It seems my last post had a technical error. The power point presentation was not downloading. I believe I have fixed it and it should be working now.
Author Archives: Jocelyne
THE BEAUTY OF WINTER
“I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.” – George Washington Carver
Sometimes I think my friends send me stuff with the hope they can see it on my blog. This next piece happens to be a beautiful depiction of winter in the northern part of our country. I lived for 35+ years in New York, traveled many times to visit relatives in Canada and have been out west to the Rockies during the winter months. I remember how beautiful freshly fallen snow can look, but I also remember bundling up 5 children to go play in the snow, only to find within 1/2 hour, one of them has to go to the bathroom. I remember it getting pretty chaotic after the first “Mommy I have to go potty”. It seemed like every 15 minutes someone else had to go potty and by the end of the day, every pair of socks and pants the children owned were wet and hung in the basement to dry. I miss the snow but only a little – I miss it when it is snowing and after the first snowfall. I don’t miss driving in it, bundling up children to go play in it, or the mess it made when it began to melt.
On that note, please click L’hiver_CGU.ppp to view this beautiful power point show. It will download to your computer, so all you have to do is play it.
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3 ATTIC INSULATION MUSTS
“A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Following is a good article from Inman News. Saving money on your energy bills never got easier and these tips work equally well whether it is hot or cold outside. So just click on the link below and start saving money.
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6 DECADES – INCREDIBLE!
“An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets the more interested he is in her.” – Agatha Christie
Well today marks the 6th decade of my life. I never envisioned myself at this point of my life but here I am. I am wiser and more tolerant than I was 40 years even 30 years ago Yet I am also more conservative than I was then as well.
As I ponder upon my life on this earth I wonder “if I had to do it all over again, would the outcome be the same?” Most likely the answer would be yes, because my genetic makeup would still be the same. My parents would be the same and they would still do what they did back then.
I don’t mind getting older except when I am forced to face the fact. For example – I went for my yearly (its actually been two years) checkup last month. I got the usual routine, check all systems, get blood tests, and – oh no! – female checkup. When the very young and very pretty – no wrinkles – doctor finished my female checkup, she looked up at me and announced “You are post menopausal!”, I wanted to smack her pretty face for confirming something I already knew but kept tucked away in the recesses of my mind. She then asked me a bunch of very personal questions about my sex life and proceeded to prescribe a hormonal cream for – well, you know where! It’s bad enough the doctor confirmed what I knew all along – that I was getting….you know….older; but now I am reminded of it weekly with that confounded cream.
I guess it could be worse, I could have some debilitating illness – oh wait, isn’t that what arthritis is, huh – that is beginning to rear its ugly head in some areas of my body. Well, at least I have all my faculties, I can remember who my children are, and their children and I do remember my husband and where I live. When I go out I don’t get lost although my husband might beg to differ when I am gone longer than he expected.
I still lead a productive life working in real estate and at the church. I still volunteer my time at the clinic and enjoy my husband and my poodle. Life is good in spite of that doctor and her comment!
PS. The picture is of me at age two. I am holding my stuffed poodle Fifi. When I finally did get my first live poodle, 11 years ago, I named her Fifi in remembrance of my favorite stuffed animal.
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12 THINGS YOUR AGENT MUST DO TO MAXIMIZE YOUR PROFITS!
“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” – Jim Rohn
Ready to List With A Real Estate Agent?
Do you understand the process of selling your home — all the “little” details? Before you list with an agent, educate yourself about all the possible things you could face. Be as informed as possible, so you can make the absolute best business decision. After all, the sale of your home is a business decision.
Most of us are not tuned in to the trends and fluctuations of the real estate market. Additionally, we are not aware of the steps necessary to maximize profits from the sale of your home. Typically, you rely heavily on an agent to lead you down the most profitable path. Well, when you consider your home is probably your largest financial asset, doesn’t it make sense to list with someone who will maximize your profits? But how do you find that agent?
This report is designed to empower you with critical information necessary to evaluate an agent’s qualifications and help you identify the professional top producer. The more involved you become, the better chance you have of choosing the right agent and consequently, the higher your profits will be!
