Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
fear
“Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.” ~Unknown~
Fear of loss has always been a big issue in my life. I have, only recently, begun to shed that fear. I came to the realization that nothing is permanent. People leave, things get loss, feelings ebb. Once the thing that I held so dearly to is lost though, I see the futility of all the anxiety, the heartburn over keeping it. I start looking for and finding ways of living without it. And the human mind and spirit, amazingly resilient as they are, discover reasons and conviction for why I am better off without that which is now lost. I have come to the understanding that I will never truly enjoy the finer intricacies of the things and/or people that I hold dear if I spend my time concentrating on keeping them rather than concentrating on the value of their presence in my life.
This change in me has brought on a knew feeling, a feeling of courageousness. Fear is a necessary evil, for without fear there is no courage. Courage is not only necessary when in a battle , it is needed in all aspects of life. It takes courage for each and everyone of us to simply get out of bed each morning. We have the choice of simply pulling the covers over our head and hiding from the day. Instead, though, we swing our legs over the edge of the bed, stand up and face it. The courage that we muster each morning is what gets us through the day. Some days we face bigger battles than others, and some days we go to bed thankful that it was relatively calm.
Each time I now feel myself fearing something, whether it be losing something or someone, trying something new, or moving in a direction I never thought I would go; I simply think of the worst that can happen, accept that as something that may or may not occur and move on. Fear can not rule our lives, but it can be used to help us live them.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
cannot
cannot [ˈkænɒt kæˈnɒt]
vb
an auxiliary verb expressing incapacity, inability, withholding permission, etc.; can not
"Cannot" is a terribly powerful feeling, oppressive and smothering. Running up against the wall of fear and resistance, fenced in by what we will not, can not, or should not do, the world becomes a smaller place.
I cannot lose weight
I cannot get a job
I cannot decide
I cannot help
We have a tendency to preclude the things that we want to do with the word cannot. If it even slightly seems unattainable we simply dismiss it with a small vocabulary term. But what if we decided that we could?
What if, instead of dismissing the things that we want, we took hold of them and ran. The one thing that we cannot do is rely on hope, luck, or faith alone. We have a lot more control over our destiny than what most people believe. We make choices and take actions that effect the end result. Hope alone is not enough. The word HOPE is similar to the word TRY. When a person says they are going to TRY and do something it sets them up for failure. You don't try and do something. You either do it or you don't. The same goes for hope. You either HOPE something will happen, or you make it happen.
In my own life, I can keep hoping that I will get a job, I can have faith that one morning I will wake up skinny, and I can believe that my luck will change and I will win the lottery. Through all of this hope, faith, and luck, though, I am sitting on my behind being idle, gaining weight, not looking for a job and waisting money. Instead, I spend each day looking for a job, spend hours reading through want ads, writing cover letters and making phone calls. I still hold on to hope, hope that one of these leads will turn into gainful employment. I have started eating better and exercising more, working towards waking up skinny. I have begun putting money away and paying closer attention to what I spend it on, and still budget buying a lottery ticket now and again.
I guess what I am saying is that a life without action leads to nothing. If you are not doing the things that need to be done to get what you want you are doing nothing. Doing nothing leads to nothing, if you keep it up that is what you will get.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
thinking
Eugene, Oregon
Anyone who's been to Eugene can tell you that's there's no where like it on earth. Nestled in the southern portion of Oregon's famous Willamette Valley, Eugene is a haven for those who love the convenience of a large metropolitan city, yet enjoy the laid-back, cozy atmosphere of a smaller town.
Known as "The World's Greatest City of the Arts and Outdoors," Eugene is well-known for its abundance of green trees, blooming flowers, rushing river paths and more. Home to the University of Oregon, Eugene is the quintessential college town, filled with proud Duck alumni, adopted fans and plenty of history (after all, the movie "Animal House" was filmed in Eugene).
Ready to see what we mean? Experience a bit of Eugene right now by taking a look at our online photo tour.
Eugene Events
With a population of 148,595, Eugene is the largest city in Lane County and a hub for many annual festivals, concerts, sporting events and more. In 2008, "Track Town, USA" once again hosted the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field at historic Hayward Field and will host the Trials in 2012.
