The Sadness in His Eyes...

You would be sad too if you had to live in a cage day in and day out 365 days a year. Let the animals be free.

Chew On THIS...

Whats an old fashioned girl like myself supposed to chew???? Definately not Extra or Orbit. Not Carefree, Trident, or Juicy Fruit. Only the oldies for me... Clove, Beemans, and Black Jack. But I gotta secret... I really do like Extra gum. No, not extra gum as in more pieces, but the brand Extra, it does last extra long.

Are you Smart?

If your not feeling too smart these days, why not try a Smartie. They are sugar pills to make you smart. Have a Smartie...they taste good and good for your smarts!

I am me...an earthling...I love my home, dear dear Mother Earth...please be kind to her....Earth for all to share...sadness I see, with pollution all around me...pollution of the land, pollution of the mind, pollution of the sea...I fear for my air, its dark dingy and smells so terribly bare...

We Do Not Raise Ourselves...

We should not "live in the past" but gather information from it that can help us to live our "present" lives more fully. Living is like education. How can you do college work if you never went to high school or even grammar school? How do you learn how to do what you do in your daily life if there was no one to instruct you or inspire you? Who did the role model learn from and who they learned from etc until the beginning of time. Humans that are not in an environment where there are humans around them do not develop as we do. They do not learn social customs, language, etc. Like the people raised by dogs or by neglect. We do not raise ourselves.

Originally wrote for my college class in 2008

Awareness Not Required

Change can happen without the person being aware of it. People can put themselves on autopilot and not be aware of the impact that their decisions are making in their lives. Sure enough though, each decision one makes has a consequence whether good or bad. It is important to have a goal in mind and if you believe that it can happen and imagine it happening then it will happen. It is the Law of Attraction. If it is done right, it does work. You will go in the direction that you are headed but you can change that direction at anytime to head in a different direction. It is up to you to decide where you want to go.

Originally wrote for my college class in 2008

Learning Lessons

Learning lessons is sometimes easy, sometimes painful, sometimes if you don't learn the messages that are being presented to you subtly, things happen that are painful, so you will finally get the message that your supposed to learn...I understand now....just wish I could have grasped the message before, but its life, and its not always easy...sometimes it takes a little sadness to make you wake up and be aware so you can start to do things correctly...

My thoughts regarding corporations and profits...

To make more money, corporations find ways to make things "cheaper" so they make more "profit". By doing this, they are destroying humanities because they are destroying humanity! Instead of organic farming because it "costs too much", they use the "cheaper" alternative POISIONOUS chemicals. Poision=death. Are these corporations really using the "cheaper" alternative and are they really making more "profit?" They are so stupid, that they cannot see anything, except for the money that they want in their pockets, so they can buy more things for themselves. They are not thinking about the past or the future, only the present. Why do we need to buy all these material things anyway? Is there any other life form that does this? NO. What makes us the exception? Why are we so special? We are not. We are too intelligent, but using that intelligence to help destroy our home- Earth. We are supposed to love our home but because we are so materialistic in our throwaway society, we are just going to throw our planet out when it can no longer sustain us. We are so stupid because there is no place else for us to go. But as usual, no one is thinking about the future.

And I Lived Before

When I was 5, I had an unusual dream. It was odd cause I was not me in the dream and I never forgot the dream. In my dream, I dreamed that I was a girl standing next to an older man with white hair and a cap on his head. In front of me, there was a bunch of kids that were shorter than me. In front of the kids, there was a railing and we were all looking off into the distance at something and I didn't know in my dream what I was looking at, but that we were all waving towards something in the distance.

Flash forward to age 9, I was in school and we were given fliers for Scholastic books for sale. I always loved these fliers cause I loved to pick out some books to ask my mother to buy for me. I found a book called The Day Pearl Harbor Was Bombed: A Photo History of World War II and I decided I wanted that one. I had a second cousin that died in WWII so I figured that this would be interesting to read and photos to look at. I am a very visual type of person so I love to look at picture books.

So, when I finally got the book in my hands, I flipped through the book focusing on the photos as I usually did, and I found this one photo and immediately I felt like my heart sunk into my stomach. I recognized this scene, this was the scene from my dream. The only thing different was that now I was looking at the people and in my dream, I was a person in the group looking out apparently looking at the photographer that was taking this very photo. I was amazed and looked at the people in the photo, and I found myself, I was the tall young woman standing behind the kids in front of me with the old guy standing next to me.

