Thursday, December 20, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Less Posting, More Praying
I'm not the best Catholic, but I went to church today and I prayed for the victims and families of the senseless violence and school tragedy that happened at Sandy Hook in Newtown, Connecticut, on Friday. Nothing can be said that will bring the dead back or provide solace to the families of those lost, but let's make sure that our words are not just that of political debate during this time of sadness. Instead, let our words be that of comfort for the mourning, remembrance, and resolution. Pray for the souls of the children and teachers that died. Pray that this type of tragedy never happens again. Pray that the people assigned with the task of addressing this problem make the right decisions. Until you are elected into office, your political opinion about the issue doesn't make a difference. If you're not a politician, then save it for the polls. However, you are one thing... You are human. Your posts would be better served if the message was to show love and support for your fellow man. As I said before, I'm not the best Catholic, but I'll be praying. I'll be praying for answers, not posting solutions. My sincerest sympathies to all of those impacted by this tragedy. May God bless each and every one of you.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Grammar Advice: Tips to Improve Your Writing
1. Avoid alliteration. Always.
2. Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.
3. Employ the vernacular.
4. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
5. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.
6. Remember to never split an infinitive.
7. Contractions aren't necessary.
8. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
9. One should never generalize.
10. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know."
11. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
12. Don't be redundant; don't use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.
13. Be more or less specific.
14. Understatement is always best.
15. One-word sentences? Eliminate.
16. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
17. The passive voice is to be avoided.
18. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
19. Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
20. Who needs rhetorical questions?
21. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
22. Don't never use a double negation.
23. capitalize every sentence and remember always end it with point
24. Do not put statements in the negative form.
25. Verbs have to agree with their subjects.
26. Proofread carefully to see if you words out.
27. If you reread your work, you can find on rereading a great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.
28. A writer must not shift your point of view.
29. And don't start a sentence with a conjunction. (Remember, too, a preposition is a terrible word to end a sentence with.)
30. Don't overuse exclamation marks!!
31. Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 or more words, to the irantecedents.
32. Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
33. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
34. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors.
35. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
36. Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.
37. Always pick on the correct idiom.
38. The adverb always follows the verb.
39. Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague; They're old hat; seek viable alternatives.
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Monday, October 1, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Today, We Remember...9/11.
It is so very important that we remember today and honor the memory of the many victims that died during the 9/11 terrorist attack.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION THAT WORKS!
Check out my good friend Rich Zucal in the best-selling dvd, Classroom Instruction that Works!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
QUOTE
"EVERYDAY YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES OR DESTROY POSSIBILITIES."
-Frank Williams
Friday, March 16, 2012
A TOP 40 GUIDE TO BETTER LIVING IN 2012!
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EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON... ASK JESSE.
A Story About Jesse.
Let me tell you, Jesse hated this job. And you would too,
I imagine, if you had to do it. Jesse was a chicken plucker. That's right.
He stood on a line in a chicken factory and spent his days
pulling the feathers off dead chickens so the rest of us
wouldn't have to.
It wasn't much of a job. But at the time,
Jesse didn't think he was much of a person.
His father was a brute of a man.
His dad was actually thought to be mentally ill
and treated Jesse rough all of his life.
Jesse's older brother wasn't much better.
He was always picking on Jesse and beating him up.
Yes, Jesse grew up in a very rough home in
West Virginia . Life was anything but easy.
And he thought life didn't hold much hope for him.
That's why he was standing in this chicken line,
doing a job that darn few people wanted.
In addition to all the rough treatment at home, it seems
that Jesse was always sick. Sometimes it was real
physical illness, but way too often it was all in his head.
He was a small child, skinny and meek.
That sure didn't help the situation any.
When he started to school, he was the object of every
bully on the playground.
He was a hypochondriac of the first order.
For Jesse, tomorrow was not always something to be
looked forward to.
But, he had dreams. He wanted to be a ventriloquist.
He found books on ventriloquism. He practiced with
sock puppets and saved his hard earned dollars until
he could get a real ventriloquist dummy.
When he got old enough, he joined the military.
And even though many of his hypochondriac symptoms
persisted, the military did recognize his talents and
put him in the entertainment corp.
That was when his world changed.
He gained confidence.
He found that he had a talent for making people laugh,
and laugh so hard they often had tears in their eyes.
Yes, little Jesse had found himself.
You know, folks, the history books are full of people
who overcame a handicap to go on and make a success
of themselves, but Jesse is one of the few I know of
who didn't overcome it. Instead he used his paranoia
to make a million dollars, and become one of
the best-loved characters of all time in doing it!
Yes, that little paranoid hypochondriac, who transferred
his nervousness into a successful career, still holds the
record for the most Emmy's given in a single category.
The wonderful, gifted, talented, and nervous comedian
who brought us Barney Fife was
Jesse Don Knotts.
AND NOW YOU KNOW, "THE REST OF THE STORY"!
There is a street named for him and his statue in Morgantown , West Virginia , his place of birth.
Live simply... Love generously... Care deeply...
Speak kindly... And trust in our GOD who loves us.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
INVISIBLE CHILDREN: KONY 2012!
"I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand." -Confucius
KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.
JOIN THE @INVISIBLE CHILDREN! http://bit.ly/xqJJ9T
SIGN THE PLEDGE TO HELP US BRING @JOSEPH_KONY TO JUSTICE IN 2012! bit.ly/zPK8P5 #STOPKONY
JOIN THE @INVISIBLE CHILDREN! http://bit.ly/xqJJ9T
SIGN THE PLEDGE TO HELP US BRING @JOSEPH_KONY TO JUSTICE IN 2012! bit.ly/zPK8P5 #STOPKONY
Monday, February 20, 2012
SOMETHING MY MOM SENT ME...
