DARN THAT ZAC EFRON!

Darn that Zac Efron! Why was he born so late?

I've seen all 3 High School Musical movies, courtesy of my kids, and I really appreciated Zac Efron. I've also seen him in Hairspray and I thought he really got talent. But it wasn't until I saw his movie "17 Again" that I started to see him in a diferent light. He's one hot, hunky dude! And he's definitely grown up! I can feel my heart fluttering when he walked in slo-mo in that "makeover-to-17" scene. Damn that kid, why did he have to be so darn yummy? And to make matters worse, he was having scenes with this "older" woman that was his movie wife! I could hear myself sigh and groan wistfully. Vanesssa hudgens is one lucky girl! What I would give to be in her shoes for just one day, haha!

Moviewise, the plot is nothing new, another one of those "transformation" movies where the hero finds ways to redeem himself or herself or find a way to redo things in the past...pretty much ho-hum. But casting Zac Efron? That was the saving grace, haha! I find the movie refreshingly funny, and I certainly enjoyed it better than "The Hangover".

Oh, dear, does this mean I'll be collecting Zac Efron movies? Hmmm...we'll see...

DUTY WOES

Whew! What a toxic duty! 3 post-cardiac surgery patients with all sorts of arrhythmias imaginable: vtach, atrial fib, brady, paced beats...my eyes were glued to the monitors the whole time! Everytime the alarm goes off, I feel like having my own arrhythmia! To top it off, I'll be on night shift later...

STAYIN' ALIVE!

CPR STUDY SUGGESTS "STAYIN' ALIVE" LIVES UP TO NAME

CHICAGO – “Stayin’ Alive” might be more true to its name than the Bee Gees ever could have guessed: At 103 beats per minute, the old disco song has almost the perfect rhythm to help jump-start a stopped heart.

The American Heart Association recommends 100 chest compressions per minute, far more than most people realize, study author Dr. David Matlock of the school’s Peoria, Ill., campus said.

He found that “Stayin’ Alive,” which has a way of getting stuck in your head anyway, can help with that.

His study involved 15 students and doctors and had two parts. First they did CPR on mannequins while listening to the song on iPods. They were asked to time chest compressions with the song’s beat.

The study showed the song helped people who already know how to do CPR, and the results were promising enough to warrant larger, more definitive studies with real patients or untrained people, Matlock said.

It turns out the American Heart Association has been using the song as a training tip for CPR instructors for about two years. They learned of it from a physician “who sort of hit upon this as a training tool,” said association spokesman Dr. Vinay Nadkarni of the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Matthew Gilbert, a 28-year-old medical resident, was among participants in the University of Illinois study this past spring. Since then, he said, he has revived real patients by keeping the song in his head while doing CPR.

Gilbert said he was surprised the song worked as well as it did.

“I was a little worried because I’ve been told that I have a complete lack of rhythm,” he said. Also, Gilbert said he’s not really a disco fan. But “Stayin’ Alive” work wonders!

ALL HEARTS

My all hearts photo collection in a slideshow...

MY TRANSFORMERS2: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN EXPERIENCE

Okay, after months of anticipation, I finally got to watch the much-talked about sequel. Of course, I resisted the urge to see it on the very first day when the theaters were jampacked. That would have been an exasperating experience with all those jostling bodies, bobbing heads, and noisy commentaries during the movie. My kids and I watched it on the second to the last day of its first week. Even then, there was still a considerable number of moviegoers, proving the movie's global box-office sell.

What do I think? Hmm...when my fifth-grade son asked me "wasn't Bumblebee's voicebox fixed at the end of the first movie?" I couldn't answer him. Then we got lost in the action-packed movie scenes, and I just stopped thinking. We went home with our heads still reeling from the action. We were on a high, what a ride. Great, amazing movie, exactly the kind of movie that will make you forget your problems and worries.

Later, when I was considerably subdued, I started thinking. Then I found myself asking some questions. Days after the movie opened, I deliberately avoided reading reviews of the movie because I didn't want to be influenced. Now I found out that it didn't fare too well with the critics. Okay, fine, for its entertainment value, I give it a 10. I think that's the only thing that matters to the producers. But I couldn't help but agree with some of the critics. I found an article exactly mirroring my sentiments and questions.

