Enya - Silent Night (in Irish) Christmas Lyrics

What ever you might be confronting this holiday season, may you find the peace of the season and hold it in your heart through the upcoming year. Whether you are a believer or not, the words are of love and peace and the beauty and warmth of a spiritual celebration..It is not in the giving of commerialized gifts, it is in the giving of yourself. May you find the true gifts of Christmas through the sharing of hearts...... a very early Merry Christmas.

Holidays

http://hicards.com/platinum/cards/decorate.html

By chance you have no one to decorate a tree with I invite you to join me in decorating a tree as we bring in the season with peace. My prayers go out to all those who find themself at a distance from love ones this season....and if you can stand it I'll even sing.....
My father enjoyed the holidays, it was a time of reprieve,not much different then taking a moment out from war to say a prayer. He would go all out decorating the house and tree and putting on music, it was a calm to an other wise stormy life.
Sometimes we re-wrapped things we had for Christmas gifts, it was just the satisfaction of opening a present. When I was married I so wanted the holiday excitement, my holidays consisted of friends who had become my family. I called them the chosen ones, not born to but brought together by fate.They had passed away all of them and I feel the emptiness at the holidays even with all the children I feel something missing. No matter how small the apartment was they would squeeze in for dinner and they made me feel as if my apartment was a castle. I so loved the spirit of the holidays, my husband was completely the opposite. He hated them, I was sure he was cousin to the scrooge or the grinch, not just the Christmas holiday he hated all holidays. His family was quite opposite of mine, they had and they wanted for nothing. Their house was filled with family and gifts that hit the ceiling, expensive decorations.
Each year I tried to be everything to the children , father, mother and I felt the pressure at the holiday to make things happen, to create positive memories. My husbands negativity was so strong that it left a impact, I felt sadness at the holidays instead of the joy of celebration. I would take the time to prepare meal, set the table with china and candle light, just before dinner was to be served he would disappear and the children and I would eat alone.
It brought back the first memory of Christmas as a married woman, I was nineteen years old and I was so looking forward to a christmas tree. Christmas Eve was approaching and I asked if we could get a tree, he responded with you don't need a tree" It midnight of Christmas eve and the house was so empty and I didnt drive and so I couldn't get to a store, I felt and emptiness I cried and cried... He said you are immature about this you don't need a Christmas tree. It wasn't just the tree, it was what holidays had come to mean to me, a release from the stress, a day of celebration, a religious connection, hope, faith and peace all in one. It was 2am maybe childish but I began to cry, and cry. He questioned when I would stop crying, I said when I have a tree.
Three am and he said stop it now I'll get you a damn tree and off he went to find a tree on christmas mornning .. he had found a homeless man burning the branches of a tree and he said how much for the tree and the homeless man said $50.00 he said that is highway robbery. The homeless man said do you see any other pine trees and , he said no. Then the homeless mans said $70.00 the price just went up... He said you were burning the tree anyways and he said yep and I'll continue to keep warm. He ended up paying 80.00 for a tree without to many branches. He dragged it in and I was so happy. I made popcorn decorations and those of paper, It was Christmas I had a tree in celebration.
There were many conflicts between us, and over the years I overlooked many of them, a few I could not and still have not been able to let go of..
What is Christmas? the celebration of Jesus and the kindness and joy of celebrating Jesuses birth. But it was also more it was peace in its ultimate moments. I have this angel that I had since I was a child, it was somehow misplaced over the last couple of years. She was my holiday companion, where I could tell all my secrets to.
So whispering this years secret, I am going to the farm and I am going to buy a short needled tree,even if the needles fall all over the house, I am going sing and dance and celebrate the holidays through the eyes of a child..... to all those who have someone to share the day with and to those who don't I wish you a very happy holiday this thanksgiving and all the way through the season.

The Art of a LIe

Honesty,the most important virtue at the top of the pyramid of Morales and yet we bend the rules of morality to soften the blows or to suit our own needs. Imagine a world where people were truly honest to self and the community, to love relationships, family, friends and children. The art of telling a lie is a learned behavior. Humor is found in the innocence of a child who speaks out without thought.
I looked into my world and my heartache and how difficult it is to handle. Truth allows for healing, lies keep a wound open.


It hurts and I don't know why....for if I am honest with myself .... I have always known the truth.

