Oct 26, 2007

That's Why I Am Here

My children have always been involved in 4-H. Heavily into the animal divisions, with a few other projects, they took their county fair presentations very seriously. I was a professional dog trainer and handler and one year, my two youngest children entered our registered dogs in the Beginner Obedience class. My fourteen-year-old son, Jeremy, wanted to do something with the dogs too, but he was very independent and didn't want something that everyone else was doing. He came to me in the spring, several months before the fair and said, “I’ve decided to make my dog project count." He proceeded to show me his detailed plan for his Citizenship project, providing canine therapy dog visits to local nursing homes.

In the north central portion of Minnesota where we lived, this was an unheard of concept. Jeremy told me he had already done some of the legwork by asking his brother, sister, and two members of the 4-H club to come along and assist. What he needed from me most was to choose the appropriate dogs and teach the handlers how to present a dog to an elderly and perhaps bedridden person. We contacted several nursing homes and finally found one that agreed to allow our therapy dogs to visit. Jeremy called his buddy 4-Hers and set up a training schedule. When all five kids were comfortable presenting the dogs, we made an appointment with the nursing home.

The first day we visited, I went along as the driver, photographer and supervisor. We went from room to room, sharing our smaller trained therapy dogs and puppies with as many as possible. Each child carried a dog and a towel to place on the bed in case someone wanted the dog there. We were a hit! The joy these folks exhibited was genuine and wonderful. They all asked us to visit again.

On our next outings, we left earlier so we could visit more residents. Jeremy enjoyed watching people’s faces light up as we entered a room, but there seemed to be something disturbing him. I asked if he was having a problem with the project. He became solemn. “I love coming here, but I want to make an even bigger difference. I’m not sure how, but I know there is something more I can do.”

Each time we visited, the residents anticipated it with greater enthusiasm. Some even had family members bring in photos of their own dogs to share with us. We listened to stories about their pets, their families, and their lives when they were young. Each sat constantly petting one of the dogs, gaining the comfort and unconditional love only an animal can give so freely.

One day we ventured into an area we hadn’t been to before. As a nurse’s aide led the way, we came upon several rooms that were quieter than most and not decorated. The aide motioned for us to continue following her to the residents who requested visits further down the hall. Jeremy stopped and peered into one of the rooms. The aide reprimanded, “There is no use going into that room; that lady hasn’t moved or spoken in months. She is unresponsive and pretty much alone.”

Jeremy looked at her and then at the French bulldog he held in his arms. Calmly he replied, “That’s why I am here.” He proceeded into the room and stood hesitantly. The woman was ghostly white and showed no signs of life. She lay prone and didn’t move so much as her eyes when we entered. Jeremy took a deep breath and moved to the side of the bed. “My name is Jeremy and I am here with my therapy dogs. I brought a dog to see you. Since you can’t come to see the dog, I’d like to place it on your bed. I have a towel, so no hair will get on your blankets.”

The woman did not move. Jeremy looked to me for approval. I nodded. He moved to the side of the bed where her arm was exposed and placed the towel on the bedspread. While all this was happening, the aide left to get a nurse. By the time Jeremy was ready to put the dog beside the woman, two nurses and the aide were in the doorway. As one began to tell me we were wasting our time, I raised my hand to silence her. She huffed, but remained quiet.

Jeremy placed the dog against the woman’s arm. He spoke softly, “She won’t hurt you. She came here just to see you.” As he spoke, the woman’s head shifted slightly. The glaze in her eyes seemed to disappear. Jeremy allowed the dog to nestle in close. The woman raised a weak arm and placed it on the dog’s back. Although she had no words, she began to make sounds. Tears brimmed her eyes as she moved her hand along the hair. The nurses rushed to the bedside and began pressing the nurse call button. More people rushed into the room. There was not a dry eye in the group. Jeremy looked at the aide and reiterated, “This is why I am here.” Then he looked at me, tears flowing unashamedly down his face and he said, “I made a difference.” I hugged him and acknowledged that he certainly had. When it was time to leave, Jeremy gathered up the dog and the towel and said to the woman, “Thanks for letting us come into your room and into your life.” She smiled at him and touched his arm.

Jeremy received the highest award for his Citizenship project, and went on to the state level where he earned Grand Champion. But for Jeremy, the ribbons were nothing compared to his biggest award: the touch of a hand and the smile from a woman who was said to be a waste of time.

--Loretta Emmons

Oct 25, 2007

Work can be fun?

What is the difference between work and play?

"One is fun and the other isn't?" ... meaning, of course, that play was fun.

For most of us, most of the time, work is not fun. How many of us leap from bed on Monday morning simply itching to get to work? How many of us like to be working more than almost anything else? How many of us find joy and inspiration in our work more than in any other place?

Read more ...

Fat Free Food

A sign at a fast food restaurant read: "Fat Free French Fries."

