Dear wet 39-degree misery in Illinois,

Ha, ha. Ashley chose to spend Thanksgiving break with me instead of you. Gee, wonder why?

P.S., suck it.

Love,
Sunny 76-degree cloudless blue sky jubilation in Scottsdale

To all my American friends, I wish you a Happy and Peaceful Thanksgiving.

‘A few Zzzzzs’

Please know you have profoundly helped me grow to who I am today (I hope that’s not a bad thing!). I apologize off the bat for the bad grammar. This is a very stream of consciousness letter. I am thankful for so many people this is going to sound like an acceptance speech. If only I had an award to go with it!For some reason, I feel more thankful than ever. Going through a transformation of sorts puts everything in perspective. When I lost my job this past June, I would have never guessed I would have felt more alive and have met some of the most amazing people. I never dreamed I would be on television/radio and also have a blog, which has had to date over 15,000 hits. I am grateful for EVERYONE who visits day after day!

Thank you for following the journey.

If I could tell you one thing –change the world. Go out and make a difference. Stand up for what you believe in. Change someone’s life. We all have amazing stories to tell. Share them.

My blog wouldn’t have gotten off the ground without a few people. My publicist, George, whose idea it was to really go forward and create the blog. He always has a way of staying positive. A special thanks to ALL the people I have interviewed thus far: the wonderful Marti C., single-licious Melissa B, exceptional Jerry Mitchell, incredible forced to be reckoned with Frenchie Davis, life changing activities Ryan Janek Wolowski and Randy Wicker, and uber talents Richard and Dana. Elisa, Will, Angelo and Renee thank you for one point or another for being my camera bitch! There are many more people, so I apologize if I have forgotten you.

Liz S, you are an amazing woman who constantly gives me the chance to do what I love! You always astound me by the types of events you have me cover. Thank you for taking a chance with me!
Julie H. you have such an amazing heart. I never thought in a million years I would be on the Pat Field website! You have really made my year. You see things in me that I have overlooked. I can’t thank you enough for the dream come true it has been and will keep continuing!
Meagan H. – WE WILL GET KATHY!! You are such a joy to know and you never make my crazy idea is well…crazy! You are a great visionary at what you do!

My family has always been my rock. A special shout out to my relatives in PA, who are not only amazing, but I am so blessed to have reconnected with them on Facebook. Though sometimes we seem miles apart, BENNINGTONS know we are NEVER that far. Thanks guys for all the kick ass support!

My other “family” -my friends who have seen my light and my dark, I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to see each of you grow and become individuals who make me proud in the way you contribute and choices you make. Each of you has such a special gift. I truly love you all and you have been a place to look for advice, support and unconditional love. You have no clue how much I value all of you (though sometimes my sarcasm may make it seem otherwise)

My Old Tappan friends, it’s been a while but let me know when you’re around the NYC/NJ area. For me to see us all grown up seems a little freaky! It was only yesterday we were singing to Mr. Boscia’s music, seeing Mr. Rossi throw a desk, cutting class, going to the prom. Now some of you have your own families. Keep me in your heart, as I do with you.

Wagner College gave me amazing inspiration to find myself and meet professors and life-long friends who inspire me daily. There are many ways you can gain an education as I learned in my years at Wager!

Thanks to all the RENT friends I have made. Measure in love. We can always be grateful for Jonathan Larson’s lasting treasure. Thanks for all the RENT road trips!

Thank you, all the new friends I have made. I look forward to knowing you more and more (that DOES sound kind of creepy)

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE WHO INSPIRE!

This year, remember those who are not as blessed and keep them in your thoughts and prayers. It’s important for us –as teachers, friends, parents, lovers, brothers, sisters,-you name it, to go out there and make a difference. Anything small can help. We can be the change.

Please have a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving this year.

The best is yet to come,

Neal B
www.nealbinnyc.wordpress.com

sunshine

gara suka bgt moto matahar benq sayangku(kamera digital) sempet koma tapi liat ini foto aku suka geleng geleng kepala dan bilang ini bensaya yang foto kok keren bgt yah.

It’s been a quiet week… trying not to spend too much money, but failing miserably!  Highlights include watching New Moon, drinking wine with Katie, visiting Browns Bay and meeting Twat the cat and the pukekos, having my haircut and dyed and getting 100% in my exam!  Lowlights would be having a dodgy bike pump, a broken inner tube valve, having a flat tyre since Monday, trying to get to the bike shops walking all the way to the bus stop to discover that all the bus drivers across Auckland are in a meeting and there are no buses for 4 hours, and this stinking hangover which is getting worse – sucks.

