9-11-2012 WHAT WILL YOU REMEMBER?

.                                                         Marion Pelliicano Ambrose

September 11, 2012, marks the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. On this solemn anniversary communities across the country will be remembering and honoring those who lost their lives, those who lived through the disaster, and those first responders and civilians who put their lives on the line to save others. I certainly intend to fly my American flag, meditate and pray for all those affected by that horrific day, and try to show my respect and admiration by valuing police, fire/rescue and all first responders throughout the year.

In New York City, construction of the new One World Trade Center continues though delayed by controversies over the name and economic and real estate issues. The current completion date is sometime in  2013. The opening of the 9-11 Museum has been delayed beyond 2013 due to political bickering between state and city
agencies.

I'm hoping that for this one special, painful and historic day, people can put aside the bickering and politics. September 11th is not a day for Democrats or Republicans, conservatives or liberals. It's a day for AMERICANS to show solidarity and unity. It's a day to mourn, honor, and remember. I hope one of the things people will remember is the feeling of connectedness we all experienced in the days and weeks following the attack on our country and the loss of so many souls. We need to get past the current political divisions and become one nation,  one people who can appreciate and celebrate our differences once again. That's the America I want to see on September 11, 2012!

I hope you will join me in praying for a strong, unified, blessed America , no matter who we close to sit in the Oval Office on election day.
    

POLICE OFFICER DOWN

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

A Jupiter, Florida Police Officer was killed today while escourting the President's Motorcade in West Palm Beach. Officer Bruce St.Laurent , a 20 year veteran of the force, was redirecting traffic on I95 when he was stuck by a Ford F150 pickup truck.
President Obama was informed of the tragedy as he touched down at Andrews Air Force Base.

Please join all of us at Delayed Reaction Lounge in praying for Officer St. Laurent's family,friends, and fellow officers, and offering them our deepest condolences. 

GIVING A CHILD A SHOT@ LIFE

Marion Pellicano Ambrose





My women's club was asking for a chairperson for our committee on Interatioal Outreach. Before I volunteered, I wanted to check out the topic a bit. I found so much information that really touched me, but there was one topic in particular that made me feel like I could step up and do something positive. It's called " Shot@ Life".

One child dies every 20 seconds from a disease that could be prevented  with a vaccine. Why? Because one in five children lack access to the life-saving immunizations that keep children healthy. 1.5 million children die every year

Children are disabled or killed every year by vaccine-preventable diseases like pneumonia, diarrhea, measles and polio. Pneumonia and diarrhea are the two biggest killers of children under five, and account for more than one-third of childhood deaths worldwide. Polio has recently reemerged in areas that had been polio-free for years and measles still kills an estimated 450 people each day—the majority of whom are young children.

Every child deserves a shot at a healthy life, no matter where they live. Yet, seventy-five percent of unvaccinated children live in just 10 countries. Vaccines are an especially important health intervention because they level the playing field for the most vulnerable children who are otherwise unlikely to make it to a doctor or a hospital. For these children, access to vaccines can mean the difference between life and death, a healthy life or a lifetime of struggle.

Immunization is one of the world’s biggest public health success stories. Yet, 1 in 5 children still lack access to the life-saving immunizations that help keep children in the U.S. healthy. Coordinated worldwide vaccination efforts have made significant progress, particularly in reducing cases of measles and polio, but funding gaps could threaten these gains. By scaling-up the delivery of vaccines we can save children’s lives and also save billions of dollars through reduced treatment costs and gains in productivity.

Vaccines save lives. Millions of children could be spared from measles, pneumonia, diarrhea, polio and other preventable diseases if we could simply get them the vaccines they need. Many children in developing countries lack access to vaccines — often because they live in hard-to-reach communities. The good news is access to vaccines has grown significantly in the last decade. Vaccines currently help save 2.5 million children from preventable diseases every year. With your help, global vaccination programs implemented by our partners can stop the 1.5 million unnecessary deaths that still happen every year, and ensure that all children, no matter where they live, have a shot at a healthy life.

Vaccines work. Immunization has saved the lives of more children than any other medical intervention in the last 50 years. Vaccines are both safe and simple and are one of the most cost-effective ways to save and improve the lives of children worldwide. Without vaccines, children are more vulnerable to deadly and disabling diseases like measles, pneumonia, diarrhea and polio. Keeping children healthy through immunization is one of the best ways to ensure they reach important life milestones that we sometimes take for granted in the U.S.
A healthier world truly benefits us all. Expanding access to vaccines strengthens our ability to fight disease globally and improve economic stability around the world.

Vaccines have won several battles against preventable diseases in the last few decades. Thanks to a coordinated global effort, the number of new cases of polio — a disease that once paralyzed more than 1,000 children a day — has dropped 99 percent in the last 20 years. The world is now nearly polio-free. We are on the path to similar success with measles. The Measles Initiative has vaccinated one billion children in 60 developing countries since 2001 and has decreased measles deaths by 74 percent; changing measles from a disease that used to be the leading killer of children to one that we are close to eliminating altogether. There are also groundbreaking new vaccines like — pneumococcal and rotavirus — that prevent pneumonia and diarrhea, and if distributed widely, also have the potential to save the lives of millions more children.