With a population of 148,595, Eugene is the largest city in Lane County and a hub for many annual festivals, concerts, sporting events and more. In 2008, "Track Town, USA" once again hosted the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field at historic Hayward Field and will host the Trials in 2012.
Eugene Activities
One thing you must know about Eugene: with so much to see and do, you'll never be bored! Check out one of our many museums and galleries, or enjoy the city's numerous performing arts venues and groups. The taste of locally made Pinot noir and Pinot gris await you at more than a dozen wineries and vineyards. Or, relax in the serenity of Eugene's 133 diverse city parks, including some of the region's largest playgrounds.
One thing you must know about Eugene: with so much to see and do, you'll never be bored! Check out one of our many museums and galleries, or enjoy the city's numerous performing arts venues and groups. The taste of locally made Pinot noir and Pinot gris await you at more than a dozen wineries and vineyards. Or, relax in the serenity of Eugene's 133 diverse city parks, including some of the region's largest playgrounds.
Eugene Recreation
Eugene is a paradise for those who love to get up and move in its beautiful, natural surroundings. Recreational activities like cycling and running are more than just casual pastimes in Oregon's "Emerald City"; they're a way of life! Plus, Eugene's proximity to the lush McKenzie River Valley, the majestic Cascade Mountains and the breathtaking Oregon Coast make it the perfect recreation destination to share with family and friends.
Eugene is a paradise for those who love to get up and move in its beautiful, natural surroundings. Recreational activities like cycling and running are more than just casual pastimes in Oregon's "Emerald City"; they're a way of life! Plus, Eugene's proximity to the lush McKenzie River Valley, the majestic Cascade Mountains and the breathtaking Oregon Coast make it the perfect recreation destination to share with family and friends.
Eugene Shopping
Whether you're looking for a gift for a special someone, or a little something for yourself, you're bound to find it here. From locally owned specialty stores, art galleries and artisan markets, to antique shops, bookstores and so much more, Eugene has all the shopping options you need and want (and a few you never would've imagined).
Whether you're looking for a gift for a special someone, or a little something for yourself, you're bound to find it here. From locally owned specialty stores, art galleries and artisan markets, to antique shops, bookstores and so much more, Eugene has all the shopping options you need and want (and a few you never would've imagined).
Eugene Hotels & Dining
Once you're in Eugene, you'll see that one day just isn't enough time. No problem! We have a wide range of lodging options to fit your needs and budget, including Eugene hotels and motels, bed & breakfast inns, extended stay establishments, vacation rentals, RV parks and hostels.
Once you're in Eugene, you'll see that one day just isn't enough time. No problem! We have a wide range of lodging options to fit your needs and budget, including Eugene hotels and motels, bed & breakfast inns, extended stay establishments, vacation rentals, RV parks and hostels.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
one is the lonliest number
Maybe. . .we were supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.
Maybe . . . when the door of happiness closes, another opens; but, often times, we look so long at the closed door that we don't even see the new one which has been opened for us.
Maybe . . . it is true that we don't know what we have until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives.
Maybe . . . the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.
Maybe . . . the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can't go on successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.
Maybe . . . you should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of, and want to do.
Maybe . . . there are moments in life when you miss someone -- a parent, a spouse, a friend, a child -- so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real, so that once they are around you appreciate them more.
Maybe . . . the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.
Maybe . . . you should always try to put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel
that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person, too.
Maybe . . . you should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone.
Maybe. . .giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it doesn't, be content that it grew in yours.
Maybe . . . happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lives.
Maybe . . . you shouldn't go for looks; they can deceive; don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.
Maybe . . you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy
Maybe . . . you should try to live your life to the fullest because when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling but when you die, you can be the one who is smiling and everyone around you crying.
Maybe . . . when the door of happiness closes, another opens; but, often times, we look so long at the closed door that we don't even see the new one which has been opened for us.
Maybe . . . it is true that we don't know what we have until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives.
Maybe . . . the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.
Maybe . . . the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can't go on successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.
Maybe . . . you should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of, and want to do.
Maybe . . . there are moments in life when you miss someone -- a parent, a spouse, a friend, a child -- so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real, so that once they are around you appreciate them more.
Maybe . . . the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.
Maybe . . . you should always try to put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel
that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person, too.
