To borrow from the Daily Word's New Year prayer...
"I enter this new year with enthusiasm!
This is a new day at the start of a new year, and I choose a new way of being. I choose to be free of the limiting thoughts of the past and to not allow outworn habits or beliefs to control my life."
If our thoughts create our reality, it's time to change our thoughts if we want to change our reality.
We would like to invite anyone who happens to stumble into the swamp to share your thoughts and ideas. We welcome new friends for the new year.
67 comments:
A fitting song for our New Year goal:
New Attitude
Now turn this up loud and dance. It's required for success!
I have a vision for the New Year. What we can conceive and believe, we can achieve.
The new politicians joining our leadership for 2011 want to get rid of the health care reform bill. Hey, I agree. It needs a public option.
People who don't have health care do not just go away. They don't jump on an iceberg and float off. They go to private hospitals and leave the insured to pay the bills, they go to charity hospitals and the taxpayers pay, they go to jail and the taxpayers pay. But they also wait until taking care of the problem is significantly more expensive and wasteful.
My vision for our leaders is that they find a brain and a heart.
Well, my Saints seemed to have brought their high school team to play Tampa today. If it's not a must win, they don't play very well.
"it's time to change our thoughts if we want to change our reality."
Carol, I really love what you did with that beautiful picture of your river. I'm sorry it took me so long to check in today, but I've been running. I was here real early (before your new post) and wish I'd had time to stick around to have seen this. A wonderful surprise.
I so agree with you. It's good to see you on such a positive, moving forward track. This is exactly the post I needed to see to get me on the right past too, We get so buried in our so call problems and burdens, that we lose track of what's important.
A reminder is always a good thing.
ONWARD AND FORWARD - and no looking back!
How did your Saints do?
I've always believed that too, Carol: ". What we can conceive and believe, we can achieve."
It's just breaking old habits and directing our mind to focus on what it should be focusing on that's sometimes hard to follow through on. It takes work, but is always worth the effort once we do it.
Time for much pondering.
Has anyone heard about all those red winged black birds falling dead out of the sky in Beebe Arkansas? Some are saying stress from weather or fireworks or lightening. I don't buy that. There's certainly more stress than in places like Beebe and birds aren't falling dead out of the sky. They have also been having all these earthquakes or something shaking the ground in Arkansas. Anyone have any ideas?
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=136195
.... gives me the creeps.
First Falling Birds, Now Dead Fish in Arkansas
As Carcasses of 2,000 Birds that Fell From Sky Are Tested, 100,000 Drum Turn Up Dead in Arkansas River
"Officials said they don't know what killed the fish, but that contaminated water isn't likely to be the cause because only one species was affected. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/01/03/national/main7208349.shtml
"The fish kill took place only 125 miles from the site of the mysterious falling birds."
We may never find our what happened with the birds or the fish. Do you trust any government officials to tell us what happened? Not I. After seeing what happen with government bank regulation and the oil industry regulation, I'll never trust another government agency to tell me anything. I would be a little uncomfortable in Arkansas.
Maybe George Noory on C2C will find out something. He's usually more on top of these kind of stories.
I just read your link Chloe and I do trust university bird researchers. They did have quite a few black birds in that area and there were signs of trauma. Could have been something that caused them to take a nose dive onto the ground. That would kill them. I lose a few every now and again with a window glass kill. Just wonder why we have never heard of this happening before.
I had a pretty good day at work after a post 4 day holiday weekend. Did a lot of positive affirmations all the way to work and it worked. At least I greeted my day with a good attitude.
Heard on C2C that the birds died from massive trauma in some sort of mid air collision. Their stomachs were empty. The number is up to 5000. They have found some in Louisiana.
The guys interviewed on C2C said this is the most bizarre situation they have ever dealt with. Not a good thing since they often deal with bizarre stuff.
I hate even thinking about it Carol.
""It's important to understand that a sick bird can't fly," Karen Rowe, an ornithologist with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission told Time.com. "So whatever happened to these birds happened very quickly. Something must have caused these birds to flush out of the trees at night, where they're normally just roosting and staying in the treetops ... and then something got them out of the air and caused their death and then they fell to earth."
