This weekend was a busy one, yet non-productive at the same time.
Saturday while in the middle of writing a paper for one class and reading a book for another, I decided I wanted an afternoon snack. I made S'more cookies. and O..EM..GEE.. amazing. seriously. wow. don't make a lot at one time, or you'll eat them all. at one time.
I also did some cleaning. and bathed the doggies. Sunday I met up with my friend I made when I went to Australia last year. She came to America for a couple of weeks and spent her final weekend just outside of Houston. That was nice. Guess now it's my turn to go back to Sydney to see her next year. oh darn!! ha.
when looking for a book to read, a co-worker told me about The Hunger Games. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but it kept me interested for sure.
The Hunger Games takes place in the future time after the destruction of North America, in a nation known as Panem. Panem consists of a wealthy Capitol and twelve surrounding, poorer districts.
As punishment for a previous rebellion against the Capitol, every year, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district are selected at random and forced to participate in the Hunger Games, a televised event in which the participants, or "tributes," must fight to the death in a dangerous, outdoor arena, controlled by the Capitol, until only one remains. The main characters are Katniss and her new friend, Peeta.
This book is really good. Although it took me a little over two weeks to read (considering I've had an extremely hectice schedule, I think that's a reasonable time). I definitely recommend it and am looking forward to beginning the 2nd book in the 3 book series.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
I’ve decided to do something on occasion, just to remind us to never forget. How soon we forget about the unseen.
Honoring our Heroes is something most of us often don’t think about, or don’t want to think about. I feel like we need to be aware of the statistics and of each person who gave their life for us.
This is my first post on this, so I would like to share a video with you. Seana is an amazing, strong woman, mother to adorable Alston, who lost her husband far too early, like many other women in this country. Josh Gracin dedicated a song to her fallen Hero, Ofren.
So far, in the month of August, statistics show we have lost 70 men and women, and CNN lists the names, and their information on their website here.
There were no KIA’s in Iraq for August.
KIA in Afghanistan:
Spc .Dennis James Jr., Spc. Kevin R. Shumaker, Sgt.Barry John Weston, Sgt. Rezo Beridze, Spc .Douglas Jay Green, Pfc .Alberto Lustre Obod Jr., Spc. Michael Christopher Roberts, Sgt. Devin James Daniels, Sgt. Colby Lee Richmond, Pfc. Brandon Scott Mullins, Pfc. Jesse Wayne Dietrich, Sgt. Andrew Robert Tobin, 1st Lt. Timothy James Steele, Pvt. Matthew Lambert, Pfc. Douglas Leonard Cordo, Cpl. Douglas Grant, Lance Cpl. Travis Michael Nelson, Spc. Dennis Gregory Jensen, Spc. Joshua Michael Seals, 1st Lt.Damon Thomas Leehan, Lt. Camille Levrel, Sgt. Matthew Allen Harmon, Spc. Joseph Andrew VanDreumel, 2nd Lt. Joe Lee Cunningham, Lt. Daniel John Clack, Master Sgt. Charles Levan Price III, Pfc.Rueben Jesus Lopez, Spc.Jordan Matthew Morris, Master Cpl .Facrou Housseini Ali, Sgt. Edward J. Frank II, Spc. Patrick Lewis Lay II, Hospitalman Ryley Gallinger-Long, Spc. Jameel Talib Freeman, Cpl. Nicholas Stephen Ott, Sgt. Alessandro Leonard Plutino, Cpl. Kisan Bahadur Thapa, Sgt. Adan Gonzales Jr., Sgt. Joshua James Robinson, Lance Cpl. Gerardus Jansen, Spc. Spencer Colson Duncan, Sgt. Daniel James Patron, Chief Petty Officer Robert James Reeves, Senior Chief Petty Officer Kraig Michael Kaleolani Vickers, Chief Petty Officer Stephen Matthew Mills, Staff Sgt. Patrick Douglas Hamburger, Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher George Campbell, Chief Warrant Officer 4David R. Carter, Petty Officer 1st Class John Douangdara, Tech. Sgt. Daniel Lee Zerbe, Chief Petty Officer John Weston Faas, Chief Petty OfficerNicholas Heath Null, Tech. Sgt. John William Brown, Senior Chief Petty Officer Thomas Arthur Ratzlaff, Petty Officer 1st Class Jon Thomas Tumilson, Master Chief Petty Officer Louis James Langlais, Staff Sgt. Andrew William Harvell, Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas Patrick Spehar, Lt. Cmdr. Jonas B. Kelsall, Petty Officer 1st Class Jesse Daryl Pittman, Petty Officer 1st Class Darrik Carlyle Benson, Chief Petty Officer Matthew David Mason, Chief Warrant Officer Bryan J. Nichols, Petty Officer 1st Class Jared William Day, Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Ray Workman, Petty Officer 1st Class Aaron Carson Vaughn, Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Joseph Strange, Chief Petty Officer Heath Michael Robinson, Chief Petty Officer Brian Robert Bill, Sgt. Alexander James Bennett, Chief Petty Officer Kevin Arthur Houston, Spc. Jinsu Lee, Spc. Mark Jordon Downer, Marine James Robert Wright, Sgt. Daniel David Gurr, Sgt. Anthony Del Mar Peterson, Capt. Waid Charles Ramsey, Pfc. Gil Isaiah Morales Del Valle, Sgt. Barun Rai, Pfc. Cody Glen Baker, Staff Sgt. Kirk Avery Owen, Staff Sgt. Leon Horace Lucas Jr.
