There is no such thing as failure, only early attempts at success!
20 Healthy Snacks For a Healthy New Year
9 months ago
Thought of the Day - 9/25/09
I can't control my destiny. My only goal is just to be. There's only now, there's only here, there is no other path -- no day but today.
Thought of the Day - 9/24/09
Nature needs to step up its natural selection process, cause there are some people in this world that should be in the recycle bin.
Thought of the Day - 9/22/09
To see a world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wildflower, you hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.
~~ Paul Myer ~~
Thought of the Day - 9/20/09
When we were kids, we took it for granted that there was always a friend on the other end of the teeter-totter. Now, I realize what that really means. How do people get through life if they have to go to a playground by themselves?
Thought of the Day - 9/19/09
Before you were conceived I wanted you.
Before you were born I loved you.
Before you were an hour old I would give my life for you.
This is the miracle of life.
Thought of the Day - 9/18/09
I do have a future, and the picture of that future is made up of a multitude of tiny dots called "right now."
~~ Carrie Host ~~
Thought of the Day - 9/17/09
Seek wisdom of the ages
but look at the world
through the eyes of a child.
~~ Author Unknown ~~
Thought of the Day - 9/16/09
There comes a point in your life when you realize who matters, who never did, who won't anymore, and who always will. So, I'm not going to worry about the people in my past, because there's a reason they didn't make it to my future.
Thought of the Day - 9/15/09
An expert is someone who has succeeded in making decisions and judgements simpler through knowing what to pay attention to and what to ignore.
~~ Edward de BonoWant ~~
Are you an expert?
Thought of the Day - 9/14/09
The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves.
~~ Helen Keller ~~
Thought of the Day - 9/13/09
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.
~~ E. E. Cummings ~~
Thought of the Day - 9/10/09
Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.
Thought of the Day - 9/9/09
Each time someone stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.
Thought of the Day - 9/8/09
There are four things you can't recover:
The stone after the throw,
the word after it's said,
the occasion after it's missed, and
the time after it's gone.
Thought of the Day - 9/7/09
There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.
~~ Walt Streightiff ~~
5 Ways to Grow Your Faith
With the school season in full swing, there's no doubt that you're already overwhelmed with the demands of homework, Boy/Girl Scouts, church events, fall sports, and other activities . . . not to mention the time and budget constraints that make things even more challenging.
I encourage you and your family to grow closer to God and each other this season with the following free resources from Crosswalk.com.
Family Devotionals
Build your family's faith and Christian walk by studying the Bible together with FREE family devotionals.
Kid-Friendly Movie Reviews
Read the latest kid-friendly movie reviews for new releases and DVDs from a Christian perspective. Create regular family movie nights that everyone will enjoy.
Online Bible Study Tools
Whether you need to do a quick verse search or an in-depth Bible study, BibleStudyTools.com makes it easy to understand Scripture. Start growing in Biblical knowledge with an extensive library of FREE resources like popular commentaries, concordances, study guides, parallel study bible, and more than 29 Bible translations.
Free Christian Music Online
Listen to today's top Christian music hits on the go with Crosswalk radio. Find your favorite artists and bands featured on 10 different radio stations including Praise & Worship, Christian Top 40, Classics, Southern Gospel, and more.
Christian Book Reviews
Catch up on the latest Christian fiction and non-fiction books for family members of all ages with Crosswalk's reading finds.
Thought of the Day - 9/6/09
I think the secret to a happy life is a selective memory. Remember what you're most grateful for and quickly forget what you're not.
Stop Smoking
Though, I don't smoke as often as I used to (a pack a day in the Army), I do still smoke when I am terribly stressed. This summer has been a very stressful summer so my smoking habit has dramatically increased over the past few months. I have several friends and my children who wish I would quit all together so I need to find the motivation -- and willpower -- to quit.
I think one of the main reasons it’s so hard to quit smoking is because all the benefits of quitting and all the dangers of continuing seem so very far away.
To help me (and you), I put together this timeline about some of the more immediate effects of quitting smoking and how that will affect my body RIGHT NOW.
- In 20 minutes, your blood pressure will drop back down to normal.
- In 8 hours, the carbon monoxide (a toxic gas) levels in your blood stream will drop by half and oxygen levels will return to normal.
