We Remember Silence

Hello, To honor the memory of Martian Luther King Jr today, I chose my favorite quotes of his to share with you. I would have to say the quote in the picture is my absolute favorite. How true it is, that we remember the silence of our friends, and even family, in our darkest moments, in our times of trials and tribulations. As he inspired a generation with the civil rights movement, he also inspired a lasting perspective on how we should view and treat one another, basic humanity 101, with his words of wisdom. We were truly blessed to have known him in our life time.
Thanks for visiting,
Janet :)

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness”

“A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan”

“If we are to go forward, we must go back and rediscover those precious values – that all reality hinges on moral foundations and that all reality has spiritual control”

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals”

"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity"

“Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think”

Tom And Tim Take Two

Hello, It's going to be an exciting weekend for Patriots fans like me. If you haven't seen these video spoofs on Tim Tebow, check them out, I think you'll enjoy a laugh or two. I hope you all have a great weekend as well.
Thanks for visiting,
Janet :)

When I Miss You

Hello, Today is the 4th Anniversary of my mother's passing. This is a poem I wrote one night while thinking of her. Simply amazing is the power of a mother's love, for it transcends death and lives within us forever.
Thanks for visiting,
Janet :)



When I miss you

When I miss you mom
I turn towards the sun
With the rays on my face
I feel your love and grace

When I miss your hold
I stand still in the wind
and feel the strength of
your soul

When I miss your eyes
I see them in the mirror
through me they are
still alive

When I miss your smile
I look to the night
Each star wishes
they could be so bright

When I miss everything
about you
I stand in the rain
until it washes away
the pain

When I look at what you
left behind
I am so blessed and believe
When our family is gathered
your spirit is with us and
will never leave
Today and forever I will
miss you until together
again we will be

Lifestyles Of The Poor And Hopeless

Hello, Yes, sad but true, this is the style of life that 15 Million Americans are living today while trying to achieve the American Dream, myself included. And you know there would never be a show featuring this reality of life, because it would be an unpleasant reality, people would prefer to watch the rich and famous one they had years ago. I can tell you this for sure, because even though I have been living as one of the 15 million the past two years, unemployed, bordering on depression and hopelessness, with each, "Thank You for applying, this position has been filled by another candidate" the reality of what is really going on didn't hit me until I had to go to my local Unemployment office last week. I just needed a letter for something else stating my benefits ran out in 2010. I had always filed my benefits over the phone, so I never had to go to the office. All I can say is wow, what an eye opener. I went on a Friday morning and they told me it was a 4 hour wait. I thought to myself, I don't want to sit here for 4 hours, I'll come back when they open next week early and be one of the first in line. And that's what I did. Getting there early got me #38 in line. As I stood in line it grew and grew, I saw every age group, male, female. The man ahead of me was in his late 50's, probably close to retiring and there he stands, in the unemployment line. I talked with him and some others while we waited to get in and the main theme that ran through all of our stories was the same, hopelessness. Then they open the doors and we all file in, and right after me they stopped taking people. All the others behind me in line were told to come back later or come back the next day. I never thought I would have to feel "lucky" to get in an unemployment office! I waited about 4 hrs for a letter that took 1 minute to print. I left there that day just disgusted with our government. I am not a big political person, but I do know that we have all been pretty much screwed out of the American Dream. I will never do better than my Parents who worked a job without a college degree and were able to obtain the American dream and then some. And it's just not me I think about, I worry for my children and grandchildren, will they ever be able to achieve their dreams. And now being an Election year, I can't stand that I have to listen to them all babble their BS, and I don't even watch the debates, but I have to hear them between the news and the commercials. I just don't believe any of them are going to change anything. They promise the world and deliver nothing, election after election. I had faith in President Obama and I still do a little, because I can't believe that anyone could turn this around in less than 4 yrs. I remember everything going down hill when Bush was in office, so putting another Republican in is something I am definitively against. No offense to anyone who believes otherwise, it's just my observation, my opinion, if you can convince me otherwise, feel free to leave me a comment. I know this has been a depressing post, but it is something I felt the need to write about. I wanted to help you see the reality of the numbers like I did. If you have a job be thankful. Don't take it for granted even if you hate it some days. Even with my college degree, and working with an employment agency, I apply at places even like Walmart and still nothing. There is probably an average of 500 applications for every position posted from what I'm told, it's that tough out there. I also wanted to share this with you so if you do go and vote this year, really think about what is going on in America. Remember the reality of these 15 million people that have lost their American Dream, because it could be you among them at anytime, and trust me, it is not a good place to be. If we don't do something about it now, it will be gone for good, if it isn't already.
Thanks for visiting,
Janet

They're right about that!


Pretty much what the Unemployment line looks
like before it opens everyday in my town


My perceptions of the Republican Candidates lol!