A CONVO WITH GOD
by Anonymous
Me: God, can I ask you a question?
God: Sure.
Me: Promise you won't get mad?
God: I promise.
Me: Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today?
God: What do you mean?
Me: Well, I woke up late...
God: Yes.
Me: My car took forever to start...
God: Ok.
Me: At lunch, they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait...
God: Hmmm...
Me: On the way home, my phone went DEAD, just as I picked up a call!
God: All right.
Me: And on top of it all off, when I got home ~ I just wanted to watch my new TV and relax, but it wouldn't work! Nothing went right today! Why did you do that?
God: Let me see... the Death Angel was at your bed this morning and I had to send one of my angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that...
Me (humbled): OH.
GOD: I didn't let your car start, because there was a drunk driver on your route that would have hit you if you were on the road.
Me (ashamed): Oh...
God: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick, and I didn't want you to catch what they have... I knew you couldn't afford to miss work.
Me (embarrassed): Yeah, that's true. I'm...
God: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give false witness about what you said on that call. I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered.
Me (softly): I see...
God: Oh and that TV... It had a shortage that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark.
Me: I'm Sorry, God.
God: Don't be sorry... just learn to trust me. In all things, the good and the bad.
Me: I will trust You.
God: And don't doubt that my plan for your day is always better than your plan.
Me: I won't, God. And let me just tell you, God... Thank you for everything today.
God: You're welcome, child. It was just another day being your God, and I love looking after my children...
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
What is A DOG'S PURPOSE?
A Dog's Purpose
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.
He said,''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The Six-year-old continued,
''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who
make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So, love
the people who treat you right. Think good thoughts for the ones
who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down
is part of LIFE...Getting back up is LIVING...
HAVE A BARKIN GOOD LIFE !
You Know You Love Dogs When...You have a kiddie wading pool in the yard, but no small children.You have baby gates permanently installed at strategic places around the house, but no babies.The trash basket is more or less permanently installed in the kitchen sink, to keep the dog out of it while you're at work.You can't see out the passenger side of the windshield because there are nose-prints all over the inside.Poop has become a source of conversation for you and your significant other.You refer to yourselves as Mommy and Daddy.Your dog sleeps with you.You have 32 different names for your dog. Most make no sense, but she understands.Your dog eats cat poop, but you still let her kiss you (but not immediately afterward, of course).You like people who like your dog. You despise people who don't.You carry dog biscuits in your purse or pocket at all times.You talk about your dog the way other people talk about their kid.You sign and send birthday/anniversary/Christmas cards from your dog.You put an extra blanket on the bed so your dog can be comfortable.You'd rather stay home on Saturday night and cuddle your dog than go to the movies with your sweetie.You go to the pet supply store every Saturday because it's one of the very few places that lets you bring your dog inside, and your dog loves to go with you.You open your purse, and that big bunch of baggies you use for pick-ups pops out.You get an extra-long hose on your shower-massage just so you can use it to wash your dog in the tub, without making the dog sit hip-deep in water.You don't think it's the least bit strange to stand in the back yard yelling, "Emily, pee!" over and over again, while Emily tends to play and forget what she's out there for (but what your neighbors think of your behavior is yet another story).You and the dog come down with something like flu on the same day. Your dog sees the vet while you settle for an over-the-counter remedy from the drugstore.Your dog is getting old and arthritic, so you go buy lumber and build her a small staircase so she can climb onto the bed by herself.Your license plate or license plate frame mentions your dog.
You Know You Love Dogs When...You have a kiddie wading pool in the yard, but no small children.You have baby gates permanently installed at strategic places around the house, but no babies.The trash basket is more or less permanently installed in the kitchen sink, to keep the dog out of it while you're at work.You can't see out the passenger side of the windshield because there are nose-prints all over the inside.Poop has become a source of conversation for you and your significant other.You refer to yourselves as Mommy and Daddy.Your dog sleeps with you.You have 32 different names for your dog. Most make no sense, but she understands.Your dog eats cat poop, but you still let her kiss you (but not immediately afterward, of course).You like people who like your dog. You despise people who don't.You carry dog biscuits in your purse or pocket at all times.You talk about your dog the way other people talk about their kid.You sign and send birthday/anniversary/Christmas cards from your dog.You put an extra blanket on the bed so your dog can be comfortable.You'd rather stay home on Saturday night and cuddle your dog than go to the movies with your sweetie.You go to the pet supply store every Saturday because it's one of the very few places that lets you bring your dog inside, and your dog loves to go with you.You open your purse, and that big bunch of baggies you use for pick-ups pops out.You get an extra-long hose on your shower-massage just so you can use it to wash your dog in the tub, without making the dog sit hip-deep in water.You don't think it's the least bit strange to stand in the back yard yelling, "Emily, pee!" over and over again, while Emily tends to play and forget what she's out there for (but what your neighbors think of your behavior is yet another story).You and the dog come down with something like flu on the same day. Your dog sees the vet while you settle for an over-the-counter remedy from the drugstore.Your dog is getting old and arthritic, so you go buy lumber and build her a small staircase so she can climb onto the bed by herself.Your license plate or license plate frame mentions your dog.
Monday, January 16, 2012
HAPPY MLK DAY!
HAPPY MLK DAY!
Today, let us remember the man, his dream, and the reality of equality we enjoy everyday as Americans. http://bit.ly/A5G9sQ
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