If only for a second today, please stop and think about our Earth and what small changes in your daily lives you might be able to do to do your part in helping clean up our planet, stop global warming, etc. We only have one earth and even if you don't care about it, others do.

If everyone does a small part, makes one small change it makes a big difference.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

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Really, going to shower now...

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS! I hope that each and every one of you have a safe, fun, happy, memorable and lovely Christmas holiday. Eat yummy foods, cuddle your loved ones extra tight, be thankful for the blessings that you have been given and enjoy!

Love ya!

Just a reminder to say you should go and vote tomorrow, if you have not already and are able. :) WHEEEEEEEEEE!

The United States is in deep trouble. I am just watching the stock market plunge with my mouth gaping wide open. The stock market is something I have to follow each day due to my obsession with the world news and current events.

I honestly do not know what America is going to do or how this is going to impact the rest of the world, seriously.

Even if I do not live in the United States anymore it is my home and I would find this upsetting if it was any country for their people. I worry how this is going to really impact the American people. More jobs are going to be lost, loans are going to be hard to come by, people's credit limits on some credit cards are going to go down, some people are going to have a hard time getting credit cards, prices of everything (except maybe oil) are going to keep going up, the dollar is going to get weaker, international investors and such are not going to want to invest in the US (unless they can benefit somehow from the weak dollar, not sure), etc.

I worry for my mom and my brother along with his family whom have crap jobs or are students on their own with loans and barely scraping by. :(

I cannot put the blame soley on president Bush, but I am very angry at that man for allowing it to go this far. Advisers, analysts, some law makers, the numbers on reports, the American people, etc., have been telling him for MONTHS that the United States was in trouble due to the ever growing housing crisis, high oil prices, a weakening dollar, etc., that the US was headed for a recession. He kept shrugging it off and saying the economy was slowing but always refused to say the word recession and if he didn't believe it he surely has not thought about plans if the United States was going into a recession nor had any sort of plan even remotely in place if something like this happened and that is HIS JOB, to look out for the country and his people. I don't know if he could have prevented this but he could have had some sort of plan and at least be trying.

Now Bush is pushing this bill, which obviously was not good or the law makers would have passed it today, and trying to make it look like he is doing something. He is only doing this because he has NO other plan. Had he listened to everyone for these past months as the economy has gotten worse perhaps he could have had a head start and have other options in place. No... now look at the market dropping over 700 points today, the biggest drop in American history.

They are saying this is worse than the great depression. I honestly do not know how Americans are going to survive if things get that bad, not in this day in age. I fear that crime is going to sky rocket. :(

I hope there is a quick fix that will patch this up, calm fears and by the US government some time to really work on a plan that is not going to fail. No matter what, the money is going to have to come from somewhere and the US tax payers will have to pay.

Sad and very scary.

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” John Muir quotes

“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree” Emily Bronte

If you can find other means of transportation to get where you need to go. Make sure your tires and car are properly working. Don't drive as fast. Turn off the engine when you normally wouldn't, let's say at a long wait at a drive thru, or leaving the car running while you run into the post office or when waiting on someone. Don't warm your engine up for too long. Don't drive down highways with your windows down. Drive steadily. Reduce the weight in the back of your car, take out the extra things you have never used and you have no reason why they are there. When renting or buying a car, go for a smaller, more gas effcient, compact car or a hybrid. Oh and don't buy the most expensive gas. :)

People driving would have to follow the road rules and watch out for the poor bikers and those on foot. You wouldn't believe the amount of times I have nearly been ran over and I had the right of way. This is the big one. :)

Poll #1238354 Autumn
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

Are you ready for autumn?

Poll #1238355 Autumn Two
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

What is/are the best things about autumn to you?

Poll #1238356 Autumn Three
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

What makes autumn so special to you?

Polls are fun sometimes! :)

A pigeon! :) I would be able to fly all over the world, sit in anyone's garden windows, easily adapt to life in any place and food is always easy to find, or there would not be millions of them all over the world. :) I would be smart enough not to sit on buildings where my legs would get frozen to them and lose toes or feet or the whole leg and watch out for cats. :)

I heard something tonight and of course it is just a rumor, but this means that things are, in fact, being said about me in this small town I am originally from about my weight loss and how it came to be.

I was told someone I considered a decently good friend of mine is saying stuff and the only reason I can figure they are is because they are probably jealous.

Am I upset? No... I take pity on the people that feel it is neccessary to spread rumors and to talk about someone that no longer even lives in this small town and has not for seven years. What they say about me doesn't really bother me. What others think about me, about my weight loss and how it came to be is their prob, not mine. I just am tired of HEARING it. Just leave me alone and go talk amongst yourselves.

I cannot be upset or hurt by the fact that someone, whom I am honestly not surprised if it is true, whom I considered to be a close pal is saying things that are untrue. If it makes that person feel better about herself to shed bad light on someone that has been a fairly good friend to them, that is more than okay. People have to do what they have to do and sometimes that means tearing down others.

Why on earth people in this small town have nothing better to do than discuss someone that no longer lives there in such a bad way is above me, honest. I have not lived here for over seven years, lol. I am just tired of hearing it, which means that there ARE rumors going around somewhere and they started somehow. *eye roll* If people have no life that is their deal. I have a good one and I am so very blessed.

I got my daily prayer/Bible quote in my inbox from my Christian Expat group and this is what it says:

Pray that we will give our anxious thoughts to God and rest in His peace.

"Don't worry about anything, but, in everything through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Whether you are a Christian or not, I am and I do not shove anything down anyone's throats and I won't, but I found comfort in this and nothing is as big of a deal as I make it. In the grand scheme of things does it matter? Heck no... that is why it is not upsetting me. It is all cool.

