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

WHAT MATTERS

Barbara Ward-Finneran

Friends who are always there.

Facing the "pain".

Turning dreams into plans. 

Celebrating your strengths.

Actions rather then reactions.

Knowing "baby steps" count. 

Allowing yourself to sometimes give into temptation. 

Loving with all your heart - even when it hurts.

Watching sunsets. 

Keeping the promises that you make to yourself!

HE SAID... Friends and Other "Unions"

Tony Walker

Friends... For the past 20 years I've been in a Union. Being in a Union has taught me a ton about solidarity, standing up for what's right, & supporting your fellow Union Brother/Sister. I use this mindset in my everyday life, not just with Union related issues.

I'm not sure if living my everyday life this way is the way to go. In a Union, if your Union Brother/Sister is in a pinch, you support that person. You're expected to support that person. 

With that engrained in my head, I live my whole life this way. If a friend is in some kind of trouble I try to find a way I can help. If a friend is being screwed over by someone else, I don't support the person doing the screwing. My problem is I don't get that back.

Is it wrong to expect a friend to back you when you're the one getting screwed? Is it wrong to say to your friend, "Hey.... this person really screwed me & I didn't deserve it. I expect you to show me some support." Are the friends who don't step up in the wrong for not stepping up and being supportive?  Is this a matter of a friend showing their true colors in a time of need?

I was talking to someone recently about this. This person admitted that she couldn't support a friend who was having trouble with another person because she doesn't like confrontation. She admitted she would like to tell the person to go scratch but she didn't have it in her. Is this person wrong? Should we just accept this or should her friend be pissed for not getting the support that's needed?

What do you think...???

CURIOSITY LAND ROVER LANDS ON MARS

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

NASA's attempt to land Mars rover, Curiosity this morning, was a huge success. There was much cheering and congratulating in Mission Control at NASA in California. The rover, and the thousands of NASA workers, survived the dreaded "seven minutes of terror" when so many things could have gone wrong, but nothing did!

The landing process, involved a sky crane and the world's largest supersonic parachute, allowing the spacecraft carrying Curiosity to target the landing area that scientists have chosen. This type of landing had never been attempted before.

The rover began its journey to Mars 8 months ago. Today it begins its mission to investigate Mars, searching for signs of life from the past and sending information to scientists to evaluate the possibility of it sustaining life in the future. Curiosity's first stop will be Gale Crater, which may have once contained a lake. After at least a year, the rover will arrive at Mount Sharp, in the center of the crater. The rover will drive up the mountain examining layers of sediment. This process is like looking at a historical record because each layer represents an era of the planet's history.

SUPPORT A FALLEN HERO

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Westboro Baptist Church Protesters

They're at it again! Westboro Baptist Church plans to demonstrate at the funeral of Specialist Justin Horsley who was killed in Afgahanistan on July 22,2012. Horsley and another soldier,Pfc Brendan Salazar, died from wounds inflicted by an IED (improvised explosive device).
Horsley's remains were transported to Melbourne Airport yesterday. A huge outpouring of support has already begun as hundreds of local Military personnel and supporters were on hand to greet the  21-year-old Army Spc. Justin Louis Horsley as his remains arrived at the Melbourne International Airport, Fla., early Saturday morning Aug. 4.

"This is a somber occasion, we have a fallen comrade and we are here to respect him in a dignified manner," said Brig. Gen. Anthony Cotton, commander, 45th Space Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.

Patriot Guard Riders participate in the procession of Army Spc. Justin Louis Horsley.   The Patriot Guard as a buffer
between the general public, possible protesters and the grieving family and friends. Horsley a Palm Bay, Fla. resident was one of four members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Caserma Ederle, Italy, killed when their patrol encountered an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Pul-E Alam, Afghanistan July 22. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Tech. Sgt. Peter Dean) 

On Wednesday, when Westboro plans to protest at Horsley's   funeral, thousands of people will be there to form a human barrier   to shield the family from the protesters. They will stand in silent respect, totally ignoring the Westboro people,carrying no signs     and wearing blue or red. They will stand to show their admiration and gratitude to a fallen hero and his family.
I will be standing in that crowd with          many of my friends. We will silently      support this American soldier and his  grieving family. We will not make any   contact or engage in conversation with the members of the Westboro group because we want to guard and respect the solemnity of this day. This day is about Specialist     Justin L. Horsley and his having made the ultimate sacrifice.

In my personal opinion, a funeral is no place for a protest.        This family is suffering deeply from the loss of their son,    brother, and friend. Their grief is profound enough without adding to it. Can    you imagine how the family             felt when they read  "Thank God for IED's"  I don't think         God, or anyone else could condone inflicting such pain              on another human being, especially the family of a hero.

I hope that everyone who can possibly participate in the         Human Shield for Justin Horsley, will be there             Wednesday at 11am at Ammen Family Cremation               and Funeral Home, 950 Malabar Road SE, Palm Bay, FL .  Check out the web page for the Human Shield.

https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/events/104878369660009/

Sally Ride, American Hero, Dead at 61

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

National hero, Sally Ride, died of pancreatic cancer yesterday. Ride was a former astronaut and physicist. After her space flights, Ride continued to inspire young people all over the world through her company, Sally Ride Space.

Sally’s first space flight was aboard the shuttle Challenger on June 18, 1983. Her second, also on Challenger, was October 5, 1984, logging 343 hours in space. A third flight was cancelled when Challenger exploded in 1986. She was on the commission investigating that accident and later served on the panel for the 2003 Columbia shuttle accident, the only person on both boards. She also was on the president's committee of science advisers. Ride was a physicist, writer of five science books for children and president of her own company, which motivates youngsters to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. She had also been a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego.

"People around the world still recognize her name as the first American woman in space, and she took that title seriously even after departing NASA," Eileen Collins, the first female space shuttle commander, said in a statement. "She never sought media attention for herself, but rather focused on doing her normally outstanding job."

When Ride first launched into space, feminist icons such as Gloria Steinem and Jane Fonda were at Kennedy Space Center and many wore T-shirts alluding to the pop song with the refrain of the same name: "Ride, Sally Ride."

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, a former astronaut, said Ride "broke barriers with grace and professionalism -- and literally changed the face of America's space program."

"The nation has lost one of its finest leaders, teachers and explorers," he said in a statement.

One of Ride's last legacies was allowing middle school students to take their own pictures of the moon using cameras aboard NASA's twin Grail spacecraft in a project spearheaded by her company.

"Sally literally could have done anything with her life. She decided to devote her life to education and to inspiring young people. To me, that's such a powerful thing. It's extraordinarily admirable," said Maria Zuber, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who heads the Grail mission.

Ride's obituary said she is survived by Tam O'Shaughnessy, her partner of 27 years and a co-founder of Sally Ride Science; her mother, Joyce; her sister, Bear, a niece; and a nephew.