Wishing Everyone A Safe & Happy New Year

I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas. 2009 is coming to an end and we will be ringing in the new year. 2009 has been a difficult year, I think a lot of people are hoping the year 2010 will bring better and happier times, I know I am. I just wanted to wish everyone a safe and happy New Year.

Sports Parents Kill Me

Today was my son's first wrestling tournament of the season, as usual you see the crazy sports parents who are trying to relive their childhood through their child. They stress themselves out and their children out way too much over a children's wrestling tournament. As I was standing outside, a parent walks out and says "this is going to kill me" referring to his child.  Apparently, his child wasn't doing as well as he thought he should.  Last year, there were too many dads out in the hallway with their children scolding them for not winning.  I understand you want your child to win, but come on; what kind of message are you sending to your child that doing his best isn't good enough?  It's not just in wrestling, my daughter was cheerleading in the fall and at one of the games, two of the parents almost got into a fight after one of the games. One of the parents was a cheerleader's mom and the other was a father of a football player, the mother didn't think he was showing the spirit and didn't like some of the comments he was saying to another parent.

On the other hand you have the parents who can not seem to let go of their children and let them play.  You have these boys who cry after they lose their bout because their parents have babied them way too much.  One parent had to be asked to get off the mat by the coach because he went out on to the mat to hug his child because he had started crying during a bout.  Come on parents, let your children grow up.  If you have smothered and babied your child so much that they can't make it through a wrestling bout, there's a problem.  Let go a little bit and let your child stand on their own two feet.  They can't even enjoy the sport they are playing because their parents have their nose stuck their ass.

Don't get me wrong, I'm down their screaming and yelling chearing my son on. I enjoy every minute of it. But, if he loses I know he did his best and I tell him "he did a good job."

Parents, please get your nose out of your child's ass long enough to let them play and for those parents trying to relive their childhood through their child, it's not your childhood, it's theirs so let them live it and enjoy it while they can.  

Ringing in the new year.

For 2010 things are going to change in my life.  I am not going to bother with making senseless resolutions such as; losing weight and so on. Ofcourse, that will be one of my goals, but I think there are more important things in my life that need attention. I have put up with far too much crap from a lot of people, but that chapter in my life is over. I am a little tired of being walked on by people and being taken advantage of, so the year 2010 is going to be a new beginning in my life. So, this is it, either it's going to be done right or not at all and I'm going to work on getting the stronger and independent me back. I miss her and I am going to find her again. I am planting both feet firmly on the ground in the year 2010 and I am not putting up with no more bullshit from anyone and I am going to find the old me again. For those who don't take me seriously, need to. Because, I am very serious.

The new year...

I really hope the year 2010 turns out better than the year 2009 has started and is ending. This has been a very difficult year in many ways and the year 2010 could not come soon enough. Many things have changed this year and I cannot say they have changed for the better. Maybe the year 2010 will bring me a little hope that things will get better in the future. However, they way this year has gone it is getting a little difficult to be optimistic.  It has just been one thing after another this year. Don't get me wrong, there are a few things in my life that bring me joy.I know one would say I should be grateful for what I do have; well I am most of the time. It's just that sometimes the struggle is a little tiring. I used to be very passionate about life and always looking for ways to improve my life and strive for more. Nevertheless, lately that flame is dwindling and I am running out new ideas. I used to be a strong independent woman and I thought I could overcome anything; this year has been very sobering. Somehow I lost her and I need to find that woman inside of me again.

The recession is far from being over.

This so-called recession is supposed to be almost over. LMAO.  Who came out with that one?  They say there are thousands of jobs out there.  That's funny, there are thousands of low paying jobs out there, is more like it.  They are just sugar coating the truth.  While searching the web, I found a posting for a secretary.  They were asking 2-5 years experience and a BA degree in business for $10.00 an hour. Four years ago someone with a four year degree would laugh at them. Now, they are scrambling for the job.  Employers are taking advantage of the abundance of workers out there who are unemployed.  There looking at it as an oppurtunity to lower the wages they are paying people.  It's insane!  I am beginning to think, it's the beginning of a new way of life in the United States.  The one thing these employers are not thinking about is, the less money people make, the less money they will spend.  Which will only send us into a deeper recession.  Which means, there business will make less money. Apparently, they failed economics 101.  The funny thing about it, they will probably blame Obama, when it was Bush who put us in this recession. And... an overwelming number of Americans voted him in for the second time around.  I remember telling my boss who voted for him the second time around, you will regret voting for him because that so called tax break he was promising small business owners didnt include him.  He is now out of business and I am out of a job.  I guess I couldn't have been more right about that one.

Today's Youth....

Today's youth have no respect for adults.  You can do your best to raise your children to grow up into good respectful adults, but something happens along the way.  It's like they have a sense of entitlement and feel like they don't have to respect anyone, not even their parents.  The schools have interfered with parents doing their jobs as parents so much, that it makes it almost impossible to raise your child.  The schools have filled their heads with so much crap about how parents shouldn't do this or shouldn't do that, they have given youth way too much power to twist their parents arms.  If you don't do what they want when they want, they think they can just call the police on you or tell someone at school.  You don't even have to do anything and they will make up lies to try and force you into what they want you to do.  Then when they are bad or misbehave in the school or in society, it's our fault; we are bad parents and didn't do our job raising our children. When I was a child and a teenager, I would have never been able to talk to my parents the way today's youth talks to parents.  Sometimes, it feels like you are banging you head against the wall and can not get anything through to them because they know everything and you owe them everything simply because you are their parent.