More so than other animals, birds, especially social species like red-winged blackbirds, are prone to group deaths. That's because they live and travel in large, usually tight-knit flocks. If something large kills one bird, there's a decent chance that it will also kill the birds to his left and right.
The bewildering number of deceased birds may be explained by fireworks going off in the area, which could have startled the birds from their sleep and caused them to die from stress, Rowe stated.
Another possibility is that the birds were struck as they flew in high altitudes in stormy weather. Such an occurrence isn't rare, and the birds' trauma points to the possibility that "the flock could have been hit by lightning or high-altitude hail," according to Rowe." http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/what-causes-mass-bird-deaths-1223/
Chloe,
That article oversimplifies what happened to those birds. Any simple explanation worries me. If any explanation they had were the cause, these bird kills would be more common. These birds had their innards scrambled and fell, dead, out of the sky. Hope the investigation is not dropped until they really can explain the phenomena.
A few dead birds in a neighborhood is worrisome, 5000 dead birds is scary as hell.
The fish kill doesn't worry me so much since that is more common. It can even be explained by a lot of dead vegetation in the water that lowers the oxygen concentration.
Don't know what to think Carol. Waiting for more info. But still, it gives me a queasy feeling. I love it when those huge flocks of birds fly through here every year and land on all the trees aroud our house for a short rest, before moving on. The sound and sight is glorious.
(We're so lucky to be out of some of the dangerous weather this winter)
"Two million fish have been found dead in Chesapeake Bay, the Baltimore Sun reported Wednesday. Experts say freezing temperatures are probably to blame.
So is it time to worry?
Well, no. As Doug Inkley, a senior scientist at the National Wildlife Federation, explained in an interview with PBS' "Newshour," bird die-offs aren't as uncommon as some may think they are.
"Blackbirds will naturally, at this time of year, spend the night in large roosts, in thousands," said Inkley. "If they are frightened, which easily could be the case with fireworks, they could panic." Inkley notes that the panicked birds colliding at 40 miles per hour could easily kill each other. And recent freezing temperatures nationwide have possibly added a hearty dose of stress to the lives of some wildlife, including fish." http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110105/us_yblog_thelookout/more-birds-fish-turn-up-dead-around-the-globe
We started Emma on M-W-F 9am-noon pre-school today, and it was so nerve-racking and heart wrenching, because as I knew she would, there was a lot of crying. Now again Friday, and they said the second week is usually worse, then after that they settle in.
It's such a nice, loving little school, with on three others in her class, and I just love her teacher. She so warm, and motherly. This will be a perfect start to help us both with our separation anxiety from one another. She'll learn that when I leave, I will be coming back. Then in a year or so, if she likes it there, we can extend to five days a week (if it seems like the right thing to do - that, or a little longer day).
What I liked about this little school, is how homey and organized they are, and that it's has such small classes. Also, it goes through the sixth grade, if it works out. I looked at several schools, and this one was in a league of it's own.
... and it's close by too! 10 minutes.
Exciting new adventure for the little Emster. It may take a little time for her to adjust but it will be nice for her to have other kids to play with. Her Mall experience should help. Did she like to play with other kids at the Mall or is she at an age where she just plays alone?
Chloe, I still feel like there is more to the bird kill. 5000, come on. The other reports of 100 or 500 aren't so worrisome. That probably is more common but only reported now because of the other big kill. The fish kill is troublesome but I've heard of that happening before.
anon-paranoid linked a scary article on TM today.
http://www.eutimes.net/2011/01/top-us-official-murdered-after-arkansas-weapons-test-causes-mass-death/
Worse than any conspiracy theories I've heard on C2C. Some of the guests on C2C were pondering the possibly of some testing of this weather manipulating technology.
And this BS about weather, fireworks, etc just doesn't hold water. How long have those things been around? That area seems to be a flight path for lots of blackbirds and if those things would have been a problem, it would have happened before. Could even be that someone got tired of all the birds and targeted them.
I saw Nancy P handing over the crochet mallet to Boehner today. Think it was big enough for him to get back to wrecking what's left of our future??
Boehner keeps saying how he is there to do the people business. I wonder if he saw that new poll that said the number one thing the people want is to tax those rich bastards? It didn't exactly say it like that but it was on the top of the list of what the "American people" want.
