Motivation

Motivation means, according to Mirriam Webster,

1

a : the act or process of motivating b : the condition of being motivated

2

: a motivating force, stimulus, or influence 

Why is motivation my topic for the day? Well, because I still struggle to lose 25lbs. I have some motivating things going on in my life that I'd like to look good for, like my 20 year high school reunion and this summer I'd like to wear a bikini again, but somehow that doesn't seem to be enough. Every day is a struggle. Like today for instance, I decided it would be a good idea to eat a candy bar with peanut butter for desert from lunch because I was craving chocolate. My excuse was, tomorrow is fat Tuesday and I'm giving up sweets for lent with the only exception being Andrew's birthday because I ordered him cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcakes (the source of the TLC show DC Cupcakes) and I really want to try one. So, I gave myself the go ahead to eat something I didn't need today because I knew I wasn't going to get sweets again till Easter. This happens to me daily, and then I wonder why I'm still hanging on to the 25lbs. I really need to break out my Weight Watchers Cookbooks and make some Weight Watcher's friendly deserts, after Lent of course. I also want to start P90X. I had every excuse in the book not to work out today. So, people, some words of wisdom and some motivation would be helpful! I know I can  do it, I just need to find the way and the will. 

Just because I love Penguins I had to share this. Thanks to my Sister in Law who thought of me when she saw it. Just click on the words and it will take you to the video.

Penguin Shopping

Happiness

Happiness. What is Happiness? Websters defines it as-good fortune : prosperity

2a : a state of well-being and contentment : joy b : a pleasurable or satisfying experience

How do I describe, see and feel happiness? Well in many ways actually. Happiness to me is listening to my children play outside and get along. It's listening to them laugh and giggle. It's watching my Oldest tickle my youngest in order to get here to stop playing the piano because he wants to watch his recorded TV show because everyone knows its better to do that then to scream at her or, God forbid, hit her or something. Happiness is getting to sleep in today and having my wonderful husband kiss me goodbye and call me angel before he leaves for work. (Yes, I hear it every time) Happiness is going right back to sleep after that because I know he is going to work to give us a roof over our heads and to make sure my kids go to a good private school and because he makes me feel loved and safe. Happiness is getting to enjoy a cup of Decaf coffee in the morning (can't do the leaded brand because it makes me have heart palpatations) because we have running water and the means to make it for my enjoyment. Happiness is watching a movie with my family on the couch all snuggled up together and eating popcorn. Happiness is running my RCIA program because I know it keeps me close to God and it's satisfying to see everyone grow in their faith and love of the Lord. Happiness is petting and loving our pets because they bring peace to me and my children as well as responsibility and all they ask for is a little love, food and water. 

As I write this I realize I have a lot to be thankful for. What I mentioned is just the tip of the iceburg. I hope everyone reading this can come up with their own types of happiness. I also hope I've inspired someone to look for the happy in their lives and to dwell on that instead of the things that might bring them down. God Bless!

 

 

Expensive free kitty

So, a year ago today our cat Frodo was born. We got him from a friend from church and he was born to a Ferrel cat. We got him for Alexander who really wanted to have a cat for his birthday, one he could take care of, one that would be his very own. He grew up with my cats Aerial and Sebastian, and never connected with them because they weren't HIS. So, at the end of April, as a birthday gift, though belated, we brought home "baby Frodo" as he calls him. Frodo was so tiny he could fit in the palm of our hands. And, best of all he was free!

Well, Yesterday, I had to take him to the Vet for what I thought was a urinary tract infection. HA! It was much, much worse than that, as is our luck. He had developed so many crystals and debris in his bladder that it was very, VERY stuck in his urethra. Plus his bladder was the size of a Softball which is rather huge for a small kitty of 11lbs and only a year old. The Vet couldn't unblock him so he was referred to an Emergency Veterinary clinic for emergency PU surgery. Sorry to the men out there, but I have to give a little detail. They basically castrate him and give him a bigger opening to pee out of. EEK! This by all means doesn't prevent crystals from forming, it just improves his chances of passing the crystals, stones, debris that may form in the future. Plus we will have to have him on a strict diet and he'll have to wear a cone on his head for a couple of weeks. So, now the part that gave Stephen a Coronary...the bill. Yes, this free cat is now costing us $3000 for this surgery. Who says that Vets can charge as much as Dr.'s? Luckily they have a payment plan, but geez, really? That much for a cat? I love animals and will do anything for them to keep them safe and healthy, but, do the Vets really have to charge that much?

Anyway, Alexander and I visited him in the hospital today. Poor thing is shaved and has his entire right front leg bandaged because he has an IV in it. He didn't want to be held and kept trying to shake off the bandage and get the cone off. But otherwise he's back to his normal self, well, as normal as can be given the contraptions, and Alexander just wanted to bring him back home. Knock on wood, I can only hope our other animals don't go through extensive procedures like that that will cost us another $3000!