Maybe . . . you should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone.
Maybe. . .giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it doesn't, be content that it grew in yours.
Maybe . . . happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lives.
Maybe . . . you shouldn't go for looks; they can deceive; don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.
Maybe . . you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy
Maybe . . . you should try to live your life to the fullest because when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling but when you die, you can be the one who is smiling and everyone around you crying.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
a new day
Silent Whispers of A New Day
Muted sighs in the sunset
Heard softly upon prayers
Ascending from broken souls
The wind moans a sad refrain
Recalling the times of joy
Now but a distant memory
Listen closely to whispered drums
Composing song in the silence
Piercing this present darkness
Smoke spiraling upward
Stings the eyes and spirit
White plume reaching skyward
Grandmother Earth still harbors
Unrealized dreams of her people
Old Ones await the promised day
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
They Say it's my Birthday
Today is my 29th birthday, and although I think I reached a point several birthdays ago where turning a year older wasn't necessarily a thing to celebrate, I'd have to say that this birthday in particular is the one I've been trying to stave off more than any other. There is nothing even remotely redeeming about turning 29; it doesn't come with special privileges, and there isn't even a "turning 29" section in the birthday section at Hallmark. It's totally forgettable, and the only purpose it serves it to remind me that I'm inching ever closer toward death.
I guess I'm scared more than anything, not of getting old, necessarily, but of what could possibly happen to me in this 29th year. I honestly thought my life couldn't get any more hectic than when I was 27, and then I turned 28 and all HELL broke loose: I met the man of my dreams, found out he wasn't the man of my dreams, lost my job, and got a dog, etc., etc.. You could say I'm a bit fatigued.
29 things I learned this year
1. Not to sweat the small stuff. I already knew this, but this year it was certainly put to the test
2. As each day goes by I’m becoming increasingly more comfortable with who I am; don’t know where or if there is a finish line though
3. There’s a big girl inside of me and when she wants food, I listen. I’m scared of big girls!
4. When I apply myself and give my very best effort, I can do anything (further application necessary)
5. I’m at the very beginning of my adult life and I have a lot more to experience
6. I need to learn more about money; From getting it, managing, growing it and keeping it. Nothing worse than funny money
7. Some things that used to matter to me, don’t any more
8. Life is a journey
9. Blogging has become more than a hobby, it’s my way of life
10. I still haven’t outgrown wanting to be childish
11. Michael Jackson meant more than I realized
12. People will be exactly who they are and you have to accept it and keep it moving
13. Rome wasn’t built in a day and nothing happens in a vacuum. Patience is a virtue I need to work on fine-tuning
14. Comfort food is my friend even when I don’t need comforting
15. Me + Too many drinks = Verbal Diarrhea
16. Some of the coolest and most talented people I’ve “met” are from the internet
17. Art is my therapy… take your problems out on the crayons
18. I am what I am and thats all that I am. I can be no more, I can be no less
19. I need to be more charitable. It’s good for the soul
20. Asking for help isn’t always a sign of weakness, sometimes it’s a sign of maturity
21. As much I love me some good gossip, I really could care less what celebrities are doing
22. Sometimes things really aren’t meant to be
23. I’ll take a boring night at home with the Toby to a boring night out any day
24. Girl’s Nights Out=Debauchery!
25. I’ll never outgrow playing dress up
26. I don’t have all the answers, but I know the questions to ask to get them
27. A cuddle with a puppy can erase a full day of ills.
28. Things, people, situations aren't always what they seem to be.
29. It's not what you have in life, it's what you give.
30 things to do before I turn 30 (or 35 lol)