- In 48 hours, your chance of having a heart attack will have decreased. All nicotine will have left your body. Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level.
- In 72 hours, your bronchial tubes will relax and your energy levels will increase.
- In 2 weeks, your circulation will increase and it will continue to improve for the next 10 weeks.
- In three to nine months, coughs, wheezing, and breathing problems will dissipate as your lung capacity improves by 10%.
- In 1 year, your risk of having a heart attack will have dropped by half.
- In 5 years, your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.
- In 10 years, your risk of lung cancer will have returned to that of a non-smoker.
- In 15 years, your risk of heart attack will have returned to that of a non-smoker.
I do (and you do) have more immediate things to look forward to if I quit now, besides just freaking out about not being able to smoke.
My promise to Sandy and Michael (and others) is I am going to quit RIGHT NOW!
Thought of the Day - 9/3/09
We are not human beings going through a temporary spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings going through a temporary human experience.
Thought of the Day - 9/1/09
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.
Save a Child
If you are concerned about the welfare of any child, tell the authorities. Please report your concerns to anyone and everyone who will listen to you. If they don't listen (and your concerns continue), call again and ask to speak to a supervisor. The miniscule risk of invading another's personal affairs is trumped by the reward of saving a life.
If each of us truly believed we are personally responsible to help the most vulnerable population -- our children -- we would follow our intuition and go the extra mile to protect them. Any one of us could be the hero who saves a child from physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
Freebie of the Month - September
Keeping your kids safe is a number one priority! If your child is young, you have a lot of safety skills to teach. You can start now by picking up a child safety kit for each child under 14 in your home. Click here to find out more about the kit.
Thought of the Day - 8/31/09
When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present . . . we experience heaven on earth.
~~ Author Unknown ~~
Thought of the Day - 8/30/09
A smile is a sign of joy.
A hug is a sign of love.
A laugh is a sign of happiness.
Thought of the Day - 8/29/09
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye.
~~ Miss Piggy ~~
Today, find EVERYTHING beautiful!
I Have a Dream
"I have a dream." It was one of the most dramatic lines of the 20th century. Spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the summer of 1963, it cut deeply into the culture's consciousness when America was deeply divided and at war with itself.
It was 46 years ago yesterday (8/28/09) that Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, spoke passionately about his dreams and hopes for equality in the United States.
Thought of the Day - 8/28/09
If you see a difference between where you are and where you want to be - consciously change your thoughts, words, and actions to match your grandest vision.
~~ Neal Donald Walsch ~~
Thought of the Day - 8/27/09
It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
~~ Henry David Thoreau ~~
Cut Energy Costs
Now many people are trying to cut costs and stick to a stricter budget. Since the electric bill can be quite high for families and small businesses, it’s a good idea to cut the energy consumption as much as possible.
The trick to lowering the electric bill is making smart purchases and using good strategies. To start cutting your energy costs and saving our natural resources, download these free goodies from EnergySTAR.
Do you want to teach your child about saving energy? Check out the kid-friendly downloads and kids page.
Do you need coupons to help you start the “saving” process? You can get coupons just by taking the GE lighting pledge. If you don’t want to sign up, you can visit the rebate locator to find deals in your local area.
Thought of the Day - 8/26/09
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined.
~~ Henry David Thoreau ~~
Wordless Wednesday #31
First day of school is today.
Of course, we had to have one silly photo.
For more photos, go to 5 Minutes for Mom.
Thought of the Day - 8/25/09
Destiny is not a matter of chance, but of choice. Not something to wish for, but to attain.
~~ William Jennings Bryan ~~
What Does It Say?
What does it say about me when the first thing I do every morning is check my Facebook messages?
What does it say about me when the last thing I do every night is check my Facebook messages?
What does it say about me when I also check my cell phone at those times?
All in the hopes that I get a message, however brief it may be, from you.
What does it say about me that after 25 I still love you?
What does it say about me that during these 25 years I have missed you during all that time?
Thought of the Day - 8/24/09
In solitude the mind gain strength and learns to lean upon itself.
~~ Laurence Sterne ~~
Grace
Grace by Richard Paul Evans
"She was my first kiss. My first love. She was a little match girl who could see the future in the flame of a candle. She as a runaway who taught me more about life than anyone has before or since. And when she was gone my innocence left with her.
