Reunion To Do

My 15th year high school reunion is coming in two months. So what do I need to do to before then? lol

1. Make sure I contact those that I know won't get the information except from me.
2. Get a hair cut.
3. Buy a new dress.
4. Buy a nice pair of shoes.
5. Visit the dentist.
6. Mentally prepare myself.
7. Add to the list as I think of more things.

Actually, I wasn't thinking of going originally, but some people I haven't seen in awhile are considering it. I'd really like to see them and hang out; we never have much opportunity to get together any more because of our schedules. Plus, it should be fun, I guess.

Ramblings Revisited

from Random Questions

1) Go to your journal's archives.
2) Find the 23rd post.
3) Find the 5th sentence in that post.
4) Post that sentence with these instructions.
5) Tag five more people.

The following sentence is from my 23rd post, "Ramblings."
It's a really fun pirate movie full of humor, adventure, swordplay, a kick eema heroine & her damsel (Mr. Shaw) in distress. (hee hee)

* I'm not taggin anyone in particular. Whoever would like to give this one a try, please feel free! ;-)

Pretend Writer: Thursday4

1. If you were a book, What would you be about? Why?
If I were a book, I'd be one of those stories about a dreamer with a quirky family who sometimes feels trapped by her life but breaks out of her cocoon to freedom (in whatever form that means to her) by the end of the book. Why? I feel that particular book would apply to me. ;p

2. If you were a movie, what genre would you be? Why?
I'd either be a quirky comedy romance or a fantasy movie. Why? I think those are the genres I'd prefer to be.

3. If you could open a restaurant, what type of food would you serve? Why?
I would serve comfort foods mostly but also international treats, like fruit-filled crepes or Spanish tapas. I'd serve during breakfast, lunch and dinner, and there would be different desserts available. I'd rotate the menu but keep basic comfort foods available at all times. I'm not sure if I'd serve a seperate brunch menu or afternoon tea menu or not. Why would I serve the types of food that I mentioned? I love to eat at restaurants that offer tasty variety and also a standard fare of home cooking inspired meals.

4. If your life was a movie, what actors/actress would play the main characters in your life? Why?
This is a tough one. I'm not quite sure who would play the main characters in my life as a movie. I'll have to contemplate this last question a bit longer and return to it at a later date.

from Pretend Writer

When you see this, post a poem in your journal.

"A Drinking Song"

Ho! Ho! Ho! to the bottle I go
To heal my heart and drown my woe.
Rain may fall and wind may blow,
And many miles be still to go,
But under a tall tree I will lie,
And let the clouds go sailing by.

-- J.R.R. Tolkien

Alchera Project: Astrological Signs


Although I'm not (yet) a member of the Alchera Project, I enjoy lurking on the site and thought one of this month's writing options was cool. So, I decided to give it a try. Maybe I'll even see if I can join the group, too. Anyway, without further ado ..