1. Cook through one or more of my cookbooks.
2. Start taking the college classes that I keep saying I'm going to take.
3. Once a month, go on a day trip. Just hop on a bus and get away if only for a few hours.
4. Purge my wardrobe for charity and re-build it from scratch.
5. Give more than I take.
6. Learn more about being healthy and apply it to my life.
7. Build my nest-egg.
8. Try the food I've always wanted to but have been afraid to.
9. Find a job that I know I am good at and be good at it.
10. Start learning German.
11. Spend more time with my friends and get to know them better.
12. Finally get around to decorating my apartment.
13. Brainstorm ideas for the book I dream of one day writing.
14. Get my fishing license and spend some time fishing.
15. Spend more time with my family.
16. Get another tattoo.
17. Treat myself to spa day.
18. Spend a weekend at the ocean.
19. Perfect my “look”.
20. Go on a road trip that lasts at least a week.
21. Go to Victoria BC at Christmas and see the Nutcracker.
22. Get my car fixed up.
23. Raise my credit score.
24. Take an art class.
25. Pay off my medical bills/credit card.
26. Exercise more and lose 10 pounds.
27. Write my pen pal regularly and maybe get another.
28. Go at least one place I've never been.
29. Get organized and keep it up.
30. Enjoy every day.
These lists really stretched my brain, but in making them I realize I must begin anew each day. Apply what I've learned over the years and try something new each and every day. As I sit here, enjoying my cup of coffee, I will take a moment to turn my birthday blues into a celebration of the new year and the new start to come.
better get started...
These lists really stretched my brain, but in making them I realize I must begin anew each day. Apply what I've learned over the years and try something new each and every day. As I sit here, enjoying my cup of coffee, I will take a moment to turn my birthday blues into a celebration of the new year and the new start to come.
better get started...
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
here starts my journey
One of the hardest things to do is to make a decision that you are tired of being unhappy and miserable. The next hardest thing to do is figuring out how to move on from that point. When you've tried everything to make the life you were living worthwhile and fail miserably what do you do next? How do you get to where you want and how do you know what it is that you want?
I know I want a career with a steady income, eventually a family of my own and a home. How do I make these goals into a path to follow? One minute at a time I guess.
Big changes have occurred in my life in the past four months. I have just recently accepted that these changes are something I can use for my benefit. Now is the time that I start moving towards the life that I deserve. Now is the time that I work towards realizing my dreams and attaining my full potential. Each day is an opportunity that I plan to grab hold of and run with. Here starts my journey to the future.
Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.
I know I want a career with a steady income, eventually a family of my own and a home. How do I make these goals into a path to follow? One minute at a time I guess.
Big changes have occurred in my life in the past four months. I have just recently accepted that these changes are something I can use for my benefit. Now is the time that I start moving towards the life that I deserve. Now is the time that I work towards realizing my dreams and attaining my full potential. Each day is an opportunity that I plan to grab hold of and run with. Here starts my journey to the future.
Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.
Monday, January 11, 2010
A New Beginning
"When there is a start to be made, don't step over! Start where you are."
Edgar Cayce
Edgar Cayce
"The secret to a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings."
Dave Weinbaum
Dave Weinbaum
"Almost everything comes from nothing."
Henry F. Amiel
Henry F. Amiel
"One step must start each journey."
Author Unknown, from Just One
Author Unknown, from Just One
"Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress,
and working together is success."
Henry Ford
and working together is success."
Henry Ford
"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished.
That will be the beginning."
Louis L'Amour
That will be the beginning."
Louis L'Amour
"All glory comes from daring to begin."
Eugene F. Ware
Eugene F. Ware
"Making the beginning is one third of the work."
Irish Proverb
Irish Proverb
"Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises."
Demosthenes
Demosthenes
This day in history
1919- Romania annexes Transylvania
Transylvania has all the history and multi-ethnic culture you want. The history of Transylvania is much disputed: once it was an integral part of Kingdom of Hungary (950-1526) it was independent Transylvanian Principality (1526-1690) from 1868 it was integral part of the Austrian-Hungarian empire and under its rule. These explain many cultural differences between Transylvania and the rest of Romania. It was home to a majority of Romanians, who had few rights, and ruling minorities such as Hungarian and Saxons. Other minorities included Roma and Jews. After world war I Transylvania became part of the Greater Romania. The relations between the ethnic minorities and majority has known tense times, but there has never been a serious conflict. Even though attitudes of individuals can still be closed towards out groups, Transylvania can be regarded as an example of different ethnic groups living together in peace. However, as the case of whole Europe, the Roma ethnicity is still seriously discriminated from Romanians and their culture far from understood. Communism has been a harsh time for ethnic minorities, especially for those who where small business owners (Hungarians, Jews) before the totalitarian regime. After the revolution in 1989, most Saxons moved to Germany (they settled to Romania in large groups in the 13th century). Romania has not yet become conscious about this huge loss. Many Hungarians left as well.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
20 things
20 Things to do Before I Die
(in no particular order)
