A Woman Speaks

Skywatch Friday: Hollywood Skyline

2010-02-12T07:52:00.006-05:00

Day

Night

Day

Night

Young Circle

Hollywood, FL

Thursday Challenge: Romantic

2010-02-11T08:45:00.006-05:00

Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

For it was not into my ear you whispered,

but into my heart.

It was not my lips you kissed,

but my soul.

-Judy Garland

Sea World Orlando, Florida

Coconut Creek, Florida

We were two and had but one heart.

-Francois Villon

Are You Competitive?

2010-02-09T08:40:00.001-05:00

I took the test and here's my result:

I am Very Competitive

Competition is in your blood. You love to compete, and more importantly, you love to win.

You only feel excited if something is at stake. If you're not in it for a prize, you're bored quickly.

You compete at work and at sports, and it's likely that you even compete with your friends too. You can't help it!

You're probably even happy to get this quiz result, seeing that you're competitive about everything... including taking quizzes.

Are You Competitive?

Intracoastal Waters of Hillsboro

2009-12-22T17:51:00.004-05:00

Watery Wednesday

Hillsboro, Broward County

South Florida

Christmas Greetings from MsRay

2009-12-22T14:13:00.000-05:00

Thursday Challenge: Golden

2009-10-07T22:52:00.003-04:00

Taken from the balcony of our 14th floor unit

Waikiki, Hawaii

Each golden sunrise ushers in new opportunities

for those who retain faith in themselves,

and keep their chins up.

Meet the sunrise with confidence.

Fill every golden minute with right thinking

and worthwhile endeavor.

Do this and there will be joy for you

in each golden sunset.

-Alonzo Newton Benn

The Eye Test

2009-10-07T09:59:00.000-04:00

Deep Down You Are Sensitive

You're the type of person who notices everything and forgets nothing. You are very in tune with the world.

You feel deeply, and sometimes the silliest things can effect you. You are easily brought to laughter or tears.

You don't show the world how fragile you are. You instead show people how insightful you can be.

You are good at anticipating what's going to happen in your life. You are often the first one to see what's coming.

The Eye Test

Weekend Snapshot: Ducks on the Lake

2009-10-04T21:42:00.009-04:00

There is a man-made lake (with a fountain in the middle) on our backyard.

This afternoon, I saw two ducks standing on the side of the lake looking at the fountain.

What Kind of Adventure Do You Crave?

2009-09-29T07:34:00.002-04:00

I Crave a Cultural Adventure

Life has gotten a bit routine for me lately, and I'd like to broaden my perspective.

I want to learn and grow from my adventure. I want to know the place I visit as well as my home town.

I am an open minded and curious traveler. I'm all about immersing myself in local customs, no matter how foreign they are.

Whenever I'm in a new place, I try to speak the language, eat the food, and meet the locals. After all, that's what traveling is all about!

What Kind of Adventure Do You Crave?

Weekend Snapshot: Afternoon at the Pine Preserve

2009-09-26T22:17:00.008-04:00

Photos I took this afternoon during my short walk to the Helene Klein Pine Preserve at Coconut Creek.

What is Your Word?

2009-09-25T09:54:00.001-04:00

My Word is "Peace"

I see life as precious, and I wish everyone was safe, happy, and taken care of.

Social justice, human rights, and peace for all nations are all important to me.

While I can't stop war, I try to be as calm and compassionate as possible in my everyday life.

I promote harmony and cooperation. I am always willing to meet someone a little more than halfway.

What's Your Word?

Thursday Challenge: Bottles

2009-09-24T08:27:00.001-04:00

From our collection

Weekend Snapshot: Weekend at Home

2009-09-20T18:40:00.006-04:00

On Saturday afternoon, I saw an iguana lurking on our garden near the pool.

It was a beautiful sunny Sunday and the ducks were enjoying the sun and the water on the lake (man-made) behind our house.

weekend snapshot

Skywatch Friday: Here Comes the Sun

2009-09-18T09:02:00.005-04:00

I took these shots inside a plane on our flight from Newark, NJ to Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

It is awesome watching the sun rise over the horizon.

My Least Favorite Subject

2009-09-15T10:23:00.001-04:00

Disliking Math Says You Are Expressive

You are an expressive, passionate, and spontaneous person.

For you, math is way too cold a subject. You dislike how black and white it is.

While some people have extreme passion for math, that would take far more work than you're willing to put in.

What you're into changes like the wind, and you could never be forced to choose one thing. You have to be free to follow what you love.

What Does Your Least Favorite School Subject Say About You?

The Woman is in a Hiatus

2009-09-09T10:05:00.006-04:00

It's been quite some time since I posted in my blog. I've been busy with our recent move to our new home in Coconut Creek (unpacking, putting the house in order), busy with my driving lessons, I travelled to New Jersey, and the Fall semester has started. Tomorrow, I am also undergoing eye surgery to remove the cataract in my left eye. After which, the doctor will schedule me for another eye appointment to have the implanted lens on my right eye "cleaned." Between school and my other activities, I do not have much time to sit down and tinker with my blogs, although I have been keeping Woman On A JouRney pretty much updated.

After I'm done putting the house in order- we've practically unpacked all our stuff and finished about 75% of the arrangement, decoration- I will have more time to juggle between blogging, school, housework and other activities.

Thursday Challenge: Curved

2009-08-20T09:09:00.003-04:00

ArtsPark at Young Circle

Hollywood, FL

This is where I used to go for briskwalking every morning.

I'm a Fantasy/Sci Fi

2009-08-18T09:42:00.002-04:00

You Are Fantasy / Sci Fi

You have an amazing imagination, and in your mind, all things are possible.

You are open minded, and you find the future exciting. You crave novelty and progress.

Compared to most people, you are quirky and even a bit eccentric. You have some wacky ideas.

And while you may be a bit off the wall, there's no denying how insightful and creative you are.

What Kind of Book Are You?

Afternoon at Ft. Lauderdale Beach

2009-08-12T09:37:00.003-04:00

Watery Wednesday

I took this shot yesterday afternoon while standing at the Beach Club across the Ft. Lauderdale Beach.

Thank You, Tita Cory

2009-08-01T09:50:00.002-04:00

January 25, 1933- August 1, 2009

Asia's first female President

Philippines' first female President

Democracy icon

Thank you, Tita Cory for bringing back democracy to the Philippines.

Rest in peace.

Thursday Challenge: Earth

2009-07-30T16:00:00.000-04:00

Thursday Challenge: Hot

2009-07-22T21:58:00.002-04:00

It's a hot, hot summer!

A Beautiful Dream

2009-07-22T17:01:00.010-04:00

On one corner of Young Circle here in Hollywood stands a statue of Martin Luther King, Jr. Engraved below it is the speech delivered by Dr. King on August 28, 1963 from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The speech spoke of his desire for a future where blacks and whites would co-exist harmoniously as equals. It is considered to be one of the greatest and most notable speeches in human history.

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering justice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that American has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.

We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

We cannot turn back.

There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest - quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that the unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceious slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual"

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

Watery Wednesday: One Sunny Day in Hollywood

2009-07-22T15:46:00.006-04:00

Hollywood, FL.

First U.S. Woman on Antarctica

2009-07-22T11:08:00.006-04:00

Edith Ronne was the first woman from the U.S. to set foot on the bottom of the world and the first woman in the world to be a working member of an Antarctic expedition. Her husband, U.S. Navy Capt. Finn Ronne commanded an expedition of Antarctica in 1947 and asked her to go with him. So she gave up her job as a State Department clerk to be him. Since her husband's English was sketchy (he was of Norwegian descent), Edith Ronne was tasked to write dispatches for the North American Newspaper Alliance, one of the expedition's sponsors.

