How dark one's soul must be feeling when the final decision to end their life occurs. Suicide's effect is continuous. Those seeming the happiest and content can be harboring trauma and a dissolved outlook in regards to their future. Check on your loved ones. Create dialogue. No one is immune.
A journey to overcome painful stepping stones that created my resolve and testimony
You've raised your children, nurtured their friends and built a life in your home. Now it's time to sell and move on. As difficult as it is to begin again, the joy of reliving the memories brings forth a sense of peace.
Winter continues to hover over the land...how I long for spring!
My fear of dying outweighs the annoyance my CPAP machine provides so I choose to force air up my nose each night. Apparently, looking like Hannibal Lecter of the night isn't scaring my dogs off!
In two years, I will be 60. I remember 50 like it was yesterday. What the heck happened? What do I want to do with my life when I grow up?
I just retired after 32 years of teaching. I absolutely loved teaching. So why did I retire?
Aging can bring loneliness to one's life when maneuvering the ups and downs alone. Sometimes, it is all encompassing. There has to be other options in life.
For those women and men that choose to use internet dating sites to find their sought after partner, please beware! More websites; including those sites that cost money, are infiltrated with scammers.
For years I struggled with what I thought was depression, chronic fatigue and arthritic aches and pains. Little did I know how much the thyroid controlled in my body.
With so many individuals posting "history" of the heritage of the South and why the rebel flag should remain as a symbol in the South, it's time to learn the true heritage of the South.
Two movies recently hit the big screen: Unbroken and Wild. Unbroken is the story of a POW during WWII and Wild the story of a woman in search of herself. Both spoke to me on various levels...
After my 75 gallon, salt water tank produced a hair-line crack; I knew I had to give up my salt water fish hobby! The tank then became a habitat for Journey, my bearded dragon. She's great!
When I was forced to take down my 75 gallon salt water tank, I was crushed. Then, a little Beardie came into my life and brought my tank back to life!
Three months ago, I made the decision to try living my life without the help of SSRI's. I had been medicating my anxiety and depression for over 9 years but continued to have downward spirals...
I wrote a hub a couple weeks back about my thoughts on weaning myself from the SSRI's I have been taking for 11 years. I had hit rock bottom emotionally..my doctor wished to add more pills...
What can you do if you are without a good health insurance policy, don't have health insurance or can't afford a therapist? Go to your local pound or pet rescue organization!
Dogs are a person's best friend. I have birds, lizards, rabbits and cats but nothing warms my heart and calms my soul like one of my dogs.
What happens when an SSRI taking depressive decides to see the world without medication? I don't know. Ask me in 5 months.
I put thousands of dollars into my salt water aquarium and in an afternoon; it was gone and I was housing a desert creature!
People often argue about allowing children to experience the spirit of Santa Claus. I believe that Santa helped my children grow into wonderful people.
At what point do you become your child's friend? I've realized it isn't until they are on their own two feet.
My neighbor and friend is dying of cancer. She, like myself, has always been a vivacious, free spirited, vocal woman who taught special needs adolescents for most of her life. She is happily married to her best friend. She and he travel to...
I turned 50 this past November and realized that I have spent most of my life on this beautiful Earth putting my own needs and desires on the back burner and attending to everyone else's wishes. This list of people of whom I have attended to all...
It wasn't a hasty decision to take Millie, my Landseer, Newfoundland home when she was a puppy. I had just made the excruciating decision to have my beloved shepherd Lacey put down due to a debilitating brain tumor. Lacey was "the" dog that I had...
A question was asked...What does Heaven look like? My perception of Heaven is unique but I am sure not a singular thought among millions. What is your vision of Heaven?
Nifty 50? I'll let you know in one year!
My fiance and I visited the doctor's a lot this year. He has had an ongoing heart condition his entire life and in January of 2011, he found he couldn't breathe or keep up his normal routine at his job in the factory. The news was devastating. ...
I found this picture posted in various places on the Internet. Each person posting it, claiming credit. I truly don't know if I will ever be able to find the true photographer of this image but I love it and I thank them for allowing so many of us...
I've owned dogs my entire adult life. When I first ventured out of my parents' home at a mere 18 years old, I felt I needed a dog to keep me company. Add to that, the need for having a companion to walk with to and from work during my night shift as...
When I gave birth to my son, I was surrounded by friends and family that always used the quote, "Boys will be boys". That made me feel uncomfortable. Why do we allow society to dictate to us the behaviors expected of young men? Why should boys be...