Afghanistan: 30,000 More Troops... I say hell no!

I support Obama as president and hope he can bring change to the United States. However, I don’t support his decision to send more troops to Afghanistan. I would hate to say it but you can’t change the ways of the people of Afghanistan. In the eight years we have been over there, they have not changed yet. The little news snippets about how the last war changed the lives of the people of Afghanistan was only a smoke screen. Their elections are a joke. The people are forced to vote for a leader, they either vote for the leader the Taliban wants them to vote for or die. That doesn’t sound like democracy to me. We didn't help the people of Afghanistan then and we won't now, thirty-thousand more troops, isn't going to change that. They have had the opportunity on several occasions to take out Bin Laden, but the man is still alive and well. Fighting ‘til death is an honor for them, it is a way of life and you can’t change their culture or their religious beliefs. That is who they are and whom they will always will be. We may not agree with their way of life, but we can’t change them. The Middle East resents America for interfering with their way of life. The same goes with Iraq, we don’t belong there anymore. Most of the people of the Middle East believe we are sinners and want nothing to do with our way of life. I have been to the Middle East, they refer to Americans as Shat`an (Satan). They believe we are sinners and are going to burn in the seven fires of hell… and American Government thinks they can change Iraq & Afghanistan. It’s a pipe dream and might as well give up before the waste anymore of United States money or lose one more life of our great American soldiers by putting more troops in Iraq or Afghanistan. Unless they are a threat to our homeland, we need to keep our soldiers and our money out of Iraq or Afghanistan. There are enough children who has lost their parents to a losing cause.

When is it time to give up?

A friend of mine is going thru a very difficult time with her ex. She really loves this person, but he keeps lying to her and messing around. They go back and forth to one another.  She just can't seem to stay away from him and just when she thinks he has changed and he won't do it anymore, there he goes again.  I feel terrible for her because she really loves him, but he always breaks her heart.  It is tearing her up inside. What is wrong with some men that they can't just love one person and be with just one person?  Don't they care about how much they are hurting the person they say they love?  How can one person be so ruthless and heartless to not even care about how much they are hurting that person who would do anything to just to have this person forever and have them be committed to them and only them. He doesn't even realize he is torturing and breaking her heart. When you make a promise to someone you should keep it.  Men talk about women not knowing what they want. Some men are worse then women. They can't even decide which woman they want. And if we did what they did, we would be a lying cheating bitch. At least when we make a promise, we keep it. They can't say the same. Tell me how can you hurt someone so badly, you claim to love?  Is the thrill of cheating really worth fucking up your life and someone else's life?  They need to remember it is someone else's life they are fucking up & have no right to do it.

Sex, lies & marriage...

As I go online to my myspace, I can't help but wander what is wrong with people today. All their updates are posted on all of their friends pages, about 80% are sexual in content.  The sad part about it are most of these people are married or in relationships. People have become reckless.  It's not just on myspace, that includes anywhere else they are seeking a fling. Infidelity is even in the news almost weekly. Its like sex and marriage are two seperate entities. What did they get married for? You can have sex with you spouse. Why do they need to go out and seek meaningless sex with someone they don't know. In actuality, it's pathetic. It only shows they have no morals or self control.  They are probably the ones saying they are doing it because their sex life at home has gotten boring.  Did they ever stop to think their sex life has gotten boring because they are no longer putting effort into their sex life.  It's a little hard to get into it if the other person is laying there like a bump on a log. They are the only ones to blame if they marriages fail. Maybe if they put as much effort into their marriage as they do into having an affair, their marriages wouldn't fail. You can't be boring in the bedroom and expect it to be exciting. When your married, you need to remember your married and the other person involved has trusted you with their heart. How would it feel if they did the same to you? You would be running around telling everyone what they did to you and acting as though you are innocent when you know your not. If you want to IM, text or email someone why don't you try your spouse? It might actually improve your marriage.  Another excuse is, I just don't love them the same anymore. Well damn, if you are focusing your attention on someone else, your not going to love them the same anymore. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. You are taking away from the feelings that were meant for your spouse. It is no longer personal anymore.  Seriously, some of these people are just too damn old to be doing this shit anymore.  By the time you get in your mid-thirties you should be settled down and taking care of business not playing around like you are a teenager.  News Flash, your not a teenager anymore and you look ridiculous trying to pretend like your single and in your early to mid-twenties. By the time you have reached your mid-thirties, you only have a few good years left.  So, why don't you give up the childish games and get real. Infidelity is a desperate attempt to build self-esteem. Seriously, open your eyes and see the skank or skanks your having an affair with for what they really are.... and that builds your self-esteem. LMAO. No one likes a phony or a liar. You don't like to be lied to, so why are you lying to someone else? In the end, you have no real potential. If you wouldn't want to be married to someone that is unfaithful and lies to you, then why do expect someone to want you? You married them because you loved them. Why don't love them enough to be faithful? If marriage wasn't serious, you wouldn't need a lawyer to get a divorce. When did loyalty and honesty become such an undesirable trait that so few wish to possess them.

'Tis the season....

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm having a really difficult time getting into the Christmas Spirit this year.  The economy sucks, everything just seems more difficult this year, and it's getting harder to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  They weren't lying when they say "when it rains, it pours." I can't help but be more excited for the new year to begin and 2009 to just be over. Maybe the year 2010 will be better, we can only hope.  I remember in the early 80's, things were a little tough for a few years.  I think the year 2009 has topped that and this is one of the worst recessions the United States has seen in years. We can only hope that things will turn around in the new year.  Nothing in life is what I knew it to be.  Sometimes, I wonder is this what is left of everything I worked so hard to build and if I will ever get my old lifestyle back.

