Monday, December 15, 2014
Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: 12-13-14 The Last Sequential Date of the Century. ...
Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: 12-13-14 The Last Sequential Date of the Century. ...: A lot went down this Saturday. If you have friends on Facebook, you must have seen the pictures of celebrations of events like sweet 16'...
12-13-14 The Last Sequential Date of the Century. And why I'm so upset!
A lot went down this Saturday. If you have friends on Facebook, you must have seen the pictures of celebrations of events like sweet 16's, quinceaneras, weddings, book releases, etc., all taking place this Saturday, 12/13/14.
The last sequential dates most of us saw were 01/02/03, 02/03/04, 03/04/05, 04/05/06, 05/06/07, 06/07/08, 07/08/09, 08/09/10, 09/10/11, 10/11/12, 11/12/13, and Saturday 12/13/14. However, it will not happen again this century. The next sequential date will not be for another 89 years and most people will not live to see it. There are only 12 sequential dates every century, one for each month. We just lived through the last one.
For some people these dates don't mean a thing. But for others, it's a "do or die" thing. This is were I come in! This is why I am so upset. Why?! Because, I did not celebrate the publishing of my third book on Saturday; my girls did not become engaged or much less get married; and we didn't celebrate any particular event.
So upset was I the morning after, that I grappled with getting my pititful self out of bed to get to eight o'clock Mass as I do every Sunday. No, I don't normally have a problem with going to church. As a matter of fact, I relish going to Mass every day. But Sunday was particularly hard for me. I tend to go into a depressive mood every so often, and Sunday morning I was prime for one. I was in a really dark place and I could almost feel evil encircling me. Fortunately for me, I have a God who loves me inspite of my many faults and imperfections. Needless to say, I had a lengthy discussion with God about the "how and why" of things. I'm sure I started the discussion with my bitching. But thank God, He doesn't tire of my bitching. Instead, He tried comforting me as He always does and showed me that I could have it worse. I had to agree with Him, though I was still not happy nor feeling good about my situation, I tried bartering with God. I would only go to Mass, if He made me go! You know what? Somehow God made it appear as if it was my idea to attend Mass this Sunday. But trust me, it was not my idea! And so, I went to the 11 o'clock Mass.
"Light" was the central message of Sunday's gospel—the Messiah is the light who will shatter the darkness that envelopes our world. Read John 1:6-8. I was in a dark place that morning, but I needed to get to Mass to see the Light and get out of that darkness. Through God's mercy, I did! He got me out of that slump I was in and into his house. God is sooooooo smart! Don't ever doubt it for a second!
I'd had this overwhelming wish to see the movie, Exodus, of Gods and Kings, which hit the theaters on Friday. Immediately after Mass, I came home, had a quick bite, and I was off to see the 1:30 PM showing. I made it so well on time, that I found a parking space across from the theater. Aside from a lone gentlemen, for a while I had the theather to myself. And the best seat in the house! And by the time the movie started, only two other gentlemen and one child had showed up.
I had the perfect afternoon at the movies, watching a movie that teaches us that ultimately it is God who is in control of our lives. That was God's wish for me! That I should realize that He is above all dates, above all celebrations, above all the darkness of not having our dreams fulfilled by 12/13/14 or any other date, for that matter.
Your comments are welcome below.
The last sequential dates most of us saw were 01/02/03, 02/03/04, 03/04/05, 04/05/06, 05/06/07, 06/07/08, 07/08/09, 08/09/10, 09/10/11, 10/11/12, 11/12/13, and Saturday 12/13/14. However, it will not happen again this century. The next sequential date will not be for another 89 years and most people will not live to see it. There are only 12 sequential dates every century, one for each month. We just lived through the last one.
For some people these dates don't mean a thing. But for others, it's a "do or die" thing. This is were I come in! This is why I am so upset. Why?! Because, I did not celebrate the publishing of my third book on Saturday; my girls did not become engaged or much less get married; and we didn't celebrate any particular event.
