My Miraculous Family

I never considered myself unique, but people are constantly telling me, "you are a miracle." To me, I was just an ordinary "guy" with realistic goals and big dreams. I was a 19-ye ar-old student at the University of Texas and well on my way toward fulfilling my "big dream" of one day becoming an orthopedic surgeon. On the night of February 17, 1981 I was studying for an Organic Chemistry test at the library with Sharon, my girlfriend of three years. Sharon had asked me to drive her back to her dormitory as it was getting quite late. We got into my car, not realizing that just getting into a car would never quite be the same for me again. I quickly noticed that my gas gauge was registered on empty so I pulled into a nearby convenience store to buy $2.00 worth of gas. "I'll be back in two minutes," I yelled at Sharon as I closed the door. But instead, those two minutes changed my life forever. Entering the convenience store was like entering the twilight zone. On the outside I was a healthy, athletic, pre-med student, but on the inside I was just another statistic of replica rolex watchesa violent crime. I thought I was entering an empty store, but suddenly I realized it was not empty at all. Three robbers were in the process of committing a robbery and my entrance into the store caught them by surprise. One of the criminals immediately shoved a .38 caliber handgun to my head, ordered me to the cooler, pushed me down on the floor, and pumped a bullet into the back of my head - execution style. He obviously thought I was dead because he did not shoot me again. The trio of thieves finished robbing the store and left calmly. Meanwhile, Sharon wondered why I had not returned. After seeing the three men leave the store she really began to worry as I was the last person she saw entering the store. She quickly went inside to look for me, but saw no one-only an almost empty cash register containing one check and several pennies. Quickly she ran down each aisle shouting, "Mike, Mike!" Just then the attendant appeared from the back of the store shouting, "Lady, get down on the floor.I've just been robbed and shot at!" Sharon quickly dropped to the floor screaming,puma shoes "Have you seen my boyfriend?nike shoes He has auburn hair." The man did not reply but went back to the cooler where he found me choking on my vomit. The attendant quickly cleaned my mouth and then called for the police and an ambulance. Sharon was in shock. She was beginning to understand that I was hurt, but she could not begin to comprehend or imagine the severity of my injury. When the police arrived they immediately called the homicide division as they did not think I would survive and the paramedic reported that she had never seen a person so severely wounded survive. At 1:30 a.m. my parents who lived in Houston, were awakened by a telephone call from Brackenridge Hospital advising them to come to Austin as soon as possible for they feared I would not make it through the night. But I did make it through the night and early in the morning the neurosurgeon decided to operate. However, he quickly informed my family and Sharon that my chances of surviving the surgery were only 40/60.

The Heart Knows Best

The D-word. It’s most people’s worst fear, but, in a bittersweet way, it was my greatest joy. In divorce, you gain something and you lose something. There is no way around it, and in the end, it is best for everyone, whether they know it at the time or not.I’m thirteen years old, and I know what it feels like when parents split up, because mine did last fall.My parents had been unhappy for years. When my father started cheating on my mom, things went downhill. I thought they would divorce instantly. I tried to picture my life after my parents split up—living at my mom’s house during the week, and my father’s house on the weekend. I was scared. But my mom decided to be the bigger person and try to stick it out, so that my siblings and I would know what it was like to have a family. Things didn’t get better though.I would always strain to hear the quiet arguments they didn’t want me to hear. They weren’t getting along and they weren’t happy. But I could tell that they didn’t know what they would do if they broke up. They took comfort in just coming home toreplica designer handbags someone, no matter what they had done. They were both scared, even if they didn’t admit it. They would face their problems, together or apart, and know that when things got bad—they had each other. People don’t like change and they don’t want to find out what could happen. Most people don’t want to take a chance because there is a fifty percent chance the result could come out good or a fifty percent chance that it won’t. I learned though, that you dictate your own future and when someone is pulling you down, you can change their impact on you and that is just what I did. My father had never really been there for me. He was there physically but not emotionally. He yelled a lot and never really showed any interest in going to my piano recitals or watching my dance performances. Everything we asked him to do, he had another excuse—a lie. We just sort of ignored it and went on with our lives like nothing was the matter.Then last summer, there was real trouble in paradise. My siblings and I went out to Los Angeles to pursue acting and while we were out replica watchthere, my father cheated on my mom again, and this time my brother, sister, and I all found out. He was going to make us move back to Florida and leave L.A. forever. L.A. was the best thing that had ever happened to me, my brother, my sister, and my mom. We were finally all happy. We decided to stay in L.A. and leave my father in Florida.Our actions resulted in divorce. We didn’t know if we were making the right decision or not. My mom went back and forth. She wanted what was best for her children. She confronted me and asked me if I thought we should go back to Florida or stay in Los Angeles. I replied, “There is nothing in Florida for us anymore. Out here in L.A., we have so many dreams that can come true. We shouldn’t let him abuse us anymore. Finally, we are free.”My brother, sister, mom, and I finally were able to start over and let our happiness rise to new levels. We were allowed to become whoever we wanted to be and let our dreams soar to the sky. We weren’t overshadowed swiss replica watchesby my dad anymore, and he couldn’t hold his reputation and actions above our heads. Sometimes I still wonder what life would be like if my parents had not divorced, and I become deeply upset about what I have lost. But the gain was far greater.The divorce was the best thing that had ever happened to me and the rest of my family. I don’t regret anything about it. I now know that taking chances is the best thing to do. Even though I was scared at first and had my doubts about the divorce, I was glad it happened because now I could start my life over. The bond between my mom and me grew to great heights.I will always remember what my mom said to me every time I would become upset over everything that had happened. “We are going to rise above.” And we did. I gained my life back from the divorce and now I am the happiest I have been in my whole life.Everyone thought my life before was perfect.For richer or poorer. Your heart will never let you down.

A Moment of Joy

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. It was a cowboy’s life, a life for someone who wanted no boss.What I did not realize was that it was also a ministry. Because I drove the night shift, my cab became a moving confessional. Passengers climbed in, sat behind me in total anonymity, and told me about their lives. I encountered people whose lives amazed me, ennobled me, made me laugh and weep.But none touched me more than a woman I picked up late one August night.I was responding to a call from a small brick fourplex in a quiet part of town. I assumed I was being sent to pick up some people who had been partying, or someone who had just had a fight with a lover, or a worker heading to an early shift at some factory for the industrial part of town.When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under such circumstances, many drivers just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away. But I chi hair straightenershad seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transpor- tation.Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door.This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself. So I walked to the door and knocked. “Just a minute,” answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase.The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.“Would you carry my bag out to the car?” she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm, and we walked slowly toward the curb. replica handbagsShe kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.” “Oh, you’re such a good boy,” she said.When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, then asked, “Can you drive through downtown?” “It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly. “Oh, I don’t mind,” she said. “I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice.” I looked in the rearview mirror. Her eyes were glistening. “I don’t have any family left,” she continued. “The doctor says I don’t have very long.”I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. “What route would you like me to take?” I asked.For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds.wholesale handbags She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.”We drove in silence to the address she had given me.It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.“How much do I owe you?” she asked, reaching into her purse.“Nothing,” We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware - beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one. People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said... but they will always remember how you made them feel.Take a moment to stop and appre- ciate the memories you have made, the memory making opportunies around you and make someone feel special today.

Write Right

When I was fifteen, I announced to my English class that I was going to write and illustrate my own books. Half the students sneered, the rest nearly fell out of their chairs laughing. "Don't be silly, only geniuses can become writers," the English teacher said smugly, "And you are getting a D this semester." I was so humiliated I burst into tears. That night I wrote a short sad poem about broken dreams and mailed it to the Capri's Weekly newspaper. To my astonishment, they published it and sent me two dollars. I was a published and paid writer. I showed my teacher and fellow students. They laughed. "Just plain dumb luck," the teacher said. I tasted success. I'd sold the first thing I'd ever written. That was more than any of them had done and if it was just dumb luck, that replica handbagwas fine with me. During the next two years I sold dozens of poems, letters, jokes and recipes. By the time I graduated from high school, with a C minus average, I had scrapbooks filled with my published work. I never mentioned my writing to my teachers, friends or my family again. They were dream killers and if people must choose between their friends and their dreams, they must always choose their dreams. I had four children at the time, and the oldest was only four. While the children napped, I typed on my ancient typewriter. I wrote what I felt. It took nine months, just like a baby. I chose a publisher at random and put the manuscript in an empty Pampers diapers package, the only box I could find. I'd never heard of manuscript boxes. The letter I enclosed read, "I wrote this book myself, hair straightenersI hope you like it. I also do the illustrations. Chapter six and twelve are my favourites. Thank you." I tied a string around the diaper box and mailed it without a self addressed stamped envelope and without making a copy of the manuscript. A month later I received a contract, an advance on royalties, and a request to start working on another book. Crying Wind, the title of my book, became a best seller, was translated into fifteen languages and Braille and sold worldwide. I appeared on TV talk shows during the day and changed diapers at night. I traveled from New York to California and Canada on promotional tours. My first book also became required reading in native American schools in Canada. The worst year I ever had as a writer I earned two dollars. I was fifteen, remember? In my best year I earned 36,000 dollars. Most years I earned between five thousandGHD and ten thousand. No, it isn't enough to live on, but it's still more than I'd make working part time and it's five thousand to ten thousand more than I'd make if I didn't write at all. People ask what college I attended, what degrees I had and what qualifications I have to be a writer. The answer is: "None." I just write. I'm not a genius. I'm not gifted and I don't write right. I'm lazy, undisciplined, and spend more time with my children and friends than I do writing. I didn't own a thesaurus until four years ago and I use a small Webster's dictionary that I'd bought at K-Mart for 89 cents. I use an electric typewriter that I paid a hundred and twenty nine dollars for six years ago. I've never used a word processor. I do all the cooking, cleaning and laundry for a family of six and fit my writing in a few minutes here and there. I write everything in longhand on yellow tablets while sitting on the sofa with my four kids eating pizza and watching TV. When the book is finished, I type it and mail it to the publisher. I've written eight books. Four have been published and three are still out with the publishers. One stinks. To all those who dream of writing, I'm shouting at you: "Yes, you can. Yes, you can. Don't listen to them." I don't write right but I've beaten the odds. Writing is easy, it's fun and anyone can do it. Of course, a little dumb luck doesn't hurt.