Closing Schools and Laying off Teachers

It seems like everytime I turn on the news there is something on the news about more school closings.  I understand the economy is bad.  But, seriously can we afford to cut back on educating our children?  Other countries school systems are more advanced than the educational system in the United States and they are closing schools and laying off teachers left and right.  Are we really returning to the dark ages?  During the Dark Ages there were no schools.  The Dark Ages began with the Fall of the Roman Empire.  During the Roman Empire there were schools and libraries.  The Barbarians destroyed and burned down all the schools and libraries.  The only difference is it is our own government shutting down libraries and schools.  In my daughters high school, they are laying off the librarian and closing the library.  They claim they the school doesn't need a library.  Why don't they start with cutting the salary and some of the fringe benefits the government officials take.  I think that would be a better place to start. Oh excuse me, we wouldn't want them to feel the hit of the economy. It is much better to over crowd the schools and cut back on educating our youth.

A little dose of reality.

Some teens and young adults have lost touch with reality and don't understand the consequences of their behavior. A friend of mine had her birthday party at a club in Detroit, a fight broke out between a couple of guys and they left and came back with a gun.  As a young woman, a mother, and someone's daughter stepped outside to leave was shot and killed.  A young woman was killed over nothing, and a little girl lost her mother. What a shame. I bet they drove away feeling justified. Hopefully, they will spend the rest of their lives in prison, where they belong.  People like this should remain locked up, like the animals they are. The scary part was I was supposed to go. Thank God, I wasn't feeling well and decided to sit this one out.  I was feeling guilty for not going and celebrating with my best friend, but God must have been watching over me that day.

Is there any hope anymore?

The economy sucks and there are no jobs out there.  At least that pay more than $10.00 an hour. I went from a comfortable lifestyle and what I thought was a secure job to having to start over and to top it off, the jobs out there aren't looking too good.  My future isn't looking so good anymore.  Will the economy ever improve so people can get back on their feet?  I'm beginning to wonder, if this is what the future holds for the United States.  It seems like you work so hard your whole life to be successful and everything just seems to spin out of control and there is nothing you can do about it.  You educate yourself and then get even more education and it just doesn't seem to matter anymore. Even if your married, it's a very scary situation.  First, there's going from two incomes to one income and if that's not hard enough to deal with there is the scary fact that it's not your grandparents 'til death do us part marriage anymore.  You can't be naïve and think there isn't the posibility of divorce in your future. You can love and respect someone all you want but, they have to give it back for it to work. Too many people don't respect the sanctity of marriage anymore. You always have that worry in the back of your mind, what is going to happen to me and my children? Can I depend on them to not let me fall?  It's a very scary reality. The homeless population is always rising, especially now. People who had good jobs and nice homes are now living out of their cars. If you don't find a job and your unemployment runs out, and you lose your home then where are you and your children going to go? Someone should strip George Bush of all his fine luxuries and money, put him in an apartment on the lower east side of town and tell him to go find a job.

Are things heating up yet?

Is your sex life getting stale?  Try making love in a new and exciting place.  Just make sure you aren't going to get caught with your pants down or on camera.  Don't limit your lovemaking to the bedroom.  How about....

• A nice hot shower together. There are aids online or in the adult stores to make  love making easier and safer in the shower.
• Initiating another room in the house.
• Set up a secret meeting place to cook up some hot & steamy sex in a public place.
• A hotel room
• Look up some new positions online. Karma Sutra is a good place to start. They give you details on the how to perform the position. Dont limit yourselves to the same positions all the time.  Even if you don't master the position, it will be fun trying.
• Watch a good porn flick.  By the end of the movie, you will be making love. Choose one together, so you both will be comfortable with the content.
• Try some role playing.
• Surprise him by playing the damsel in distress & then seduce him.

Enjoy your lovemaking adventures, my friends.

Even Santa Clause & His Elves Are Feeling The Economy

Santa Clause & his elves in North Pole, Alaska are being his hard by the economy too.  Santa & his elves have been responding to childrens letters to Santa Clause since 1954 in North Pole, Alaska.  The USPS is dropping the program.   In a town where the light poles are curved like candy canes and there are street names like Kris Kringle Drive they are not ready to give up on the tradition. Gabby Gaborik, the cheif elf is working with USPS to come up with an alternative agreement. They are working on getting the address 101 Santa Clause Lane so children will have somewhere to send their letters.  The USPS has been coding the mail to protect the identity of children since 2006.  Last year, there were approximately 800,000 items processed last year and the USPS says North Pole, Alaska are not equiped with the right equipement to process mail of that kind of volume. Democratic Sen. Mark Begich and Republican Rep. Don Young  have sent letters to the post master general expressing their concerns about the program being dropped. Now, those letters that are intercepted by the postal service will be shredded. How sad, the USPS will be crushing the dreams of thousands of children across the United States.

Enjoy one another

As you may know, I have dedicated the month of November to Bringing The Love Back in your marriage or relationship. With the busy holiday season coming, we spend a lot of time focusing on dinner planning and shopping and forget to take care of ourselves. I know you may already know about all the topics I am discussing for the month of November, or maybe not. However, sometimes we forget to take care of the person we love and forget that even though we are married we still have to work on our relationship. Please feel free to leave any comments or suggestions; I would love to hear from you.

