com/johnmscalzi/badclonea.jpg


Assignment  from John Scalzi



..".I am looking into an instrument that magnifies the entrance to Jim's porthall, which is just barely open...and you will not be pleased, Jude, with what I am seeing!.... Jude, Jim forgot to turn on the configuration button when he set the ascribed descriptive measurements for his model... He messed up his eyes ,which I need to get to, I'm afraid that they will loose their focusing ability if I don't adjust them soon...His brain may have hardening gelatinous substance; after all I don't know how long his model has been forced to obey commands without proper


tools...You know,Jude, if we don't get to him fast, it may confuse and bother him so much taht he looses focus and therefore is unable to do the computer setup for reentry on our way back...Please help me out if you can..Can you reach Jim on your remote?


http://journals.aol.com/johnmscalzi/bytheway/entries/5012


 

Wednesday, November 2, 2005

Good Children's Movies

Good Children's Movies


There are some children's movies that I think are expectional. The first one  is :"Totoro", a Japanese animated movie for kids. It is fascinating and it includes Japanes folklore and stories about Japanese families in it. It is famous in Japan and in San Francisco, you can buy Totoro stuffed animals that are created after this movie.


   There are two movies about a continuing story called "the Never Ending Story , Part I and Part II".


This is storytelling at  it's best and the animation is stunning , and fits well with the music.It is very creative and wonderful . It has to do with courage, creativity, finding one's way in the world and standing up for oneself in a meaningful way!


Labrynth is a movie with great actors and a stunning plot built for kids; however, the girl has to figure out the huge maze in this old French castle and grounds in order to find her little brother. Very suspenseful!

Tuesday, November 1, 2005

Jimmy is gone

Jimmy is Gone


Al picked up his tools and he got in his truck. He drove quietly down the road; the image of his little boy in his mind. He remembered little instances when Jimmy had been so sweet...going along with him in he truck on some jobs and hammering away while his father fixed somebody's leaky pipes...The joy of that child was that he never thought of himself... always of everyone else....Al sighed....


Jimmy had a defective heart... although they had done everything that they could think of to help him, taken him to the specialists in California, had a special heart pump installed...had sepcial care form cardiologists in their town looking in on him...it was not to be... Jimmy's heart had failed him this week. How to answer all of the heart rendering questions from his friends at school? Al dropped some tears on his sweat shirt...How about his own questions? How could he stay strong for his wife when he felt insecure about this himself? He sighed....


He hoped that the postitve force in the universe would give him hope and information..and he hoped taht his best friends, the ones who had been helping him hold his own, the ones who wold carry the coffin with him tomorrw , would always be there...

El Dia de Meurte or The Day of the Dead

El Dia de Meurte or The Day of the Dead


We have good friends who hail originally from Mexico and there they have a great tradition of honoring relatives who have passed away called El Dia de Meurte.


They set the table for dinner like always, except that they add a placesetting for every family member who has pased away.They cook the favorite meal of that person. That night, they also set up an alter ..a way to honor that person with photos, pictures of their favorite things, and they make little sugar sculls like the person.


After they eat they leave the meal for the preson. They imagine the person sitting with them and visiting the family after the meal. They are happy that their dear relative has come by to visit them.The next day they remove the food. It is a joyous occasion!


 

Sunday, October 30, 2005

Babies: Should We Choose their Sex?

Babies: Should We Choose Their Sex?


Apparently some scientists in Mass. think so...hey are experimenting to find a way to let parents decide on the sex of their new baby. Do you think this is right? please leave a comment....


Personally I think it is very bad.


 

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

What is Pluto?

What is Pluto?


When astronomers first defined the planets they called them similar bodies that revolve around the sun ,give no light of their own, and they were formed in the same gas and dust that formed the sun.


According to astronomers (The Week, September 30, 2005) Pluto is only one sixth the size of the earth and it is made of ice and dirt.Perhaps it is not big enough to be called a planet. Pluto has a"twin", or an asteroid of the same size that is twice as far away called Sedna. The Astronomers in the know are now saying that we could actually have a 20 planet solar system! Wow!

Gay Men Are Not Perverts And They Do Not Attack Little Children

Gay Men Are Not Perverts And They Do Not Attack Little Children


Rome decided that seminaries will be inspected to find out if any gays are present. If they are "discovered" they will be let out,according to the Chicago Sun Times.This was found in"The Week", October 7, 2005.