1. In "Transformers," there was this giant battle in the middle of downtown Los Angeles -- excuse me, Mission City -- that was witnessed by thousands of people at the very least. But somehow the government was able to cover up the whole thing, and now the existence of alien robots is just an internet rumor? How did they do it? Pay off everyone who was there and quickly fix millions of dollars in damage? Also, didn't Keller (Jon Voight) go on TV and tell everyone we were being attacked by "a technological civilization far superior to our own"? How did they spin that?

2. There are two pieces of the Allspark cube left: the military has one under lock and key, and Sam discovers another. The Decepticons steal one and bring Megatron back to life. But when Sam (Shia LaBeouf) wants to bring back Optimus, he has to find the Matrix of Leadership on the other side of the globe. Why not use the other piece? Mikaela (Megan Fox) has it in her backpack the whole time. It brought his kitchen appliances to life, why can't it do the same for Optimus?

To read more of these questions, and the gaping holes in the plot, click the link:

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/smg-transformers-10-questions.html

But what do we care, right? We had a blast, it was FUN, that's all that matters.

GOODBYE, MICHAEL

He may be strange, a wacko, eccentric...but there's no denying he was a musical genius, his creative talent in a class of his own, a true musical legend. The music industry suffered a tremendous loss. Despite his global fame, ironically, he was a very, very, lonely man. But at least now he finally found the peace that has eluded him all his life...rest in peace, Michael Jackson...

http://omg.yahoo.com/news/michael-jackson-king-of-pop-dead-at-50/24346?nc

TRANSFORMERS!

Can't wait to see the Michael Bay sequel! Shia's even yummier! It's gonna be a blast!

ANG GALING NI BEBENG!

Ang galing ni Bebeng!!! Pinoy talaga!

Registered nurse si Bebeng sa L.A. Kasama niya ang kanyang ina na nagpagamot doon. Namatay ang ina nito. Dahil sa kamahalan ng pamasahe pabalik sa Pilipinas, nagtipid si Bebeng. Pinauwi na lang niya ang kabaong ng kanyang ina na mag-isa.

Pagdating ng kabaong, napansin ng mga kapamilya niya na nakadikit ang mukha ng ina sa salamin ng ataul. Nagkomento tuloy ang isang anak, "Ay, naku! Tingnan mo 'yan...hindi sila marunong mag-ayos ng bangkay sa Amerika! Nakudrado tuloy ang mukha ng inay."

Upang ayusin ang itsura ng bangkay, binuksan ang kabaong. Aba! May sulat na-nakastaple sa dibdib ng ina. Kinuha nila ito at binasa. Ang nilalaman
ng liham na mula kay Bebeng:

Mahal kong tatay at mga kapatid:

Pasensya na kayo at hindi ko nasamahan ang nanay sa pag-uwi riyan sa Pilipinas dahil napakamahal ng pamasahe. Ang gastos ko pa lang sa kanya ay mahigit $10,000 na. Ayoko nang isipin pa ang eksaktong halaga. Anyway, ipinadala ko kasama ni nanay ang mga sumusunod...

Nasa likod ni nanay ang dalawampu't apat na karnenorte at isang dosenang spam. Ang adidas na suot ni nanay ay para kay tatay. Ang limang pares ng de-goma ay nasa loob ng dalawang asul na Jansport na backpack na inuunan ni nanay. Tig-iisa kayo.

Ang iba't-ibang klase ng tsokolate at candy ay nasa puwetan ni nanay. Para sa mga bata ito. Bahala na kayong magparte-parte. Sana'y hindi natunaw. Ang pokemon stuffed toy na yapos-yapos ni nanay ay para sa bunso ni ate. Gift ko sa first birthday ng bata. Ang itim na Esprit bag ay para kay Nene.

Ate, nasa loob ng bag ang pictures ni inay, japanese version ng pokemon trading cards at stickers. Suot ni nanay ang tatlong Ralph Lauren, apat na Gap at dalawang Old Navy t-shirts. Ang isa ay para kay Kuya at tig-iisa ang mga pamangkin ko. Maisusuot ninyo ang mga iyan sa fiesta.

Suot din ni inay ang anim na panty hose at tatlong warmer para sa mga dalaga kong pamangkin. Isuot nyo sa party. May isang dosenang NBA caps sa may paanan ni nanay. Para sa inyo, itay, kuya, dikong, Tiyo Romy. Bigyan nyo na rin ng tig-isa 'yung mga pamangkin ko at 'yong isa ay kay Pareng Tulume.