Shallow Hal

Bobby and Peter Farrelly have been widely hailed, and occasionally criticized, for their wacky, lowbrow humor that leaves audiences rolling in the aisles. We have enjoyed their goofy, unforgettable scenes in “Dumb and Dumber,” “There's Something About Mary,” and “Me, Myself, and Irene.” Their upcoming film, “Shallow Hal,” packs plenty of laughs, but marks a departure for the duo in that it has a serious message as well.Rising talent Jack Black plays Hal, an unremarkable man who will only date beautiful women with perfect bodies. His standards change, however, after he is hypnotized by self-help guru Tony Robbins. No longer the shallow cad, Hal is now hair straightenersonly concerned with inner beauty.Hal finds a worthy recipient of his affections in Rosemary (Gwyneth Paltrow), an intelligent woman of character---and 300 pounds. In Hal's eyes, though, Rosemary is lithe and gorgeous. Agog at this development is Hal's superficial but likable pal, Mauricio, played by popular funnyman Jason Alexander. In the end, the illusion of Rosemary's beauty is revealed and Hal learns an important lesson in life.All the Farrelly brothers' movies have revolved around realistic characters whom the audience can root for. Their tactics and quirky sense of humor have worked so far to great effect, and “Shallow Hal” looks ready to join their string of successes, while adding a new dimension to their work. Their tactics and quirky sense of humor have worked so farGHD to great effect, and “Shallow Hal” looks ready to join their string of successes, while adding a new dimension to their work. A porcelain, blond beauty with proven acting skills and an air of class, Gwyneth Paltrow has taken Hollywood by storm. Born in Tinseltown to parents in the entertainment industry, Paltrow's foray into film came as no surprise.Paltrow's first training in acting came at the age of 11 while her father was directing summer stock productions. One of her first roles was in chi hair straightenersa play opposite her award-winning actress mother, Blythe Danner. She became bitten by the acting bug and later quit college to pursue a film career which has met with great critical and commercial success.Her movie debut came in 1991 with “shout,” starring John Travolta. She won her first real acclaim, though, in “Flesh and Bone,” which set her on the path to fame. In 1995, she landed a fortuitous role in “Seven” opposite Brad Pitt. A much publicized two-year romance with Pitt followed, culminating in an engagement and subsequent breakup. One of Hollywood's more prolific actresses, Paltrow has starred in 15 films since 1998. Her greatest acclaim so far has come from the period pieces “Emma” and “Shakespeare in Love,” the latter which earned her a Best Actress Oscar. Now with “Shallow Hal,” Paltrow has the opportunity to show her comic side while broadening her already considerable talents and fan base.

An angel

It all began about 2,000 years ago. An angel appeared to a Jewish girl named Mary and gave her good news: You will have a son. His name will be Jesus, the Savior. When the baby was almost due, Mary and her fiance Joseph went to their hometown, Bethlehem, for a census. The only place they could find to stay was an animal stable. There the special baby was born.The celebration of this special birth came to be called Christmas. Through the ages, people developed many Christmas traditions. The custom of decorating Christmas trees began centuries ago. People in many ancient cultures decorated homes with trees and greenery in winter. In the Middle Ages, Christians in Europe added lights and religious symbols to evergreens to make Christmas trees. Santa Gucci HandbagsClaus has become one of the most famous Christmas figures, particularly in America. His legend started with a kind bishop named St. Nicholas who lived around 300 A.D. and was known for his generosity. The practice of giving Christmas gifts comes from the gifts offered to the child Jesus by the wise men of the East. The star on top of the Christmas tree symbolizes the star that led the wise men to Jesus. Sometimes Christmas can become just a ritual. Many Americans see Christmas as just a time for shopping for the perfect gift.Angels announced the joyful news to some shepherds. They left their sheep and hurried to see the baby. Some time later, wise men from the East saw an unusual star. They knew someone great had been born. The star led them to Bethlehem. When they found the child Jesus, they offeredRolex Watches him gifts fit for a king. Christmas Advertisers and businesses begin promoting Christmas earlier every year. Stores remind customers of how many shopping days are left until Christmas. It's almost a modern Christmas custom to spend too much money! Credit card debts often take months to pay off. Even children can become materialistic. They think only of what they will get from Santa Claus. Despite the hustle and bustle of the Christmas Rush, most Americans feel Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. It's a time of excitement, a time of joy, a time to show love in special ways. Best of all, Christmas is not just for Americans. Christmas is for everybody in the world. Christmas is the celebration of God's gift to the world-Jesus.

The Baby Eagle

Once upon a time there was a baby eagle living in a nest perched on a cliff overlooking a beautiful valley with waterfalls and streams, trees and lots of little animals, scurrying about enjoying their lives. The baby eagle liked the nest. It was the only world he had ever known. It was warm and comfortable, had a great view, and even better, he had all the food and love and attention that a great mother eagle could provide. Many times each day the mother would swoop down from the sky and land in the nest and feed the baby eagle delicious morsels of food. She was like a god to him, he had no idea where she came from or how she worked her magic. The baby eagle was hungry all the time, Replica Watchesbut the mother eagle would always come just in time with the food and love and attention hecraved. The baby eagle grew strong. His vision grew very sharp. He felt good all the time. Until one day, the mother stopped coming to the nest. The baby eagle was hungry. "I'm sure to die," said the baby eagle, all the time. "Very soon, death is coming," he cried, with tears streaming down his face. Over and over. But there was no one there to hear him. Then one day the mother eagle appeared at the top of the mountain cliff, with a big bowl of delicious food and she looked down at her baby. The replica designer handbagsbaby looked up at the mother and cried "Why did you abandon me? I'm going to die any minute. How could you do this to me?" The mother said, "Here is some very tasty and nourishing food, all you have to do is come get it." "Come get it!" said the baby, with much anger. "How?" The mother flew away. The baby cried and cried and cried. A few days later, "I'm going to end it all," he said. "I give up. It is time for me to die." He didn't know his mother was nearby. She swooped down to the nest with his last meal. "Eat this, it's your last meal," she said. The baby cried, but he ate and whined and whined about what a bad mother she was. "You're a terrible mother," he said. Then she pushed him out of the nest. He fell. Head first. Picked up speed. Faster and Coach Handbagsfaster. He screamed. "I'm dying I'm dying," he cried. He picked up more speed. He looked up at his mother. "How could you do this to me?" He looked down. The ground rushed closer, faster and faster. He could visualize his own death so clearly, coming so soon, and cried and whined and complained. "This isn't fair!" he screamed. Something strange happens. The air caught behind his arms and they snapped away from his body, with a feeling unlike anything he had ever experienced. He looked down and saw the sky. He wasn't moving towards the ground anymore, his eyes were pointed up at the sun. "Huh?" he said. "What is going on here!" "You're flying," his mother said. "This is fun!" laughed the baby eagle, as he soared and dived and swooped. "Yes it is!" said the mother.

