Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts

How FACEBOOK Helped Me Beat WRITER'S BLOCK

Friday, April 8, 2011

Writer's Block.

These two words have had control over my ability to write recently.

It's not like my life has been lacking in interesting events and situations that would make for great blog content. I have been a bit all-consumed with my classes and work...but there has also been some time for fun, time to try new things, and time to continue to grow my "Rolodex" of experiences and stories.

So why have I been unable to write?

I guess one never really knows why or how they slip into a pattern of Writer's Block. What people remember more is what snapped them out of their funk and inspired them to start writing again.



My moment of clarity came to me this morning.  And when I say this morning, I mean EARLY this morning.  For some reason I was suffering from a bout of insomnia.  After lying in bed trying to get back to sleep, I opted to turn on my computer and log into Facebook (I am obsessed after all). 

Though the details are irrelevant, after "playing" on my FB I came across some information that sent daggers into my heart (yes, I'm aware I'm being a bit dramatic) and set a fire in me.  Some of my friends suggested that I use that flame for a confrontation. Not being one who enjoys unneeded drama, I opted to use the fire burning in my soul as fuel to motivate me to get back to writing. The nudge from my friend and fellow-blogger Steph (check out her blog here) was also helpful (THANKS GIRL!!!). 

While I have nothing too profound to say at the moment, I see this just as my warm-up for a marathon of blogging that is on its way.  You see I am officially on Spring Break, which is just another perk of working for the school district (click here to read about some of the other perks). For the next week or so I will have ample time to fill all of you loyal readers in on the roller coaster that I call my life. 


Those who know me, know that I'm a "glass half full" kind of girl.  I'm also a huge fan of the Yiddish (Jewish?) saying, "What seems like a blessing may be a curse.  What seems like a curse, may be a blessing."

In this case I'm thankful for that anonymous Facebook friend for making the choice they did.  It has allowed me to wake up, open my eyes, and rejuvenate me to get back to what I'm focused on and passionate about...my writing.

And with that....my writer's block is no more!


If I Had a MILLION (or more) Dollars...

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The holiday's are supposed to be a time about giving.  A time to be thankful for what we have.  A time to spend time with our family and those we love. 

I think the key word in what I said above is SUPPOSED TO.  As I have gotten older, it seems to me that the holidays have really become a time for mass consumption and overspending.  This year, millions of people nation-wide flocked to stores on Black Friday to find whatever deals they could.  A riot took place in upstate New York as crazed shoppers rushed into a Target.

Is this really what the holiday season is about?

Being Jewish, I (obviously) don't celebrate Christmas.  I don't wake up on Christmas morning to dozens of presents to open.  And to be honest, I haven't "cashed in" on the eight days of presents and loot, that people think goes hand-in-hand with Chanukah, since I was a child. 

As the nation is dealing with one of the hardest-hit economies in decades, you would think people would be more conscious of their spending habits.  I have honestly found just the opposite. 

Look at all of this ridiculous stuff people, who have money to blow, are buying!!!!

24k Gold Pills
Ever wanted to shit gold?
The tag line on these outrageous pills are: "Indulge your 'inner' self with these 24k gold leaf capsules. 
Digest to increase self worth."

Created by artists and visionaries Tobias Wong and Ju$t Another Rich Kid, these pills are for people who have so much money and are looking for a good way to waste it. 
For a mere $799 you too can own these gold dipped pills that are filled with gold flakes. 

At first I thought there may be some health value to these.  Maybe some healing powers of gold? After reading some reviews, I discovered there is no redeemable value to these except for bragging rights for ingesting a shit-load of gold.  And when I say shit-load, I mean shit-load. 
People who did take these pills reported  no side effects except for sparkly poop.

Thanks but no thanks, I will pass on this one.  But if you ARE interested in buying these gold pills,

Diamond Encrusted iPhone
Bling Bling...you have an incoming call!
Now, I'm DEF a girl who LOVES her bling.  They do say diamonds are a girls best friend after all.  This phone however, takes bling to a whole new level.  You can make your calls and text your friends in style with this modified iPhone.

It features (get this) 500 flawless diamonds!  It includes a SEVEN-CARAT pink diamond inserted into the navigation button that is set in platinum and rose gold.  And if pink diamonds aren't your thing you can also get a clear seven-carat diamond instead.

The cost of this beauty? ONLY $8,000,000!!!

The MOST EXPENSIVE Tequila in the WORLD
Only thing missing is the diamond encrusted worm.
A Mexican distillery recently created what they're hoping will be the world's most expensive bottle of tequila.  This ridiculous bottle is covered in FIVE POUNDS of platinum and is encrusted with FOUR THOUSAND diamonds (over 300 carats of bling).  The bottle is named "Diamond's Law" by the distillery, and is estimated to cost (wait for it) $3.5 MILLION dollars!  The liquid inside is a mixture of three different tequilas that have been aged up to seven years.  This one bottle took over 20 people to make.

Although it would look pretty on a shelf, I could think of a million other (BETTER) ways to spend that money if I had it.  How about a house? A car?  A plane?  And if I did need some diamonds in my life, I prefer to have a copy of that engagement ring that Kate Middleton has on her finger....

A Bear with Golden Hair
A teddy bear that makes all the others look like play-things....
At first glance, this looks like an ordinary teddy bear.  Made by a toy company called Steiff, which claims to have made the world's first teddy bear EVER, they commissioned this golden bear to celebrate their 125th Anniversary. 

This unique bear is actually quit a collectors item.  Its fur is made of REAL GOLD and its eyes are made of sapphires and diamonds.  Although you can find versions of this bear made out of cotton, this bear has a mouth made of solid gold, fur made from gold thread, and eyes with pupils of sapphire and irises made from 20 tiny diamonds. Only 125 of this limited edition "Jubilee Bear" have been produced.