But yesterday I took a trip out to Tiritiri Matangi, an island in the Hauraki Gulf.  The whole island is a nature reserve, and there has been a lot of effort made to turn it from maori farm land back to natural bush.  Over the past years they have also reintroduced some bird species to the island.  It was a 1.5 hour boat trip out to the island… I do love going places in boats!  I’d decided to take a guided tour on the island… not sure if this was a good idea or not in retrospect.  The group were all amateur twitchers, and I was all like ‘what bird? where? oh really(!) is that an insect over there? no little birdie don’t eat the lovely insect!’.  Our tour guide was an Irish woman called Gary.  Now what kind of name is that for a woman??

Well, the sun was shining all day, I had my factor 50+ slathered on, and my pink straw cowboy had for protection.  It really is a beautiful place, and the birdsong is just lovely.  The birds in New Zealand all have nice tunes!  Check out the bellbird and the tui.  Anyway, as well as the birdies I did also spot a lizard down on the beach, but he scarpered as i was taking his picture.

All the sunshine and fresh air was a bit too much for me.  I had a lot of sleep on the boat back.  Every time I opened my eyes people were looking over at me.  Not sure if they were worried about me, or if I was snoring away like a train…

Back in Auckland I decided it was time to hit the bars!  Started at an Irish pub (they have a lot of them here), but there wasn’t much atmosphere in there.  Moved to a Belgian bar where I had a Belgian beer and spoke to a Belgian who told me that I had poured my beer incorrectly - oops!  Fortunately he wasn’t too offended, and he waffled on for a bit about his recent 3 months in Australia… I got a few good tips for my upcoming 3 months in Australia!  On to a backpacker bar, where the drinks were cheap and I chatted to a few more random people from NZ, Ireland, England, and South Africa.  Also got chatting to a girl from Holland who had just arrived earlier in the day after a 26 hour flight, but was refusing to go to bed to early.  I was a bad influence and took her to a club up the road!  This is where the teapots came in.  Here they often sell cockails in teapots.  I think this is a great idea!  It’s a good way to get completely and utterly trolleyed too… you start out all prim and proper pouring your cocktail out of the teapot and into a cup or glass, but soon you end up drinking from the spout (yes, I was uncouth!).  Soon it was time to taxi it home… a good night, but I’m feeling it today!

People consistently comment on my skin.  They remark that I have hardly any wrinkles and my skin is beautiful.  Thank you Peeps!  I suck in compliments like a sponge and absorb as much pleasure as possible from each and every one.  I highly recommend learning to receive a compliment, as it is a true gift to the giver.

That said, I have decided to divulge my “secrets” for beautiful skin.  With a background in cosmetology, yoga, herbalism and aromatherapy…not to mention a mother who had a penchant for vitamin supplementation, I now give you the full monty on how I do it.

10 pointers from a tantric yogini that will keep your face dewy, fresh and lovely all winter:

1.  Drink plenty of water daily and take your vitamins.

2.  Never use really hot water on your face, only warm or cool.  Your skin will retain its moisture better, and besides, hot water is just too harsh.

3.  Eat your MUFA’s…monounsaturated fatty acids…flax seeds, avocado, olive oil, dark chocolate, evening primrose oil, cod liver oil, nuts and seeds.  Nourish your skin from within and get healthier while you’re at it.

4.  Retinol is the only stuff that has been proven to make a difference in diminishing lines and wrinkles over the counter.  When you use it, be sure to use sunscreen as well to avoid burning this newly sensitive skin.  You can purchase a retinol cream for about twenty bucks at the drugstore without a prescription.

5.  Vitamin C is key for gorgeous skin.  Find a vitamin C serum or cream and use it to continue to help the old skin cells fall away to reveal the fresh new skin underneath.  You’ll be amazed after only a few weeks at how much fresher and vibrant your skin looks.

6.  Once in a while, warm up some sesame oil after you’ve cleansed you face and gently massage in upward circular motions.  Deeply moisturizing and detoxifying, and leaves your skin oh-so-soft.  Also a great detox.  Use the organic, untoasted sesame oil, or try virgin olive oil, apricot kernel oil, or avocado oil if you want varied moisturizing and vitamin effects.

7.  Practice yoga.  Your circulation will benefit, your body will detox naturally, and the relaxation will unfurl your brows, causing less wrinkles.  Speaking of yoga, tantrikas know that a practice of self pleasure will keep your skin glowing and prolong your life.  Continue to work with the chi, folks.