There are things that become clearer to me as a I grow older. This much I know: too many things were kept secret in those days. Things that never should have been hidden. And things that should have."
This is a story of a young runaway and the boy who hides her from a frightening world too large and unfathomable for him to comprehend. As usual for Mr. Evans, it is a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Get out the tissues.
Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 5
What is Your Mom Blogger Status
I’m curious. Has anyone else seen a trend in the SAME mom bloggers who are being handpicked for special events, conference panels, or incredible business opportunities? With the web overly saturated with so many fabulous mom bloggers, it seems that only a select few are being recognized over and over again. Why is this happening? This observation has me intrigued as to how one determines blogger status, and if that method is fair.
I am not a marketing or PR guru, so I do not know or understand the formula for figuring out one’s status or influence. Maybe it is calculated by Twitter followers or subscribers. Maybe it is based on years of experience, college degrees, or frankly, who you know. I personally have nothing against the “high status” mom bloggers, and I think it is awesome that they get to share in these experiences. My only qualm is why do companies and PR firms want to pick the same groups of bloggers? Would it not be more effective to target a completely different pool of mom bloggers, each time, who have not previously worked with companies A, B, & C, and who do not have current obligations with those companies? Would it not be smarter to tap into a new circle of bloggers that would soak up a special opportunity, and thus, put their heart into it more than, say, a blogger who has already been to 10 events that year?
I have no idea what my mom blogger status is, and I honestly don’t care. What I do care about is building positive, meaningful relationships, whether it be in friendship or business, and not worrying about what may follow monetarily.
Hold Tight
Hold Tight by Harlan Coben
"Tia and Mike Baye never imagined they'd spy on their kids. But their sixteen-year-old son Adam has been unusually distant lately, and after the suicide of his best friend Spencer Hill, they can't help but worry. Within days of installing a sophisticated spy program on Adam's compute, they are jolted by a cryptic message from an unknown correspondent that shakes them to their core: Just stay quiet and all safe.
As if Mike Baye isn't dealing with enough, he also learns that Luca Loriman, the sweet kid who grew up next door, is in urgent need of a kidney transplant. As the boy's doctor, Mike suddenly find himself in possession of an explosive secret that threatens t rip the Loriman family apart at the seams.
Nearby, while browsing through an online memorial for Spence, Betsy Hill discovers a surprising detail about the night of her son's death. Before she can find out more, Adam disappears, taking the truth with him and sending shock waves through the neighborhood.
As the lives of these families collide in tragic, unexpected, and violent ways, long-hidden connection in their small suburb begin to work their way to the surface. And when an unidentified Jane Doe is beaten to death no far away, those connections threaten to turn this quiet community upside down -- and force these desperate parents to decide whether there is any line they won't cross to protect those they love most in the world."
The book raises the question how well do you know your child(ren). Harlan's promise of a thriller falls a little short in this book.
Rating (1, lowest; 5, highest): 3.5
Thought of the Day - 8/22/09
If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep walking.
~~ Buddhist teaching ~~
Thought of the Day - 8/21/09
Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass . . . it's about learning how to dance in the rain!
Thought of the Day - 8/20/09
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.
~~ Albert Einstein ~~
Just Stay
A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside.
"Your son is here," she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent.
He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement. The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients. Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited. Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.
"Who was that man?" he asked.
The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.
"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."
"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?" asked the nurse.
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell
whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."
The next time someone needs you . . .
just be there.
Stay.
Thought of the Day - 8/19/09
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~
Thought of the Day - 8/18/09
Sometimes grace can overcome sorrow, a smile can give peace, and a hug can say more than words.
Thought of the Day - Bonus #6
You have to take the good with the bad, smile when your sad, love what you've got and remember what you had. Things go wrong but remember life goes on!
Thought of the Day - 8/16/09
Home . . . a dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest.
~~ James Montgomery ~~
Thought of the Day - 8/15/09
What the world really needs is more love and less paperwork.
~~ Pearl Bailey ~~
Family Minute #55
Are you a thermostat or thermometer?
A thermostat sets the temperature, a thermometer reflects the temperature. Too many parents are thermometers... they reflect their child's mood. If David is nice, they are nice. But if David is nasty... well, you get the picture. Effective parents should be thermostats... setting the climate of the household by how they react, or don't react, to their child's behavior. They choose to be joyful when their child is hurtful. They choose to be calm when their child is out of control. And they choose to love, when their child is unlovable.