Obey Your Passion

Hello, We all have Passion. Each of our Passions are unique and as individual as we are. For most of us, our Passions are not just of love or lust, they encompass every aspect of our lives. Alive are we, who do Obey them.
Thanks for visiting,
Janet :)

PASSION

It lies in all of us
Sleeping, waiting and
though unwanted, unbidden,
It will stir, open its jaws
and howl

It speaks to us, guides us
Passion rules us all, And we obey
What other choice do we have?
Passion is the source of our
finest moments

The joy of love, the clarity
of hatred, the ecstasy of grief
It hurts sometimes more than
we can bear

If we could live without passion,
maybe we'd know some kind of peace
But we would be hollow, Empty rooms,
shuttered and dank

Without passion, We'd be truly dead!

Be Your Moon

Hello, Beautifully said, and don't we all need someone like this in our lives! I am lucky enough to have a husband who is also my Moon, now more than ever.
Thanks for visiting,
Janet :)



"Everyone wants to be your Sun, but not me "I want to be your Moon so I can light up your Darkest moments when your Sun isn't around"

Not That Resolution Again!

Hello, Yes I know, with the new year, comes that resolution to lose weight and get in shape once again! About a year and a half ago, I started making some changes in my diet and started walking. I thought I would share with you what has worked for me, if you have chosen this resolution. I have been able to go from a size 14/16 to a size 8/10. I hope this year I get down to get a size 6/8. I usually walk 5 times a week for 30 minutes, but occasionally I don't get in the full five days, but even if I only do three days a week, it still keeps me from gaining the weight back. It is hard to start, but once you do, it get's easier and easier. I feel guilty now if I don't walk. I enjoy the time to myself as well, I watch music videos while I walk because the visual of the music usually keeps me entertained and before I know it I have gotten so into the music videos, that my time is up for my walk. I love it when that happens! I can't afford one of those Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig programs either, so I just used some of my common sense and followed some advice I found along the way and put together what has worked for me. I also drink plenty of water during the day and when I need a kick before I start walking I drink Ice Tea for the Caffeine and that way I avoid coffee with the cream. I hope that maybe I have shared something you didn't think of and it helps you too.
Thanks for visiting,
Janet :)

I have never been a breakfast person, but now I am starting to eat it
because they say it does kick up your metabolism. I have been eating
the instant Quaker Oats and it does seem to keep me fuller during the
morning, it has slow digesting carbs, so you don't crash like you
would on other sugary breakfast items. The best part is if you use
water to make it it has only 150 calories. I love the feeling I get
too when I eat it on a cold New England Morning. If you don't have
time for a sit down breakfast, There are lots of protein drinks
and bars. But I would suggest mixing it up with and egg once in
a while. I know eggs are good for you one day and then not so much
the other, but I believe anything in moderation is ok. So for a quick
breakfast with protein, and only about 77 calories, I suggest boiling
up a couple of eggs the night before your busy week and keep them
in your fridge, then you can just grab one, warm it up if you prefer
it that way in the micro on a low setting and your good to go!


I usually have a grilled chicken salad everyday for lunch,
I don't know why, but I never seem to get sick of having
it, I think I'm addicted to them. I have a half a pita with
it too. It keeps me full for the afternoon and I think the
protein from the Chicken helps give me energy to do my
afternoon walk. Once in a while I'll change my lunch up
with these low calorie SmartOnes by Weight Watchers. The
Three Cheese Mariana is really good, it's definitively my
favorite and Progresso Soups are good too


Dinner: I cook dinner every night for my two guys, who are
basically meat eaters, so I try to buy lean meats cause
I don't usually make anything special for myself. I usually
will just eat smaller portions of what I make them. But if
I make them something really high in calories or something I
don't like, I will usually have another salad or just some
pasta with sauce. I also keep a bag of frozen shrimp in the
freezer and sometimes a bag of frozen scallops (I only get
frozen scallops if I get them on sale at the Hilltop, a local
Butcher Shop, they are getting so expensive!) And I'll whip
up a low calorie dinner with one of them, usually scampi,
with lot's of garlic, yum, yum, I am Italian after all!


Snacking at night while watching TV can be a bad habit,
but it all depends of course with what your snacking on.
This past year I started snacking on Grapes while
watching TV because they only have about 3 calories
a piece, awesome huh, you can fill up easily on 10
or 15 big ones and you have only taken in about 30
or 45 calories!! For something crunchy these chips
are so good, the Sea Salt are my favorite and they
are starting to come out with lots of other flavors.
I love that I have been able to snack at night w/o
putting back on any of the weight I have walked off :)


Condiments I use to avoid adding Calories:
This and the regular butter flavor are good on a baked
potato, or on toast, you can even cook with it, the best
part is it is 0 calories! And if your not to thrilled
with the taste you can add something else like bacon bits
on a baked potato and light jam or reduced calorie peanut
butter on the toast

Ken's has the best tasting light dressings and I have
tried a lot of them. The store brands may save you a
little money, but it's not worth it, they taste watery

Using this in your coffee or whatever you drink or eat
can keep you from gaining up to 10 pounds in a year.