They stayed for 15 months in Antarctica conducting aerial mapping sorties and geological investigations that included detecting the first known Antarctica earthquakes.

According to the Washington Post, Ronne's diary reflected the difficulties of living in a 12-f00t-square hut that also served as the expedition's base. She busied herself filing dispatches under her husband's name, recording scientific data, and visiting penguin colonies. Returning to civilization in 1948, Ronne vowed never to go back to Antarctica but she did twice after. In 1971, she and her husband (he died in 1980) became the first married couple to reach the South Pole. In 1995, she revisited the frozen continent and found the old hut where their group stayed.

When asked why she joined her husband, she replied, "I was in love with him. I would have done anything to support the expedition - even stay behind."

Edith Ronne, an American explorer of Antarctica and in whose honor the Ronne Ice Shelf was named after, died on June 14, 2009.

A 12-Point Cure for Complaining

2009-07-19T13:34:00.006-04:00

Complaining is unbecoming of the true Christian and yet we are proficient at it. The cure is found in the following verses. In Christ we are never hopeless or forsaken. Every trial has meaning.

1. God commands me never to complain.

Do all things without complaining and disputing. Philippians 2: 14

2. God commands me to give thanks in every circumstance.

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thess. 5: 18

3. God commands me to rejoice always, and especially in times of trial.

Count it all joy when you fall into various trials. James 1: 2

4. I always deserve much worse than what I am suffering now. In fact, I deserve hell.

Why should any living mortal, or any man, offer complaint in view of his sins? Lamentations 3:39

5. In light of the eternal happiness and glory that I will experience in heaven, this present trial is extremely brief and insignificant, even if it were to last a lifetime.

The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Rom. 8: 18

6. My suffering is far less than that which Christ suffered, and He did not complain.

Who when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. 1 Peter 2: 23

7. To complain is to say God is not just.

Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right ? Genesis 18: 25

8. Faith and prayer exclude complaining.

I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered from all my fears. Psalm 34: 4

9. This difficulty is being used by God for my good and it is foolish for me to complain against it.

And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8: 28

10. Those more faithful that I have suffered far worse than I, and did so without complaint.

....and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated, wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. All these having gained approval through their faith. Hebrew 11: 35-39

11. Complaining denies that God's grace is entirely sufficient.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12: 9

12. The greatest suffering, the worst trial or difficulty, can never rob me of that which is of greatest value to me and my greatest joy, namely the love of Chirst.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? Just as it is written, "For your sake we are killed all day long. We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lod. Romans 8: 35-39

Christian Communicators Worldwide.

Skywatch Friday: Fluffy Clouds

2009-07-17T00:54:00.002-04:00

One sunny day at Hollywood Beach, FL

Thursday Challenge: Power

2009-07-15T17:58:00.006-04:00

For this week's "Power" theme, I am posting four men of power:
Abraham Lincoln, George Bush, Barack Obama, and JFK.

All photos taken at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in Las Vegas.

Watery Wednesday: Honolulu Zoo

2009-07-14T15:09:00.003-04:00

Honolulu Zoo

Skywatch Friday: Sunrise, Sunset

2009-07-11T00:31:00.016-04:00

Sunrise........

Hillsboro Shores, FL

Sunset.........

Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, HI

Sunrise...........

Mt. Haleakala, Maui, HI

Sunset........

Hollywood, FL

Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another

Laden with happiness and tears

-Fiddler on the Roof

Thursday Challenge: Celebration

2009-07-09T01:01:00.002-04:00

Hawai'i celebrates Memorial Day (2009)

To Achieve Your Dreams Remember Your ABC's

2009-07-08T20:20:00.009-04:00

Avoid negative sources, people, places, things and habits.

Believe in yourself.

Consider things from every angle.

Don't give up, and don't give in.

Enjoy life today; yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come.

Family and Friends are hidden treasures: seek them and enjoy their riches.

Give more than you planned to give.

Hang on to your dreams.

Ignore those who try to discourage you.

Just do it!

Keep on trying- no matter how hard it seems, it will get easier.

Love yourself first and ost.

Make it happen.

Never lie, cheat or steal; always strike a fair deal.

Open your eyes, and see things as they really are.

Practice makes perfect.

Quitters never win, and winners never quit.

Read, study and learn about everything important in your life.

Stop procrastinating.

Take control of your own destiny.

Understand yourself in order to better understand others.

Visualize it.

Want it more than anything; accelerate your efforts.

You are unique- nothing can replace you.

Zero in on your target, and go for it!

Watery Wednesday: Mementoes of Oahu

2009-07-07T23:34:00.004-04:00

Hawai'i will always be my paradise. Why ? Take a look at the pictures and you will say, "res ipsa loquitur."

Blogging as an Act of Treason

2009-07-07T21:17:00.008-04:00

While reading this week's issue of my favorite magazine, The Week, I came across an article which may be of interest to my fellow bloggers. According to the article, 32-year old Yoani Sanchez is a blogger who has won numerous international awards for her blog chronicling her life in the Cuba. However, she has not been allowed to leave her country to accept the awards because the communist government classifies her as a "mercenaria" , which is an operative taking foreign payments to overthrow the government. Sanchez denies the charge insisting that she has never advocated any particular dogma. According to The Week, merely telling the world about daily life in Cuba can amount to an act of rebellion.

Recently, Sanchez wrote about the elevator which broke down in her building. She wrote, "the bureaucracy who bought the new machine in Russia skimped on the cables, assuming the old ones would work with the new lift." The result was "a horribly loud crash." Such detailed anecdotes exposed "the deficiencies and weaknesses" of the communist system better than any political protest could. The blogger may be politically neutral but her writings are "political dynamite."

Weekend Snapshot: Hollywood Boulevard Skyline

2009-07-05T23:50:00.004-04:00

Shots I took from our balcony on Saturday night

weekend snapshot

Skywatch Friday: Just Another Stormy Afternoon

2009-07-03T11:18:00.005-04:00

Watching the dark clouds gather one stormy afternoon

(shot taken from our balcony, Hollywood, FL)

Fourth of July Trivia

2009-07-02T09:06:00.013-04:00

On July 4, the United States of America will be celebrating her Independence Day. Non-Americans, like myself, might find the following facts interesting:

Independence Day, or what is popular known as "Fourth of July" is a holiday commemorating the formal adoption by the Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence. It was signed in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776 although the signing was not completed until August.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams made minor changes.

The holiday was first observed on July 8, 1776 in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was first read aloud.

The Liberty Bell was rung before it was read to the people of Philadelphia.

The Declaration of Independence stated that the thirteen colonies were free from Britain.

The Preamble stated that all men are created equal and that they have unalienable rights which include life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Although the original handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence does not exist anymore, the first copy made of the original is on display, along with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, at the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, D.C.

The first and largest signature on the Declaration of Independence belongs to John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress.

Thursday Challenge: Male

2009-07-02T08:22:00.002-04:00

My baby, Nathan Ray, carrying our punching bag

(photo taken in Bacolod City, Philippines)

Love is Universal

2009-06-30T23:06:00.015-04:00

Some of you might've seen this already but this is beautiful and needs to be shared.

His mate was injured and the condition was fatal.

She was hit by a car as she swooped low across the road.

He brought her food and attended to her with love and compassion.

He brought her food again but was shocked to find her dead.

He tried to move her... a rarely-seen effort for swallows.

Aware that his sweetheart is dead and will never come back

to him again, he cried with adoring love.

He stood beside her, saddened by her death.

Finally, aware she would never return to him,

he stood beside her body with sadness and sorrow.

... and many thought that animals do not have brains or feelings.

You have just witnessed an expression of love.

Thank you, Susan, for sharing this beautiful e-mail.

