Tara's Utopia

Ut Meaus Permaneo Spiritus

2010-01-09T06:39:00.000-05:00

Translated the page title says "To My Last Breath" in Latin.
No I do not know the language but much of today's modern language is founded in Latin, a beginning of sort.
While writing my book I came up with this phrase as a family motto for one of my characters and in the process it has become a proverb of mine.

The phrase is two fold in its importance to me. First it's a reminder to stick to the basics, not get too complicated in life and when they do to go back to the beginning. Secondly the words are a reminder that nothing is finished, no fight is lost, nothing is out of reach until the last breath is breathed.

I have made many decision and choices in my life that were regrettable to the point they ached to my very soul, broke my heart and nearly my spirit. Yet through each one I found the strength to endure and persevere and here I am heart and spirit still in tact.

I found forgiveness of others and mostly myself was a key to finding my strength.

In July 2008 I lost my beloved mother at the age of 60 to Lou Gehrig's Disease. Looking back over her extraordinary life she conquered fears and feats most would find insurmountable. Through it all the one thing she never did very well was take care of herself. It would seem an aversion to exercise runs on the maternal side of my family.

Big hips, flabby abs and these strange bags of fat that hang at the knees seem to have been passed along the genetic line along with eyes and hair and an innate sixth sense.

As the old song goes, "I'm too young for feeling this darn old."

I truly lost my "SPARK" for life. I've let my dreams go and found myself wasting every day in front of a computer; stuck in a perpetual Groundhog Day. Each one was the same as the last.

Well it's time to get that Zeal back, light the SPARK a new regardless if it's a New Year or not.

I've never been one to want much for myself but after 30 years of wanting to "like" my smile I finally treated myself to braces for my birthday in July 2007. They came off in September 2009. It felt amazing to do something so important TO me, FOR me, myself!

For the first time in my life I was able to look in the mirror and really smile and feel happy. It wasn't until recently I realized, if I can do that for my smile why can't I do that for the rest of my body?

The answer was obvious;

Because I didn't want it as much.

It's been easy to hide my figure with my height (I'm 5' 8") and with clothes. I'm not over weight (right at 149) but sadly out of shape. Walking up stairs takes my breath away. My skin lacks luster, my eyes have dark circles, I'm tired all the time and I constantly ache due to lack of strength.
Food rarely sounds good and when I do eat it's usually something completely lacking nutrition; mostly high in processed sugar and fat.

Now it's a time to get the rest of me "straight, healthy & in shape".

This time my husband is "somewhat" on board and we're eating healthy together. He's got me on a great workout routine and my little man Brandon has been adopted as my trainer.

It's time for a $6 million me - - better, stronger, faster.

I know in order to succeed I need to work on my spirit as well as my body. I also know I will fail but I will try again. I will fall down but I will get back up and start over. I will fight, I will persevere and I will keep going until...

"Ut meaus permaneo spiritus"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Live Strong, Live Long, Live Happy

"Ut meaus permaneo spiritus"

2010-01-09T06:35:00.000-05:00

"Ut Meus Permaneo Spiritus"

Translated the page title says "To My Last Breath" in Latin.
No I do not know the language but much of today's modern language is founded in Latin, a beginning of sort.
While writing my book I came up with this phrase as a family motto for one of my characters and in the process it has become a proverb of mine.

The phrase is two fold in its importance to me. First it's a reminder to stick to the basics, not get too complicated in life and when they do to go back to the beginning. Secondly the words are a reminder that nothing is finished, no fight is lost, nothing is out of reach until the last breath is breathed.

I have made many decision and choices in my life that were regrettable to the point they ached to my very soul, broke my heart and nearly my spirit. Yet through each one I found the strength to endure and persevere and here I am heart and spirit still in tact.

I found forgivness of others and mostly myself was a key to finding my strength.

In July 2008 I lost my beloved mother at the age of 60 to Lou Gherig's Disease. Looking back over her extraordinary life she conquered fears and feats most would find insurmountable. Through it all the one thing she never did very well was take care of herself. It would seem an aversion to exercise runs on the maternal side of my family.

Big hips, flabby abs and these strange bags of fat that hang at the knees seem to have been passed along the genetic line along with eyes and hair and an innate sixth sense.

As the old song goes, "I'm too young for feeling this darn old."

I truly lost my "SPARK" for life. I've let my dreams go and found myself wasting every day in front of a computer; stuck in a perpetual Groundhog Day. Each one was the same as the last.

Well it's time to get that Zeal back, light the SPARK a new regardless if it's a New Year or not.

I've never been one to want much for myself but after 30 years of wanting to "like" my smile I finally treated myself to braces for my birthday in July 2007. They came off in September 2009. It felt amazing to do something so important TO me, FOR me, myself!