The Moon

We find that the moon is about 239,000 miles (384,551 km) away from the earth, and, to within a few thousand miles, its distance always remains the same. Yet a very little observation shows that the moon is not standing till. Its distance from the earth remains the same, but its direction continually changes. We find that it is traveling in a circle - or very nearly a circle - round the earth, going completely round once a month, or, more exactly, once very 27 1/3 days. It is our nearest Replica rolex watchesneighbour in space, and like ourselves it is kept tied to the earth by the earth's gravitational pull.Except for the sun, the moon looks the biggest object in the sky. Actually it is one of the smallest, and only looks big because it is so near to us. Its diameter is only 2,160 miles (3,389 km), or a little more than a quarter of the diameter of the earth.Once a month, or, more exactly, once every 29 1/2 days, at the time we call "full moon," its whole disc looks replica handbagbright. At other times only part of it appears bright, and we always find that this is the part which faces towards the sun, while the part facing away from the sun appears dark. Artists could make their pictures better if they kept this in mind - only those parts of the moon which are lighted up by the sun are bright. This shows that the moon gives no light of its own. It merely reflects the light of the sun, like a huge mirror hung in the sky.Yet the dark part of the moon's surface is not absolutely black; generally it is just light enough Replica Handbagsfor us to be able to see its outline, so that we speak of seeing "the old moon in the new moon's arms." The light by which we see the old moon does not come from the sun, but from the earth. We know well how the surface of the sea or of snow, or even of a wet road, may reflect uncomfortable much of the sun's light on to our faces. In the same way the surface of the whole earth reflects enough of the sun's light on to the face of the moon for us to be able to see the parts of it which would otherwise be dark. If there were any inhabitants of the moon, they would see our earth reflecting the light of the sun, again like a huge mirror hung in the sky. They would speak of earthlight just as we speak of moon-light. "the old moon in the new moon's arms" is nothing but that part of the moon's surface on which it is night, lighted up by earth light. In the same way , the lunar inhabitants would occasionally see part of our earth in full sunlight, and the rest lighted only by moon-light; they might call this "the old earth in the new earth's arms."

The 4 Wives

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best. He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He’s very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men. He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant’s confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times. Now, the merchant’s 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business Designer clothingas well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her. One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, “Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I’ll be alone. How lonely I’ll be!”Thus, he asked the 4th wife, “I loved you most, and owed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?”Designer replica handbags “No way!” replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word. The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant’s heart. The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, “I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No!” replied the 3rd wife. “Life is so good over here! I’m going to remarry when you die!” The merchant’s heart sank and turned cold. He then asked the 2nd wife, “I always turned to you for help and you’ve always helped me out. Now I need yourWholesale jewelry help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?” “I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this time!” replied the 2nd wife. “At the very most, I can only send you to your grave.” The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.Then a voice called out: “I’ll leave with you. I’ll follow you no matter where you go.” The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, “I should have taken much better care of you while I could have!” Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it’ll leave us when we die. Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others. The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we’re alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave. The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure. Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it’s a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we’re on our deathbed to lament.

The Red Ribbon

Everyone wants a blue ribbon. Blue. First place. The best. Even kindergarteners want that blue ribbon. In sports, I was never a blue-ribbon person. In a race I was always last. In baseball I was as likely to get hit on the head as to drop the ball. In basketball I was fine as long as there weren’t nine other players on the court with me. Where I got my horrible sports ability, I don’t know, but I got it. And I got it early.During the spring of my kindergarten year, our class had a fieldtrip to a park in a town about 20 miles away. Making that drive now is no big deal, but when you’re six and you’ve lived in a town of 300 all your life, going to a town of a couple thousand is a very big deal. Nonetheless, looking back now, I don’t remember much of that day. I’m sure we ate ed hardy clothingour little sack lunches, played on the swings, slid down the slide — typical six-year-old stuff. Then it was time for the races.These no ordinary races. Some parent had come up with the idea to have the picnic kind of races, like pass the potato under your neck and hold an egg on a spoon while you run to the other side. I don’t remember too much about these, but there was one race that will forever be lodged in my memory — the three-legged race.The parents decided not to use potato sacks for this particular race. Instead, they tied our feet together. One lucky little boy got me for a partner. Now what you have to know about this little boy is that he was the second most athletic boy in our class. I’m sure he knew he was in trouble the second they laced his foot to mine. replica handbagsAs for me, I was mortified. This guy was a winner. He almost always won, and I knew that, with me, he didn’t have a chanceHowever, apparently he didn’t realize that as deeply as I did at the time. He laced his arm with mine, the gun sounded, and we were off to the other side. Couples were falling and stumbling all around us, but we stayed on our feet and made it to the other side. Unbelievably when we turned around and headed back for home, we were in the lead! Only one other couple even had a chance, and they were a good several yards behind us.Then only feet from the finish line, disaster struck. I tripped and fell. We were close enough that my partner could have easily dragged me across the finish line and won. He could have, but he didn’t. Instead, he stopped, reached down, and helped me up — just as the other couple crossed the finish line.I still remember that moment, replica watchesand I still have that little red ribbon. When we graduated 13 years later, I stood on that stage and gave the Valedictory address to that same group of students, none of whom even remembered that moment anymore. So, I told them about that little boy who had made a split-second decision that helping a friend up was more important than winning a blue ribbon. In my speech I told them that I wouldn’t tell which of the guys sitting there on that stage was the little boy although he was up there with me. I wouldn’t tell because in truth at one time or another all of them had been that little boy — helping me up when I fell, taking time out from their pursuit of their own goals to help a fellow person in need.And I told them why I’ve kept that ribbon. You see to me, that ribbon is a reminder that you don’t have to be a winner in the eyes of the world to be a winner to those closest to you. The world may judge you a failure or a success, but those closest to you will know the truth. That’s important to remember as we travel through this life. You may not have a red ribbon to prove it, but I sincerely hope you have at least a few friends who remember you for taking time out from your pursuit of that blue ribbon to help them. I’m thinking those will be the ones that really count — I know it’s the one that counted the most to me.

I have a pound

But to the story of my professional experiences. I have a pound, and six out of ten my first review, and I bought a Persian cat with the proceeds. Then I'm ambitious. A Persian cat is well and good, I said, but a Persian cat is not enough. I need a car. And it was so that I am a writer - for it is a very strange thing that people get a car, if you tell them a story. It is a stranger, which is still that it is not so beautiful in the world as stories. It is much easier than writing reviews of famous novels. And yet, if I am not to obey your secretary and tell you my professional experience as a writer, I must tell you about a very strange experience that befell me as a writer. And to understand it, you must try to imagine a writer in the state of mind. I hope I'm not away, the professional secrets if I say that a writer is chief desire as unconscious as possible. He has to puma shoesbe in a state of perpetual lethargy. He wants life to proceed with the utmost calm and regularity. He wants to see the same faces, read the same books that we do so, what day, month after month, while he writes, so that nothing against the illusion, in which he lives - so that nothing interfere with or concerned about the mysterious nosings, feelings round, darts, dashes and sudden discoveries of that very shy and illusive spirit, the imagination. I suspect that this condition is the same for men and women. Anyway, I want you to imagine me writing a novel in a state of trance. I wish that you value her sits a girl with a pen in hand, for the minutes, and indeed for those hours, it appears not in the inkpot.nike shoes The picture that in my opinion, if I think this girl is the picture of a fisherman is sunk in dreams on the edge of a deep lake with a rod held his head above water. She was letting her imagination sweep off all round rock and hiding place in the world, is immersed in the depths of our unconscious will. Now came the experience, in my opinion, far more frequently with women than with men writers. The line went through the girl's finger. Their imagination was rushed away. It had the pools, the depths of the dark places where the largest fish sleep. And then there was a smash. There was an explosion. It was foam and confusion. The imagination had dashed itself against something hard. The girl was awakened from her dream. It was indeed in a state of acute distress and difficult. To speak without figure she had something, something about the body, about the passions that it was inappropriate for them to say as a woman. Men, her reason, she said, would be shocked. The awareness of what men say a woman who speaks the truth about her passions had awakened her from her artist's womens clothesstate of unconsciousness. She could no longer write. The track was. Your imagination could no longer work. This in my opinion, a very common experience with women writers - they are justified by the extreme conventionality of the other sex. For if men can sense great freedom in this respect, I doubt that they realize or can be an extreme hardship, which they condemn such freedom in women. These were two real experiences with my own. These were two of the adventures of my professional life. The first - killing the angel in the house - I think I solved. She died. But the second, to tell the truth about my own experiences as a body, I do not think I solved. I doubt that every woman has still not been solved. The obstacles are still against it immensely powerful - and yet they are very difficult to define. Outwardly, what is easier than to write books? Outwardly, what obstacles exist for a woman than a man? Inwardly, I think, the matter very differently, she has still many ghosts to fight, many prejudices to overcome. Because it is a long time yet, I think, before a woman can sit down to write a book, without seeking to slay a phantom, a rock concert to be dashed before. And if this is so in literature, the freest of all professions for women, as in the new professions which are now for the first time?

