Jan. 24th is GAGA FOR HELPING HAITI day.
Go to www.ladygaga.com on January 24th and 100% of all merchandise purchased goes to earthquake relief. They even have a special Haiti relief shirt and all proceeds from the sale of that shirt will go to help Haiti relief.
This is another great way to help the people of Haiti rebuild their lives. Last Tuesday a major earthquake hit Port au Prince and thousands died. People need food, water and shelter. Thousands have been orphaned. Families torn apart.
If you are not a fan of Lady Gaga or the merchandise doesn't quite suit your style. You can always donate $10 to www.redcross.org.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
What to write to a long lost dad?
Well. I was recently sent a letter from a relative and it contained an address saying that my dad just moved back to the US. I have never met my dad or had any contact with him. I had heard that he was living in Hong Kong for the past several years. But now that I had his new address, I figured why not write to him? I don't expect him to write back. I don't expect him to be kind if he does write back. But what do I say?
I don't understand men. Some like to read a lot. Some don't. Do I write a lot or keep it short and simple. Should I say that I think he is my dad or talk about my dad in third person?
I know I want to tell him that I am not mad at him. I got that down. Told him that mom is dead. Told him that I don't want money. I dunno. I know he doesn't want to be reminded of mom.
This is so much more than I have ever asked for. All I wanted was pictures of him and to learn a little bit about him. I got pictures and info with the help of a few distant relatives. But this is so strange that I am given this opportunity to write my dad. I cry not tears of grief nor tears of joy. Just tears of surprise I guess. Just overwhelmed of how painful my life has been. What would mom think? To know that I got to write to dad.
I finally decided to write him saying that I am not mad at him and that I love him. Even though he hasn't been in my life and that he may be mad that I say that he is my father. Even though when he first saw me in my mothers arms he asked her for a dollar. I still say I love him. If he has had a change in heart then he will be please to hear that I love him. If he is still a jerk then he will be mad that I say that I love him. Perfect.
I didn't ask him any questions. So I am not left hanging. But told him that he can write me back if he wants someone to talk to. He is about 75 years old. And with this harsh cold winter who knows if he is still alive.
I sent the letter about a week ago. I am writing this assuming he may never write back. If he does write back I will let you guys know. I will cry again. Its like someone coming back from the dead. I have never had any contact with him and been an orphan for over ten years and now I am able to write a letter to my dad? I get to have the last word? I think perhaps God knew I would not write words of hate to my dad. So He gave me a chance to say something.
I always try to understand why people do what they do. And forgive. They don't know any better.
I also wrote something else. I wrote Goodbye. Just incase he never wrote back. Funny because I don't think I wrote hello. Just I am not mad at you, I love you, Goodbye. Goodbye so I am not left hanging.
I hope mom would be proud. Could you imagine? Leaving a daughter in the US and coming back decades later and getting a letter from her finding out she has been orphaned and yet she still loves you and isn't mad at you. Pain makes us human. Pain makes us care. Pain is how our hearts grow.
I don't understand men. Some like to read a lot. Some don't. Do I write a lot or keep it short and simple. Should I say that I think he is my dad or talk about my dad in third person?
I know I want to tell him that I am not mad at him. I got that down. Told him that mom is dead. Told him that I don't want money. I dunno. I know he doesn't want to be reminded of mom.
This is so much more than I have ever asked for. All I wanted was pictures of him and to learn a little bit about him. I got pictures and info with the help of a few distant relatives. But this is so strange that I am given this opportunity to write my dad. I cry not tears of grief nor tears of joy. Just tears of surprise I guess. Just overwhelmed of how painful my life has been. What would mom think? To know that I got to write to dad.
I finally decided to write him saying that I am not mad at him and that I love him. Even though he hasn't been in my life and that he may be mad that I say that he is my father. Even though when he first saw me in my mothers arms he asked her for a dollar. I still say I love him. If he has had a change in heart then he will be please to hear that I love him. If he is still a jerk then he will be mad that I say that I love him. Perfect.
I didn't ask him any questions. So I am not left hanging. But told him that he can write me back if he wants someone to talk to. He is about 75 years old. And with this harsh cold winter who knows if he is still alive.
I sent the letter about a week ago. I am writing this assuming he may never write back. If he does write back I will let you guys know. I will cry again. Its like someone coming back from the dead. I have never had any contact with him and been an orphan for over ten years and now I am able to write a letter to my dad? I get to have the last word? I think perhaps God knew I would not write words of hate to my dad. So He gave me a chance to say something.