Remember your family first.
Thought of the Day - 8/14/09
Everyone is in such a hurry these days. People haven't found meaning in their lives, so they're running all the time looking for it. They think the next car, the next house, the next job. Then they find those things are empty, too, and they keep running.
Once you start running, it is hard to slow yourself down.
Thought of the Day - 8/13/09
There is no experience like having children. There is no substitute for it. If you want the experience of having complete responsibility for another human being, and to learn how to love and bond in the deepest way, then you should have children.
Thought of the Day - 8/12/09
The fact is, there is no foundation, no secure ground, upon which people may stand today if it isn't the family. If you don't have the support and love and caring and concern you get from a family, you don't have much at all. Love is so supremely important.
~~ Morrie from Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom ~~
Thought of the Day - 8/10/09
So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.
~~ Morrie from Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom ~~
Memorial to My Mother
Tomorrow is my mother's funeral and burial. I was asked today to speak at her service. Below is my memorial to my mother.
Be strong. Be intelligent. Smile.
Know that beauty has everything to do with how you feel about yourself and nothing to do with looks or other people's opinions.
Never do anything just because everyone else is if you believe it's wrong.
Always be true to yourself.
Stand up for what you believe in.
Expect the best from life and that's what you'll get.
Learn from your mistakes and failures.
Believe in magic and wish on stars.
Love and trust and be compassionate.
Make faces. Play in mud puddles. Take bubble baths.
Turn off all the lights and watch lightening storms.
Dance, laugh, cry, and sing when you want to.
Read everything you can get your hands on.
Stand up for what is right especially if you stand alone.
Don't allow yourself or people around you to tolerate prejudices of any kind.
Don't be afraid to try something new.
Do something daring at least once a week.
Run through snow drifts.
Spin in circles and roll down hills.
Pet puppies, hold kittens, and talk to/cuddle babies.
Take afternoon naps. Stay up to watch the sunrise.
Never apologize for being a woman or for being yourself.
Never forget that I love you more than any other person in the world, no matter how far apart we are you will always be my daughter.
Her last words to me were, "I've always loved you. I love you forever and always."
Thank you, Mom, for everything you taught me, for loving me no matter what I did.
I love you, Mom.
Thought of the Day - 8/7/09
Accept the past as past, without denying it or discarding it.
~~ Morrie from Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom ~~
Thought of the Day - 8/6/09
Accept what you are able to do and what you are not able to do.
~~ Morrie from Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom ~~
Letter to My Family
In case you haven't heard the sad news, my mother died on Monday, August 3, 2009, after fighting lung cancer for 9 months, 8 days.
Because I did not show up to see my mother as often as others wanted me to, I have been judged by my closest relatives.
Here is my response to the negative posts on Facebook and nasty emails I received:
Just because I was not physically there for my mom as often as you and others does not mean I did not care or that I was ignoring the problem. At least, I admit I cannot/could not handle it. My mom knew why I wasn't around and she accepted it. You can ask Dayna, my sister, about it.
I've been through having a sick parent (open heart surgery, twice) before with my dad and I did it all alone. But for whatever reason that is okay. But I didn't/haven't held it against anyone in the family.
If you would like to know more about my life then ask. So much has happened to me and my mom taught me to be an independent,self-sustaining, self-supporting woman, so there is much my family does not know.
The few times I have asked for help, the answer was no, so I quit asking.
I love my family but I don't show it in the way you want or others want so I get judged. But this is me... this is who I am.
To see the obituary, go to Boylan Funeral Home.
Thought of the Day - 8/4/09
The wise man in the storm prays to God, not for safety from danger, but deliverance from fear.
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~
Thought of the Day - 8/21/09
A multitude of small delights constitutes happiness.
~~ Charles Baudelaire ~~
QOTW - Purse
Each week (at least, every other week), I post a QOTW (Question of the Week) so you can join in and we can get to know each other better.
This week's question:
What is the one thing you always carry in your purse?
My answer:
Wallet, camera, Tylenol, pen, gum, lipstick. There is a lot more but those are my basics.
May You Be Blessed
Combining soothing music with soul-stirring messages of inspiration, hope, and love, this brief movie will relax your body, rejuvenate your mind, and renew your spirit.