Ang tigdadalawang pares ng Nike wristband at knee caps na suot-suot din ni nanay ay para sa mga anak mo, diko, na nagbabasketball. Tigdadalawang ream ng Marlboro lights at Winston red ang nasa pagitan ng mga hita ni nanay.

Apat na jar ng Skippy Peanut Butter, dalawang dishwashing liquid, isang Kiwi glass cleaner at tig-aanim na Colgate at Aqua Fresh ang nakasiksik sa kilikili ni nanay. Hati-hati na kayo, huwag mag-aagawan.

Isang dosenang Wonder bra (Victoria's Secret ata ang tatak) gustong-gusto ni Tiya Iskang society natin, suot-suot din ni nanay. Alam kong inaasam-asam nyo 'yan, tiya. Anim na lipstick lang ang kasya sa bra. Ang Rolex na bilin-bilin mo tatay, suot-suot ni nanay. Nakatakip sa Nike na wristband. Kunin mo agad, Itay.

May isinisik akong zip-loc sa bunganga ni Inay na naglalaman ng $759 dollars. Hindi na ako nakatakbo sa ATM. Puede na siguro sa libing iyon.

Iyong tong na makokolekta, i-time deposit niyo Kuya para pag namatay si Tatay may pambili na ng ataul. Ang hikaw, singsing at kuwintas (na may nakakabit pang anim na nailcutters) na gustong-gusto mo, ditse, ay suot-suot din ni nanay. Kunin mo na rin agad, ditse. Ibigay mo ang isang nailcutter kay Jay bakla sa kanto.

Tanggalin niyo ang bulak sa ilong ng inay, may isiniksik ako 3 diyamante sa bawat butas. Ibangon niyo lang si inay at tiyak na malalaglag na ang mga iyon. Konting alog lang siguro ng ulo.

Marami pa sana akong ipaglalalagay kaya lang, baka mag-excess at si nanay pa ang maiwan. Basta parte-parte kayo, tatay, kuya, ate, dikong, ditse. Para sa inyo lahat ito. Bahala na kayo kay nanay. Pamimisahan ko na lang siya rito.

Balitaan ninyo na lang ako pagkatapos ng libing. Alam ni ate ang email ko. Paki-double check ang lista kung walang nawala sa mga ipinadala ko.

Nagmamahal,
Bebeng

MEN GROW OLDER TOO!

Lighten up on the ladies! Men grow older too, as these pics will prove! Recognize them?

STOP WHINING, Y'ALL!! KRIS IS THE NEW IDOL!

Well, what did I tell you? All the hype and brouhaha over Adam Lambert didn't help him clinch the title after all! You may all call it the biggest upset, but for me, I already had the inkling weeks before when Kris started showing strong performances. All the fawning and Adam-worshipping were getting to be too much, in the end, it's the underrated underdog who captured the title. Shame on all of you who thinks America got it wrong! America just elected Obama, for Pete's sake! This should be an eye-opener, a moment of realization that true TALENT prevails over flashy, eyelined showmanship with overrated hype machine. In fairness to Adam, he's a good performer, a good showman, but that's all he excels in. Kris plays the piano, plays the guitar, a songwriter, a TRUE-BLOODED musician! I could listen to a Kris CD all day, but an Adam CD? More than an hour's worth of screaming with that voice? I don't think so!

Adam fans, c'mon, Adam's already a star, title or no title, thanks to all the hype; Kris needed the title more. And if y'all could just stop whining and thrashing and OMG-ing and be objective about it, you'd realize Kris is a deserving winner. You go, Kris!

And please, please, don't make this about homophobia, religion, or all that crap, coz those are totally out of the question! Here's what others have to say:

Aunty-Guv: Buy a clue folks - Kris had the real musical talent - A true musician who was rewarded for his talents - Adam - simply a showman whose screaming finally was his undoing. Kris is an artist - Adam a Flash (In the Pan!!)

Yahoo Music user: Get over it. All season it's been "ADAM IS AWESOME!! Everyone else sucks!" You love him, we get it. That doesn't mean "America" got it wrong or we are all homophobes. Everyone has their own taste, that's why there is more than one radio station. And could you go one article without hating on Danny? Did he do something personally to you to make you hate him so much? I don't care for Adam's singing, but I can admit he is talented and a good person. Both Adam and Kris will be fine. I am sure Adam is glad he lost because now he doesn't have to sing that horrendous "coronation" song.