I always try to understand why people do what they do. And forgive. They don't know any better.
I also wrote something else. I wrote Goodbye. Just incase he never wrote back. Funny because I don't think I wrote hello. Just I am not mad at you, I love you, Goodbye. Goodbye so I am not left hanging.
I hope mom would be proud. Could you imagine? Leaving a daughter in the US and coming back decades later and getting a letter from her finding out she has been orphaned and yet she still loves you and isn't mad at you. Pain makes us human. Pain makes us care. Pain is how our hearts grow.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
How Johnny Depp saved my Life
You all know Johnny Depp, right? A famous actor who has played in several movies. Edward ScissorHands, Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean, Sweeny Todd and many more. Let me tell you an amazing true story of how Johnny Depp saved my life.
As you all know I am an orphan. My mother died when I was 15 and I never met my father. So when times are tough I can't just borrow money from mom or dad. I can't move back in with them. I gotta work. I was about 23 years old. I was working two jobs. delivering pizza in the morning and popping popcorn at night. I was still living in the dormitories at Northeastern State university. I was trying to save up so I could get my first apartment. I knew my scholarship wouldn't pay for another year of me living in the dorms. May came around and I was just about to move into my apartment when the owner of the movie theater I worked at wanted me to only work for them. Usually I worked at the pizza place on Fridays but the movie theater wanted me to work for them only or they would fire me. I had to pick the movie theater. It was the better paying job. The owner of the pizza place let me go. Sadly enough the movie theater did not give me enough hours to make up for the other job. I had to choose between food or electricity. It was summer time so I knew I wouldn't freeze so I lived all summer without power. I had no bed. I slept on the floor. I still barely had enough food to eat.
Finally in August a friend gave me her bed. Several times I would go to work irritable from not eating enough food. I wrote a letter to the owner of the movie theater explaining my situation. That I am an orphan, I live alone, I have been living without power for half a year and there is no one to borrow money from to get electricity or food. My aunt sent some money to start the electricity but I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with the payments. I have to use it for food.
Everyday I was working at the register in concession. I would see the ushers sitting on benches talking. I wasn't allowed to leave concession or sit. Winter was coming and I knew I had to get electricity soon. Then Pirates of the Caribbean 2 came to the theater. It sold out every single set for four days straight and of course I had to be in concession on register the whole time. But I was paid overtime as a result. I usually earned $400 a month but that month I got $1,000 and was able to get electricity for the winter. I also applied for food stamps and got $100 worth of food a month. It felt so nice waking up in the morning knowing that I was taken care of. In the midst of Johnny Depps acting career little did he know that he was helping feed and shelter an orphan.
That winter was a very harsh winter too. Ice covered the branches of the trees. Limbs fell and broke though students windshields. But I had a warm home. After Pirates of the Caribbean had finished playing in the theater, the ushers took down the poster but they were too lazy to take it back up stairs to the projection room. Instead they left it in concession. A kind family would always visit each weekend. The father saw the poster sitting in concession and asked if he could have it. Usually when I customer wants a poster we have them write down their number and say we will call them back. But I have seen the manager just throw away the posters. I figured why not just give him the poster. The movie theater workers are allowed to take just about any poster home that they want. It is illegal to sell them. So I handed him the poster. The owner of the theater saw what I had done and told the man to give it back.
About a year later the owner of the theater went on vacation in August. She paid us early since she would be out of town. But as a result the dates on my check stubs were not bi-weekly. I had to show the check stubs to DHS so I could keep getting food stamps. They didn't understand why the check stubs were dated incorrectly even though I explained that the owner went on vacation and paid us early. Since the check stubs were not counted it showed that I was earning too much even though we were not working summer theater hours anymore. I went from earning $100 a month in food stamps for $14. I barely had anything to eat during the month of September 2007. I was very irritable. I remember eating food off the floor that people had brought in and left behind.
One night it was time to clean up concession after the last show. The ushers were still sitting on benches talking while I was cleaning. I accidentally dropped a salt shaker over the counter and it broke. The ushers said I threw it and sat on the benches while I went out into the lobby to clean it up.
The next day I was called into the office and fired without notice.
Each day after that I worked so hard to find another job as fast as I could. I was supposed to report my unemployment to DHS to stop my food stamps but I had to keep the $14 I was getting in order to eat. I few weeks past I was about to move into my car because I didn't have enough to pay rent.