8.  Do a weekly steam facial with herbs, a pot of boiled water, and a towel over your head.  Follow with a mask from the kitchen.  Avocado mashed with yogurt, or oatmeal or just mashed strawberries work well.   Eggs make great facial masks if you apply yolk first, let dry, and then whites over it and let dry.  My favorite one is honey with a drop of rose essential oil for intensive moisture.  Honey is a natural humectant and your skin will be softer than you can imagine afterwards.

9.  Sleeping Beauty was gorgeous cuz she slept so much.  Get yourself enough beauty rest, darlings.  Oh, and did I mention fresh air and sunshine?  That too.  Mother did know best.

10.  Last but definitely not least, try out some of my seriously gorgeous facial elixirs and bask in the exquisite sensory experience…essential oils are my secret to young skin.  Indulge in a special blend by me and put your best face forward!

Here is just a sample of the handful of beautiful pictures I managed to capture despite the gale force winds up at HNC college tryingt o blow me away from this lovely view of sunrise at 8:15pm over Castle Hill which you can see from where I work.

Golden Sunrise over Castle Hill

 To see the rest of photographs of todays fantastic golden sunrise visit www.flickr.com/photos/valkyrie1008. Or simply scroll down the page until you find my Flickr box and click on it to go to the page. Hope you enjoy these wonderful sights as much as I did except you have the luxury of not having chilly gale force winds trying to blow you away.

Desde el sello inglés MOFO propiedad de Jimmy Mofo (miembro de Beat Assassins) nos llega este esperado lanzamiento que cuenta con la producción original de uno de los grupos más en alza de la escena nacional como es Baymont Bross a los cuales les acompañan en la producción el cantante de Reggae General Levy y la cantante Miss Sunshine. Además el lanzamiento incluye otro espectacular remix de NAPT.

Datos del lanzamiento:

Artista: Baymont Bross

Titulo: Wine Up Ya Waist

Featuring: General Levy & Sunshine

Remixers: NAPT

Sello: MOFO

Car: MOFO025

Tracklist:

1. Baymont Bross feat General Levy & Sunshine – Wine Up Ya Waist (Original Mix)

2. Baymont Bross feat General Levy & Sunshine – Wine Up Ya Waist (NAPT Remix)

Puedes comprarlo en digital y en vinilo:

Digital: Beatport

Vinilo: Chemical Records

Para más información:

www.myspace.com/baymontbross

]]> http://donateyourcars.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/car-donation-in-florida-bringing-more-warmth-the-sunshine-state/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:02:26 +0000 harry5599 http://donateyourcars.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/car-donation-in-florida-bringing-more-warmth-the-sunshine-state/ http://thedirtycook.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/dig-to-victory/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:12:38 +0000 thedirtycook http://thedirtycook.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/dig-to-victory/ http://asepsotic.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/today-10/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:57:01 +0000 Alastair http://asepsotic.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/today-10/

Today the sun very nice.

Make everything look very bright.

COLOUR INTENSITY!!!!

A bit like Australia lah.

But no flies! But damn bright, need shades got no shades.

As it’s been getting closer to Thanksgiving,I’ve been thinking more and more about the last year. I think I ate Thanksgiving dinner with my left hand. That was just after my little plate collision with my right elbow.

 I was about to turn 18. 

Earlier in that month of Nov. I had become a rebelutionary,after reading the book by Alex and Brett Harris. I wanted to do hard things. I just wasn’t sure how. How do you search for hard things to do?

 Little did I know then that I didn’t have to look but identify the situation. I got many chances to do hard things.

I got to suffer a little pain,colds,the flu and bloody noses,until just breathing was hard.

I got to stand up for what I believe in. Stand up for truth. Even one of those harder things;myself. 

I got to gain and lose all friends,as some came from far away and then all moved far away. I was given opportunities for some wonderful good times,and to lay them down when they were done. 

I learned that trusting gets you hurt,but to trust anyways;especially a God who loves me.

 I had many simple moments in thanks of Him; like water droplets on the grass,like the sound of rain falling,like bright warm sunshine,and the stars at 5:30.

 Chances to sing and teach Sunday School. Wonderful times with my pastor’s family.

 Having my charge run and hug me when I pick her up from Head Start.

I really can’t complain when I get sugar in my water instead of salt. Having a matched pair of escorts is pretty handy. Even getting patted on the head. Overwhelming opinions and protection.

Good food and a warm house.

The unexpected circumstances that turn into grand adventures.

 All in all it’s been an exciting year.

