Dear Lovelies Letters - Holiday Post Mortem

Dear Video Game Department Sales Guys,

Thank you so much for all your help during my shopping this holiday season. You must have seen my "deer in headlights" look when I was standing at the array of video games and accessories. I may not know video games but I know the right questions to ask, and I appreciate you telling me the "Must Haves" for games and gadgets. You made me look like a really smart Santa to our teen boys.
So a Shout Out in language you can understand- You Rock, Dude! I'm stoked and feelin it. Peace Out.

Signed, Square yet Savvy Shopper

Dear Cell Phone Carrier Customer Service,

Thank you so much for helping me pick out new phones for my sons and myself for the holidays. I wouldn't know a good texting phone if it bit me in the backside and I love the fact all this stuff is free, well, sort of.

Signed, My Life Away for Free Fones


Dear Online Shopping, Gift Card Kiosk, and Delivery Service Guys,

How Did I Ever Survive Holiday Shopping Without You?

Signed, So Not Into Shopping, Ever

The Not So Terrible Teens

People including my own Mom and Dad warned me about the "teen years". I certainly know mine were tough, tough, tough for me and my parents with my mother reminding me that she stopped my dad from kicking me out of the house when I was 14 y/o. Gee, thanks, Mom, I do appreciate it and I guess I didn't realize it at the time, I was thisclose to becoming a ward of the state or worse, homeless. I guess I had forgotten in the intervening 34 years since my hellish youth, what an eff up I was, and that my parents, especially my Dad, who I always held in the highest esteem, was really ready to throw in the towel. My mother reminded me of this over our recent Thanksgiving dinner when she marveled at how "together you are now when you were such a messed up kid." Lovely holiday dinner conversation, no?

My crappy choices as a teen gave me serious schooling and I paid attention. As my dear friend, Kris says, "We know what it walks like, talks like, and smells like, we're not in the dark like our parents who had no clue." Even though I can't change my past decisions and journey, including all the pain and tough lessons, I don't think I would if I could. I have been tempered by the fire, traveled the hard road of insight, making amends, and been introduced to the healing effects of change and empathy. I also realized that part of my mom's difficulty in reconciling the person I was then, with who I am Now, is her lack of ownership or taking responsibility in my teen hell. Even though I was still at my childhood home, I was on my own, which gave me the gift of self reliance and independence, but it certainly carried a very High Price.

Someone should have warned my parents about the teen years, and also told them, hey, you didn't have it that Bad- I never got arrested, held back in school, or WORSE.

It is always startling and hurtful when those like our family, maintain a current image of you focused on the past, instead of the present. I hope and will work to let my boys know, that I cherish them not only for who they are as children, but also the adults they are becoming. Even when we butt heads, I know, (the hard way of course!), this is part of the journey as they transition from boys into men.

Thank you for sharing in my thoughts, teen angst and all.

The quality of mercy is not strained

Pray for Haiti and her people, and if you feel inclined to donate, please read this excellent article about avoiding donation scams. During sad and desperate times, not only do we see the best in people, but unfortunately also the worst.

Sitting here in the comfort of my home, with every modern convenience in the earthquake country of Southern California, you can't help but think about that last week, a 6.5 earthquake hit Northern California with a dozen or so people displaced and No Injuries or Death and now, Haiti, with a 7.0, (6 times larger in intensity than a 6.5 per the Richter scale), tens of thousands of people are dead, including many missionaries and relief workers stationed there, possibly 10% of that country's population. Think about it, one out of every ten individuals, GONE, essentially in a single moment.

I feel a bond with Haiti having lived in South Florida for many years and where there is a large immigrant population of Haitians. I mourn for them and with them, and I will do what I can do to help.

The quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven,
Upon the place beneath.
It is twice blessed.
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.

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.