Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm!

My brother, John, died almost two years ago...

About four weeks ago, Kiera, my three year old ran into my mothers kitchen all excited. She said, "nini, nini, I saw Uncle John!" My mother stopped dead, looked at her and asked her were she saw him. Kiera replied "in a tunnel!" My mother asked if he said anything and Kiera said yes, she started waving and said "he said bye bye".

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!

Sunday, September 30, 2007

One of the ladies in my office has a lovely Zen garden filled with sand and rocks from her trip to the Azores. It really is quiet pretty but it always reminds me of a kitty litter box. Sooooooooooooooooooooooooo, last week I came in armed with a stuffed cat and some tootsie rolls. I arrived well before her and put the stuffed cat and some unwrapped tootie rolls strategically placed in her zen garden. Then I went back to my desk and waited for her to arrive. She finally arrived, it was quiet at first and then I heard her giggling like crazy, and then for some unknown reason I heard her laying the blame for the prank on me!!! The nerve! lmfao!

When I got back from lunch that day someone had made a tootsie roll snake (cobra) complete with eyes and fangs and left it wrapped around the corner of my flat screen. I almsot fell of my chair laughing.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Sarah - February 7, 1977 - June 12, 2007

http://que-sarah-sarah.blogspot.com/

Friday, May 18, 2007

Miracles

Now by miracles I don’t mean an angel appearing from the sky to bring you a message from the creator himself. By miracles I mean everyday occurrences that make the world a nicer place. How often do we experience them and not know it? How often do we create them for another and not know it?

Last night I had to run to the variety store to buy a bag of milk because we were almost out and when you have four kids that’s not a good thing LOL. I purchased the milk and then asked the clerk if I could trade in the handfuls of change in my pockets which had gotten ridiculously heavy for a bill. She needed the change in the till so I started counting what I had. As I counted I heard someone come in to purchase something. I didn’t see what it was nor did I care, but I did hear the clerk say it would cost $3.62. The woman was struggling with the change in her hand and I heard her say “ugg I think I am going to be short” to which I instinctively replied “No your not” and tossed a 1 dollar coin in her hand. Now I didn’t do this because I wanted to be thanked I did it because that’s who I am. I did it without thinking and carried on counting the overflow of change in my hand. The woman paid for her purchase, thanked me and handed me back 50 cents which coincidently was the exact amount I need to make enough change for a $5 bill. Now what struck me about this was not the look on the woman’s face who I game the money too but the look on the clerks face. She had this look on her face that said “I can’t believe you just did that.” I pointed to the counter where I had piled 5 stacks of coins and told her there was 5 dollars there and she handed me a bill. She didn’t even count the piles of change on the counter! LOL

What struck me as interesting was that I was in the right place at the right time to help someone else and you know what… it felt good. Yes it was something very small… but that’s all it needed to be.

How often do we have the opportunity to help another and let the moment pass? Why does it have to be a “this is mine, get your own” society? Personally I think we could all use a little miracle now and then and I would not hesitate to help someone out again. No matter how big or how small, each and every one of us can make a difference for another.

Friday, May 11, 2007

Sarah

I first met Sarah 3 years ago after I returned from maternity leave after having my son. She was 26 when I met her. She was young, vibrant and full of life. I loved working with her. I didn’t get to work with her for very long because I was pregnant again with twins. But for several months I so enjoyed her company. She was a very interesting person, she was a vegan so she consumed no animal products whatsoever, including dairy. She was athletic, a picture of perfect health… or so we all thought. Shortly after I left work to have the twins she was diagnosed with cancer. She left work to have treatment. Nothing seemed to work, and as a last resort she was sent to Boston for a new treatment that was available. Everyone at work was so touched by her courageous battle; we raised $5,500 so her hubby could go with her and not have to worry about the financial stress of staying with her in Boston for two weeks.

Sadly the treatment did not work. She is in the hospital now, yesterday they told her that the cancer had spread to her brain. Her time here with us grows short. Her three year battle is almost over.

I wonder if she has any idea how many lives she has touched though this journey?

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Reincarnation?

My daughter came to me last night while I was in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner. I knew something was on her mind because she started to help me! So I started asking her about her day at school. Suddenly she stopped looked at me and asked me “Mom, after we die do we keep coming back to life?” At first I wasn’t sure what she meant because she is only eight. Then I realized what she was asking. I asked her if she meant reincarnation. She said yes that’s the word. This is one of those times a parent has to stop and think about how to answer a question. Especially when you have been raised a Roman Catholic and your child goes to a Roman Catholic school LOL.

I took a deep breath (heard a priest tell me I was going to hell) and then replied that I thought it was very possible that we do come back but only if we want to, because God has given us free will. Then she said but the Bible says we only have one life. (Now I’m going to hell on the express bus!) I told her that just because it’s written in a book doesn’t make it true and that no one really knows what happens in the next life except for God and those that have gone before us. So it’s good to ask questions and not just accept everything we read to be truth.

