Monday, October 11, 2010

Crystal Beaudry's Birthday Wish

Crystal Beaudry's Birthday Wish
“I'm turning 30 on October 14th and I want to To require an automatic Amber Alert be issued for any child under 12 years old missing 5 hours or more”

WHY I CARE ABOUT THIS CAUSE:
Because I know what it is like not to have your child with you. I use to say to myself how I would love just 5 minutes to myseld, now i ask for 5 minutes with her. She was not kidnapped but taken from me from her father and now I wish I had her here with me I love you Brittany.

I'm asking for $10 or whatever you can afford!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Rain, rain go away and don't come back another day, or at least until it is much warmer out!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

LOL! Five Important Tips for Women

"Five Important Tips For Women: 1. It's important that a man helps out around the house, and has a good job. 2. It's important that a man makes you laugh. 3. It's important to find a man you can count on and will never lie to you. 4. It's important that a man loves you passionately, satisfies you completely, and spoils you with expensive gifts. 5. It's VERY important that these four men don't know each other."

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

I am not a creature of habit, but of habitual transition.
I am not a creature of habit, but of habitual transition.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

What Happens to Your body if you stop smoking Right now? : Healthbolt - Health News and Commentary – Weird Health News and Information

What Happens to Your body if you stop smoking Right now? : Healthbolt - Health News and Commentary – Weird Health News and Information: "I think one of the main reasons it’s so hard to quit smoking is because all the benefits of quitting and all the dangers of continuing seem very far away. Well, here’s a little timeline about some of the more immediate effects of quitting smoking and how that will affect your body RIGHT NOW.
In 20 minutes your blood pressure will drop back down to normal.
In 8 hours the carbon monoxide (a toxic gas) levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal.
In 48 hours your chance of having a heart attack will have decreased. All nicotine will have left your body. Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level.
In 72 hours your bronchial tubes will relax, and your energy levels will increase.
In 2 weeks your circulation will increase, and it will continue to improve for the next 10 weeks.
In three to nine months coughs, wheezing and breathing problems will dissipate as your lung capacity improves by 10%.
In 1 year your risk of having a heart attack will have dropped by half.
In 5 years your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.
In 10 years your risk of lung cancer will have returned to that of a non-smoker.
In 15 years your risk of heart attack will have returned to that of a non-smoker.
So, you have more immediate things to look forward to if you quit now besides just freaking out about not being able to smoke. Quit now!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

"The best part of a Pop Tart is the Top Part" -Daniela Jean TooheyBug

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Smoke Free = 7 Days!!!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Due to today's events, I was able to waste a whole day away and had no choice but to sit around and do nothing. Perhaps this was Mother Nature's way of telling me to settle down and relax.
thank you @Shawn Toohey for rescuing me! Now get back to work! :o)
There is always a set back in MY life. For every step I make, something is bound to put me behind...Made it to the Dr. on time but now ran out of gas. Almost made it to get my prescription and home. Feeling AGITATED but not DEFEATED!!
Tomorrow will be one whole week since I have been smoke free, Cold Turkey... @ The Dr. to get the Chantix right now.
Got the kids all the way to school, when Daniela realized she forgot her homework...What would you do?
Got the kids all the way to school, when Daniela realized she forgot her homework...What would you do?

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Step by Step: Keeping the Arts Alive


Step by Step: Keeping the Arts Alive

The documentary spans two years in the life of the Gouzounises and their charges. The couple has brought their program, Over the Top, to seven of the city’s 33 elementary schools.


Akeret Films
and
Daily Hampshire Gazette

Area school students take ballroom-dancing lessons.
In cities across the country, public schools are failing our children. Lack of funding, an increased emphasis on standardized test, and a general sentiment that "the arts are frivolous" have led to a dramatic cutback of art in our schools. The heart and soul of our schools are under attack, and this is undoubtedly a contributing factor in the soaring dropout rates.

According to the film, Springfield has a 44 percent child poverty rate, with 33 percent of its 26,000 students failing to graduate from high school.
Cutting the arts is seen by some as a contributing factor to Springfield’s educational woes. Though school systems as a whole are suffering financially, the film makes the point that many of the arts programs were gutted to beef up MCAS-dictated curriculum, namely programs in math and science, in a move detractors call “teaching to the test.”
“I believe we are shortchanging our children,” says Springfield Education Association President Timothy Collins in the film. “A child may go through 12 years of school without ever being in front of an art teacher or music teacher. Children need a chance to be successful during their day. Usually, kids who struggle have a tendency to shine when exposed to the arts.”