I had an amazing, but very hectic, weekend. I spent the last 5 days at my parents' house since my brother and his wife had a new baby girl. I helped take care of their other two children, which involved - taking them to school, picking them up from school, taking the girl to dance, feeding them, taking them to see their baby sister, taking them to my parents' house, playing with them, homework, bath time, you know- what 'moms' do. but, I'm not used to a schedule so hectic, so it was so foreign to me!
On top of all this, my grandpa (who pretty much requires a 24 hr caregiver) was staying at my parents' so I helped take care of him a lot. in between all of this, I managed to find a lot of time to sit and hold the new baby of course. She is so beautiful. and I'm not just saying that because she may look like me :) I also had a lot of homework to do that was due Sunday. I didn't get it all done :(
I had a 2 hour drive back home yesterday, but my grandpa wanted me to take him to his house first, which is 5 hours away. so, I ended up with a 7 hour drive home. I am exhausted!
I must share this video as well, my much talented, smart niece :)
If you want to know more about me, check out my About ME section.
I read a book once called Skinny Bitch. It really is eye opening. Sometimes I like to blog about my attempted diets, and attempting to live a healthy life (which only succeeds for about a week at a time). Some points from the book:
Alcohol is not healthy for you. Only drink red wine with “NO SULFITES ADDED” (“NSA”). Organic. It is rich with cancer fighting antioxidants, can reduce risk of stroke, help thin the blood, have flavonoids which lower cholesterol. Only 1 glass a day.
o Alcohol abuse can cause infertility, cancer, infectious diseases, cardiovascular disease, shrinking of the cerebral cortex, and alter brain-cell function.
Soda= high levels of phosphorous, sodium, and caffeine can increase calcium loss from body. Causing bone loss, osteoporosis.
Diet Sodas is worse than regular, because it contains Aspartame which is blamed for arthritis, birth defects, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. Aspartame has a component called methyl alcohol, which turns into formaldehyde when it enters your body. Formaldehyde is toxic and carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Scientists use Formaldehyde as a disinfectant. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received more complaints about Aspartame than any other ingredient to date. When Aspartame is paired with carbs, it causes your brain to slow down its production of serotonin. A healthy level of serotonin is needed to be happy and well balanced.
o Drinking soda can make you fat, sick, and unhappy.
Water is vital for keeping your body clean and detoxified. It literally flushes out all the shit and toxins your body stores from your horrendous diet. Say Goodbye to Soda and hello to a sweet ass.
If you need anything (coffee) to wake up, then it is because you are addicted to caffeine, sleep deprived, or a generally unhealthy slob. Coffee is not heroin and you’ll learn to live without it. Caffeine can cause headaches, digestive problems, irritations of the stomach and bladder, peptic ulcers, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. It affects every organ system from the nervous system to the skin. It raises stress hormone levels, inhibits important enzyme systems that are responsible for cleaning the body, and sensitizes nerve reception sites. Caffeine is also linked to an increased susceptibility to diabetes. Both regular and decaf coffee is highly acidic. Acidic foods caused your body to produce fat cells, in order to keep the acid away from your organs. Coffee=Fat cells. And it makes your breath stink. Coffee beans are grown with chemical pesticides, one insecticide, D-D-7, has been banned in the USA, but is still used in other countries, on imported coffee beans. So, every single morning you are starting your day off with a dose of poison. Add sugar and other artificial sweeteners, top it off with milk or cream, and you’ll be fat forever.
Great way to start your day off is with a cup of caffeine-free organic herbal tea. It’s anti-aging and antibacterial qualities are as renowned as its reputation for fighting cancer, combating allergies, and lowering blood pressure. If you miss your caffeine, get a fresh squeezed organic juice for an instant jumpstart.
I had so many funny moments yesterday. Days like that make me miss my family even more. My crazy nieceS and nephew are hilarious. and as of today, NIECE turned it NIECES.
We did a 3D Ultrasound for my beautiful niece a couple months back.
And yesterday, I got to meet her: 9/7/11, 11:50 AM, 7.9 Lbs, 19-1/2 In. Dark hair, blue eyes.
And so did her big brother and sister.
And here's my family, minus the momma who's sitting in the bed right now