Messages of hope for working class

For the grassroot masses, the policies-setting report delivered at the once-every-five-year national congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is probably too multifarious and too macro-sounding to study.The one passed by the just concluded 17th National Congress of the CPC, however, contains some encouraging messages that are manifestly new. One of them is the emphasis on the improvement of people's livelihood. Compared to reports in previous congresses, a larger part of the policy statement is devoted to the issue with more explicit wording about what should be done to ensure the improvement.The report says that the share given to labor in the primary distribution of wealth should be raised and that the relationship between efficiency and fairness be "handled properly". replica watchThis marked the first ever acknowledgement that the share of after-production profits laborers obtained as compared to that garnered by other productive elements was unfairly low.In the last 20 years of the past century, China took on market-oriented reform and went all out to ensure a fast economic growth. Counteracting the previous egalitarianism, which was intrinsically a haven for poor work performance, the nation accepted the notion that efficiency has priority over fairness.The notion was right at that time as it was a sobering stimulant for Chinese who had become accustomed to the practice of "eating from the same rice wok". And efficiency did play a vital role in the dramatic growth of China's national economy since the launch of the reform drive at the end of the 1970s.The nearlyswiss replica watches two-digit annual growth of the economy over the past 28 years has benefited all strata of society - to different extents. Anyone who is faithful to facts will admit that the living standard of the Chinese people has been raised by a huge margin. However, after more than 20 years, people have begun to think if the "efficiency prioritized over fairness" approach is still justifiable. Every truth is relative in nature depending on the conditions under which it is applied. What was right in the past may not be applicable today. When developing economy and shaking off poverty as quickly as possible was the top demand of the whole nation, sacrificing fairness to ensure high economic efficiency was the only alternative for the Chinese people. But now, when the national wealth has increased to a considerably large extent replica rolex watches(ours is now the fourth largest economy in the world with the largest foreign exchange reserve), a fairer distribution of revenue among different members of the economy should be put on our agenda, given the fact that the income distribution gaps have widened remarkably and the rich-poor disparity has worsened to an alarming extent.The past practice of compensating laborers in the so-called redistribution (such as in the forms of poverty-relief funds and individual financial management) had little efficacy. For most laborers, wage is the only source of income. An increase in this form of primary distribution is the most substantial benefit for common laborers.The decision to raise labor's share in the primary distribution comes just in time. And there are reasons for us to believe that China is bound to head for a "fairer society with greater justice" as stated in the Party report. The belief is based on the fact that in the past five years since the 16th National Congress of the CPC, a number of policies have been implemented to bring substantive benefits to rural and low-income urban residents. For instance, the scrapping of the agriculture tax, the enforcement of free compulsory education in rural areas, and the several hikes in pensions for retirees of all enterprises.

Experiencing Scotland

Scotland is a unique and austere place, laden with history, where you can find aristocratic palaces and castles, as well as the traditional parades in national costumes. It has some of the most beautiful cities in Europe, a living testimony of a proud and splendid past. In order to see and discover the true soul of Scotland today, what forged the character of this splendid region, we have to go towards the northern regions, to the Grampian Mountains. Beautiful and unspoiled, it was difficultReplica Watches to farm. The Scots subdued the environment with simple spades and strong arms. The history of this ancient struggle, and its people’s ancient love affair with the hard land, is enclosed within the walls of the Angus Folk Museum. You are able to get a feel of the typical rural atmosphere of times past from the everyday artifacts displayed here. From coastal Aberdeen in towards the interior of the Grampian Mountains there runs the Castle Trail, a road that touches on many fortresses, which are witnesses of continual revolts against the dominion of neighboring England replica designer handbagsin Scottish history. Perhaps the most uplifting moment for Scottish autonomy is the one experienced inside this ancient abbey of Arbroath, where, in 1320; the Declaration of Independence was celebrated, at the instigation of King Robert the Bruce. He carried out the plan for autonomy drawn up by the great popular hero William Wallace, to whom cinema has dedicated the wonderful film "Braveheart", the winner of five Oscars. This is Glamis Castle. It is often remembered for being the residence of King Macbeth and Queen Elizabeth in her childhood. Among the most assiduous guests here are the inevitable ghosts, which are nourished, if not actually created, by ancient popular beliefs.Coach Handbags These have been handed down over the centuries by a people inclined to live with mystery, with the forces of the supernatural. Another attraction here is a legendary monster: the Loch Ness Monster. Is it real or imaginary, this monster, which has been nicknamed Nessie, has collected a good 3000 sightings over the last 50 years? To fuel the debate about the monster, and perhaps also curiosity about the lake, a price of 500,000 pounds sterling has been put on Nessie’s head. The true flag of Scotland, tartan, is recognisable from the brightly coloured plaid patterns which are used to distinguish the various clans. Over the last few decades this fabric has made a comeback and is part of the daily life of this country. The typical Scottish garment, the kilt, is de rigeur when the Scots play the Great Highland bagpipes, especially when they march in parades. Bagpipes and dancing open the competitions of local sporting events, which are called Highland Gatherings. The games, which have strange rules, involve a spirit that has more to do with brute force than with athletics.

Graduates’ Pressure in Finding Jobs

Nowadays, more and more university graduates complain that graduation does not equate to employment. They experience great difficulties finding satisfactory jobs. What is the cause of this phenomenon In my opinion, there are four causes: First, graduates lack experience. They spend most of their time at school studying academic subjects and lack relevant job training. Only after graduation do they realize it’s hard to find jobs. Second, competition among graduates grows more bitter and more bitter and bitter. The supply of university graduates exceeds social demand. This results in a decreased chance for any individual graduate to find a job. Third, some students don’t Replica rolex watchesstudy hard. Some of them skip classes just because they have no interest in certain subjects. Some play computer games or pursue other interests. Some sleep in class or in the library. Then they leave the sheltered environment of the university campus, to discover they don’t have adequate knowledge to apply for many positions, which makes them feel lost and frustrated. Finally, some graduates are conceited. They lack experience but ask for a high salary, which is impractical. So, university students should try their best to change this situation. When they are in school, they should make the most of their time and put their heart into their studies. They can hold part-time jobs in their spare time to accumulate relevant work experience. They should take part in some social activities and provide themselves with special training, if possible. When they graduate and apply for jobs, they should attach more importance to accumulating experience than to their replica handbagstarting salary.On University Students’ Pressure in Finding Jobs About a decade ago, university students could find satisfactory and enviable jobs after their graduation. But now, things are different. Today's university students usually have much pressure in finding fairly good jobs. They always say disappointedly that graduation means joblessness. Why nowadays university students have so much pressure in finding jobs? In my opinion, this kind of pressure is mainly caused by three reasons. Firstly, the government is enrolling more and more university students year by year. And the growth of the students' number has surpassed that of the need of the society. So, Replica Handbagswhen so many students graduate at a time, the chance of finding jobs becomes tiny. Secondly, today's university students, most of them are the "only-child", who are more mentally frail. Since they are indulged greatly at home and haven't been trained to do things on their own, once it is their turn to go out of the campus and find jobs by themselves and decide what kind of jobs to choose, they feel bewildered and don't know what to do. If their first try fails, they will be frustrated and think that it is really hard to find jobs. Thirdly, some university students are not qualified for good and challenging jobs. After entering the university, they don't study as hard as they did in high schools. They begin to sleep during the class or even be absent for classes. Some are addicted to computer games or Jin Yong's novels, or step into the two-person-world too early. Because these things have taken up so much of their time and energy, their study is neglected. After four years of university life, they haven't gained the knowledge those fairly good jobs or certain positions require.

Getting intense

When I was still basking myself in the yesterday's fortune that the mistake made public actually had nothing to do with me, another email directly sent to me caught me by surprise. The moment the email arrived, I was working on another project and thus, was not the least ready for it. Opening the email, it bowled me over to see I was actually one of the people the email was for. In fact, it was no good news to receive an email captioned Mistake. Followed would be marked by strenuous effort to find out the person who dropped the ball, petrifying everyone. Mistake-phobic Ivy, having already committed more mistakes than she was expected to as a freshman, was sitting on her chair,Designer clothing her heart beating fast, feeling as if dooms day were coming.It was no exaggeration, because it just was getting so intense. This time, it was not a tiny mistake. Though later on result came out that the ball didn't fall on my court, the fear was still there to stay. But this alone couldn't justify they went public with every mistake always as far as I am concerned. They were just too harsh on us, putting too much strain on our work. For me, the mistakes I made and the fear of their action detracted away my confidence, the same way other colleagues felt. I've no idea if there was - like I said- the office politics thing in here? Anybody out there they are interested Designer replica handbagsin taking down? Have I read too many negative reports on office competition that actually my vision was blurred, and my opinion biased? Not a clue!The fear of mistakes drove everyone to be twice careful. But it was sort of frustrating at the lack of confidence that there might be mistakes though we counter checked our tasks again and again. Were we actually having too little faith in ourselves or what? I cannot figure out what it was for my colleagues. But for myself, I seriously knew I became a slave in this issue. The fear of mistakes occurrence distracted attention, detracted performance and resulted in both necessary and unnecessary mistakes. Wholesale jewelry Through this miserable process, we did learn to be careful and detail-oriented. Was this the price to pay to grow more professional?It was good to be pushed to attach more attention to work and to be detail-oriented. Eventually, this should be what we will be in the work place. And years later, I will be thankful to my first year experience in my work career. Paying more attention to details and making sure the work is correct in every detail was the thing to do before ultimately seeing the big picture. But apparently, I haven’t learned to appreciate the intense work atmosphere that generated too much fear in me and diminished my confidence.I would love to be tutored step by step rather than being pushed harshly.I would enjoy a less-stressed environment where I could fully unleash my talents and work with willingness and happiness. But I know, now, that this is what it should be at working. This is the pressure I would bear when I chose to work in a big city, where there were very strict standards and appraisal system for everyone. I grow a lot. And the only thing to expect now is I will be more professional as I can be in this first year of my career, paving way for a brilliant career prospect.

