tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18053243750017728362024-02-19T03:27:48.696-08:00A Time OpportuneStarted in 2011 as the "O One One Project", A Time Opportune is a list of new years resolutions.A way of living life year by year to nothing less but its fullest potential.It's about abandoning the should-have-could-have-would-have attitude and taking control of life.
A year of improvements, creativity, and planned spontaneity void of excuses.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-79608294101788460382014-01-01T20:38:00.000-08:002014-01-01T20:38:13.560-08:00Optomistic<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The turn of the year is a strange book end to life. All of a sudden people begin to compartmentalize their experiences into a 365 day package to be labeled blessed, bad, or maybe worse, unremarkable. As the world is in a mass moment of self reflection I can't help but to look back with the same use of evaluation. 2013 for me, was a year of change and challenges, both under my control and out of my control. The phrase "New Year" means for many of us that we are going to try something new. To make things better, more in our control, or at least a fun story to tell this time next year. Equip with a list, I am participating in 2014 a bit differently then the year past. With more purpose and the type of optimism that doesn't just hope for a better year, but with the belief that I can make the year better. </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-44842762533115336172012-12-13T12:54:00.000-08:002012-12-13T12:54:08.414-08:00Graduation!As the year comes to an end, I've crossed off two more items on my list: Graduate and Organize Documents for my Portfolio. At my portfolio presentation I learned that I had the top score of all of the education portfolios. Apparently it paid off. <div>
I anticipate completing two more goals before the new year which are Moving Out and Staying Vegetarian.</div>
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For 2013, I am going to go through the last two years of unaccomplished goals and refine them as new goals. I am going to toss out the items that are no longer me, keep the ones that I should have done, and add new ones that reflect who I am now. </div>
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Going to quality of quantity of goals this year. Thinking about who I am and what I want to accomplish for myself. </div>
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<b><em style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">Success is</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"> liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">-Maya Angelou </span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-52000758147603770502012-10-14T22:01:00.004-07:002012-10-14T22:01:47.102-07:00Hub PagesHub Pages is a great motivation to continue writing. Just today, I was reminded of a seasonal article I wrote when a surge of views came in. Just a reminder that getting paid for a Hub Pages article was one of my goals! Getting a new wave of readers also gave me a new wave of modivation to write something of value.<br />
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Check out my article from last year!<br />
<a href="http://cocoa1990.hubpages.com/hub/An-Indie-Halloween">http://cocoa1990.hubpages.com/hub/An-Indie-Halloween</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-4797194281094484492012-08-13T16:13:00.000-07:002012-08-13T16:13:06.728-07:00DIY Kindle Cover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIN2-dMcy5wGgFnNssx9J50EtDAiqPRdf_EZrVCKtlZxa5Fkegc-6Qz1sJolhzd-g80UutrXen_VtjxtfO7D-bH4B5acJYLa6mQWE2zmeUv0Dagiu-JDvGbWj_KqO0JAUFomLS8YCoA-s/s1600/IMG_1705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIN2-dMcy5wGgFnNssx9J50EtDAiqPRdf_EZrVCKtlZxa5Fkegc-6Qz1sJolhzd-g80UutrXen_VtjxtfO7D-bH4B5acJYLa6mQWE2zmeUv0Dagiu-JDvGbWj_KqO0JAUFomLS8YCoA-s/s320/IMG_1705.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
After scoring a kindle for $40, I was not about to spend $30 on a cover. So I got Pintrest inspired, ripped apart a book I didn't care for (Sorry Molly Ringwald), and Mod Podged over the cover with the artwork from one of my favorite books. Not an item on my list, but an accomplishment nonetheless if I do say so myself.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-86463956412374047912012-07-12T20:33:00.001-07:002012-07-12T20:33:42.102-07:00You Should go do Them<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-18492082887682757342012-07-09T20:12:00.001-07:002012-07-09T20:14:19.365-07:00See a Vegas Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Saw the Beatles' LOVE this weekend! I've seen it twice before, and it is still as amazing as ever. I felt overjoyed to have experienced this with my very own love. Millions of thanks for a great birthday weekend!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-17434158015060479342012-07-08T12:20:00.002-07:002012-10-30T21:33:28.741-07:00Better than the Movie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It is no secret in Hollywood that Roald Dahl books make great movies. That was my initial appeal to the author. Who was this man who's words have been turned into many amazing classics. I just finished reading three of his most well known children's books that have also been turned into movies: James and the Giant Peach, The Witches and of course, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. No matter how old you are these books are wonderful pieces of fantasy.<br />
