Worldwide Debts. Debts and More Debts

Who would ever imagine Dubai is in debt by billions of dollars.
They were swimming in cash, spends fortunes on real estate
developments, hire someone else to do their chores while they
merrily frolick in the sun.

Their debt situation has repercussions in the world economy.
As if the economy is not bad enough.

Is the world economy really on the road to recovery?

Who knows the truth?

Everyone suffers, one way or another. This drives up the cost of living.
And who is looking out for the guys the the bottom of the totem pole?

Simple Gestures Warm the Heart the Most

It is not the expensive gifts that matter when one is so sick.

A friend down the road came for a brief visit with some home- baked cookies
and marshmallow squares. She knew I was sick, lost my appetite and can
hardly keep anything down. She asked if I needed her to keep me company
overnight. Her husband just passed away - and still deep in her grieving.
She is such a gentle soul. Very kind of her to come and sit with me for an afternoon.

The day before, my winter wood supply was delivered. I told him I was too sick to pile up the wood. Would he be kind enough to do it for me? I was willing to pay him extra. Not only did he stack up all three face cords of wood, at no extra charge, he brought me a Tim Horton soup.

Another friend lent me an air purifier to make my breathing easier. They even
offered to vacuum my house. I am too sick to call my cleaning lady.

Even a simple telephone call is so heartwarming when one is confined
and house-bound.

Feeling much better, I can not help but feel so blessed and ever so grateful that
there are caring people in this world of ours that many deem to be cruel.

H1N1 - Swine Flu

The panic button is pressed.
Young , healthy 13-year old boy is the latest victim of H1N1 in
Toronto, Canada. He was in a hockey team- three others of his
team are now under treatment and seem to be on the mend as
of this post.

There is a rush to get the vaccine-the public is advised to observe
certain sanitary and hygiene practices to minimize the possibility
of getting infected or spread of the flu.

It seems that susceptibility to H1N1, Swine flu, is no longer confined
to certain age groups, not if it extends its deathly reach to young
healthy kids.

Take care- all of you. Get the vaccine as a precaution. Life is too precious.

Greet Each Day with an Attitude of Gratitude

Those of us who live in a country free from the ravages of war, spared
from natural disasters like typhoon earthquakes, tsunami or flooding-
we have so much to be thankful for. The economic downturn presents
obstacles of a different nature.

It is difficult to imagine what it's like to see your world turned upside
down, inside out from disasters. I lived through the Icestorm of 1998,
I know the devastation flood can do first hand, grieve through the loss
of l0ved ones, see a business endeavour almost drive me to bankruptcy,
but here I am .

Pain and sorrow touch everyone who passes through this Earth.
Disappointment and regrets visit us now and then. We stumble and
fall. This spares no one, money can not buy happiness. I suppose by
now, more people accept that this is really a fact of life.

Start and end your day with gratitude- the sun does not always shine, but
sooner or later, it will. Life presents us with nuggets of wisdom, if we stop
long enough to pay attention.

Count your blessings each day- surely there is something to be thankful for.

Time Flies

Mid- October 2009. Halloween is not far away. Soon it will
be Christmas season. Many of us will be wondering where
did the time go?

Looking back, I had a productive year. Considering that I
am still mourning my husband's death, I was able to crawl
back to reality. Crawl because that's what it seemed like.

It was a struggle to finish projects- gardening was good
therapy for me. However, after 2-3 hours working in the
garden, I feel like it has been an 8-hour day.

Then there is house chores, other yardwork to occupy the day.
This summer was socially active. I feel good being able to open
my place to friends. It is good to share the sights and things to
do here at the lake.

So- whatever it is anyone does, time marches on. When Christmas
comes, we are at year's end, ready to welcome the New Year.

Ahhh... how time flies.

Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend

There is so much to be thankful for. Each day we receive blessings some of
which we are oblivious to. Where I live, I feel lucky that there is no
alarming storm, no tsunami, flooding or earthquake.

Economic downturn is felt at every turn. Some of us are indeed
lucky to be spared the doom and gloom that comes with this
financial upheaval.

It has been a very wet Autumn- so far; but the colors are inspiring.
Once again, Mother Nature paints the most awesome landscape.
The sun will surely be out one of these days, there is still enough
colors to appreciate the beauty of Autumn.

Of course, this sets the calendar closer to Winter.

For now, enjoy the peace and quiet and say a prayer of gratitude
for the blessings that Life bestows upon us.

Happy Thanksgiving to All.

Interesting info on late night radio programs

When I can't sleep, I listen to the radio. I get some very interesting tidbits
of information.

Hot and spicy foods- good for the brain, proven by Latinos who
love their hot peppers. When hot and spicy food touches the tongue, a
message is sent to the brain and thereby the brains sends out
endorphines(?) to the rescue

Sleepwalking is now on the rise and is blamed on sleeping pills like
Ambien. Some hotel/motel receptionists are reporting sleepwalkers in the
lobby walking nude. How about that!