List/Option No. Four:
This month is going to deal with astrology. Whether you believe in it or not will be irrelevant as this is more about personalities than lions, scorpions and bulls. eHow.com has a collection of "How to Spot a " articles. Each article points out the most common characteristics of each sign.

~~~~~~
Capricorn
Capricorns are symbolized by the Goat, and are born between December 22 and January 19. Those born under this sign struggle with duality and with an innate need to master themselves and those around them.

* Possesses a need for control in all aspects of their lives
* Practical, serious, methodical: chooses the slow & steady path
* Hard worker
* Enjoys success
* Lust for power
* Keen sense of humor & the ability to laugh in almost any circumstance
* Enjoys material goods more than most people
* Very lucky
* Prefers museums, galleries and lectures to beaches, parties or clubs

Much of these characteristics apply to me, imo. I tend to be a bit more serious and practical than many others. I'm very willing to work slowly & quietly behind the scenes for whatever I wish to accomplish, and to patiently wait for what I want as the end result. I don't see myself lusting for power or material possessions more than others, but I definitely enjoy success and praise when it's deserved. I can't really say whether I'm especially lucky (or unlucky), but I'm definitely not a beach, party or club person.

------
I couldn't find any other sign's characteristics that matched me as well as my sun sign's. I did find a few characteristics here and there that applied.

Watch those who seem to have many unfinished projects in their life. A Gemini feels the need to be involved in a multitude of creative endeavors at all times, and subsequently has trouble finishing projects of any magnitude.

Seek out pack rats. Cancers form emotional bonds with everything that crosses their paths. Often unable to throw anything away, they can frequently be found hoarding such valuable treasures as a pair of gym shorts from junior high.

Notice those who have a strong relationship with their parents and immediate family. A friend who places a high value on familial bonds is likely to have been born under the sign of Cancer.

Cancers love to be within the secure boundaries of their own abode, and can often be found nestled under the covers reading a favorite novel.

Notice those who clearly preach their values and who wholeheartedly attempt to follow their own moral standards at all times. (Sagittarius)

The World Offers Aid

Although the world's reaction to the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina varies, offers of aid are coming from dozens of countries, over 50 at last count. Some are allies; some aren't. Some are rich; some, poor.

"I hope that will remind Americans that we are all part of the same community," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday as offers kept pouring in.
(AP: Countries Pledge Hurricane Aid to U.S.)

It's amazing; for the second time in only four years, the world has reached out to the U.S., despite ideological or political differences across many nations.

By Friday, offers had been received from Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belgium, Britain, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Georgia, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, the Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela and the United Arab Emirates.
(AP: Countries Pledge Hurricane Aid to U.S.)

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has offered the U.S. hundreds of doctors, nurses, experts in trauma and natural disasters, NBC News has learned. Sharon has also offered field hospitals and medical kits as well as temporary housing and told Bush in a letter that the medical assistance and other help could be deployed within 24 hours.

(MSNBC.com: Aid Pours in from around the Globe)

It seems, though, from what I've been reading, that maybe not everyone in our government is openly welcoming & accepting not only the monetary aid that has been offered but all the promises of rescue teams & equipment, medical assistance, etc. For example, the following two quotes, if accurate, seem to illustrate a willingness to help by others but a lack of willingness to accept the help offered. Maybe I'm misreading?

But Cuban President Fidel Castro said he hoped an offer made Tuesday to send 1,100 Cuban doctors would be accepted "immediately so as not to lose another minute." Castro said in a live broadcast in Havana Friday night that he had just sent a diplomatic note to the U.S. mission in Havana to make the offer a second time.
(AP: Countries Pledge Hurricane Aid to U.S.)

Bush told ABC-TV: “I’m not expecting much from foreign nations because we hadn’t asked for it. I do expect a lot of sympathy and perhaps some will send cash dollars. But this country’s going to rise up and take care of it.”

“You know,” he said, “we would love help, but we’re going to take care of our own business as well, and there’s no doubt in my mind we’ll succeed. And there’s no doubt in my mind, as I sit here talking to you, that New Orleans is going to rise up again as a great city.”
(MSNBC.com: Aid Pours in from around the Globe)

I'm hoping that I'm just misinterpreting quotes like that. Honestly, I don't want to bring politics into the rescue/recovery efforts in the states affected by Hurricane Katrina. Yet, when help is offered but is slow to be accepted, I can't help but think of politics, or worse, someone's ego about taking care of business all by his lonesome. Well, like I said, it's probably misinterpretation on my part or simply frustration. We are each doing what we can do, no matter how small or how great the effort. Comfort, supplies, monetary aid, whatever, as long as everyone is doing something, the people are evacuated and those who need medical treatment receive it, that's all that should matter right now. After all is said and done, that's when people should focus on preperations for such a major disaster next time. Now is the time, imho, to focus on getting to the people who are trapped there and on the "refugees" who've lost everything.

Help and Hope are on the way though. :) I'm guessing we'll be hearing a lot of survivor's stories over the next few weeks, or at least, I hope we do. Katrina hit not only New Orleans but other areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama (after taking a swipe at Florida). That's a large area of devastation needing help now.

Want to help the rescue efforts? Donations can be made to American Red Cross, Salvation Army. FEMA has a more comprehensive list of places to donate in this press release.