Footprints That Run Deep

I saw this on my Tumblr. Thought it was pretty amazing myself, so I had to share...

70 year-old Buddhist monk Hua Chi has been praying in the same spot at his temple in Tongren, China for over 20 years. His footprints, which are up to 1.2 inches deep in some areas, are the result of performing his prayers up to 3000 times a day. Now that he is 70, he says that he has greatly reduced his quantity of prayers to 1,000 times each day.

The footprints have become a source of inspiration to younger monks at the temple. “Every day I come here and every day I look at the piece of wood, and it has inspired me to continue to make the footprints myself,” Genden Darji, a 29 year-old monk in the monastery, notes.

My Favorite "Keep Calm..."

"A Dog's Purpose" by W. Bruce Cameron

A while ago I read this "tail-wagging" novel with the real insights to in the world of a K9 friend, told in a touching, doggy first-person. The story tells about a dog's life and the new lifes he starts when he/she is reborn. All the same dog, but this animal questions why the reborn-again, and if it completed it's life's purpose.

This pup is first Toby, a small puppy of 4 to Mother where they are rescued by the local dog lovers (without a license to rescue), and unfortunately ends up being euthanized. He is reborn as Bailey, a golden retriever puppy who spends most of his life running around on a farm in the summer and playing with his new human family. He passes away feeling like he fufilled a purpose for that family. The he is reborn as the German Shephred Ellie, yes a female, which confuses the former Bailey. She is trained as a search and rescue dog and saves many lives. But he is last reborn as Buddy, a black lab, where he finds his old master when he was Bailey, but old and gray. It isn't till Buddy is reborn, that he finds his purpose of life.

If you're a pet-lover like me, you will laugh out loud and have tears drip down your cheeks. I really enjoyed reading this dog-loving book.

"Finally, a fictional dog who is a real dog! Anyone who has ever loved a dog needs to read this wise, touching, often hilarious book. Bailey, the narrator, tells the absolute dog truth about how intuitive your dog is, how profoundly your dog loves you (and how very much they love to roll in road kill, and how puzzled they are that you don't love it, too). Most importantly, this book allows the reader to intimately experience a genuine dog's eye view of the bond between dogs and humans, and how nothing, not even death, can ever end that bond."--Dr. Marty Becker, Resident Veterinarian on Good Morning America and the Dr. Oz Show

RIP My Little Man Stitch

Back when I started college and moved out into my first apartment (gawd, like 2002/2003) I came across this little dude at the local Petco. At that same time, Jennifer Lopez (yes, the famous star) had bought a gray chinchilla fur coat. So because of her shopping spree, I bought this young chinchilla... to SAVE him!

It was interesting adjusting to the new critter, and especially since I've never been a chinchilla owner before. But it came pretty easy! I don't know how many hours I went all over the Internet researching. When I took him home he was all set up with his cage, food, bedding, chew blocks, jumping ledges, water dispenser, roll-a-round ball, dust bowl, and of course treaties!

(That's my lil old guy and he's buddy Ginger)

He lived with me at the apartment, and then when I moved to my aunt's house, and then I had to move him to my parents house (because I ended up being somewhat allergic to him lol), where he spent most of his years... in a 3 story cage the size of my tall dresser! I had to make sure had a mansion when I moved him there!

The past couple years, he's lived outside under the patio, enjoying his "old man" years. As he turned more and more gray, time was settling in on him and he wasn't as active as he once was. Yet he still would be very excited for his banana-chip treat (hell ANY treat for that matter, lil piggy), and every time it was "dust-bath time!" 

However, this last weekend's heat wave was a little too much for him. We brought him into the house, but things weren't looking too good for the little man. He wasn't up to eating, drinking, not even moving/bouncing around. My brain knew it was only a matter of time, but my heart wasn't ready to let go. Yesterday I went to work in the morning after saying a hopeful "see you later" to him, but I hope in the last little bit of his time he just went to sleep dreaming of dust baths and rolling around in his ball.