1. Go to Europe.
2. See the northern lights.
3. Learn to play the Guitar.
4. Go to the Galapagos Islands and see the Galapagos Penguins.
5. Go to Maine and go on a light house tour of the state.
6. Sky Dive, or add a wing suit and actually fly.
7. Ride a Train across the country and back.
8. Go to Walden Pond and read Thoreau while drifting in a canoe.
9. Stand at the North or South Pole.
10. Learn to speak German and travel to Germany to experience the Love Parade.
2. See the northern lights.
3. Learn to play the Guitar.
4. Go to the Galapagos Islands and see the Galapagos Penguins.
5. Go to Maine and go on a light house tour of the state.
6. Sky Dive, or add a wing suit and actually fly.
7. Ride a Train across the country and back.
8. Go to Walden Pond and read Thoreau while drifting in a canoe.
9. Stand at the North or South Pole.
10. Learn to speak German and travel to Germany to experience the Love Parade.
11. Go to BB King's Blues Bar.
12. Scuba Dive the Great Barrier Reef.
13. Send a message in a bottle
14. Go to Burning Man
15. Walk down Abbey Road.
16. Take an amateur photography course
17. See the pyramids
18. Buy a house
19. Wade in the Atlantic Ocean
20. Go up in a hot air balloon
Friday, January 8, 2010
If I were a leaf
If I were a leaf on a majestic tall tree,
And I had the choice, of which I could be,
I’d be a maple to turn orange yellow gold
When the cool autumn winds turned warm nights cold.
I’d want to be high as high could be,
So all of the world would be open to me.
I’d sway with the wind, spring, summer and fall
Up in the maple so big and so tall.
Then one moonlit night in October’s cold air,
A beautiful frost would come paint me with care.
All leaves would turn color, as God would have done
To give the world beauty for short days to come.
Then if I could choose on which day I would fall
I pick late October when winds came to call.
I’d choose Sunday morning so bright and sunny,
As sun through the leaves flowed golden as honey.
I’d pick the sweet moment, when the wind was just right
To let go of my limb and float nice and light
Drifting ever so calmly from the place of my birth,
Then gently lie down to my rest here on earth.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
January 4th was national trivia day
Here are some Random Facts about January...