          It’s life and I’m thankful for a chance to live it.

I have had a busy few weekends with the East Austin Studio Tour.   Thanks to everyone who came out and checked out our studio!

You know what is great about the end of November…GREAT DEALS.  I’ve got a free shipping sale going on at my etsy shop for all greeting cards.  Stock up on greeting cards and shipping is on me!

Here are a few of my favorite finds today:

Let the Sun Shine In Print from slide sideways

Ship in a Bottle Wallet by Pretty Little Things

Kitsch Owl Needlepoint Belt Buckle by Needle You

Bird Notebook from Darling Clementine

You’re going to have to excuse the rather frightful poster if there ever was one. It is however entirely relevant to its morbidity, Pandorum definitely lives up to the hype of its horror, especially with a tagline such as ‘Don’t fear the end of the world. Fear what happens next.’ The German/American sci-fi horror was one of the better films I’ve had the pleasure of seeing within the last couple of months, and definitely worth a look at. But why?

Pandorum is one of those fist-clenching, mind-warping, jump inducing films where you are literally on the edge of your seat for a good minute at a time. Directed by newcomer Christian Alvart, whose only earlier works include ‘Curiosity & The Cat‘ and ‘Antibodies‘, but who will also be directing the upcoming ‘Case 39‘ featuring Renée Zellweger. Filming staff also includes Paul W. S. Anderson, director and writer of ‘Alien VS Predator‘, and Jeremy Bolt, both the producers of the ‘Resident Evil‘ trilogy. Stick AVP and Resident Evil in a blender and what do you get? Pandorum. Throw in a little sprinkle of ‘Sunshine‘, and you have the complete movie smoothie. However, was it a good idea to put all of their eggs in one basket? I’m afraid it wasn’t entirely. Many gamers are calling it a Dead Space wannabe.

The plot of Pandorum, a rather nice one at that for sci-fi fans, is set around the human race overpopulating the Earth. As a result, the first sleeper ship to head for Earth’s replacement, Tanis, holds 60,000 humans, except as the film opens up… You can’t see any of them. It is notably a unique blend of psychological thrills combined with action packed sequences filmed in classic, sci-fi grated-floor corridors. At times, Pandorum forces you question your OWN sanity, and explores some of the deep-rooted fears within its viewers. Specifically some of the more frightening fears which often take host, such as; a fear of the dark, loneliness, claustrophobia, lack of memory and it definitely plays upon those fears throughout the film. However whilst it was excellent in provoking thought, it was not exceptionally well constructed, despite the fact there was a plot (unlike most films these days!). This, alongside its lack of publicity, marketing and such may have been why it didn’t even make half of it’s $40 million budget.

A good film if you’re a sci-fi-aholic, or even if you enjoy video games, harnessing a strange familiarity to a first person shooter. However if you’re not that into chasing and racing in space, this isn’t the film for you. A possible DVD buy.

You’re going to have to excuse the rather frightful poster, if there ever was one. It is however entirely necessary in its morbidity, Pandorum definitely lives up to the hype of its horror, especially with a tagline such as ‘Don’t fear the end of the world. Fear what happens next.’ The German/American sci-fi horror was one of the better films I’ve had the pleasure of seeing within the last couple of months, and definitely worth a look at. But why?

Pandorum is one of those fist-clenching, mind-warping, jump inducing films where you are literally on the edge of your seat for a good minute at a time. Directed by newcomer Christian Alvart, whose only earlier works include ‘Curiosity & The Cat‘ and ‘Antibodies‘, but who will also be directing the upcoming ‘Case 39‘ featuring Renée Zellweger. Filming staff also includes Paul W. S. Anderson, director and writer of ‘Alien VS Predator‘, and Jeremy Bolt, both the producers of the ‘Resident Evil‘ trilogy. Stick AVP and Resident Evil in a blender and what do you get? Pandorum, throw in a little sprinkle of ‘Sunshine‘, and you have the complete movie smoothie. However, was it a good idea to put all of their eggs in one basket? I’m afraid it wasn’t entirely. Many gamers are calling it a Dead Space wannabe.

The plot of Pandorum, a rather nice one at that for sci-fi fans, is set around the human race overpopulating the Earth. As a result, the first sleeper ship to head for Earth’s replacement, Tanis, holds 60,000 humans, except as the film opens up… You can’t see any of them. It is notably a unique blend of psychological thrills, which at times forces you question your OWN sanity, combined with action packed sequences filmed in classic sci-fi hallways. Pandorum explores some of the deep-rooted fears within its viewers. Specifically some of the more frightening fears which often take host, such as; a fear of the dark, loneliness, claustrophobia, lack of memory and it certainly plays upon those fears throughout the film. However whilst it was excellent in provoking thought, it was not exceptionally well constructed, despite the fact there was a plot. This, alongside its lack of publicity, marketing and such may have been why it didn’t even make half of it’s $40 million budget.

