Brand New Day

It's the singer Van Morrison's birthday and I just listened to this song he sang called Brand New Day. I rather liked it because it emphasizes that there is always a brand new coming. That idea helps me when I feel like I'm going through something difficult. Plus, the music in the song Brand New Day is pretty and I feel good I when hear it!

The kid in me still sings

I love singing, It's something I think I've always enjoyed doing. Today for whatever reason I was reminded of this song from Sesame Street called Sing. I know it's for little kids but I think there's always a part of me that refuses to grow up. Plus, I really like that Sesame Street is always relentlessly happy. To me, the song says that everyone has a voice. Maybe it's not always a singing voice but the song emphasizes to me that every voice still matters. I've always liked that idea. I also thought the video below was fun.

We are the World

The singer Michael Jackson was born today in 1958.  He sang a song called We Are the World which I always rather liked its message that everyone can may a difference. I also like it because it was used to raise money for USAID for Africa and more recently it was remade to make money to help people in Haiti recover from the 2010 earthquake. I like the more recent version of the song. Whenever I hear it, it makes my heart feel good and it makes me think of how all we have in life is each other,  so we might as well stand united! (If only in song!)

One rather unique gift someone gave me...

Elizabeth Ann Seton (the first American Saint) was born today in 1774. Why am I writing about her now? Well, when I was younger I went to a Catholic school where appropriately enough, I was taught by nuns.  My  parents aren't terribly religious people but they felt that I'd get a better education in that school. Contrary to popular belief that nuns are strict and sometimes even cruel teachers, the nuns who taught me were actually always very kind to me.  Anyway, around the time they were teaching me, I had to have major surgery and one of the nuns who taught me maths found out about it and insisted on giving me a locket which claims to have a piece of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton's bone marrow.  When she gave it to me she said something to the effect of that it was meant to protect me and if I was ever scared I should pray to it. To date, I've never actually prayed to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton but I do pray in general when I feel the need. Anyway, that locket is one of the most unusual things I have and eve if it is unusual, I rather like having it because it reminds me of how much people care about each other. I think that locket meant quite a bit to the nun who gave it to me and so the fact that she was willing to give it to me still means quite a bit to me. I hope everyone has something unusual that someone gave them. Sometimes, I think the most unusual gifts are the most fun!

Fun times at Faneuil Hall

It's the 40th anniversary of Faneuil Hall's reopening after construction in 1976 and this weekend the Hall is hosting a celebration with different events including a dance party! I went and danced and had a really nice time.  I didn't really care how well or badly I danced, I just danced. I  always like dancing. It makes my world feel all right again and I feel free. I really liked the music the played at the event today. It really was fun!

It's National Dog Day!

I love dogs. Growing up, I can't remember an extended period of time when my family didn't have a dog. The current dog my family has is Dougal and he's a border collie. (He got the name Dougal because my Mum liked this Children's BBC show called the Magic Roundabout which has a dog named Dougal in it.) Our dog Dougal is a funny dog. He loves  Frisbees. When you throw a Frisbee at him, he'11 start out running to catch the Frisbee even before you throw it. Then, when he realizes the Frisbee is behind him he'11 try to double back and fall over in the process but he  still always grab sthe Frisbee and brings it back so it can be thrown again. He's really smart too about his Frisbee, if he wants someone to play with him he'll push his Frisbee underneath a car in our driveway and bark and bark and bark until someone gets it out from under the car and then of course, has to throw it to him. I also love Dougal because he's protective, maybe that's the sheepdog in him. I notice that whenever someone comes to our house (especially the UPS guys) he barks like crazy and looks mean but I've never seen him hurt anyone. It's just a matter of trust. He's a lovely dog and I miss him as he lives in Michigan with my family. However, I do believe that people and things we love are always with us in spirit. Thus, Dougal is always with me, along with all my family, in my heart.

Every day may not be good but there is at least one thing that's good every day

I was really happy today because some of the employees from the business below the office where I work came and gave me flowers and this picture below that says "Every Day May Not Be Good But There Is Something Good In Every Day." I had been having a rather difficult week and my friends found out about it and did something really nice for me. It reminds me that there are a lot of really awesome people and I'm glad that I have the privilege of knowing really wonderful people. I send lots of love to everyone and I hope that there is always something good in all your days.

Here comes the sun

As  I''m writing this at night and the sun will eventually come up (which is a very comforting thought by the way, it made me think of the song Here Comes the Sun which always cheers me up. I hope you have a sunny Thursday!

Joke for a Tuesday

I saw the joke below and it made me laugh. Granted, I laugh pretty easily, but I still had to share this joke.  I hope your days always have a bit of laughter in it!