So upset was I the morning after, that I grappled with getting my pititful self out of bed to get to eight o'clock Mass as I do every Sunday. No, I don't normally have a problem with going to church. As a matter of fact, I relish going to Mass every day. But Sunday was particularly hard for me. I tend to go into a depressive mood every so often, and Sunday morning I was prime for one. I was in a really dark place and I could almost feel evil encircling me. Fortunately for me, I have a God who loves me inspite of my many faults and imperfections. Needless to say, I had a lengthy discussion with God about the "how and why" of things. I'm sure I started the discussion with my bitching. But thank God, He doesn't tire of my bitching. Instead, He tried comforting me as He always does and showed me that I could have it worse. I had to agree with Him, though I was still not happy nor feeling good about my situation, I tried bartering with God. I would only go to Mass, if He made me go! You know what? Somehow God made it appear as if it was my idea to attend Mass this Sunday. But trust me, it was not my idea! And so, I went to the 11 o'clock Mass.
"Light" was the central message of Sunday's gospel—the Messiah is the light who will shatter the darkness that envelopes our world. Read John 1:6-8. I was in a dark place that morning, but I needed to get to Mass to see the Light and get out of that darkness. Through God's mercy, I did! He got me out of that slump I was in and into his house. God is sooooooo smart! Don't ever doubt it for a second!
I'd had this overwhelming wish to see the movie, Exodus, of Gods and Kings, which hit the theaters on Friday. Immediately after Mass, I came home, had a quick bite, and I was off to see the 1:30 PM showing. I made it so well on time, that I found a parking space across from the theater. Aside from a lone gentlemen, for a while I had the theather to myself. And the best seat in the house! And by the time the movie started, only two other gentlemen and one child had showed up.
I had the perfect afternoon at the movies, watching a movie that teaches us that ultimately it is God who is in control of our lives. That was God's wish for me! That I should realize that He is above all dates, above all celebrations, above all the darkness of not having our dreams fulfilled by 12/13/14 or any other date, for that matter.
Your comments are welcome below.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
The Sato Project aims to get homeless.....
The Sato Project aims to get homeless dogs off the streets of Puerto Rico. Caring individuals give their time to care for, protect, and save these helpless creatures through the Sato Project.
Sadly enough, not all of these innocent loving animals survive the oftentimes cruel hardships they've had to endure. But through the generosity of loving and caring volunteers, we are able to get some of these dogs off the streets and into temporary shelters, where they are fed, spate, and cared for before being put on a plane to other shelters on the mainland and eventually placed into pet-loving homes.
We realize economic times are hard for a lot of people on the island right now, but we urge you to, 1) do not buy a dog or accept them as a gifts unless you're absolutely serious about providing for them, giving them love, and assuring their wellbeing. Unlike humans, animals can't tell us when they are hurting. 2) If you cannot take care of your pet, bring it to a Sato Project halfway shelter. The people who volunteer there, are dog lovers who are committed to caring for these unfortunate animals. And, 3) have them spate.
The Sato Project is doing everything in their power to save as many dogs as possible. Let's give these unselfish people a big hurrah.
For more information and to see how you can help, go to Google and search the Sato Project. Or click on the website below. These beautiful men-best-friends will love you for it.
Let us not allow one more innocent dog to die. By doing our part, together we can proudly say, "I saved a dog today."
We know you're going to be very busy the next couple of days, but......
We know you're going to be very busy the next couple of days. Yes, the Christmas Season has arrived in full apogee. With that said, you're either searching for that special gift for the favorite people on your list, scrubbing down the house, and/or trying to figure how to work last year's decorations into this year's new decor, among many, many other things.
But let's be honest, you still have to eat—fuel that engine called the tummy—and what better way to stay healthy for the holidays than by being well-fed. No matter how busy you get, you mustn't skip a good meal. We have found some of the most delicious, and paired them with some luscious wines to help you unwind from the busyness of the Season.
So here goes!
Baby, it's cold out there, so let's start with the good trusty chicken soup, or culinary seafood stew, and let's pair them with some honest-to-goodness white wines. Whether the weather is snowy or not, chicken soup, or chicken pot-pie, the meal tastes best when accompanied by a robust and crisp white such as the number-one selling Chardonnay. Oh, you can still drink whatever you have on hand, but Chardonnay is still one of our favorites.