Mad TV - Commercials - Ecstasy

An ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

Drug abuse, we think of drug abuse as someone traveling to meet a seedy character and purchasing street drugs in an alley. Prescription and over the counter drugs are equally as dangerous to the chemistry of the brain. We live in a “fix it now world” we expect whatever ills us to be cured without a little work on our part. Becoming extremely common is the pills for everything from relationship break ups to financial stress. Kate is a student at the local university she had just broken up with her boyfriend and finding it hard to cope, found herself talking to her PCP, private physician. After leaving his office she had four prescriptions one for stomach which she couldn’t settle another for her depression, one for the headaches that were stress related and then for the all over anxiety another little white pill that is going to fix everything.
My goal in writing this is about awareness. There are medical conditions that need the attention of a medical provider and so I believe that people should seek help when they need it. We are becoming a world so dependent on prescription drugs. As I spoke with a physician who had become a friend of mine said “ if we are not prescribing, the patient is disappointed in not getting a prescription or a fix all.”
What is the alternative help for stress and depression? Learning how to cope in our fast paced world. In an alternative or complementary practice, alternative therapy would encompass discipline of the diet and exercise and mental conditioning and life style changes.
Consider that you have a headache and you could reach for the advil, instead you rub a little peppermint into your forehead, close your eyes for a few moments and relieve the headache naturally. Consider that your mildly depressed instead of running to your doctor
For medication, you put yourself first for a change and join the spa a couple days a week.
Consider the next time your in severe pain from a injury or arthritic condition that you try a little mind over matter therapy and subject yourself to a positive mental health atmosphere that will eliminate any negative energy.
Is it possible that we could be less dependent on drugs? It is key to self analyze ones own personality. Ask yourself what are your strengths and your weaknesses and how best to handle them?
My daughter was nine years old she was having migraines, not sure of what was causing the headaches I took her to the doctors. The doctor confirmed they were migraines and prescribed a mild anti depressant and a Nasonex spray. I over road his decision to give her medication and started to chart her headaches, when did they occur? What did she eat?and looked for a pattern and then worked to overcome the headaches naturally.

Is and alterative suitable for everyone? No! it takes self discipline and a little control over ones own life to bring the spirit to a happy medium. Are we all capable? Indeed working with self to improve self is possible for everyone. My very favorite of all quotes, which I had adhered to in life for almost everything from financial to my physical being, is that “ an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”

In 2000, 43 percent of those who ended up in hospital emergency rooms from drug overdoses-nearly a half million people-were there because of misusing prescription drugs.Source: SAMHSA
In 2001, 36 million Americans (16 percent of persons aged 12 or older) had used prescription-type drugs nonmedically at least once in their lifetime. This included 9.6 million persons (18 percent) aged 12 to 25. In 2001, almost 3 million youths aged 12 to 17 (12 percent) and almost 7 million young adults aged 18 to 25 (23 percent) had used prescription-type drugs nonmedically at least once in their lifetime.
The annual number of new users of pain relievers has been increasing since the mid-1980's, from about 400,000 initiates to 2 million in 2000.Source: NHSDA
The DEA has budgeted $6.3 million to fight illegal online pharmacies this yea
A few commonly abused prescription drugs
In the United States, the Controlled Substances Act divides drugs and medications into five schedules dependent on their potential for abuse. The list below contains many, but not all, commonly abused prescription medications:
Schedule I (high potential for abuse, has no accepted medical use in the U.S. and lack of safety for use under medical supervision)
Schedule II (high potential for abuse, has a currently accepted medical use, may lead to severe physical dependence or addiction)
Alfentanil (Alfenta)Amobarbital (Amytal, Tuinal)Amphetamine (Dexedrine, Biphetamine, Adderall, Obetrol)CodeineDihydrocodeine (Didrate, Parzone)Fentanyl (Duragesic, Sublimaze, Innovar)Glutethimide (Doriden, Dorimide)Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)Levomethadyl (ORLAAM)Levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran)Marinol (Dronabinol)Methadone (Dolophine, Amidone, Methadose)
Methamphetamine (Desoxyn)Methylphenidate (Ritalin)Mepridine (Demorol, Mepergan)Morphine (MS Contin, Oramorph, Duramorph, Roxanol)Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percodan, Percocet, Tylox, Roxicodone)Oxymorphone (Numorphan)Pentobarbital (Nembutal)Phendimetrazine (Preludin)Secobarbital (Seconal, Tuinal)Sufentanil (Sufenta)