For the first time in my life I was able to look in the mirror and really smile and feel happy. It wasn't until recently I realized, if I can do that for my smile why can't I do that for the rest of my body?

The answer was obvious;

Because I didn't want it as much.

It's been easy to hide my figure with my height (I'm 5' 8") and with clothes. I'm not over weight (right at 149) but sadly out of shape. Walking up stairs takes my breath away. My skin lacks luster, my eyes have dark circles, I'm tired all the time and I constantly ache due to lack of strength.
Food rarely sounds good and when I do eat it's usually something completely lacking nutrition; mostly high in processed sugar and fat.

Now it's a time to get the rest of me "straight, healthy & in shape".

This time my husband is "somewhat" on board and we're eating healthy together. He's got me on a great workout routine and my little man Brandon has been adopted as my trainer.

It's time for a $6 million me - - better, stronger, faster.

I know in order to succeed I need to work on my spirit as well as my body. I also know I will fail but I will try again. I will fall down but I will get back up and start over. I will fight, I will persevere and I will keep going until...

"Ut meaus permaneo spiritus"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Live Strong, Live Long, Live Happy

Shades of Jeans

2010-01-08T18:08:00.000-05:00

Is there such a thing as certain clothes and colors matching with specific colors of jeans? Does a dark blue teeshirt look better with a pair of dark denims than it does a light pair? Does a red shirt coordinate better with light denim than a green one?

Until I met my husband I thought denim was denim and the different shades of jeans went with everything. I've always subscribed to what I believed was a common idea that "jeans went with everything".

Apparently and according to said husband I am very mistaken.

I have ceased counting the discussions and arguments over this issue as he is convinced certain shades of denim only match with certain colors and styles of shirt. Even shoes. We had yet another one of these very arguements tonight because he asked me to wash his pair of very light jeans and instead I washed the pair of "somewhat light jeans". He said the "somewhat light jeans" do not match with the teeshirt he is wearing to work tomorrow and sadly now I had let him down in a most grievious manner.

Sadly I know I can't win these arguments nor make Jim understand how ludicroous his logic is especially in light of his fashion sense, or should I say lack of.

All this coming from man who's style is rather bland and often far outdated. Granted he's been getting better over the years but I doubt he'll ever catch up.

Light jeans, extra light, somewhat light, dark blue, medium dark blue, how does one know what foes with what?

Stripes, polka dots, patterns and textures, I get that nut sadly I guess I'm a dweeb with jeans. Afterall

Jeans go with everything.

Right????

It Has Begun

2010-01-07T18:51:00.000-05:00

The fact it's a new year doesn't have a whole lot to do with my recommitment to getting healthy. In fact it had more to do with being the time after our last Disney trip, where I might add I gained 5 lbs in 8 days. It's impossible to eat healthy at Disney unless every meal is at The Wave restaurant. No Walt promised me after this trip he would get on board with me and together we would learn to eat right.

So it began on Monday and so far I'm doing pretty good. Been sticking to the right foods, eating throughout the day, getting my water in and yes even exercising. Although I feel I should be kicking that up a bit. It's hard to tell because I have a tendency for being one of those unrealistic people that expect big gains in small periods of time. This time I'm learning to recognize that and keep it on check. It took me years to get out of shape.

So here I go again and here's to a great ending.

Tara

A Mouthful of Week

2009-08-09T17:32:00.000-04:00

What a week it's been. So many things to tell.

Thursday I went to pick up my new glasses that come to find out have been in since last Friday. They look really nice and Walt loved them. My prescription changed and at first everything looked very strange. Like a fun house mirror. Come to find out my left eye has a slight astigmatism that I never knew of. My brain has been compensating for it for so long that when the glasses made the correction it threw the brain off thus affecting my vision. I'm used to it now and what a difference. I can see so clearly with them on. I wonder if that is what it will be like with lasix.

Katrina and I talked. She doesn't seem upset over anything anymore but Gavin still is and hasn't forgiven Brandon for what he "believes" he did. I hope he gets over it Brandon misses him.

I have not done very well with my workout or Xing Yi the past few days. Today I was just down right horrid. No exercise at all and Munchie and I ate horribly bad at Chili's. What a disaster. I'm still sick to my stomach.
Tomorrow is a new day and a new week.

The best part of the week was finding out Connections Academy is now available throughout Florida due to a law signed this Spring mandating it. I'm so excited. We all ready signed Brandon up. His enrollment paperwork is only awaiting his IEP, last report card and FCAT. This will be so good for him. He will attend school at home and have real teachers. No more disruption in class, no more distractions and if we see him excelling in a subject we can supplement his work.

We're going to set him up his own workspace right next to mine. I found his desk and all supplies at IKEA. We even got him a new laptop. That was something we needed and planned on getting anyway. I built him a Dell online, gave it some serious memory, graphics, power and speed. The best part is at $1490.00 I had enough to pay for it in cash. It's already paid off. I'm so excited.