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<b>Here is where I am with finishing all of Roald Dahl's Children's Books:</b></div>
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The Gremlins </div>
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<strike>James and the Giant Peach</strike></div>
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<strike>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</strike></div>
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The Magic Finger </div>
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<strike>Fantastic Mr. Fox</strike></div>
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Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator</div>
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Danny, the Champion of the World</div>
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The Enormous Crocodile </div>
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<strike>The Twits</strike></div>
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<strike>Georges's Marvelous Medicine </strike><br />
Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes </div>
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The BFG</div>
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Dirty Beast</div>
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<strike>The Witches</strike></div>
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The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me </div>
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Matilda</div>
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Rhyme Stew </div>
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<strike>Esio Trot</strike></div>
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The Victar of Nibbleswick</div>
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<strike>The Minpins </strike></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-25062978485043476422012-07-01T13:18:00.000-07:002012-07-01T13:18:11.803-07:00July Goals<br />
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Starting off the month right with an idea for what goals I want to accomplish</div>
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<li>Finish Roald Dahl Books</li>
<li>Do Something Festive for 4th of July </li>
<li>Get a Tattoo</li>
<li>Do Spanish Lessons</li>
<li>Learn to Read Music </li>
<li>Start on Quilt </li>
</ul>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-70137978565438028072012-06-29T19:29:00.000-07:002012-07-08T12:06:51.882-07:00Fantastic Mr Fox and Esio Trot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJlHoK3Dne0JdfoVPEsNvsFBcC6uAG54IE28jPGQFVu_1AgepIBgZlgd6Dlsfo11YwMGJY5yMkr7kp7QMQLrU5PdtodlcSABJt_uR0HA81CaTSdMytaLW2Sae184dwnachEfHL2pp1BM/s1600/IMG_1591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJlHoK3Dne0JdfoVPEsNvsFBcC6uAG54IE28jPGQFVu_1AgepIBgZlgd6Dlsfo11YwMGJY5yMkr7kp7QMQLrU5PdtodlcSABJt_uR0HA81CaTSdMytaLW2Sae184dwnachEfHL2pp1BM/s200/IMG_1591.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Crossed off two more Roald Dahl books off my goal of reading all of his children's literature. Should have 6/20 read by the time my library books are due! Up next are The Witches, James and the Giant Peach, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. So far, the books that I read are amazing and I have so much respect for Dahl. Even more so as I think about another list item...writing my own children's book!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-20350975035044610862012-06-29T19:22:00.000-07:002012-06-29T19:34:03.118-07:00"You Have to Live a Mission Driven Life"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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" When you say what you want to do or be in your life, you focus on a position. That's not a life calling. When that becomes your life calling, I think that's when it becomes dangerous. But when you say 'I want to serve children'...now that's a vision...There has to be a mission. You have to live a mission driven life".Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-76095925823229045402012-06-17T17:10:00.002-07:002012-06-17T17:10:13.071-07:00Read Tom Brokaw's Boom!: Voices of the Sixties<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmpuYtT-6gMaRBE5reDanDQpnPG_rR9RBVs53vcB7fNu8u9DlHO4eO77KqHTvqTxLnqbJ01pUNJ2QaYN4J3dWjDfbm_P1Jog2zmsK8Zt0JO2llxTqLvJY9hy-LmYuMgYmr0MeErNPVbE/s1600/IMG_1590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmpuYtT-6gMaRBE5reDanDQpnPG_rR9RBVs53vcB7fNu8u9DlHO4eO77KqHTvqTxLnqbJ01pUNJ2QaYN4J3dWjDfbm_P1Jog2zmsK8Zt0JO2llxTqLvJY9hy-LmYuMgYmr0MeErNPVbE/s200/IMG_1590.JPG" width="149" /></a></div>
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"We choose to go to the moon in this decade, and do...other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win".- JFK, 1962<br />