BrnxBmbr: Thats right losers!!! Adam is and always has been nothing more than a wannabe broadway performer. He is not a musician - he's a drama queen. PLAIN AND SIMPLE!!! All of you who disagree - get your hearing checked. Real musicians prevail - fakers do not... as CLEARLY shown tonight. Congrats Kris. Some of us knew you were the real Idol, not drama queen Adam.

AmandaLea321: does it really matter who the "idol champion" is anymore? i mean, last year archie and cook both got recording deals with the 19 management. i think the same will happen this year as well. kris will get a recording deal and so will adam. it really doesn't matter who wins the coveted "idol champion" spot...the recording contract isn't solely for the "winner"...its not exclusive anymore...the top two are getting the record deals...and not just the winner. kinda takes credibility away from the show a bit. i am very happy kris won..i liked adam but like lindsy mentioned, i got tired of ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE forcing adam in my face and down my throat. and also, i don't think adam needs american idol to become successful. he will do much better on his own. i think kris will do well also. he's creative and artistic..i think he is more of a total package...just my opinion. YAY FOR KRIS ALLEN!!!

christieB: Come on, that's not fair. America can't "get it wrong", because in the end, it's America's choice. America clearly prefers someone who doesn't need to go off on stroke-like shrieks in order to complete *every* song. The first time I heard Glambert sing one of his screaming songs I said "Wow, he's so unique". The 15th time, that wasn't my reaction. He is a very good singer, but (just my opinion) a bit of a one-trick-pony. At least Kris has some versatility.

AmandaLea: OKAY HOLD UP!!! NOW YA'LL GONNA START PERSECUTING SOMEONE ELSE'S RELIGION!!?? YOU SAY KRIS ALLEN WON CUZ OF "CHRISTIAN VOTE"? THAT IS FU**ED UP!!!! THIS DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH RELIGION OR HOMOPHOBIA!! WOW!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE SOME OF YOU HAVE STOOPED THAT LOW...BLAMING A RELIGION OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION JUST CUZ YOU'RE FAV DIDN'T WIN...MY GOD!! ITS A TV SHOW...AMERICA VOTED!! AMERICANS OF ALL DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE!! NOT JUST A CERTAIN GROUP IN GENERAL! GET OFF IT PEOPLE!! sorry, but i just had to get that off my chest.

KizerSoze: Its incredible how blind you Adam fans are. You cant just come to grips that there is a huge amount of people that simply enjoy the singing style Kris possess instead of Adam's. No you cant come to grips with that, instead you do what all lowlife's do. You claim Adam lost because he is gay, you claim Adam lost because Kris is a church goer...you are all pathetic. If you want to shed the blame, blame the people that were completely biased. I for one enjoy that America did not blindly follow the stupid. Simon needs to stick to Britain Has Talent, and forget American Idol. The American Idol judges are completely unlikeable, biased, and moronic, and as a result make Simon look like a tard.

TK: Kris won because Kris appealed to more people... period. It wasn't Gokey fans... I couldn't stand Gokey.. had to fast forward through him tonight. Most Americans are obviously not fans of the theater and to like Adam you needed to like the theatrical. His talent is undeniable. When he sang normal.. I liked him. When he screamed.. I didn't. You talk like there is something wrong with the fact that Kris is a happily married church worship leader (didn't know he was a church worship leader by the way). I'm telling you what... most of America seems to be messed up if they think there is something wrong with that. I could care less about Adam's lifestyle...that would be his choice and his business.. I just didn't like his music style and obviously the majority of the people voting didn't since he didn't win...GET OVER IT.

YahooMusic User: Don't, don't, don't ever believe this had anything to do with anything other than the music. What's so hard for all you Adam Lambert fans out there to understand that there is a large portion of America that doesn't like being shrieked at, on key or otherwise. Kris is just much more marketable to a larger audience, plain and simple.

Maybe...just maybe, next year, the judges won't fawn, slobber, and otherwise crown their favorite as the winner before America speaks. Adam is a talented guy and will do well regardless of the outcome....but I for one got tired of the endless, over-the-top gushing on the part of the judges. It seemed like America was getting the judges' choice rammed down their throats, and probably created a huge backlash.