Start by doing some research. Who are the most active agents in your market? Look at advertising to see how professional it is, ask friends and family, drive around the neighborhood looking for yard signs, then compile a list of agents.
1. The Phone Interview – Place a call to each of the agents on your list. Document how quickly they returned your call; keep in mind, they will be returning calls to your prospective home buyers. Do an initial ‘feel-out’ interview over the phone so when you meet, you will both be prepared.
2. Request a Complete Plan – From title to escrow, request a complete plan of all the services they will provide you when you list with them.
3. Evaluate Their Team – Top producers will have established relationships with lenders, title reps, inspectors, etc. These professionals are there for your benefit. If they are ill-prepared to handle all the steps of your transaction, look elsewhere!
4. Alternative Report – Request a complete report of alternatives to the home sale. What would current market leases generate? Rentals? Responsibilities attached with leasing? Have your agent educate you about all your options.
5. Insist on Pre-Qualification – Don’t waste valuable time negotiating or showing your property to unqualified prospects. Insist that your agent pre-qualify candidates to screen out all unwanted prospects.
6. A Net Sheet – See in writing a complete net sheet, minus commissions and fees, showing your exact proceeds at the time of sale.
7. A Marketing Plan – This is the heart of your agent’s overall strategy. Require a step-by-step plan with innovative new ways to attract home buyers.
8. Telemarketing Efforts – Investigate the agent’s telemarketing team. Do they just cold call? Or do they have a strategy to create proactive leads and call on those prospects.
9. Direct Mail – Investigate the agent’s capacity to send direct mail. How often do prospects receive mail? Is it professional? Does the mail piece motivate prospects to pick up the phone and call?
10. Advertising – Is it well written and professional? How many ad venues do they utilize? They should be advertising to as many on-line , community or local newspaper, and yard signs. Remember, the quality of the advertising will directly influence how well your home will be perceived.
11. Negotiation Strategy – Have a written, well-conceived, negotiation strategy. The old adage “You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate,” rings very true in real estate. Insist on a sound negotiation strategy before you entertain buyers.
12. Closing Strategy – Be sure to get a written closing checklist. You need to know in detail how you will conclude the sale of your home. This should provide a step-by-step procedure that will be easy to understand and follow.
My hope with this report has been to educate you and help you avoid the pitfalls many home sellers go through. I hope you found the ideas valuable and if there is every any way I can be of service to you or anyone you care about, please contact my office. Your initial consultation is always free and you are under no obligation of any kind. I’d love to hear from you!
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FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE………..
“When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn’t a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.” - Martin Niemöller
There are many variations of the above quote such as the following:
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
and this one which incorporates Catholics and Protestants:
In Germany they first came for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me -
and by that time no one was left to speak up.
You can change the names of the groups to suit any purpose, it doesn’t matter because the bottom line remains the same – “When good people sit by and say nothing, bad things can happen.”
When I began blogging, it was with the intent of talking about real estate interspersed with general information and other interesting facts. I never thought I would become political. But I can not sit by and ignore what this administration is doing to religious freedom. For all my readers who are not Catholic, just substitute the group names to whatever you like.
First they came for the Catholics………………………..then other Christians………. …………then Jews……………….then Buddists……….then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak up!
Perhaps as a nation, we can join the Catholics in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in their day of prayer and fast. See an excerpt of the news article “Catholic Bishops Urge Day of Fasting to Protest Insurance Mandate” written by David O”Reilly, below.
By David O’Reilly
“Calling the Obama administration’s mandated insurance coverage for contraceptives an “assault” on religious freedom, Pennsylvania’s 10 Catholic bishops have urged Catholics statewide to make Friday, March 30, a day of prayer and fasting.
“On that day, offer your sacrifice for the cause of religious liberty, that the Church may be granted the basic right to practice what she preaches, and for our political leaders, that their eyes may be opened to the rights of all Americans,” the bishops said in a letter issued last week and read Sunday at some parishes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
The bishops assert that the federal mandate requiring health insurance companies to cover contraceptives “punishes the Church for its firmly held beliefs.”
Catholic leaders have denounced the regulation because the church holds that artificial contraception and sterilization are morally wrong………………..”