I'm just glad I got to be with him during these last days.

I'll always love you Stitch & I'll always miss you lil man.

Rest in peace Stitchy-Poo.

Word of the Day 9/28/2010

Eternize (verb)
1a: to make eternal b: to prolong indefinitely
2: immortalize

Examples: The poet with her pen eternizes what is fleeting in the world.

"Today, almost a century after her death, Ida Saxton McKinley has been eternized as a representative of all American first ladies at her Canton home." -- From an article by Michael Schuman in the Chicago Tribune, April 25, 2004

Did You Know?: "Eternize" shows up in the works of literary greats, such as John Milton, Edmund Spenser, and Herman Melville, and it sees occasional use in modern-day sources, but it is far from common. The same can be said of its slightly longer and related synonym "eternalize." "Eternize" is the older of the two; our earliest evidence of the word dates to 1566, while evidence of "eternalize" dates to 1620. But there's a third relative that predates them both, and it's far more common than either of them. That would be "eternal," which has been with us since the 14th century. All three words are ultimately rooted in Latin "aevum," meaning "age" or "eternity."

Merriam-Webster Word of the Day

You Know What I Miss....

These bad boys... Caramel Macchiatos

Gawd how I miss you guys!

OH! HAPPY 200th POST HAPPA!

Thanks Squarepants...

Word of the Day 9/27/2010

Rectilinear (adjective)

1: moving in or forming a straight line
2: characterized by straight lines

Examples: Maps of rectilinear states like Colorado and Utah are much easier to draw freehand than those of states with jagged outlines.

"The four-story structure extends the original 1907 Beaux Arts building's low profile but dispenses with the neo-Classical columns, capitals, entablatures and whatnot in favor of severe, rectilinear blocks: a central glass atrium -- 12,184 square feet under a 63-foot ceiling -- flanked by granite and glass pavilions containing 53 galleries." -- From an article by Ken Johnson in The New York Times, September 12, 2010

Did You Know?: Today’s word has a straightforward line of descent. It comes from the Late Latin "rectilineus," which itself comes from the Latin words "rectus" ("straight") and "linea" ("line"). A lesser-known variant, "rectilineal," derives from the same Late Latin "rectilineus" and employs the "-al" suffix rather than "-ar." The grammarian H. W. Fowler dictated in 1926 that "there is no objection to either [variant] in itself, but '-ar' is so much commoner that, as there is no difference of meaning, '-al' should be abandoned as a needless variant." "Rectilineal" still turns up occasionally in spite of the redundancy, but "rectilinear" is by far the more common choice.

Merriam-Webster Word of the Day

Hearts are Like Deep Wells

"I sometimes think that people’s hearts are like deep wells. Nobody knows what’s at the bottom. All you can do is imagine by what comes floating to the surface every once in a while."

- Haruki Murakami

Mother's Day Today

While sending myself some flowers, I thought to send my mother a pot as well. She's always been there for me and I wanted her to know I appreciate her, more than just on Mother's Day.

So I sent her these beauties.

This was my note inside:

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ME INTO THIS WORLD.

THANK YOU FOR RAISING ME.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME CRY ON YOUR SHOULDER.

THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME.

THANK YOU FOR BEING MY MOM!

I LOVE YOU!

So this morning they got to her work, and she called me up crying (happy tears of course) saying "You mad me CRY!" Always a good response to hear after sending a love-one flowers.

It wasn't much, but I'm thankful for my Mom (as you can see)

It was just too bad they had a letter limit on the card!

Word of the Day 9/23/2010

Reminisce (adjective): to indulge in the process or practice of thinking or telling about past experiences

Examples: She reminisced with old friends at her high school reunion.