“It changed my life,” said one child named William. “I mostly got in trouble before; I had to change that.”
“He listened to what I said better,” said his mother, Gwendolyn Yates. “I said, ‘Are you my child?’”
Ruth Masarino, mother of an expressive dancer named Joel, said the program was a breath of fresh air for her cooped-up son.
“Sitting at a desk all day gets him a little irritated,” she said. “This gets him out of the classroom and gives him a chance to use his energy in a positive way.”
Teachers, it seems, appreciate a break from the routine, too. Cathy Lolos, a teacher at Brunton Elementary, said she and others have given up lunchtime and prep time to help students with their moves.
Not all principals have been receptive to the program, fearing it takes students away from more “important” things, to which Alyson Gouzounis replies: “We’re talking about 20 minutes twice a month. Surely your kids deserve 20 minutes.”


It's easy to point a finger and blame policy-makers for the current situation. It's another to take action and be part of finding a solution. In Springfield, Massachusetts, George and Alyson Gouzounis are doing what they can to stem the tide. In the fall of 2005, they initiated an innovative dance program designed to bring the arts back into the schools. Their program, Over the Top, teaches ballroom dancing to over one thousand fifth graders in seven public schools across the city. The students learn steps from the merengue and the mambo to the fox trot and swing. Students enjoy the exercise and the challenge of learning new dances. Lessons in dance also include mini-lessons in history, music, math, and even courtesy.

I saw this documentary last night on WGBY with my children. What a great documentary. As someone who was sitting on the fence on the issue of whether or not to keep the Arts in schools, this really helped me to decide that it would not benefit anyone to get rid of these such programs. And as a parent, to be able to watch this with my children and all of us learn things we didn't know about this program and hear my children say they would like to do that, is very special. It inspired them to want to be and do something greater. The program is free, unlike most programs for children. Which is exactly the reason that I never signed my kids up for these things. 4 person household, 1 income, does not equate to afford such programs. Now they can, and I am grateful.

I absolutely loved how they interviewed the children, parents and teachers. Who knew that kids who are having a hard time in school turn to the arts programs? The effects of eliminating arts programs from schools would be detrimental. This means that those children are the ones that drop out of school. Isn't this what we are trying to prevent?

My children related to the kids that were interviewed and found what they were doing interesting. I really think this program is great. Not only for self-esteem issues but also behavioral problems, as well. And who better for this than a Social Worker by day and Dance Teacher by Night?

How cute are George and Alyson Gouzounis as a couple and teachers? I just couldn't help but to say Awww.

I am just so inspired to get a hold of George and Alyson Gouzounis and find out how can I help them keep this program going?

I got a hold of the film maker, Julie at akeretfilms.com today and spoke with her personally. What a wonderful woman! She was so happy to hear my comments. And I was happy that she was doing such good work. She is going to get me in touch with the Gouzounis'es and I can't wait!

According to its Web site, Akeret’s production company, 20 Cents Left Productions, is “dedicated to making documentary films that explore social issues and people whose vision and drive often shape our view of these issues…We hope to make their voices heard above the din of popular culture.”

Monday, January 4, 2010

Fell into Telemarketer phone trap.

It was later on in the evening around when the bill collectors stop calling. I answered the phone just because I was happy that they weren't reminding us of another overdue bill and asking for money. Somebody who needed me to be interested in what they were saying and had to offer. Such a pleasantly fake conversation. It distracted me and got a little inaudible when she would begin to speak in monotone and sound like she was reading from a script.
I fell into the telemarketer phone trap. It was pretty easy, I guess.
But in the meantime, I am getting emails like crazy from them. And I am mad at myself for allowing this to happen to me. Here I am trying to get rid of online clutter and I made the biggest number one mistake in online history. But, I am able to chalk this up to experience and consider it a lesson in life learned. And hey, Living is learning; You're not living unless you're learning.
Trying to declutter and purge in my bedroom. I need some advice, getting stuck!
Cool, it only took my car 40 mins. of running to get it to move into drive. Kids are late for school, I wasted gas and sitting here realizing that my car is due for inspection this month. This means I will need tires, too.
it's Monday, winter vacation is over and the kids go back to school. Time to take advantage and get some stuff done that I haven't been able to and continue to stick to my resolutions.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Help! What *FREE* programs do you recommend for anti-virus protection and also for firewall??

Friday, January 1, 2010

is chewing on a cinnamon stick...which is not even close to a cigarette, just in case you were wondering.
Happy New Year! Bring on 2010!