Whether you’re a parent with young children, a high school student, a health professional, a community advocate, or a blogger with a strong voice, it’s easy to get involved with Shot@Life. Here's what you can do.

Celebrate Childhood:

• Hold an event for your friends in your home or for your local community to educate and engage others in the movement. Be sure to contact your local media about it ahead of time (see Resources below). Also, check back with us after the event and submit a Supporter Story.
• Become a digital Champion for Shot@Life by promoting the campaign on your blog and social profiles.

Stand Up for Childhood

• Write a letter to the editor or an op-ed voicing your support for expanded access to vaccines in developing countries.
• Contact your members of Congress and tell them you support US funding for global immunization programs.
• Speak at a local school, business, or community events.

Invest in Childhood:

• Host a fundraiser – online or in your community to donate vaccines. For every $20 you raise, you can help immunize a child against four diseases.

There are many other ways that you can celebrate childhood and get involved with the Shot@Life campaign. Find more ways at :                                                    http://www.globalproblems-globalsolutions.org/site/TR?fr_id=1080&pg=entry

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON...

Jillian B Hart
Hello... It's been a while... 
That happen sometimes in life.  Sometimes more then others. Somethings go in and out of our lives.  Some people go in and out of our lives.  Yet remain in our hearts.  Precious and treasured beyond words.  Feelings and reflections that words can't explain.  Those rare moments that are breath taking.  That steal the breath from your lungs.  When memories swim in your eyes and escape down your cheeks. People that do that to you.  That connect to your soul are rare.  They fill up darkness with brilliant blaze. Like a full moon decorates the endless ebony night.  They touch places inside of you that you didn't know you could feel.  Give you a high that compares with nothing except those moments that are exceptional, those moments that happen once in a blue moon.   

It's been almost three years since the last blue moon. If you are a lunar gazer like me, you'll be stepping outside to take in the extraordinary view tomorrow night.  A full moon - much like any other... yet has special significance. Like those people who are forever linked to you with heartstrings.  Others may see just another friend... yet you know that their impact on you has been a force of light in your life... a rare treasure, something that happens "once in a blue moon"... your life without them, no matter how big or small the role they currently play, is inconceivable.  

Look at that moon.  It doesn't come again for a long time.  Breathe it in and think about who is in your thoughts and envision all those that fill up your heart. That have left footprints on your soul.  Be sure to catch a moonbeam and make a wish for your "Harts" desire!  Take a moment and have gratitude for all that was, all that wasn't, all that is, and all that will be... That's what life is, a series of moments shared with those you love that makes you who you are today. My poem, Walk Me To The Moon, is dedicated to the "Blue Moons" of my life... not having them, not having those rare moments, is unimaginable!  XOXO

WALK ME TO THE MOON
Walk me to the moon
To the place

Where all that we once imagined might be

That place that dreams could touch

Above and beyond the light

Untouchable triumph and majesty

Banishing darkness in a sea of stars

In what was once our field of dreams 

Walk me to the moon

To that place I still dare to remember

Young love... 

Faithful, constant, bright & foolish... 

Believing you never run out of time. 

The willingness to give

Without getting in return

Without needing. 

Knowing you are enough. 

Walk me to the moon

To that place I think of 

With a haunted flutter in my heart

when memories swim in my eyes and escape down my cheeks

Bathed in a light once so pure 

That it blinded us

Walk me to the moon

That place daydreams are made of

Lift me on the summer breeze

And angel wings

To that place that cannot be

But forever is

Walk me to the moon

That place in your heart

With the warm glow

It cannot be hidden

Like the full moon's light

It'll always be... 

Whenever you need it

Feel the warmth - that's where I'll be

Wrapped around you embraced by our memory

Walk me to the moon

That place where I see the reflection 

Of smiling eyes... 

Brighter then sunshine

Where healing goes on and life survives

Banishing darkness in a sea of wishes, in that endless sea of stars

Loving your life doesn't mean that you forget having been blinded too

Walk me to the moon

That place where Memories... 

Always paint a picture in the sky

Every detail changes

Yet the love remains the same 

Love and light are eternal 
Flood me with warmth
that forever dances in my dreams
brilliant as moonbeams at ebony's darkest edge

MORE FOR LESS!

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

 

More for less, that's what everyone wants. Whether it's more gallons of gas per dollar, more ounces of product in a container for  less of a price, or more skymiles per purchase, we all want more for less. That's OK. There's nothing wrong with wanting value for our hard earned money.

It's also OK for an employer to want value for the salary they pay. This means, no facebook, cellphone, crossword puzzles,or online shopping when an employee is supposed to be working. This is only reasonable. The employer, in turn should provide the following:

An employee should have a totally free rest break of 20 minutes if they are working 6 hours. For an 8 hour day, a half hour lunch break should be given.
The requirements are:*the break must be in one block*it cannot be taken off one end of the working day - it must be   somewhere in the middle*you are allowed to spend it away from the place on your employer's premises where you work *your employer can say when the break must be taken, as long as it meets these conditions
Obviously, there are exceptions to this. Each workers' individual contract should outline his or her rights and benefits.