Fascinated, I decided to give them a try. I was dismayed when the basket of fries was dripping with fat from the fryer.

"Just a minute! Those aren't fat free."

"Yes, they are. We only charge for the potatoes. The fat is free."

Oct 24, 2007

Grandfather's Clock

In the dining room of my grandfather's house stood a massive grandfather clock. Meals in that dining room were a time for four generations to become one. The table was always spread with food from wonderful family recipes, all containing love as the main ingredient. And as always, that grandfather clock stood like a trusted old family friend, watching over the laughter and story swapping and gentle kidding that was a part of our lives.

As a child, the old clock fascinated me. I watched and listened to it during meals. I marveled at how at different times of the day, that clock would chime three times, six times or more, with a wonderful resonant sound that echoed throughout the house. I found the clock comforting. Familiar. Year after year, the clock chimed, a part of my memories, a part of my heart.

Even more wonderful to me was my grandfather's ritual. He meticulously wound that clock with a special key each day. That key was magic to me. It kept our family's magnificent clock ticking and chiming, a part of every holiday and every tradition, as solid as the wood from which it was made.

I remember watching as my grandfather took the key from his pocket and opened the hidden door in the massive old clock. He inserted the key and wound; not too much, never overwind, he'd tell me solemnly. Nor too little. He never let that clock wind down and stop. When us grandkids got a little older, he showed us how to open the door to the grandfather clock and let us each take a turn winding the key. I remember the first time I did. I trembled with anticipation. To be part of this family ritual was sacred.

After my beloved grandfather died, it was several days after the funeral before I remembered the clock!

"Mama! The clock! We've let it wind down."

The tears flowed freely when I entered the dining room. The clock stood forlornly quiet. As quiet as the funeral parlor had been. Hushed. The clock even seemed smaller. Not quite as magnificent without my grandfather's special touch. I couldn't bear to look at it.

Sometime later, years later, my grandmother gave me the clock and the key. The old house was quiet. No bowls clanging, no laughter over the dinner table, no ticking or chiming of the clock. All was still. The hands on the clock were frozen. It was a reminder of time slipping away, stopped at the precise moment when my grandfather had ceased winding it.

I took the key in my shaking hand and opened the clock door. All of a sudden, I was a child again, watching my grandfather with his silver-white hair and twinkling blue eyes. He was there, winking at me, at the secret of the clock's magic, at the key that held so much power. I stood, lost in the moment for a long time. Then slowly, reverently, I inserted the key and wound the clock. It sprang to life. Tick-tock, tick-tock, life and chimes were breathed into the dining room, into the house and into my heart.

In the movement of the hands of the clock, my grandfather lived again.

--Kathy Fasiq

Oct 23, 2007

If I work hard, is it guaranteed that I will succeed?

What is your answer to the above question? Yes or No

Click here to read more on this article in EmailCashPro October 2007 newsletter ...

Top 10 anticipated movies in 2008

If you are a movie lover, here's a list of the Top 10 much awaited movies coming in 2008, as ranked by U.S. moviegoers in a recent survey ... Can't wait to catch them in Singapore ... Hope they live up to the hype and make my money worth ... :)

Check them out here

Oct 19, 2007

Games, Movies, Music, Toys & more

If you like to play video games (PlayStation 3/2, PSP, Xbox360, Nintendo Wii, DS) or PC/Mac games ... love watching animes, movies ... have an iPod and looking for more accessories ... enjoy collecting toys, action figures ... or just simply looking for good bargains, then i have this great site to intro to you ...

Click on any of the banners below to start browsing their lots and lots of products ... Moreover, they now offer free shipping to Singapore ... Mai Tu liao!! Hee hee ...


Play-Asia.com - Buy Action Figures, Video Game Merchandise & Toys and more!



Play-Asia.com - Buy Action Figures, Video Game Merchandise & Toys and more!



Play-Asia.com - Buy Action Figures, Video Game Merchandise & Toys and more!



Play-Asia.com - Buy Action Figures, Video Game Merchandise & Toys and more!



Play-Asia.com - Buy Action Figures, Video Game Merchandise & Toys and more!

Oct 18, 2007

Online Data Storage

Are you interested in backing up your data and able to access it anywhere as long as you are connected to the internet?

If you have a broadband connection and less than 2GB of essential data to back up, then look no further than to MozyHome, a free online backup solution for home users, limited to 2GB of space at first, but you can get extra 1GB for every 4 friends you recommend to sign up and do backups.

Check it out and sign up here .... MozyHome

In July 2007, HardwareMAG (HWM) did a review on online backup solutions and among the 4 services they reviewed, Mozy was ranked number 2 and it is the only service that provides FREE storage for home users.

If you try it and like it, pass this on to your family and friends.

Oct 6, 2007

Favourite Music Videos

A compilation of some of my favourite music videos ... Enjoy!!


