Scrooge Need Not Apply

It's a scam. They are just lazy. They will just use the money for drugs/liquor. Sound familiar? This time of year it seems to scream louder but it is a sentiment that seems to be there year round. The moment someone is approached by someone needing help there is a great deal of skepticism and sometimes false accusations that occur quite unfairly.

Oh, I'm in agreement that there are those who do have quite the tall tale, but I'm human enough to know that most people in need are genuinely in need. So during this time of year when we see more families in need of food, shelter, clothing, and a Yule experience let us all think about our own journey first before we pass judgment. Was there a time we needed help? A time we struggled?

Keep this thought throughout the year, and perhaps we will change the world. Anora

99% Support-Not just for the holidays

We've all been following the local occupy groups in various cities and it is my hopes that we are all supporting the changes that need to occur. It is my hopes that we as citizens would understand that this is a life time change, and that includes our own shopping needs. It is the time of year that most of us are hustling and bustling to the stores and malls to get the latest cool toy, clothing, jewelry, and so forth for our children, significant other, or family. It is time to turn that shopping habit around and start buying from local vendors and artisans. There are many websites that host local artisans, and it is quite easy to start shopping local stores for the next the gift. This turns the revenue away from large corporations and sweat shops towards local residents and communities. I know from personal experience that it is easy to sit back and say "Well, it's cheaper", but is the decision to buy from large corporations really all together less expensive? Not really. Though in price it very well may be cheaper to by that $2.00 waffle maker but in order to have a price that low it means that people such as yourself in another country spent hours making them at low wages, and living in cramped apartments to do so. It just doesn't make the gift that nice when one begins to think about just how that item came into existence. Some of the most memorable gifts I received as a child were home-made. A home made wooden barbie doll set which included a dresser, closet, bed, and rocking chair. A hand-made baby doll complete with a dozen hand-made outfits. Do not think that children do not appreciate the home made gifts! Most of the special memories are about the experience, not how many of the latest gadgets they received. This is also a change that has to occur for a life time. It is not just limited to the holiday season. The more we as consumers support our local artisans and vendors the more we empower our communities and discourage the larger corporations. So make your life style change this holiday season, but keep it for a life time. Anora

Prayers to Joplin, MO

Our prayers and thoughts are with the people of Joplin, MO who suffered at the hands of mother nature. In doing some browsing I did see that there was a Joplin Survivors page listed on Facebook. Please check it out, and pass it along to help others.

Namaste-Anora

Carrot-More than eye sight

Carrot-Fertility, Lust. Women should eat the seeds to become pregnant. Eat carrots to promote lust and cure impotence. And we thought it was just good for eye sight. : )

Significant Others

Don't treat your significant other as insignificant or they just might become so. It's very easy for us to come home from a bad day at work, school, or just our travels about the town and take it out on the spouse. It's very easy for us to sling our clothing about the clean bathroom without so much as noticing that the toothpaste stain we left that morning is now gone. It takes focus to realize that your clothes are not magically transporting themselves to the cleaning bin, the drawer, or the closet. It takes focus to notice that significant other is taking care of things when you are out and about doing business as usual. It takes a few moments to let them know you appreciate their hard work, to pick up after yourself, to lend a helping hand in the day to day running of the home that you occupy as well. Living with another is never just about one person.

Happy Administrative Professionals Day

Happy Administrative Professionals Day! Be sure to tell your Administrative Professionals how much you appreciate all their hard work! (Even if you run a home business, don't forget to thank the person who helps you. )

You alone are responsible

You alone are responsible for the choices you make, the feelings you experience, and the manner in which you handle them. When you hide from your own nature you are like a man who refuses to fix his water bucket and blames the water for leaving the bucket.