Thought of the Day - 8/2/09
Men have always been afraid that women could get along without them.
~~ Margaret Mead ~~
Thought of the Day - 8/1/09
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be... If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed.
~~ Thomas Jefferson ~~
Thought of the Day - 7/31/09
In honor of my birthday today...
The importance of birthdays is not how many you've had but rather how well you've celebrated.
Birthdays are days for reflection . . . to celebrate who you are and who you will become.
Thought of the Day - 7/30/09
Your confidence is an important tool in life, and it's vital for you to appreciate the value you bring to the world. Cherish who you are, because there is no one else on earth who has your unique blend of sophistication, intelligence, and compassion!
Thought of the Day - 7/29/09
Appreciate the past. Make the most of the present. Live for the future.
~~ Becky Higgins ~~
Thought of the Day - 7/28/09
Each of us is a vital thread in another person's tapestry; our lives are woven together for a reason.
Thought of the Day - 7/27/09
Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don't, and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.
Thought of the Day - Bonus #5
As long as we can love each other, and remember the feeling of love we had, we can die without ever really going away. All the love you created is still there. All the memories are still there. You live on -- in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here.
Death ends a life, not a relationship.
Build a Subculture
People are only mean when they're threatened and that's what our culture does. That's what our economy does. Even people who have jobs are threatened because they worry about losing them. When you get threatened, you start looking out only for yourself. You start making money a god. It is all part of our culture.
Build your own little subculture. Don't disregard every rule of your community. Don't go around naked. Don't run through red lights. The little things, like these, can be obeyed. But the big things -- how we think, what we value -- those you must choose yourself. You can't let anyone or any culture or any society determine those for you.
It's the same for women not being thin enough or men not being rich enough. It's what our culture would have you believe. Don't believe it!
Step Away
Step away.
I think about how often this is needed in everyday life. How I feel lonely, sometimes to the point of tears, but I don't let others see those tears come because we are not supposed to cry.
Or how I feel a surge of love for a friend but I don't say anything because I'm frozen with fear of what those words might do to the relationship.
Then at other times my approach is exactly the opposite (especially at night after the children are tucked into bed). Turn on the faucet. Wash myself with the emotion. It will help, I think. If you let the fear inside, then you have to say to yourself, "It's just fear."
Same for loneliness: you let go, let the tears flow, feel it completely, eventually say, "That was my moment of loneliness. Now I'm going to put that loneliness aside and try not to feel afraid of being lonely."
It is getting harder and harder to step away.
Parent's Day
Do you honor your father and mother? Today is Parent's Day... a day established by Congress for the purpose of "recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in bringing up their children." If you've had a good relationship with your mom and dad, use this day as an opportunity to thank them for one important thing they did to impact your life in a positive way. If your relationship with them has been more difficult, use it as an opportunity to open up the relational door that's been closed for so long. Find something... be it ever so small...to thank them for. Forgive them if you need to... seek forgiveness if you need to.
Honor your mom and dad for who they are and for what they've done in your life.
Thought of the Day - 7/26/09
To find what you seek in the road of life, the best proverb of all is that which says "Leave no stone unturned."
~~ Author Unknown ~~
Gobble Up
Wherever I went in my life, I have met people wanting to gobble up something new. Gobble up a new car. Gobble up a new piece of property. Gobble up the latest toy. Then they want to tell you all about it.
These people are so hungry for love that they were accepting substitutes. They were embracing material tings and expecting a sort of hug back. You can't substitute material things for love or for gentleness or for tenderness or for a sense of comradeship.
Money is not a substitute for tenderness. Power isn't not a substitute for comradeship. Neither money or power will give you the feeling you're looking for, no matter how much of them you have.
Thought of the Day - 7/25/09
Responsibility can seem an awful lot like a four-letter word. Haven't I done enough? Isn't there someone else who can help pick up the slack? How can I answer these questions as a single mother (financially, emotionally, physically). Sadly -- and fortunately, -- I will have to grit your teeth and simply soldier on through the next new tasks.
Thought of the Day - 7/24/09
The good news is that you can only make the future positive by building on the past, so even if you've resolved to forget it all, the best will stay with you.
Blogging Tips #2 - Badges, Buttons, & Widgets
There's just something about badges, buttons, and widgets that bloggers cannot resist but put them up on their blog.