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Finished reading Tom Brokaw's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812975111/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0812975111%22%3EBoom!:%20Talking%20About%20the%20Sixties:%20What%20Happened,%20How%20It%20Shaped%20Today,%20Lessons%20for%20Tomorrow%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=">Boom!: Voices of the Sixties</a></i>. My hope is that I am walking away with a little bit more strength to live my life with meaning. To me, that is what the sixties were all about: living for a cause, using your voice, and not being afraid of the consequences.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-47551562824141486842012-04-27T18:32:00.001-07:002012-04-27T18:32:40.920-07:002011 Goal Revisit: Go to Coachella<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_u9ARshE_wvybYfL_mFj1D3-T_Jm6sWXUp9jvqxMJBaFuXFWwaggBCUMkBK88HkXF1xdO5zRxZqo1leCDN_6EmaX2oZ4Y1Q6Qm2o16wB8nkTzAP-CqGF9YjklhWN7570FhdQNbM6vcyU/s1600/IMG_1528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_u9ARshE_wvybYfL_mFj1D3-T_Jm6sWXUp9jvqxMJBaFuXFWwaggBCUMkBK88HkXF1xdO5zRxZqo1leCDN_6EmaX2oZ4Y1Q6Qm2o16wB8nkTzAP-CqGF9YjklhWN7570FhdQNbM6vcyU/s320/IMG_1528.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another <a href="http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=158220957558450">2011</a> goal revisited and crossed off! I am so lucky to have been able to have the experience of going to Coachella. Just like a dream, it is nearly impossible to put the weekend into words that would adequacy describe it. So instead of making the attempt, I'll just say that I am so thankful that I was able to attend, for my boyfriend that put up with my nonsense and for all the great memories we now have. Coachella 2013 here we come! </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-62120912804609740782012-04-03T20:09:00.000-07:002012-04-03T21:29:33.555-07:00Let Us Dedicate Ourselves to That<span style="background-color: white;">"<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">let's dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world".</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">As I read Tom Brokaw's </span></span></span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Boom!, </i><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">there is much to learn from those who paved the way in the 1960's. Many fought for the life that we are able to live today, and have left many opportunities for us to improve tomorrow. As I read Bobby Kennedy's speech that followed the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I am reminded of these people. The people who humbly stood up, not for praise, or fame, but for what they knew was right. </span></span></span><br />
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<embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MyCWV_N0EsM&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-81623540655261921622012-03-10T17:45:00.002-08:002012-06-29T19:45:18.093-07:00The Winter of Our Discontent<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvvTCtRseQQF1zly-OB48Ox4mY3UTu-5dE06sEEqJ58oXApdJP3f752bbIGm3fTzom_sAXd2OYEMe8T4ky9BtwxDnnuDrcuaTApsN6JrdVOLhdLG87Cl1uXe9XiCgzFassEi8IoWM5p0/s1600/IMG_1285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvvTCtRseQQF1zly-OB48Ox4mY3UTu-5dE06sEEqJ58oXApdJP3f752bbIGm3fTzom_sAXd2OYEMe8T4ky9BtwxDnnuDrcuaTApsN6JrdVOLhdLG87Cl1uXe9XiCgzFassEi8IoWM5p0/s200/IMG_1285.JPG" width="149" /></a></div>
Finally finished a Steinbeck novel like I said I would back in <a href="http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=158220957558450">2011</a></div>
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Here are my top lines from his novel <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143039482/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0143039482%22%3EThe%20Winter%20of%20Our%20Discontent%20(Penguin%20Classics)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=">The Winter of Our Discontent </a></i></div>
<ul>
<li>"I wonder how many people I've looked at all my life and never seen".</li>
<li>"A little hope, even hopeless hope, never hurt anybody".</li>
<li>I didn't want to sleep. I wanted to go on fully tasting how good it felt".</li>
<li>"To be alive at all is to have scars".</li>
<li>"Some men require a house and history to reassure themselves that they exist".</li>
<li>"We can shoot rockets to space but we can't cure anger or discontent".</li>
<li>"Maybe I'm learning little by little. Mostly I'm learning how much I don't know".</li>
</ul>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-5361540427969922702012-02-22T23:55:00.000-08:002012-02-23T00:01:53.852-08:00Moment 4 Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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..."Cause everybody dies but not everybody lives"</div>
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These kids honestly made my week. Watching their performance I realized that I needed to go back to running my life the way I did when I felt accomplished.<br />
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I let the circumstances of last year control who I was becoming beyond what I ever should have.<br />
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I totaled my car, let go of a good friend, lost my position at work, and put myself through a game of "why me" only a person grown as absurdly self entitled as me could play for a year straight.<br />
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Putting the annual registration on my new car I realized I allowed myself to be caught up way beyond the expiration of my complaint card. What did I really have to complain about? All those things had passed and newer, better, more fantastic and amazing moments were just waiting to be lived.<br />
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...And wasn't that why I started all this in the first place back in <a href="http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=158220957558450">2011</a>? The project was always about taking control of life. Not letting it control you.<br />
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Moving forward I have some things from <a href="http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=158220957558450">2011</a> that I'm revisiting in the next few months:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Finishing a Steinbeck novel </li>