Would somebody please tell the Pope and Rome that the definition of being a very sick person , (a pediafile), is not a  typical gay person? Would someone tell him please that the two things are not at all related ? I abhor pediafiles too, but maybe we can focus on people preying on little children .And that to say that means that some person will be targeted in the name of religion?


Remember that Jesus Christ said "Judge not lest ye be judged?"


Come on now. This is not ethical.

Not For All Time But Once....

Not For All Time But Once....


Bernice lifted her quilted fabric up and looked over the design..She thought.."Oh!"....She gently went on sewing...it was a wedding ring quilt, a gift for her cousin.


She thought about her first wedding...that morning she ahd left her job on the motocycle, so happy...grinning all the way down the highway! She arrived at the church with a bag of clothes, ready to get changed...Nothing moved inside of the church building. ... All of this planning, yet no one was here..


She flipped the lights on in the changing room and began putting her lsip on . She began to feel excited all over again! ...She slipped her gown on..where was her sister?...she lsitened for her and for ehr mother...


Then she gazed out inot the church..the candles still flickered at the Virgin's alter..


Suddenly, her mother entered the church. Silently, she closed the door behind her. Her mother's eyes were red and wet... Bernice looked at her, confused...


"Mom?" she said softly.


"Bernice!! Come here Baby."Her mother was shaking hard as she hugged her close to her. Bernice still felt that pain, awful pain, in her heart.The young man she had loved so much...


"There has been an accident Honey.


"Bobby's been hit by a truck on his motorbike."


"Oh no!"


"Bobby's dead."


Bernice sighed. It had been twenty some  years ago,she had another husband  and a child, but still it hurt. her love of Bobby could fill so many pages of a book. And each page would show a shining, new love.


 


 

Friday, October 21, 2005

Paul Little's CarnivAOL

Paul Little's CarnivAOL


It's time to check Paul LIttle's CarnivAOL again!Here is the address:


http://journals.aol.com/plittle/CarnivAOL/


I can promise you it's very varied! You will find journals about two children, about a grandchild, about sad memories of a father, about a great dinner with a mother who has had chemotherapy, about how girls can vent their anger and get even !... about how we all wear masks and why ...and even about poetry.... and Paul's vacation in Italy! Woopee!There is also an antry about a long way home / adventures while driving a child home from work! So go and enjoy!


ALso Paul would like us to submit entrie for the next coming CarniVAOL!


 


 

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Overheard

Overheard


"I don't know what they think we are...they come here ...what do they add?"...


so ... people ...where is..the great.... melting pot.... and ... what  makes...one group... so much... better...


What if... we could... come together... to influence ...neighboring governments.. to be more... humane?


?


 

A Bird of a Different Feather

A Bird of a Different Feather


She pushed her bangs back from her eye. It was raining and she had to get the colored paper home in time to make  those flowers...She buttoned her coat tightly and pulled up the collar of her raincoat...


As she reached her house she rushed in to make the flowers. Soon there was a sound ...the door bell rang... She opened the door to find Jane struggling to stay dry.


"Hi!" she said. "I hope you can still use some help.."


"Oh..Oh sure!" "Come on in!" she said.


She made some coffee for Jane. They worked hard and after some time they took the flowers in little clay pots over to the club house for their gathering.


Later they would come back and have a nice holiday meal, thanks to their own hard work at decorating....


She sighed..it was good to have new friends in a town where she did not know everyone...


Whenthey entered the room a few hours later.. they were appauled... someone had removed the flowers. They had replaced them with cut daffodils in glass vases...


Anna could not believe the callousness of the act...


She was hurt.. she got out of her chair and walked towards the door.


She over heard one of the women saying :" No problem...."


"No..I don't believe she should have been allowed.. She's not from around here..No I know...."


Anna proudly picked up her purse as did Jane. They headed towards the door...


 


 


 

MY Heart's Desire

My Heart's Desire


Soooo.. Hadonfield asked for a list....okeydokey!


I want time for more fun with friends.


I have love and a great family.


I wish I could get lots of cash and build an orphanage.


I hate bias/prejudice/meanness.


I miss the older people.


I fear everyone's demise.


I hear wonderful songs.


I wonder at all of the new things that we learn about life through science.


I wish we would reach out more as a people to other people (countries) in need.


I am not timid.


I need warmth.