I wonder what fun things Jan and John are doing on their cruise? Wish I was there. Hope she gets some good pics.
And that was suppose to read croquet mallet.
Carol, Emma is just now getting to the age where she's interested in playing with other kids. That's why we decided this was the time to introduce her to the school. She's started being a little bolder and much more sociable, and it will be good for her to have regular playmates her own age that she can get to know and look forward to seeing on a regular basis. Plus, they're able to learn quite a bit at her age (she'll be two in not too long), and she is getting smarter by the day. I don't want her getting bored - although she is so fun loving and capable of entertaining herself (and us) all the time.
I agree with you about the birds. I just kept running across different reasons they're putting out there, and wanted your take on them. Hubby agrees with you too. Like he said, 'BS - there's something screwy there'. What you said about why now, and never before made me think about it even more. True, they must take about the same route, and about the same time of the year. I wonder if we'll ever know? Meanwhile, I'm interested in all theories.
... I hope Jan takes pics and shares her experiences with us too. You should plan on going on a cruise too. I bet ya Jan would love it if you took one of the same cruises they're on in the future. I can't see myself taking one - all I'd do is eat. I'm happy right where I am for the time being, but when we start traveling again, it'll be to warm climates (in the winter months) with lots of beautiful sand and sights to see (good food too). I love Hawaii, but we'll probably choose someplace a little closer. Flying is going to be a pain though.
Whoa - speaking of Hawaii, there's a star on our map from Honolulu right now. I love it there.
Losing Jan's star (and one other) we lost our half moon for the time being.
Good to see that Ivy and Solar have been around though. Miss them all, including Jan and Coreen.
You have to admit though, Carol. There's not much to complain about with our weather this winter. Especially with what's going on most other places.
Today we ate out on the patio of our Mexican Restaurant again (our business has been slow, as always this time of the year) and it was 71 and sunny. Can't ask for a better day than that in Jan. The air even smelled a little beachy for some reason, like the old days in San Monica when we live in S. Ca. (guess because of the humidity). An almost perfect day.
... that would be Santa Monica (still leaving off the ends of my words - always in a hurry to get ahead of myself).
Nothing like the Pacific Ocean imo.
Hope things are going well for you at work and all around. I thought it was cool to hear that you're using positive affirmations on your drives there.
Hope to hear about Mary's trip to see her family and grandbaby too. Hope Lauren's medical problems are history now.
Yes, I have enjoyed our warmer weather days while others complain that they want it colder. This is Spring and Fall weather, how can anyone complain about it?? We still get plenty of too cold days. Suppose to be another big dip again next week.
Did you look at that article that Anon linked on TM. That is a scary one but could happen.
Last night on AC360 the dude that comes on with a news update said they found out what caused the bird kill, it was a very loud noise. And that is from the show with the motto of "keeping them honest"?
That Williams, the homeless announcer guy, has a story that will be interesting to follow. He is the homeless guy who was discovered and now has been on TV and has all these job offers.
I read that he is an ex-con with a drug and alcohol problem. I hope his new job offers come with plenty of rehab. The media loves a good story but there are issues here that may not be addressed. I don't really see a happily ever after story but do hope that turns out to be the case.
People with talent don't usually end up homeless unless there are some underlying problems, psychiatric and serious substance abuse are two of the top problems and those problems don't go away because you offer them a good job. I see plenty of guys like this guy.
I just wrote a long post that gave me an error and then disappeared. It's hard to start over after that happens, but the gist of it was that once I looked up the guy to see who you were talking about, I completely agree with what you're saying. The underlying problem will probably replay itself. Being down and out can be very humbling, but getting back on top can cause a lot of the same problems to reappear.
Will runaway media smother homeless announcer Ted Williams as it tries to save him?
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/media/content/will-runaway-media-smother-homeless-announcer-ted-williams-it-tries-save-him
I think a space alien took me over or they took over the rest of the world one day while I was sleeping. Why do I say that? I just don't seem to be in step with the rest of the world anymore. I feel incompatable.
I surf thru everything on TV and can't find a thing I can stand to watch. I stop by the Redbox and can't find any movies that looks like I could get thru 10 minutes of. I can't get into Facebook. There's sports for some but I can only do that when my team is playing.