<li>Being part of a flash mob</li>
<li>Coachella!</li>
</ul>
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And looking at <a href="http://www.43things.com/person/manda_pandaz">2012</a> there are a couple of things in the works I'll be reporting on soon:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Read Tom Brokaw's<i> Boom!</i></li>
<li>Sing with a choir</li>
<li>Graduate</li>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-56651452146068206422012-02-04T16:20:00.000-08:002012-02-04T16:20:49.874-08:00The TwitsThere are a couple of reasons why I chose to <a href="http://www.43things.com/things/view/4700704/read-complete-bibliography-of-roald-dahl-childrens-books">read Roald Dahl's complete bibliography of children's books</a>. First of all, he is the reason why I can say things like "gobstopper" and "umpa-loopma" and most people would understand what I am talking about. Roald Dahl has created so many influential children's fantasy's from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142410373/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0142410373">Matilda</a>, to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142418234/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0142418234">James and the Giant Peach</a>, to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005DTX2PS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005DTX2PS">The Fantastic Mr. Fox.</a> Many of his books have been adapted into movies, while <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142418218/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0142418218">Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</a> has even inspired its own product of candy. Dahl is such a big influence in children's literature, that I felt that it was important that I read his work, as both a fan and as an educator.<br />
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I just finished my first Roald Dahl book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/014241039X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=014241039X">The Twits</a>. A humorous account of a hideous couple, The Twits is not only a reminder of what can happen when you have ugly thoughts, but a reminder of why Roald Dahl is a master of his craft. I hope this gives me inspiration when I start to <a href="http://www.43things.com/things/view/1114/write-a-childrens-book">write my own children's book</a>. It has definitively motivated me to pick up more children's books in addition to Dahl's bibliography. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-41617011502671963192012-01-19T22:57:00.000-08:002012-01-19T22:57:19.733-08:00I Hope U Have a Greht Life!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Why is it that when you grow up you stop leaving people drawings of encouragement? All I know is, I can't let this awesome kid down. I am indeed going to have a great life! (And continue to be the best)</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-29716652906858230402012-01-15T17:11:00.001-08:002012-01-17T03:11:45.674-08:00What is Flour Anyway?<div>
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<a href="http://images1.43places.com/entry/2022975xl.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="goalimagetag" height="149" src="http://images1.43places.com/entry/2022975pw400.jpg" width="200" /></a>A step in the grief process is doubt. In grieving our ability to make a simple tortilla, DeShawn and I began to doubt everything from the composition of flour, the history of baking powder, and the effectiveness of our frying pan.<br />
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Once we progressed to the step of acceptance, and came to terms with the fact that our ability to make tortillas was just not there, a resurrection took place in the form of a decently pliable piece of dough. Miraculous tiny bubbles appeared as the redeeming disk hit the heat of the pan.<br />
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A tortilla was made. Alongside it’s misfit sides of novice cooked beans and rice it was a small achievement, but an achievement nonetheless.<br />
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Next time with the proper pan, flour, and a brief science lesson of baking powder I am confident that the skill of tortilla making will be conquered.<br />
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See more progress on: <a href="http://www.43things.com/people/progress/manda_pandaz/16241573">Make tortillas with beans and rice</a></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-33499023169086159742012-01-13T22:55:00.001-08:002012-01-13T22:55:35.770-08:00Two Headed Boy Pt2<div><div class="goalimage"><a href="http://images1.43places.com/entry/2020767xl.jpg"><img src="http://images1.43places.com/entry/2020767pw400.jpg" class="goalimagetag" alt="" /></a></div><div class="goalentry"><p>Chose the song, now I’m practicing and recording some bits so I can get used to hearing the sound of my own voice since that’s half of the battle.</p></div><div class="goalprogresslink">See more progress on: <a href="http://www.43things.com/people/progress/manda_pandaz/16241597">cover a song</a></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-61575382602444487242012-01-13T15:37:00.000-08:002012-01-13T21:57:05.649-08:00Be Grateful for Whatever You Can Accomplish or Achieve<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-51913209370756454942012-01-11T14:52:00.001-08:002012-07-08T12:06:21.551-07:00"My Gift is my Song and This One's for You"A melody, a lyric, a rhythm, or a voice can be a powerful thing when it's frequency seems to be completely synced to your emotion. Music can give you comfort, strength, joy, validation, and freedom.<br />