I have been planning on redecorating his room for awhile so today I spent the morning configuring his room, all by IKEA of course . Its going to update him from kid to pre-teen and last long after. Plus it's going to give him all the space he needs to get that mess organized. Incredibly it's all going to cost less than $1000 and that includes his school desk. We'll plan on that task after his birthday and vacation.

I'm really loving the Mac computer more all the time. I saw the demo of Apples version of Microsoft Office called iWork. It's amazing! It easily does so many of the functions I currently have to do manually in Excel. I ordered iWork 09. It should be coming soon. Ironically Office 08 which was made for Macs by Microsoft can't open any of the templates from the Office online template gallery. However it appears iWork can. I have iWork trial on my Mac now and am going to test it out a bit tomorrow. The version I ordered is the latest. 09. What amazed me the most was the price. Office runs a base minimum $300 for their basic version and one user license. iWork retails for $80 for a single user license and even has a family license pack for $99. This allows you to load it onto 5 Mac's in the same house. Unbelievable. 09 is getting fabulous reviews from long time users of Office. Should be fun to check it out.

Other than al this exciting news, the week was pretty quiet since the account execs were at their quarterly pow wow. I made some amazing meals this week and loved serving them up in a beautiful presentation on my new white plates from Target. Even my own lunch I served up beautifully
Brandon spent more time in the pool than out I think and I took some cute photos.

The very, absolute VERY best thing that happened this week was on Thursday I made the last payment on the Sears credit card. After 7 years, $14000 later and only God and Sears know how much interest, we are free from them. That is exactly what it feels like too, freedom. Now that $800 is being funneled right into the next credit card whe should have that paid off by December. I finally feel like we're getting somewhere with our debt. I'm still amazed at how good it feels.

We'll use it and the other cards for small things each month to help our credit but I don't ever want to be held hostage by that card again.
It even prompted Tiffany to have a heart to heart with me about her finances and asked me for help on hers. I feel (hope) it really sunk in with her this time.

Gratitude ~
I'm thankful for my job in tough economic times.
I'm greatful glasses and the technology that let's me see better.
I'm greatful for a better option for Brandons education
I'm greatful or IKEA.
I'm greatful for Mom and her smart money plan that has allowed me to pay off nearly $12000 in debt in 5 years. She is still with me every day.

Sunday Revival

2009-08-02T19:11:00.000-04:00

Renewal�-�
After�weeks�of�feeling�defective,�unfit,�fat�and�tired�I�got�back�on�the�train�today.�I�logged�my�food�in�SparkPeople,�stayed�on�track,�worked�out�and�practiced�my�Xing-Yi.�I�already�feel�better.�
I�created�this�excellent�beef�and�vegetable�soup�recipe�that�even�the�boys�loved.�
It�felt�good�to�treat�myself�right�today.�
I�finished�a�new�page�in�Brandons�scrapbook�and�although�it�wasn't�the�layout�I�had�in�mind�it�came�together�really�nice.�He�was�such�a�beautiful�baby.�
Brandon�is�still�really�bummed�about�losing�his�friend�Gavin�over�what�I�truly�believe�was�an�error�in�perception.�I�just�know�when�Brandon�lies,�mostly�because�he's�terrible�at�it�and�in�this�his�story�has�never�wavered�and�he�gets�very�upset�over�it.�They�really�are�a�sweet�family�and�I�myself�am�sad�to�have�lost�their�friendship.
To help make him feel better we all played a game of Sorry together. How ironic to choose that game. I won both times but it was the first time Brandon was a good sport and everyone kept their cool. We had a nice time.
So hopefully today brought about a sense of renewal in myself and in the family.�

Sunday Revival

2009-08-02T19:10:00.000-04:00

Positively Charged Connections

2009-03-01T14:42:00.000-05:00

There's something to be said for energy. In particular negative and positive energy. We know from science how the two affect everything from the Earth cycles, animal behavior to making your toaster work.
What we may not always think about is how these two opposites affect our personalities and our behaviors.

I have always been acutely aware of the power of negative and positive energy in the way I think and the way I react to the energy other people put out. Since I was a lot younger I've been a naturally positive person. Watching how I think about a situation, getting sick or just projecting an upbeat happy positive energy as much as possible. I have fought off more colds and sore throats simply because I didn't have the time or the patience for them thus I would set my mind against them.
I learned years ago when I was living in near poverty without insurance, a baby and one on the way that I could let the stresses and worries of every day living get me down or I could prioritize them and deal with them a different way,

One night I woke up at 2am worrying about how we were going to pay our Sears bill. We were making a combined $800 every two weeks and living in a hunting cabin with no furniture. While I lay there in the dark worrying and fretting I suddenly had an inspiration come over me. I thought "what can I possibly do about this now? What can I do to pay this bill here and now at 2am in the morning?" and then I answered myself, "Nothing, absolutely nothing." I'm losing sleep over something where the only thing this worry is accomplishing is robbing me of a good nights sleep.
I then turned off the worry machine and willed myself back to sleep. It was easier than I thought.
The next morning I looked at the bill and realized we were already doing everything we could to get it paid. All I could do was call them and let them know it was going to be late. That was all I could do. And I was ok with it.