"He reminisced about his grandma in the kitchen, early in the morning, stirring up her Cuban specialties and he would awake with his mouth watering to the aroma of her delicious cooking." -- From an article by Diann Greene in Georgia's Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, September 8, 2010

Did You Know?: "Reminisce" and its relative "reminiscence" come from the mind -- that is to say, they come from the Latin word for "mind," which is "mens." A root related to "mens" teamed up with the prefix "re-" to create the Latin verb "reminisci" ("to remember"), an ancestor of both words. "Reminisce" is one of several English verbs starting with "re-" that mean "to bring an image or idea from the past into the mind." Others in this group include "remember," "recall," "remind," and "recollect." "Reminisce" distinguishes itself from the others by implying a casual recalling of experiences long past, often with a sense of nostalgia as in our example sentences.

(I know this word already, but I still love to reminisce about a lot of thing, just thought it was fitting for me right now.)

Merriam-Webster Word of the Day

Today is the "Official" First Day of Fall!

I simply LOVE this season, and the holidays that follow behind. Rain, beautiful colors, brisk air! I can’t wait for pea coats, and boot heels, scarves, little beanies, and of course the Fall fashion!

So happy Autumn everyone!

Let's play in the pile of leaves!

Word of the Day 9/22/2010

Permeable (adjective): capable of being permeated : penetrable; especially : having pores or openings that permit liquids or gases to pass through

Examples: The best workout clothes are those made of permeable fabrics that allow body heat to escape.

"The county is under a federal consent order to stop the overflows using green infrastructure, such as rain barrels and permeable pavement, rather than build expensive sewage storage facilities." -- From The Post Standard (Syracuse, NY), September 7, 2010

Did You Know?: Synonyms "permeable" and "pervious" both make good use of the Latin prefix "per-," meaning "through" "Permeate" traces back to a combination of "per-" and the Latin verb "meare," meaning "to go" or "to pass," whereas the history of "pervious" calls upon Latin "via," meaning "way." Both "permeable" and its more common relative, the verb "permeate," still retain the original Latin idea of "passing through." The prefix "per-" also gave English "pervade," meaning "to become diffused throughout every part of." "Meare" also has other English descendants, including "congé," which can mean "a formal permission to depart," and "irremeable," meaning "offering no possibility of return."

Merriam-Webster Word of the Day

Word of the Day 9/21/2010

Caravansary (noun)

1: an inn surrounding a court in eastern countries where caravans rest at night
2: hotel, inn

Examples: Most of the area's hotels are on the pricey end of the scale, but there are a few caravansaries for budget travelers.

"Dedan was an important caravansary on the Incense Road, the network of ancient trading routes that linked Persia and India with the Mediterranean world." -- From an article by Jorg von Uthmann in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 28, 2010

Did you know?: In the Middle East, caravans often lodged at caravansaries. These inns were quadrangular in form and enclosed by massive walls with small windows near the top. The central court, which was surrounded by an arcade and storerooms, was large enough to hold 300 to 400 camels. The name was formed from the word "caravan" and the Persian word "sarāī," meaning "palace" or "inn." "Caravansary" can also be spelled "caravanserai," and the word "serai" is used as a synonym for it.

Merriam-Webster Word of the Day

Gumball Anyone?

Today From the Daily What:

Big-Ass Candy Dispenser of the Day:
“The 14,450 Gumball Machine”
from Hammacher Schlemmer.

This 7-foot-tall gumball machine may seem like an ill-advised way to spend $3,900, but consider this: IT’S A 7-FOOT-TALL GUMBALL MACHINE!

... I rest my case.


Pretty much amazing.

Receiving Flowers...

Yup! Got 'em at lunch time!

It must be a flower gettin' day,

because my coworker also got a basket of flowers!

Sending Flowers...

... I'm thinking about sending flowers to myself :)

HA! & I just did!

Word of the Day 9/20/2010

Plaintive (adjective): expressive of suffering or woe : melancholy

Example: We could hear the plaintive cry of a wounded animal in the woods.