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Like an art enthusiast might visit galleries or collect paintings, I have spent a good amount of time going to live performances and listening to a copious amount of music. Once and a while I'll have what feels like a musical déjà vu. The words will sink into my memory and I'll get the strangest vibe that I've felt this feeling before.<br />
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Writing the soundtrack to my life, I reached into that memory bank more so than the contents of my iPod. Thinking about how my perspective on life has evolved over the last 21 years, the music began to subtly fade in as a proper soundtrack should, impeccably accompanying the images in my head.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UOO9O6/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003UOO9O6">1. The Beatles – All You Need Is Love</a></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">“There’s nothing you can know that isn’t known.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">Nothing you can see that isn’t shown.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9577YQzi-BazGznFX_Dbvv2HUp6jmzT1P_NQjbWHObKk7r4TaE2NNbR-9Wg4C00RqLULLJU5njkq9XPBWvs45H5RhpKdMJbGv3QWTNPfLu5_uTU2TPrgy4gGJOq0Hl41u3PWDy3PorSc/s1600/P1804090017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9577YQzi-BazGznFX_Dbvv2HUp6jmzT1P_NQjbWHObKk7r4TaE2NNbR-9Wg4C00RqLULLJU5njkq9XPBWvs45H5RhpKdMJbGv3QWTNPfLu5_uTU2TPrgy4gGJOq0Hl41u3PWDy3PorSc/s200/P1804090017.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At The Beatles' Love, 2009</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #073763;">Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">It’s easy. All you need is love”</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span><br />
"All You Need is Love" is simple and amazing. For me, it is the perfect representation of what my childhood felt like. Everything happened for a reason, and there wasn't anywhere I could be that wasn't where I was meant to be.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011Z73Z8/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0011Z73Z8%22%3EGrow%20Up%20(Remastered%20Version)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=">2. Simple Plan – Grow Up</a></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">“This is who I am. And this is what I like.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">GC, Sum and Blink and MxPx rockin’ my room.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">If you’re looking for me. I’ll be at the show.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">I could never find a better place to go.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">Until the day I die. I promise I won’t change.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">So you better give up”.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiNalTIy9XleB2DWGHmZ8E3sYwI_jFe2VdiVJgeDrzU5_74N_ka-mV-57AkCOeacpooZUy6uGRPTZE4Rh77OGwCdj961k3P8oCS0UNizcJr-kN6g5JvEDYkcd89vLDErH5HIz98AAx40/s1600/simpleplan0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiNalTIy9XleB2DWGHmZ8E3sYwI_jFe2VdiVJgeDrzU5_74N_ka-mV-57AkCOeacpooZUy6uGRPTZE4Rh77OGwCdj961k3P8oCS0UNizcJr-kN6g5JvEDYkcd89vLDErH5HIz98AAx40/s200/simpleplan0001.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lead Singer of Simple Plan, 2003</td></tr>
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Goofy as it may be, Simple Plan was my favorite pop punk band when I was in middle school. I developed a fascination for things like the X games, studded belts, and started saying "dude" a lot. Like your average middle schooler I thought I was really cool with my music and my band Ts style, and was adverse to change.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ID610S/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004ID610S%22%3ERivers%20And%20Roads%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=">3. The Head And The Heart – Rivers and Roads</a></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">“been talking ‘bout the way things change.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">and my family lives in a different state.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">and if you don’t know what to make of this. then we will not relate”.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"></span><br />
I moved to Nevada in 2005, and heard this song in 2011. I had almost forgotten how much of a struggle it was to realize that no matter how adverse you are to change, things still continue forward; and that it is up to you to move forward as well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsiO226SvL5ayxJojrxlGa-oXoXFxw2sCD-EysCW6wxGkALImYIoFvHUdU7AjAFRJHwe3XySLNee_BCCzJOuNckJZUrZ4T-1aC0b_6U06SZk6DniPZLNL403KbVh333MuFX1D6CBU4xc/s1600/06-13-10+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsiO226SvL5ayxJojrxlGa-oXoXFxw2sCD-EysCW6wxGkALImYIoFvHUdU7AjAFRJHwe3XySLNee_BCCzJOuNckJZUrZ4T-1aC0b_6U06SZk6DniPZLNL403KbVh333MuFX1D6CBU4xc/s200/06-13-10+040.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modest Mouse, Anaheim 2010</td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013AGEQ0/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0013AGEQ0">4. Modest Mouse – Bukowski</a></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">“If God controls the land and disease.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">Keeps a watchful eye on me.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">If he’s really so damn mighty.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">My problem is I can’t see.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">Well who’d want to be. Who’d want to be such a control freak?”</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span><br />