I always wanted to be a mom. I had great difficulty becoming one. My body just wouldn't accept a tiny being that wanted to gestate and grow inside of me. That's why I view my children as gifts from God. My hearts....
My mother had Alzheimer's and It Changed My Life
Hope is a word we all have in our vocabulary. It is not visible but we feel it every day. When you take the risk of loving someone, your hopes rise to a level like never before; hoping that by the grace of God, it will last....
Never before have I felt The instant comfort that usually comes With age and familiarity Until The moment you touched me. Never before did I let down my barriers To allow anyone To touch me Kiss me Explore me Until you. To pinpoint the...
I'm doing quite a bit of house cleaning these days. The house I am referring to is my own self. My mind. My body. My thoughts and thinking processes. I am also crying way too much and walking around looking like a boxer who has had too many punches...
My uterus and I have always had problems with each other. When I was 12 years old, my mother heard on the news that the medication she had taken; DES, to prevent spontaneous abortion in the body was now a risk for uterine cancer in the daughters...
I am a nice person. I smile a lot. I am a do-gooder. I say hello to everyone that I see. I listen to people, even complete strangers, lament about their problems and shake my head in agreement. I cannot however, stand to see or associate with my ex....
My Happy Pill Maybe you've heard when life gives you lemons, grab the blender, the salt and make Margarita's! Well, that works for some women but I prefer my happy pill. I spent years thinking that I was insane. I would obsess about everything and...
Reading is not an easy task... Some of us take our reading ability for granted. For some reason, we caught on to the lessons, bought into the strategies that we most likely can't even remember now and found reading to be natural for us. If you are a...
I often look to the Heavens and ask God for a sign; some kind of sign that I will know I will be successful in my ventures to improve myself; body and soul. Alas, there are no visible signs. I do believe I am not asking the right questions. ...
Stress can kill. It's important to learn how to breathe and keep calm.
I grew up watching the old, musical, love stories with my father. Every weekend, we'd turn on the TV and watch Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Judy Garland and the rest of the 60's crowd swoon their partners and end up happily ever after. I grew up...
My father died on a Thursday in June. I found out that very night that he had suffered from a massive heart attack and that my mother; who has Alzheimer's had called the ambulance. However, no one knows how long before she realized that he was in...
It's 6:30 AM in my house; and I've awakened to music in the air. I roll myself within the sheets and focus a blank stare. Another day of living. Another day begun... I haul my butt right out of bed and want to have some fun. Instead I reach...
Any budding artist has had the experience of painting still life. Setting up the background to enhance the object of your desire is painstaking...the folds in the fabric must look perfectly folded. The flow of the background should compliment...
Salt water aquariums are incredibly beautiful. Read about my endeavors however before jumping into owning one!
I often feel at the end of my rope....do you? It's been months since I hubbed. I used to hub as if it were an addiction. When I first joined months ago, I couldn't write enough. I realized something during those initial months. I felt relieved...
This movie interested me. With the age of technology and the use of machines in the twenty first century, I have often wondered what will civilization look like in another 100 years? The movie Surrogates places emphasis on life using robots...
Love Happens is inappropriately titled. This is not a simple love story. This is a story of pain, fear, reaching out and affirmation of loss. In fact, the love story between Aniston and Eckhart's characters in the movie is the icing but not...
Action, action and more action! If you want a movie that rarely sits still, then G.I. Joe is the movie for you. Not only does it deliver an all star cast, you get visuals ranging from explosions, futuristic creations, eye candy for both women...
I had tried to conceive for years. I am one of those women that feel like a big breast walking down the street; put here to parent, console children and teach them. I wanted so very much to have a child and for four years, I tried. Sex wasn't for...
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel are perfectly matched in this sweet, funny and many times saddening movie. The voice over of the commentator is soothing and encouraging to you, the participant of this unusual movie that follows a few...
I had a wedding party to go to and it was a costume party at that. I wanted something light to bring and since it was really chilly outside for August (65 degrees) and the party was at night, I decided on soup. I love making up my own recipes...
My full bathroom is small and compact. The shower is hidden behind the door! Therefore, I wanted to make the space look inviting and romantic. The tub is about 47 years old! Putting tile up on the wall made the area waterproof but still...
I emplore you to watch the movie Food Inc., if you haven't. It is important that we educate ourselves; even if you aren't willing to change. Modified foods are everywhere; shouldn't you know where you can find them?