It was this day that I came to believe in past lives, my personal experience with this made me a true believer.

Glimpse Into Ants Life Regarding Death

A few years ago, I was on my lunch hour at work, sitting on a bench outside waiting for my coworkers to come out so we would play badminton and a little ant walked near me. I instinctly put my foot on it to kill it without even thinking. Almost immediately I felt regret that I had done this. I sat there staring at the dead ant laying on the ground before me.

Then what happened next shocked me! I saw another ant come from somewhere, I have no idea where, and it went right next to the dead ant, sizing up the situation, then it picked up the dead ant and crawled away with the dead ant. What went through my head was a feeling of amazement and awe. I had no idea that ants would do this, that they cared for their dead like that.

It only made me feel worse about killing the innocent ant after seeing this, but I felt like it was meant to be, that it happened like this so I could witness this event that must take place all the time, but we don't really spend much time focusing on the little life forms of this planet. I felt like I was lucky to get a small glimpse into the lifestyles of ants and to develop a sense of respect for them.

Girl Scout Memories

Growing up, I was very much involved in Girl Scouting, from the first grade until I graduated high school. I was very proud of being a girl scout, in the early years, I enjoyed making crafts and learning how to make Rice Krispie treats which I absolutely loved! I enjoyed wearing the uniform.

I have a particular memory of being in the 6th grade wearing my green girl scout uniform to school on days we had meetings, and my english teacher made fun of me because of it. But even though I stood out, I still wore my uniform proudly, and enjoyed the meetings of doing crafts and going on day trips to an animal hospital, ice cream place, Pizza Hut, nursing homes, it was exciting. Other times, I would go door to door selling Girl Scout Cookies.

I remember being in the 8th grade and we were making 50 cents a box on the cookies I sold, and the money I raised I used to fund a trip to Canada that year with my very best friend and our mothers who were the troop leaders.

Then in high school, being the only girl in my troop cause the others thought they were "too cool" for girl scouting, I joined up with another troop and worked alongside them, sharing in their activities and making new friends along the way. With this other troop, I got to tryout camping, and that was a great experience. I also volunteered at a local Girl Scout camp for a few weeks.

12th grade came, and I worked on my Gold Award project. I wrote and designed children's books on emergencies and first aid, went to several schools and read them to the children there and leaving a book in each school for them to use afterwards. I felt that if little kids can learn about the importance of 911, then they could help save a life if they ever encountered an emergency situation.

At the awards ceremony, I gave a speech about my project and I felt proud about my accomplishments, and then I was presented with my Gold Award pin, and it was an awesome moment. After that, I became a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts.

Taking time to enjoy the natural beauty

Every so often, I find myself quieting my mind, and focusing on the little things in life, the natural things. Like for instance, stopping by a random plant and just looking at it up close to see it for what it is, energy, elements, and the interesting patterns that can be found, and to enjoy the splendor of it. Its amazing.

Since when did washing hands become a complex procedure???

I found this sign in a bathroom on a recent vacation. I took the photo to share with everyone how complex washing hands can be. I thought you just put soap on and rub hands together, but no! According to this poster, there is a procedure to be done. Maybe they think people are stupid go into the bathroom and see the sink and soap dispenser and think to themselves, what do I do here? I guess it could happen, but I think most people "know" or "should know" how to wash their hands!

Money Does Grow on Trees

Who says that money doesn't grow on trees? If you change the way you look at things, the way things look change.

The FIRE....Destruction, Transformation, and Growth

I knew I would never be the same after the night of the fire. It was a warm summer night when I was 6. Middle of the night, I was awakened by my mother, “little one, wake up, the house across the street is on fire.” I was a little confused waking up from a deep sleep, not fully understanding what was happening. I got out of the bed and I followed my mother up the staircase to the second floor to the front of the house to look out the windows.

Glancing out the window, it was like we were watching tv, from safely inside our house, but this was no fictional story, this was real and happening live. There was no going back, no recreating this, it was going to burn the way it would and only the firefighters could change the direction and intensity of the fire with their water hoses. It was as if the firefighters were like artists creating a masterpiece in an odd distorted way by putting the fire out. Put a little water here, so this section of the siding don't burn. A little water there in that room, so it doesn't get charred. Break this door down to get access to the flames. Rip a hole in the roof here to pour some water in. What was left when done, well that would be the creation of the firefighters effort in their skills.