I am back

I haven’t updated my blog for a long time, but I felt extremely happy and calm when I saw today that there were so many supporters to read my diary, my life. Thank you!After last interview which was described last article, I attended my second interview in a company which is called “Guangzhou SurExam Bio-Tech Company” in Science City, Guangzhou on Jan’3rd. My BF and I went there on Jan’ 2nd to ensure I could get good preparation the next day. In fact, I like this company when I first saw it and my critical BF also has the same feeling. I thought that I prepared this interview well, and I successfully passed five turns interviews at last. You know, I indeed felt that I am one of the ed hardy clothingluckiest girls in this world. I never ask my company about the salary though my employer said that I could ask some questions about this job, because I know that I am always the student in the university, and in fact, I am lack of society experience. Because of my heavy experiment job and I love this company, and then I didn’t deliver any resume to any other place. I arrived at my home to enjoy my spring festive on Feb’ 8th, and I got back my university on Feb’20th. I always have the pressure of my graduation and paper, therefore, I didn’t live my life well these months. You know, I must worry about my experiments, extremely the result was not as good as I predicted before.replica handbags I found that it is difficult to express myself now because I wrote few recently, but I will try my best. I would like to say something about my love affair. My BF Gary and I quarreled once seriously in March, and at that moment, I nearly left him alone. Fortunately, he found that it was his fault immediately, and after two days anger, I accept his apology finally. Frankly speaking, I was also responsible for that quarrel, but my BF loves me more and made us regain our happy life. Now, some of my classmates still ask me such questions like why I chose him as my boyfriend because few girls could accept BF’s height is lower than them. As for me, I don’t think that is necessary for replica watchestwo people’s relationship. There is a saying that beauty is the eyes of the beholder. It is true. I like him, he is so cute.Haha.A large number of my friends envy me that I have found a job, had a darling boyfriend, and I would graduate in advance. Yeah, compared to them, I indeed have too many kind people in my life, that is my fortune. I think that I should always think about these fortunate things and kind people so that I could move on no matter how difficult my situation is. There is one thing which I consider more and carefully than before. That is parents are the most important people in my life, though I always make them angry. For example, I never get up early and always get up at noon when I enjoy holidays at home no matter whether somebody will visit us. I must treat Dad and Mom well in my future life to pay back their devotion on my growth. I am looking forward to one day that I could make money to buy something for them. I know that, that day is coming!

Getting intense

When I was still basking myself in the yesterday's fortune that the mistake made public actually had nothing to do with me, another email directly sent to me caught me by surprise. The moment the email arrived, I was working on another project and thus, was not the least ready for it. Opening the email, it bowled me over to see I was actually one of the people the email was for. In fact, it was no good news to receive an email captioned Mistake. Followed would be marked by strenuous effort to find out the person who dropped the ball, petrifying everyone. Mistake-phobic Ivy, having already committed more mistakes than she was expected to as a freshman, was sitting on her chair,Designer clothing her heart beating fast, feeling as if dooms day were coming.It was no exaggeration, because it just was getting so intense. This time, it was not a tiny mistake. Though later on result came out that the ball didn't fall on my court, the fear was still there to stay. But this alone couldn't justify they went public with every mistake always as far as I am concerned. They were just too harsh on us, putting too much strain on our work. For me, the mistakes I made and the fear of their action detracted away my confidence, the same way other colleagues felt. I've no idea if there was - like I said- the office politics thing in here? Anybody out there they are interested Designer replica handbagsin taking down? Have I read too many negative reports on office competition that actually my vision was blurred, and my opinion biased? Not a clue!The fear of mistakes drove everyone to be twice careful. But it was sort of frustrating at the lack of confidence that there might be mistakes though we counter checked our tasks again and again. Were we actually having too little faith in ourselves or what? I cannot figure out what it was for my colleagues. But for myself, I seriously knew I became a slave in this issue. The fear of mistakes occurrence distracted attention, detracted performance and resulted in both necessary and unnecessary mistakes. Wholesale jewelry Through this miserable process, we did learn to be careful and detail-oriented. Was this the price to pay to grow more professional?It was good to be pushed to attach more attention to work and to be detail-oriented. Eventually, this should be what we will be in the work place. And years later, I will be thankful to my first year experience in my work career. Paying more attention to details and making sure the work is correct in every detail was the thing to do before ultimately seeing the big picture. But apparently, I haven’t learned to appreciate the intense work atmosphere that generated too much fear in me and diminished my confidence.I would love to be tutored step by step rather than being pushed harshly.I would enjoy a less-stressed environment where I could fully unleash my talents and work with willingness and happiness. But I know, now, that this is what it should be at working. This is the pressure I would bear when I chose to work in a big city, where there were very strict standards and appraisal system for everyone. I grow a lot. And the only thing to expect now is I will be more professional as I can be in this first year of my career, paving way for a brilliant career prospect.

I am back

I haven’t updated my blog for a long time, but I felt extremely happy and calm when I saw today that there were so many supporters to read my diary, my life. Thank you!After last interview which was described last article, I attended my second interview in a company which is called “Guangzhou SurExam Bio-Tech Company” in Science City, Guangzhou on Jan’3rd. My BF and I went there on Jan’ 2nd to ensure I could get good preparation the next day. In fact, I like this company when I first saw it and my critical BF also has the same feeling. I thought that I prepared this interview well, and I successfully passed five turns interviews at last. You know, I indeed felt that I am one of the ed hardy clothingluckiest girls in this world. I never ask my company about the salary though my employer said that I could ask some questions about this job, because I know that I am always the student in the university, and in fact, I am lack of society experience. Because of my heavy experiment job and I love this company, and then I didn’t deliver any resume to any other place. I arrived at my home to enjoy my spring festive on Feb’ 8th, and I got back my university on Feb’20th. I always have the pressure of my graduation and paper, therefore, I didn’t live my life well these months. You know, I must worry about my experiments, extremely the result was not as good as I predicted before.replica handbags I found that it is difficult to express myself now because I wrote few recently, but I will try my best. I would like to say something about my love affair. My BF Gary and I quarreled once seriously in March, and at that moment, I nearly left him alone. Fortunately, he found that it was his fault immediately, and after two days anger, I accept his apology finally. Frankly speaking, I was also responsible for that quarrel, but my BF loves me more and made us regain our happy life. Now, some of my classmates still ask me such questions like why I chose him as my boyfriend because few girls could accept BF’s height is lower than them. As for me, I don’t think that is necessary for replica watchestwo people’s relationship. There is a saying that beauty is the eyes of the beholder. It is true. I like him, he is so cute.Haha.A large number of my friends envy me that I have found a job, had a darling boyfriend, and I would graduate in advance. Yeah, compared to them, I indeed have too many kind people in my life, that is my fortune. I think that I should always think about these fortunate things and kind people so that I could move on no matter how difficult my situation is. There is one thing which I consider more and carefully than before. That is parents are the most important people in my life, though I always make them angry. For example, I never get up early and always get up at noon when I enjoy holidays at home no matter whether somebody will visit us. I must treat Dad and Mom well in my future life to pay back their devotion on my growth. I am looking forward to one day that I could make money to buy something for them. I know that, that day is coming!

