Y.I. Wednesday: Why I Like This Search Engine

I really like Fine Comb

I've used other sources for shopping searches like Nextag, but this one is simple, easy and is absent of all that extra internet junk...

Check it out and tell me what you think!

About Fine Comb

Y.I. Wednesday: Why I am Inspired by Yellow

So, what's the deal with Yellow Inspiration?

Well, Yellow is  inspiring to me, not just because it's my favorite color, 

but...because:

it's sunny,

it's cheerful,

it's positive,

it glows,

it's the color of my first car,

it's the color of my new kitchen

&

it's been my favorite song 

for seven+ years

and...

Yellow always makes me fell happy!

~

Today... buy, 

wear, 

draw, 

take a picture of, 

something 

yellow!

Carpe diem

Something busy people forget to do.

This summer, don't forget to take some time to enjoy 

the grass beneath your feet and some music in the park.

Y.I. Wednesday: Why I Love this World Peace Poem

by Shel Silverstein

This is the sweetest poem, if you're interested in world peace...

Not just because it's written by my most favorite author when I was a kid, 

but because it's also the easiest to incorporate in your life.

Make it your goal to make someone smile and feel loved today...

Pass it on.

Fun Friday: This Video is Fun to Watch

No matter how much I want to look away, I just can't, this guy's dancing is just too fun to watch! 

Y.I. Wednesday: Why I am Proud to Support America via Indivisible

While in Starbucks the other day, I did what anyone would do when they see a cause they believe in...

I put my money where my mouth is.

I am proud to be born in America. 

Black or white, free will, freedom of religion and freedom of speech, I love America,

 and believe we have the drive, the passion and love, that a country needs to be successful, 

and it's exactly why I also want to help America grow.

We help less fortunate countries, we rally for rights, 

 give to the poor, and other causes…

We give money and walk hundreds of miles for Cancer research...

Why not give to America’s need for job growth?

It affects us all. Whether you are unemployed, an employee, an employer or own a small independently run business...

America needs jobs.

Here is something you ought to check out and something that I support.

Check out what people are saying on Twitter about #indivisible.

Our goal in America is to co-exhist, unite and be free....

And together is the only way we can do it.

Support US Today!

A Monday Poem

We all have Monday's. Some of us worse than others.

My wonderful friend Deb, owns her own greeting card company, where she writes personalized poems. I love them so much and can always find comfort, inspiration or a good laugh from them.

Read this one, it reminds me of how, with summer on the brain, our memories can fail us and can make a workday not so joyous...and... how grace and forgiveness (both from ourselves and others, can help):

artwork is property of iambicchick.com

It’s happened to me

And probably happened to you

Your memory failed

And didn’t come through

You worked through the morning

Without a care in the world

Then retrieved a voice mail

And your day just unfurled

Even with reminders

In your calendar book

You missed this one meeting

And then your heart jumped and shook

But people understand

Like I hope Catherine does

Nobody’s perfect today

At least that’s the buzz!

So, forgive me, I hope

And the lesson for me

Don’t judge others harshly

It will catch you, you’ll see

From your office or home, send a loved one a poem

www.iambicchick.com

(All poems are complete with artwork and can be directly mailed to card recipient.)

(Poem reprinted with the permission of Iambicchick.com)

An Inspirational Message from My Fortune Cookie

People don't lack strength they lack will.

Learn more about Willpower at eHow.com

Fun Friday: An Inspirational Quote for Fathers (Repost due to technical issues)

Necessity may be the mother of intention, 

but play is certainly the father. 

- Roger Von Oech

Y.I. Made This Wednesday About Nursing homes

This was supposed to be a general blog post, regarding nursing homes, (but not a Y.I. Wednesday post)... and how they inspire me to respect history, elders and the nursing homes in general...

But,  

I was not able to finish the post, 

before the untimely passing of my grandmother.

It's been a week, since the passing of my 'Nanny'.

She was the light of my soul and the one who taught me most of what I know. I've had plenty of time to think, but not enough time to comprehend. A mother who stepped in, when my own could not (or would not). A vigilant, Noble, dedicated mother and human being...who saw a need in a child's life and filled it. I respect her, and love her for that.

I mourn the passing of such a significant person, and I hope that when you see an older person, a retired, elderly, convalescent-home-bound human being, your heart will feel a certain salute...to the old mentors we will miss.

Here is the start, and the unfortunate finish of my original Nursing Home Yellow Inspiration Post:

Nursing Homes

They all have a history...
And in them, resides someones mother, aunt, wife, sister and or mother.

A few weeks ago, as my daughter sang the National Anthem at a local old folks' home, I looked on in honor, pride and respect...to all of those who came before me.

I thought of those elders who have paved the way, torn a path, been the guiding light.

I respected their truths, love and words.

I never, in  a million years, expected to be burying my own grandmother this week.

But, I am.

The feelings I had that day, in that nursing home, will never ever come close to those I have today.

She is gone...I am here...and someday, we will all be in her place.

R.I.P. Nanny.

You will not have to eat that horrible food.

You will be slim, beautiful, healthy and unwrinkled...

You will be with the Lord 

and Liz Taylor.

I love you.

Liz Taylor-
And the gaze my grandmother had in her time.
Liz was someone my grandmother not only resembled, but admired.
(A picture she would be glad to be likened to.)

Your Mind is Powerful

It is the mind that rules the body. -Sojourner Truth

Fun Friday: A Fun Poem About Political and Current Events

Remember when you were a kid and you read Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends?

Poems were fun and helped us relate, understand and sometimes get away.