Read the rest of the article at: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/religion/20120313_Catholic_bishops_urge_day_of_fasting_to_protest_insurance_mandate.html
If you don’t think that a day of prayer and fasting will make a difference let me tell you about a battle that took place almost five hundred years ago. It is called the Battle of Lepanto.
The Battle of Lepanto took place on October 7, 1571 when a fleet of the Holy League defeated the main fleet of the Ottoman Empire in five hours of fighting on the northern edge of the Gulf of Patras, off western Greece.
The Battle of Lepanto, H. Letter, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich/London.
All military factors, and the wind in particular favored the Muslims, but Don John, the commander-in-chief of the Holy League was confident. He boarded a fast ship to review his fleet and while doing so shouted words of encouragement to his men. When Don John returned to his own position, the wind mysteriously changed to the advantage of the Christian fleet.
Meanwhile, at that very moment, at dawn on October 7, 1571, Pope Pius V, accompanied by many faithful, was praying the Rosary in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. From dawn to dusk the prayers continued in Rome as the Christians and the Muslims battled at Lepanto. When it was all over the Muslims had been defeated. Of some 270 Moslem ships, at least 200 were destroyed. The Turks also lost 30,000 men while Christian casualties numbered between 4,000 and 5,000.
This decisive victory prevented Turkey’s expansion into the Mediterranean, maintaining western dominance and providing a growing confidence in the west, that the Turks, previously unstoppable, could be beaten. This victory also protected Italy, Rome and the Vatican from an Ottoman invasion.
The Holy League credited the victory to the Virgin Mary, whose intercession with God they had implored for victory through the use of the Holy Rosary.
Prayer, and in particular the Holy Rosary had won a great military victory. Pope Pius V instituted a new Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Victory to commemorate the battle, which is now celebrated by the Catholic Church as the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
Don John retired after his victory at Lepanto and died a few years later at the age of 31. Miguel de Cervantes, who also took part in the battle of Lepanto, lived longer than Don John and became a writer. He is the famous author of Don Quixote, which is a tribute to Christian chivalry.
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WHAT IS OR SHOULD I SAY WHO IS NEXT?
“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” – Mother Teresa
This is the latest news from the pro-life movement. CLICK HERE TO READ!How sad that lawmakers have stooped so low. What’s next? A 60-year-old person who needs a heart transplant is deemed unworthy because their life expectancy is only 20 or so more years? A tragic accident takes one of your legs and you are deemed useless to society, so you are quietly put to sleep before you can leave the hospital? Where will it stop?What will you do about it?
My friends, the sci-fi movies of yesterday where society is made up of nothing but young healthy people may not be far away.
Is America going to lay down and let this happen, or are we going to stand for what is good and right. We can not ignore this problem any longer. The culture of death is about to take over with nary a fight from the just. Wake up America, before it is too late!
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HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!
“Love is never defeated, and I could add, the history of Ireland proves it.” – Pope John Paul II
I found this post by Simple Speedy Snacks and thought it would be quite appropriate given that St. Patrick’s Day is only two days away. There are some very interesting drinks I look forward to trying, as well as some interesting facts I didn’t know. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did and check out Simple Speedy Snacks for some more great recipes.
St. Patrick’s Day Drinks
Posted on March 10, 2012 by Simple Speedy Snacks
Tis the season to be Irish! St. Patrick’s day is celebrated across the globe with people drinking lots of alcohol! So let’s begin the St Paddy’s day preparations with a look at Irish beverages!
But before we do..just to clarify..it is Paddy’s day and not Patty’s day, which is a common mistake! Paddy is the diminutive form of Patrick. Padraig is the Irish translation of Patrick, hence Paddy! Irish people are generally referred to across the world as Paddies! Plastic Paddy is a slang term, which is used to describe people whose ancestors came from Ireland or those who adopt Irish customs!
Guinness
Guinness is a heavy Irish dry stout that is loved across the globe! It originated in the Guinness Brewery in Dublin. Arthur Guinness started brewing ales from 1759.