Enjoy One Another

One of the common mistakes couples make in marriage is they forget to have fun together. Having fun together is essential to having a happy marriage. Goof around together; don't be so serious all the time. Be frisky & flirt with one another. Couples are so caught so caught up in daily life they forget to make time alone for one another. Make time for one another at least once a month. Go shopping; go out to dinner or a movie without the children. Look at your budget and see which weekend would be the best weekend to have a date night find a babysitter and spend time alone with your loved one. If you go out to a reasonable restaurant, a dinner for two can be inexpensive. There are several restaurants you two can go out to dinner to and have a couple of drinks and still keep the bill under $40.00. If that is not in your budget, send the kids to a relative’s house for a couple of hours or the night. Have dinner at home and maybe watch a movie together. It is not about how much you spend. It is about staying in touch with each other on a personal level and getting to know each other all over again.

A New Adventure....

Do you want to try something new and exciting? Fulfill your partner's fantasy and give your partner an equal opportunity to satisfy your sultry fantasy. Seriously, think about what is your wildest fantasy you would like to have fulfilled and your mate can do the same. Then you can write a letter or send an email to one another describing in detail what your fantasy is. Make it secretive, plan everything through emails and letters. Don't discuss your fantasy with one another.  You can even meet each other in seperate cars, like you are complete strangers. Don’t be conservative, this is your lifetime partner. If you can’t share your dreams and fantasies with your significant other, then who can you share them with. By this point, you have probably shared illnesses, childbirth and many other personal circumstances. Why not share your fantasies? Many couples are uncomfortable with opening up in the bedroom because they are afraid of how their partner will react to them. In most circumstances, they will be pleased to know what you like and how to please you without playing a guessing game. Boost your intimate moments and make them more pleasurable by letting them know what you like. Couples who are more comfortable with open communication are more satisfied with their sex life. Go ahead, book that room at the hotel down the street or send the kids to a family members’ house for the night and let your imagination run wild.

Its time to stir up the senses!

When being intimate with your partner a good a way to turn up the heat is to remember all the senses. Plan an afternoon trip to you local adult toy store or shop online together. Maximize the fun by going together. If you both go together then you both will be able to give some input on fulfilling your fantasies and choosing items both of you will be comfortable using. When planning your next encounter, think about how many of your partner's senses you can stimulate.

Taste: Champagne, chocolates, edible body paints & oils, sensual fruits that will be fun feeding each other, whip cream and the list goes on. Be creative!

Touch: When touching each other remember soft feather touches. The sensation of feeling isn’t just about touching one another. The sensation of touch is also the surfaces, such as sheets, negligees’, fuzzy rugs, soft surfaces, feathers, etc. One thing to keep in mind is; how does it feel when you touch it?

Sight: Visual stimulation is very important. Most men are visually stimulated when it comes to love making. Light some candles to provide a little soft lighting and give the room a sensual ambiance, negligees’ and a pair of stilettos, and spread some sensual toys on the bed. Have fun!!!

Smell: Scented candles or incense, where perfume, a freshly showered body is also very sensual. Scented massage oils are also very helpful in stirring up more than one of the bodies senses.

Hearing: Talk sexy to your partner. Tell them how their touch makes you feel or what you would like them to do. Being intimate is very personal. So, let’s get personal. Don’t be shy.

And don’t forget….

The Mind: The mind can be a wonderful sensual tool and is where it all begins. Send them some sexy pics inviting them to play, leave a note somewhere telling them where to meet you, or some hot text messages to get the imagination going.

Just remember to enjoy the time you spend with your partner and being creative will keep their interest and their love going for years to come.

The Do's & Don'ts of Love

We begin our search for love as teenagers and spend our lives looking for that perfect person to love and love us back. We spend countless hours in bars, clubs, social gatherings and online trying to find someone that will catch our eye and spark that feeling in us. If finding love and the perfect mate is so important to us, then why when we find it, do we not value that special person we fell in love with? Then there are those who say, "I'm happy alone." Then why are they always on the search for someone to connect with physically or emotionally? It is part of human nature to seek someone to mate with and spend our life with. That is what separates us from animals. It is animalistic behavior to seek others solely to mate with or for just physical pleasure. When you do find that special person, do not be foolish and push them away. When two people are cohabitating together day in and day out, year after year there is going to be some difficulties. Many couples argue over nonsense things and nag one another. You need to pick your battles.

 The Do’s & Don’ts of love

 Don’t 

•  Don’t nag your partner
•  Don’t make a big deal out of nothing
•  Don’t criticize your mate
•  Don’t go to bed angry
•  Don’t take them for granted
•  Don’t ever degrade them in front of others or alone
•  Don’t betray their loyalty & trust
•  Don’t be selfish
•  Don’t break their heart

Do

• Love them unconditionally 
• Think before your speak
• Be loyal & trustworthy
• Appreciate the small things they do for you
• Something special for them to show your love
• Tell them you love them everyday
• Be respectful of their feelings
• Always make sure they know how you feel
• Forgive them
• Make decisions together
• Always be committed to your partner & your relationship
• Remember why you fell in love with them
• Hold them near and dear in your heart & love them forever!

If you really love someone, be true to them......

