New CD Release

If you are familiar with the Britain's Got Talent show, you'll know that on the recent season, a 17-year-old duo named Jonathan Antoine and Charlotte Jaconelli won second place for their singing (I think they should have won first, they are that good!).

They got a recording contract after the show ended, and started working on a CD. They released their CD, called Together, in the UK on September 30th. Then, it was released today in the US. I am hoping to buy the CD within the next few weeks.

If you would like to see their audition for Britain's Got Talent, here is the link for it. They are so amazing, and I get blown away every time I watch it.

I have been following them ever since I saw their audition on Inside Edition (we don't get BGT here in the USA), and I am so glad that they got the chance to do what they are doing.

They did an interview for a US news show, and if you would like to watch that as well, here is the link to that.

I can't wait to get the CD and listen to it! They have amazing voices, and they are very down to earth people. I love them!!

Well, that's all for now. More to come later.

Operation Christmas Child

A few years ago, I first heard about the organization called Operation Christmas Child. It is where people can fill shoeboxes or plastic containers with presents for children, and then drop them off at a certain location, for them to be delivered to children who might otherwise not get anything for Christmas.

I have been wanting to do this ever since I heard about it, but have always missed the dates they do it. So, hopefully I can do it this year. It is in a couple weeks, and I may ask a few friends to help me out.

I don't know what I'll put in the box yet, but maybe I will put a little of everything in it, like toys, school supplies, accessories, and other things. I can't wait to be able to actually participate in Operation Christmas Child. I love giving, epsecially to children.

I love seeing the look on their faces getting a present, and getting something they want. And need. It makes me feel good.

If anyone wants more information on Operation Christmas Child, and to find out how to participate, here is the link to their website: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/occ I hope you decide to participate; you won't regret it!

Well, that's all for now. More to come soon.

Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence

For as long as I can remember, I've had low self-esteem and self-confidence. I'm naturally a shy person, so being confident is an issue with me.

I have never willingly raised my hand in class to offer an answer or opinion. I have never gone up to someone and started talking to them.

I am afraid of speaking up, because someone might laugh or judge me for it. I don't like to draw attention to myself/be the center of attention.

I always doubt if I can really do what I set my mind out to do. I think I am not as smart as I can be/than I really am.

I prefer to be at home, where I am most comfortable. I love to read, write, use the computer, knit and crochet, things that don't require groups of people, or talking to people I don't know.

I was never the "popular" kid in school. I didn't have a lot of friends (I still don't). I never did well in school. I felt like I was stupid.

I prefer email, letters, texting, and social media to phone calls and face to face interactions.

It would be awesome if I was more outgoing, but doing things that are out of my comfort zone are agonizing for me, and that stinks. I hate not being comfortable in situations where I have to talk to people, especially people I don't know, or aren't friends with.

There are things about myself that I don't like, like my eyes, my feet, and my smarts. I kind of don't like other things about myself, but those three are the main ones I feel self-conscious of the most. And I hate that.

I hope I can get out of my shell more, and be happier with who I am. Then I wouldn't be so worried about things that aren't that important.

Well, that's all for now. More to come later.

A New Volunteer

Last week, the driver I volunteered with had had his last day of volunteering on Friday, because he is having both knees replaced. So, tomorrow there is going to be a new driver I will be going with.

Since I am used to the regular driver taking me around, I am uncomfortable with a new driver. I have to get used to a new person all over again. I will be shy, and awkward again, around the new person.

I hate feeling like that. The old driver brought me out of my shell a little, and now I'm going to retreat back into it again. I really wish I wasn't so shy all the time, around new people.

I hope this new driver is nice, because I don't want to have to stop volunteering just because a volunteer is rude, or mean.

I just realized that it will be six months tomorrow since I started volunteering. It's crazy. I can't believe I've been volunteering that long already. Like the saying goes, time flies when you're having fun!

Well, that's all for now. More to come later.

Life is a Journey

Life is a journey
We all go through.
No matter your age,
Race,
Gender,
Religion,
Nationality,
Or ability.
No two journeys
Are exactly alike.
We are all different
But also the same.
I may not look like you,
Act like you,
Talk like you,
Learn the same as you,
Wear the same clothes as you,
Or have the same skin color as you.
But I am a human being
Like you.
And I want to be treated like one.
I am my own person,
And no one can change that.
We all have our own experiences in life,
And no one can take that away.
We all experience things in life
Whether they are happy or sad.
We experience every emotion,
Every feeling,
Every thought.
We all have different points of views.
We all have different likes and dislikes.
We all have different ways of expressing ourselves.
Whether it be words,
Clothing,
Jewelry,
Pictures,
Paintings,
Writings,
Or Films.
That is what makes us all
Different and unique.
We may not be able to do something
Someone else can.
But we can do something
They can’t.
We can feel for others
With disabilities.
We can stand up for them
When they, or others
Won’t or can’t.
They can always
Depend on us,
And we can always
Depend on them.
We can lift them up
When they’re down.
And they can lift us up
When we are down.
We can’t always be there for someone
In person.
But we can always be there
In spirit.
We all go through
Good times,
And bad times.
Happy times,
And sad times.
But we have friends and family
Who are there for us
Through it all.
All of this
Is what makes life
A journey.

