Drop Everything and Read! (D.E.A.R.)

In honor of yesterday's fun, I decided to look up what today celebrated. It turns out a few things are celebrated today, but the one that really caught my eye was D.E.A.R. Day. Drop Everything and Read Day is to remind us to spend time everyday reading as a family, or in my case, as a loner.

The date is also the birthday of beloved children's author, Beverly Cleary. This is because she wrote about a D.E.A.R experience (inspired by letters from young fans) in her book, Ramona Quimby, Age 8.

I love to read and, as shown in the picture, I am currently reading Dark Slayer by Christine Feehan. What are you reading now?

Barbershop Quartet Fun!

Today is officially Barbershop Quartet Day! In honor of this crazy holiday I will post three of my favorite barbershop style songs.

#3 is this scene in Music Man. Oh yeah, ice cream.

#2 is one guy doing his own four part for a cool version of Nickelback's "Rock Star" aptly done as "Barbershop Star."



And taking the NUMBER ONE spot is Bieber Barber Shop! For Lesbian Bieber look-alikes spoofing on the Bieber in four part harmony!



Happy harmonies!

Old Year's Day

Today is not New Year's Eve. Sure, that is what the calendar says, but they are wrong. How can I make such an argument? Perhaps it is because I have lived in the Caribbean for too long. Here, we refer to this day as Old Year's Day. It isn't a day to make goals and correct mistakes you made last year and chit-chat about new beginnings and all of that... that is what tomorrow is for. Today, you celebrate the past year. All of it. The ups. The downs. Celebrate the old year. If it was good: kudos to you. If it was bad: YOU SURVIVED! There will never be another 2009. Every single one of those experiences over the past year will never be replicated again. Appreciate that. Be grateful for the amazing vessel that is your body. It allows you to experience and memorize your life. Don't think to hard on the future, enjoy the present, and respect the past for what it is. Happy Old Year's Day!

Were there any experiences in the past year (good or bad) that really impacted you?

Stuff to be Thankful For...

I suppose I could get all mushy and list the many reasons I am thankful this year, but in case you guys haven't figured it out, I am easily pleased and find pleasure in the smallest things. I think that is what keeps me young! Anyway... one thing I am thankful for is (and super excited about) is my Bento USB. It finally came in the mail. If you couldn't tell by the picture, I want to eat it. I took the close up so you could see all the mini food! In case you forgot, I won a contest on Adventures in Bentomaking. Thanks, Pikko!

I'm doubly thankful that I get to have a non-traditional Thanksgiving at a friends house. No turkey here! We're going Cuban style with roast pork. It's in the oven now and smells super yummy! A lot of the people here on island are "orphans" and don't have a lot of other family here. It's nice that we still feel like it's a family gathering. I can't wait. My friend bakes such awesome pastries!

I know that I am grateful for a lot of other things as well, like my health, my finances (come on, I could be living in a slum... you don't have to be rich to be wealthy... perspective peoples!), my hubby and such, but I think being grateful for the little things is so much fun. So what silly little thing are you grateful for?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank a Vet.

Regardless of what side you take with current conflicts we may have, the fact still remains that our armed forces are volunteer and these servicemen and women will fight for US when we need it. Special shout out to my bro, Joel, a former Marine and war vet himself and to my sis who is currently serving. Thanks to all of you. And as an extra aside, this day is, in fact, Armistice Day. This was to remember the day that the armistice was signed between the allies and Germans in World War I.