If you really love someone, then be true to them. When you really love someone and care for them you don't do things that will hurt them. Be honest with the one you love. Don't think that just because they don't know, it won't hurt them. The truth always comes out in the end. I think people have a fear of committment. What is so scary about being committed to someone? If your sharing yourself with someone else, your not giving yourself the opportunity to completely love someone. You will never experience real love when your holding back a piece of yourself. It's not fair to you or your partner. Your spouse or your partner will be there for you when no one else will. Will the one night stand take care of you when your sick? Will the one night stand be there for you when your down? Can you depend on the one night stand or fling to help you out when you need it? No, they won't! No little one night stand or fling is worth losing the person you love. If you found that one person you love, why would you risk losing them just to have a fling. I don't get it. You can't build a future with someone while your still playing in the field. Be smart, appreciate what you have. Be true to your partner and don't just say you are when your really not. You expect them to be true to you, so be true to them. I bet you would be really shocked and hurt if they weren't. So, why the double standard? Stop being selfish and show them the same love and respect you expect from them. Sure it may be fun while your doing it, but is it still going to be fun when you have broken your partner our spouse's heart? Is it still going to be fun when you have lost the one you love? You can't replace them as easy as you think. Is it still going to be worth it when you know your the reason for all their pain? Are you going to bring the love back or throw it away?

Appreciate your life and the loved ones in it. You never know when you won't have them anymore.

Driving on my way home from shopping for my son's birthday at Target today, there was a young woman probably in her early 20's sitting on the ground just as you come into the plaza holding a sign saying "Need help with rent." The poor girl looked like she was freezing. It was so sad, I had to fight back the tears. I really wish I could have given her something, but I had no cash on me. I know the economy has gotten bad and the homeless or people facing hardship has been around for years. I think we live in our little suburb's blocking out the hardship of the world. There are so many of us who may be having a hard time. I really sympathize with this girl. I lost my job about a year ago right before Christmas and still haven't found work. The economy has really made a lot peoples lives very difficult. It is even getting hard for the young people to find minimum wage jobs to try and support themselves until they make their way in life. After seeing that girl, I thought "Wow, there is so much in life that we take for granted." Such as, having a roof over our head, food on the table and cloths to wear. I just want people to look around them and appreciate the things they do have. Thank God you have a hot meal every day and someone to share it with. Even if what you have may not be a lot, but at least you have it and truly appreciate the people you have in your life who love you and are there to catch you when you fall. Not everyone is blessed with those things. Obviously, this poor girl doesn't have anyone to help her when she is down. Hold on the ones you love near and dear to your heart and never let go.

November-Bringing the love back....Day 2

Many people in their daily grind forget to flatter your partner. Be sure to compliment your partner as often as possible. After years of being in a relationship we forget to compliment our partner. Don't leave your partner feeling like they are no longer attractive to you.

Show your spouse your truly genuinely care about them.

Pay attention to them when they are speaking to you.

Keep the lines of communication open- always let your spouse know how you are feeling. Constructively communicate without lashing out is the key.

Leave each other little notes somewhere, just simply saying "I love you."

Have fun with texting one another. Once your the little buzz in the pocket, you may be the little buzz somewhere else.

Never let your spouse feel as though they need to turn to someone else for emotional support.

Always have fun together. Goof around and laugh a little. You will enjoy the time you spend together a lot more.

See you tomorrow....

Month of November.... bring the love back.

With the busy holiday season coming around the corner, many couples don't make enough time for themselves putting stress on their relationship. I'm making the month of November "Bringing the love back." For the month of November I will post various tips and tricks you and your partner can use to help bring the love back in your relationship and show your appreciation for one another. Check back to see the fun and exciting ways to spruce up your relationship. Please feel free to leave comments or any ideas you may have on how to bring the love back in your relationship. So, lets begin.....

You can be intimate any day of the week or any time of the day, be spontaneous.

A recipe for some "Sweet Bubbly Fun"

Illuminate the room with red and white candles. Red and white candles give you a feeling of love.

Some of your favorite chocolates. For example, maybe some chocolate covered strawberries. Chocolate has sensual properties that increase the brain activity from the caffeine and an increase in serotonin which lowers stress.

A bottle of champagne. The bubbles in the champagne will arouse you and your partner.

Enjoy.... you can thank me later. Don't forget to check back for more tips and tricks.

Spice up your love life...

Some of the most common complaints in a relationship is their sex life has faded, it's become boring or the spark just isn't there anymore. People get settled and comfortable in a relationship and no longer work at trying to impress their partner. Intimacy has an important part of the relationship to keep the love alive and burning. Appreciate the needs of your partner. Instead of complaining about it, take some action. Put down the remote and sneak into your bedroom once the kids are tucked away in their beds. You don't need to go anywhere to have some fun, you can have fun in your own room. Go to your local pharmacy and get some massage oil, light some candles and do sensual massages on each other, buy a new negligee or go online and see what you can find interesting to add a little spice to your relationship. Do anything, but nothing. Another option is, if you do have children and you need to get away, get a babysitter, pick up some take out and rent a room somewhere for the night. You don't even have to leave town. You can rent a room a mile from where you live. Who says you have to go out of town to rent a room or that it needs to be a special occasion to appreciate your loved one. Experiment a little and have some fun. You actively pursued your partner in the beginning...why stop now?

Young children working on blueberry farm, is this the U.S.?

The Adkin Blue Ribbon Blueberry Farm located near South Haven, MI were fined for violating federal migrant-housing & child labor laws. What a shame! The Adkin co. claim they are unsure why there were children working on their blueberry farm and are investigating the issue. They claim it may be because the workers did not have adequate child care. Is that really an excuse? Funny, they didn't see the children as young as 6 years old carrying around the 5-gallon buckets and picking blueberries? What has this country come to? We have adults out here who can't find jobs and they are working young children. I swear, some people have no morals and will do anything to make a buck, no matter how wrong it may be. That sounds like a story you would hear about in another country. But, not in the United States. The Adkin farm is one of largest blueberry companies in Michigan selling their blueberries to grocery food chains, such as; Kroger, Meijers & Walmart. The Adkin Farm paid only $5,500 in fines. In my opinion, that isn't enough. They should have been fined a lot more. The workers were also found to be living in unlicensed migrant camps with no hot water, a faulty septic system leaking near the living quarters, the living units were infested with bugs and rodents, and untreated water waste spilling out of broken pipes. I would hate to say it, but this is one of the problems with hiring seasonal migrant workers.