From here she went off in a different direction asking about religion.

HELL HELL HELL – ROCK RIDE THERE!

I told her that every religion believes it is the true religion and that people actually fight and kill each other over their beliefs. Her eyes got wide and she asked me if I was kidding. I told her I wasn’t. She told me that was the craziest thing she had ever heard. I smiled.

Kudos to my kid! LOL

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

God is...

An imaginary friend for big people!

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Reality Check!

I had to stay home from work the other day because my sitter had an appointment which had to be kept. OMG what a day I had….all four of my children became evil, little possessed entities running around the house causing mayhem! The twins, who are potty training, decided they were having too much fun to actually use the toilet and peed where ever they happened to be playing at the time. I did two complete loads of their laundry alone. My two oldest were fighting like cats and dogs and when they weren’t fighting with each other they were fighting with the twins. Everyone was telling on everyone. If they had been cats there would have been fur flying all over the house. By about 5:30 (just before hubby got home from work) I had had ENOUGH and tossed the twins into the tub and put them into bed. (This was for their safety). The oldest two were next on my hit list when hubby finally got home. He took one look at my face and said “Ut oh bad day huh?” I said “now there’s an understatement!” He told me he would handle the rest and that I should get out and walk the dog. So I’m walking the dog cursing under my breath for almost the entire walk. As I was at the final block of my walk I saw a couple coming towards me, they were pushing a large running stroller with their teenage daughter in it. She had cerebral palsy. They were all smiles and were happy and talking amongst themselves. It was right there and then I realized how lucky I am. Yes my children know exactly what buttons to push to drive me crazy, BUT they are ALL healthy and I am so grateful for that. I guess my point here is that sometimes we are so busy complaining about the little drama’s in our lives that we forget to be grateful. That experience was definitely my reality check.

Monday, April 30, 2007

Relationships

Oh this should be a fun conversation!

I have had so many phone calls from friends this week, most of them calling to vent about what hubby did or didn’t do. Or that hubby complains that they never have sex anymore. Or that my girlfriend isn’t having sex with hubby because she is so angry with him. So I started thinking. What happened to this once wonderful relationship? And it occurred to me (and I could be wrong but hey it’s just my opinion and that’s what a blog is all about right?) When they first met their spouse and they started hanging out, they did a lot of talking, they became friends, best friends, and then they got married. Then stuff like kids and jobs came along and life got busy and they started talking less and less because they had less and less time and when they did have time they would collapse in a heap on the couch.

All of a sudden you wake up one morning and wonder “what happened to my best friend?” “How do we get back to that place we were before?” “How did our conversations become and assault on the other persons ego?”

One of the biggest complaints I hear from my girlfriends is this. “I’m lonely”. Well guys the “I’m lonely” doesn’t need to exist in her life. All you have to do is remember what your relationship was like in the beginning, the countless hours you spent talking to her, asking her how she felt, what upsets her and what doesn’t, what she worries about, what makes her happy. Talk to her, listen, and don’t take everything she says personally. Same goes for the ladies too. When he tries to talk to you don’t be on the defensive. Open those doors of communication and sweep all the dust out.

Women need to be close to a man emotionally to want to have sex. There is the truth guys did you hear me? Let me say it again in case you missed it.

Women need to be close to a man emotionally to want to have sex.

So stop pointing fingers at each other and start talking like you used to, you used to enjoy that closeness. Remember?

Monday, April 23, 2007

Early Morning Poinderings

I get up very early every morning and meditate on the day. It’s time I have set aside for myself. Sometimes I think about nothing and sometimes I ponder our existence here on earth. I wonder if there really is good and evil or if the good and evil are just experiences that are meant to get us to the next experience. Who knows? If the bad thing didn’t happen would the good one still come? Would we appreciate it as much?

Society seems so screwed up, people doing things against their fellow man that you or I would never choose to do. Why can’t we just live in harmony together? Why can’t we just love each other and help each other out when it’s needed? All of us running this rat race in search of happiness…perhaps we are all searching in the wrong places.. Perhaps we need to stop looking at all the material crap and have a good look inside? Clear out the cobwebs and dust bunnies and see if you can find yourself in there. In my life I have come to discover that no one else can make me happy, that no material thing can make me happy. Happy is something I do for myself. There are so many people out there racing around trying to find what it is that makes them happy… looking to find it in others, or in material goods. Now don’t get me wrong material goods and other people are great! But if it’s true bliss you are seeking look to yourself for that.

Sometimes I wonder about even crazier stuff like our language, for example:

Live spelt backwards is evil
Devil spent backwards is lived

Kind of makes you wonder doesn’t it? Over the years have we been pushed into thinking a certain way? Is it all back and white or are we missing all the colors in-between?