I should learn more patience and strength.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Games People Play

Games People Play


A friend of mine and I were talking about this book by Eric Berne and how it can affect your life ( the games that is). What I mean is : sometimes there is more going on when your parents or siblings are mean and they try to make you look incomplete or inadequate.


In life we get "stamps" by acting out our desires and intentions with others. You can notice this with your self first. When you read, say Lisa's journal or Hadonfield's journal and you put a nice comment on it that is supportive, in psychology we assume that you are doing nice things in order to get a nice stimulus back. This is normal.


Some people have been raised or abused by mean people and they behave differently. They try to behave or pretend to be nice and then suck us in. Then, they say or do something mean. What they are trting to do is to get "stamps" or a stimulus from you for negative or harmful behavior.


Why am I telling you this? It is so you will analyze how your family treats you if you have not done so already. The fun part is: once you analyze it and you see what game is being played out, and if it is not a good game for you, you may decide to stand up for yourself. You can tell the other party (or write them a letter, even if you don't mail it) that you are a great person ( tell them your friend Natalie told you so!) and that you don't intend to take their abuse anymore because you simply don't deserve it!


It can be amazing if you tell some people that you love them but you only want a good interaction with them ( stamps for good behavior) they may actually change !


I can't promise that they will change, but if you give them some time and you help them by saying that you want it and you will help them to do it, you might be surprized.They may want to change so that theri own life is happier.


You have many friends here so it might be an interesting experiment.If you don't do this it is okay too; it is only a tool that you might like.


My only interest in telling you this is I think that you are great! We have a wonderful group of friends here and you can only grow stronger!


natalie


 

My Favorite Sci Fi Movie: The Abyss

My Favorite Sci Fi Movie : The Abyss


John Scalzi asked us to d.escribe our favorite sci-fi movie; The Abyss was my favorite because it had extraterresterals who were from the sea and they were beautfiul! It featured extraterresterals who could build themselves from expanding water forming a human shape inside of the submarine and it had alot of great acting!


The hero even learns how to breath in water , live and communicate with extraterresterals and humans!


very cool!

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Mars in Antartica

Mars in Antartica


Did you know that scientists have found bits and pieces of the planet Mars in Antartica? They are now shuffling to come to some understnadable conclusions about it...


Some poeple think that Mars could have splintered off little pieces from time to time in the past and sent them to us...Some scientists still feel that there has been evidence of fossilized green matter etched inot this bits from Mars... hummmmmm..


What do you make of this?

Aren't Seniors Worth It?

Aren't Seniors Worth It?


I read an article which infuriated me that other day... it said that now adays chemotherapy is not given to senior citizens because they are considered too old to reap the benefits!


Excuse me?!!! Who died and made you God?


Seniors deserve to be fredd from cancer jsua s young people do! What do you think?

What's Real

What's Real


Pat reached down to fasten his book bag...he sighed...he looked for his friend Beau. He reached around to hug him and they walked across the field together. Then, at the edge of the field he murmured something to him and they split apart...He threw the football to him. His friend caught the football and tossed it to another friend ,who tossed it back to Pat. It was just magic how the three of them cold play together, Pat thought...Beau said"dude..your mom is here..."


and Pat sauntered off to the car..content.


In the car, his fingers sought out his favorite radio station; thinking quietly what to say to his mother...His mood was subdued...


As they reached home and walked inside, Pat said"Mom? Mrs.B gave me a couple of detentions today...."


"Acouple?...of detentions?"....his mom said..


"For what? What did you do?" she asked.


"Well she got mad because some of us were playing checkers in our flex period..we were caught up with our homework..."


"So why would she do that?"


He shrugged.


"I don't know mom..."


"some girls did the same thing and she didn't give them one."


"Really?"


he nodded ."Really."


"What was the second detention for?"


she asked.


"For throwing rokcs into an empty pipe by the lab.


I didn't know I couldn't do that."


"oh..Are you in serious trouble?"
"No."


His mother walked away from him; trying to add up the facts he had given her in her mind.


They would not compute.She decided to go see Mrs.B.


After a call, Mrs.B. appeared. "Mrs.Jacobs!" she called.


"hi Mrs.B."


"What's up?"


"Im lookin throuhg the school policy book.. I don't understand what happened on the detentions."


"What don't you understand?"


"What happened?"


"I warned PAt and several others who were making noise in the common room not to do that and to go to the library for studyhall.


They would not listen. I finally gave them all detentions."


"Oh...", she said, stunned....