I had an A-Ha moment that night and it's carried with me every since.

I learned not to stress over things I had no control over. Like slow stop lights or trains, or telephone computer prompters, or my Mother's ALS. You process it and accept it.
I learned not to worry about anything and if something comes up that would cause me worry I go back to that night and ask myself the same questions. Then when the times comes I can deal with it, I do.
I call the bank to sort out the funny charge on my bill, call the repair shop to make an appointment, make a doctors appointment (if it's necessary - that's another step), figure out where to cut expenses to pay the tax man. Simply I deal with it.
Then there are some things I've learned to simply not accept and not ever cause me undo stress. You might find this hard to believe but I don't worry about money anymore. When something comes up I may not have been expecting, for example my husband had a judgement against him from 10 years ago he forgot all about. Then out of nowhere I looked at my bank account one day and over $2500 was taken from it. Freaked! Called the bank and found out that judgement went to court and they demanded payment which the courts were happy to oblige.
I could have gotten sick, poured myself a drink and worried myself into a stooper. The rent was due and both car payments. But instead, once I figured out it wasn't fraud and the charge was just, I instantly put all worry aside and was calm. I shrug my shoulders and know deep down in my soul, the money will come from somewhere. We'll be alright. I made a few calls and changed let my car companies know I would be a little late sending in payment (hint - car payments aren't considered "late" until after 30 days. If you call them before the due date to let them know it'll be a few days or weeks late (less than 30 days) they will make a note on the account and usually forego the late fees) cut back on the groceries for a bit and watched the spending and somehow the money was just there. My husband had a busier than normal week for unexplained reasons. We didn't miss a single bill or get slapped with a single late fee.

I never worry about money anymore. I don't worry about getting a house. I know I'll have one when the time is right.
I don't worry about my health. I think healthy, feel healthy and tell myself I'm healthy and I am healthy.

I think positive every day and find I am so much happier than my more pessimistic husband.
He eats better than I do, has exercised and lifted weights religiously for years, doesn't drink, doesn't smoke but he's a constant worrier. He worries about the future incessantly. He worries about his health, the bills (which ironically he never sees and I do all the finances), he worries about everything and you know what, he's always sick. He's had three surgeries since I met him, he had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, terrible sinuses and so many joint aches I stopped counting. Reading through the teaching of the Tao where it talks about exactly this, he's finally starting to understand it. But teaching himself to turn off the worry faucet is a whole different matter. He even tells himself he's going to be cranky the next morning for such and such reason.

You're thoughts are power.

My only vice is this.

I'm an emotional sponge and I can pick up on a person's energy the minute they walk into a room. I know when my husband comes home cranky the minute I open the door. I know when someone is happy, sad, sick, worried, angry. I can actually feel it and it instantly affects me. My whole demeanor changes. It happens more with my family because I'm with them all the time and it's easier to walk away from someone in the store etc.

I work at home now so I don't get that from work much but I have coworkers and clients I talk to on the phone that make me edgy from the second I get on the phone.
The ego maniacs put me on the defensive, the hypocondriac drives make me feel sick to my stomach and the whiners and complainers put a bad taste in my mouth.

So I'm working on it. Learning to dry out the emotional sponge and be more in command of them. Build up a rubber shell.
It's a work in progress but I keep trying. I talk to myself all the time and in the beginning I did it audibly. I must have looked like a loon talking to myself but if worked.

Your mind is power and you can control your situation and how you react to it. You can even control to let it happen at all or not.

It's been quite empowering.

----------------------

More Power To You

Tara

Food For Nothin' and Your Dinner For Free

2008-10-08T12:58:00.000-04:00

No this isn't a new version of the song by Dire Straights but with our economy it could be.
I copied this right from Oprah.com after watching todays' show about saving money. What better place to put this than on my blog. :)

Here's ways to save on groceries. There are only three of us in this house and somehow we spend a ridiculous amount of money on groceries each month (around $1200). Sadly much of it goes in the trash.

Ok so I'm game. I'll play along and for the next month see how much I can save at the local grocer. Anyone who wants to take the challenge with me I would love to have the company. Here's what to do:

5 Ways to Save Money on Groceries

By Stephanie Nelson

Stephanie Nelson, founder of CouponMom.com, says it's possible to fight the rising cost of groceries without sacrificing your favorite foods. Try her simple coupon saving strategies the next time you go to the grocery store:

Plan your meals and shopping lists around featured sale items.