"The new album's got a timelessness to it, as Bondy pulls you in with tersely plaintive yarns of hard luck in the big, bad world, the predictability of loneliness and the faint promise of redemption." -- From a music review by John Payne in the Houston Press, August 12, 2010

Did You Know?: Like its relative "plangent," "plaintive" is often used to describe sad sounds. "A plaintive wail," for example, is a common use. "Plaintive" and "plangent" (along with relatives "plaintiff" and "complain") ultimately derive from the Latin verb "plangere," meaning "to strike," "to beat one's breast," or "to lament." This Latin verb led to "plaint," an Anglo-French word (and now also an English word) meaning "lamentation." "Plaint" is the root of Middle English "plaintif" (meaning "lamenting" or "complaining"), which gave rise to "plaintive" as well as the noun "plaintiff."

Merriam-Webster Word of the Day

Thanks Gaga...

"Love is like a mirror. You can fix it when it's broken. That is true. But you can still see the crack in the motherf*cking reflection." - Lady Gaga

Drumstick Ice Cream

Now I don't mean the Nestle Drumsticks...

I meant Dreyer's Ice Cream, flavor: Nestle Drumsticks!

I found it at Stater Brothers, but I'm sure they're around other major grocery stores. Not gonna lie, I about needed a mop-up on isle 5 due to my tears of happiness and drooling! (jk!)

There was Drumstick, Mud Pies, and S'mores!! All right next to each other!

And of course as soon as I got home I had a bowl, and it tastes just like the original drumsticks. So I'll enjoy this tub of goodness and then go back to the original drumsticks later.

Words from Marilyn

Thanks Monroe...

"She was a girl who knew how to be happy even when she was sad. And that's important - you know."

“No matter what, you’re going to mess up sometimes. It’s a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you’re going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends- they’ll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, some go. The ones that stay with you through everything- they’re your true best friends. Don’t let go of them. Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world. As for lovers, well, they’ll come and go too. And babe, I hate to say it, most of them- actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can’t give up because if you give up, you’ll never find your soul mate. You’ll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything. Just because you fail once, doesn’t mean you’re going to fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don’t, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life’s a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.”

Pamper Me FABULOUS!

Hello Gorgeous! It's that time of year again for

Yes.... Pamper Me Fabulous!

Pamper Me Fabulous: the oh-so-chic spa, beauty, and health & wellness event for women by women about women!

Pamper Me Fabulous brings together all the things you and your girlfriends love. Take a break from the stresses of life to be enlightened by experts in the "Expert Corner", luxuriate in mini beauty and spa services from the best spas and salons, shop for "it" products and other must-haves, taste gourmet sweets in The Sweets Cafe and score a swag bag all under one swanky roof.

(If all this "getting" is overwhelming, remember that you'll be "giving" too! Ten percent of all ticket sales to the event benefit Step Up Women's Network.)

This time it's in Huntington Beach (down the PCH for me!)
Sunday, October 10, 2010
11:00am-5:00pm
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, Huntington Beach

Included in your Ticket Price:
■Partake in spa and beauty services - massages, manicures, facials, lash extensions, hair styling and cuts from the best spa and beauty salons

■Discover and experience new products and luxe must-have products

■Attend pro-led breakouts covering topics from fashion, beauty to health & wellness at the EXPERT CORNER

■Get retail therapy in the Fabulous Finds Bazaar

■Enjoy bubbly and free flowing drinks

■The Desserts Cafe

■Raffles with several chances to win fabulous prizes

■Most importantly, a good time out with family, girlfriends, family and colleagues!

You can also catch them on Facebook and Twitter

There's so much to enjoy and to experience at the PMF! I myself had a 20 minute massage and got a quick fresh cut & style for my hair! But they have eyelash extensions, facials, champagne tasting, you name it! Ohhh and let's talk Swag Bag! You HAVE to grab the swag bag once you're pampered up!

This was last years PMF:

Bottom line: I WANNA GO! So who else is down to go?
Right now it's $25 for general ticket, and $40 for general with swag bag!