"And was Pat warned not to throw the stones in the pipe too?"


"Yes."


"Then why did he lie ?...he lied to me!..."


tears stormed donw her face...


"Let's go in my office,"she said.


"Mrs.Jacobs? teens at this age lie. They try to get away with things."


Mrs.Jacobs went as if someone had socked her in the stomach. The raw pain and the humiliattion spilled over her face and into her stomach...


"Let's call him in..He shouldn't be lying to you.."


she called Pat.


"Pat? Look at your mom..you lied ot her and she is loosing some trust factor here. You have to stop doing this."


tears spilled out of her eyes...


"Why Pat?"


 


 


 


 

Saturday, October 1, 2005

Riding on the Winds

He turned to her. They were to be wed.He was so happy; so grateful that he had lived through all of the trials in his life to make it to this point. This was a Sioux Native American wedding...she had a lovely long wedding dress with fringe , made out of suede...with a beautiful necklace with feathers and with a crytsal...He had a thick suede leather jacket and long trousers...He was looking at her softly so she gently smiled and placed her hand on his chest quietly.....looking up at him too...


The tribe had let him in, even though he was not Native American. He had grown up near teh tribe and he had learned many good wise thigns to live by, thaks to the tribe and to his foster mother ,who had friends there.


The Native American medicine man gently  asked them what their intentions were...


They predged to each other a life of admiration, of loyalty and love.


They were married outside in the clean sage air...


He said that he gave his life for her life, that he would be true until she died. She said the same.he began dreaming about how wonderful life was now... he could almost forget the terrible time he had when his former birth parents locked him up and denied him food...His foster mother was gazing at him and his foster father.. so much pride and happiness streamed through their eyes for him...They had rescued him . His birth parents had abadonned him for extensive periods of time; without much food left in the house to eat, and very little to drink...he rememberd that sometimes .They had locked him in the closet for a day at a time and he had felt so bad.. bad that he  had even existed......because if he had been a good person and worthy of respect, why had they abandonned him?This self doubt gave him much pain and sadness.


His foster parents had given him  a loving caring home...His foster mom was a world famous author and yet she always had time for him, she always took an interest in his work and is studies.His foster father always took time to play football and baseball with him as a child.After college, he had taken an interest in learning the art of European metal work; including making old fashioned knives and he was good at it.  And then he had met this enchating lovely woman who would now be his....two miracles for one man.... he sighed,,was he worth it?...


Could he make her truly happy?


He kissed her hand and her forhead and he dreamed for he first time of being with her in their own bed and in their own house...he smiled and she smiled back at him, and he almost forgot where there were...


His friends called out to them: " A re you ready to go?"


He smiled back at them......People were shuffling them out to the car and throwing birdseed on them for fertility....He tenderly picked her up and gently lifted her into the car...he was so blessed....


 

Floods of Katrina

The two of them were huddled together under a blanket. They had been trying to keep their baby from getting too wet from the flooding water..They gave each other kisses as they hugged each other, tried to keep them selves and the baby warm...


The man and woman walked for miles and miles trying to get the baby to the hospital.


The baby was crying and getting very cold...


Finally he saw a policeman in a jeep and he began waving frantically to get a lift...


The policeman drove right over. Within about twenty minutes they were at the hosptial with the baby... the baby had a light bluish color and the mother was shaking...her husband folded her in his arms and held her softly; as if by holding her he could banish all of the darkness and sadness that they had enountered that day ...in the storm......                                                                                                             


the woman found  a place to perch on his chest... within minutes the baby was seen... he had fever so he had to be admitted to the hospital...

Friday, September 30, 2005

Beach Walk

The sun was setting lower on the horizon...he took her hand and said "Come"


and they both crossed the busy road to the sidewalk and the beach...


Sunny walked uncomfortably, clumbsily tossing herself form one foot to another in order to enjoy the sensation of squishing the sand between her feet and listening better to Jake....the water wet the tips of her toes and she played hopscotch across the sand patterns...


"So..what did the doctors tell Jim about Lily?" he said nervously..a crack in her voice...


"Will she be getting alot stronger..or sre they not sure?"


Sunny did not want to ask Jake this last part....she pouted , placing her lower lip alittle further out than usual; alittle amd at the world because of Lily's predicament.


Jake was concentrating on the line of the horizon.He loved watchng the lovely hues of the red sunset stretch further out in the bay;draping the sailboats in russet hues of glory. He wondered silently if anyone had caught any fish on the dock earlier.