An employer cannot expect employees to work "on their own time" unless this is stipulated in their contract. Phone conferences during vacations, checking and answering business calls, email and voicemail, etc is becoming more and more "expected" by employers. Because of the economy, they feel they can ask what they want and if the employee complains they're told "You should be grateful to even have a job." What does this say about our country? I find it very discouraging.

It's not just big business. It's schools systems bleeding teachers dry, even young students, working to help pay for school , are victims of this kind of thinking. I know a boy who was hired to work 20 hours a week while he went to college full time. His boss increased his hours a few hours here, a few hours there, and now he's working full time with no benefits, no health benefits , no sick days and no vacation.  He had to drop 2 classes to keep up because he couldn't afford to lose the job to pay for rent and tuition.

Why can't workers just do their absolute best during their working hours and bosses value and respect them and give them the pay and benefits they deserve? Every day I worked as a teacher and assistant principal, I tried to put in 110%. Some days I was more successful than others, but the effort and dedication was there. At times, I was fortunate enough to have a boss that recognized my efforts and treated me fairly and with respect. Other times, I was neither appreciated , nor given the respect I was due. I can tell you that I always tried hard, but inevitably I gave that much more to the boss who respected me. It's only human nature!

A friend of mine is a dentist. He's an amazing individual. He not only values and respects his employees, he provides opportunities for professional development at his expense. He's taken his staff (and spouses) on cruises, done team building fun activities with them, and takes them out to lunch or dinner every so often. I'm sure he does even more that I'm not aware of. His staff adore him and it shows in the quality of their work, their dedication, the atmosphere in the office, and the kind an patient treatment of the clients. The man is a genius. He found a way to have a totally loyal and super productive staff while having fun! I also have to point out, that the staff  is made up of hard working, professional individuals who would give an honest day's work even without the perks. The extras just keep morale and positive energy high!

Well, I'm done preaching. I'll get down off my soap box now. I just had to speak up for some people I know on both sides of the time clock - bosses and employees.
Have a great week, and always, give it your best!

 

SOUL FOOD

Barbara Ward-Finneran

Your dreams remain only dreams unless you actively pursue them. 

Trust your heart to know what you are meant to do. 

Step up to the challenge. 

Thrive under the pressure - for darkness and doubts as dark as coal are born to diamonds that way. 

Keep the promises that you make to yourself!

©  All Rights Reserved

Expendables 2 - Bloody Good Fun!

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

I went to see Expendables 2 with my husband last night. I'm not a big fan of blood and violence, but I have to admit, I enjoyed this movie a great deal.

It wasn't the shooting, head chopping, stabbing or explosions that got me hooked, it was the way all the amazing Action Heroes were able to slip in subtle cracks at themselves and their movies. From Arnold's "I told you I'd be back" to his "Yippee Kay-a" to Bruce Willis, each  jibe was funnier than the next.

The best part of the whole movie, in my opinion, was Chuck Norris.  His entrance was classic. I won't ruin it for you by describing it. You just have to see it! He was Walker, Texas Ranger and Lone Wolf McQuaid all rolled into one. I always loved Chuck Norris, but after this I'm even more of a fan!

The critics used words like "Sparkle" (Huffington Post),"Taut, violent, and suitably self-deprecating." (Rotten Tomatoes),'The Expendables 2' is armed with Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Liam Hemsworth, Bruce Willis, Jet Li and more for blow-'em-up craziness that's B-movie fun."(LA Times). They all seem to agree - a surprisingly great movie!

Personal note: Take the spouse, a date or other adult, but leave the kids home for this one.

TEACHER AT SEA

Follow our own Patty Smukall, teacher at sea as she participates in Adventures at Sea. Patty has been chosen at the Teacher at Sea for a USF expedition to explore the gulf of Mexico.
Follow her activities:
 http://adventuresatsea.blog.usf.edu

SOUL FOOD

Barbara Ward-Finneran

The most difficult challenges hold the greatest rewards. 

Strength and courage are born from tenacity. 

All of the pieces to the secret formula to your success are within you. 

It's in your soul. Dare to risk what you are to become all your heart has always known!

Keep the promises that you make to yourself!

Photo Courtesy of Barbara Ward-Finneran and Drawn 2 Design, LLC

©  All Rights Reserved

YOU MAY BE RIGHT-I MAY BE CRAZY!

Dear Friend,

I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.

I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.

I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and work.

I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much on physical activity anymore.

I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often.

I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.

Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm getting older.

One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense! It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart! At my age I need all the stimuli I can get!

I may have been in Continent, but I don't remember what country I was in. It's an age thing.

PLEASE DO YOUR PART!

Today is one of the many National Mental Health Days throughout the year.

You can do your bit by sharing with at least one unstable person. My job is done!

Life is too short for negative drama and petty things.

So laugh insanely,
love truly
and forgive quickly!

From one unstable person to another... I hope everyone is happy in your head - we're all doing pretty good in mine!

 

Sincerely,

I.M. Madd