Use your store's weekly sales ad flier to plan your menus for the week. Then, write your shopping list around the items and brands that are on sale.
Taking a few minutes to make a detailed plan will save you the time of making unplanned trips to the store during the week—which can ruin your budget.
Planning ahead also helps you avoid impulse shopping during your trip.

Know how your stores' savings programs work.

Do they have "buy one, get one free" deals?
Do they double coupons?
Do they offer a store discount cards that gives you automatic discounts?
Do they have special store coupons?
Once you know your stores' rules, you can combine them to pay the lowest possible prices for your items, such as using two coupons with a "buy one, get one free" deal. Combining strategies can result in free items.

Use grocery coupons, ideally when the item is on sale.

Buy the Sunday newspaper—75 percent of grocery coupons come from the newspaper. Buy two to three copies per week to save dramatically.
Go online—grocery stores often have their best deals and printable coupons on their websites.
Many stores offer electronic coupons that go directly on your store discount card.

Stock up on common items when they hit their lowest price.

Don't buy a year's supply, just enough to last until the next sale (two to three weeks).
Boneless chicken is on sale every other week at Stephanie's grocery store, so she buys two weeks of boneless chicken every other week to store in her freezer. This habit saves her family of four $325 a year on this one item.

Be flexible about brands and stores.

Buy the brand that's on sale with a coupon, or get the store brand if it's less expensive.
Shop at the store with the best prices for your items that week.

"Abundance Awareness"

2008-09-27T06:23:00.000-04:00

Friday, September 26, 2008

Abundance awareness

Fulfillment is not a matter of acquiring something. Fulfillment is developing the awareness that you already have access to whatever you seek.

There is no need to ask or to beg for anything from life. Instead, you can lovingly accept and express what is already available to you.

Even now, there is a connection to whatever you may dream or desire. Know that connection, feel that connection, live that connection and the dream is real and present.

Though there are challenges and obstacles, they do not separate you from your dream. On the contrary, they connect you to it and give it value.

Achievement is the expression of what you already know to be true. Achievement is a state of awareness that you can enter whenever you choose.

All that you could ever imagine is available to you at all times. Open yourself to the possibilities, and joyfully accept the limitless abundance that is.

-- RM

"Learn and Know"

2008-09-27T06:21:00.000-04:00

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Learn and know

Knowledge is one of the greatest treasures you can ever have. Each day is filled with countless opportunities to obtain more of it and to make good use of it, and no one can ever take it away from you.

In fact, the more you share what you know the more valuable that knowledge becomes to you. In knowledge there is great and continuously growing power.

Do not be content to hear secondhand from others how the world works. Take the initiative and make the effort to learn for yourself, and gain real, useful knowledge.

The amount and quality of knowledge you have will determine to a large extent the quality of your life. When you know what you need to learn, and when you know how to find it, anything becomes possible.

You already have great knowledge and you have access to much, much more. Achievement comes from using your knowledge to drive your actions toward the goals you have chosen.

Every day, every situation, every experience is a learning opportunity. Make good, purposeful use of what you know and learn, and there is no limit to what you can achieve.

-- RM

"Priorities"

2008-09-27T06:19:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Priorities

You've had many successes in your life and you'll have many more. In matters large and small you have a history of achieving what you have truly chosen to achieve.

The question to focus upon is this. What will you now choose to achieve?

How will you make the most meaningful and fulfilling use of the time and resources available to you? Which of the many opportunities will you now decide to follow?

You have a way of reaching those goals that you've authentically committed to reach. When something is important enough to you, when it is a priority, you know how to make it happen.

So what are the priorities you choose to have on this day? Upon what will you focus your considerable powers of achievement?

Whatever you make into a priority will surely become an achievement. Choose your priorities today with care, because you are indeed choosing how your life will soon be.

-- RM

Farewell Butch Cassidy

2008-09-27T06:07:00.000-04:00

Paul Newman has passed away at 83.Younger generations remember him as Butch Cassidy, my son knows him as Doc Hudson from "CARS". I know him as one of the most inspiring and talented, good looking men ever to grace the silver screen. He will be missed.

IT PASSED!!!

2008-09-27T05:35:00.000-04:00

In the midst of all this national financial crisis, the primary debates and gas prices it was hard to not worry everything else sitting on our governments plate of responsibility was going to get pushed aside.

I'm happy to say that yes, our senators and congressmen can actually do more than one thing at a time.

When the nation and the news were concentrating solely the "bailout" and the power struggle between Obama and McCain, the senate passed bill Senate Bill 1738 - The Protect Our Children Act

Thanks to everyone and the 6 million people that emailed their senators in the last week telling them there was no other option but to pass this bill.

As long as the president signs the bill, which it's said he has every plan to do so, this will be a law and the machine will be turned on to start putting an end to these scumbags that are lower than shit on flees.