As many of you know, if you read my hubs, I've been endlessly painting the many rooms in my home this summer. What many of you may not know is that I begin a room, get bored and proceed to another room for new excitement. The end result? A...
Why can learning be dangerous? Why is it bad if someone kicks a bucket? Read this hub to find out!
It is Sunday morning and I've had three customers today; all of whom bought something from my 20% off yard/garage sale today. Yesterday, I sat in my 110 degree garage in the mid-90 degree weather, sweating my butt off, but earning over $400 total...
A montage of photos that will strike your fancy.
This movie was quite simply Bon Apetit! Slow moving but interesting, Meryl Streep does an excellent job of creating a visual Julia Childs with her perfect speech/accent, mannerisms and body language. One thing I wasn't prepared for but was...
Each time I watch this movie, I get shivers!
When one thinks of high fructose corn syrup, we typically believe this comes from sugar. Wrong! High fructose corn syrup is derived from corn; hence the word corn in its title. Today, more people consume high fructose corn syrup (hfcs) than...
I used to cherish Christmastime. The songs, the festive lights and gaiety all around. I still enjoy the Christmas holiday and season but I look forward to Halloween and all of the creative things I do each year! First of all, I decorate the...
My children visited their pediatrician today for their yearly physicals. My children are not what you would call fat when you see them. They are very tall for their ages and have rolls on their bellies but their arms, legs, faces and chest...
I remember the roar of my Big Wheel! I was the fastest chick on the block. The power I felt beneath my feet and my sometimes, numb and aching butt! I was so cool. I thought at least! My parents would open the back door after 8:00 in the...
Christmas in all its glory; remembering those Christmases of my past.
My 30 year reunion was the other week. I didn't go. It's not that I didn't want to be there. After this many years, the cliques and social groups don't necessarily exemplify what they did in my younger years. The cliques are no longer...
This was the longest hour and a half I've experienced in while. I Love You Beth Cooper was a typical teen flick, complete with graduation scene and rampaging, hormonal bullies. The story begins with the class brainiac giving a commencement speech....
Only the face a mother could love? Well, some of these creatures penned the term!
A lasagna recipe I guarantee everyone will adore.
Turtles have so much personality and charm. While setting up an ideal habitat for them can be costly, your turtle will be thankful and will thrive.
This hub doesn't tell you how to get a "six-pack" belly; it focuses on the dangers of having a large stomach. If you resemble Santa Claus outside of the Christmas season, then this is a read for you; man or woman!
Roly, poly, giant creatures of the dog family...the St. Bernard
I loved the first Harry Potter when the world was wide eyed and curious about this young wizard and his two friends. I enjoyed the second and third Harry Potter movies but tolerated the fourth and fifth. They had lost something. However,...
Break the fast and eat breakfast! Here are some quick and yummy ways to begin your day!
As an adult who suffered from learning disabilities as a child and now a Special Needs teacher, I have found that every child can learn. Here are some techniques you can use.
A classic ahead of its time: The Wizard of Oz!
To look at the man, I feel nauseated. Sick. He looks like a pimp in the way he presents himself to the public. Who is he kidding? This is the man that launched the Jackson 5 to stardom and later, was identified as the man behind Michael...
I named my own daughter after George Bailey because of the wonderful person he was. Need I say more about It's a Wonderful Life?
Chemistry is awesome! Kids love experimenting and using these quick and easy activities will ensure an exciting afternoon!
Johnny Depp has done it again. Every role this amazing actor plays, he becomes and you sit in awe believing that he is indeed John Dillinger in the new film, Public Enemies. The movie opens with a bank robbery / jail break; both involving Depp...
I love my tattoos! The pictures to the right are not any that I sport; however, I love seeing people flaunting their artwork! I have a tattoo on my right outer calf and on my back, to the right of my left shoulder blade. On my leg, I have my...
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." We stand before sporting events, swearing ins of political members, in...
Marley and Me was a sweet, moving movie about a yellow lab and his owners. He was a destructive pooch but lovable. Untrainable but bright. He was both their joy and bain of their existence! His ending had many of us crying, causing us to...
John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph are perfect in this unexpected sleeper of a movie. Projecting the same kind of tone as Juno, Krasinski and Rudolph; expecting a child (but very excited about raising the little one), set out from city to city in...
I listened very carefully to the words of the song that encourages fathers to be good to their daughters the other day. How true... our daughters are often raised with the impression that they are to be lady-like, proper and submissive. ...