Schedule III (has a potential for abuse less than Schedule I or II, has a currently accepted medical use, may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or addiction)
Amobarbital compoundsAnabolic SteroidsBenzphetamine (Didrex, Inapetyl)Boldenone (Equipoise, Parenabol, Vebonol)Buprenorphine (Buprenex, Temgesic)Hydrocodone 15 mg/du (Tussionex, Tussend, Lortab, Vicodin, Hycodan, Anexsia)
Ketamine (Ketaset, Ketalar)Methyltesosterone (Android, Oreton, Testred, Virilon)Opium 25 mg/du (Paregoric)Phendimetrazine (Plegine, Prelu-2, Bontril, Melfiat, Statobex

Prescription Drugs
1 2 3 4

Schedule IV (has a potential for abuse less than Schedule III, has a currently accepted medical use, may lead to limited physical dependence or addiction)
Alprazolam (Xanax)Chloral Hydrate (Noctec)Chlordiazepoxide (Librium, Libritabs, Limbitrol)Clonazepam (Klonopin, Clonopin)Dextropropoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet, Dolene, Propacet)Diazepam (Valium, Valrelease)Estazolam (ProSom, Domnamid, Eurodin, Nuctalon)Ethchlorvynol (Placidyl)Ethinamate (Valmid, Valamin)Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol, Narcozep, Darkene, Roipnol)Flurazepam (Dalmane)
Lorazepam (Ativan)
Maxindol (Sanorex, Maxanor)Meprobamate (Miltown, Equanil, Deprol, Equagesic, Meprospan)Modanafinil (Provigil)Oxazepam (Serax, Serenid-D)Oxazolam (Serenal, Convertal)Pentazocine (Talwin, Talacen)Quazepam (Doral, Dormalin)Sibutramine (Meridia)Temazepam (Restoril)Triazolam (Halcion)Zaleplon (Sonata)Zolpidem (Ambien, Stilnoct, Ivadal)
I was working out a the gym and a sign posted on the wall it said take control of your life become physically fit. Becoming physically fit is as important as becoming emotionally fit. Taking back the reigns of control from society to self will bring a balance with the world around you.

They Call the Wind Mariah

In honor of my sister.. the chill of the season brings fond memories of the cold late nights and times long gone. My sister had a voice that put canaries to shame. Soft and filled with love, one of her favorite songs to sing was Mariah. Though this verson does no justice to the soothing song of the nights that blocked out the
violence that we were accustomed to hearing. To my dear sister who sings with the angels........ one lives less we forget.

School Shootings

School shootings are they a sign of the times. There are several major factors involved in the rise of violent episodes on a larger scale. There are social and economical changes and the morale breakdown of society as we know it. There are countries where atheism is the norm and yet you don't see such a high rise in violence, so this would say that religion alone or the lack of it is not totally responsible for the high profile cases of school and group shootings. This would lead us to believe that it is many factors that lead to such social destruction. One of the major changes and I see that in my own children's school is the mainstreaming of violent, mentally ill and physically challenged children into to public school system. Separating children is sometimes necessary for the safety of both challenged children and those who can perform to the social norm.
Fear has been used to control the huge populace of people for many years. A small amount of fear is equated to a conscience, without it there is no consequence. I believe we are treading on the rights of a few, that we have extinguished the rights of many for a safe place to educate our children. We cannot instill in children what should be instilled from the parents before school age.
The worst about the changing taking place is we cannot go back, which only leads us to go forward. Can we stop the escalation of crime, drugs, mental health issues? Where should the responsibility lay? If a system is not working, who will stand up to the government to force change? Who in the government will listen to the people? How many more children will die needlessly? Where is the common sense factor? Can a simple test alert caregivers and schools to those who are most likely to become violent? Is it discrimination to separate the mental healthy from the mentally ill? Whose life is most valuable? If the bird kicks a sick baby out of the nest should we try to save it?

It is very chilling to read the loss of innocence, my prayers to all those involved.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/10/national/main3353024.shtml
(CBS/AP) A 14-year-old suspended student opened fire in a downtown high school Wednesday before killing himself, and five people were taken to hospitals, authorities said. After the shooting, shaken teens called their parents on cell phones, most to reassure but in at least one case with terrifying news: "Mom, I got shot." Mayor Frank Jackson said the three teens and two adults were hurt. He said the children were in "stable, good condition," and the adults were in "a little elevated condition."

If it's a sign of the times, what a sad sign it is.