Fleeting Moments

The last two weeks of my life can be described in one word: crazy.Followed by the earthquake, came with the aftershocks, the rumors, and endless heartbreaking news. The night of May 12th was supposed to be a helpless, exhausted night. I never thought that I could be so exhausted, both mentally and physically. With communication going down caused by high-traffic surge, I had spent the longest six hours in my life before I made sure that my parents, my son, my in-laws and my husband were all safe. How time had dragged when things remained unsure, how I had suffered about being attacked by many what-ifs, I still remembered all too well the inescapable drudgery of those six hours. After everyone had been confirmed safe, all I wanted was to back home. I puma shoeslonged for a shower, and I missed my bed very much. Though when I came back, I found my home was like being robbed: cloths, books strewn about everywhere; the vase fell to the floor and shattered. But home was still a home, and its still the place where I could feel safe and warm. However, my in-laws insisted that we should stay outside for fear of the aftershocks. So we spent the first sleepless night in the car. Heartbreaking news overcame the whole city from the radio and the mouths of the others: the death roll keeping rising with every minute went by and many students were trapped under the rubbles of their schools. The cities where we used to spend the holidays now had become the hell on earth, covered with bodies and ruins. Looking through the windows, I saw many nike shoesscared, tired persons carrying bedding headed for open ground. Even in such a mess, I knew tonight, Chengdu was already a heaven compared to the other hit areas. Where there is great disaster, there is great love. I had thought that our hearts started to become hardened with constantly being exposed to the dog-eat-dog world. How wrong I was! Several hours after the earthquakes, there were people getting in the line to donate blood, and many taxi drivers voluntarily running to Du Jiang Yan for help. My 80-years-old auntie, who lives alone on 5th floor, was hold in the arm to the safe place by one of her neighbors. In front of this unprecedented disaster,womens clothes such things emerged in endlessly.However, companied with these touching stories, all kinds of rumors came to test our nerves. “Another powerful earthquake would hit again around XX hour today according to some reliable resources.” I must have received such messages a dozen times. Two days after the earthquake struck, a malicious rumor went round that drinking water supplies had been contaminated. Panicked people rushed into large, medium-sized and small supermarkets. All the bottom water had been sold out within several hours. When TV and radio reported that predicated another earthquake might hit, everyone left home for clear space. Cars jammed roads leading out of the city, and it almost impossible for us to reach my parent’s home. That pandemonium triggered by the TV report showed how our nerves have been stretched to breaking point, and how we could be easily manipulated when we were in fear. Now, things went gradually back to the normal.

How to Be a Good Listener

When I first went to London as a student I sat alone during parties with my glass of wine. I hoped people would think that someone might come up to me and say, “Excuse me! I hope you won’t mind my coming up to you like this, I don’t want to interrupt your thoughts… but really, you are the only interesting looking person in the room! May I talk to you?”It never happened!Here is some advice if you would like to be a good conversationalist: be an attentive listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves. To be interesting, be interested! Ask questions that other people will enjoy answering. Encourage hem to talk about themselves and what they have done. Remember that the people you replica watchare talking to are a hundred times more interested in themselves and their problems than they are in you and your problems. A person’s toothache means more to that person than a famine in China which kills 1 million people. A pain in one’s arm interests one more than 40 earthquake in Africa. Think of that the next time you start a conversation. Diogenes, the Greek philosopher who is supposed to have lived in a barrel, said, “The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is so that we may listen more and talk less!” Do you know how to get on with people? Do you ever feel shy? What situation makes you shy? Do you sometimes feel as if you don’t know how to interest and swiss replica watchesamuse people and have conversations with them? Do you search desperately in your head for something to say? Do people find an excuse to leave you as soon as they can?Try listening! Here are some more recommendations about listening: (A neighbor of mine talking about her child) ‘One evening last week I was sitting with Hannah, and she said to me, “You are a marvelous mum!” And I said, “Well do you say that suddenly?” And she said, “Well, although you are always busy you always stop what you are doing to listen to me.”’(From How to Talk your Way to Success in Selling) ‘You have to force your buyer to talk … to enter the conversation… if you expect to talk your way to successful sale. The only way you can do this is to stop talking yourself and listen.’replica rolex watches “Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice.” (From Hamlet)Airline employees are taught how to listen to complaints. If they are able to show sympathy and to listen long enough the passenger’s problem will begin to seem less important.Psychologists, counselors and doctors also know that listening is part of their job. If they listen with care and concern the patient may even solve the problem! They are professional listeners. Here is some advice they give. Show the other person that you are listening. Look at them. Smile and nod quite often.and shake you head or raise your eyebrows if you don’t follow what they are saying.Don’t tap your foot because this will show impatience. Don’t look at your watch unless you really have to know the time, (and then you should tell the other person why you need to know the time). If you show impatience then the other person will lose the moment of friendship which they are offering. A good listener has magic! A good listener has the ability to make people feel good, and is as valuable at a party as a good talker. But just listening isn’t enough. One should listen intelligently by trying to find out what the other person would really like to communicate.

In Praise of Teachers

In 1972 I returned to Miami Beach High School to speak to the drama class. Then I asked the Drama teacher, when one of my English teachers are still there. Irene Roberts, he tells me, is in the Class only in the hallway. I was not in a special Miss Roberts' class - just another Jock was hair straightenersokay to work. I do not know remember a special little wisdom in it. Yet I can not forget their respect for the language, for Ideas and for their students. I know now, many years later that the quintessential selfless Teacher. I want to say something to her, I say, but I do not want to drag them from one class. Nonsense, he says, they will be happy to see you. The drama teacher is Miss GHDRoberts in the hallway, where this 32-year-old man, whom they last looked at 18th "I'm Mark Medoff," I tell her. "They were my 12th grade English teacher in 1958." They Cocks his head at me as if this angle could conjure in my memory. And then, when armed with a Message I want to perfect in a few words, I can not believe it until something unforgettable as these: "I want you to know," I say, "They were important to me." And there in the hallway, this light and lovely woman, is now nearing retirement age, the teacher who does not remember me, begins to cry, and she encircledchi hair straighteners me in her arms. Remembering this moment, I begin to feel that everything I ever know everything that I ever goes to my school for my children, is an integral part of the ongoing legacy of our common miracle and the eternal hope that we may have to make ourselves better. Irene Roberts just keeps me in his arms and through her tears whispered against my cheek, "Thank you, Them. "And then, with the briefest of looks into my face forget, they disappear back into their Classroom, back to what she has done thousands of days through all the years of my absence. On reflection, perhaps were, after all, just the right words to say Irene Roberts. Maybe they are the words I would like for all those teachers I know about my life as part of the me, the words spoken, I would like to again one day by some students: "I want you to know hey were important to me. "

A Moment of Joy

It all began about 2,000 years ago. An angel appeared to a Jewish girl named Mary and gave her good news: You will have a son. His name will be Jesus, the Savior. When the baby was almost due, Mary and her fiance Joseph went to their hometown, Bethlehem, for a census. The only place they could find to stay was an animal stable. There the special baby was born.The celebration of this special birth came to be called Christmas. Through the ages, people developed many Christmas traditions. The custom of decorating Christmas trees began centuries ago. People in many ancient cultures decorated homes with trees and greenery in winter. In the Middle Ages, Christians in Europe added lights and religious symbols to evergreens to make Christmas trees. Santa Gucci HandbagsClaus has become one of the most famous Christmas figures, particularly in America. His legend started with a kind bishop named St. Nicholas who lived around 300 A.D. and was known for his generosity. The practice of giving Christmas gifts comes from the gifts offered to the child Jesus by the wise men of the East. The star on top of the Christmas tree symbolizes the star that led the wise men to Jesus. Sometimes Christmas can become just a ritual. Many Americans see Christmas as just a time for shopping for the perfect gift.Angels announced the joyful news to some shepherds. They left their sheep and hurried to see the baby. Some time later, wise men from the Rolex WatchesEast saw an unusual star. They knew someone great had been born. The star led them to Bethlehem. When they found the child Jesus, they offered him gifts fit for a king. Christmas Advertisers and businesses begin promoting Christmas earlier every year. Stores remind customers of how many shopping days are left until Christmas. It's almost a modern Christmas custom to spend too much money! Credit card debts often take months to pay off. Even children can become materialistic. They think only of what they will get from Santa Claus. Despite the hustle and bustle of the Christmas Rush, most Americans feel Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. It's a time of excitement, a time of joy, a time to show love in special ways. Best of all, Christmas is not just for Americans. Christmas is for everybody in the world. Christmas is the celebration of God's gift to the world-Jesus.