Michael Jackson was one of the world's best entertainers. When writing this hub, I had no idea that it would touch so many people in different ways. My opinions of Michael and his children have changed as I have seen his children on television and out in public. He was an icon that puzzled many...
Tiny tea cup Yorkies are adorable but as high maintenance as their larger counter parts.
I hate wearing a bra! Unfortunately, I have huge melons that need support, even though gravity is winning out. Read my hub about this aweful creature that we call the boulder holder!
The Dreaded Varmint You Can't Seem to Escape Isn't it odd that something so small and so fragile could be the satanic brother of the vampire himself? I am finding out that this summer season is at a record high for the birth of mosquitoes; at...
I would love to meet my soul mate first as a friend and have it develop into the love of my life.
The book "You've Got Male" takes you through the adventures of Lonnie Jo, a forty something, chubby woman looking for love on the Internet. Lonnie Jo, has always compromised herself to fit the personalities of the men that she dated. In this book,...
The 12 months of Christmas... On the 12th month of Christmas my doctor gave to me.. A pacemaker for my honey On the 11th month of Christmas my doctor gave to me.. A catheter so I could pee. On the 10th month of Christmas...
I remember it well. I was in third grade and had come home from school, only to hear an electric shaver humming in the upstairs bathroom. I assumed my father was home early and skipped up the stairs only to stop in horror in front of the bathroom...
Beautify your surroundings with inexpensive items.
I've got nice, white teeth!
As much as I'd like to follow my dentist's advise on wearing a bite splint to bed, I cannot get used to drowning in a pool of my own saliva....
I've had it all my life and it has made me miserable! Restless Leg Syndrome is real.
Always a tradition in my youth; I now just change into sweat pants!
The word poetry is scary to some. It amazes me how many people feel they can't write. Poetry is a word that encompasses feelings; how those feelings are delivered, line by line; word by word, is poetry. So many assume that poems have to...
The word bankruptcy, I thought, would never be part of my vocabulary. When I took my children and moved out of the marital home 7 years ago, I had quite a bit of debt from the divorce. Since the marital home didn't sell for two years and he chose to...
Colors of the rainbow. Need I say more? One doesn't have to be a product of the hippie generation to love tie dye! Here's how to get great patterns and results!
Having gone to Catholic schools my entire life, I was curious about this movie. I didn't know much about the content, only that it had a hard-ass nun that was riding a priest about his "modern" ways. Meryl, Phillip and Amy (Adams) are all...
While the debate is still out whether or not one should eliminate carbs from their diets, I continue to cook with noodles and love the different recipes that can be created with them. Enjoy!
Little girls always want to be princesses! Some never outgrow this! lol
Want to be an Egyptian for a day? Or give a party that is awesome? Read on...
Young children love Dora the Explorer! This theme makes a fun and exciting birthday party. Most 1/2 card stores or stores such as Target or Walmart carry Dora plates, napkins, table spreads, party hats and so forth. Your paper products can...
I was a late in life parent. My first; a son, was born when I was 33 years old. I had tried for years, unsuccessfully to become pregnant and had resigned myself to the fact that even though I had wanted to be a mother, it probably wasn't going...
Take a deep breath.... inhale and hold the fragrance of natural medicine. Gardening can be great therapy for the doldrums. Personal wellness is important for a long, happy and fulfilling life. Nature has a way of helping us connect to our...
How sad for the world to have lost two icons on Thursday, June 25, 2009. Both were individuals who rose to stardom quickly after being discovered and both reacted to their public approval with trepidation and anxiety, wanting to please their...
Action packed, explosive and never a dull moment, this unrealistic but exciting film had me tensing up and biting my nails wondering what would happen next. Some parts of the film, such as the transforming segments of the vehicles to their robotic...
Farrah Fawcett; a true beauty.
Micheal Jackson; an icon but also unknown by many.
Raising wild bunnies that have been abandoned takes a lot of time and knowledge.
What is it that urges women to stay in abusive relationships? Abuse being described as emotional or physical? Is it ignorance of what is beyond that type of life? Is it fear that weakness or the unknown will hurt more than the abuse itself? How can women empower themselves and move on?
Instead of focusing on what you are eating that is bad for you, read about some foods you could be eating that are good for you!
When I was young and soul searching... you know, trying to figure out what you would do to change the world; I was asked by a teacher to think of a fruit that would best describe me. A fruit? Is she kidding? This was my first response. In...