A friend of mine has a talent I admire. 

She can write funny, endearing, compassionate or even serious poems,

 depending on the situation.

She has her own greeting card business which she does these poems for,

and I really felt compelled to share this particular one with you:

"This week, after President Obama’s approval of same-sex marriage, I wanted to applaud him for making a stand and send a message to all those like myself that want to be treated equally"...

If there’s someone you know

And by chance, they are gay

And you support their relationship

Well, then, tell them o.k.?!!

Think for a second

On how it would impact your life

If you were told you couldn’t marry

Your husband or wife

Many prejudicial statements

And hurtful comments are said

By people who speak

Without using their head

Why does it matter?

To anyone in this land

Who’s united in marriage

I don’t understand

Reflect on your friends

Perhaps a sister or brother

That’s in a relationship

With a significant other

And believe there’s a chance

That while we’re all alive

Equal rights will be felt

And gay couples will thrive

This is the quote she ended with:

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, 

and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

-Buddha

“From your office or home, send someone a poem”

www.iambicchick.com

Y.I. Wednesday: Why I Love to Listen to Chris Botti

Most who know me, know I love various kinds of music.

And, Oh, why not love Chris Botti?

Just listen, or watch... and find out....

He is amazing, enchanting and talented.

There's nothing bad about his music and if you like Sinatra...

or enjoy relaxing...

Chris Botti is for you...

What I Learned About Positive Energy on My Daughter's Field Trip

COSI SCIENCE CENTER
COLUMBUS, OH

I recenlty went on an all day excursion with my teenage daughter (and about 50 other teenagers at her school).


I know, brave, or crazy...but I learned something...and not just that teenage girls talk 'a lot'!

During part of the trip we visited COSI in Columbus, OH. COSI is a really big, super cool, hands on science center. The place was great! We had a ton of fun and I recommend a visit (it's fun for grown ups too!)

During the last 20 minutes of our visit, we were hanging out in the lobby waiting for our group to line up for the bus. And during this time there was a show up on stage.

Do you remember as a kid, shuffling across the floor in your socks in the winter, then touching the first person you reached? What happened? You shocked them right!!??

I loved doing this. It was fun and always made me laugh.

As I sat back and watched the crowd of volunteers go up on stage I actually got a bit concerned...The kids all began to form the longest static-electricity chain I'd ever seen.

As the first person rubbed his hands all over the source of electricity, the long chain of kids circled around the lobby and braced for the shock.

As they did, the boys hair began to stand up on end. At this point. the instructor discussed how 'positive energy lifts up his hair, as well as the pom-pom he was holding. Negative energy, (like the type which was about to happen) would bring it down...'

Then....

HE REACHED OUT...AND TOUCHED THE FIRST PERSON IN THE LINE!

    P O W!!!!

A CHAIN REACTION OF POSITIVE ENERGY ZAPPED EVERYONE IN CIRCLE!!!

Do you realize that all of us have this ability every day?

No, not to shock those around us with little zaps of electrons...

BUT,

 INFUSE THEM 

WITH A HUGE DOSE OF 

POSITIVE INFLUENCE!

Understand Positive Energy in People's Actions

"Will Someone else's life be brighter tomorrow because of what you have done today?"

~ William Arthur Ward

Fun Friday: Think Positive

A pessimist is a person who has had to listen to too many optimists.

~ Don Marquis

(And I'm thinking, since he can't beat 'em, he should join 'em.)

Y.I. Wednesday: Why I Don't Like My IPhone for Calls

iPhone

Because it...

hangs up on accident

dials on accident

hangs up on accident

hangs up on accident

hangs up on accident

I'll be just fine if I run around like Jim Carrey does in Mr. Popper's Penguins while making calls on my iPhone...because he never hung up on anyone, and as you watch the movie you'll notice he holds the phone away from his ear at all times...

Good idea.

EXCELLENT MOVIE by the way :)

So was the book.

Quote: What's Now Got To Do With It?

“The future depends on what we do in the present.” -Ghandi

Fun Friday: It All Depends on How You Say It

Thank goodness it's not always how you look at it

Y.I. Wednesday: Y.I. Think Road Rage is Personal

Merging on or off of the highway can be a very good visual for how well some people work with others.

They don't.

How often have you attempted to get over a lane or two and found it nearly impossible to catch a break by the cars in that lane?

How often have you been driving along and out of nowhere comes a car who's responsibility it was to yield before merging, but instead just barreled into your lane?

I think this is a really good example of how some people just don't play well with others.

I've always wondered why that is...

Last week, I was traveling back from a meeting and witnessed some ridiculous road rage.

1. The blue car next to me was going along...
2. A red car put it's blinker on to get into the right lane...
3. Plenty of space, plenty of time for the blue car to allow the red car to slip into the lane without disruption....

What does the blue car do? 

Speed up once the red car has almost completed her lane change.


What does the red car do?

She slams her brakes on. (Kinda serves him right. Right?- That's what she thought.)

Why did he allow her the space, then decide he wasn't interested in being nice?

Why did either one of them decide to act this way?

I think they take the whole thing a little too personally.

Just like when someone cuts you off because you were in their blind spot and you get mad at them for 'cutting YOU off!'.

It's not about hurting you, slighting you or short changing you...

It's usually about them. We just make it about us.

Remember to yield before you merge, think before you get angry...and give grace and mercy to those who are human; just like us.

What Really Matters While Your Alive?

               There'll be two dates on your tombstone, and all your friends will read 'em, 

But all that's gonna matter is that little dash between 'em... - Kevin Welch