One day as I was walking home from class I saw a postman sitting in his mail truck in the parking lot where I lived. It was the father of the kind family I had tried to give the Pirates of the Caribbean poster to. He asked how I was doing. I told him what had happened. He gave me $10. It was enough to feed me for a week. And at the end of that week I got a new job. I got the best boss I have ever had at Campus police. he was very understanding and hardworking. My first day at work was on Halloween. I kept that job until I graduated.
Thanks so much to those who have made a difference and helped me. Thank you for understanding. It was probably one of the hardest times of my life. And thanks to Johnny Depp for being a great actor and selling out. Make sure to go see Johnny's new move Alice in Wonderland in theaters March 5, 2010.
As you all know I am an orphan. My mother died when I was 15 and I never met my father. So when times are tough I can't just borrow money from mom or dad. I can't move back in with them. I gotta work. I was about 23 years old. I was working two jobs. delivering pizza in the morning and popping popcorn at night. I was still living in the dormitories at Northeastern State university. I was trying to save up so I could get my first apartment. I knew my scholarship wouldn't pay for another year of me living in the dorms. May came around and I was just about to move into my apartment when the owner of the movie theater I worked at wanted me to only work for them. Usually I worked at the pizza place on Fridays but the movie theater wanted me to work for them only or they would fire me. I had to pick the movie theater. It was the better paying job. The owner of the pizza place let me go. Sadly enough the movie theater did not give me enough hours to make up for the other job. I had to choose between food or electricity. It was summer time so I knew I wouldn't freeze so I lived all summer without power. I had no bed. I slept on the floor. I still barely had enough food to eat.
Finally in August a friend gave me her bed. Several times I would go to work irritable from not eating enough food. I wrote a letter to the owner of the movie theater explaining my situation. That I am an orphan, I live alone, I have been living without power for half a year and there is no one to borrow money from to get electricity or food. My aunt sent some money to start the electricity but I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with the payments. I have to use it for food.
Everyday I was working at the register in concession. I would see the ushers sitting on benches talking. I wasn't allowed to leave concession or sit. Winter was coming and I knew I had to get electricity soon. Then Pirates of the Caribbean 2 came to the theater. It sold out every single set for four days straight and of course I had to be in concession on register the whole time. But I was paid overtime as a result. I usually earned $400 a month but that month I got $1,000 and was able to get electricity for the winter. I also applied for food stamps and got $100 worth of food a month. It felt so nice waking up in the morning knowing that I was taken care of. In the midst of Johnny Depps acting career little did he know that he was helping feed and shelter an orphan.
That winter was a very harsh winter too. Ice covered the branches of the trees. Limbs fell and broke though students windshields. But I had a warm home. After Pirates of the Caribbean had finished playing in the theater, the ushers took down the poster but they were too lazy to take it back up stairs to the projection room. Instead they left it in concession. A kind family would always visit each weekend. The father saw the poster sitting in concession and asked if he could have it. Usually when I customer wants a poster we have them write down their number and say we will call them back. But I have seen the manager just throw away the posters. I figured why not just give him the poster. The movie theater workers are allowed to take just about any poster home that they want. It is illegal to sell them. So I handed him the poster. The owner of the theater saw what I had done and told the man to give it back.
About a year later the owner of the theater went on vacation in August. She paid us early since she would be out of town. But as a result the dates on my check stubs were not bi-weekly. I had to show the check stubs to DHS so I could keep getting food stamps. They didn't understand why the check stubs were dated incorrectly even though I explained that the owner went on vacation and paid us early. Since the check stubs were not counted it showed that I was earning too much even though we were not working summer theater hours anymore. I went from earning $100 a month in food stamps for $14. I barely had anything to eat during the month of September 2007. I was very irritable. I remember eating food off the floor that people had brought in and left behind.
One night it was time to clean up concession after the last show. The ushers were still sitting on benches talking while I was cleaning. I accidentally dropped a salt shaker over the counter and it broke. The ushers said I threw it and sat on the benches while I went out into the lobby to clean it up.
The next day I was called into the office and fired without notice.
Each day after that I worked so hard to find another job as fast as I could. I was supposed to report my unemployment to DHS to stop my food stamps but I had to keep the $14 I was getting in order to eat. I few weeks past I was about to move into my car because I didn't have enough to pay rent.
One day as I was walking home from class I saw a postman sitting in his mail truck in the parking lot where I lived. It was the father of the kind family I had tried to give the Pirates of the Caribbean poster to. He asked how I was doing. I told him what had happened. He gave me $10. It was enough to feed me for a week. And at the end of that week I got a new job. I got the best boss I have ever had at Campus police. he was very understanding and hardworking. My first day at work was on Halloween. I kept that job until I graduated.