I find nothing more attractive than a bunch of men, covered in sweat, running in a race altogether. I know. I rate up there with Kim Catrell when she starred in the 70's spoof of Porky's, where she would steal boys' sweat socks and hoard them...
Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds have wonderful chemistry in this new flick, showing at theaters right now. From the beginning, Sandra takes over the screen with her appearance and her force; leading viewers to believe that that Ryan Reynolds...
If you want a huge fish in your freshwater tank, then buy a little Comet and in one year, you will be amazed!
I don't have the bond with any wild squirrels like I did with a special one in my youth...
Hippie chicks and love!
It has been done. The burial. The new awakening. As I traveled down the path in the woods, I had journeyed on so many times before, everything seemed new. I hadn’t ventured into the woods since this past fall. When the leaves and...
As an artist, I try to find various ways to be creative. I enjoy making wreaths, painting, jewelry and mosaics. Mosaics, while they appear to be difficult and time consuming, are becoming a popular form of art work. First, you need to find...
I am a teacher and have been for 23 years. I love teaching and especially love hearing stories told by parents, co-workers and children in my classroom. I would like to share some stories that I have been told or have heard by my own...
Our Wheaton Terrier wasn't the sharpest bone in the box but he was still loved very much.
What to do on a rainy day? The sky has opened its eyes and is crying down upon us. Mother Nature is having a temper tantrum by screaming through thunder and throwing us cats and dogs! I know! Do some home improvement... paint the kitchen...
That good looking man or woman on your screen may actually be an unsightly, naked person moonlighting as a total babe on your dating website. Look for personality and don't get sucked into pictures.
Today is the day. A walk in the woods. It’s a gray morning with a silver lining. The rays of light are desperately attempting to peer beyond their blanket of gloominess and I’m taking my dogs for a light romp in the woods. It’s...
When love dies, you may want to as well. Don't.
When my past relationships died, I was overwhelmed with so many feelings. First, disbelief. Then, sadness. Anger began to fill my mind. Lastly, grief. If I look at each of these on their own level, I can now see that fear motivated...
If you are divorced, what type of partnership do you have with your ex?
Losing weight is so traumatic for me personally. Years of pain and suffering have put on unwanted pounds that I struggle to take off.
I walked in the rain tonight, Trying to cleanse my mind and my soul. I was cold. Empty inside. Lonely. When one can compare oneself to a dank, empty cavern; A cleansing can’t occur. My energy is too caught up in the...
I want to look at my life and be flabbergasted by the miracle of it. Loving and being loved makes each day so much better and exciting. If I can only spend a moment in your arms; Let that moment be my lifetime. ...
In the fall, the Earth will begin a transformation. The trees will begin to offer their gifts of vibrancy to the ground. Children will delight in the festive ground covering and will kick, jump and pounce into it. Adults will mumble...
How does one find balance between their inner self and a relationship with another?
The hammock swings to the tune of crickets strumming The night is clear and crisp A breeze encircles the trees and climbs down to cover us with it's chill. I am warm however through and through For I have your arms...
Many women, including myself in the past, have become addicted to men. I found myself consuming them. The relationship. I brought a lot of insecurities that I had not allowed myself to work through. Instead of recognizing that true...
A poem about genuine love.
In the summer, trees are in their full glory. They stand proudly and wave their luscious boughs. They provide ample covering from the heat, rain and wind. They host families of creatures that provide us with entertainment throughout the...
I wish to be like a tree! Interested? Read on...
It all began in my youth. The post nasal drip. The coughing up of sputum each morning. The itchy eyes. When the seasons changed, so did my body; for the worst. I chalked it up through the years to seasonal allergies and prescribed to the...
My daughter wanted a pet she could call her own. We already had two cats and two dogs but she claimed that I took care of them (how come I didn't have the insight to realize that this new pet would also become part of my care taking clan?). ...
I am an emotional eater. I rarely eat for hunger. Perhaps it stems from the fact that my mother used food to show her love for me. She would pile lumberjack sized portions on my plate and insist I eat everything before I could relish a taste...
It is important to match your personality with the right breed of dog.
I am afraid to grow old alone. Perhaps, it is because I was raised in a family of ten children. I was always around people; whether I chose to be or not. Growing up, I had many "alone" moments where I chose not to gather people around me. ...
Divorce is difficult. It is especially hard when the soon to be ex doesn't want to work with you on raising your children.
Love yourself. Wrap your arms around your shoulders and give yourself a hug!