Auctions and golf...

A wife and husband both talked in their sleep. She loved auctions; his hobby was golf.

The other night, as they slept, the golfer yelled, "Fore!"

His wife yelled back, "Four and a quarter !"

Read more on page: http://www.jokesoftheday.net/

Some restful music for Monday

The musician/composer Claude Debussy was born today in 1862. I really like his music because when I listen to it I always feel at peace. One piece of music that I like is called Reverie and today it really made me feel good inside.

Able

I heard this song today by Pharrel Williams called "Able" and I really liked it because it reminds me that at least in my life I didn't always know what I could do until I tried doing something. All I know is that it really does feel nice when things work out for the best and to know that I worked hard to ensure things would work out. Even if things didn't go exactly as I planned, it feels awesome to reach a positive result! I hope that if you're reading this and you're working hard towards a goal, I hope you keep going towards that goal. If it's something you really want, I hope you never give up on the hopes and dreams you have. I know you can do it and I'm rooting for you!

A comforting thought

There's something nice about people telling you things will be all right. Even if people don't know what exactly will happen to you or to them. it's still comforting. Ultimately I really believe things do come out right in the end. In that spirit, I've posted the song below which seems appropriate as it's called Everything's Alright." I realize the song is from Jesus Christ Superstar which isn't the happiest of musicals but the first part of this song does make me feel at peace in any case. It does make me feel that things will be all right somehow. 

You're the Expert!

Last night I had the pleasure of going to see a taping of the radio show You're the Expert at the Odion Theater in Cambridge. It involves a panel of individuals questioning an expert about what the expert does. In this show the expert was a scientist who studies parrots for a living. It was really interesting because I never realized parrots have attitudes and that they're wicked smart! Overall the show was really funny and I laughed a lot. Plus it was nice to go with a good friend, just because everything is more fun with a good friend. If you want to listen to the show they have podcasts that can be accessed here: http://theexpertshow.com/listen/.

Hooray for Olympic sportsmanship!

I saw this clip of two runners who collided with each other during a race at the Olympics in Rio. I'm writing about it because I like how they helped each other up and finished the race. It reminded me of another incident in a past Olympic race where a man fell during the race because he'd injured his leg. His father came out of the stands and helped him finish his race. To me these athletes are winners. They got up and finished the race and I think people remember them more because they didn't give up and kept on going despite everything. They may not have finished first but they did finish strong!

Funny poem about Spell cheque

This is a poem from the website: http://www.guy-sports.com/humor/jokes/index_tue.htm and I thought it was funny!

Your Tuesday Spell Checker

I halve a spelling checker, 
It came with my pea see. 
It plainly marks four my revue 
Mistakes I dew knot sea. 

Eye strike a key and type a word 
And weight four it two say 
Weather eye am wrong oar write 
It shows me strait aweigh. 

As soon as a mist ache is maid 
It nose bee fore two long 
And eye can put the era rite 
Its rarely ever wrong. 

I've scent this massage threw it, 
And I'm shore your pleased too no 
Its letter prefect in every weigh; 
My checker tolled me sew.

The best thing about cooking

"I think careful cooking is love, don't you? The loveliest thing you can cook for someone who's close to you is about as nice a valentine as you can give."- Julia Child
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/julia_child.html

I love cooking, especially baking. What i like best is watching people eat it and like it. It's nice to see people happy. I love making banana bread best. The recipe I use tastes really good, it's easy and it's fun to make too. In terms of cooking I like making rice dishes, they're fun especially jambalaya. Cooking is something I did a lot with my family and so cooking kind of does symbolize affection to me. I love making pancakes with my dad and cooking dinner for parents with my siblings and making banana bread with my mum. Whenever possible, I think cooking should be done with someone you care about. It's just more fun that way. 

This is (was) a banana bread muffin that was part of a set of muffins I made and my friends and I enjoyed!

Imagination is one of the best things to have!

"Imagination creates reality." -Richard Wagner
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes_of_the_day.html

I really liked this quote mainly because I think imagination is a great thing.  I used to imagine about the things I might do in the future and although I'm not doing all the things I one imagined I'd do (for instance, I'm rather glad I left off on the idea to become a firefighter), I'm still glad that there were/are dreams I held onto. I think the things I imagined really motivated me and having a goal to work towards helped me grow. I still like to imagine things that might come to pass and it continues  to keep me going. All this reminds me of a song called "Pure Imagination that's from one of my favorite movies called Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. It always makes me feel good to hear it. All I can say to end this is, if you have a dream that you really want to happen, I hope that you hold onto it until you reach it.