This Month in History
1 Paul Revere was born (1735)
1 Emma M. Nutt become sthe first woman telephone operator. (1878)
1 The ball was first dropped at Times Square in New York City. (1908)
3 Construction began on the Brooklyn Bridge (1870)
6 Samuel Morse demonstrates the telegraph (1838)
7 Astronomer Galileo Galilei discovers four of Jupiters moons. (1610)
10 The world's first underground passenger railway system opens in London, England (1863)
12 Batman debuts on television (1966)
14 The Simpsons debut on television. Will Tv ever be the same again!?! (1990)
15 Happy Days premieres on television (1974)
15 Amanda Mae Bliss was born to proud parents Dennis and Angelika Bliss (1981)
17 The U.S. Supreme court rules that taping on home VCRs does not violate copyright laws. (1984)
20 The Beatles release "Meet the the Beatles", their first album to the U.S., sparking a new "English invasion". (1964)
21 The first Kiwanis club is formed in Detroit. (1915)
21 The first Kiwanis club is formed in Detroit. (1915)
21 Science fiction writer George Orwell dies. (1950)
22 A historic Supreme Court decision in Roe vs. Wade legalizes abortion. (1973)
23 The deadliest earthquake in history strikes Shansi, China, killing 830,000 people. (1556)
24 Beer was first sold in cans .(1935)
25 The first Winter Olympic games begin in Chamonix, France. (1924)
25 The first Emmy awards were given out. (1949)
27 The Russians liberate Auschwitz in WWII (1945)
29 Baseball's American League is founded (1900)
31 Confederates appoint Robert E. Lee their Commander in Chief.
sick
i know i am sick again
craving
chicken broth
craving
chicken broth
saltines
a back rub
a back rub
blankets
and pillows
movies with subtitles
and elegant words
by dead french men
and elegant words
by dead french men
Coffee
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted seeds, commonly called coffee beans, of the coffee plant. They are seeds of coffee cherries that grow on trees in over 70 countries. Green coffee, for example, is one of the most traded agricultural commodities in the world.[1] Due to its caffeine content, coffee can have a stimulating effect in humans. Today, coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide.[2]
It is thought that the energizing effect of the coffee bean plant was first recognized in Yemen in Arabia and the north east of Ethiopia, and the cultivation of coffee first expanded in the Arab world.[3] The earliest credible evidence of coffee drinking appears in the middle of the fifteenth century, in the Sufi monasteries of the Yemen in southern Arabia.[3] From the Muslim world, coffee spread to Italy, then to the rest of Europe, to Indonesia, and to the Americas.[4] Coffee has played an important role in many societies throughout history. In Africa and Yemen, it was used in religious ceremonies. As a result, the Ethiopian Church banned its secular consumption until the reign of Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia.[5] It was banned in Ottoman Turkey during the 17th century for political reasons,[6] and was associated with rebellious political activities in Europe.
Coffee berries, which contain the coffee bean, are produced by several species of small evergreen bush of the genus Coffea. The two most commonly grown are Coffea canephora (also known as Coffea robusta) and Coffea arabica. Both are cultivated primarily in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Once ripe, coffee berries are picked, processed, and dried. The seeds are then roasted to varying degrees, depending on the desired flavor. They are then ground and brewed to create coffee. Coffee can be prepared and presented in a variety of ways.
An important export commodity, coffee was the top agricultural export for twelve countries in 2004,[7] and in 2005, it was the world's seventh-largest legal agricultural export by value.[8] Some controversy is associated with coffee cultivation and its impact on the environment. Many studies have examined the relationship between coffee consumption and certain medical conditions; whether the overall effects of coffee are ultimately positive or negative has been widely disputed.[9] However, the method of brewing coffee has been found to be important.
 A cup of coffee | |
| Type | Hot or cold beverage |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Ethiopia and Yemen |
| Introduced | Approx. 15th century (beverage) |
| Color | Brown |
It is thought that the energizing effect of the coffee bean plant was first recognized in Yemen in Arabia and the north east of Ethiopia, and the cultivation of coffee first expanded in the Arab world.[3] The earliest credible evidence of coffee drinking appears in the middle of the fifteenth century, in the Sufi monasteries of the Yemen in southern Arabia.[3] From the Muslim world, coffee spread to Italy, then to the rest of Europe, to Indonesia, and to the Americas.[4] Coffee has played an important role in many societies throughout history. In Africa and Yemen, it was used in religious ceremonies. As a result, the Ethiopian Church banned its secular consumption until the reign of Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia.[5] It was banned in Ottoman Turkey during the 17th century for political reasons,[6] and was associated with rebellious political activities in Europe.
Coffee berries, which contain the coffee bean, are produced by several species of small evergreen bush of the genus Coffea. The two most commonly grown are Coffea canephora (also known as Coffea robusta) and Coffea arabica. Both are cultivated primarily in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Once ripe, coffee berries are picked, processed, and dried. The seeds are then roasted to varying degrees, depending on the desired flavor. They are then ground and brewed to create coffee. Coffee can be prepared and presented in a variety of ways.
An important export commodity, coffee was the top agricultural export for twelve countries in 2004,[7] and in 2005, it was the world's seventh-largest legal agricultural export by value.[8] Some controversy is associated with coffee cultivation and its impact on the environment. Many studies have examined the relationship between coffee consumption and certain medical conditions; whether the overall effects of coffee are ultimately positive or negative has been widely disputed.[9] However, the method of brewing coffee has been found to be important.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
getting older
It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are a lot of things about yourself that you didn't know and may or may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.
You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you do not realize is that they are realizing that too and are not really cold or catty or mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.
You look at your job. It is not even close to what you thought you would be doing or maybe you are looking for one and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and are scared.
You miss the comforts of groups, of socializing with the same people on a constant basis. But then you realize that maybe they weren't so great after all.
You are beginning to understand yourself and what you want and do not want. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging a bit more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and add things to your list of what is acceptable and what is not. You are insecure and then secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.
You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you or you lay in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough to get to know better. You love someone but maybe love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you are not a bad person.