Evaluate your marriage, you will be surprised.

The divorce rate is at an all time high. People just don't seem to have the same level of commitment that they used to have in marriages. It seems the attitude is, it's easier to get a divorce than to try and work it out. When you married that person, you must have thought "this is someone, I could spend the rest of my life with." There had to have been something about that person that you loved at one point. That quality does not disappear. You just have to get past all the bitterness to see the good again. You married them because you loved them more than you ever loved anyone else. I think sometimes people forget why they got married in the first place. Before you run to a divorce lawyer, sit down and evaluate yourself. Think "what could I have done differently or what can I do to make this marriage work?" You can not change someone else, but you change how you react to that person or change the things you do. If react calmly to situations and drop the yelling and accusations, your partner may react differently to you. Change has to start with you. It can be done, you just have to work at it. The next time you and your partner have confrontation, react calmly to the situation, evaluate if it is really worth arguing over, stop the accusations and see if they react differently. Remember, there are three sides of a story; your version, their version and the truth. One of the problems with a lot of people, they seem to think the grass is greener on the other side. In most situations, it is easier to fix your own marriage than to start over with a new set of problems or the same set of problems just with a different person. One of the things you can do, is sit down make a list of the good things your partner has done, and what is it about your partner that you love then sit down and make a list of the negative things. I can almost bet you, the good will out weigh the bad. The first step is to forgive. Can you forgive them? If you can, then do it. Sometimes, we let our pride get in the way. Don't let your pride destroy your marriage. I love my husband, he is a good man with a good heart and I couldn't imagine living my life without him and I don't want to. I bet you love your spouse the same. Maybe, you just need to remember the good times and leave the bad behind you. Remember, we are all humans and make mistakes. I'm sure if you look at yourself, you will find mistakes that you have made too.

There is help out there, you just have to look for it. A list of community resources.

In today's economy, many families are faced financial troubles with unemployment on the rise and their unemployment running out. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Unemployment has increased 4.7% in the last 6 months. In April of 2008, the unemployment rate has increased from 5.1% to 9.8% in 2009. Many people have not been faced with financial difficulty in their past and do not know how to begin looking for community resources in their area. I have been working on compiling a list of community resources. The list below will help you find available resources in your area, from energy assistance, shelter or food assistance to domestic issues. If you need help, please check them out. If there is something that is not on the list, leave a comment and I will do my best to help you find community resources in your area to help you. Don't be afraid to ask for help, there is no shame in asking for help. (Copy & paste the link in your browser)

Dial 211 from your phone and it will connect you to the United way in your area or you do a search on the net for 211 plus your state to help connect you with the local 211 in your area.

http://julieslist.homestead.com
(Community Resources)

http://womenslaw.org
WomensLaw.org is an excellent resource and informational page for both families and professionals. WomensLaw.org provides women and professionals with information on laws from all the states and where to find help.

http://family.findlaw.com
The website has a link to find a lawyer in your area for just about any legal issue a family may be faced with, information about the laws, the actions you can take as an individual, legal forms, information about the court systems and an online library.

http://www.divorcelawinfo.com/familylaw.htm
The site is designed so that it provides an individual or a professional with information on the current family laws, family law organizations for lawyers and non-lawyers, government resources, state laws, publications, and a contact list of organizations that can be contacted on specific rights or for an individual to receive help. Family Law Resources provides individuals and professionals links to other websites that may be able to help them and information on any law that may pertain to them.

This is just a tip of the iceberg, if these websites do not provide you with the help you need, you can email me at terrysprinkle@yahoo.com and I will do my best to assist you.

The new trend, girls fighting.

In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of reports of teen girls being arrested for violent offences. What are these teens girls fighting over? The most common reason for teen violence among girls seem to be over boys. Come on, girls! What are you thinking? Some of the other reasons are popularity, control over other girls and once again because the boys seem to like to watch the girl on girl fights. Some of these girls are getting seriously injured, permanently scarred and even killed. Teens are taking pictures and video-taping these fights and posting them on YouTube, social networking and fight sights. The teens out there who are doing the fighting do not take it seriously; until they are arrested or someone gets seriously hurt or killed. Some young girls feel they enter high school at the bottom of the food chain and fighting is a way of gaining respect among their peers and make an identity for themselves. Girls as young as age 9 are engaging in these fights. Teens push their peers into fighting and even some parents encourage their child to engage in fighting. It is sad that it has come to a time where our schools need to be policed as an attempt to discourage fights and to protect innocent bystanders.

A tribute to breast cancer survivors & those who have lost the battle with breast cancer.

I can't let October pass without a tribute to breast cancer survivors and those who have lost their lives due to breast cancer. In the year 2008, there were 2.5 million women who survived breast cancer. There is hope out there for women who are faced with breast cancer. Ninety percent of the cases of breast cancer are not linked to heredity. Researchers are not sure of why some women get breast cancer and some do not. But, they do know there are some factors that may increase your risk of getting breast cancer. Research indicates there is a link between external factors in the environment along with internal factors. There are a few things you can do to reduce your chances of getting breast cancer; such as:
If you are overweight, lose the excess pounds.
Make informed choices about the medicine you take.
Be conscience of the food you eat & what you drink
Do self exams
Get mammograms
I would like to share with you this story of a breast cancer survivor. She is strong woman and may God always bless her with the strength to fight.