When the law was passed to regulate and track pseudoephedrine products (Claritan-D, Advil C&S etc.) it reduced Meth labs, production and crimes by 75%. Pseudoephedrine was/is a primary ingredient in the production of Meth.

It is my sincerest hope this law will have an even greater affect on child pornography, rape, molestation and expolitation.

Personally I think we should be an unihabital island in the south pacific somewhere, stick them all on it and let them rape and kill each other.

Cheers!
Tara

My Blog Made it To Congress

2008-09-24T15:23:00.000-04:00

As many of you may know I posted a blog asking everyone to contact your Senators to support bill

1738âThe PROTECT Our Children Act

Which will put a huge chunk of change towards fighting child pediphiles, pornographers and cyber scum.

The vote was supposed to go to the Senate floor yesterday.

I did a little web search to check the status of the bill and clicked on www.OpenCongress.org.

Scanning down the page I noticed a rather familiar headline:

WAY COOL!! - Personal Reply from My Senator

The response letter I posted from my Senator Mel Martinez was picked up by their web crawler (I assume) and posted on their website. Albiet this wasn't my Multiply blog but my Directors Review Blog on blogger.

It truly amazes me the the expanse of the web-universe. You never know where your stuff will show up. :)

"Bring New Value To Life"

2008-09-23T15:38:00.000-04:00

This motivation is dedicated to my dear friend here on Multiply Teena!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Bring new value to life

It's natural to be negative. But that doesn't mean you have to let negativity control your life.

It's normal to worry. But worry accomplishes nothing, and you have much better ways to use your time and your energy.

The situation you're in could get a lot worse. And yet, it is just as likely to get a lot better.

You don't know what the future will bring. So your best strategy is to make full and positive use of the present.

The way to do that is by allowing your positive expectations to guide and to focus your positive actions. The best opportunities often arise when it seems that there won't ever be any more opportunities.

This is a day when you can make real progress. Turn toward the goal, let your expectations put a smile on your face, and bring new value to life right now.

-- RM

"Imagine Your Life"

2008-09-23T15:36:00.000-04:00

Monday, September 22, 2008

Imagine your life

What can you imagine? What would you most like to imagine?

Your life flows out from your imagination. Whatever you choose to become, you have first chosen to imagine.

No, life does not come to pass exactly as you have imagined it. There are many surprises and distractions along the way.

And yet, your most persistent and consistent imaginings do indeed set the direction for your life. Though it is impossible to foresee every pebble in every road, you can certainly choose which roads to travel based on where you know they lead.

Let your imagination be the pioneer that explores exciting and fulfilling new worlds. From the best of those worlds, find the one for you.

Imagine a great and wonderful life for yourself, with passion and loving detail. As soon as you imagine it, you begin the process of truly living it.

-- RM

WAY COOL!! - Personal Reply from My Senator

2008-09-23T09:48:00.000-04:00

When was the last time you received a personal reply from your Senator? Me, never until today.

Last week I posted an important blog post regarding the Predators to Prey - Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act.

I personally emailed both of my Senators asking them to support this bill. Today I got an email back from Florida Senator Mel Martinez (R).

Here is his response:

Dear Mrs. Conklin:

Thank you for contacting me regarding child exploitation. I appreciate hearing from you and would like to respond to your concerns.

On June 28, 2007, Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) introduced the Combating Child Exploitation Act (S. 1738). This measure would require the Attorney General to appoint a Special Counsel for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction to coordinate policies and strategies for the prevention and investigation of child exploitation cases. S. 1738 would establish an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to address on-line enticement of children, child exploitation, and child obscenity and pornography cases. S. 1738 would also establish a National Internet Crimes Against Children Data Network Center to assist the ICAC Task Force program and federal, state, local, and tribal agencies. S. 1738 was referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary where it awaits further approval.

In any just and moral society, it is essential that we do all that we can to ensure that children are protected against exploitation and abuse. Please know that I will keep your views in mind, and should S. 1738 come to the Senate floor, I will support it.

Again, thank you for sharing your views with me. If you have any other further questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me. In addition, for more information about issues and activities important to Florida, please sign up for my weekly newsletter at http://martinez.senate.gov.

Sincerely,

Mel Martinez
United States Senator

What a stand up guy. He's definitely got my vote for whatever he runs for in the future. :)

The vote goes to the floor today. I do hope you voted!

Tara

Predators to Prey - Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act.

2008-09-20T06:24:00.000-04:00

It's time to stop talking and time to start doing something.

Copy this blog post on your own blog and spread the word. Send it as an email to everyone in your address book. There truly is power in numbers.

Time is short, we only have until the end of the month to get legislation passed to help put and end to child predators. Hundreds of thousands of children are victims of sexual abuse each year in our country.