Next up, Chili. What could be better after running around all day, than a nice steaming hot bowl of Chili. Uh, huh...... You heard right! While you're watching the game, indulge and pair that baby with a nice red. A fruity Merlot or spicy Shiraz is exactly what's called for here. The dark fruit flavors and smooth tannins are tailored-made for spicy dishes.
Who wants meat? Then let's bring out a Pot Roast or any other red meat for that matter. A meaty pork- shoulder is always a good choice. Pair these dishes with a dense strong wine like Malbec, or red from Spain. These are always great choices.
Everyone loves Lasagna. And it's easier than ever to make, now that the noodles come ready to layer and top. So go ahead and cheat. We use those noodles all the time and they've never let us down. Pair that lasagna with a nice Cabernet Sauvignon or a Cabernet blend. A Merlot also works because of its fruity base, which rolls so smootly on the palate.
So do yourself a favor and take time out to feed yourself. Your tummy will thank you for it!
But let's be honest, you still have to eat—fuel that engine called the tummy—and what better way to stay healthy for the holidays than by being well-fed. No matter how busy you get, you mustn't skip a good meal. We have found some of the most delicious, and paired them with some luscious wines to help you unwind from the busyness of the Season.
So here goes!
Baby, it's cold out there, so let's start with the good trusty chicken soup, or culinary seafood stew, and let's pair them with some honest-to-goodness white wines. Whether the weather is snowy or not, chicken soup, or chicken pot-pie, the meal tastes best when accompanied by a robust and crisp white such as the number-one selling Chardonnay. Oh, you can still drink whatever you have on hand, but Chardonnay is still one of our favorites.
Next up, Chili. What could be better after running around all day, than a nice steaming hot bowl of Chili. Uh, huh...... You heard right! While you're watching the game, indulge and pair that baby with a nice red. A fruity Merlot or spicy Shiraz is exactly what's called for here. The dark fruit flavors and smooth tannins are tailored-made for spicy dishes.
Who wants meat? Then let's bring out a Pot Roast or any other red meat for that matter. A meaty pork- shoulder is always a good choice. Pair these dishes with a dense strong wine like Malbec, or red from Spain. These are always great choices.
Everyone loves Lasagna. And it's easier than ever to make, now that the noodles come ready to layer and top. So go ahead and cheat. We use those noodles all the time and they've never let us down. Pair that lasagna with a nice Cabernet Sauvignon or a Cabernet blend. A Merlot also works because of its fruity base, which rolls so smootly on the palate.
So do yourself a favor and take time out to feed yourself. Your tummy will thank you for it!
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: What is The Sato Project?
Snap Krackle 'n Pop!: What is The Sato Project?: What is The Sato Project? The Sato Project aims to get homeless dogs off the streets of Puerto Rico. Through the Project, caring individu...
Thursday, November 6, 2014
A startling revelation...
A startling revelation.... there are over 10,000 saints in the world. Obviously, I'm not talking about the New Orleans Saints. Rather, I mean saintly people who have been proven worthy to be called as such, those who has been recognized for having an exceptional degree of holiness.
My monthly group met last night, on the heels of All Saints' Day. Not surprisingly, the topic was saints, and what qualifies people to achieve such holy status. More surprising, is the fact that saints are regular people like us who just happened to choose to love, to forgive, and give up life as we know it for nothing other than pure love of Christ and their fellow beings.
That's a pretty tall order. And I can almost hear people reading this, saying, "That will never be me. I could never be that person!" But let's think about this for a second.
Let's go back to the 10,000 or so saints, since and before our Lord Jesus walked the earth. Yes, there have been saintly beings who have indeed given up everything for Jesus. But that does not mean that we regular sinners cannot become more saintly in our ways. Why just by our being decent human beings and doing the right thing, can qualify us as saints. Maybe not the kind that have worked miracles, or were martyred, but saintly in our ways, just the same.
It's pretty easy. Love your brother as you would love yourself. Walk in others' shoes, not just one day, but every day. Commit to prayer even if it's just once a day. Pray to God to give you the courage to be the good person you were made to be.