He palced his feet solidly one after the other in  rythmetic movement and he attempted to steady her gait by  lending support to her hand.


"Sunny?" he said. He looked over at her affectionately,stroking her face gently.


"You know we can't change Lily's life. We can only hope that her therapy makes changes in her chemistry. That's all."


"The docotrs are giving her fifty fifty odds, and every year she has to get tested again to see if it's still there."


She nods. "Yes I know." she says quietly.


She leans over , picks up some shells and puts them in her bag.


"I only wish we knew for sure that she will make it Jake.


She is only fourteen."


Tears flooded Sunny's eyes as she tried to look away.


Jake looked fondly in her eyes, drew her close to himself and kissed her in the mouth passionately and deeply.The seagulls sailed across the sky and the cool breeze blew the couple some relief from the sun.


Jake kneeled in the sand and kissed her belly button.The sand wrestled with his hair as she ruffled his hair and pulled him closer to her.


He stroked her nipples.She sighed.


 


 

Thursday, September 29, 2005

Romantic Interlude

Romantic Interlude


He and she were walking in the rain. The rain splashed madly and randomly all over his and her raincoat. It was coming down hard; he felt the drops flooding into the back collar of his rainjacket and he instinctively tried to cover his neck more. She was trying to adjust her hood so as to avoid getting her hair and neck wet. It was a hard rain but the trees and bushes around them were drinking it up ravenously. the bridge was a splendorous collision of big full drops competing to be the first ones down on the ground.


They were holding hands; the hard driving of the rain on their hands and arms did not dim their enthusiam, They clutched each others' fingers as if they were gold.


The cold beat down on them as they got increasingly


cold. They looked out onto the lake and watched some struggling yachts attempt to come into the dock.She frowned. Then she turned, looked at him, grinned and give him a tiny kiss on the nose. He is turn giggled and patted her on the back. Both grinning, they gave each other a hug.


It was a contrast to the lukewarm looks that some couples were giving each other with the warm weather the day before.


"James", she said.


"We're in trouble if this weather lasts. We're freezing today . Tis coming month will be cold. I will have to work over time to afford our flat.Not to mention the heating..." she sighed.


 He looked into her eyes and stroked her hair.


"If you are with me, that's what counts."


 

Chicago The World Friendly

Chicago the World Friendly


John Scalzi, our blog leader, wanted us to write a few words about Chicago. Chicago has always been known as a place that is great for families, community, culture, art, and business.


It is such a hubbub of activity that people who live there have a hard time keeping up!Chicago is a wonderful town.The lake there makes it scenic too. Many people go to Chicago to see Oprah!


The Art Institute of Chicago knows an international reputation in the art world.Artists love to study there


and people love to visit.there are many important galleries in Chicago.It is know to be a great art center.


The University of Chicago holds a great academic reputation worldwide.Many famous people have gone to this renown university, including our blog master, John Scalzi.


Chicago has a substantial sports seen. They have four main teams. The Cubs, The White Sox, The Bears , and The Bulls. The cubs are pretty good and they have a very good chance at winning the National League, but their chances of a world series ring is limited. They have the longest losing streak of any team but everyone still loves their cubbies. The White Sox are also very good and are leading the National league for long streaks. They will probably go far in the National League this year. The Chicago Bears are not fairing as well. According to the press , they have a third string quaterback. They have a good defense and Musin Muhammed is good but they won't have a winning record for a long time. Everyone loves them, however because they remember the golden days and are hoping those days will return. The Bulls have a rich past and future. Everyone knows about how MJ won six straight titles with the bulls and made his mark in the legendary class. Ever since he left there,the team went downhill. They had many losing seasons before drafting rookie sensations Lual Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Curry, and Ben Gorden- all very, very talented for their age. They made it pretty far in the playoffs but they had little experience so fell in the second round to The Washington Wizards. The Bulls already have  a championship caliber squad. In these upcoming years look for the bulls to be the team to beat.

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Memories of New Orleans

Memories of New Orleans


Mary reached into her back pack, felt her teddy bears' soft skin. She pulled him out to sleep with and stuck her back pack back in her bed.She remembered Granny singing to her and rocking her on her front porch...It was hard without Granny...


Granny had raised her. She was always around the house, reading to her or feeding her as she grew up.