Watery Wednesday: The Lake

2009-06-30T22:33:00.003-04:00

North Hollywood, FL

Nobody Does It Better

2009-06-30T12:03:00.004-04:00

Nobody does it better

Makes me feel sad for the rest

Nobody does it half as good as you

Baby, you're the best

Carly Simon is a popular singer-songwriter in 70's era. She's also the voice behind the hit songs "You're So Vain" and the James Bond movie (The Spy Who Loved Me) soundtrack, "Nobody Does It Better".

When she was younger, she had a debilitating stammer which left her speechless all the time. She was mercilessly teased in school which made her so self-conscious, it even came to the point of self-hatred. The turning point in her life came when she was 16 and her boyfriend, a Harvard freshman named Nick, put her at ease, by telling her that "not only was it something he didn't love me in spite of, but, matter of fact, because of." He thought her stammering was "charming." She spent 10 years hiding that flaw, and all of a sudden, it was sexy. She was exotic, different in a positive way. Eccentric, artistic. Although her stammer would occasionally resurface, she was no longer ashamed.

Acceptance erased that obstacle in her life.

In Appreciation

2009-06-30T09:18:00.008-04:00

Thank you very much for dropping by my blog. Your visit is very much appreciated.

Thank you, too, to June's top EC card droppers:

Lisgold

Confessions of a Psychotic Housewife

Womensselfesteem.com's Blog

eastcoastlife

At Home In The Ozarks

Sweet Nothings

Starting Our Week Right

2009-06-29T07:59:00.007-04:00

If you abide in me and my words abide in you,

ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.

-John 15:7

May these words serve as our guide as we start a new week.

Weekend Snapshot: Hollywood Beach Broadwalk

2009-06-27T16:00:00.003-04:00

Saturday morning at the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk

Hollywood Beach, FL

weekend snapshot

What's Your 1950's Name?

2009-06-26T07:54:00.001-04:00

Your 1950s Name is: Regina Joni

What's buzzin, cuzzin?

What's Your 1950s Name?

I was tagged on this by Ria, the Party Girl.

Skywatch Friday: Sundown at Hollywood Boulevard

2009-06-26T07:21:00.002-04:00

Shots I took from the balcony (14th floor) of our condo at Young Circle, Hollywood Blvd.

Who Lives Longest in the US?

2009-06-25T20:12:00.004-04:00

Is this a fact or just a myth ? According to an article in More Magazine, the following have a longer life span:

Asian-American Women in Bergen County, NJ. With a life expectancy of 91, they rule the U.S. Generally, Asian-American women live the longest of any ethnic group. Preliminary research suggests the reason: even after exposure to Western lifestyles, they continue to eat lower-fat diets than typical Americans.

Speaking about Asian-Americans, the Filipino-American community is the second largest Asian-American group in the US (the first being the Chinese).

Firstborns. According to a Univ. of Chicago research, older children are twice as likely to reach age 100 compared to their younger siblings. This may be because they were conceived by younger (hence, healthier) women who were using their freshest eggs.
People with a lot of moles. Researchers from King's College in London say that people with more than 100 moles have longer telomeres, choromosome-protecting buffers that delay aging and may extend longevity by up to seven years.
Winter babies. Although they are not sure why, Chicago researchers discovered that those born in January will live 2 percent longer than their peers- especially those who live from April to June.
Women with wide hips. But not with a lot of junk in the trunk. Women at a healthy weight who have wide hips outlive other women with the same BMI, possiblyh because of genetic, hormonal or physical characteristics that guard against heart diseases, Swedish researchers say.
Good sleepers. Women who doze 7 to 8 hours at night may outlast others, says a 22-year study from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
Believers. Going to church or praying privately makes healthy adults likely to considerably longer than people who do not have a spiritual life reports Health Psychology. Stress-reducing social support and a group aversion to risky behavior may explain why.

Reference: More Magazine June '09.

Outstanding Student

2009-06-25T10:27:00.002-04:00

The photo above belongs to an outstanding student named Stefanie Zaner, an 18-year old senior in Darnestown, Md. I consider her an outstanding student because she graduated from high school without missing a single one of her 2,340 school days since she entered kindergarten. Zaner said that it hasn't always been easy and she did not get to do any senior skip days unlike the other students. In the coming fall opening, she will be attending the University of Maryland honors program.

Children like her would surely make their parents happy and proud.

Watery Wednesday: Man-Made Lake

2009-06-24T17:23:00.005-04:00

Man-made lakes, like the one found in the middle of Augusta National Drive in Orlando, are a common sight in Florida.

God is Great!

2009-06-19T13:51:00.016-04:00

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,

Each little bird that sings,

He made their glowing colors,

He made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountain,

The river running by,

The sunset, and the morning,

That brightens up the sky;

The cold wind in the winter,

The pleasant summer sun,

The ripe fruits in the garden,

He made them every one.

He gave us eyes to see them,

And lips that we might tell,

How great is God Almighty,

Who has made all things well.

-Cecil Frances Alexander

Skywatch Friday: Sunrise at Central Florida

2009-06-18T17:08:00.003-04:00

Taken on the road on our way to Orlando, Central Florida

Thursday Challenge: Sweet

2009-06-17T17:24:00.002-04:00

Cheesecake Factory's smoothie

(Cheesecake Factory, Waikiki location)

Watery Wednesday: Blackbirds in the Pool

2009-06-17T13:15:00.005-04:00

Blackbirds cooling themselves on the pool on a hot and humid Florida afternoon

Hillsboro Shores

Pompano Beach, FL

Something Positive to Start Your Week

2009-06-15T08:56:00.006-04:00

You may bear the emotional scars of past encounters with people who devalued and abused you. Family members and loved ones may withhold appreciation or mistreat you. Resist the invitations to hopelessness or resentment by remembering that God knows. He knows you intimately, and He will always treat you as a person of value.

Other people may overlook us, but God never does.

Devotional for Women

Weekend Snapshot: Weekend at Hillsboro Shores

2009-06-14T09:29:00.002-04:00

weekend snapshot

Inspiring Quotes from a Woman I Admire

2009-06-13T22:21:00.010-04:00

Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady of the United States of America, was an advocate for civil rights. After her husband's death in 1945, she continued to be an internationally prominent author, speaker, politician and activist. She worked to enhance the status of working women although she opposed the Equal Rights Amendment because she believed that it would adversely affect them.

Roosevelt supported the formation of the United Nations. She became a delegate to the UN General Assembly and chaired the committee that drafted and approved the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Pres. Truman called her the "First Lady of the World" in tribute to her human rights achievements.

Below are some of Ms. Roosevelt's nuggets of wisdom:

No one can make you feel inferior

without your consent

Do what you feel in your heart to be right

for you will be criticized anyway.

You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

Great minds discuss ideas,

average minds discuss events,

small minds discuss people.

It is not fair to ask of others

what you are unwilling to do yourself.

People grow through experience

if they meet life honestly and courageously.

This is how character is built.

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience

in which you really stop to look fear in the face.

You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.

Skywatch Friday: At the Break of Dawn

2009-06-12T19:02:00.006-04:00

View from the dock of Hillsboro Shores Executive Club

Hillsboro Shores

Pompano Beach, FL

5 Surprising Anti Agers

2009-06-12T12:22:00.010-04:00

Here's something I read from the June 2009 issue of More magazine which might be of interest to those who are concerned about health and staying young:

Lead a boring life

A diligent, responsible, hard-working, organized and self-disciplined life, all facets of what researchers label conscientiousness. People who have this trait not only live longer (presumably because they avoid risky behaviors like smoking) but are also less likely to suffer from dementia in old age. Those at the top of the conscientiousness chart reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer's symptoms by a remarkable 89% compared with those at the very bottom, according to research by Robert Wilson, PhD, professor of neuropsychology at the Rush Univ. Medical Center, in Chicago. Conscientiousness doesn't prevent the underlying pathologies, like the buildup of plaques and tangles traditionally associated with Alzheimer's and similar illnesses. Instead, it seems to provide a protection that allows some people to tolerate the disease in their brains much longer without the appearance of symptoms.