Sometimes I look at those two words and I think to myself, “Ok who is the joker who came up with that?”

Anyway, just me rambling…

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Virginia Tech Shooting

Cho Seung-Hui, a name we won't soon forget. A young man that did something neither you nor I would ever consider doing to our fellow man.

I just watched a video about the shootings and the reporter said that Cho would constantly listen to the song “Shine” by Collective Soul over and over again but they didn’t know what the significance of it was. So out of curiosity I went in search of the lyrics and I will include them at the end of this post.

What do I think? I think that Cho wanted what every single person on this earth wants. I can sum it up in two, three word sentences. I don’t care how rich you are, how smart you are or how important you think you are, without these two things our soul shrivels up and dies. These two things are: “To be happy”. “To be loved”. But he didn’t know how to get there for the dark place he had allowed himself to be sucked into, an abyss of darkness, sadness and anger. He didn’t know how to reach out and no one seemed to be able to reach in to save him. And so in his mind, we became villains. In his mind, we failed him. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this out.. sometimes we need to stop thinking with our brains and listen to our hearts.

“more than a year before Monday's mass shootings — a district court in Montgomery County, Va., ruled that Cho presented "an imminent danger to self or others." By NED POTTER and DAVID SCHOETZ

And then they let him go? Huh?

What is wrong with our society? All the warning signs were there, Cho desperately needed help and did he get it? No. Here we have a young man who is giving us warning sign after warning sign and we let him go. Perhaps we need to stand back and reevaluate how we look after each other? Especially those with obvious psychological disorders.

So my questions are this… have we reached a point in our society where we can’t be bothered to help those who need it? Is it too much work, so we let them go? Are we failing our fellow man?

My deepest, heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of those that were lost. I hope that this occurrence will make “the powers that be” stand back and rethink the treatment of those in need.

SHINE

How long has it been now,
Since I called you by name?
Since I felt your presence
In the midst of all my pain?

How long has it been now,
that I tried it all my own way
I need to be broken
So I look to you and say...

Make me shine
(Rekindle the flame within my soul)
Renew my love for you,
For you are the only one
That can make me shine
(Like the sun)
Rekindle the flame within my soul
Make me shine

You long to save me
You're the author of my life
But without you or Jesus,
I am not alive!

Make me shine
(Rekindle the flame within my soul)
Renew my love for you,
For you are the only one
That can make me shine
Make me shine...
Make me shine!

Make me shine..
Make me shine!
Like the sun.

Renew my love for you,
For you are the only one
That can make me shine
(Rekindle the flame within my soul)
Renew my love for you
For you are the only one
That can make me shine
Make me shine
(Rekindle the flame within my soul, make me shine)
Make me shine...

Rekindle the flame within my soul...

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

I had a dream last night

I had a dream last night
And in it a man said to me
What are you doing here?

I told him I am here
To live my life
This miraculous life
Each moment an experience
To behold
Each moment a joy bringing me
To the next place I belong

I had a dream last night
And in it a man said to me
What are you doing here?

I told him that I am here
To experience all that there is
All that there was
All that there would ever be
Everything happening all at once

And that my life was blessed
And I was thankful for everything
That had come my way
Good or bad because I know
That it will bring me to the next
Place I need to be

I had a dream last night
And in it a man said to me
What are you doing here?

I told him that I am here
Simply to love
And to be loved
And to share my happiness
With others
And to show them that life
Can be a wonderful, glorious place

And the man said to me
How can this be?

And I told him simply
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
And if he were to change the way
He looked at life he would see it too

He opened his mouth to speak
But nothing came out… he smiled
And then he thanked me
Turned away and was gone.

I had a dream last night
And in it a man said to me
What are you doing here?

Friday, April 13, 2007

Claireese's broken tooth

Here's a story I wrote for my daughter not that long ago - she loved it, but she’s' biased! LOL

Claireese’s mommy waited at the window. She was waiting for Claireese to get home from her sleep over at her Aunt Sheila’s. She couldn’t wait to hear about how much fun she had playing with her cousin Kaley.

Aunt Sheila’s car pulled up. Claireese got out of the car looking glum. She came running to the door suitcase in hand looking so very sad.

She came into the house dropped her bag and burst into tears.

“Oh Claireese, please tell me what’s wrong!” mommy said.

“Oh mommy… something terrible has happened!”

“What happened.” Mommy asked

“I lost a tooth!” cried Claireese.

“Why is that terrible don’t you want money from the tooth fairy?” Mommy asked

“Yes mommy but I don’t think she will take it!!!”

“Why not?” Mommy asked.