The Child in Me

This past Friday, I had gone over to a friend's house for pumpkin carving/painting, one thing I absolutely love doing. Getting to be creative with a pumpkin is pretty cool.

I absolutely love arts and crafts, which means there is a child within me. And I love that. That means I won't always take life seriously, and that simple things in life are always the best.

My favorite "simple" things to to are read, write, color with crayons, markers, colored pencils and paint, and have fun in the outdoors.

People tend to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of work and raising a family and all that other stuff, that they don't take the time to enjoy the simple things in life, which is sad.

I mean, I know people have to work, and take care of their family, but that's all they focus on these days. Which is sad.

I hope people realize someday that life isn't all about working all the time, and "just" raising a family. It's also about having fun, and enjoying the simplest of things.

Life is too short to be working all the time, and being serious every second of every day. Go out and have fun. Live. Don't shut yourself from the good things.

Well, that's all for now. More to come later.

Darkness of the Day

My mind races
My eyes are
Swimming with tears.
I can't fall asleep
And I can't calm down.
I listen to Christian music
As I write this
To calm me down.
I am away from home.
I miss my family,
My cats
My room.
This is only for a few days
But it seems like forever
To me.
Although I love it here,
And that I have
A roommate to talk to,
I want to be home
Right now.
I will st ick it out
And pray to God
That He guides me,
And comforts me.
I really want to be here,
Among friends.
These are people like me
And they understand
What I am going through.
When I go through this,
It freels like
Nothing matters anymore,
That there is no point
In doing anything anymore.
In the end,
I feel better
When I let the tears flow,
And when I let
My feelings out.
And I feel
Like living again.
But the next night,
It starts all over again.
And I get frustrated
That it won't stop.


This was written in July 2010, while I was at a disability summit leadership. I was having a panic attack one of the days I was there, which is why this poem is written this way.

Fill-in-the-Blank Friday

1. One thing I plan on doing to relax this weekend is pumpkin carving tonight at a friend's house. Saturday and Sunday, I have to big plans, although I may go to a sale at a local thrift shop.

2. A big pet peeve of mine is when drivers go into the right lane, for turning right, and right when the light turns green, they speed up ahead of you, just so they can save time. You can't wait just a few seconds longer? Or stay in the lane you were in, to go straight?

3. I am really loving the beauty of fall. Many different colors, the cool air, holiday decorations.

4. The rain is great. I love it when it rains, except when it's cold out. Luckily, the recent rain we got was on warm days, so it wasn't so bad.

5. My favorite girly indulgence is chocolate, of course!

6. A song that I always get stuck in my head is nothing at the moment. I can't think of a song that's recently been on my mind a lot.

7. The best cure for stress is time with animals. I have two cats that I love hanging out with. They love being by me, and they always make me smile or laugh every day.

My Beloved Kitty

To my beloved Kitty
You left the world today.
It hurt to see you go
But I know
You are in a better place.
It hurt even more
When you kept looking at me
With those big yellow eyes.
I will love you
And miss You always.
You had a good life
Here on Earth,
And will have a good life
Up in Heavan.
I will miss it
When you follow me around,
When you beg for food,
When you lay on my lap,
When you sneak outside when the door is open,
When you curl up
On one of your favorite spots.
I will miss it
When you watch the birds and squirrels,
When you run around the place,
Just for no reason at all.
You were my best friend,
And it will be hard to get over you.

*Written on September 25, 2009
We had her since she was abou 6 weeks old, and was 16 when we had to put her down. So it was very hard on me. She was my best friend in the animal world.

Untitled

As I sit here on the porch,
Listening to birds chirping,
I try to come up
With a poem.
The sky slowly darkens
With the approach of rain,
The thunder sounds
In the distance.
A car drives by,
going to some unknown destination.
A man walks by
With purpose in his step.
The rain suddenly pours down,
As if the heavens open up.
Everything becomes wet,
Muddy, and dreary.
Birds take shelter in trees,
And I take shelter
Inside my home.
The rain lasts only a
short while.
The birds come out again,
Some feeding on the seeds
in the bird feeder.
I go back out to the porch,
And listen to the birds.
A bird is bathing
In the rain at the side
of the street.
The rain drips off of
branches and buildings.
I listen to a plane
flying by,
and the cars go by.
The sun comes back
Out to greet me.
Another man walks by,
With an umbrella in his hand.
I think about the
Brief moment of rain,
And how things can
Change in an instant.
The birds chirping,
Rabbits hopping by.
People out for a walk
Or drive.
Don’t take anything for granted.
It could all be gone
In an instant.
Treasure things in life,
big and small.
Life may seam dreary
And depressing at times,
But it is all worth it.
No matter what we go through,
The sun will come out
In the end.
As I sit here on the porch,
Listening to the birds chirping,
I try to come up
With a poem.
This is what results
From a mind at work


This was written in the summer of 2010.