Haruki Murakami

"... once the storm is over you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, in fact, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm you won’t be the same person who walked in." — Haruki Murakami

Preventing Bed Bugs

Passing this along since bedbugs seem to be everywhere these days:

I received this from a friend who deals with situations that put her and her significant at risk of catching them more than most people. Here is what she shared:

I travel alot for work and my boyfriend works in hotels. We talk a lot of preventive measures. I spray down my luggage and shoes with a pesticide everytime I travel. I ask the hotel if they have had bed bug breakouts in the last year. I ...thoroughly inspect my room before I use it. I store my bag on the vanity in the bathroom. Upon returning home all clothing and bags are loaded in a hot dryer for 30+mins (120 deg will kill them). We also have bed encasements and keep treatments on hand at home. I spray down movie theater seats before using them too and keep my purse on my lap. I buy clothes on-line and avoid the stores. Sounds excessive but it can cost a home owner $5000 or more to de-infest their homes and much more to replace their furnishings. Prevention is the best medicine. Take it seriously. Anyone can get them.

I buy on-line from a site I found http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/bed-bugs-c-39.html. I use products that have Pyrethrin. It is a natural pesticide that comes from Chrysanthimums. I heard about it on Dr. Oz. I have never had bedbugs and I don't plan on getting them, but that is because I have done my homework and take precautions. I keep a 2oz purse size spray bottle of a product called Sterifab in my purse and luggage.

Anyone can get them. I am a bug-a-phobe, so when I first started hearing about this in early 2010, I called a "bug guy" and asked for his opinion. We talked for an hour and he gave me a lot of good advice. Since then, I have come up with my own preventive measures and they seem to be working. Again, both my boyfriend and I are in and out of hotels daily/weeklly for our jobs and in several different states. We need to be prepared.

Not A Former

By the way, I'm a writer, photographer and artist. What are you??

"Not a former..."
Bob Perks

"Once you become, you are."

"Once you attain you never go back"

"Once you cross the finish line, you may
one day cross it again even faster, but
the first time you win, you remain a winner."

"Don't give me any crap!" I heard him say.
I don't ever want to hear you say you are
a former anything!"

It was a conversation God wanted me
to hear. A note I wrote on a piece of
paper..."not a former," has remained
in my wallet for weeks.

I wondered what I was going to do with it
until I crawled up the steps last night after
a long battle in my mind over what and
who I was vs. what and who I wanted to be.

Once you learn to dance you are a dancer,
once you run a race, you are an runner. Once
you learn to climb, you are a climber.

For "becoming" never goes back to wishing it so.

You become a champion and stay a champion.
You are never a former champion in life.

You can take three steps forward and four steps
back, but that does not put you behind. Because
once you go as far as you can you've attained
a new distance mark for the race of your life.

Don't tell me what you can't do. Talk about what
you did and who you are because of it. Even if you
set out to climb the highest mountain in the world
and you only go so far, you can never say you
failed to finish. You went the distance... you climbed
further up the mountain than ever before. That
makes you a mountain climber.

"Today, make a list of your accomplishments,
no matter how big or how small.
You may not be where you want to be,
but it's better than nowhere at all."

By the way...I am an inspirational writer/speaker.

"I wish you enough!"

J

Bob Perks

I encourage you to share my stories but
I do ask that you keep my name and contact
information with my work.

P.O. Box 1702

Shavertown, Pa. 18708

Contact Bob 2believe@comcast.net

Veterans

As inadequate as is sounds thank you for all you have done. Thank you for the sacrifices made, the chances taken and the freedoms defended. Thank you for all you have given up and are willing to give up, even unto your life. Thank you for all the little moments of liberty we so often take for granted, paid for by the coin of your many lives. Thank you for wearing a uniform that may mark you as a target, and always marks you as a hero. Thank you for enduring so as a nation we all may endure. Today and everyday please accept my undying gratitude for all you stand for. ♥

Love

Our society needs a little less hate, and a little more love.

The news needs a little less negativity, and many more smiles.

We should start to slow down, and stop rushing.

We need to remember to take deep breaths, instead of jumping to conclusions.

We need to love ourselves, and stop the hate.

http://indecisivewar.tumblr.com/ :)

Personal Bill of Rights

A Personal Bill of Rights

1. I have numerous choices in my life beyond mere survival.
2. I have the right to discover and know my Child Within.
3. I have the right to grieve over what I didn't get that I needed or what I got that I didn't need or want.
4. I have the right to follow my own values and standards.
5. I have the right to recognize and accept my own value system as appropriate.
6. I have the right to say no to anything when I feel I am not ready, it is unsafe or it violates my values.
7. I have the right to dignity and respect.
8. I have the right to make decisions.
9. I have the right to determine and honor my own priorities.
10. I have the right to have my needs and wants respected by others.
11. I have the right to terminate conversations with people who make me feel put down and humiliated.
12. I have the right not to be responsible for others behavior, actions, feelings or problems.
13. I have the right to make mistakes and not have to be perfect.
14. I have the right to expect honesty from others.
15. I have the right to all of my feelings.
16. I have the right to be angry at someone I love.
17. I have the right to be uniquely me, without feeling that I'm not good enough.
18. I have the right to feel scared and to say, "I'm afraid."
19. I have the right to experience and then let go of fear, guilt and shame.
20. I have the right to make decisions based on my feelings, my judgement or any reason that I choose.
21. I have the right to change my mind at any time.
22. I have the right to be happy.
23. I have the right to stability, i.e., "roots" and stable healthy relationships of my choice.
24. I have the right to my own personal space and time needs.
25. I have the right to be relaxed, playful and frivolous.
26. I have the right to be flexible and be comfortable with doing so.
27. I have the right to change and grow.
28. I have the right to be open to improve my communication skills so that I may be understood.
29. I have the right to make friends and be comfortable around people.
30. I have the right to be in a nonabusive environment.
31. I have the right to be healthier than those around me.
32. I have the right to take care of myself, no matter what.
33. I have the right to grieve over actual or threatened losses.
34. I have the right to trust others who earn my trust.
35. I have the right to forgive others and to forgive myself.
36. I have the right to give and to receive unconditional love.

http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/simons-place/Bill_Of_Rights.html
By: Charles Whitfield

Promise Yourself

Promise Yourself

Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can
disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to
every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel like there is
something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your
optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best,
and expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on the
greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give
every living person you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, and too
strong for fear, and to happy to permit the
presence of trouble.

Christian D Larson
(The Optimist Creed
From The Optimist International)