The top markets for Guinness include, the UK, Ireland, Nigeria, United States and Cameroon. There are two main Guinness variants: Guinness Draught and Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. Guinness Draught is sold predominantly in Europe, North America, Japan and Australia. It is available as Guinness Original, Extra Cold, Extra Smooth and as Guinness Red. Guinness Foreign Extra Stout is the original export stout and is the key Guinness variant in the Caribbean, Africa and Asia.
The perfect Guinness consists of a ‘two-part pour’, which takes 119.5 seconds.
Guinness is good for you!
The poster above reads Sefearr de thú Guinness, which means Guinness is better for you!!! There was a time when pregnant and nursing mothers were advised to drink Guinness. (Please note this is no longer the case!!!) A relative who is a nun brought my mother a bottle of Guinness just after the birth of my brother in 1980.
Studies claim that Guinness can be beneficial to the heart. Researchers discovered that “‘antioxidant compounds’ in the Guinness, similar to those found in certain fruits and vegetables, are responsible for health benefits because they slow down the deposit of harmful cholesterol on the artery walls.”
Guinness is probably the most popular Irish drink to have on St. Paddy’s Day! I brought a friend from Brooklyn to the Guinness museum for a tour and a free pint of Guinness at the top of the tower. She was super excited to try Guinness, when we got to the top of the tower she took one tiny sip and spat it out! That was her first and only experience with Guinness. It is a heavy drink, drinking a Guinness is like having a meal!
My friend with the Guinness (she did not drink) at The Guinness Brewery in Dublin. It has a wonderful view of Dublin city.
Murphy’s Stout
If Guinness is a little too heavy for you, then try this lighter and sweeter dry stout, which has been brewed in Cork since 1856.
The Irish Flag
In a shot glass, carefully pour green crème de menthe, Bailey’s and then Cointreau orange liqueur in the order, so that each ingredient floats on the preceding one.
The Irish Car Bomb
The first time I heard about this shot, I was in the US. It is not a drink that would be on a menu in Ireland…it’s just not appropriate! It consists of Guinness, Bailey’s and whiskey. The whiskey is floated on top of the Irish Cream in a shot glass, and the shot glass is then dropped into the stout. You must drink it quickly before it curdles!
Mozzy’s Maynooth Madness
This special cocktail was created by a very good friend…who is also the creator of the valentine’s cocktail. It is extremely sweet and dessert like. My friend Mozzy (nickname) and I met at a dinner party when we were in college in Maynooth…hence the name!
1 measure butterscotch Mickey Finns
1 measure Bailey’s
1 measure Tia Maria
1 measure Kahlúa
Milk
Blend with Ice, cream and crème de cacao optional. Yummm..thanks Mozzy!
Baby Guinness
This is a very popular shooter in Ireland. Two and a half oz of Tia Maria or Kahlua is topped by a layer of Bailey’s (half oz), which is poured over the back of a spoon.
Hot Whiskey
New York on St. Patrick’s day can be very cold! I remember slipping on ice a few years ago..on St. Paddy’s evening. NYC was covered in snow. Also known as a hot toddy, hot whiskey is a quick solution to warm your bones! It can also make you a little sleepy! Hot whiskey is traditionally served in Ireland with cloves, a slice of lemon and a teaspoon of sugar.
Bailey’s Coffee or Irish Coffee (whiskey)
Bailey’s coffee and Irish coffee are very popular after dinner drinks in Ireland.
Simply pour one ounce of Bailey’s into a cup. Then add one cup of coffee. Top with whipped cream and serve. A traditional Irish coffee is with whiskey instead of the Bailey’s! A chocolate flake bar broken up (or chocolate sprinkles) and sprinkled on-top of the cream makes the coffee even more delicious!
Smithwick’s
Smithwick’s is an Irish red ale beer from Kilkenny. It was originally brewed in the medieval St. Francis Abbey Brewery in Kilkenny, known as ‘Smithwick’s Brewery’ until c.2000. The brewery is situated on the site of a Franciscan Abbey where monks had brewed ale since the 14th century. The brewery was founded by John Smithwick and Richard Cole in 1710. It was purchased from Walter Smithwick in 1965 by Guinness and is now, along with Guinness, part of Diageo.