Between the age of 13 and 19 I had an internal struggle with religion. In a typical coming-of-age moment I had to put aside what I learned in church and private Christian school, and choose to think for myself.<br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001N0H23E/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001N0H23E%22%3EIt's%20Alright,%20Ma%20(I'm%20Only%20Bleeding)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=">5. Bob Dylan – It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)</a></strong> </span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">“Advertising signs that con you.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">Into thinking you’re the one.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob Dylan, 2011</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #073763;">That can do what’s never been done.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">That can win what’s never been won.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">Meantime life outside goes on. All around you”.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span><br />
As I began to shed the ideas that I no longer believed, I initially approached it in the wrong way. I couldn't understand why everyone else couldn't see what was going on in front of them in the way that I had. Everything was a lie, and everyone were fools. But in reality, life wasn't that simple. No matter what type of box I wanted to force the world into, whether it be cross shaped or not, it was in the end still going to continue to just be life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuE3wE1Z3A9OVGsyHVlMAS_8-ua_zwwO3ird7mVEnTKXuuYGNhutr0Z5ZyO2Xg14BCaTrMXL6E7KeFXrJdZyCsUPkvsYk4L8ebVHA4pQDBRmY0nAslOFCEtkZ2dCckRpglYAM7Fl5Ve0/s1600/IMG_1066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuE3wE1Z3A9OVGsyHVlMAS_8-ua_zwwO3ird7mVEnTKXuuYGNhutr0Z5ZyO2Xg14BCaTrMXL6E7KeFXrJdZyCsUPkvsYk4L8ebVHA4pQDBRmY0nAslOFCEtkZ2dCckRpglYAM7Fl5Ve0/s200/IMG_1066.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bright Eyes, 2011</td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00150D0DI/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00150D0DI%22%3ETime%20Code%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=">6. Bright Eyes – Arc Of Time (Time Code)</a></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">“To the deepest part of the human heart .</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">The fear of death expands.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">Until we crack the code we have always known .</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">But could never understand.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">On a circuit board we will soon be born again”.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"></span><br />
My struggle with religion came to an end when I decided that it was okay not to have an answer. Like Thomas Paine Said in his book, The Age of Reason, "My mind is my own church".<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002NXKLYW/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002NXKLYW%22%3EPursuit%20Of%20Happiness%20(Nightmare)%20[Explicit]%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=">7. Kid Cudi – Pursuit of Happiness</a></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">“Imma do just what I want, lookin’ ahead no turnin’ back.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">If I fall, if I die, know I lived it to the fullest.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">If I fall, if I die, know I lived and missed some bullets.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">I’m on the pursuit of happiness and I know everything that shine ain’t always gonna be gold, hey.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">I’ll be fine once I get it, I’ll be good”.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span><br />
Kid Cudi's album The Man on the Moon was my confidence for 2009. It was the year of the impossible. I juggled more and accomplished beyond what I could have ever dreamed. I overcame fears, and gained the momentum that would set up everything that came after.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<strong><span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002ZWAMO0/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002ZWAMO0%22%3EIf%20You%20Want%20To%20Sing%20Out,%20Sing%20Out%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=">8. Cat Stevens – If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out</a></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">“You can do what you want.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">the opportunities are.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">And if you find a new way, you can do it today.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">You can make it all true . And you can make it undo”.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span><br />