Granny was so sweet to her...A tear rolled down her cheek...she could never talk to her again. Granny had passed away due to the heavy flooding of their neighborhood.Her daddy had gone to get her but he was too late....she sighed.


She tries to straighten up and look older.


She gripped the sheets tighter and a grimace formed on her face...she was mad..plain mad... why did Granny have to die? Daddy had said  he didn't know.


She thought of the man times she and Granny had gone downtown to have a cup of hot chocolate and a beignet ( a fried donut). Granny bought her nice books to color in and some to read. She took her to some parks with swings and a slide...


And she remembered all of that great fried chicken and grits that granny made...oh and craw fish! TO die for! she smiled...


She sighed. Images of Granny and Daddy rolled across her mind... what had the lady said? Where werer they going tomorrow?And when they got there how would she find her way home?...


. Mary though that if she could concentrate enough , then she could ask her Granny these questions..Maybe Granny would tell her...


She rolled her blanket up to her neck, squeezed her eyebrows together and tried to think...


 

Thursday, September 15, 2005

9/11 and its' Aftermath

Debby sat still at her desk. Susan sat on top of a table nearby watching her color.


"ummmm..those are nice colors Debby!


"Who is the man on the ladder there of the fire engine?


Debby reviewed her picture slowly, then passed her finger affectionately over the figure . She sighed...


"Oh...That's Uncle Jim"...


"Oh!He looks very nice! And he's getting into the building ..."


"Yes...."Debby said softly....


"What's that he's got over his shoulders?Did he rescue someone?


Debby nodded...


"Oh."..Susan looked in her eyes and nodded too...


"How many people did he rescue?"


"Daddy said he got three out by the door, and then he went back for some people who were trapped on the 10th floor..."


Her face looked pained..she began holding her stomach with one hand and biting her little fingers with the other...


"Oh..." Susan said..."Did he make it out?"


"Noooooo!" Debby said... she picked up some crayols and hurled them to the wall near her.


"I'm sorry Debby.. Have you been able to sleep better lately?" Susna said...


Debby shook her head "no".


"How about you and I take a walk to the park? We could swing together...."


Debby nodded yes.


 


 


 

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Natalie donates to New Orleans when you comment here...

Natalie donates to New Orleans


when you comment at the end here


Hi!Please say something positive about New Orleans. You have it on faith: My kid and I are giving 25cents per comment and no repeating please.


I want to do this and you want to comment!


My kid's school is giving money to the kids who are in a shelter in Baker, Louisiana who need foster care.


It's cool because some families from New Orleans are volunteering to go with them!


So make a positive comment !I will take this off when we get tons of comments and I'll leave another journal up to tell you how many of you made this boat float! Love you guys!


See ya', natalie


An update:


OUr sherrif's office here had identified 1,500 displaced kids in (actually) Baker, Louisiana!


Your comments were so positive, that I contacted our extended family and friends. We are giving these kids $100.00 and supplies! It is a drop in the bucket guys to the big problem, but Gee it makes me feel good. hugs all around, natp.s. thanks for being so helpful!


 

Nowhere but up- A story about New Orleans

Nowhere but Up - A Story about New Orleans


A girl turned and came around to where I sat .Shee introduced herself -"Hi. I'm Sally," he said. "What is your name?" "Susan", I replied. She sat down next to me .She was holding a rag doll with blond yarn hair...


"How are you?" I asked.


"Oh fine... "


"Did you sleep last night?"


"Alittle bit.. . the dreams keep coming ..and  then ... I wake up....


Have you seen my cousin Sarah?


"What dreams?"


"I dream ...I see the flood coming in... .


some people don't make it...I see them too...


Then, I  dream  about other kids..


the kids and parents ..who are still here..


...


"some people are lost .their families cannot find them.."


even with the sheriffs here when they went around in boats..


or the helicopters on rooftops..."


I pat her on the back.


"You have  lots of family still here at the shelter...."


She shirks ..recoiling..her pupils somehow bigger


"Oh yeah.... "she nods.."some are here"  . she shakes her head...


"what is it ?"


"There are so many people out there who need  help..


And no one can get to them....


in time...."


"Oh.."I said...


"Sally? "


"Yeah?" She looked up at me with those big brown eyes and beautiful nose...


"Ok..let's say we are here..okay?" I point down to our feet.


"Ok."


"And now that we have the levees repaired and the National Guard is here....


we can go nowhere  but up..you trust me on this?"I pointed to aplace high up on the wall...