Email walking akin to sleepwalking only this time it is mindless email
goobbly gook. A woman can't believe she invited people for dinner. She
can't remember inviting much less thinking of a dinner party. She sent
invitations via email while in a sleepwalking state.

What is the world coming to?

Death- a Reality of Life

So many stay away from the topic of death. So many fear their own
mortality. Realistically, death is a reality , it is a door we all have to
enter one day. It will be the same door, for the powerful, the rich
and famous and for everyone else who ever passed on this Earth.
In death, we are all equal.

There is always a deep sadness that death leaves upon the living. I look
around me and the "old"guards- generation before mine are departing
from this life. I feel and share the pain of family and friends as they say
their final farewell to their loved one. This parting is eternal. It is a
final goodbye.

The pain goes deeper when someone in their youth departs from this life.
Those left behind feel the sadness and loss of a life so young gone, with
hopes and dreams gone as well.

Death is a mystery- where the spirit/ soul goes after this life is even a
more deeper mystery.

BUT- there are memories to be cherished, legacies to be respected and
honored. It is the physical aspect that is gone, but the spirit lives on.

Alarming news about Alzheimer

This is indeed a very alarming news. Instead of reading about the decline of
Alzheimer's disease, forecast is scary, Within two decades, there will be more
patients who will suffer from this debilitating disease.

There is a wealth of information , if not information overload about how to
keep that gray matter healthy, the brain functioning etc. Today's society
is more in tune with their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

On the downside, there is not enough hours in the day to get it all done.
Technology has put on a lot more stress on our precious time; it takes its
toll on health despite all these awareness on health and fitness.

Can't win, huh!!!

Insomnia

Who has not suffered insomnia at one point and time?

I believe it is a curse of our modern day stressful and hectic lifestyle.
There is no time for our mind, never mind the body to slow down.

OK- I have tried everything. I meditate, don't drink any caffeine or alcohol
after mid-afternoon. Although sometimes, when I have company, I have a
cup of coffee. After all, I am famous for my excellent coffee. My niece who
got married in Italy said I make the best coffee this side of the world.

In the summer, I keep busy with the garden, I have an active social life, I read.
I also allow myself time to meditate and do a bit of stretches. There are nights
not even a sleeping pill can help. Oh, yes, I know what it's like to toss
and turn all night.

Last night was a miracle- I felt so down yesterday because I had to pay quite
a sum to get my truck fixed- tune up, rear brakes changed, oil change and the
works to get it ready for winter.

I was all set to get some soil to get my garden ready for Spring . But after
I saw the repair bill- I came straight home, very depressed.

Can't even sit outside- it was chilly, so I decided to play mahjong on my laptop
for over two hours. I tried to surf to find something of interest- nothing could
grab my attention.

I don't always watch tv- but I settled down to watch HOUSE- it was good,
then watched more boring tv till my eyes were tired. I did my meditation
and said my prayers-, read some Psalms then off to bed @ 11PM. Had one
of the best sleep in months.

Perhaps I should watch tv every night.

Hidden cost of war

It is well and good to send troops to fight for freedom.
Sadly, there is a very heavy toll on the fighters, their family
and to society as a whole.

What happens to the maimed, the broken spirits and those who come
back with mental and emotional trauma? How well looked after are they?
What kind of family life do they have upon their return?

So many pay such a high price in the name of freedom- yet what is the
answer?

Cafeteria Christianity

Why on earth should this be an issue? One can just pick and choose which
part of Christian teachings it will follow?

In a homily, the priest made a comment about this issue. He started
with the 10 c0mmandments. Ok- thou shalt not steal, Amen to this.
God has many names today- The Source, The Infinite Power, etc.

Then comes the kicker: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.
Hey, Padre, stay out of this, definitely. This is a very human issue.

OK- we need a leap of faith to believe that there is God and subscribe
to the teachings of the church.

We believe in the wind, no one has ever seen what the wind looks like.
So why can we not believe in God? There are many who do call on him
only in moments of distress, extreme distress.

I've known moments of extreme stress, I survived it without any serious
damage to my health , well-being and my Christian upbringing. During those
trying times, I now know that it was my faith and my prayers that helped
me keep my sanity.

Time flies

Oh how time flies.
September 2009 is more than midway.

So much is going on in our world, amidst economic and financial chaos.
There is more hunger in the world- millions of hungry people and not
enough food thrown their way.

YET... there is food in the world. Just look at people eating in restaurants,
throwing parties and of course food along the way.

What can the rest of us do? Just sit and pray, I suppose.

Economic downturn? All over the world? I was in Italy this summer- didn't
seem to see any signs of financial problems. But there are real cases, I am
sure. If people we love are hurting, it hurts us too.

In my family, I certainly don't see any sign of it. I am thankful.