Embrace your age.

Feeling good about growing older may help you live longer. In a study conducted by Yale Univ., the mortality rates of 660 seniors who had been participating in the Ohio Longitudinal Study of Aging and Retirement, those who started out two decades earlier in the study with a positive attitude toward old age ended up living an average of seven and a half years longer than others. Also those who had refused to buy into negative cultural stereotypes aging aging when they were younger tended to have greater enthusiasm about life when they grew older.

Move to an old neighborhood

According to a 2007 study by Stanford Univ., people who were trying to increase their physical activity levels were more than twice as likely to succeed if they lived in pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, which tend to be in older areas. Areas which were built before 1950 were generally more walkable than newer areas, because they were designed primarily for pedestrians, not cars.

Spice up your meals

Researchers recently tested 24 common herbs and spices, and found high amounts of compounds that my stop the inflammatory damage caused by elevated blood sugar levels. These include cinnamon, thyme, Italian seasoning and cloves which can be bought at local stores like Wal Mart. The active compounds in these herbs and spices have the potential to reduce the inflammation that contributes to nearly every human disease. Researchers also advise that we liberally season our food with a variety of spices, thereby doubling or tripling the medicinal value of the meal.

Hang out with happy people

Scientists have known for some time that happy people live longer because their good spirits help protect them from illness. The new twist is that happiness is socially contagious. You catch it, or its opposite, from the people close to you. Researchers have found out that people who are surrounded by many happy people are the most likely to become happy themselves in the future. It pays to choose friends who lift you up.

Watery Wednesday: The Pelicans and the Lighthouse

2009-06-10T10:00:00.004-04:00

Pelicans perched on a wooden beam on the dock of Hillsboro Executive Club. On the background is the historic Hillsboro Lighthouse.

Photos were taken this morning at our temporary nesting place at Hillsboro Executive Club

Pompano Beach, FL

Weekend Snapshot: Sunset Walk

2009-06-07T22:40:00.004-04:00

Sunset at North Hollywood Beach

Hollywood, Florida

weekend snapshot

Fault or No-Fault

2009-06-07T09:34:00.011-04:00

The English common law on which the U.S. legal doctrines and concepts are based, defines marriage as a voluntary private agreement by a man and a woman to become husband and wife. It is viewed as the basis of the family unit and vital to the preservation of morals and civilization. The Texas Supreme Court in the case of Sheffield v. Sheffield, 3 Tex. 79, 85-86 (1848) also gave a good definition of marriage when it held that marriage is the most solemn and important of human transactions, regarded by nations as the basis of civilized societies, of sound morals, and of domestic affections. The mutual comfort of the parties is the princcipal, but not the only, objective. Marriage is intended also for the benefit of their common offspring, and is an important element in the moral order, security and tranquility of civilized society. The parties cannot dissolve the contract, as they can others, by mutual consent, and no light or trivial causes should be allowed for its rescission.

Marriage was first instituted by God in the Garden of Eden. It is a monogamous, physical and spiritual union between a man and a woman (Gen. 2:21-24), where adultery was forbidden (Exo. 20:14), and dissolution was not allowed (Mark 10:9, 1 Cor. 7:10-11). However, men live in an imperfect world, and later divorce was allowed in certain circumstances such as adultery (Matt. 5:32, 19:9) and abandonment (1 Cor. 7:15).

In the U.S., divorce formally dissolves marriage. Originally, divorce was granted only when spouses are able to prove that at least one of them was "at fault." The grounds vary in each state. Common grounds include adultery, cruelty (inflicting unnecessary emotional or physical pain), attempted murder, desertion for a specified length of time, habitual drunkenness, use of addictive drugs, insanity, physical inability to engage in sexual intercourse (if it is not disclosed before marriage), confinement in prison for a set number of years and infection of one's spouse with venereal disease.

In 1969, the Gov. Ronald Reagan signed into law the first so-called "No-Fault Divorce Law." Under this law, the spouse suing for divorce does not have to prove that the other spouse did something wrong. There is no need to prove "guilt" of a spouse. The suing spouse can simply state a reason recognized by the state. For example, "irreconcilable differences."

At present, all 50 states have adopted some form of "no fault" divorce with New York, which does not recognized "irreconcilable differences" as a ground, having the "strictest" no-fault divorce. In a no-fault divorce, it is enough to declare that the couple cannot get along, i.e., "incompatibility", "irreconcilable differences have caused an irremediable breakdown of marriage," "the relationship is no longer viable," "discord or conflict of personalities have destroyed the legitimate ends of marital relationship and prevents any reasonable possibility of reconciliation", or "marriage is irretrievably broken" (Cornell University Law School. Legal Information Institute. "Marriage: An Overview."). At present, 22 states no longer allow fault-based grounds for obtaining divorce.

Summary of Changes in Divorce Law

Traditional Divorce

No-Fault Divorce

Restrictive Law

To protect marriage

Permissive Law

Facilitates divorce

Specific Grounds

Adultery, cruelty, etc.

No Specific Grounds

Marital breakdown

Fault

One party causes divorce

No Fault

Cause of divorce irrelevant

Gender-based Responsibilities

Husband responsible for alimony

Wife responsible for custody

Husband responsible for child support

Gender-Neutral Responsibilities

Both responsible for self-support

Both eligible for custody

Both responsible for child’s support

Financial Awards Linked to Fault

Alimony for “innocent” spouse

Financial Awards Based on Equality and Need

Alimony based on need

Great Share of property to “innocent” spouse

Property divided equally

Adversarial

One guilty party, one innocent party

Financial gain in proving fault

Non-adversarial

No guilty or innocent party

No financial gain from charges

Amicable resolution encouraged

What impact have "no-fault" divorce had on American society?

The U.S., which is considered the most religious nation, has the highest divorce rate in the world (Dafoe and Popenoe). According to the data gathered by the National Center for Health Statistics, there has been an increase in the divorce rate since 1970 when no-fault divorce was passed into law (Reform Divorce).

Opponents of no-fault divorce believe that, in many cases, no-fault makes it too easy to resist couples whose marriages are on the rocks because they do not need to prove, or even have, valid grounds for the dissolution of their marriage. Stormie Omartian, author of The Power of Prayer to Chang Your Marriage said, "the reason the divorce rate is so high is because divorce is considered an option in the minds of at least half of the people getting divorced. It is spoken of as a solution. It appears to be the only way out of a miserable situation." With no-fault divorce, that option is easily attainable; and because there is an easy way out, spouses are no longer willing to wait to invest as much energy into saving their marriage. The concept of marriage as a sacred covenant and an inviolable social institution is gone. Marriage vows to remain together have lost its value.

What are the negative effects of no-fault divorce? Cathy Meyer, in her article "The Issue of No-Fault Divorce" wrote that those who argue against no-fault allege that:

an economically dependent spouse may not be adequately protected when it is very easy for the other spouse to obtain a divorce because in 75% of the cases the courts will not enforce any spousal support.
Family Courts used to put efforts into protecting the sanctity of marriage, now their main concern is to make divorce fast so as to get it off the dockets of the court.
negative impact on children. Former First Lady Hillary Clinton, in her book "It Takes a Village", wrote that children without fathers, or whose parents float in and out of their lives after divorce, are "the most precarious little boats in the most turbulent seas." Children living with one parent or in stepfamilies are two or three times more likely to have emotional or behavioral problems as children living in two-parent families. A parent's remarriage often does not seem to better the odds.