In the physical world, a predator or child molester is usually someone a parent or child knows—someone who might even be trusted by the family. Online, however, it can be a different story. Predators can use the Internet to seek out children they don’t know. When they succeed in establishing and maintaining contact, the informal nature of the medium itself is partly to blame. The usual caution that kids might exercise away from the computer—walking to school, for example—can gradually erode. By the time a child agrees to meet a predator face to face, he or she no longer thinks of that person as a stranger.

The Internet can sometimes seem like the Wild West for child predators—a place that largely operates outside the law. While trading in pedophile pornography is illegal, lack of adequate funding means law enforcement officials are able to investigate just 2 percent of their leads. And, according to Interpol statistics, only one-half of 1 percent are ever prosecuted.

"What you are going to see is going to shock you to the core, but I'm asking you to please don't turn away," Oprah says, "because this is happening in our country to our children in the United States every day."

The map behind Oprah shows how quickly one pornographic image of a child being molested can spread. It starts with the large red dot from a computer in Washington, D.C. Within 24 hours, it has spread all across the United States—from coast to coast and north to south. "This is just an average day in America—24 hours," Oprah says.

"We're seeing sexual abuse including oral penetration, vaginal, anal penetration," says Michelle, another analyst at the Center for Missing and Exploited Children "We see children with dog collars on their necks. Kids with plastic bags over their heads. Foreign object insertion with these children." The demand for new videos and photos is so high that authorities report tracking increasingly brutal pornography with younger and younger victims.

"For once, you and I can do something about it!" Oprah says.

Due to the sheer lack of resources, law enforcement is unable to follow up on the majority of leads they have.

The PROTECT Our Children Act will:

Authorize over $320 million over the next five years in desperately needed funding for law enforcement to investigate child exploitation.
Mandate that child rescue be a top priority for law enforcement receiving federal funding.
Allocate funds for high-tech computer software that can track down Internet predators.

Act Now!
Your U.S. senators will be voting on the bill soon, so it is crucial you contact them immediately.
Go to www.senate.gov to find contact information for the senators in your state. Search for your senator by name or state by clicking on the arrow from either dropdown menu. Contact information is provided here. To send an e-mail, click on "Web Form" below his or her name, and e-mail your letter to make a difference!

Choose your senators and sort by "State". Fill out the form for each senator. Under issue or subject choose "Crime" or "Judicial" or "Justice"

Call Your Senators
If you choose to contact your senators by phone, be sure to tell them, "Vote yes on Senate Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act."

Write to Your Senators
If you choose to write a letter, fax, telegram or e-mail, you may use the following sample letter—and modify it how you see fit.

Dear Senator:

I know that you believe, like I do, that we must do everything possible to protect children from sexual predators. That is why I am asking for your help.

Last year alone, U.S. law enforcement identified over 300,000 criminals who were trafficking in movies and pictures of young children being raped and tortured. Experts say that one in every three of these criminals has local child victims. Many of these child victims are infants. Child pornography trafficking over the Internet has given us a trail of evidence that leads straight to their doorsteps, but the vast majority of these children will never be rescued because investigators are overwhelmed, outnumbered and underfunded.

As your constituent, I urge you to do everything in your power to pass the PROTECT Our Children Act (S. 1738, Biden-Hatch). This bipartisan legislation passed the House 415-2, but it is now the victim of petty partisan politics.

Now that we know where these children are and how to protect them, there is no excuse for the Senate to fail to take action this session.

Thank you for listening and acting!

[Your Name]

Here are some links to get educated:

Net Safe Kids
Family WatchDog
Child Predator Busters
National Sex Offender Registry

You don't even have to get off your butt to do anything. Here are the steps to take:

1. Copy and Paste or send a letter to your senators NOW.

2. Get Informed, check out the links above to see what you can do to protect your children.

3. Copy this blog post on your own blog and spread the word. Send it as an email to everyone in your address book. There truly is power in numbers.

Please don't delay. Millions of children are depending on us!

(content provided by Oprah.com)

"All Of Now"

2008-09-20T05:34:00.000-04:00

Saturday, September 20, 2008

All of now

The bright sun shines in the clear blue sky. Shimmering waves glisten on a restless sea.

Beauty fills the world. Possibility fills your life.

The problems are real. Yet in each one is the opportunity to move forward.

This sparkling moment is one of a kind. Take it in with love and with gratitude, and remember to live it fully.

This magical mystery that is your life knows only the limits you choose to give it. In the heart of your spirit you can experience anything you decide to experience.

Life is in all of now. See it, feel it and know it as it fills you with wonder and joy.

-- RM

"Now Is The Time"

2008-09-20T05:30:00.000-04:00

Friday, September 19, 2008

Now is the time

It's time to get busy. It's time to make a difference, and just think of how great that will feel.

This day is a golden opportunity to bring your dreams to life. You're in a position to have a positive impact on your world.