My Safe Child

I'm thirty-three years old, and I am so happy that I am not a mother. I hear a biological clock is ticking, only the destruction of nervous ticks bombs have not exploded. My friends are jumping when her cell phone ring. "Where are you? No, you can not walk. No, I do not care if all the other children are." How na? Ve children if they are lying. What mother in Israel now would believe that "all children are," everywhere? And where are the kids going? Where will they take their fears? In many places in the world, children are afraid of the unknown, the unreal. You know you live in a war zone when you realize that the biggest fears of the children are from what Replica Watchesthey know only too well. Two years ago, when my younger brother was ten, he came home from school, and since he opened the door he heard the familiar sound of the explosion went off the road he is just behind him. Sitting in front of the TV five minutes later, he could see his friend wander blindly on the road, with body parts and injured people. The friend of the father, put it back from school and took him for a pizza, was killed before his eyes. My brother refused to talk about it. "The child was not really a friend of mine," is all he would say, "I do not know that it good." In the evening he told my father that he afraid of Freddy Kruger, a monstrous murderer from a common horror film. My father did not know if they laugh or cry, but I guess he felt some relief.replica designer handbags How good it is to stroke your child's hair and tell him that Kruger does not really exist. But the man who exploded in the middle of a busy street there. And the man who will explode in another one of our busy streets in a few years, my brother's age. His mother did not have to worry about the dangers that lurk on the way to school. There are no schools anymore. We have it all torn down, when we crushed the infrastructure of the Palestinian Authority. His younger brother was killed when soldiers blew up their homes. Our soldiers exploded their home because his older brother was a "wanted person". Exploding his family at home was our way to ensure that he is soon a wanted person in an undesirable position, torn to a thousand pieces, surrounded by his victims. The young terrorists now sleeps in a tent provided by UNRWA. What is he afraid of? Not much more to fear. The worst has already occurred. But the bulldozers are still around, the demolition of the neighbors at home. Every day, a few new tents in the RAW. His mother tells him how they were deported from their homeland in Latrun in 1967. His grandmother Coach Handbagstells him it was nothing compared to what they had to go through when she was away from Jaffa in 1948, his mother scream, then a newborn baby in her arms. My grandmother does not understand their fate. It has never been to her back to her hometown in Poland, they had to flee as a fugitive, hunted by the rise of Nazism in Europe. But my grandmother has not hear me because they cry. "They are not human," she says. "What people can do such things as these kids kill?" De-humanised people, I want to answer, but I kept my mouth, and think about the child that I do not want. The child I will not have it, is never the feeling of guilt, an inhabitant, or the fear of becoming a victim. I will never tell him not to fear when the fear is rational, what to feel. I will not have to teach him that the Palestinian child is a person like him, while everyone else will tell him that it is not so. The child I will not have it, is sleeping, curled in a secret corner of my mind. The child I will never have is the only child safe in the Middle East.A news editor and journalist Daphna Baram was born in Jerusalem and served in the Israeli army, as a teacher for two years.

Professions for Women

Born in England, Virginia Woolf was the daughter of Leslie Stephen, a famous scholar. She studied primarily attributed to home and their love of reading from the early and complete access, the library of her father. With her husband, Leonard Woolf, she founded the Hogarth Press and was known as a member of the Bloomsbury group of intellectuals, including economist John Maynard Keynes, Lytton Strachey biographer, novelist EM Forster, an art historian and Clive Bell. Although a central figure in London literary life, Woolf often saw themselves as isolated from the electricity network, because she was a woman. Woolf is best known for its experimental, modern Replica rolex watchesnovels, including Mrs. Dalloway (1925) and the Lighthouse (1927), the widely recognized for their breakthrough into a new mode and Technology - the stream of consciousness. In her diary, and critical essays, it has much to say about women and fiction. Your 1929 Book a room of one's own documents her desire for women to take their rightful place in literary history and as essayist, it has a high place in the literature of the 20th Century. The Common Reader (1925 first series, 1932 second series), has classic status. They also wrote short stories and biographies. "Professions for women", the collected essays from the 2nd Vol was originally a paper read Woolf of the Women's Service League, an organization for professional women in London.replica handbagIf your secretary has asked me to come here, they told me that your company deals with the employment of women, and they suggested that I could give you a little about my own professional experience. It is true that I am a woman, it's true, I'm busy, but what I have had professional experience? It is hard to say. My profession is literature, and in this profession, there is less experience for women than any other, with the exception of the stage - less, I mean, especially for women. For the road was many years ago --- by Fanny Burney, by Aphra Behn, by Harriet Martineau, by Jane Austen, George Eliot, by many famous women, and many more unknown and forgotten, were before me, the smooth path and the scheme of my steps. So when I write, there were very few material obstacles in my way. Letter was a reputable and harmless occupation. The family of the peace was not broken by scratching a pen. No demand has been the family Replica Handbagspurse. For ten and Sixpence is enough paper to write all the plays of Shakespeare - if you have a spirit in this way. Pianos and models, Paris, Vienna and Berlin, masters and mistresses, not for a writer. The fairness of writing paper is, of course, the reason why women have succeeded as writers before they succeeded in other professions. But to tell my story - it's easy. It only has the number to watch a girl in a bedroom with a pen in his hand. She had only to move that pen from left to right - ten to one clock. Then it was to do what is easy and cheap enough, after all - to slip a few of these pages into an envelope, down a penny stamp in the corner, and insert the envelope into the red box on the corner. It was so that I as a journalist, and my effort was rewarded on the first day of the following month - a very glorious day it was for me - by a letter from an editor with a check for one pound and ten shillings Sixpence. But to show how little I deserve to be called a professional woman, how little I know of the struggles and difficulties of such a life, I must admit that instead of spending that amount on bread and butter, rent, shoes and stockings, or butcher bills, I went and bought a cat - a beautiful cat, a Persian cat, who very soon with me in bitter disputes with my neighbors.

My Most Unforgettable Character

She asked us to succeed - and then gave us the way.She was nice to. When a local photographers used their pictures in his monthly window, she was flattered. Your favorite portrait showed her sitting by Lake Michigan, wind her hair, her gaze on the horizon to reach. My mother always said that if one died, God has given you your "best self". It would show us that picture and say: "That is what I like in heaven." My parents were married in 1944. Dad was a quiet and intelligent man who was 17 when he was Italy. Soon after, a hit-and-run accident has him with a permanent limp. Dad worked for Chicago Candy sales office workers on their break. He had little schooling. His English was self-taught. But he was finally a small, successful company wholesale sweets. Designer clothingDad was generous, beautiful and deeply religious. Mom was for him. After they married, my mother quit her job and was taken to her family. In 1950, with three children, father moved the family to a farm 40 miles from Chicago. He worked and the country into the city to his business. Mama said good by to their parents and their friends and traded the hectic city life neighborhood of an isolated life. But she never complained. From 1958, our modest white house, with six children, and Mom was thrilled. "Think Big". My mother never studied books on education. But she knew how to get children. It increases our self-esteem and helped us to achieve our potential. A fall days I sat at the kitchen table while Mom peeled potatoes. They spied dad out the window on his tractor and smiled. "Your father has so much," she Designer replica handbagssaid proudly. "He is really somebody." My mother wanted all of us to become someone. "Your task is to help all you can. Mine is to help," she always said. You read us every day and flash cards are used homemade Phonics to teach us. It reinforces our confidence, praise our normal services. When I was ten, I painted a stack of wooden crates white and nailed them together to a wobbly bookshelf. "It is wonderful!" Mama cried. "Just what we need." They used it for many years. In the dining room, two Paint-by-number pictures that my sister Gloria and brother Leo did as children. A few years ago, Leo commented that the pictures were not very good and offered to make them down. But Mama would not listen. "TheyWholesale jewelry are there to remind you how much you can achieve, even as children," she said. From the outset, she urges us to think big. One day, after visiting our grandparents on the South Side, they made a detour past Dad Prudential Building construction site. Mama says that when you are finished, the 41-storey building would be the tallest Chicago. "Maybe someday one of you the possibility to have a building like this," she said. Your confidence in us, it was contagious. W You can do that, "said Mama. You can do your mind." Tour Guide. To Mom, education was an important part of their concept of success. Four of us went to a nearby one-room schoolhouse. My mother has opted for its shortcomings by our educational toys, talk to us about the history, politics, current events, and assistance with home work. The best part is always a good report card was their tireless If I was the third class, our teacher asked them to organize a field trip to Chicago museums.