In the meantime, the house was burning and it was an angry untamed fire as flames were shooting out from the large window on the second floor poking out from the roof of this cape style house, spitting the glass outwards onto the roof ledge. The first floor was burning intensely as well with flames shooting out from the sides of the home. It was as if the house had come alive with this intense hot orange colored energy.

There were lights flashing all about from the several fire engines, police cars, and ambulances that had already arrived on the scene. The lights danced a silent melody reflecting off the surrounding houses, trees, cars, and people that were in its path. It was like a wake up call to everyone to pay attention, “look, a house is burning.”

My mother opened the window we were staring out. Immediately the concentrated smoke pouring from the burning house in front of us found its way inside our house where it entered into our noses so we could smell the scent of destruction. It was a message to me that helped me realize that no one is immune to the effects of fire as I can be safe in my house but if the fire wanted it could come to my house sometime as well. I realized that I could not be safe no matter where I was.

After a few hours, the firefighters were able to tame the monstrous energy outburst of fire and the house slowly calmed down from its tantrum. I was exhausted; up all night with my front row view of this seemingly captivating event of the night. Slowly one by one the curious neighbors that stood around all night outside to watch the fire were almost feeling disappointed as they turned around and walked home sadly when the fire was finally out. I don't know why they would be disappointed that the fire was out, shouldn't they be happy? Then the firemen hopped into their trucks and slowly retreated. It was time to go back to bed as if nothing happened. A sound sleep that night, too much to process that night, but that was yet to come.

Morning was difficult to face. The realization that the house across the street was forever changed, not yet boarded up, the devastation could clearly be seen. My mother and I walked over there to have a look around the property. We walked around the house and took in the whole scene. It was interesting for my young eyes to see this. Just the previous day, everything was normal and now it was not, it was completely transformed.

In an instant, I thought back to the previous month. The house was for sale at the time of the fire. Just the week before, on a Sunday, there was an open house. An ordinary open house, a happy time, my mother and I went through the house out of nosy curiosity. I remember it clearly, the staircase with the steps that weren't too deep that even my little six year old feet found awkward to walk up. The second floor was open with an ugly green carpet. The side window of the second floor had a large ledge and I sat on it and looked out the window with the sun shining in while my mother talked to the real estate agent about the house details. I thought the ledge was the most awesome part of the house as it was the perfect size for me to relax in.

When my daydream was over, I was once again standing by this newly burnt house. I was looking up at the window where the ledge that I sat in was. It was all black. Flames had poured out this window charring all around it. I could see in to the second floor, it was totally black in there. Feeling as if it was too unreal, I was feeling kinda foggy in my mind. I walked by the bathroom window on the first floor, I could see in so clearly to the bathroom. I was standing a few feet from the fire devastation seeing all the melted dropping things that were in the bathroom and the blackness of the soot and charred remains. It was too much for my little eyes. My mother and I walked home to safety or so I thought.

In the days and months that followed, I found it difficult to look at the house across the street, which was boarded up at this point. I would purposely avoid gazing at it, trying to not see it, so it couldn't bother me. However, it did bother me, more than I could imagine at the time. I could not process what happened. I couldn't accept it, it was too traumatizing.

Years later, the house torn down, new house built, life goes on all around. For me, I was stuck, I developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Nightmares all the time occupied my dreams. It was not easy growing up with this imprint on my mind. Anything related to fire would instantly send me into a panic. Seeing how fire transformed a happy colorful home into an uninhabitable charred black mess of a house enlightened me to realize how powerful fire is, that it has the power to transform permanently what it comes into contact with. The house was not the only thing changed that night, I was changed as well, as I could no longer be the innocent little girl unaware of the power and purpose of fire.

SEE How Lucky You Are!!!!

Your so lucky, yes YOU! You can SEE this with your eyes, unlike many people who are blind. They cannot SEE the world like you do. So, instead of SEEing words, colors, shapes, and photos, they have to seek out a sea of bumps on a white sheet of paper that they SEE with their fingers. SEE how lucky you really are?

This Ain't No Painting

This photo is not a painting although it looks like a painting. Its the Painted Desert in Arizona.

Just because something appears to be something, does that mean that it really is that thing?

How we see things is determined by all our previous experiences combined. It is because of that, we cannot see every perspective of something, no matter how hard we try.

We can see something today and think one way about it, and a year down the road, we would think differently about it.

If someone never knew of the Painted Desert, they may look at this photo and see it as a painting. But a painting it is not, only in that person's mind because they have seen paintings before and this is similar to their experience.