Fat Frog
This green drink is a very popular alcho pop for people in their early drinking years in Ireland. At my debs (prom), this is what we drank ALL night….pints of it. In Ireland, you usually get two pints of it when you order a fat frog, as it consists of Smirnoff Ice, Bacardi Breezer Orange and WKD Original Vodka Blue. You can also buy it in the shop ready-made in a bottle like the image above.
Bailey’s Smoothie
Bailey’s is my one of my favourite drinks! I like it with ice. A Bailey’s smoothie can be really refreshing on a hot day. Simply blend some Bailey’s with ice in a blender!
Mickey Finns- Sour Apple
Mickey Finn’s sour apple makes a great green shot for Paddy’s day. It tastes like sour apple sweets. Mickey Finn’s is currently number 2 liqueur to Bailey’s. If you would like a glamorous cocktail on St. Paddy’s day..then maybe Mickey Finns appletini is for you! Pour some sour apple and some vodka into a shaker..shake, shake, shake…and then strain into a martini glass!
Harp
Harp Lager was first produced by the Guinness company in 1960 as a bottled beer due to the trend among drinkers in Ireland and the UK towards continental lager. Harp is made with pure water from the Cooley Mountains, Dundalk, Ireland.
Bulmers
Bulmers is a very popular Irish cider! It started in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary in 1935 by William Magner.
Non alcoholic Irish beverages
Cidona (non alcoholic cider), Club Orange, Finches Orange and Tanora (tangerine flavour) are Irish-made fizzy drinks that we love to drink!
Tea
And don’t forget…we LOVE drinking tea! Barry’s or Lyons!
Any Irish visitors we had in NYC brought lots of Barry’s Tea with them in their suitcases! Wherever in the world my family go they always bring some teabags with them!
Sláinte
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CONCEPTION TO BIRTH
“If you want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it. “ – Mother Teresa
This clip you are about to view, was put together by a scientist named Alexander Tsiaras. I do not know if this man was a man of faith before he made this video, but surely he must be now that he has seen with his own eyes the glory of creation. Only God could have masterminded such a beautiful and perfect way to create life. I think you will be amazed at the strides science has made in enabling mankind to view this great mystery of creation. Please click on the picture below to view the short video titled “Conception to Birth”.
N.B. The picture in the top left corner is of a 28 week old baby in utero. The picture directly above is of an 8 week old baby in utero. Notice the 8 week old baby has its mouth open, and just above the mouth you can make out the nose and eyes.
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3 REASONS TO LIST YOU HOME WITH A LOCAL AGENT.
“Always desire to learn something useful. “ – Sophocles
During my daily reading, I came across this piece that I found to be good advice. Enjoy!
3 reasons to list home with a local agent.
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WHY DO I HAVE TO EAT MY BROCCOLI?
“I have never been hurt by what I have not said.” - Calvin Coolidge
After all that very heady information about goals, I thought a little levity would be fitting. If you haven’t had your laugh for the day…I am sure this will do the job!! Click on the perfume bottle below:
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WHY WE CAN’T SHAKE NAME BRANDS FROM OUR BRAINS
“I paint objects as I think them, not as I see them.” - Pablo Picasso
Wow, reading the article, I linked below, brought back memories from long ago and from not so long ago i.e. RE/MAX.
When my kids were young, they always wanted the more expensive name brand clothing. I would tell them the non-branded clothing was just as good, and if they had to have a name on their butt or elsewhere, I could embroider a name on their clothing for a lot less than what the branded clothes cost. To read the whole story, please click on the link below.
http://lowes.inman.com/newsletter/2012/02/24/news/179396
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THE BEAUTY OF POLLINATION
“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.” - Lou Holtz
This is one of the most beautiful videos I’ve seen on you tube and I thought I would share it with you. The close up and time lapsed photography is exquisite and stunningly breathtaking. This is something I can look at again and again and always see something new.
http://www.youtube.com/v/xHkq1edcbk4?version=3%20%20%20%20
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YOUR GOALS NEED TO BE SUPPORTED!
“Action is the foundational key to all success.” - Pablo Picasso
This is the last key element in you top-10 goals checklist – Your goals need to be supported.
Now there are 3 schools of thought on this last key element. One is that you tell the world about your goal/s because that will make you more accountable. But I feel this is putting undue pressure on yourself.