Deahh: I think Adam is a very talented singer, probably the most talented in the competition this year. But the contest isn't about being the best singer, the contest is about being the best singer that people want to hear.The fact that he endears himself to you and most of your readers (judging by the comments I read most of the season) means simply that you and your readers love him. It also means that the more reserved, less vocal majority liked Kris.The end result will be meaningless in a year or two anyways. I disagree with you and truly believe Kris will have better, more long term success - but I'm not hating on Adam, I just don't think he has "widespread" appeal.As someone who has been a fan of "rockers" since he left the womb 34 years ago, I can tell you I would likely never buy a Lambert album while I can see myself buying a Kris Allen album. And while my rock music collection is quite large, at this point he doesn't even register. I don't even think he really fit well with Kiss tonight. He soft vocals are superb, and his high notes, while annoying, are good. It's his up-tempo, middle ground that I find lacking.

KizerSoze: Kris is humble enough to be suprised by winning since everyone on the show and with visible power, such as this blog was against him. Hence his shock, and comment over Adam not winning. He does not believe for a second he does not deserve it, he just has class. Unlike Adam who actually picked sides when he was asked who he should stand with earlier in the show. Again you all like to spin things into Adam's favor. Sad that you all can't be happy that a regular citizen had this opportunity and made his dream come true. A lot of you are truly sour individuals.

Mike K - MCP President: Singers ALWAYS beat the screamers. Next time you wanna mess with what REAL music is, I'll come at you like an oncoming train!

KRIS IN TOP 3!

Yes! Kris Allen is in American Idol's Top 3! That's enough for me. I don't care now if he wins or not, he's got loads of talent and I'm still a fan.

I just don't like Adam. He's all pomp and flash, but if anybody could just get their heads out of the clouds (of hype over Adam), they'd realize that between Adam and Danny, Danny's got the better vocal quality. Adam is too flashy and theatrical for my taste, and I find his voice shrieky.

I'm so disappointed in Idol judge Kara DioGuardi. She's so star-struck with Adam she's not being objective. Her bias/favoritism is so brazenly obvious I couldn't believe anything she says. Randy, Paula, and Simon have had their favorites but they don't show it that blatantly. You could see that anything could still hapen with them, unlike with Kara, who is so transparent she already had this season wrapped up with her precious Adam on top. Just for that, if Kris gets booted out, I'd vote for Danny; but you know, Adam could stilll get axed. You never know.

SWINE FLU (H1N1) VIRUS UP CLOSE!

May 4, 2009—Sorry, not a curly tail in sight.

Scientists have snapped the first ever portrait of H1N1, the new swine flu virus that has swept the globe in recent weeks.

A virus cell (such as the H1N1 swine flu cells above) is made up of a core that contains genetic material, which is surrounded by a protein-filled coat that allows the virus to catch onto and invade target cells. Each cell measures about one-ten-thousandth of a millimeter wide.

The samples, obtained from an infected patient in California, were photographed on April 27, 2009, at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

Novel H1N1 Flu

What is H1N1 (swine flu)? H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have reported people sick with this new virus. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread

Why is this new H1N1 virus sometimes called “swine flu”? This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and avian genes and human genes. Scientists call this a “quadruple reassortant” virus.

Are there human infections with this H1N1 virus in the U.S.? Yes. Cases of human infection with this H1N1 influenza virus were first confirmed in the U.S. in Southern California and near Guadalupe County, Texas. The outbreak intensified rapidly from that time and more and more states have been reporting cases of illness from this virus. An updated case count of confirmed novel H1N1 flu infections in the United States is kept at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/investigation.htm. CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation.

Is this new H1N1 virus contagious? CDC has determined that this new H1N1 virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people.

What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people? The symptoms of this new H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Also, like seasonal flu, severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

Can I get infected with this new H1N1 virus from eating or preparing pork? No. H1N1 viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get this new HIN1 virus from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick? There is no vaccine available right now to protect against this new H1N1 virus. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza.

Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
  Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Stay home if you are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.

STEPHEN KING'S "CELL"

Just finished very creepy, really gory, spine-tingling "CELL" from the master of the macabre Stephen King. (I got the first edition hardbound...) Couldn't help thinking, it would only take one lunatic with a sophisticated WMD, who cleverly realized that the ultimate method of delivery would be the ubiquitous cellphones -- to wipe us all out from the face of the planet...Most end-of-the-world scenarios dreamed up by writers (and analysts!) usually depict armageddon caused by too much technology...