Word of the Day 9/15/2010

Antecessor (noun): one that goes before

Examples: Literary critics hailed the first novel as a brilliant and groundbreaking follow-up to famous antecessors in the genre.

"The relentless show-biz blitz by Gov. Bill Richardson, and all the movie- and TV-shooting it's brought to our state, will be a big part of his legend…. Before Richardson's initiative, antecessor Dave Cargo was beckoning to Beverly Hills." -- From an editorial in the Santa Fe New Mexican, July 25, 2009

Did You Know?: "Antecessor" may remind you of "predecessor," its synonymous and more familiar cousin -- and there's a good reason for that. Both words ultimately derive from the Latin verb "cedere," meaning "to go." "Antecessor" ultimately derives from a combination of "cedere" and the Latin prefix "ante-," meaning "before." "Predecessor" traces back to a different Latin prefix, "prae-," which also means "before," combined with "decessor," a "cedere" descendant meaning "retiring governor." Cedere" has many other descendants in English, including "decease," "necessary," and "succeed." Descendants of both "ante-" and "cedere" include "antecedent," "ancestor," and the verb "antecede," a synonym of "precede."

Merriam-Webster Word of the Day

Word of the Day 9/14/2010

Countermand (verb)
1: to revoke (a command) by a contrary order
2: to recall or order back by a superseding contrary order

Example: "From around the world, postcards poured in to then-U.S. Attorney Paul Charlton's office demanding that he countermand the order to prosecute." (Stephen Lemons, Phoenix New Times, February 25, 2010)

Did You Know?: In the military, one's mandate is to follow the commands (and sometimes the "countermands") of the officers. Doing their bidding is not particularly commendable -- it's simply mandatory. The Latin verb "mandare," meaning "to entrust" or "to order," is the authority behind "countermand." It's also behind the words "mandate," "command," "demand," "commend" (which can mean "to entrust" as well as "to praise"), and "mandatory." "Countermand" came to English via Anglo French, where the prefix "cuntre-" ("against") was combined with the verb "mander" ("to command"). It has been a part of our language since the 1400s.

Merriam-Webster Word of the Day

Anyone need some Courage?

Thought this was cute and silly, but we know some people that might need a bit more of courage, or passion, or even honesty... that person you know might just be you too.

Sweets for the Sweet!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries!!!

Ingredients:
16 ounces milk chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
1 pound fresh strawberries with leaves

Directions:
Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Holding them by the toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture. Turn the strawberries upside down and insert the toothpick into styrofoam for the chocolate to cool.

Or you could get fancy with the orange & black colored-chocolate for Halloween that's coming up! I seriously might do this!

Vanna's Choice Yarn

I was at Michael's the other day, and I thought this was funny, because I loved her when I was kid watching Wheel of Fortune.

Lion Brand Yarn introduces Vanna's Choice Yarn! Vanna White, America's favorite crocheter and Lion Brand's spokesperson for over 14 years, introduces Vanna's Choice®, an easy-care, silky-soft premium basic available in a range of beautiful, expertly-coordinated shades. Lion Brand says the yarn that bears her name and her picture, Vanna's Choice, is "as warm, inviting and beautiful as the much-loved celebrity."

Got this from About.com:

Specifications:
•Content: 100 percent acrylic
•Yarn Weight: Medium
•Gauge: 16 stitches and 22 rows per four inches on size 9 US needles (the ball band and my swatch agree)
•Yardage: 170 yards
•Color Availability: 23 solids and 5 prints, all designed to coordinate. The palette is heavy on pinks, blues and browns
•Color Used in Swatch: 105 Silver Blue

Knitting:
Vanna's Choice is a lot softer than you'd expect an acrylic yarn to be. It's slightly fuzzy, and this "halo" increases slightly after washing. The stitches, which were very even, seemed to open up a little bit after washing as well.
The yarn did not split much at all and was very easy to work with even when not paying attention to what I was doing. The fabric is smooth and even.
It curled quite a bit in stockinette stitch, but a quick wet down and stretching it onto a towel took a lot of it out. A more focused blocking likely would make the sides even smoother.