Enya - Only Time

Intro you this beautiful song ...
Only Time by Enya



Here's the meaningful lyrics ...

Who can say where the road goes,
Where the day flows, only time?
And who can say if your love grows,
As your heart chose, only time?

Who can say why your heart sighs,
As your love flies, only time?
And who can say why your heart cries
when your love lie, only time?

Who can say when the roads meet,
That love might be, in your heart?
and who can say when the day sleeps,
and the night keeps all your heart?
Night keeps all your heart.....

Who can say if your love grows,
As your heart chose, only time?
And who can say where the road goes
Where the day flows, only time?

Who knows? Only time
Who knows? Only time

Nissan new pet - PIVO 2

Hey ... Look at this new concept car from Nissan ... With a 360 degree turning cabin and 90 degree turning wheels, there is no need for reverse gear ... Now, you dun have to worry about parallel parking anymore, as you can see how easy it is ... Furthermore, if you are feeling lonely on a long journey, there is a "Robotic monkey head" to keep you company, can try talking to that ... Hee hee hee ...

When can we see this in Singapore?

Moon, Sun and Sea

A beautiful photo of the Moon and Sun reflected in the ocean of water !!


Oct 5, 2007

Feng Shui Tips

Tips from a Feng Shui Expert: Feel Calm and in Control – Instantly!

Stressed out? Feel like your life is headed in the wrong direction? The art of Feng Shui, which originated 3,000 years ago in China, can help restore peace to crazy days. Whether you want to learn more or have always believed that this art is based on obscure Chinese superstitions, we’re here to help. Here is a one-on-one interview with Jayme Barrett, Feng Shui expert and best-selling author. She shares her knowledge of how Feng Shui principles can give you more energy, harmonize your life and bring you a new sense of purpose.

1. It’s all about you
Just like a bikini, Feng Shui decorating is definitely not one-size-fits-all. Each person has unique qualities, and Feng Shui emphasizes creating positive energy in the way that’s most meaningful to you.

Take a look at the decorations you have around your home, from posters to knick-knacks to family photos. “Each object anchors you to a memory,” Barrett says. “If it’s not supporting you, it shouldn’t be in your home.”

So toss out that figurine from your loser ex and put out objects that you associate with a positive experience. Did you have an amazing time with your girlfriend in Paris? Hang up a framed postcard of the Eiffel Tower.

Personalize your home to work for you, and you’ll be amazed at the change in your energy level. After all, Barrett tells us, “your home mirrors yourself.” When you’re trying to decide whether to keep an object, ask yourself these four questions:

1. Do I need it?
2. Do I use it?
3. Do I love it?
4. Does it make me happy and evoke a positive memory?

2. Live rich
You may have heard that Feng Shui can help you make more money, find love and land that promotion.

How can it do all this? It’s simple...

When you live in an environment that supports you, you’ll feel energized.

If you wake up to go to work and there are fresh flowers on the nightstand, your living room is decorated with seashells from an amazing beach vacation and your briefcase is organized and by the door, you’ll feel “balanced and in power even before you walk outside,” says Barrett.

This is one of Feng Shui’s greatest strengths; not only can revamping your home give you a more beautiful living space, but it can bring you peace. This sense of control and fulfillment will carry over to and improve every aspect of your life.

3. Clear that clutter
Clutter makes you “feel exhausted, anxious and overwhelmed,” Barrett tells us. Think of it in terms of practicality: If you need to balance your checkbook but your bank statement is buried under a mountain of old receipts, you’ll waste valuable time looking for what you need. Once you do find it, you’ll be tired and annoyed even before you begin the actual task.

To clear your clutter, eliminate everything but what’s absolutely necessary, like your stock portfolio and health insurance information. Chances are you don’t need the receipt from the deli three years ago.

And don’t display paperwork out in the open; keep it organized in a file folder that you can put out of sight and out of mind.

4. Follow “the way of wind and water”
This phrase is a literal translation of the term “Feng Shui.” To truly understand the art, you need to understand the meaning behind it. Barrett tells us to think of the wind and water that flow over the earth. From forests to rivers to mountains, wind and water must be in balance to create a harmonious environment.

The right amount of wind will bring a gentle breeze, but too much wind causes a hurricane. Likewise, the right amount of water can make a gentle lake, but too much water causes a flood. Just as elements in nature need to be in balance to create a soothing environment, elements in your home need to be in balance for you to live peacefully.

5. Read Feng Shui Your Life
Barrett’s book offers advice that you can tailor to fit your own personal needs. You’ll be encouraged to figure out what inspires you and then to decorate your home to reflect that. You’ll be asked, “What do you want to create in your life?” and then offered tips to help you do so.

There’s a separate chapter on clutter, the office, the bedroom, and every other room in the house. The book has beautiful color photographs that illustrate the concepts.