A good film if you’re a sci-fi-aholic, or even if you enjoy video games, harnessing a strange familiarity to a first person shooter. However if you’re not that into chasing and racing in space, this isn’t the film for you. A possible DVD buy.

]]> http://dearmrpostman.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/dear-thanksgiving/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:19:38 +0000 margaret michelle http://dearmrpostman.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/dear-thanksgiving/

Dear Thanksgiving,

I would like to give thanks for:

1. Ok, well, guys, let’s start here– I am in school. I am a student. This means I LEARN THINGS all the time! And it’s what I’m supposed to be doing! I show up, I learn some things, I go home, I think about some things. I do not make coffee or sit in a cubicle all day or dig ditches. And for that, I am grateful. I mean, I don’t know, maybe you love your job digging ditches, and for that I thank you. I need ditches in my life probably. For culverts and stuff. Those seem useful, even if I can’t think of exactly why.

2. …FOR POETRY. I am in SCHOOL for POETRY. This means not only do I live the life of a student– and seriously guys, in case you’ve forgotten, that means like 2-3 hours of class a day and then….umm….drinking coffee and playing board games, mostly– but as a student, my main jobs are to read some things and then to write some things. This is what I do with my life. In fact, this is what I get to do with three years of my life. I would like to thank whoever thought up MFA programs, and whoever decided they were a legitimate way for people to spend their time, and my parents for supporting my dreams, and my heart for dreaming, and “last but not least, the wonderful crew from McDonalds who spend hours making those egg McMuffins without which I’d never be tardy” (Clueless? Anyone?). Ok. Well. Seriously. Thanks. I will be in my armchair reading some more words on a page. And writing some other words down sometimes.

3. Cookies. Baking. Dancing while baking. (DANCE-BAKE.) That doesn’t link to a definition of Dance-Bake. It links to my friend Kristen. Who is the definition of Dance-Bake. Anyway, Dance-Bake is pretty self-explanatory. You dance and you bake. Or you dance while you bake. Whatever. Put on some music, make some cookies, see what happens.

4. New Friends. Including ones that like to talk about poetry. And dance. And bake. And tease. And go to the beach. And sometimes play board games with me: bananagrams, chess, cribbage, Jenga. Yeah ok, it’s an odd list, but it’s what we’ve got. Next on the list: backgammon. Also: actually learn how to play chess, not just memorize (mostly) which pieces can move where. I’m working on it, ok?! It’s hard. Cut me some slack.

5. A seafood taco truck. You heard me. I’m not going to even tell you where it is. But I will say this: $1 fish tacos.

6. Bagels. I have a lot of bagels in my life. I love it.

7. Hillcrest. I have a lot of drag queens in my life. I love it.

8. My apartment. I love it.

9. The restaurants around my apartment. This really counts under both “Hillcrest” and “my apartment.” But the restaurants! So wonderful! Deserve their own listing.

10. The Dog. She’s my parent’s, but I get to see her sometimes, and she’s soft and cuddly and will let you haul her around with you like a stuffed animal (a really, really big, patient one).

11. Family. Hi guys!

12. Books. Who came up with books? High five.

13. Food.

14. Doughnuts. The real ones, not the vegan ones. Or Donettes. Not real but I am grateful for them anyway.

15. Health. HEAR ME, WORLD? I am grateful for my health! After four years of illness, sickness, ailments, infections, whooping cough, I am HEALTHY. And I appreciate it every day that I wake up feeling like I can tackle whatever comes along, that I can commit to plans whether they be today, tomorrow, or a month from now, that I can take on an extra class or extra work hours or sign up for yoga and not worry that it will go to waste. I appreciate every day that I can walk around breathing easily and thinking clearly, every day my body moves, jumps, stretches, breathes without pain.

16. The ocean. I live near the ocean. I try to remember to go see it at least once a week. Just to sit with it. It makes me happy.

So Thanksgiving, happy you to you.

Another year, another turkey (it’s such a boring meat! what is UP with having the most boring meat the centerpiece of the biggest food holiday of the year?)

With thanks and blessings and yams with marshmallows (of course that is my favorite part, obviously),

MM