Pay attention to bumper stickers then think how you can slant it towards your blog.
Always make sure the button links back to your blog.
Keep the widgets related to the topic of your blog. If you blog about pregnancy, create a pregnancy countdown ticker. If you blog about Christmas, create a countdown to Christmas ticker. If you blog about books, create a reading list.
Inkdeath
Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke
Inkdeath is the conclusion of the Inkheart trilogy (Inkheart, Inkspell, Inkdeath).
"Ever since the extraordinary events of Inkspell, when the enchanted book Inkheart drew Meggie and her father, Mo, into its chapters, life in the Inkworld have been more tragic than magical.
The fire-eater Dustfinger is dead, having sacrificed his life for his apprentice Farid. Now, under the rule of the evil Adderhead, the fairy-tale land is in bloody chaos, its characters far beyond the control of Fenoglio, their author. Even Elinor, left behind in the real world believes her family to be lost -- lost between the covers of a book.
Facing the threat of eternal winter, Mo inks a dangerous deal with Death itself. Yet there remains a faint hope of changing the cursed story -- if only he can fill its pages fast enough."
Cornelia's stunning and spellbinding descriptions keep you in suspense and filled with magic. You will feel joy, pain, suspense, anger, hope.
Rating (1, lowest; 5 highest): 4.5
Distribute Cycles
Before I read the book Storm Cycle I did not know about computer cycles.
Does your computer spend most of the day running screensavers or otherwise wasting its computing cycles? Why not use those spare cycles to help solve some huge problems?
Distributed computing is a science which solves a large problem by giving small parts of the problem to many computers to solve and then combining the solutions for the parts into a solution for the problem. Recent distributed computing projects have been designed to use the computers of hundreds of thousands of volunteers all over the world, via the Internet, to look for extra-terrestrial radio signals, to look for prime numbers so large that they have more than ten million digits, and to find more effective drugs to fight cancer and the AIDS virus. These projects are so large, and require so much computing power to solve, that they would be impossible for any one computer or person to solve in a reasonable amount of time.
The concept of distributed computing has been around for more than a decade.
There are currently hundreds of worthwhile projects that pool the resources of personal computers and game consoles all over the world. To find a cause meaningful to you and contribute your cycles to a worthy endeavor go Distribute Computing.
Storm Cycle
Storm Cycle by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen
"Rachel Kirby is a computer genius whose personal life is falling apart. Even as she stands on he brink of a stunning technological breakthrough, her beloved younger sister is plagued by a rare chronic illness that will eventually kill her, laving Rachel all alone.
But thousands of miles away archaeologist/adventurer John Tavek has made a priceless discovery in an Egyptian tomb. A discovery, Rachel realizes, that humankind has been seeking throughout history -- a secret that may save her sister's life and many thousands more. But a powerful organization is also in hot pursuit, led by a man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
Against all odds, Rachel joins forces with the brilliant, enigmatic Tavak in an adventure that will take them across three continents. They have but one piece of a much large puzzle, and it will take all of their wits, instincts, and cutting-edge technology to bring to light an ancient civilization's most amazing legacy."
The details and research and charismatic characters live up to the usual "can't put the book down" writing of Iris Johansen. With her son's help they put together a captivating tale. It is a whirlwind of an adventure and the technological details are gripping.
Rating (1, lowest; 5 highest): 4
Thought of the Day - 7/23/09
You feel pleasure when you want something and you get it. Or when you don't want something and you remove it. Pleasure is always relative. Happiness is absolute. Happiness is the understanding and acceptance of life as it is in this very moment as completely perfect, because every creation of God is perfect. The degree to which you do not accept life in all of the Divine forms is the degree to which you suffer.
Thought of the Day - 7/22/09
We all share the love of peace, but our sons and daughters must learn two lessons men everywhere, and in every time, have had to learn that the price of freedom is dear, but not nearly as costly as the loss of freedom, and that the advance and continuation of civilization depend on those values for which men have always been willing to die for.
~~ Author Unknown ~~
Thought of the Day - 7/21/09
You can motivate by fear. And you can motivate by reward. But both of these methods are only temporary. The only lasting thing is self-motivation.
~~ Homer Rice ~~
Thought of the Day - 7/19/09
Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.
~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~~
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