I've gone back to the news but that's so scary, even the Cinderfella story of homeless to MSNBC announcer makes me nervous.
Well, mark up another one for Obama and the money part. Picking Daily didn't make me feel comfortable. News reported that he's not the kind of guy who can just be a figure head. I guess that now makes Obama the figure head. Of course I realized a while back that our presidents are just figure heads. They just won the right to live in the big house and play with the big toys.
Last couple of nights I've been watching that controversy about the relationship between Autism and vaccines on AC360. I must admit that I've pondered that relationship and felt like there certainly might be a relationship. The incidence of Autism is close to 1% now. That's scary. I knew of this kid that shortly after getting the vaccines had this radical change in behavior. The child was eventually diagnosed with Autism.
That was suppose to read Obama and the money party above.
Little Em has another day at her new school today. Let us know how that goes. Did they say how long she cried after you left?
And we're in for some extended cold days next week. Yuk. I don't think we're going to get out of the 40s for days.
Carol, Emma cried on and off, but we know it's going to be rough for a couple of weeks or more. We prepared ourselves mentally for this, and it's tough, but we know the longer we wait, it won't be any easier. She needs to learn that when we leave, we'll be back. I know it'll be a lot harder on her if we wait until Kindergarten, and then push her out into the world.
It's a difficult time for us, but I think in about a month she'll adjust (me too, I hope). I know she needs it.
"I just don't seem to be in step with the rest of the world anymore. I feel incompatable."
I think we all feel like that Carol - more sometimes than others. I do, and Jan mentioned a while back that she has for a long time too (although we both worded it differently). I guess you know that a lot of these things are a form of depression (sadness is another sign).
I've dealt with the same feelings on and off, ever since I can remember. The winter is always the worst, and I think by Spring there will be an improvement in both of us.
I understand why you caught up in the news. I find it predictable and depressing, but find myself reading a lot of entertainment news again, and know when I do this, I'm trying to escape. It's always a struggle, but we've got to keep ourselves moving in the right direction, until we feel more on target again (what that is, I have no idea).
When nature starts over again in the Spring, hopefully we will too. Meantime, keep reminding yourself this is temporary, and do whatever it takes to keep yourself feeling 'OK'.
Stress takes it's toll on us. Avoid it at all costs.
Another horrible story I heard on the news last night was about this 1700 defense department employees/contractors who downloaded child porn on their computers and not much has been done about it. That's worse than birds falling from the sky.
http://www.military.com/news/article/senator-says-dod-lax-on-child-porn-probe.html
I think you should try to start taking in a movie out once a week, or every other week. I know this sounds like an empty idea, but it can make you start seeing things in a different light. Even walking into a theater and smelling the popcorn makes me feel good. I plan on starting again as soon as I can work out things with Emma's care.
A good one to start with would be 'The Kings Speech' (then you could tell me about it). I've read it is great beyond belief. I think it's often more fun to go alone than with someone else (you get more involved in your own reaction). It's a completely different experience than seeing a movie at home. No comparison - bigger than life.
"That's worse than birds falling from the sky."
... a lot less surprising. Even though even more disgusting.
Hubby just walked in, and I just told him about the porn, and asked him about what's with these people. He answered that he just doesn't know. He said he hasn't given up, but he's given up hope regarding a lot of people.
Anything exciting at school today Chloe? Is she reading yet?
Coreen, did you get snow today. Did you freeze up there?
I posted this on TM:
This is the story I'm more personally familiar with hearing. I could smell this story coming. Again, the wrong people get all the recognition and good. Crazy world we live in, huh? While Teddy boy was out on the streets partying, doing what made him feel good, there were other struggling and taking care of his business. Yes, there was a story here and it's all too familiar.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/01/07/2011-01-07_behind_goldenvoiced_ted_williams_is_exwife_patricia_kirtley_the_real_hero_of_the.html
I see a lot of Teds in jail. They don't even mind being there with the crappy food and uncomfortable beds. Its a frat house for some. They do get three squares, a place to lay their heads and better healthcare than what you can get on the street, well, at least at my place.