One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap and getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. You go through the same emotions and questions over and over and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision.
You worry about loans and money and the future and making a life for yourself and while wining the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!
What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.
And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.
And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.
- Abraham Lincoln
The Days Ration - Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Day's Ration
When I was born,
From all the seas of strength Fate filled a chalice,
Saying, This be thy portion, child; this chalice,
Less than a lily's, thou shalt daily draw
From my great arteries; nor less, nor more.
All substances the cunning chemist Time
Melts down into that liquor of my life,
Friends, foes, joys, fortunes, beauty, and disgust,
And whether I am angry or content,
Indebted or insulted, loved or hurt,
All he distils into sidereal wine,
And brims my little cup; heedless, alas!
Of all he sheds how little it will hold,
How much runs over on the desert sands.
If a new muse draw me with splendid ray,
And I uplift myself into her heaven,
The needs of the first sight absorb my blood,
And all the following hours of the day
Drag a ridiculous age.
To-day, when friends approach, and every hour
Brings book or starbright scroll of genius,
The tiny cup will hold not a bead more,
And all the costly liquor runs to waste,
Nor gives the jealous time one diamond drop
So to be husbanded for poorer days.
Why need I volumes, if one word suffice?
Why need I galleries, when a pupil's draught
After the master's sketch, fills and o'erfills
My apprehension? Why should I roam,
Who cannot circumnavigate the sea
Of thoughts and things at home, but still adjourn
The nearest matters to another moon?
Why see new men
Who have not understood the old?
coffee coffee coffee
True love is unconditional and being a big old grump-myself-
sometimes. Yes a big old grizzly... without my coffee its the treasure for-
me so-very-hard-to-come by-in this world, today. Like the sweet sound
of breaking the-natural freedom-of rhyme, and the certain-reverence
stirring in-the-spirit of a home that-lives only for this, one pure reason.
Seen now-and-viewed in-the likeness-of the-orange and red-brown and
yellow-of-a-joyous-leaf... . Blowing-free-in-the-ease of the wind, and
knowing-the-sound of a new hope rising-to-greet-the greener grasses,
thriving-amid-the-perfect-beauty growing in-plain view of-the other side
of-the morning. Stirring-in-the-depths-of-your-heart and the-well, of-your
soul... riding-high-atop the puffy-white-clouds-above, billowing-up to
greet the light of Heaven.
Yes-those temperate... and ever wonderful-things... . Like the-birds
chirping fondly, and slippery wet little kisses ... As you hear a
violent shouting wake-up, wake-up-and-a-rap-tap-tapping, on heavens-
bedroom-door. As then your awakened again... . Get up step-up onto-a-
buzzer toy. Slip-stumble to the challenge of-not-spilling the-coffee, and-
you-dance once-more.
Yes that freaky tone of a squeaky wet balloon, and the ongoing run of
happy little giggles... Rising to new heights in the pool underneath the
summer sun...
And so is love the prize in all its authenticity. A true and raw emotion...
Boldly running, and wildly shouting! Hey! Those certain conditions and
ultimatums are just fine, but don't you dare take my morning coffee!
Yes, I tell you as I can still dream every-day... I-dream-of-Christmas.
Clouds lay back as they rise, and fall puff up-and billow-all-in-illustrious-
efforts-to greet-the Sun... .
And-as I lay-back I admire-them-and as I see their-rising as they grow-
fuller in the distance they puff up higher and higher above the willows. As
a light-breeze picks up the leaves on the trees as they sway together in
their dance. And so I lay out my hand catch a tumbling leaf by chance.
"Knowing nothing of love grace or mercy, peace. The leaf now represents
for me my gift, of these greater things I give and so I say-my life now all of
it... is all but nothing, or-it-is-a-joyous-opportunity."