Meyer also listed down the arguments of the proponents:

no-fault lessens conflict between parties and shortens the length of time to obtain divorce. This, in turn, shortens the stress involved, and the emotional harm to both parties and the children.
financial settlements are based on need, ability to pay and contribution to family finances rather than on fault.
makes it easier for a spouse in an abusive marriage to leave.

In response to what has been perceived as the high rate of divorce and the problem associated with no-fault, many states have already proposed legislation to modify no-fault divorce and studies are being undertaken on the issue (Hershkowitz). The legislators are on the right track in their efforts to reform the present no-fault divorce law.

Although marriage is a commitment, it does not mean that spouses should forever be trapped in an abusive marriage. When all efforts, including marital counseling and professional help, have been futile, divorce can be the last resort. However, it must be based on valid grounds rather than a means to be used by a spouse who wants to take an easy way out of a commitment to "remain faithful for better, for worse, 'til death do us part."

(I submitted the foregoing as my research essay in my English Composition class)

Honest Faith

2009-06-06T12:03:00.008-04:00

I am sharing with you a very beautiful message of faith I received in email from my friend, Rolly. May you be blessed with this message.

How do you practice honest faith when you see injustice, problems, or violence, and God seems not to be doing anything? Do what Habakkuk did (Hab. 1: 1-17).

Pray to God. Listen to Him. Trust in God's character.

Pray to God

Turn to God in prayer and talk to Him, when you don't understand why a man will become unfaithful, why parents will cause destruction of families, why bad things happen to good people.

Go to God in prayer, supplication and thanksgiving, when you have trials and problems, instead of worrying and taking on temporary and even sinful remedies to the situation (Phil. 4:6).

Listen to God

After talking to God, develop and practice the habit of listening to God through the discipline of silence. Listen to God consciously as you read the Bible, hear or read a message, look at the circumstances, watch Him and observe because He is doing something you couldn't believe.

Don't rush God, relax and don't put God in a box; God's ways are higher than ours; His timing is perfect (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Trust in God's Character

God is everlasting, the Holy One; He is the Rock, the powerful King; He is pure and will not approve evil. He disciplines those whom He loves. He has an amazing program for His people (Romans 8:28, 31)

God can use anybody to accomplish His purpose; He can use the wicked to judge His people (Kings 2:9-12; Deut. 28: 47-50; Romans 9:17).

Truths about Life:

1. You will get disappointed

2. You will not always understand why things happen as they happen

3. Whatever happens to you in inevitable to make you either become better or bitter.

Principles to Learn:

You cannot control what will happen to you; you cannot control others; you cannot control the trials that will come upon you. The only thing you have control of is your responsibility to RESPOND to problems- the RESPOND IN HONEST FAITH.

We may not always understand what God is doing, but we can remember His character and His love. God is sovereign. He will judge. And He knows what He's doing (Romans 8:28).

Sometimes we make wrong decisions and stupid mistakes. But God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him.

When you are in the valley of your life and when you don't know what's happening, talk to God. Tell Him what's troubling you. Then listen to what the Lord is teaching you. Always remember God's character as you go to Him with honest faith.

Skywatch Friday: Sunset at Hollywood

2009-06-04T23:05:00.005-04:00

I took these photos at sundown yesterday along the beach in Hollywood, Florida.

Watery Wednesday: Ala Wai Canal

2009-06-02T20:42:00.004-04:00

Ala Wai Canal, Honolulu, HI

This is one of the last photos I took of my beautiful paradise, Hawaii, two days before I left. Ala Wai Canal separates downtown Waikiki from Ala Moana in Honolulu.

Thank You, Visitors

2009-06-01T15:00:00.005-04:00

Thank you very much to all my visitors. It is a pleasure sharing with you my thoughts.

Thank you, too, to my top EC droppers for the month of May:

Confessions of a Psychotic Housewife

At Home In The Ozarks

Sweet Nothings

Doocci.com

Weekend Snapshot: Ft. DeRussy Armed Forces Recreation Center

2009-05-30T23:10:00.004-04:00

US Army Museum

Ft. DeRussy Beach Park

On my last walk around Waikiki, I visited Ft. DeRussy Armed Forces Recreation Center.

Beautiful Christian Sister

2009-05-30T04:00:00.013-04:00

A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ

That a man should have to seek Him first to find her.

When I say, "I am a Christian," I am not shouting, "I am clean living,"

I am whispering, "I was lost, now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say, "I am a Christian," I don't speak of this with pride.

I am confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say, "I am a Christian," I am not trying to be strong.

I am professing that I am weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say, "I am a Christian," I am not bragging of success.

I am admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say, "I am a Christian," I still feel the sting of pain.

I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say, "I am a Christian," I am not holier than thou,

I am just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

Pretty is as Pretty does, but beautiful is just plain beautiful!

I DEDICATE this post to all my girl friends who've been there for me in good times and in bad. The Lord must love me a lot because He's blessed me with friends like you.

A beautiful e-mail message by Maya Angelou I received from my friend, Susan Charboneau. Thank you, Susan, for this beautiful reminder.

Skywatch Friday: Dusk at Ko Olina

2009-05-29T04:35:00.001-04:00

Ko Olina Resort

Oahu, Hawaii

Goodbye, Hawaii

2009-05-29T00:15:00.026-04:00

On Sunday I will be bidding good-bye my paradise for the past two years! It has been my home away from home and leaving it is not very easy.

What are some of the things that I will miss about Hawai'i?

Friends whom I consider my family.

Except for my husband, I do not have any relative in Hawaii;

but I have been blessed to have met very good friends

who have become my family.

The near-perfect weather.

The "double-rainbow".

The most beautiful rainbows I've seen were in Hawaii.

Food. Hawaiian food is "diversified": it is a combination of Asian and Polynesian cuisine.

"Poke", a native Hawaiian cuisine made of raw ahi.

Banabear and I especially love the spicy ahi.

School. One of my happiest days in Hawai'i were spent in school.

The beautiful beaches.

One of the reasons why Hawaii is a paradise.

Friendly locals.

The laid-back way of life.

The "shaka"sign.

Mahalo nui loa, Hawaii! Thank you for the good times.

Remembering America's Heroes

2009-05-25T06:57:00.004-04:00

Memorial Day

A time to remember, a time to say "thank you" to the men and women who sacrificed their lives in the service of their nation.

Wardrobe: Old Rules vs. New Rules

2009-05-23T05:49:00.006-04:00

Old Rule: Don't wear black and navy together.

New Rule: Mix black and navy and brown.

Old Rule: Don't wear different shades of black together.

New Rule: Mix black with black whatever the tones.

Old Rule: Always match your handbag to your shoes.

New Rule: Matchy-matchy will make you look oldie-oldie.

Old Rule: Stockings should be flesh toned.

New Rule: Shoes should be flesh toned, legs bare.

Old Rule: Jeans are for daytime only.

New Rule: Jeans are hot and sexy for evening - with heels and an embellished top.

Old Rule: Never mix two different prints or patterns in the same outfit.

New Rule: Mixed patterns look fresh when matched according to color tones.

Old Rule: Don't wear costume jewelry.

New Rule: Faux can be fabulous (just don't blab about it).

Skywatch Friday: Sunrise at Mt. Haleakala

2009-05-22T01:10:00.003-04:00

Photos of the sunrise taken at the summit of Mt. Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii

The Good Gums Diet

2009-05-21T22:22:00.002-04:00

Good for the Gums:

Fibrous fruits and raw vegetables -such as apples, pears, peaches, plums, celery, carrots, cucumbers, pickles, broccoli, asparagus, grapes, green beans, mushrooms, and bananas -act like a detergent, cleaning the surfaces of your teeth as you chew.
Oranges, pineapples, grapefruits, tangerines, nectarines, honeydews, cantaloupes, limes, mangoes, and tomatoes have a lot of vitamin C which is good for gum tissue. Lemons, though also high in Vitamin C, are too acidic for tooth enamel.