And that's the story the media needs to jump on. Just how many victims guys like Ted leave behind. But that story is not as much fun, is it
She had a much better day Carol - per Mrs. Sarah, her teacher. She didn't cry the last two hours (out of three) and she played inside and outside with the other children. She even ate most of her snack (wouldn't eat the first day).
Dropping her off was worse than the first day, because she knew what to expect. But things got better shortly afterward,
The way this article is written is a good example of why I like the L.A. Times so much: Quieting Dylan's Mind...
A journey of risk, hope
Dylan Catania was born with what his surgeon called "a big, bad brain" that left him racked with seizures and could lead to severe disability. Would severing half of it give him a chance at a normal life?
Get a load of this: GM's electric networked vehicle
I've seen several of those other little tiny cars in parking lot and on the road, but this one looks even more ridiculous.
That Dylan story was hard to read but it does look like he's got a chance.
Chloe, can you imagine driving that little vehicle with an 18 wheeler coming up on your rear? That doesn't look as substantial as my golf cart.
Glad that little Em had a better day at play school. I'm sure she will start enjoying having the other kids to play with. And you will get some time to meditate.
Not much to report here...another 6" of snow...
there will be snow around for quite awhile...
Still have little interest in the state of the nation...always remember that no matter what they do in D.C., most of us just continue to take care of our own lives, our families, friends....beyond that we have no control....
As for what you have mentioned here, the birds/fish deaths, no idea of the cause, don't know that the explanations offered are valid, likely we will never really know...
As to the 'golden voice' guy...last night on a local NYC news a commentary by a regular, Lionel, suggested strongly that the media can't wait til he fails & they can then work that angle...
For today, are we ready for some football....
Carol, your team has the easier task today,
the Jets are not expected to get past Manning & the Colts, so here's to your guys winning
easily & mine pulling off that upset....
Hi Coreen, good to hear from you. Glad you haven't frozen. We're going to have a colder one this week but nothing too serious that my longjohns won't cover. I don't generate as much heat now that my thyroid doesn't work overtime.
Yep, I'm watching my Saints but we are short a lot of our great regulars. We have Reggie but I haven't been impressed with him lately. So far looking good.
You just might be lucky today. Think I heard someone pick the Jets on the radio, if they do everything right.
As for Teddy, I'm not as naive as the rest of the viewing public. I've seen a lot of Teds and they have left a trail of victims out there. He has a mother, siblings and children who, I'm sure were some of them and I'm sure they did a lot of crying over him. Neither jail or the streets provide any rehab so we'll have to pray for a miracle. There are probably a lot of more deserving people out there who could also use one. I think it makes the media look like a bunch of dufuses but what's new, I think that is a prerequisite.
I found the commentary video from Lionel about
Ted Williams...its 3 minutes long, after the
commercial...you may find Lionel's take on target, maybe not...I happen to enjoy Lionel's
take on things...
Lionel is a former talk radio host, basically NYC guy by way of Florida...but he
lost his show when Air America went bankrupt,
but he managed to get a nightly slot on a NYC
TV news show...he is not a conservative, nor
a liberal...more like a realist...I keep hoping
he gets another radio show, since I did listen
to him when he was on NY radio....i think he goes on tv like msnbc sometimes, but I have not
watched that channel since the primaries....
Lionel-Beware of the vultures Ted Williams
That was horrible news about Arizona D Rep Giffords and others being shot in the head while out meeting people. That's something else that we might see more of, people just losing it.
We're behind and I'm nervous.
Seattle is kicking our butts.
Well, it was a nice year. I'm headed out to eat Mexican and drown my sorrows. Good luck to your Jets Coreen. Didn't have a good feeling about this game. Drew can't play this game by himself.
Carol, my condolences...it is a shocker...
I still like Drew Brees lots...
My Jets QB could use just a little of Drew Brees & they would not be behind 7 zip at the half...has been a boring game...no razzle dazzle except for Manning's TD pass....I like a high flying passing game....
I do believe in miracles...JETS win!!!!....they beat the Colts 17-16....to live another day!!!....
Congrats Coreen. It's been one of those years where anything can and does happen. Seattle had one of the worst records of any team in the playoffs and they won, and deserved to.
I had a bad feeling about my Saints. We had too many of our good guys out with injuries and Drew can't do it alone. We'll be back.
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