I can give hope to cancer patients. I have survived breast cancer 6 times. I am going through my 7th diagnosis right now. My cancer is stable at present. I have been on Gemzar for 6 treatments. I have one left in two weeks. My cancer is a stage IV. But I have survived it so many times before I can do it again. I could not have made it without God, my family and friends. Also lots of prayer and a positive attitude. I have had 7 kinds of chemo. They are: 5-FU, Cytoxan, Adriamycin, Taxol, Navelbine, Xeloda, and Gemzar. I have had radiation 5 times. I have taken tamoxifen, Femara, Megase, and Aromasin. It all started in 1982 when I was 37. After that time I was cancer-free for 13 years. Then I had it 5 times in 5 years. Then I was cancer free for almost 7 years. The Lord has blessed me with a good outlook on life. I accept whatever this cancer outcome might be. I do get fearful at times. But I know the Lord has a plan for me. Whether here to tell my story and encourage others or in heaven so other people can tell my story for me. Thank you for this opportunity to tell my story.

Susan, 62

Graham, WA

October 31, 2007

Below is a link to how you can help. (If your have trouble with the link, just copy & paste the link in your browser)

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/How-To-Help/

You don't have to be thin to be beautiful. We love you just the way you are!

Pro-ana and pro-mia sites hit the web in 2001 becoming the new inspiration for young girls and women to provide what is referred to as thinspiration. Thinspiration sites hit the web claiming to offer a loving and caring environment for anorexics and bulimics. However, pro-ana and pro-mia websites provide their users with tips and tricks on how to lose weight, provide inspiration with music and poetry. These sites provide thinspiration links for the users so they can view photos of thin models and view photos of overweight individuals with captions that say "It starts slow.... you think it would be ok to eat one sandwich... But you know it builds. Now, though, it will overpass all your barriers, and keep building, more than its ever been before..." telling them this is what they will look like if they give into their cravings. Some of the websites promise there will be long lean days ahead. Some of these sites provide their users with a list of legal and illegal drugs that will help them stop the cravings and help them lose the weight. France is banning pro-ana and pro-mia websites. These websites are predominately in the United States and France. Below I have provided a link to sign a petition to ban pro-ana and pro-mia sites. If your interested, click on the link below and it will take you directly to the link.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/ban-pro-ana-pro-mia-websites.html



The video below is meant to bring awareness not encourage thinspiration.

Seriously Richard and Mayumi Heene, a balloon hoax. What were you thinking?

Richard and Mayumi Heene thought they were going to make it big when they played the hoax on the Fort Collins, Colorado police department. Now, they are looking at landing them selves in jail instead of landing a reality t.v. show contract. You have to get a license to drive car or even a boat and a license to get married. Sometimes I think, you should have to get a license to have children. Seriously, the Heenes didn't know that it was illegal to send the police out on a wild goose chase looking for a missing child that isn't missing. They didn't stop and think that charges would be filed if their hoax came out or the possibility of children protective services coming in and taking their children. That really saddens me when you see parents so desperate for fame and money, they will go out and use their children as pawns. The Heenes should put as much effort in raising their children and being good parents as they did in concocting and executing this scam to land themselves a reality t.v. show.

Children of the U.S.- The forgotten children.

According to the 2009 report put out by the CWLA 510,885 children were living in the foster care system. There is a lot of media attention on the stars going out and adopting children from third world countries. What about the children in the United States? Are their needs not relevant? On television their are infomercials on children living in third world countries who need to be fed. In the year 2007, 18% of the children living in the United States were living below poverty level. I am not denying the needs of children in the third world countries. However, it seems that the children of the United States are the forgotten children of the world.
In the year 2006 there were 139,064 children in the foster care system waiting to be adopted. All the stars and the high profile individuals out there should be adopting our children and donating to take care of our children first before they head over to a third world country to take care of children of another country. Oh excuse me, would that not bring them enough media attention? I used to be a fan of Angelina Jolie until, she started adopting children from other countries. If she would like to adopt children of another race, I am all for it but, there are plenty of beautiful children right here in the U.S. who are in need of a good home. I believe everyone should love everyone the same regardless of race. We are all beautiful. Does Angelina Jolie & other high profile individuals know that 34% of children in the foster care system are African American, 40% are white, 18% Hispanic, 2% American Indian/Native American & 7% of other races & ethnicities. So, the next time all the Angelina Jolie's of the United States decides they want to help children in the third world countries they need look into their own back yard first and help a child living in the United States, they need you.

Here is a snapshot of the children living in the United States.

America’s Most Vulnerable Children:A Snapshot
Estimate of referrals of possible child abuse and
neglect (2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,300,000
Children substantiated/indicated as abused or
neglected (2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905,000
Children who died as a result of abuse or
neglect (2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,530
Children living in out-of-home care (2006) . . . . . . . 510,885
Children adopted from the public foster care
system (2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,705
Children waiting to be adopted (2006) . . . . . . . . . . 139,064
Children living in poverty (2007) . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,247,238
Children living in low-income families (2007) . . 28,803,055
National Poverty Rate (2007) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.5%
National Poverty Rate, children under age 18, (2007) . . 18.0%
National Poverty Rate, children ages 5–17 (2007) . . . 16.8%
National Poverty Rate, children under age 5 (2007). . 21.2%

Bardwell; Is he concerned about the future interracial children of America or is he a racist?