In 2011, I created the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-O-One-One-Project/190265007651701">O One One Project</a>, a list that kept me accountable for making what I wanted for my life happen. There were no limitations for how serious, frivolous, easy, or impossible the task were, the only rule was that I had to continue to try. This project turned out to be the saving grace of my year.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<strong><span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IPO4DY/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002IPO4DY%22%3E%3Cimg%20border=%220%22%20src=%22http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002IPO4DY&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=atimopp-20&ServiceVersion=20070822%22%20%3E%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=">9. Modest Mouse – Guilty Cocker Spaniels</a></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">“Before I could spit it out.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">I guess the words had burnt my mouth, what can I say?</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">There’s the thought I laid it down.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">So you could take it out of context either way.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">We said all along we deserve every bit.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">And mostly we knew that the supply would quit.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">But we got going, going just away with it.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">Until everybody lost their mind.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">Directly behind me and ahead of the time.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">But don’t you worry he’ll fall right in line.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">Yep, everything just might fly by.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">No one’s getting blamed this time”.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span><br />
From 2008 to 2010 I was flying high. Accomplishments were frequent, I was got multiple promotions, scholarships, and felt like I was on top of the world. But I got the feeling somehow that I was entitled to my successes and because of that nothing could go wrong. In about a 10th of the time that it took me to build, all that I had earned suddenly began to crumble. The castle was made out of sand, and 2011 was unseasonably rainy.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<strong><span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002PNSFO8/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002PNSFO8%22%3EHead%20Full%20Of%20Doubt/Road%20Full%20Of%20Promise%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=">10. The Avett Brothers – Head Full Of Doubt/Road Full Of Promise</a></span></strong><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">When nothing is owed, deserved or expected.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">And your life doesn’t change by the man that’s elected.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">If you’re loved by someone you’re never rejected.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">Decide what to be and go be it”.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">There was a dream.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">One day I could see it.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">And there was a kid, with a head full of doubt.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">So I scream til I die or the last of those bad thoughts are finally out”.
</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span><br />
I move forward a humbled person. I no longer assume that things are going to go my way. Instead I've learned to roll with the punches and to ask myself "what's next". I continue to work on what I envision for myself and to do things for me with the understanding that sometimes a change or two may be needed along the way. <br />
<br />
<div class="goalprogresslink">
See more progress on: <a href="http://www.43things.com/people/progress/manda_pandaz/16241552">Complete the soundtrack to my life</a></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-78180750289375106072012-01-07T19:40:00.001-08:002012-01-13T21:57:54.566-08:00"Live life & Be happy"<div>
<div class="goalentry">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLLUebocXQIaNelw5n5mYaJQPKfkdJDgkqXv8rwgEk3H3NC7IXcUPthV3ewiTCrS310KojsshiG3S8YQprcQ8vRzn4vrdasOWP1a1nHNm6qy9aFB036zX1rGc2Fo8dd2_CyhdRqR57Ks/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLLUebocXQIaNelw5n5mYaJQPKfkdJDgkqXv8rwgEk3H3NC7IXcUPthV3ewiTCrS310KojsshiG3S8YQprcQ8vRzn4vrdasOWP1a1nHNm6qy9aFB036zX1rGc2Fo8dd2_CyhdRqR57Ks/s200/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" width="148" /></a>I have to be honest with the fact that my anonymous letter wasn’t really to “anyone”. I was targeting a very specific person when I wrote:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
“You are capable of amazing things</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Always remember it is you that has the power to make it happen</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
-Live life and be happy”.</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
The kids that I supervise at my recreation center are amazing. Their lives are not easy, and in the year that I have known them, I have watched them get through some tough times. I never want them to forget that they have the power to be better than their circumstance, and to be successful at whatever they put their minds to.<br />
This note was left in a recreation center vending machine for them.<br />
<br />