Bad for the Gums:

Sticky foods such as taffy and caramel, which get stuck in your teeth.
Plaque magnets such as cheese and chocolate.
Sugary foods such as white bread, cookies, doughnuts, and muffins. They hang out in your mouth longer than they should and get stickier as they go through the digestive tract.
Popcorn - the chief bete noire of dentists everywhere. All too often, kernels get lodged between teth or slide under the gums, where they can cause an abscess.

Thursday Challenge: Trees

2009-05-20T17:59:00.002-04:00

Trees around Oahu

I think that I shall never see

a poem lovely as a tree.

-Joyce Kilmer

Color Me Pink

2009-05-20T16:39:00.003-04:00

Here's a tip about looking years younger from the book "How Not To Look Old": If you need proof that pink is the only lipstick color worth wearing, just think of Angelina Jolie, the woman whose lips are most requested in cosmetic surgeons' offices, whose career was launched in part on the power of her pout, who is believed by both men and women to be among the sexiest creatures on earth, who could get away with wearing any color lipstick. Most of the time, whether she's walking on the red carpet or jut being a mom, Angelina wears a light, glossy pink.

Why pink? Because the right pink lightens up the mouth with a shimmery luminosity that helps compensate for the loss of glow in our complexions. The rare times Angelina Jolie is photographed in another color, it is usually for a movie in which is she supposed to look older.

Isn't a bright red lipstick more dramatic and attention grabbing? Yes, but who wants to draw all that attention to her lips? Paloma Picasso pulls off firey red with pizzazz, but it's tough to wear. Darker lip colors emphasize the dark circles under eyes. And the darker the color, the thinner your lips will look. You can apply the same principle of dark and light from fashion: darker minimizes, lighter emphasizes. If you're feeling heavy, you are going to slip on black or white pants? You're going to choose black, because black makes your butt look smaller. By contrast, you want your lips to be fat, so choose the white pants equivalent: pink helps plump them up.

There's a practical reason to make the switch to pink lipstick: lip lines. When those telltale lines meet up with dark lipstick, the result isn't pretty.

More tips from the author:

mauve makes you look older and sad.
nudes can make you look like a washed-out zombie.
orange veers into the clownish.
purples make you look like you're suffering from hypothermia.

Remember, nothing ages you like... Dark lipstick...Lipstick bleeding into fine lines...Cracked lips....Thin lips...Obvious lip liner... Overly matte lipstick... Obviously fake plumpled lips.

Watery Wednesday: Hauola Stone

2009-05-20T03:33:00.005-04:00

The Hauola Stone is popularly believed to have been used by the Hawaiians as a healing place.

Historic and Cultural site

Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii

Define Your Maintenance Level

2009-05-19T21:32:00.003-04:00

Are you high, medium, or low maintenance ?

Take this quiz to find out where you are:

1. You never leave the house without

a. a full face of makeup.

b. some lipstick and mascara.

c. a clean face.

2. Your closet

a. shoudl be photographed for a magazine.

b. is due for its seasonal clean-out.

c. still holds your cat suit.

3. When you're travelling, you wear

a. business attire.

b. pants and a nice sweater.

c. whatever is comfiest.

4. On a rare day off, you

a. schedule an appointment with your dermatologist, hair colorist, manicurist, or personal shopper.

b. meet a friend at the mall.

c. sleep.

5. You won the lottery and must spend the jackpot only on yourself. You

a. get a face-lift.

b. shop for a whole new wardrobe.

c. buy a new car.

6. If you could be locked in a store all night, you would want it be be

a. Neiman-Marcus.

b. Sephora.

c. Williams-Sonoma.

7. If you received a gift certificate to a day spa. You

a. immediately book a massage, facial, or something else on the spa menu.

b. eventually get around to making an appointment.

c. let it expire or regift it.

8. If you can't read the tiny type on the back of the tube of self-tanner, you

a. slip on a pair of cool readers.

b. grab your drugstore readers.

c. squint and hope for the best.

9. You wash your face with

a. whatever your dermatologist prescribes.

b. a prestige brand cleanser.

c. whatever's in the soap dish.

10. You received a last-minute invite to a dressy cocktail party. You

a. wear the new dress hanging in your closet.

b. make do with your standby black skirt and sparkly sweater.

c. don't go because you have nothing to wear and no time to shop.

11. If you had a party, would your hair colorist and hairstylist be invited?

a. Of course, they're friends.

b. Yes, but they're the same person.

c. What colorist?

12. Your handbag that you tote day in, day out

a. is one of several must-have bags of the moment.

b. is the one new bag you buy every season.

c. is the same one you've used for years.

13. Your crow's feet

a. are gone

b. are a constant source of worry.

c. never cross your mind.

How you rate:

The "a" answers are high maintenance; the "b's" medium; and the "c's" low. If you're like most women, your answers are a mix of all three letters. I think we all know the following stereotypes.

High: You're doing every single thing you know to look great- whatever the time, whatever the cost. And chances are you're always hearing how fantastic you look. The downside here (if there is a downside) is that it's exhausting, it's expensive, and there is definitely a point of no return. Just keep in mind that Women Who Have Had Too Much Done can look O.L. (Old Lady). Being high maintenance is one thing; looking it is another. You could be in danger of trying too hard. To look Y & H (Younger and Hipper), you might find that sometimes less equals more.

Medium: You aspire to look as great as someone who is high maintenance, but you can't imagine devoting that many hours and burning through that much cash. You're more likely to cherry-pick, spending time and money on things that give you the most bang for your buck. You feel good about yourself and confident about your choices, but you might want to give in and go for the "wow" occasionally, rather than settling for the "good enough."

Low: You don't invest a lot of time and money in yourself because it hasn't been a big priority in your life. But now you're at the point where you look in the mirror and ask, "What else can I do?"

Super Comments Award

2009-05-17T15:03:00.004-04:00

We give and get awards for having a great blog and being a good friend. This award is given to those whose comments have meant the world to me. It takes time to visit a blog and leave a comment. So I want to recognize some special bloggers whose comments have made such an impact on me.

This "You Don't Say?" Award was given to me by my dear friend, Ebie, whose blog I greatly admire. She's not only a great blogger but a good friend, too.

I am passing this to the following bloggers whose comments have inspired me:

Seven Things That are True About Adultery

2009-05-17T04:12:00.006-04:00

God told us not to do it in His Ten Commandments. "You shall not commit adultery." (Exodus 20:14)
Jesus said don't do it. "Jesus said, 'you shall not murder,' 'you shall not commit adultery,' 'you shall not steal'" (Matt. 19:18)
Adultery brings judgment upon you. "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4)
Adultery will destroy you. "Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; he who does so will destroy his own soul." (Prov. 6:32)
Adultery happens in the heart as well as the body. "I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matt. 5:28)
Adultery will cause you to lose out on all God has for you. "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites" (1 Cor. 6:9)
Adultery is entirely a work of the flesh, and as such it will reap death in your life. "The works of the flesh are evident which are adultery, fornication. uncleanness and lewdness" (Gal. 5:19)

Weekend Snapshot: Historic Port of Lahaina

2009-05-16T18:53:00.004-04:00

Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii

Virtual Adultery

2009-05-16T15:50:00.009-04:00

God is so grieved by infidelity in marriage because not only does it violate trust between partners, sexual sin also violates the covenant made before God. Adultery is not just sexual intercourse between a married person and another person who is not his or her spouse. Adultery begins with the eyes and in the heart long before the actual physical act happens. In the past, extra-marital affairs involve clandestine meetings, secret phone calls or booking into a hotel under a false name. Today, with the advent of technology and the internet, adulterous activities have become rampant online.