Uses for Vanna's Choice:
Vanna's Choice is a good, inexpensive choice for all sorts of projects where you want to combine durability (and washability) with a nice look and feel.
It would be good for baby clothing and other accessories for baby's room, as well as other projects for the home. The easy-mixing color palette will make it a popular choice for afghans, throws and picnic blankets.

Care of Vanna's Choice:
The yarn is machine washable in warm water and also machine dryable, making it a great pick for things that will need to be laundered regularly.
Because this is an acrylic yarn, it should not be ironed.

Bottom Line:
Vanna's Choice is a good addition to the Lion Brand line. It is easy to work with, comes in an array of nice colors, is soft and easy to care for.
If you think you don't like working with acrylic yarn, you might want to give Vanna's Choice a try. And if you are a fan of these inexpensive and easy yarns, this one might just become a new favorite.

I bought this book because the 10 little amigurumi animals will capture your heart, like it did mine! There's an elephant, hippo, monkey, giraffe, alligator, lion, seal, walrus, penguin, and snowy owl. Sizes range from 4" to 8" tall. They're all just too cute!! I hope to start with the seal and the hippo!

Word of the Day 9/13/2010

Flounder (verb)
1: to struggle to move or obtain footing : thrash about wildly
2: to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually

Example: I'm not so sure they actually know what they are doing. They appear just to be floundering about.

Did You Know?: Despite the fact that "flounder" is a relatively common English verb, its origins in the language remain obscure. It is thought that it may be an alteration of an older verb, "founder." To founder is to become disabled, to give way or collapse, or to come to grief or fail. In the case of a waterborne vessel, to founder is to sink. The oldest of these senses of "founder," "to become disabled," was also used, particularly in reference to a horse and its rider, for the act of stumbling violently or collapsing. It may have been this sense of "founder" that, some 200 years later, appeared in altered form as "flounder" in the sense of "to stumble."

Merriam-Webster Word of the Day

LHHS Band Camp 2010

I know I've been "MIA" from the blogging world for a while now, and here's the reason:

Laguna Hills High School Band Camp

('nough said right?)

For those who might not know what band camp is all about (besides what American Pie has told you about it) Laguna's band camp is two weeks long, a couple weeks before school starts. Every student who is in the band, percussion, and color guard come together 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. This is where the freshmen learn the basics and all the skills they'll need to help their core succeed and win top places at tournaments/competitions. Us instructors also begin teaching their field show and introducing the freshmen to the world of the football fields... and yes, everyday us instructors had to kick the football players off the field during our scheduled rehearsal. Not only is this hard work (on everybody including us staff), but it's a great bonding experience for the team and the whole band as a core.


So yes, I have the sports bra/tank top, sunglasses, flip flop, necklaces, and a faint sock tan from all the time we spent under that August sun. My car is full of empty SmartWater bottles, and wrappers from Subway and Togo's! (great lunch I know lol)

This fall year's color guard is 15 members (10 of them being freshmen). There isn't a better group of young ladies to work with. Yes they are high school crazies, and chatter-boxes, but they work extremely hard and they put up with my crap!


Now the unfortunate part of this years BC was that Annette (head instructor for our guard) was going to be on vacation for the most part of it. So 5 out of the 9 day "boot camp" I was to teach (keep in line) the girls. It was hard work doing it alone, but I made it work!


The best (and most rewarding) part of BC is the "Parent Performance" on the last day. This mini performance is just to show the student's family and friends what they've been working so hard on for the past two weeks. After the show, the Band Boosters put together a giant potluck for everyone to eat, which itself is pretty awesome.

I think it's going to be a great season for everyone, and I know those girls will do great!!