Tee Pee Dreams

1950's Rock and Roll music
Driving down Route 66
Americana at its finest

Curving road
Tourist traps galore
See this
Buy me
Stay here
Eat this

Such a colorful road
During the day
Nighttime
Neon lights

Endless miles
Must sleep
Wigwam Motel
Sleep in a Tee Pee
Not a room
A New Experience
Night Night
Tee Pee dreams

And She Had No Say In The Matter

The humans are hungry, they want to eat. "Where is my food" they shout. "I want it NOW" "I deserve to have food"

What do they eat???? ANIMALS

What do the animals think of this???? HELP US, WE DON'T WANT TO BE FOOD, WE WANT TO LIVE TOO

Lets test your knowledge.....

Question #1: Real tricky btw

Who is Superior Animal or Human?

Question #2: Even trickier

How do you know?

And to think that poor Miss Ox had to sacrifice her life just so we could eat the food we thought we deserved, food we are entitled to. Round and round she turned roasting and browning, cooking her very essense of the flesh that surrounded her soul, cooking her completely, changing her physical presence from being her soul's home to becoming dinner for the hungry. The ultimate recycling.

P.S. Miss Ox tasted very good, made for a yummy sandwich at Kutztown Folk Festival, Kutztown, PA July 4, 2009.

Mr. Squirrel and The Nut

Mr. Squirrel says to the Nut "Your mine, all mine, I found you so you belong to ME!"

Mr. Squirrel says to you "What are you looking at? This is MY nut, not YOURS!"

Coincidentially Religious?

I came across this scene in the middle of a pile of clutter. I found it fascinating so I took a photo of it. A coincidence maybe? Maybe not? A figure of Jesus and four nails laying besides him.

My Angel

Last week, I was walking around a local hospital and decided to stop into the chapel, as I typically do when I go there. Its a vintage chapel, and well, vintage is my thing. After going into the chapel, I came across a death card. It was for a baby. I see these from time to time and I don't know these people on the cards, but this one struck me inside. This baby died on my birthday!

I knew there must be a connection, a reason why I would find this death card for someone that died on my birthday. There are no coincidences. This little baby's life ended on the same day that many years before, my life outside the womb began. It was like a ying yang situation, a balancing act, one person lives and another dies. I decided to take this death card with me, feeling that I have an otherworldly connection with this baby, that he is my guardian angel or friend in the afterlife looking out for me.

I also felt that the image of the bird in the clouds on the card was a symbol or message to me, a reminder that I should continue on my path of trying to promote peace and harmony in the world. Also I feel that the image symbolizes freedom. The baby died, so he was free from his earthly body, and that I am here on earth, and must strive to achieve the freedom I so desire in my earthly life.

Its little oddities in life like this that really make me wonder.

Mercury Rising

CFL light bulbs better than incandescent? I think NOT!

1. They are more expensive than the incandescent light bulb.
2. They are ugly.
3. Since they last so long, they are likely to get dusty and difficult to clean.
4. They contain mercury so if they break, you have potential mercury exposure.
5. They cannot be thrown in the regular garbage because of the mercury.
6. Who is really going to recycle them properly? Who is really that considerate and responsible?
7. In a landfill, many will likely create more environmental issues because of all the mercury.
8. The lighting from the CFL isn't as bright as the incandescent.

They have their good points and bad points, but since many people don't discard them properly, the risks from them outweigh the benefits in the long term. That is my opinion. I just cannot see how they are "greener" if they pollute the earth with mercury.

Empty Jars? Maybe, Maybe Not.

My little empty jars sit on a table. I look at them and wonder what to fill them with. They are so tiny, I cannot imagine what would even fit inside them. I sit and ponder this and then I realize that they are already filled. I cannot see anything with my eyes, but that doesn't mean that there isn't anything there. They are filled with air. But, they are filled with many other things. The person that made them, they touched them when making them, leaving their energy behind on them. Also, the material itself, a clay, has energy as well. I spend time thinking about my little jars and my thoughts are captured inside them as well. Also, the dust and dirt in the air lands inside them filling them. So many unseen things fill my little jars.

An Interesting Thought

The other day, I had a thought. If there was a deaf person with Schizophrenia, can they have auditory hallucinations? If they do, how can they hear them if they are deaf? How would they even know if they did hear them if they never heard sound, how would they know that they are hearing sound?