SAVE BABY JOSEPH (I had to post this.)

Save Baby Joseph!

 February 26, 2011

 Dear Patricia,

There's an 18-month-old baby boy in Canada who is about to be put to death by the Canadian government.

I'm writing to you today so that you can help Priests For Life save this baby's life if possible.

Here's the situation … The baby, who is known as Baby Joseph, is suffering from a critical condition that requires him to have a breathing tube in order to stay alive.

However, the Canadian government has decided that they don't want to spend any more money on Baby Joseph to keep him alive.

And, to everyone's horror, the government won't even let Baby Joseph go home with his parents. His parents need to obtain better health care for Baby Joseph by bringing him to the United States where a hospital -- preferably a Catholic hospital where the baby will NOT be euthanized.

My experience in the case of Terri Schiavo back in 2005 showed me how devastating it is when a person -- no matter how young or how old -- is put to death by the "health care" system that pretends to help the sick, the poor, the indigent, the elderly, and those with terminal illnesses.

In reality, the government "health care" system doesn't want to spend money on anyone if they can't make money on that patient.

Therefore, since the Canadian government -- because of their system of rationing health care -- is determined to put Baby Joseph to death by removing his breathing tube, we at Priests For Life are stepping up to the plate and offering to bring Baby Joseph to the United States so that he can receive better health care and possibly survive his illness rather than being put to death because of rationed health care.

You see, the Canadian government is refusing to let Baby Joseph's parents take care of him. His parents don't want him to die. They already had one child die from a similar illness, and they don't want it to happen again.

But because of the Canadian government's system of "socialized" health care, Baby Joseph is in danger. They won't take care of him. Therefore, we have to.

The first thing I urge you to do is contact the officials in the Canadian government who are holding Baby Joseph's life in their hands. All you have to do is click here and your message will be sent immediately to these Canadian officials to implore them to release Baby Joseph back to his parents so that he can get the proper health care he needs and not be put to death in the painful, inhumane method of removing his breathing tube.

The second thing you need to do is pray for Baby Joseph and his parents for a sensitive solution to this problem.

And then, third, please forward this alert to everyone on your email list!

I will keep you updated on our progress in this crucial fight to save Baby Joseph. Please keep reading these alerts and forwarding them to all your friends and family members so that the word can get out about the injustices inflicted upon little children by the Culture of Death.

Blessings,



Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life

Priests for Life
PO Box 141172
Staten Island, NY 10314
Phone: 718-980-4400
Toll Free: 1-888-735-3448
Fax: 718-980-6515
mail@priestsforlife.org
www.priestsforlife.org 

If you do not wish to receive any emails from us, let us know at unsubscribe@priestsforlife.org. However, unsubscribing will deprive you of some important and helpful information in the months to come, and therefore we strongly encourage you to stay on our list!

My soon to be 8 year old

So, since yesterday was the first of March, the realization hit me that I have 2 birthdays to take care of this month. No, I take that back....3 birthdays. My grandmother comes first on the 17th. She will be 83. Hard to believe she will be 83 since she acts like she's 60. Thank God for that. She is my inspiration. I want to be as active as she is when I'm 83. I guess this proves that age is all in your head. She thinks young, there fore she acts young. I admire her for that.

Next, my middle child will be 8. Yikes! I can't believe he's going to be 8. He's growing up so fast. My game playing Mario loving boy will be another year older. As I sit here and write about this I think about the day I gave birth to him at Mountain View hospital. It was a very peaceful, calm birth, which mimicks his personality. How the years have passed. 

Lastly, My wonderful husband will be turning 40. I would love to do something special for him but I have no clue what to do. 40 is a big milestone and I want to make it special. Funny, now that I think of it, he was 21 when I met him! Geez! That seems like a lifetime ago!!! But it also seems like just yesterday.

All in all, I haven't done ANYTHING to shop for them. I have no idea what to get them or what kind of party to do for them. (well, mostly my son and my hubby. Grandma is taken care of thanks to my aunt.) I guess I had better get organized, huh?
 

Toys

So I was listening to the radio this morning and they were talking about the top 10 dumbest toys. This got me thinking about the toys I used to play with as a little girl. I wasn't thinking about the dumbest necessarily, just the ones I like. So, to all of you who are about my age and want a blast from the past, here is a list of toys I remember from the 70's and 80's!

Cabbage Patch Kids
Barbie
Pogs
Rainbow Bright
Strawberry Shortcake
Sit and Spin
Big Wheel
Garbage Pail Kids
GI Joe
Star Wars Figurines
Slinky
Silly Putty
Play Doh
Pound Puppies
Rubiks Cube
The Magic 8 ball
Roller Skates with Metal Wheels

Anyway, I think you get my drift. If you have any you remember that I didn't post, please comment! The list of the 10 dumbest toys ever is on this link http://guyism.com/humor/stupidest-toys-of-all-time.html #1 according to them? Furbys!!!