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

Fun Friday: When Common Sense Fails

We are lucky enough to have signs

Y.I. Wednesday: Why I Believe Life is Your Classroom

Anyone can learn anything from a book, but until one actually goes through something, they will never really know what to do, or how they will react. What happens then is they gather feedback results based on what they did when they were in that situation. (Call it hands on learning.)

I used to home school and I'm still a big believer that the world around us, and the things we partake in during the course of everyday life, are actually the best lessons available to us.

There's been truth to the fact that those who continue to increase their level of academic intelligence eventually end up dumbing themselves down because they become so dependent upon 'what they learned' that it clouds some of the things they should be learning, and then how to manage in common sense situations.

Donald Trump is a big advocate for the real life classroom. He is the type of person who shares his mistakes and I respect that.

In his recent book Midas Touch, with Robert Kiyosaki, , he explains that the goal is not to arrive 'perfect', but get out there and make mistakes so that you get better.

Everyone and everything around you is your teacher. - Ken Keyes

Check this video out on Book vs. Street Smart-simple and to the point...

If you are just dying to know how smart you are, take this IQ Test.

Don't Take Yourself So Seriously

If you're going to be able to look back on something and laugh about it, 

you might as well laugh about it now. ~ Marie Osmond 

Fun Friday: A Fun Tool For Readers

It's been about time to get out your Kindle's, Nook's, or just a plain old book...

It's staying lighter out longer,

the air is warmer

and it's going to be time to hit the porch or beach with a good story.

You might not have time to hit the library, and maybe your friends don't read the same genre, 

and maybe you've spent too long on Amazon viewing that long row of titles by similar author's...

Use this fun tool to get a list of books similar to those that you read now.

Pick a title you love and see what comes up.

Once the results pop up you can then click on the little book icon and it will bring you to a direct link to it on Amazon, then you can see if there are preview pages~

Happy Reading!

Y.I. Wednesday: Why I Love This Product For To-Do Lists

I love utilize to-do lists.

As a business owner and mom, I always have more than one list of tasks going at a time.

Over the years, I've tried several apps, and systems, of getting priorities listed, organized, and in a safe place.

I've used:

Sticky notes (and oldy but goody, but messy)
Simple paper and pen (long hand and doesn't' jump out of the book to remind you)
Notepad app in my phone (eh, just not working)
Emails to myself (wow, don't try this at home- black hole)
Other task management apps for my computer (like iProcrastinate)

But recently I tried Producteev!

And I love it, Because:

I like to be organized
See my to-do lists at a clear glance
Use it on my phone which helps me be efficient and organized on the go and sync

I also love it, because:

I don't like to miss deadlines (and it reminds me)
I like to visual prioritize (it uses a star system)
I like to give my husband a Honey-do list once in a while and it does that!

Thank you Producteev for helping keep my get things done efficiently, while feeding my husband's app-addiction in a good way!

Things in life aren't free, but Producteev is!

Bill Gates Motivational Quote on Success

famous-wallpapers.com

"Don't repeat the same mistakes 
and don't wallow in your wins." 
-Bill Gates

Priceless Cartoon About Maturity

What could a mountain of Goats teach us about Maturing?

I don't know, but this cartoon has both and it does it well...

The most hilarious thing is if you happen to know Goats like those at the bottom of the mountain...

It's funny for a second...

Until you realize, they never seem to make it to the top.

Then it's just sad...

But, I guess they must like it there if they stay.

Y.I. Wednesday: Why I Don't Always Listen to Myself

I've found over the years that my mind can be a very powerful tool.

It can help me achieve great things, as well as not.

Because, no matter what I tell myself, I usually end up believing it.

I was headed out the door to a business seminar today,
when I left a few minutes behind schedule....

it was raining 

(okay, POURING),

Traffic was sllllllooooooooowwwww....

Pretty much at a stand still,
in three different areas during the trip
due to yes, 

three separate accidents.

I ended up in the wrong lane (two lanes to the left of where my exit was coming up-on the right).

As I watched the exit go by,

and saw no exits up ahead,

I began to get into that funk: 

"Oh, man, that's great, this stinks; I'm going to be late."
"I'll never make it."
"I might as well turn around and go home."

...blah blah blah...

----------

It's important during these times,
when my mind is negative,
that I remember it's easy to think badly

 and sometimes
it's just a way to convince myself I can't manage  a task or reach goal.

-------------------

You can be your own worst enemy sometimes so....

"Don't Believe Everything You Think" 
- Thomas E. Kida


(I didn't today.... and I had an amazing day of education and fun!)


What did I do?


I talked the complete opposite to myself...
pushing the negative b@#*! out...
and 
pulling the Positive one up by her boot straps!
~
(I arrived with fifteen minutes to spare by the way, and plenty of time to network.)