“Because it broke in half when it came out!” Claireese’s wailed

“Why don’t you think she will take it Claireese?” Mommy asked

Claireese sobbed “Because she uses them to build castles! How can she use something that is broken to build something so beautiful?”

“Oh honey it’s ok I’m sure she will come anyway.” Mommy said confidently.

And so late that night Claireese’s mommy went to her Claireese’s room because she too was worried the tooth fairy would not come for the broken tooth.

She reached under Claireese’s pillow to take the tooth and put some money there in case the tooth fairy did not come. As she did this a soft glowing light appeared behind her and she heard the words “There is no need to take the tooth, I need it for something very special.”

Claireese’s mommy turned around to see what it was and as she did this Claireese woke up. Claireese rubbed her eyes in disbelief. Mommy smiled at her and said “the tooth fairy wants your broken tooth Claireese!”

Claireese sat up in bed “she does?” she asked.

“Yes” I do” said the tooth fairy. “Why don’t the two of you come with me and I will show you.”

Claireese and her mommy held hands and the tooth fairy took them to the land of fairies.

The tooth fairy explained that she had been looking for a broken tooth just that size for a very long time to complete a castle she had been working on in the land of fairies for some very dear friends.

They got to the castle where a beautiful fairy princess awaited. The princess asked the tooth fairy “Did you find one?”

The tooth fairy smiled and said “Yes I believe I did!”

The tooth fairy took the first half of the tooth out of her pocket and placed it into a small hole and it fit perfectly! Then she took out the other half and placed it into another small hole and it too fit perfectly!

Then something amazing happened!! The castle began to glow softly and the fairy princes smiled! She looked at Claireese and said “Thank you so much for your broken tooth Claireese! My castle is finally finished!” The fairy princess hugged Claireese and Claireese hugged her back. Claireese and her mommy thanked the tooth fairy and the princess for letting them see what the broken tooth was used for.

Claireese woke up the next morning and wandered downstairs. Claireese’s mommy looked up at her from her morning coffee.

“Mommy I had the strangest dream last night”

“You did?” mommy asked.

“So did I” mommy smiled

The End.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Question

My daughter looked at me the other night and asked me where swearing came from. I couldn't answer her. I told her it was a great question but I didn’t know the answer. Then I started thinking... who decides what word does or doesn't become a swear word? If I were to start screaming the word “Butterfly” in an angry tone would it be considered swearing? What if everyone else start saying it in an angry tone? Would it suddenly become a bad word? I'm betting it would. For some strange reason most people are unable to think for themselves so they tend to follow what others think or do. So I say from now on the word "butterfly" is a really REALLY bad word! :P

BUTTERFLY!!!!!!!

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

hmmmm... I wonder.....

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

Monday, April 9, 2007

Mike & Mike

When people ask me if I have pets and I tell them that we have a dog named Worf, two cats, Murphy & Calvin, and two gold fish named Mike & Mike. I usually get stopped at the last two and am asked. "Wait a minute you have two fish named Mike?" To which I usually laugh and tell them the story of how they ended up with the same name. My wonderful, dear friend Mike, who happens to be gay, used to grace us with his presence several times a week. On one such occasion I was giving him a hard time about something and in exasperation he looked at me and said " you… you… you fish!!!!!" I laughed at him and we carried on our conversation. A few days later my daughter asked her dad if we could get some goldfish and he said sure and off they went to make their purchase. When they got home with the two fish my daughter asked what we should name them. I grinned and said "Honey why don't we name them Mike & Mike” She loved it, and so it was. That night I called Mike and told him that he had two fish named after him!

Saturday, April 7, 2007

Forever the Joker

I work in a a high stress environment, everyone there has a great sense of hurmor so we are constantly pranking each other looking for a little comic relief. One of the guys in the office was telling us about how he came to work one day with a dryer sheet stuck to his butt, so of course I couldn't resist the opportunity to give the office a little chuckle. The next morning I came into the office armed with a box of unsented dryer sheets and put them all over his work station, next I handed out the remaining dryer sheets to people and they had them hanging out of their socks, shirts, jackets, etc. Then we waited for our victim to come in. He came in got to his work station and started to laugh, then all of us wearing dryer sheets went over to say good morning to him. He got a good laugh, we got a good laugh, and dryer sheets kept showing up in interesting places for the next little while. I found one in my mail the other day and returned it to my victims desk hidden in his kleenex box as his next kleenex and as luck would have it he sneezed later in the day and reached for a kleenex!!

Friday, April 6, 2007

A little about me

I've never blogged before so this should be a new and interesting experience... or at least I hope it will be.

A little about me, I am mom of four so I sometimes find it difficult to remember things, concentrate or function in general. My mind is always on my kids even when it shouldn't be. LOL

I tell people that I don't have a brain. The reason being that each child I had took 1/4 and now I am left with nothing but an echo and maybe a dust bunny or two.