To Tell The Truth

“Who did this?” asked my teacher. Thirty children tried to think about not only what they had done, but also what our teacher may have found out. “Who did this?” asked my teacher once more. She wasn’t really asking, she was demanding an answer. She seldom became angry, but she was this time. She held up a piece of broken glass and asked, “Who broke this window?” “Oh, oh,” I thought. I was the one who broke the window. I had not done it intentionally. It was causeded hardy clothing by an errant throw of a baseball. I was working on my knuckleball. It needed more work. Why did it have to be me? It wasn’t really my fault. If I admitted guilt, I would be in a lot of trouble. How would I be able to pay for a big window like that? I didn’t even get an allowance. “My father is going to have a fit,” I thought. I didn’t want to raise my hand, but some force much stronger than I was pulled it skyward. I told the truth. “I did it.” I said no more. It was hard enough saying what I had. My teacher went to one of our library shelvesreplica handbags and took down a book. She then began walking towards my desk. I had never known my teacher to strike a student, but I feared she was going to start with me and she was going to use a book for the swatting. “I know how you like birds,” she said as she stood looking down at my guilt-ridden face. “Here s that field guide about birds that you are constantly checking out. It is yours. It’s time we got a new one for the school anyway. The book is yours and you will not be punished as long as you remember that I am not rewarding you for your misdeed, I am rewarding you Inspired by our parents' sacrifice, we hard to earn scholarships, and grants and financial assistance. We also have jobs to earn money for school. Working in a business I have learned the value of a dollar. "Work is a blessing," Mama always be remembered. They never asked anything for himself. replica watches"They have not tobuy me a birthday gift," she said once. "Instead, write me a letter from you. Tell me about your life. Is something troubling you? Are you satisfied?" Praise. Hen my sister Carla was 12, she announced that she would a lawyer. In June 1976, I graduated from North-Western University Medical School in Chicago. If my name was called, I quickly went on the stage and reached for my diploma. But before the dean of the medical school gave me the certificate, he asked my parents, Anna and Carlo Michelotti, to stand. Surprised, she rose from their seats in the audience. They looked at each other and seemed perplexed. The dean told the audience that my parents, an Italian immigrant couple from a farm outside of Chicago, had succeeded in her six children to top colleges and graduate schools. for your truthfulness.” I couldn’t believe it! I wasn’t being punished and I wasgetting my very own bird field guide. The very one that I had been saving up money to buy. The money I feared would be going to the school to buy a new window. I wore out that book trying to match the live, flying birds to their depictions in that field guide. The book is gone, so is my wonderful teacher. All that remains of that day is my memory and the lesson my teacher taught me. That lesson stays with me every day and it will echo forever.

The Fox and the Horse

A farmer had a faithful horse, which was old and could no longer work, so that his master is no longer wanted him something to eat and said: "I certainly can not use more of you, but I believe also from you, and even if you are still strong enough to send me a lion here, I will receive you. But for now from my stall. "And with that he chased him into the open field. The horse was sad puma shoes and went into the forest, where a little protection from the weather. There he met the fox and said, "Why hang your head so, and go about all alone?" "Oh," replied the horse, "greed and loyalty do not live together in a house. My Lord has forgotten what services I voted for him for so many years, and since I can no longer plow well, he will not eat me , and it has me. " "Without a chance?" asked the fox. "The opportunity was poor. He said if I was still strong enough to give it a lion, he would me, butnike shoes he knows very well that I did not do." The fox said: "I will help you. Just lie down, stretch it as if you were dead, and do not stir." The horse did what the fox asked, and then the fox went to the lions, its not far away, and said: "A horse is dead, is there. Come with me, and you can be a rich meal." The lion went with him, and if they both are, the horse the fox said: "It is not very comfortable for you here - I'll tell you what, I fasten it to you by the tail, and then draw them in your cave and eat it in peace. " This advice pleased the lion. He positioned himself, and so the fox could tie the horse fast to him, he kept completely quiet. But the fox tiedwomens clothesthe biggest legs together with the horse's tail and twisted and fastened everything so well and so strong that no amount of strength could pull it loose. When he had finished his work, he patted My mother helped the teacher to rent a bus and planning of the trip. They also served as tour guide, pointing out sights and fresh local history. When it's time to think about the school, there was never a question that we all go. (Three of us would be doctors, two lawyers were already and was a physicist.) "It is remarkable," said the dean. All cheered loudly. Mama's face was beaming with pride. I knew that everything that we have reached or would reach, because my parents. When we were young children, my mother, especially, was our mentor. First, I was an adult, I realize how special it was.the horse on the shoulder and said, "Pull, white horse, pull!" Then sprang the horse at once, and drew the lion away with him. The lion began to roar, so that all animals in the forest flew up in terror, but the horse let him roar, and drew him and dragged him across the field to meet his master's door. When the master saw the lion, he was of a better spirit and said to the horse, "You stay with me and the good go." And he gave him much to eat, until he died.

How I've Been Enriched by Beggars

In every human there is a king. Speak with the king and the king will come on. Outside our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, a seemingly old woman on crutches was waiting by the door with his hand outstretched. Every day I my hand in it, as our eyes met. Never again is not my smile, my grasp, and my sin chau greeting. On the last day of our visit, I found myself alone on a busy street in the corner from our hotel. Bicycles and motorcycles careened in front of me. We had been advised to go straight through the traffic without a full left or right. Let us be avoided. But replica watchtoday, I was by myself and felt inadequate to the fullness of the vehicles. When I hesitated on the curb, I felt a hand on my knee and looked down to see the smile from my little friend beggars looking at me. She nodded her head in the direction of the road, indicating that they are me. Together we are slowly in the chaos, as she gently prodded me forward. If we take the middle of the intersection, I looked at her again, and could not resist, exclaiming: "You have a beautiful smile." They apparently knew little English, but it must have recognized the tone, because swiss replica watchesshe threw both arms around me and crutches in a big hug, while the streaming traffic of us on both sides. Then we have precariously on the pavement in the direction where they pulled my face to her, kissed me on both cheeks, and then limped away, still smiling and waving back to me. I had not a single medal. We had shared something far more important - a warming of the hearts in friendship.This experience was to me something Mother Teresa once said: "If you do not do big things, you can use small things with great love." To beggar in the eye and smile, so that the recognition of their existence, is a small thing. Put your hand into another, the outstretched hand and grasping it firmly for a moment is also a small matter. Learn how to use a greeting replica rolex watchesin the local language is not too difficult. But these are important. For many reasons, what money is not the best response to an outstretched hand. Many world travelers have discovered that the greatest gift that they can spend their time and their friendship. Everyone needs recognition, as deserves attention, feel loved and appreciated. Travel in poorer countries, I have experienced a variety of ways to deal with beggars. The most common reaction of the tourists in front of the poverty-stricken is to ignore, and focus their eyes elsewhere. I have seen people push an outstretched hand in furious anger. A few drops May hastily a few coins into a beseeching palm, and then do a quick weekend in the hope that another 20 ragged pursuers will not immediately on the scene. But I think it worthwhile to try to live by the words of the English author John Cowper Powys: "Nobody can quite civilized, which is not based on each individual, without a single exception, as the deep and startling interest."

Yellow Post-its

Can you still, my dear, in your possession? Among the souvenirs of your travels to distant countries, of which the textbooks are happy days when you went to the sacred portals of the engineering college, the cassettes, whose covers were left behind after one of these bacchanalian sessions in the hostel, the photos of classmates, whose names you can not remember? Or is it hidden in the darkness, the sight of the book along with the purchase, but never read, the gift you never found a use, and the letters that you never finished or sent. I can still here in the city, in the house that you have never visited, in the kitchen, where my imaginary conversations with you. It is here also, if I am not, because I go now, so that the light on and music playing, so I can return home to the illusion of the company.hair straighteners I'm probably better now. Without secrets to my parents. Without someone who is between me and my friends, me and my hobbies, me and my work, me and my sensible, understandable, utilitarian life. The life that I always tried not to hold, in line with the expectations that I continue to try not to hold to my own. It's not that I always feel like this, sometimes I long for the days on which both tears and laughter came easily. This simple and quick transitions from ecstasy to despair. When a compliment could clock my mind occupied at the end and a harsh word could be like a pin-prick the same skin that appears dry and insensitive. Like probably millions around the world, I see outside the window of a crowded bus, lost in my own thoughts and wonder how it could happen to me. I was not to be different from the rest? Not for the silly schoolgirl infatuation with the football captain or the fascination with the good for nothing,GHD pot-smoking would-be poets. Our friendship was a mature, committed to more. How can I feel PANG envy when you lent a helping hand to another girl, when you talked about someone who is far away and the married, if you were so into the book that you will not notice that we are never the whole day? When we decided that it is too long and that we meet, I carefully started to adopt a package for you. A small poem book that you've always wanted but never found an old photograph and a bar of chocolate for us to share. What would I wear and what we talk about? The package is still in my drawer waiting for the phone to ring again. It was a rainy Sunday afternoon, when we sat in my small room of the hostel, to discuss capitalism and campus gossip with the same passion. When it seemed as if these talks could last forever, chi hair straightenersand we would always back them. When Joni Mitchell sang "California" seven times to the idea of continuous play before we get out of. Then suddenly one day we were looking for each other. They were always somewhere else, doing something else and strangely enough so was I. The new people I met on the trip and the junior man who loved the same movies I do. The girl next door, the math lessons from you. My room was almost always locked and it was no different. We have discovered, seemed a world away from us suddenly. The tragedy was, we had also the world that we had lost. Then came the rescue operation. The loud fights in the hostel wing, the long silence and desperate angry notes. Frustration, anxiety and love reveals itself in the ugliest ways. Then apathy, complacency and resignation. Peaceful, factual discussion of how we could remain friends. The decision that we always let the other know when we would be in order. That's when I made this yellow post-its on the door. The yellow post-its, by the time I came back would have your coordinates, which I never used. If we all of them now, they would tell this story much better than I do now. Back at home, I continue from this post-its on this day, in the hope that someone writes their whereabouts to them as well.