Keith Bardwell, a white justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish in the southeastern part of Louisiana, should be fired. Bardwell earlier this month refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple. Bardwell claims he refuses to marry interracial couples because he is concerned about their children. Bardwell should concern himself with other important issues; such has poverty, the homeless, educating today's youth and so on. There are so many other causes out there in need of attention, if he would like to pick one. Claiming he is only concerned about their children's future is a smoke screen to cover that he is racist. Now, if a Afro-American judge refused to marry an interracial couple he would be a racist and would be asked to resign and it would probably make the national news. Bardwell has served as the justice of the peace for 34 years. How can a justice of the peace step on the civil rights of the Louisiana residents for 34 years and this is the first time Bardwell's racial discrimination has come out? Bardwell should be required to give the couple a televised apology with his resignation. Apparently, Bardwell needs to step out of the year 1950 and into the year 2009.

The Sexualization of Teens & Women

This year I returned back to college to get my degree in Family Life Education. In doing so, I was I was required to write a thesis and design a program. I did research on the sexualization of teens and women related to the negative affects they have on an individuals self-esteem and mental health. I would like to share some of that with you. If I can change one individuals life, then all this time spent on blogging was well worth the time spent.

One of the common problems with teens and women today is referred to as the sexualization of teens and women. Sexualization is when a person’s value comes only from his or her sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics, and when a person is sexually objectified or made into a sexual thing for another’s use (APA Task Force). Falling into this trap of being sexualized by the media and Internet has a lot of unhealthy consequences on one’s own mental and physical health and sexual development. Sexualization leads to eating disorders, poor self image, depression, and unhealthy sexual development.

The media and Internet make it appear to be more socially acceptable to be a sexual object. The Internet glorifies pornography, prostitution and stripping so that it looks appealing to young girls. “Research has found that adolescents make use of mass media, notably TV and magazines, to learn about how important aspects of identity development-sex and gender (Connecting developmental Constructions to the Internet: Identity Presentation and Sexual Exploration in Online Teen Chat Rooms, Developmental Psychology 2006, Vol. 42, No. 3, 395-406, apa.org). But, the reality is these people are preying on teens. The sex industry is a billion dollar industry in the United States. A lot of these girls or boys, who get involved in this kind of lifestyle end up prostituting, being raped, or sold off to the highest bidder as a sex slave and when they are done with you, they throw you away like trash on the street. “It’s a thriving international business in our increasingly interconnected global economy, generating some $9 billion in profits every year” (Human Trafficking: An IntelligenceReport,http://www.fbi.gov/page2june06/human_trafficking061206.htm). These kinds of people prey on teens in chat rooms, on myspace, facebook and various social networking sources on the Internet. They lure them in by glamorizing the industry. Telling them they can make a lot of money, buy the nice clothes or material things they want. Also, there are the sexual predators that prey on girls and boys on the Internet. One of the problems with meeting people online is you don’t really know who is sitting on the other end of that computer.

Another problem that the Internet is creating is a rise in sexual addictions. Pornography is more addicting than cocaine and does not discriminate. The Internet provides easy access to pornography. All these images give boys and men an unrealistic view of women. Women are being viewed as sexual objects rather than an actual intelligent human being with emotions and vice verse. The choice that we have to make is “are we going to allow it to take over our lives?”

Not only is the Internet and the media contributing to the sexualization of teens in women, it has made it made it as though casual sex partners is socially acceptable. There is a rise in the number of sex partners one has throughout there lifetime and a rise in the number of STDs'. Oral sex has become the new kissing in today's society. Some people are not aware of the negative effects this can have on one's health. Contracting STDs' can have a negative impact on one's health throughout their lifetime. There are some STDs' that require lifetime treatments and some STDs' that can cause a woman to be infertile.
Seriously think about the consequence before you jump in the sack with the next available person. Sit down and think about, what you want from your life and is this lifestyle going to help me achieve it. Posting nude photos and videos of yourself on the Internet will follow you the rest of your life. Do you really want your children or grandchildren to someday find those photos? If you are doing it now and you have children or grandchildren, do you want them to find out what you are doing? If your having multiple sex partners do you want to share an std with your loved one or your future loved one?

Morals, Do They Still Exist?

Lets start with a clear definition of what morality is. According to the dictionary, morals is defined as; of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical: moral attitudes. To have or possess morals or values is becoming socially unacceptable. Those who walk around half dressed, posting nude or nearly nude photos of themselves on the Internet call it freedom of expression. I call it a lack of morality, a lack of real talent and low self-esteem. Those who post nude photos of themselves on the net are so desperate for attention and desperate for someone to love them, they will strip down and bare it all just for a little attention. These women who are doing it are a disgrace to all women. Women having been struggling for years to get respect for their intelligence and their ability to succeed, then you have those women out there who spend endless hours on the net posting pictures and videos of themselves tearing down all the accomplishments real women who have been working so hard to be recognized as equals. The problem is they aren't intelligent enough to know the harm they are doing to young girls and women. Because of women like this, there is a new generation of problems. Women and young girls are being viewed as sexual objects. The Internet can be a wonderful world of information right at your finger tips. But, there is also a dark side. The dark side of the Internet that is destroying our youth, our men and women and our marriages. The Internet has brought pornography in our homes, in the hands of our children and our families. The Internet has now made it possible to bring prostitution to a new level, made it easier to sell humans in the sex trade, gave pedophiles access to our children,
and the list goes on. But, we can't blame the Internet. What it all comes down to, is a break down of morals and values in society. I think everyone needs to sit down and evaluate "what is really important in their lives and "Is it really worth destroying your life over?"