Thanks so much to those who have made a difference and helped me. Thank you for understanding. It was probably one of the hardest times of my life. And thanks to Johnny Depp for being a great actor and selling out. Make sure to go see Johnny's new move Alice in Wonderland in theaters March 5, 2010.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Ways to enjoy the Zen life
Since I have decluttered my home and become minimal I was trying to think of the little things in life to enjoy. What I want most is to be with my mom and have a family again. Now I know that is all that matters in life but I can't have that. I have barely any other wants. I watch movies to cheer myself up after a break up or during the holidays. I may find a nice book to read. But I was just wondering what are the simple things in life to enjoy that we seem to forget or at least what to do after you have decluttered your home and are saving money. Here are some things I have thought of.
1. Rainy days. I have forgotten how much I love rainy days. Sitting by the window and watching the rain and hearing the thunder. Then taking a nap. Maybe even opening the porch door and feeling the cool air come into the living room while I lay on my futon.
2. Candles. Its terrible when you are given yucking candles on the holidays. But it is so nice when you treat yourself to a low budget vanilla candle or honey dew melon candle. Those are my fav. Its also nice to keep track of how long the candle lasts. It helps pass time. The smell can bring back memories. Sitting and reading a book and listening to some music while a candle is burning. So Zen.
3. Snow falling. Nature and the weather are the things in life we tend to forget. The snow can be a hassle sometimes. But it is nice to watch the snow fall. So calming. It reminds me of being in school and knowing that I will be able to stay home with mom the next day.
4. Music. So many kinds. That nice feeling of sitting and listening to a new cd. With each track you pick your favorites. And you listen to them the next day. Music can bring inspiration also. Maybe you happier. Help you make art. Help you write. Help you meditate.
5. The sunrise. In the spring and summer I like to get up and sit on the porch and watch the sunrise or at least watch the sun light move across the floor of my porch. Hear the trees move and feel the wind. Think of the future, the past and the present. It all seems so happy and exciting. Knowing that the sun has returned after traveling around the world. Its also fun to visit Earthcam.com and watch the sun rise on the other side of the world. At midnight in Oklahoma the sun is rising in Paris.
6. Running around in your underwear. This is so much fun to do in the summer. In the winter you have to wear a sweater around the house but in the summer time you can be a little more casual. There is much more freedom. Nothing like sitting in your underwear and watching Saturday morning cartoons while eating a bowl of cereal.
7. Having a pen pal. Its so nice to get the mail and see that you have a letter from someone with a message inside. Its so much better than bills and junk mail. The walk back to the house is nice. You wonder what they wrote. When you get back in the house you read it. How nice and simple.
8. Donating to Goodwill. Its a great feeling to take a box of clutter and drop it off at the Goodwill store. Its nice to know that its out of the way and that you helped someone. Its like a new life. You have made progress. You have simplified your life. Cleaned up your life.
9. Donating your hair. To grow out your hair and then have it cut off and donated to help make wigs for people fighting cancer is a beautiful thing. the new haircut is life a new fresh start. I can't wait to cut my hair again. I will be back to using less shampoo. You can donate at Locks of Love.
10. Using cruelty-free products. Its may be difficult at first but once you find your new brand you like it is easier. You feel better knowing that you are making a difference by not using products testing on animals. Avon, Revlon, Giovanni, Mary Kay, Shaklee, Arbonne and Jay Manuel products are cruelty-free just to name a few. No guilt anymore when buying shampoo, make-up, soap, toothpaste or any other products. Even some chocolate from the Ivory Coast are harvested by child slaves. One Slave-free chocolate company is Endangered Species Chocolate.
11. Donate to Redcross.org. I just donated to help people in Haiti. They just had a terrible earthquake yesterday. Thousands have been found dead. You can even donate through your Amazon.com account.
Those are just a few things in life that are to be desired and bring enjoyment to your life. I will post more if I think of any. I'm sure the list is limitless. Don't forget your family if you have one. And dreams. I love it when I have nice dreams. Dreams about being back in college and getting attention from guys. Yay Zen dreams.
1. Rainy days. I have forgotten how much I love rainy days. Sitting by the window and watching the rain and hearing the thunder. Then taking a nap. Maybe even opening the porch door and feeling the cool air come into the living room while I lay on my futon.