The second school of thought is tell no one and when you do succeed, you’ll be the hero. Trouble with this theory is if you tell no one, it’s too easy to just give up. After all, who will know the difference since you never told anyone.
The third school of thought is to tell a few key friends who will be there to help you with some much-needed emotional support when the going gets tough and you feel like quitting.
So there you have it. The ten key elements to goal setting and goal realization.
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FREEDOM AND JEFF
“We do not see nature with our eyes, but with our understandings and our hearts.” - William Hazlitt
Someone sent me this story and I found it to be extremely beautiful and a great example of the will to survive in both animal and human.
Freedom and I have been together 11 years this summer. She came in as a baby in 1998 with two broken wings. Her left-wing doesn’t open all the way even after surgery, it was broken in 4 places. She’s my baby.
When Freedom came in she could not stand and both wings were broken. She was emaciated and covered in lice. We made the decision to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the vet’s office. From then on, I was always around her. We had her in a huge dog carrier with the top off, and it was loaded up with shredded newspaper for her to lie in. I used to sit and talk to her, urging her to live, to fight; and she would lay there looking at me with those big brown eyes. We also had to tube feed her for weeks.
This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn’t stand. It got to the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn’t stand in a week. You know you don’t want to cross that line between torture and rehab, and it looked like death was winning. She was going to be put down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon. I didn’t want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn’t bear the thought of her being euthanized; but I went anyway, and when I walked in everyone was grinning from ear to ear. I went immediately back to her cage; and there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle. She was ready to live. I was just about in tears by then. That was a very good day.
We knew she could never fly, so the director asked me to glove train her. I got her used to the glove, and then to jesses, and we started doing education programs for schools in western Washington. We wound up in the newspapers, radio (believe it or not) and some TV. Miracle Pets even did a show about us.
In the spring of 2000, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I had stage 3, which is not good (one major organ plus everywhere), so I wound up doing 8 months of chemo. Lost the hair – the whole bit. I missed a lot of work. When I felt good enough, I would go to Sarvey and take Freedom out for walks. Freedom would also come to me in my dreams and help me fight the cancer. This happened time and time again.
Fast forward to November 2000; the day after Thanksgiving, I went in for my last checkup. I was told that if the cancer was not all gone after 8 rounds of chemo, then my last option was a stem cell transplant. Anyway, they did the tests; and I had to come back Monday for the results. I went in Monday, and I was told that all the cancer was gone.
So the first thing I did was get up to Sarvey and take the big girl out for a walk. It was misty and cold. I went to her flight and jessed her up, and we went out front to the top of the hill. I hadn’t said a word to Freedom, but somehow she knew. She looked at me and wrapped both her wings around me to where I could feel them pressing in on my back (I was engulfed in eagle wings), and she touched my nose with her beak and stared into my eyes, and we just stood there like that for I don’t know how long. That was a magic moment. We have been soul mates ever since she came in. This is a very special bird.
On a side note: I have had people who were sick come up to us when we are out, and Freedom has some kind of hold on them. I once had a guy who was terminal come up to us and I let him hold her. His knees just about buckled and he swore he could feel her power course through his body. I have so many stories like that. I never forget the honor I have of being so close to such a magnificent spirit as Freedom.
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YOUR GOALS MUST INCLUDE CONTRIBUTION
“Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.” - Mother Teresa
This is number 9 in the top 10 goals checklist – Your goals must include contribution. Contributions can and should be in time, talent and/or money because remember what you sow is what you reap.
So many people are consumed with making more and more money that they forget to give back to society. You cannot constantly keep taking without giving back; then you are simply a taker. Eventually takers are seen for what they really are and will lose out in the long run.
I’m not saying you should blindly give to anything. Think, and think hard – remember #6 – your goals should be in alignment with your values. Well when you give back to society, make sure what you are giving to is also in alignment with your values.
This is fairly easy if we give back in time and talent because we know where and for whom we are giving our time and talent to. When it comes to giving your money, do you really know what that organization stands for, what their core values are?