Andy Merrett in Family Relationships Magazine wrote, "The internet offers certain advantages for the cyber-cheater: relative anonymity, ease and affordability of access, and a huge selection of services to use and people to meet. " These relationships often start in social networking sites like Tagged, which is popular among middle-aged people looking for "friends" online; dating sites and chatrooms.

As Beatriz Mileham, a researcher from the University of Florida, has said, "never before has the dating world been so handy for married persons looking for a fling. The internet will soon becocme the most common form of infidelity, if it isn't already."

According to Mileham, cyber lovers quickly move from exchanging messages to photo-swapping, intimate confessions and cybersex. It can become consuming as a real relationship. Tell-tale signs of cheating online, says the Center for Online and Internet Addiction, are sitting at the computer into the early hours, moving it into an office and locking the door, becoming obsessive about passwords, ignoring chores and spending less time engaged in other activities.

There's no clear profile of who cheats online and why. Some studies suggest they tend to be tertiary-educated, professional men who feel unfulfilled and isolated in their relationship or want easy sex. Like offline cheaters, they might be narcissistic.

"Many online cheaters eventually meet up with their cyber lovers," says Monica Whitty, an Australian psychologist and researcher with Queen's University in Belfast. A study of 75 adults involved in web affairs by another Australian researcher, Helen Underwood, found most knew what their partners looked like, most had contacted them by telephone, and a third had met them.

While the internet can be used for many good things, married persons need to be wary of its overuse. They should continue to open communication about their relationship, bringing up problems and issues quickly, instead of going online and look for "friendships with benefits."

Skywatch Friday: Fiery Honolulu Skies

2009-05-15T04:06:00.005-04:00

For Spouses: Things to Remember About the Words You Speak

2009-05-15T01:15:00.018-04:00

Choose yourwords carefully.

"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, thant it may impart grace to the hearers." (Ephesians 4:29)

Gentle words have more power than harsh words.

"A gentle tongue breaks a bone." (Prov. 25:15)

You have to think before you speak.

"The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil." (Prov. 15:28)

Don't talk too much.

"In the multitude of words sin in not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise." (Prov. 10:19)

Your words can cause you to stumble.

"We all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whold body." (James 3:2)

Kind words are life-giving.

"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones." (Proverbs 16:24)

Your words can bring about great destruction.

"The tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!" (James 3:5)

If you want a good life, watch what you say.

"He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit." (1 Pet. 3:10)

Your words can be inspired by the enemy.

"The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell." (James 3:6)

Your unkind words hurt you more than they hurt your spouse.

"By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matt. 12:37)

Thursday Challenge: Big

2009-05-14T07:42:00.004-04:00

The Stratosphere Tower, Las Vegas

by night

by day

The tower, located on the famous Las Vegas Strip, and at 1, 149 ft. (350 m), is the tallest free-standing observation tower in the US and the second tallest in the Western Hemisphere.

Parenting: On Going Home Alone

2009-05-14T03:25:00.012-04:00

Who of you are familiar with the story of a New York mom who caused media sensation last year when she let her then 9-year old son ride the New York subway by himself ? In her new book entitled, "Free Range Kids", journalist Lenore Skenazy, who was once dubbed by the media as "America's worst mom" because she let her son, Izzy, ride the subway alone, explains why she has no regrets about her decision.

Skenazy received both praises and criticisms from parents for letting her son take a public ride alone in such a young age. I am not familiar with the environment in NYC to make my own judgment about it; nevertheless, I believe that it is important for parents to teach their children how to be independent early on in life, starting by learning how to go home alone. I grew up under the care of an overprotective mother. I learned how to take the public transportation alone when I was already in first year high school at the age of 13. I know how difficult it is for a person with "less exposure" to adjust in the "real world" and I do not want my son to encounter the same difficulties I had. By the way, he had his first public ride - alone - at the age of 12.

Weekend Snapshot: Bishop Museum

2009-05-10T09:02:00.009-04:00

Yesterday afternoon, hubby and I acquainted ourselves with Hawaii's history by visiting the Bishop Museum.

Tribute to our Mothers

2009-05-10T06:17:00.016-04:00

A mother is a person who

seeing there are only four pieces

of a pie for five people,

promptly announces she never did care for pie.

- Tenneva Jordan

I remember my mother's prayers

and they have always followed me.

They have clung to me all my life.

- Abraham Lincoln

Some mothers are kissing mothers

and some are scolding mothers,

but it is love just the same,

and most mothers kiss and scold together.

-Pearl S. Buck

Who ran to help me when I fell,

And who would some pretty story tell,

Or kiss the place to make it well?

My mother.

-Ann Taylor

A mother is one to whom you hurry

when you are troubled.

-Emily Dickinson

Being a full-time mother is

one of the highest salaried jobs in my field,

since the payment is pure love.

- Mildred B. Vermont

Mother - that was the bank

where we deposited all our hurts and worries

- T. DeWitt Talmage

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

2009-05-08T14:02:00.011-04:00

Today, 95 years ago, U.S. Pres. Woodrow Wilson signed into law the observance of Mother's Day every second Sunday of May. Today, it is not only the U.S. but other countries, as well, that make the second Sunday of May as a red-letter day for the mothers. What we are now, we owe a great part to our mothers.

"The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Is The Hand That Rules The World" is a very popular phrase attributed to our mothers. The same is also the title of a poem written by William Ross Wallace which was first published in 1865 under the title "What Rules The World." It praises motherhood as the force which can change the world.

Blessings on the hand of women!

Angels guard its strength and grace,

In the palace, cottage, hovel,

Oh, no matter where the place;

Would that never storms assailed it,

Rainbows ever gently curled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Infancy's the tender foundtain,

Power may with beauty flow.

Mother's first to guide the streamlets,

From them souls unresting grow-

Grow on for the good or evil,

Sunshine streamed or evil hurled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Woman, how divine your mission

Here upon our natal sod!

Keep, oh, keep the young heart open

Always to the breath of God!

All true trophies of the ages

Are from mother-love impearled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Blessings on the hand of women!

Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,

And the sacred song is mingled

With the worship in the sky-

Mingles where no tempest darkens,

Rainbows even more are hurled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Skywatch Friday: A View from the Top

2009-05-08T05:57:00.009-04:00

Photos taken from the airplane window on my trip from Maui to Oahu.

Mother's Day Celebration

2009-05-08T03:26:00.007-04:00

On Sunday the world will be honoring a very important person in our lives, our mother. The idea of celebrating Mother's Day in the U.S. was first conceived in 1872 by an activist, writer and poet by the name of Julia Ward Howe. Julia Howe suggested that Mother's Day be celebrated on June 2 and the day should be dedicated to "peace." She wrote a passionate appeal entitled "Mother's Day Proclamation" which urged women to rise up against war. Howe also started the Mother's Peace Day observance which was done on the second Sunday of June.

Anna Jarvis is recognized as the founder of Mother's Day in the U.S. Note, however, that Jarvis was never married and never had kids. Inspired by her mother who was an activist and a social worker, Jarvis wanted to pay tribute to all the mothers of the world.

On May 8, 1914, then U.S. Pres. Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.

Today, Mother's Day is celebrated in several countries in the world.

A mother is a person who seeing

there are only four pieces of pie

for five people,

promptly announces she never did care for pie.

-Tenneva Jordan

Thursday Challenge: Spring

2009-05-07T03:49:00.006-04:00

Flowers in our front yard in Ewa by Gentry

I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose

I would always greet it in a garden.