2. Candles. Its terrible when you are given yucking candles on the holidays. But it is so nice when you treat yourself to a low budget vanilla candle or honey dew melon candle. Those are my fav. Its also nice to keep track of how long the candle lasts. It helps pass time. The smell can bring back memories. Sitting and reading a book and listening to some music while a candle is burning. So Zen.
3. Snow falling. Nature and the weather are the things in life we tend to forget. The snow can be a hassle sometimes. But it is nice to watch the snow fall. So calming. It reminds me of being in school and knowing that I will be able to stay home with mom the next day.
4. Music. So many kinds. That nice feeling of sitting and listening to a new cd. With each track you pick your favorites. And you listen to them the next day. Music can bring inspiration also. Maybe you happier. Help you make art. Help you write. Help you meditate.
5. The sunrise. In the spring and summer I like to get up and sit on the porch and watch the sunrise or at least watch the sun light move across the floor of my porch. Hear the trees move and feel the wind. Think of the future, the past and the present. It all seems so happy and exciting. Knowing that the sun has returned after traveling around the world. Its also fun to visit Earthcam.com and watch the sun rise on the other side of the world. At midnight in Oklahoma the sun is rising in Paris.
6. Running around in your underwear. This is so much fun to do in the summer. In the winter you have to wear a sweater around the house but in the summer time you can be a little more casual. There is much more freedom. Nothing like sitting in your underwear and watching Saturday morning cartoons while eating a bowl of cereal.
7. Having a pen pal. Its so nice to get the mail and see that you have a letter from someone with a message inside. Its so much better than bills and junk mail. The walk back to the house is nice. You wonder what they wrote. When you get back in the house you read it. How nice and simple.
8. Donating to Goodwill. Its a great feeling to take a box of clutter and drop it off at the Goodwill store. Its nice to know that its out of the way and that you helped someone. Its like a new life. You have made progress. You have simplified your life. Cleaned up your life.
9. Donating your hair. To grow out your hair and then have it cut off and donated to help make wigs for people fighting cancer is a beautiful thing. the new haircut is life a new fresh start. I can't wait to cut my hair again. I will be back to using less shampoo. You can donate at Locks of Love.
10. Using cruelty-free products. Its may be difficult at first but once you find your new brand you like it is easier. You feel better knowing that you are making a difference by not using products testing on animals. Avon, Revlon, Giovanni, Mary Kay, Shaklee, Arbonne and Jay Manuel products are cruelty-free just to name a few. No guilt anymore when buying shampoo, make-up, soap, toothpaste or any other products. Even some chocolate from the Ivory Coast are harvested by child slaves. One Slave-free chocolate company is Endangered Species Chocolate.
11. Donate to Redcross.org. I just donated to help people in Haiti. They just had a terrible earthquake yesterday. Thousands have been found dead. You can even donate through your Amazon.com account.
Those are just a few things in life that are to be desired and bring enjoyment to your life. I will post more if I think of any. I'm sure the list is limitless. Don't forget your family if you have one. And dreams. I love it when I have nice dreams. Dreams about being back in college and getting attention from guys. Yay Zen dreams.
Chocolate made by slaves?
Child slaves may have made your chocolate. According to the television programme, Slavery, made for the BBC by Kate Blewett and Brian Woods of True Vision, thousands of children in Central and West Africa are being stolen from their parents, shipped to the Ivory Coast and sold as slaves to cocoa farmers.
These children earn no money for their work, and are barely fed. They are beaten if they try to escape, and most will never see their families again. Nearly 50% of the world's cocoa supply is grown in the Ivory Coast.
Source: http://www.365act.com/actions/2.html
Check out these links about Slave Chocolate:
http://www1.american.edu/ted/chocolate-slave.htm
http://vision.ucsd.edu/~kbranson/stopchocolateslavery/goodchocolateproducts.html
http://www.365act.com/actions/2.html
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/0424/096.html
Here is one company that produces slavery-free chocolate:
http://www.chocolatebar.com
You can get their products at Walgreens, Whole Foods Market or on their website.
These children earn no money for their work, and are barely fed. They are beaten if they try to escape, and most will never see their families again. Nearly 50% of the world's cocoa supply is grown in the Ivory Coast.
Source: http://www.365act.com/actions/2.html
Check out these links about Slave Chocolate:
http://www1.american.edu/ted/chocolate-slave.htm
http://vision.ucsd.edu/~kbranson/stopchocolateslavery/goodchocolateproducts.html
http://www.365act.com/actions/2.html
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/0424/096.html
Here is one company that produces slavery-free chocolate:
http://www.chocolatebar.com
You can get their products at Walgreens, Whole Foods Market or on their website.
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