In giving, you need to understand that all you have comes from your Creator but you also need to ensure that the money you give is being used in accordance with you values. If you do not believe in abortion, contraception, pre-marital sex or homosexuality, then please, please check out the organizations you are giving to. So many seemingly good organizations contribute to other organizations that support some or all of the above.
Make giving a part of your goal program and do so unconditionally. Don’t expect a payback, do it from the heart and you will reap benefits you never even expected.
HUMMINGBIRDS
“Imagination has brought mankind through the dark ages to its present state of civilization. Imagination led Columbus to discover America. Imagination led Franklin to discover electricity.” - L. Frank Baum
This is another you tube video sent to me by a friend that I thought was utterly amazing. Taming not just one but several hummingbirds is no easy feat. See what I mean by clicking the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=EUEZkwJulBY
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YOUR GOALS MUST BE REALISTIC
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” - Robert Louis Stevenson
This is number 8 in the top 10 goals checklist. Your goals must be realistic. Actually, dreaming big is not unrealistic, it is the time-frame you give yourself in achieving that goal that is unrealistic.
So go ahead and dream big, set yourself large goals, just be sure to allow ample time to achieve those goals.
Like I said in January, wanting to lose 150 pounds in two months is unrealistic not because of the amount of weight wanting to be lost, but because of the unrealistic time frame given to achieve that weight loss. Losing 150 pounds is a great goal, just be sure to allow at least one to one and a half years to achieve that goal.
Like this:
A NEW WORD IS BORN
“Good enough never is.” - Debbi Fields
I knew someone would find a name for our 2012 election process.
Electile Dysfunction: the inability to become aroused over any of the choices for President put forth by either party in the 2012 election year.
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YOUR GOALS MUST BE WELL BALANCED
“How we think shows through in how we act. Attitudes are mirrors of the mind. They reflect thinking.” – David Joseph Schwartz
Number 7 in the top ten goals checklist is that your goals must be well-balanced. If your goals are not balanced, you risk the chance of burnout. There are certain activities you need to do on a daily basis to prevent your mind and body from becoming overworked.
a.) Start with taking a few minutes each evening planning you next day. It’s a known fact that when you prepare the night before, rather than in the morning, your unconscious mind will actually work during the night figuring out how to fulfill your next day’s plan.
b.) Action – during the day, concentrate on activities that will produce the greatest results. Being busy with nothing to show for your efforts will soon wear thin. Set limits on what you will and will not do, and take decisive action. Eliminate procrastination – become highly productive when you are working. When you are not working, learn to relax.
c.) Learn something new everyday. This is so important to a well-balanced day. To remain competitive in your field, you must take time to expand your knowledge. You don’t have to spend hours doing this. Tapes and books on CD’s are a great way to make use of the time you spend in the car traveling from one place to another. Try to make it a habit to read something about your field for at least 20-30 minutes every day to stay on top of changes.
d.) Exercise – yes, this is very important to keep your body flexible, especially as you age. Not only is exercising good for your body, it is also good for your mind because it gets the blood flowing. Exercising improves your sleep, increases energy, relieves stress and anxiety, protects against injury, promotes a healthy posture and self-image, relieves digestive disorders and expands your longevity. With all these benefits, who wouldn’t want to exercise.
e.) Take some time every day to relax. You’d be surprised how much benefit a 20 minute power nap can be especially after lunch. This is a great way to boost your energy into overdrive so that your afternoon is just as productive as your morning. If you do the same when you get home from work, you’ll have the entire evening to enjoy with your family and not feel guilty that you’re so tired. If you have your own business, be sure to schedule time off from work. When you are off, don’t call the office. Be totally with your family and enjoy your time off. This time is needed to re-energize you mind and body so when you do return to work, you’ll be ready for anything.
f.) The last thing you should do daily is take some time to reflect on the progress you are making in achieving your goals. This is called reflective thinking. Everyday, at the end of the day, take some time to reflect on what you did thorough out the day. How did you do? What did you do well? What could you have done better? Focus on the progress you made and on your shortcomings – but don’t beat yourself up about what you did wrong or didn’t do. Learn from your mistakes and make tomorrow a better day. If you make a habit of taking a few minutes each evening doing this, you’ll be surprised at the strides you’ll make.