Instead of complaining about what's wrong, build upon what is right. Instead of arguing over who is to blame, figure out what you can do to make things better.

There are ideas you've been meaning to pursue. Now is the time to get started on them.

There are projects you've been needing to finish. Now is your chance to bring those achievements to fruition.

Give the gift of your own smart, focused, enthusiastic action to the world today. There's immense value just waiting to be created, and now is the time to make it happen.

-- RM

"Always Something"

2008-09-20T05:25:00.000-04:00

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Always something

There is always something positive that you can do. On the best of days, or in the most challenging of circumstances, you can choose to move forward.

Conditions are not as bad as they seem, nor are conditions as good as they appear. Conditions are whatever you choose to make of them.

It's up to you to take the energy of this day and give it a specific direction. Though circumstances are constantly changing, you can always choose to move in the direction of your dreams.

Of course there are complications, challenges and obstacles. And you can use them all to create your own path forward.

You are in control of your thoughts and actions. That's a powerful place from which to operate, no matter what the outside circumstances may be.

There is always something positive, productive, enriching and fulfilling that you can do. Get up, get going, and make a difference in your own special way.

-- RM

"A Different Angle"

2008-09-20T05:23:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

A different angle

You can learn many things from those who agree with you. You can often learn even more from those with whom you disagree.

Your own perspective is important, for it enables you to make sense of the world. Always keep in mind, though, that yours is not the only perspective.

You can listen to others, learn from them, and successfully work with them even though you may not agree with them on all issues. If everyone held the exact same opinion on every subject, then knowledge and wisdom would become stagnant and outdated.

Your own perspective will grow stronger and more useful when you regularly allow it to be challenged. When people respectfully agree to disagree, everyone benefits from the diversity of opinion.

Living a life of success and fulfillment does not depend on always proving that you're right and that others are wrong. To make real progress you must let go of the assumption that you already have all the answers.

Stay true to the values you treasure, while thoughtfully considering the different perspectives of others. Look at life from a different angle, and you'll always find new richness.

-- RM

"Offer Real Value"

2008-09-20T04:56:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Offer real value

There is always much work to be done. There is always great value to be created.

Plenty of problems are waiting to be solved. And each problem represents opportunity.

All kinds of dreams are longing to be realized. Those dreams add incalculable positive power to life.

Choose to tackle the difficult problems with effectiveness and persistence, and you will gain great rewards. Learn to deliver the real value and substance that the world seeks, and your efforts will always be in demand.

Conditions are constantly changing, and yet some things will always be true. Those people who make themselves the most useful will enjoy life's richest treasures.

Choose to be creative, flexible, productive, effective, efficient and generous with the best that is within you. Offer real value to the world, and the world will surely return the favor in abundance.

-- RM

"Living Purpose"

2008-09-15T10:46:00.000-04:00

Monday, September 15, 2008

Living purpose

Your purpose is not to fear or to frighten. Your purpose is not to control or to be controlled.

Your purpose is to live, to love and to experience life in a way that is uniquely yours. Your purpose is to be open to the newness and reality of every moment, giving joy a living expression.

Your purpose is to give the miracle of life a distinct voice. It is to know and to treasure moments of pure beauty for which there are no words.

The challenges may be profound, and yet they cannot challenge or diminish your purpose. On the contrary, those challenges help you to understand and express your purpose more clearly.

The world can at times distract you into caring about mere shadows of life that have no real meaning. Yet always, beneath the surface, your living purpose is there.

Remember that purpose, and let its value flow freely from you with each thought, feeling and action. Live from your purpose and be fully alive.

-- RM

Tara's Utopia

Ut Meaus Permaneo Spiritus

"Ut meaus permaneo spiritus"

Shades of Jeans

It Has Begun

A Mouthful of Week

Sunday Revival

Sunday Revival

Positively Charged Connections

Food For Nothin' and Your Dinner For Free

"Abundance Awareness"

Friday, September 26, 2008

Abundance awareness

"Learn and Know"

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Learn and know

"Priorities"

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Priorities

Farewell Butch Cassidy

IT PASSED!!!

My Blog Made it To Congress

1738âThe PROTECT Our Children Act

WAY COOL!! - Personal Reply from My Senator

"Bring New Value To Life"

This motivation is dedicated to my dear friend here on Multiply Teena!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Bring new value to life

"Imagine Your Life"

Monday, September 22, 2008

Imagine your life

WAY COOL!! - Personal Reply from My Senator

Predators to Prey - Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act.

"All Of Now"

Saturday, September 20, 2008

All of now

"Now Is The Time"

Friday, September 19, 2008

Now is the time

"Always Something"

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Always something

"A Different Angle"

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

A different angle

"Offer Real Value"

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Offer real value

"Living Purpose"

Monday, September 15, 2008

Living purpose

1738âThe PROTECT Our Children Act