In the case that some other thirsty patron found my note as they went to retrieve their Coke, I hope it serves the same purpose and empowers them to live life and be happy.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="goalprogresslink">
See more progress on: <a href="http://www.43things.com/people/progress/manda_pandaz/16241562">Write an anonymous letter to anyone</a></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-85488304042984370882012-01-05T17:02:00.001-08:002012-01-05T17:44:50.780-08:00"You should see the toast. I couldn't even get it through the door"<div><div class="goalentry"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0783227388/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0783227388%22%3EUncle%20Buck%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=">Uncle Buck</a> doesn’t fit the mold of what I typically expect a John Hughes movie to be. The perspective is mostly from an adult rather than a teenager as done in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001BR90R0/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001BR90R0%22%3ESixteen%20Candles%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=">Sixteen Candles</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001BR5NN0/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001BR5NN0%22%3EThe%20Breakfast%20Club%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=">The Breakfast Club</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001D0DQUC/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001D0DQUC%22%3E%3Cimg%20border=%220%22%20src=">Ferris Bueller</a>, or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001BR5NH6/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001BR5NH6%22%3E%3Cimg%20border=%220%22%20src=">Weird Science</a>. Additionally, the teenager in the movie isn’t particularly likable or easy to relate to.<br />
<br />
Mostly I don’t want to admit that I relate to the character,Tia, because she is downright haggish. But I’ve admittedly had my Tia moments, and was probably more like her, at the age of 15 than I would like to admit. Like her I moved when I was 15 and spent a lot of time being angry and placing blame. Big difference is, I would never lay down a line like,<br />
<pre style="text-align: center;"><code>"If my whole family moved away from me, I'd have a heart attack too".</code></pre>Instead I was insensitive about my grandma being ill, because like Tia, I was unsure how to deal with it in the new environment.<br />
<br />
But I’d like to believe the true reason that I relate to Uncle Buck is that I am known to make a mean giant pancake. Enormous pad of butter and all.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="247" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IquI7dwCj6s?rel=0" width="320"></iframe><br />
<br />
</div><div class="goalprogresslink">See more progress on: <a href="http://www.43things.com/people/progress/manda_pandaz/16241524">watch every movie written by John Hughes</a></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-80813262694749883572012-01-02T20:30:00.001-08:002012-01-05T17:42:55.046-08:00"This is an incredibly romantic moment, and you're ruining it for me!"<div><div class="goalentry"><br />
Everything I know about the 80’s came from a John Hughes movie. For me, nothing else comes close to capturing twentieth century adolescence like The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Sixteen Candles. The dialogue, the costume design, and the soundtracks capture the excitement, the awkwardness, and the struggle of youth- emotions that are timelessly relatable.<br />
<br />
Though I love John Hughes I have yet to see all of his movies. So I decided to make an effort to sit down with every single film that he as written. I started the year with Pretty in Pink.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005JKOI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=atimopp-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00005JKOI%22%3EPretty%20in%20Pink%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=">Pretty in Pink</a> is a classic. Themes of relationships, social class, love, and letting go, separate it from your typical romantic comedy.<br />
<br />
But I admittedly will always have a problem with this movie. No matter how many times I watch it, Andie will choose Blaine over Duckie. The popular guy over the lovable underdog. And every time I watch it, I loose a little bit more respect for Andie.<br />
<br />
“If I hate him because he’s got money,that’s the same thing as them hating us because we don’t. Understand?”<br />
<br />
...Yeah, sure. I understand. But you’d have to be a crazy not to choose the guy who gets down to Otis Redding.<br />
<br />
Next on the movie list is Uncle Buck, because who doesn't love a man that uses a snow shovel as a pancake spatula.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="247" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mNGIg8f-0Wc?rel=0" width="320"></iframe><br />
<br />
</div><div class="goalprogresslink">See more progress on: <a href="http://www.43things.com/people/progress/manda_pandaz/16241524">watch every movie written by John Hughes</a><br />
<br />
<br />
</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1805324375001772836.post-23932524125000544902011-12-26T15:39:00.001-08:002011-12-26T15:40:21.073-08:00Making the New Year Count: Inspiration to Start Your Own ListWrote a new Hub on Hubpages.<br />
<a href="http://cocoa1990.hubpages.com/hub/TheNewYear">http://cocoa1990.hubpages.com/hub/TheNewYear</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871558104790054871noreply@blogger.com0