AMERICAN IDOL SEASON 8

Last year's American Idol Season 7 was better by a mile (remember the two Davids?). I certainly don't think this season has talents who I could say with a certainty will sell records the way David Cook or even Daughtry has. Dunno with you guys but I really like very underrated Kris - he's got sheer artistry, musicality, genuine talent (case in point: his take on Donna Summer's "She Works Hard for the Money"). Adam has showmanship & starpower performance ability but I find his voice shrieky when he hits the high notes, and well, he IS a bit theatrical. Danny's got vetter vocal quality than Adam but his showmanship leaves much to be desired; plus i think he's just getting sympathy votes because of his life story. I think Kris is the dark horse, the underdog. Danny & Adam? Overhyped and overrated, methinks.

Here's what some bloggers have to say: (from About.com)

(Cain): To me kris is the most talented of the bunch. good song choice, versatile yet convincing singing. but i’m not sure he can win. he’s not the one everybody is talking about. best doesn’t mean winner, too many have proven this. so sad ai’s been a popularity show for years and it will still be.

Adam’s dramatic performance soon will wear off and his singing style would be hard to fit into the market, if he indeed won the show. Danny has a good voice and a overly marketed story, but he also needs a little change and his cocky attitude won’t get him very far.

(Leigh): People love Adam because he’s different; he’s an entertainer first and foremost. However, I just don’t know what kind of album he would make or if he can really make it in modern music. He’s a great performer and he’s talented, but he’s so theatrical. And Danny Gokey–I am so done with him it’s not even funny.

(John): Kris is my favorite on this show. He seems like a really musical guy and a true talent, not just a vocalist.

(LeMarie): Totally agree with all the comments. Kris is one of the best contestants to hit AI. He is multi-talented and refreshing. AI would be foolish to pass him up.

BLOG OVERHAUL

I'm currently in the process of overhauling my blog and going for a completely different look. It's been giving me a headache so far. I lost some widgets and I couldn't find them anymore, my flag counter was reset, and I couldn't decide on a template...darn! So far, I think I'm getting there...I haven't updated my blog for months now. Well, I've never been exactly that active in blogging...but I have a feeling that's about to change...here goes nothing...=)

DEAR GOD

In keeping with my "tribute to kids" mood lately, I found this nugget of a photo from www.anvari.org of Dear God letters from kids. Believe me when I say, read on and feel all your worries melt away...ahh, the innocence of youth...

WHAT DOES LOVE MEAN?

Slow down for three minutes to read this. It is so worth it. Touching words from the mouth of babes...

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?”

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." - (Rebecca - age 8)

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.” - (Billy - age 4)

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." - (Karl - age 5)

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." - (Chrissy - age 6)

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." - (Terri - age 4)

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.” - (Danny - age 7)

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss" - (Emily - age 8)

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." - (Bobby - age 7) Wow!

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.” - (Nikka - age 6) We need a few million more Nikkas on this planet!

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." - (Noelle - age 7)

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." - (Tommy - age 6)

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore." - (Cindy - age 8)

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." - (Clare - age 6)

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." - (Elaine - age 5)

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." - (Chris - age 7)

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." - (Mary Ann - age 4)

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." - (Lauren - age 4)

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." - (Karen - age 7) What an image!

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross." - (Mark - age 6)

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." - (Jessica - age 8)

And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry".

7 Reasons Not to Mess with a Child

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.
The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.
The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.
Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.
The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah."
The teacher asked, “What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work.
As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head.
She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?"
Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."
The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"
Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."

The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.

"Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, he's a doctor.'

A small voice at the back of the room rang out, “And there's the teacher, she's dead.”


A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face."

"Yes," the class said.

"Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?"

A little fellow shouted, "Cause your feet ain't empty."


The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples.
The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray: "Take only ONE. God is watching."
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, "Take all you want - God is watching the apples.”

THE DONKEY (NEVER GIVE UP)

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.
The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.
Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway;
it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him.
They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.
At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.
Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw.
With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL : Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.
The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.
Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.
We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!

Shake it off and take a step up.

THE SON

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.
When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.
He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out the package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'
The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected. The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings.

Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?' There was silence...Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'
But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?' Another voice rose angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the Real bids!'
But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting...' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
'We have $10, who will bid $20?'
'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.
They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.
The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'
A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!' The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'
'What about the paintings?'
'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.

The man who took the son gets everything!'