To clarify, my weight loss was done SOULY on stopping with the crap I put in my mouth, eating healthier and exercise. No diet pills, no doctores, no fad diets, no surgery, no drugs, no drug addictions, no booze, nothing... it was just healthy food choices and exercise. It, for me, really was that simple. I realize for a lot it is not and that is okay, but for me it was just that and I am a lot of things, but I am NOT a liar. I withhold info and I might tell something that is a lie that, I believe to be true, but I do not intentionally lie to people to cover up anything I am ashamed of.

So, if anyone has to say untrue things about something so stupid to make me look bad or to make themselves feel better, it is cool. It honestly is their problem and not mine. Life goes on and the tomorrow comes whether we are happy or not. I am just choosing to look past other people's mistakes and faults and their lifestyles and just move on, but it does drive you a lil batty at times, lol.

I am so thankful I am happier, not because of what I have, but because of the peace I have found in the past months/year within and things like this that used to upset me. :)

I was once told by someone, "If I wanted to, I could destroy your life!", nahh... cause nothing anyone could use against me I would not be willing to tell myself and nothing I have would destroy me. I am stronger and happier and as long as I have that inner peace, no matter what happens can take that away from me. I really should thank people for helping make me stronger, haha. Maybe visits to Ohio have taught me something all these years. :)

Night! :)

Marrying my hubby of over five years (we have been TOGETHER nearly 10 years, wowsies!). Pieter really is my world and I don't gush about him and all the wonderful things he does for me enough, but he really is my world and he is the very best thing that has ever happened to me. :)

*squeeeeeeeee*

We biked and biked and biked today, over 16 miles, in fact, haha. We did the Limmen flower mosiac tour. We are zapped but have no time to go later in the week and the later in the week you go the less busy it is but the colors fade on the flowers or the wind gets them.

Here are some photos from today, most of the mosaics in fact. This is NOT dialup friendly. Oh and yes, what they are saying is in Dutch. They seem to stick to mostly things in the news this year. There are plenty of Smurfs, Olympic stuff and Politicians! :)

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What are your top fave songs right now?

1. Always on my Mind- Michael Buble
2. Everything- Michael Buble
3. Sail Away- Randy Newman
4. Bleeding Love- Leona Lewis
5. Love Like This- Natasha Bedingfield

Wheeeeeeeee....they keep me singing and sane while cleaning or in the shower! LOL!

I put my paper in a bin to be recycled, toss out all organic materials from my kitchen in our compost pile, turn off lights when I am not using them, even if I am leaving the room for only 10 minutes, hang my laundry up to dry and not use a dryer, ride a bike or public transport to get where I need to go and not use a car, etc.

I could certainly find ways to conserve water more and instead of vacuuming so much I could just get the broom and dust pan. I could also put forth more effort not buy things I do not need (stuff) or will use and buy more organic and local produce (it is just so expensive to buy it all) and tons more. These are things I am trying to work on.

Earth Day Podcasts If you like podcasts and care about saving the earth, have a listen. :)

It is Earth Day! Maybe take some time today to think about what you as a person can do to help the earth and the environment a little more. Whether it be volunteering, buying more local produce, picking up trash you see laying on the street, using a water bottle instead of buying a new bottle each time you want water, turning off the lights when you leave a room, donate money to a good cause that will help the earth in one way or another, recycling, buying things with less packaging, reusing plastic bags, etc, think about what YOU can do to help make an impact on our ever changing world and to help combat Global Warming.

Also, maybe you have seen this before, but Pieter sent me this link to an online video (takes around 20 minutes to watch) called The Story of Stuff

Also, you can go to care2.com and sign up and find tons of things to help live a greener life and you can also go each day and do daily clicks (free, only takes a sec) and help save everything from the combat of breast cancer, to helping save land and seals to helping against violence against women. The site also offers tons of recipes, ecards, etc..

I hope you have a lovely Earth Day and that you will think about the changes you and your family can make that will not only help the environment, but will most likely also save you money.

*waves*

Here is a before photo of me and one of the ones I have already posted of me recently to compare since I have not taken anymore.

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I realize American Idol is old and is a silly contest show that provides a bit of entertainment a few months out of every year with cheesey acts, silly judges and some decent winners. I do like it and I love the fact that last year and this year they, Fox, their sponsors and celebs and the famous all over the world pulled together for one night and high lighted real issues across America and the world and millions of dollars were given to help these organizations.

I realize there are millions of charities out there and people need ALL year round, but it is nice that a cheesey reality contest show CAN and DOES think to highlight and remind people about the poverty, lack of education, diseases, etc., that plague our world and gently remind us a dollar can go a long way.

I sat here eating my lunch watching last night's American Idol Gives back and just cried. I was choking down my apple while trying to hold back the tears.

I figured in the past week I have put over $1,000 on my credit card (no worries, it will be taken out in full at month's end from our savings) in the past few days on things for my month long trip in May. I figured if I can afford to shell out dough for a trip I could spend some money on donating to these causes that American Idol highlighted last night. That is exactly what I did a few minutes ago. It may not be tons of money but my donation will help and makes a difference.

I buy expensive shoes and clothing, never worry about where my next meal comes from and complain about the medical system in a country where I have the right and the means to get treated. I am not fighting to survive every day. I do not face a harsh world of poverty and disease each day. I have a wonderful life.

I do normally donate to animal charities. I think that they need a voice and they do. I never hesitate to donate to a local animal charity or a global one, but I thought this time I would give to these causes as well.

I do it because it makes me feel good, because I can and I do really believe that every bit helps and the world can be a better place. I like to think I make a difference from time to time.

I like when I am humbled and when I am forced to look around at the life I so complain about from time to time and can only see what it lacks or what is wrong but not appreciate what I have and what is good.

American Idol Gives Back!