Last month, I touched on one of the most popular of the saints, Saint Terese of the Little Flower. Terese did not do wondrous deeds, she did not wrought miracles. She wasn't even a good writer. But since a very young child, in spite of losing her mother at the tender age of four, Terese decided to love unconditionally, in a pure Godly way, just as Jesus would have us love one another. What qualified Terese to be honored with such a saintly titled? Her love of God, her love of her fellow beings, and her faith. A perfect example of a regular person like you and me, with the exception that Terese chose to live a loving life, to love everyone she came in contact with.
As Scripture tells us over and over again, love is everything. The following verses speak of such love:
If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am nothing...
Love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous....
Love never ends....
Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in her/him....
This type of love is what qualified regular folk like you and me, to become saints. Realizing this is no easy task, let us draw closer to God and let us follow the example of Jesus and the saints. We might just surprise ourselves. With God's help, we might just come as close to being a saint, as God allows.
My monthly group met last night, on the heels of All Saints' Day. Not surprisingly, the topic was saints, and what qualifies people to achieve such holy status. More surprising, is the fact that saints are regular people like us who just happened to choose to love, to forgive, and give up life as we know it for nothing other than pure love of Christ and their fellow beings.
That's a pretty tall order. And I can almost hear people reading this, saying, "That will never be me. I could never be that person!" But let's think about this for a second.
Let's go back to the 10,000 or so saints, since and before our Lord Jesus walked the earth. Yes, there have been saintly beings who have indeed given up everything for Jesus. But that does not mean that we regular sinners cannot become more saintly in our ways. Why just by our being decent human beings and doing the right thing, can qualify us as saints. Maybe not the kind that have worked miracles, or were martyred, but saintly in our ways, just the same.
It's pretty easy. Love your brother as you would love yourself. Walk in others' shoes, not just one day, but every day. Commit to prayer even if it's just once a day. Pray to God to give you the courage to be the good person you were made to be.
Last month, I touched on one of the most popular of the saints, Saint Terese of the Little Flower. Terese did not do wondrous deeds, she did not wrought miracles. She wasn't even a good writer. But since a very young child, in spite of losing her mother at the tender age of four, Terese decided to love unconditionally, in a pure Godly way, just as Jesus would have us love one another. What qualified Terese to be honored with such a saintly titled? Her love of God, her love of her fellow beings, and her faith. A perfect example of a regular person like you and me, with the exception that Terese chose to live a loving life, to love everyone she came in contact with.
As Scripture tells us over and over again, love is everything. The following verses speak of such love:
If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am nothing...
Love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous....
Love never ends....
Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in her/him....
This type of love is what qualified regular folk like you and me, to become saints. Realizing this is no easy task, let us draw closer to God and let us follow the example of Jesus and the saints. We might just surprise ourselves. With God's help, we might just come as close to being a saint, as God allows.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Ever hear of writer's block?
As I sit at my work place (today, that would be at the dining room table) and stare at my half-filled champagne glass that reads "In Your Eyes"(only?!), Really? (We won't go into that here!), I think of my writer's block. This has been without a doubt, the longest in my twelve-somewhat years of writing. I remember when I would be up until 2-2:30 in the morning writing, always with my trusted glass of shiraz close by.
So much has changed since I started writing seriously. For one, I don't remember social-media being the time-sucking media it's turned out to be. Yes, Facebook was taking off, but not to the extent where people actually spend every waking hour on the venue. Seriously, I don't know how some people get any work done these days. I don't know how corporations get any work done! If Facebook doesn't get your attention, then Twitter, Instagram or any other, will.
It is no wonder then that I have a serious case of writer's block. I can't even seem to get back to the matter of publishing my last book, Destination Nowhere. No pun intended, that title seems to describe to the "t" my writing efforts these days and where I seem to be headed. Haha! [so as not to cry?!].
So much has changed since I started writing seriously. For one, I don't remember social-media being the time-sucking media it's turned out to be. Yes, Facebook was taking off, but not to the extent where people actually spend every waking hour on the venue. Seriously, I don't know how some people get any work done these days. I don't know how corporations get any work done! If Facebook doesn't get your attention, then Twitter, Instagram or any other, will.
It is no wonder then that I have a serious case of writer's block. I can't even seem to get back to the matter of publishing my last book, Destination Nowhere. No pun intended, that title seems to describe to the "t" my writing efforts these days and where I seem to be headed. Haha! [so as not to cry?!].
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