(reluctantly).."Okeee"....


"okeee..."


 


 

Monday, September 12, 2005

Punked by Ondine Monet :):)

I've been Punked By Ondine Monet


!Lol! ..Not really.... Ondine wants to know about some fabulous seven things....


Seven things I want to do before I die:


1.Visit Thailand , ride an elephant and visit the old temples there ( and see the dances).


2. Go to Bhutan and find out about why the Dalai Lamas go here and what their homes are like.


3. Host a teen global conference and see if teens have ideas on improving global planning for resources and outreach and how to overcome communication problems worldwide.


4. Travel to Preu and visit people living in remote villages there (perhaps volunteer in an orphanage).


5.Make a difference in ten children's lives.


6.Study and swim with the dolphins.


7. Author a collaborative study with other writers


researching how to improve communication and worldwide care and publish results.


 


Things I can do: 


1. Convince young or old people the true nature of life and of themselves.


2. Shower loved ones and friends wiht so much love that they feel appreciated and lvoed.


3. Hike up a mountain trail medium speed.


4.Ski, snorkel, play volleyball, bike, play soccer, some dancing, ride a horse, say a speech.


5. troubleshoot


6.work with a difficult person and show them solace and respect.


7. Work my but off on a project and walk away.


Seven things I cannot do:


1. reject people who are my friends


2. hurt people because they have earned it;


( I will put them off and get rid of them if they hurt my family or friends).


3. refuse to defend a good person who is wrongly treated.


4. refuse to stick up for a child.


5. become a strong workaholic.


6. be a sexist.


7. be prejudiced against someone because of looks or nationality.


People I admire:


1. Ghandi


2. Helen Keller


3. Mother Teresa


4. Mohammed Ali


5.Martin Luther KIng


6. Sean Connery


7. Paul McCartney


Things I admire in a partner:


1.confident,caring


2.creative,polite


3.imaginative,daring


4.has self confidence, sense of humor


5.is interested in other cultures of the world


6.has a pet(just kidding!lol)


7. has an Uncle Joe (just kiding again!:):)


Things I often say:


What do you mean?


Do you really mean it?


No..when will you do it really?


You're the greatest!


I love you more!


I love you this much!


People who I want to tag:


1.Unicornsteph80(Steph)


2.Sugar 1337(Nicole)


3.Dragonrose637(felicia)


4. Lisbnjvi(lisa)


5.Sunnyside46(Marti)


6.MadmanADHD (Michael)


and 7.Hadonfield 78(Hadonfield).


So my friends please consider yourself tagged!


I look forward to your responses!


and Thank you so much Ondine Monet for the tag ..it was fun! love,nat


 


 

Sunday, September 11, 2005

Paul Hosts a New CarnivAOL

Come one, come all to the New CarnivAol!Hee hee!


Everyone please consider submitting your journals by providing a link to them in an email to PLittle. Paul Little is looking for variety so the more the merrier and diverse is great!


My story about a boy in New Orleans is featured.


Also, the CarnivAOL is found at http://journals.aol.ca/plittle/CarnivAOl/


and the completed version is coming out on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 so..stay tuned!!!!:):):)


nat

"My treehouse" A Story about New Orleans

My Treehouse - A story about New Orleans


This is a story of a conversationa social worker had  with a boy who left New Orleans after the flood for the big world.


"Hi John. I'm Susan. How areyou?"


"Okay I guess..."


"Tell me what it was like at your home..."


"Ok. I had a house and a treehouse. We had alot of trees in my yard.Daddy made the treehouse justt for me.."


I loved bringing my friends there... I could lie on the floor with them and the wind would shake the trees....we would dream that we were in different places. It was so cool.."


(John looked dreamily out into space..)


"John that sounds so nice..what happened to your house when it started floading?"


"John looks farther away. He stands up. His mouth forms a tight line... his skin color paled..


"My house ...got covered in water.. my tree house too...


"Uncle Joe says that there's a big hole in the ocean that makes the big waves...


"He said that our house and grandma got sucked into it."


"Oh..."


Susna looked away too for a minute. A trace of a tear caught her eyes... there was a tightness, a sad feeling for the boy in her throat...she gulped..."I'm so sorry about your grandma.." she said.


John stared into space. He nodded.


"Do you think you'll ever return?"


"Mom and Dad think so. They said that they'll rebuld our house..and the treehouse...."