6. Bring nature indoors
Think about the last time you were surrounded by nature, whether it was on a hike in the mountains or a boat trip through the islands. Remember how peaceful and harmonious you felt? Recreating that feeling is simple.

“The more sunlight we have, the better we feel,” Barrett says. So throw open those blinds and let in the sunshine. Raining outside? Try replacing your regular light bulbs with full-spectrum light bulbs, which she calls “indoor sunshine.”

Oct 4, 2007

Pavement Picasso

How the "Pavement Picasso" does it ...

More amazing 3D Art

More amazing art .... They dun call him "Pavement Picasso" for nothing

Digging for gold in the street





Baby food for lobster


Giant frog ... Eeee ... Yucks!


Caught a whale!!


Pavement Picasso in the newspaper


Girl on a beach mat


Big and small


Taking the plunge


Beneath the street


Under the carpark


Transformer robot


White water rafting


Help!


Self-portrait


The man himself - Julian Beever

Amazing 3D Sidewalk Art

These unbelievable art are actually chalk drawings created by Julian Beever, an English artist who's famous for his art on the pavements of England, France, Germany, USA, Australia and Belgium.

His images are drawn completely deformed which gives a 3D image when viewed at the right angle.

Simply amazing!!

Giant Coke bottle


A sailboat in the middle of the road

Sony laptop

Construction in progress ... People actually walk around to avoid the hole

Giant crayons

Who is the real artist?


Going for a dip in the pool

Spiderman


Batman and Robin to the rescue


Beneath the ground



Spray the bug

Oct 3, 2007

Dirt Roads

What's mainly wrong with society today is that too many dirt roads have been paved.

There's not a problem in America today, crime, drugs, education, divorce, delinquency, that wouldn't be remedied if we just had more dirt roads, because dirt roads give character.

People that live at the end of dirt roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride.

That it can jar you right down to your teeth sometimes, but it's worth it if at the end, there's home, a loving spouse, happy kids and a dog.

We wouldn't have near the trouble with our educational system if our kids got their exercise walking a dirt road with other kids from whom they learn how to get along.

There was less crime in our streets before they were paved.

Criminals didn't walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew they'd be welcomed by five barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun.

And there were no drive-by shootings.

Our values were better when our roads were worse!

People did not worship their cars more than their kids, and motorists were more courteous. They didn't tailgate by riding the bumper or the guy in front would choke you with dust and bust your windshield with rocks.

Dirt roads taught patience.

Dirt roads were environmentally friendly. You didn't hop in your car for a quart of milk, you walked to the barn for your milk.

For your mail, you walked to the mailbox.

What if it rained and the dirt road got washed out? That was the best part! Then you stayed home and had some family time, roasted marshmallows and popped popcorn and pony rode on Daddy's shoulders and learned how to make prettier quilts than anybody.

At the end of dirt roads, you soon learned that bad words tasted like soap.

Most paved roads lead to trouble, but dirt roads more likely lead to a fishing creek or a swimming hole.

At the end of a dirt road, the only time we even locked our car was in August, because if we didn't, some neighbor would fill it with too much zucchini.

At the end of a dirt road, there was always extra springtime income from when city dudes would get stuck and you'd have to hitch up a team and pull them out.

Usually you got a dollar, always you got a new friend, at the end of a dirt road!

--Paul Harvey

Optical Illusion

Look at the dancer ... What do you see? Is she turning clockwise or anti-clockwise?

If you see her turning clockwise (right), then your left side of the brain is doing most of the work, which means you are more of a logic/analyzing person.

If you see her turning anti-clockwise (left), then your right side of the brain is in charge, this means you are an artistic/intuitive person.

Try looking at this with a few more people and see how everyone sees it different!

Oct 2, 2007

More Inspirational Quotes

Winners don’t Quit. That’s why they Win.
Mike Brescia


If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things you have that money can't buy.
Unknown


The difference between a Flower and a Weed is a Judgment.
Unknown


You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
Mohandas K. Gandhi


It takes both rain and sunshine to make a Rainbow.
Unknown


He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature.
Socrates


And in the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.
Abraham Lincoln


Health is the greatest gift, Contentment the greatest wealth, Faithfulness the best relationship.
Buddha


The difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones ... is how you use them!
Unknown


We can do no great things - only small things with great love.
Mother Teresa

Oct 1, 2007

Inspirational Quotes

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
Buddha


Success is not final, failure is not fatal. it is the courage to continue that counts.
Winston Churchill


The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it.
Debbi Fields - Founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies


The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way.
Robert Kiyosaki


Only those who risk going too far can possibly know how far one can go.
T.S. Elliot


Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Unknown


I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends.
Abraham Lincoln


A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success.
Unknown


You can't change the tides, but you can learn to swim.
Proverb


We could learn a lot from Crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty, and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
Unknown