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
I've been dreaming
I've been thinking
I've been dreaming
Of a world that's warm and friendly
Hoping, laughing, jumping, swimming
It's summer all year long
Never moving on
Happiness is wild and free
Plenty room for you and me
Underneath my big shade tree
But winter comes and trees lose leaves
It snows and rains and water freezes
And worst of all some people are mean
I know that some utopia
Someday, somewhere is possible
So I'll keep my mind stable
I'll keep thinking
I'll keep dreaming
Someday the world will be warm and friendly
I've been dreaming
Of a world that's warm and friendly
Hoping, laughing, jumping, swimming
It's summer all year long
Never moving on
Happiness is wild and free
Plenty room for you and me
Underneath my big shade tree
But winter comes and trees lose leaves
It snows and rains and water freezes
And worst of all some people are mean
I know that some utopia
Someday, somewhere is possible
So I'll keep my mind stable
I'll keep thinking
I'll keep dreaming
Someday the world will be warm and friendly
Monday, January 4, 2010
disenchanted
Life's never as it seems
Disillusioned dreams
Screams of dread in our heads
Disenchanted by demons
Foiling dreams instead
Disconnecting madness
Disenchanted instead
Fed illusions since spoonfed
Lullabys gloomily sung abed
Awakened disenchantment
Life's imperfect picture
Snapped as souls bled
Agony scarred mind
Drives thorns deep to behead
Disenchanted love misfed
Stolen innocence shed
No more sweetness spread
Soul torn to shreds
Disillusioned tears misread
Tears flowing in red
Disenchanted wrists have bled
Illusionary life has fled
Disillusioned dreams
Screams of dread in our heads
Disenchanted by demons
Foiling dreams instead
Disconnecting madness
Disenchanted instead
Fed illusions since spoonfed
Lullabys gloomily sung abed
Awakened disenchantment
Life's imperfect picture
Snapped as souls bled
Agony scarred mind
Drives thorns deep to behead
Disenchanted love misfed
Stolen innocence shed
No more sweetness spread
Soul torn to shreds
Disillusioned tears misread
Tears flowing in red
Disenchanted wrists have bled
Illusionary life has fled
Where I am to Write
This is where I am to write,
I believe I am correct,
yes...
here..
before you,
with deafening words,
writen one letter at a time,
to form the screaming sounds,
of the betrayal and loneliness,
of bleeding hearts and barren nights,
that lead to blissful unions
and breathless embrace.
I am told this is where they come,
with tales of great men
and brave women,
who lived and cried,
fought and died,
for a long forgotten dream,
that only the poets remember.
Yes,
I am sure now,
this is where I write,
along the perimeter,
our place on the fringe,
far enough away
to ever hear us,
tapping out the future,
from a present
called the past.
I believe I am correct,
yes...
here..
before you,
with deafening words,
writen one letter at a time,
to form the screaming sounds,
of the betrayal and loneliness,
of bleeding hearts and barren nights,
that lead to blissful unions
and breathless embrace.
I am told this is where they come,
with tales of great men
and brave women,
who lived and cried,
fought and died,
for a long forgotten dream,
that only the poets remember.
Yes,
I am sure now,
this is where I write,
along the perimeter,
our place on the fringe,
far enough away
to ever hear us,
tapping out the future,
from a present
called the past.
Amanda Needs
a hug; a friend; to learn the truth; a vodka cran; a doggy cuddle; help; a good book; a sweet ride; pants; to start taking risks; a loving home; some direction; more ink; to bust some skulls; wisdom; a miracle; to be loved; new ones; to be rebuilt; a smoke; a share; to go crazy; to express herself; a vacation; to get over it; a time out; a new haircut; to do it her way; fine tuning; a spa day; some new friends; to mix it up; a love interest; a what not to wear makeover; more options; to find her voice; a scholarship; sleep; a house in London; to be a totally free agent; new glasses; a few swigs of whiskey; to look at herself; to be praised; better roles; to stop; to take time; etc.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
tonights sip
Terror scrapes across the glass
on gravel wheels, from a great distance.
This is the sound of a baby boy dying
at his mother's feet.
This is the way the chained dog sees life
stuck on a patch of dirt
while ice rains from the sky.
Terror is never silent,
never seen
until it is on you,
breaking razors in your mouth
crushing your tongue against your teeth.
Terror can teach us
to dance.
on gravel wheels, from a great distance.
This is the sound of a baby boy dying
at his mother's feet.
This is the way the chained dog sees life
stuck on a patch of dirt
while ice rains from the sky.
Terror is never silent,
never seen
until it is on you,
breaking razors in your mouth
crushing your tongue against your teeth.
Terror can teach us
to dance.
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