Staying awake is the hardest part

I have been low key in bloggy commentland because I am in the throes of reading A Case Manager's Study Guide. This book is not gripping reading. If you have insomnia, I highly recommend this book. You will be fast asleep within three pages, in a deep sound sleep. Not conducive to studying, however.

I am taking the test for Case Manager Certification in approximately 8 weeks and all pleasure reading and crafting are on "hiatus". I have been a case manager for over 8 years and I am excited to be getting ready for the privilege of being tested. (And at a handsome sum to boot!) Crazy, isn't it?

I am not nervous, just a little rusty at test taking and areas outside my disease management expertise.

I hope you have been reading something much more "stimulating" and almost as gratifying.

Ooodles of Orange for Orange Ya Glad and Color Carnival

Welcome to Orange You Glad hosted by the delightful Yaya, and The Color Carnival hosted by the equally delightful, Martha@Menagerie.
Orange is such a happy color, and it also signals Wintertime in Los Angeles as seen on this tree by the entrance of the Community Magnet School in Bel Air, California.
The school was a veritable Orange Festival with this map painted on the school courtyard entry.
Here's a very colorful mural on a school building.
Laugh is a most favorite word of mine too, especially when it's on an Orange Bench!

This is the aptly named Fire Agave plant in bloom. I will call it the Yaya plant in honor of her redhead temper.

Wishing you many Happy Colors to you and yours.

Care to be in a TV Studio Audience or on a Reality Show? Emails across my computer

Here are a couple emails I recently received, the first is looking to Cast a Family Reality Show filmed in U.S.National Parks, and the other, soliciting groups to be in a studio audience as a fundraiser. This is very common btw in Los Angeles, my oldest son has been both to the filming of Nickelodeon Slime Time, (yes, he came home SLIMED OF Course), and Family Feud with the host, John O'Hurley as part of a school group.

What do you think about being on a reality show or in a studio audience? Thank you.

Now Casting Outgoing Families!
Are you looking for the ultimate family adventure? Are you eager to ditch the typical family vacation and experience a truly unique and exciting bonding experience? Do you wish you could bring your family even closer together?
The producers of "Amazing Race," "The Biggest Loser," and "The Office"
are currently searching for America’s most outgoing families to compete in exciting outdoor challenges in the nation's most beautiful national parks.
To be considered, please submit the following to greatoutdoorscasting@gmail.com:
1. Name and Ages of all family members
2. City/state where you live (please include this in subject line) 3. Contact Information (including cell #) 4. Current Pictures 5. A brief description of your family dynamic 6. What do you love about being in the great outdoors with your
family? What are the biggest challenges about being in the great
outdoors with your family?
7. Please indicate if any of you suffer from seasonal allergies.
*Families should have at least two children living in the home between the ages of 13-18*
Family Compensation: $5,000.00


We have a celebrity comedy TV Special that your group can attend as a
fundraiser this January!

Comedians DL Hughley, Tom Papa, Carlos Mencia, Tom Arnold, Aries
Spears,
Jamie Kennedy, Sinbad, Paul Mooney, Daniel Tosh, Bobby Lee, Louie
Anderson
and many more guest star in The Supreme Court of Comedy. Justice and
comedy
collide in this wild television show where real-life disputes are
defended
by America's top comedians! And you can be in the ‘court room’ AND
make
money for your group! If you miss this opportunity you are guilty of
insanity.

The Supreme Court of Comedy is shot at the famous Laugh Factory in
Long
Beach with an intimate audience. The minimum age to attend is 18 and
you must
have at least 10 people in your group to qualify as a fundraiser. And

remember, the more people you bring to show, the more money your group
makes.
Take advantage of the BIG money (and the BIG name comedians)! The show
tapes
January 13th, 14th, 17th, 18th, and 19th. For show times and donation

amounts please read below.
DONATION AMOUNTS MEAN HOW MUCH THEY GIVE YOU FOR GOING. SO IF YOU CAN
GET TOGETHER A LARGE GROUP OF YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, YOU WILL RECEIVE
ANYWHERE FROM $15 - $35 A PERSON.

Wednesday, January 13: 3 PM until 8:30 PM for a $15 donation.

Thursday, January 14 (2 shows): 1 PM until 3:30 PM for a $20 per
person
donation, 3 PM until 8:30 PM for a $15 per person donation, or you can
attend
both shows- 1 PM until 8:30 PM for a $35 per person donation.

Sunday, January 17 (2 shows): 1 PM until 3:30 PM for a $15 per person

donation, 3 PM until 8:30 PM for a $15 per person donation, or you can
attend
both shows - 1 PM until 8:30 PM for a $30 per person donation.

Monday, January 18 (2 shows): 1 PM until 3:30 PM for a $20 per person

donation, 3 PM until 8:30 PM for a $15 per person donation, or you can
attend
both shows - 1 PM until 8:30 PM for a $35 per person donation.

Tuesday, January 19: 1 PM until 5:30 PM for a $20 donation.

PLEASE CONTACT HELENA DIAMOND AT helenadiamond@aol.com
if you are interested.

The Lion(ness) lays down with the Lamb for Almost Wordless Wednesday

The lion will lay down with the lamb, or in this case, the Manx cat, Abigail will lay down with the Labradoodle, Charley. Sunbathing somnolence is a wonderful thing in all species.

If you want to share what Moves you, please visit The Motivation Station where I am host on Wednesdays. Thank you so much.

Health and Fitness Challenge at The Motivation Station

Hi, my name is Martha and I'm a chocoholic.

This month at the interactive and supportive blog, The Motivation Station, we are hosting a challenge to take incremental and realistic steps to support and sustain a more healthful lifestyle and improved well being. Such a lofty high-faluting statement, but what it really means to me is I need to cut down on my consumption of my most favorite food, Chocolate, and replace it with more fruits and veggies. Simple as that. Instead of making Chocolate, especially good chocolate like See's or Ghiradelli, one of my five food groups or Sometimes All of my five food groups, I need to make it into an occasional treat. By the act of identifying and posting about this goal, I am making myself accountable and hopefully increasing my chance of success for long term positive changes in my diet.

Please stop by the Motivation Station if you would like to play along and do you have anything that you are ready to change?

Paperboard Perfect Moment Monday

Welcome to Perfect Moment Monday, hosted by the gracious Lori of Weebles Wobblog, and thank you for your visit.

I have many perfect moments to share from my survival, I mean, ENJOYMENT of the holidays, but one that really lightened my heart was watching our 11 y/o and 14 y/o sons, with No Less Than Three Game systems including a BRAND New P.S.P 3 in the House, take the discarded cardboard boxes and wrapping paper tubes and play with them for hours nonstop with their friends. They constructed shields and weapons of course, (cause they are boys and that is what they do), and used up every roll of packing, mask, and duct tape we had, but it is a true joy and one of the many highlights of my holidays to see the fun of friendship and imagination, and kids being kids.

Pink Wall and Bench for Inspiration

Happy Pink Saturday and I send my best wishes for a Rosy 2010 to you!
Sometimes I feel like I "hit the wall" when it comes to finding inspiration for Pink Saturday and sometimes the Wall and Inspiration find me. I hope you enjoy these photos taken at the Community Charter School in Bel Air, California.


For more Pink in the New Year, please visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound and Thank you.