-Ruth Stout

Stick To One Model

2009-05-07T01:41:00.005-04:00

When Henry Ford was asked on his 50th wedding anniversary what his secret for marital bliss was, he reportedly said, "Stick to one model." Mr. Ford said that is is good to have friends. Husbands have guys they pal around with, and wives have girl friends they hang out with; nevertheless, as married individuals, there should only be one best friend in their lives, and it must be their spouses.

Unfortunately, we see breakdown of marriages brought about by spouses who do not sincerely take their vow of "sticking to one model." Statistics on infidelity issues vary. The accuracy of most of the studies conducted had been open to question because of the lack of candor and/or unwillingness to participate on the part of the respondents. However, highly regarded studies conducted by Philip Blumstein and Pepper Schwartz in their book "American Couples: Money, Work, Sex" and Annette Lawson, author of "Adultery: An Analysis of Love and Betrayal" have led relationship experts to conclude that infidelity is a significant risk factor in marital break ups.

There are many reasons why people get involved in extra marital affairs. The most common reason given is the sense of disappointment in one's marriage. "Erring" spouses justify themselves by saying that the inattention, fighting, lack of understanding and harmony, drove them toward someone else. Marriage between to imperfect individuals results in an imperfect union. However, instead of finding ways to mend the relationship, some choose to seek solace from someone who willingly offers them a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, a word of encouragement.

When an unhappy spouse receive care, atttention and interest from a third party of the opposite sex, he becomes vulnerable to temptation. The spouse will start comparing the "new" person who makes him feel good and alive with the other party, and oftentimes, the other party will come out as the "bad guy." With the spouse's attention drawn towards the "new" person, he loses interest in saving his marriage and simply blames the other spouse, thereby causing further conflict.

Sometimes our environment, social groups, even the media can be a factor. When one is constantly bombarded by messages towards casual sex or pressured by peers that "if it feels good, do it", "you deserve better, dump him/her", or "life is short, enjoy!", this gives the person a "justifying" reason to stray from his marriage. Man is sometimes concerned about "immediate pleasures" without thinking about the end-results. Thus, we see married people engaged in adulterous activities because they're more concerned about their carnal desires and the selfish pursuit of their own happiness. We see broken relationships because commitment has taken a back seat to distorted values.

There are also people who unwittingly place themselves in a situation which makes them vulnerable to temptaion. According to Shirley Glass in her book, "Not Just Friends: Protect Your Relationship From Infidelity and Heal the Trauma of Betrayal", 82% of the unfaithful partners she's studied have had an affair with someone who was, at first, "just a friend."

Meetings with a "friend" for a drink or a business lunch - alone; friendly phone calls; text messages, chat messages or emails- all these innocent contacts may lead to something deeper than "just friendship." Soon, the spouse resorts to secrecy and lies to further this "friendly relationship."

Some men will argue that there is no infidelity unless sexual contact is involved. However, when a line has been crossed from platonic friendship into a deeper romantic affection, an emotional affair develops which is also marital infidelity. Affairs do not have to be sexual in order to destroy a marriage. Internet affairs can lead to devastating results. And it is not uncommon nowadays for internet friendships to develop into sexual relationships.

To avoid falling into the trap of marital unfaithfulness, couples must set up proper boundaries on friendships with third persons of the opposite sex. It is a good idea to stay away from compromising situations that might create a way to start a dangerous relationship. What may seem like small indiscretions or "innocent" flirtation can add up to major traps.

Infidelity threatens any relationship. It is a betrayal of trust to a party who has entrusted one's life to another. Marriage demands exclusivity by partners to each other. Infidelity, whether sexual or emotional, is a marriage killer. That is why the Bible admonishes us not to commit adultery.

Watery Wednesday: the Beauty of Hanauma Bay

2009-05-06T11:07:00.004-04:00

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, is one of the "must-see" places in the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Marine life lovers will enjoy snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of the bay where one can see up close (and actually touch, although you are not supposed to) fish of different kinds, shapes, colors and sizes. If you're lucky, you even get to swim along a giant turtle who happens to be within the vicinity.

Hanauma Bay has always been reveled for its beautiful, serene surroundings. It is home of the most colorful, unique marine life in the world.

Are You in Facebook?

2009-05-06T03:49:00.008-04:00

I just finished reading an interesting item in May 8's issue of The Week. This concerns social-networking and Facebook was used as the subject, probably because this is now today's more popular online networking site.

According to a research study conducted by Ohio State University, college students who use Facebook have lower grades overall than students who don't. Those who use the social-networking site have an average GPA of 3.0 to 3.5, and study from one to five hours per week. Kids who choose not to join Facebook seem to have a very different attitude toward school. These dedicated students have GPAs between 3.5 and 4.0 and study 10 to 15 hours each week.

Study authors say it's not necessarily that the use of Facebook itself lowers grades. It's more likely that kids who use Facebook are more social, more distractible, and less academically driven to begin with. About 85 percent of undergraduates now use Facebook, the study found.

What's your thought about this?

Weekend Snapshot: Sailing at Ala Wai Harbor

2009-05-03T14:27:00.013-04:00

Today is a beautiful day in Honolulu. The sun is up and the cool breeze make it a perfect day to go play in the waters. I see two, four, six, eight canoes getting out of the harbor just now and out in the sea. A couple of sailboats are getting ready, too.

weekend snapshot

Skywatch Friday: Blues on the Bay

2009-05-01T14:33:00.009-04:00

The Blue Angels is the flight demonstration team of the U.S. Navy. Here are a few pictures taken during the airshow at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay.

Thursday Challenge: Communication

2009-04-30T03:35:00.012-04:00

The "Shaka" sign is a common greeting, often associated with Hawaii. It consists of extending the thumb and smallest finger while keeping the three middle fingers curled, and raising the hand as in salutation with the back of the hand facing the person that is being greeted. Sometimes the hand is rotated back and forth to emphasize the sign.

Hawaiian locals use the shaka sign for various meanings like "all right", "cool", "hello", "goodbye", take care"; it also conveys what the locals call the "Aloha Spirit," a gesture of friendship and understanding. Oftentimes you can see a driver waving this sign as a gesture of thanks to other drivers who stopped to let him onto the road.

Watery Wednesday: North Shore

2009-04-29T12:24:00.007-04:00

The North Shore of Oahu is widely regarded as the surfing capital of the world. During the winter season, the beaches' giant waves attracts surfers from all over the world. Here you will see the top surfers riding some of the largest and most beautiful waves on the planet. During the summer months, although the waves are still big enough to do some surfing, most of the ocean turn placid and safe enough for swimming, snorkeling and diving. At Lanikea, you can see giant Hawaiian green turtles (honu) up close as they crawl ashore.

Happy Kids Become Happy Spouses

2009-04-28T16:33:00.018-04:00

A recent study conducted by psychologists at De Pauw University in Indiana showed that children who are happy, and who smile a lot, are more likely to grow up and have happy marriages. Interesting, huh?

The psychologists looked over several childhood photos of more than six hundred adults and then asked them about their marital histories. They found out that of those who were frequently photographed smiling, only 11% had ever been divorced. On the other hand, 31% of those who were often photographed frowning or very serious had failed marriages. People who rarely smiled in their childhood photos were 5 times more likely to get divorced than those who appeared happy.

The study said that frequent smiling probably indicates a happy, upbeat disposition, and that such "positive emotionality" repeatedly has been proved to produce happier lives. It may also be that "smiling people attract other happier people," leading "to a greater likelihood of a long-lasting marriage."

So, let's raise happy children to make this world a lot happier!

Weekend Snapshot: Banyan Tree at Hale Koa

2009-04-26T05:10:00.007-04:00

Banyan Tree at Hale Koa Hotel, Waikiki, Hawaii

weekend snapshot