It's Left Hander's Day!

Left Hander's Day was established today in 1976 which I think is pretty cool as I am left handed.  Plus, I can't pass up an excuse to celebrate something! Apparently we're in good company as a bunch of cool famous people are left handed including: Queen Victoria, Helen Keller, Judy Garland, Barack Obama, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Seal, Ringo Starr, Michelangelo, Cary Grant, Rex Harrison, Ty Cobb, and Pelé -Edson Arantes do Nascimento.

So I say Hooray for all left handed people the world over!

Happy Friday from me and the Minions!

My friend sent me this picture and I had to share it here. I hope everyone has a very happy Friday, (especially Minions!)

Even dogs need hugs

I saw a news story today about a postman in New Zealand who hugs a dog on his route every day.  It really made me feel good to see the clip somehow. I think deep down everyone needs love, especially dogs!

To be happy

To forget oneself is to be happy. Robert Louis Stevenson
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes_of_the_day.html

I think I've been happiest when I've forgotten myself and when I say forgotten myself I mean that I'm happiest when I don't take myself seriously. Although I think I'm a fairly serious person I'm a firm believer in laughing, especially at myself when it's called for. Laughter is the best medicine and it's more fun than being serious! 

The Awesome ADAPT Youth Summit!

 I'm just coming back from the ADAPT Youth Summit in Rochester, New York. I had a wonderful experience  and I learned so much from the event! I was able to learn more about community organizing, activism, and nonviolent resistance. I attend the event with 20 other young adults from around the country. At the end of it we even got to plan an "action" which all participants planned as a team from start to finish. Through demonstrating outside of of his premises, we were able to persuade a Rochester building owner of an Italian restaurant to sign an agreement that he would install a ramp that would replace one step in front of his restaurant within six months. This will ensure that more people with disabilities can enjoy food there. It was really cool that we were able to meet with the building owner and within one hour of us being there he signed the agreement!

What I liked best about the Summit was meeting so many great people who were so passionate about promoting the rights of people with disabilities. In thinking about them all now at the end of the summit, I can't help thinking of how they really motivate me to work harder to become an even better promoter of the rights of people with disabilities. I plan to use what I've learned in my work with my local chapter of ADAPT in its efforts to raise awareness of issues effecting people with disabilities and to ensure they have the tools they need and the services they need to live in the community.  I also want to take this opportunity to thank all the people that help me raise money to attend the summit as I am very grateful to all of you. 

If you are a young adult with a disability, please consider being part of the next ADAPT Youth summit. If you're interested, please feel free to contact me at floreat19@aol.com.

Happy Monday

I hope everyone had a great Monday and that Tuesday is even better for you!

Happy Saturday!

I want to wish everyone a very happy Saturday! Keep smiling and be happy!

Go Olympians

It's the first day of the Olympic Games  and I'm torn because as I have a British mother and an American father my loyalties are split between the two countries' teams. So I'm rooting for both of them and in general I wish all the athletes the best of luck!

Lots of love to all!

"To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides."-David Viscott
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/d/davidvisco162271.html

In the spirit of this quote, I send lots of love to everyone!

Sign that made me feel uplifted today

Today I was on the bus coming home and I looked up and saw the sign and for whatever reason it really cheered me.  I realize in this case, the smile is on graffiti on an advertisement that has nothing to do with smiling but I've always felt like seeing a smile, even if it's just a picture of a smile, can be a really powerful thing. It makes me hope that everyone can find a smile in each day, just because life seems better with a smile!

On Being Thankful

Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. Henry Ward Beecher
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/henrywardb165302.html

Things I'm Grateful For

I could list off all the things I'm grateful for
Because I can't thank people or God enough it seems
I thank God for the people that are in my life
And I thank the people in my life for being blessings to my life 
In their own ways everyone in my life is a blessing

Since I can't thank people enough for all they've done
I want to pay it forward and I work to do things
To make other lives better and happier
I want people to feel loved 

I've seen the beauty in the love I've been given
And in an effort to give love back out
It's one thing I can give so that when I'm gone 
The love I have will live on.

Food for thought

Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. Arthur Conan Doyle
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/arthurcona134512.html

I like to believe that all things are possible as long as people are willing to make things happen. To me that is one truth that I've always held dear. The idea keeps me going and gives me strength. 

Keep your head up

I was just thinking about this song I heard today called Keep Your Head Up. It's just really positive and it makes me feel good. All I have to say to end this is, keep your head up everybody-it's easier to see the sun (when it comes out during the day) and/or the stars (when they come out at night) that way!