And the cost on this adorable bear...$71,500.


So as we are just a handful of days away from Christmas, I wonder what everyone is hoping to "get" this year.  To change things up a bit, I made some of my friends presents.  It's a craft one of my friends had posted on her Facebook that I thought was really fun.  I will post the project on my blog after the holidays so I don't blow the surprise for my girlies who are receiving this. 

As 2010 comes to a close, I have realized getting two weeks off is present enough for me.  Have I mentioned how much I enjoy working for the school district?

Oh...and to any of you out there who are feeling a bit generous this year, I will be happy to receive any of the above lavish items.  Well, except for the gold pills...sparkly poop will be wasted on me. 

Giving Thanks: Day #2

Saturday, November 6, 2010

What I'm Thankful For #2

Today I'm thankful for my kitty cat Bella.
She loves me unconditionally and knows how to cheer me up after a rough day.
She always greets me at the door when I get home
and showers me in kitty kisses and nuzzles.
She is my "baby" and I love her so.

I AM TRULY BLESSED!

Giving Thanks: Day #1

Thursday, November 4, 2010

One of my best friends posted a great suggestion on her Facebook yesterday.  For the rest of the month she is going to post something she's thankful for.  Something different each day.

I really liked this idea....ALOT! I think we get so caught up in our daily lives and forget to take a moment and reflect on what's important.  I know this happens to me all the time! By recognizing something you're thankful for each day it lets us appreciate the little (or not so little) things and people who are important and grace our lives.

So my dearest friend, I hope you don't mind that I'm borrowing your idea. 

For the rest of the month (or at least until Thanksgiving) I too will post what I am thankful for.  Something different each day.

What I'm Thankful For #1

Today I'm thankful for my friends.
I am very blessed to have some fabulous friends in my life right now.
 Friends who are there for me through good times and bad. 
Friends who will be honest with me and will "tell it like it is"
even if it's hard for me to hear.
Friends who can make me laugh as well as make me cry.
Friends who are more like members of my family, and who I consider my sisters.
Love you wonderful, amazing, ladies!!!

I AM TRULY BLESSED!


A Contradiction of a LIFETIME!!!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Our lives are filled with contradictions.

Y "The early bird gets the worm"  "Good things come to those who wait."  Y
 Y "Look before you leap." Y "Two heads are better than one." Y 
Y "You can't tell a book by its cover." Y

Recently I was talking to a group of my friends about a contradiction that seems to be a reoccurring topic of discussion (and debate). Why is it, that a man who "enjoys the company of women" is considered a ladies man, a player, or a pimp? Mind you, all of these terms are used positively and as a compliment.  When on the flip-side, a woman who has the same desires and game is thought of as a slut, a whore, easy, or desperate? Obviously these are negative and HARSH!

It is in our genetic make up to do things we enjoy, and to not just try to survive. Humans are the only mammals (besides dolphins and the Bonobo monkey) that have sex for pleasure (and fun).  It seems so unfair that a strong and confident woman can be viewed in such a negative light.  Especially when the only thing that differs in the equation is what's found between each person's legs.

There is no difference in a man or a woman wanting to "have a little fun".  Aren't both craving the same rush? Why should it make any difference? Can't good game be considered good game (and if it was safe and fun) isn't that all that really matters?  A male gets respect for getting around but when it comes to a female, she is disrespected and seen as trash. Funny how that works right?


Oh, and it's not just the guys dishing the insults.  We've all heard the phrase, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."  The basic translation: a woman rejected in love can be very angry and dangerous.

Lets also not forget about the competition and jealousy from others.  Rumors sometimes get started and with that comes a tsunami of unwanted bs and gossip. And mind you, this isn't just restricted to women.  I have known a hand full of men who have bigger mouths then most ladies. Some people will try and start their drama and get the word around about business that nobody should be talking about except for the parties involved. Before you know it words like slut, easy, and desperate are thrown around as carelessly as an opened condom wrapper. 

One of my guy friends thinks women can without a doubt be bigger "players" then guys.  He has said that while a woman can just be herself, look nice, and have a good attitude...a man has a much rougher road ahead of him. Even at a very young age on playgrounds young boys are playing sports and enjoying outdoors.  Girls are talking to each other about the world (and developing better communication skills) and playing with dolls (understanding social relationships). Men are trained to be the pursuers which is often more of a disadvantage.

So if the playing-field is technically even (or if women have a slight advantage) my question is this: Is it possible to drop the negative connotations and encourage the use of positive/congratulatory expressions instead?  How about instead of pimp and whore...we use words like OVER ACHIEVER and ENTHUSIAST?

I end this blog the way I started...with contradictions.  And actually, some "food" for thought.  It is said that you can't teach an old dog new tricks.  But at the same time, it's never too late to learn.  So my dear readers, what do you think?  Can a woman be a player?  Are the names we use too harsh? How about some new words to throw into our vocabulary?

I can't wait to start using some of these new terms (Over achiever?  HA!).  How about you???

I'm Back!!!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Well, it has happened.  I hate to say it, but life has finally caught up to me!  Between class in the mornings, work in the afternoons, and an active social life....my dear blog has been neglected.

School is good, but I have so much reading that I have to admit it's kicking my ass a bit.  I am LOVING my new job and feel very blessed to have such great co-workers, amazing staff at my middle school, and a fun group of teens to work with everyday. And my social life? I have found that I don't have as much time to play as I did when I was "enjoying" my FUNemployment, but my social agenda is just as "interesting" as ever (my best friends can attest to that). 

The one thing that I have not made any time for is this blog.  I am actually disappointed that I haven't written anything since LAST Tuesday. There has been several times that I have turned on my computer, read my Huffington Post, and then fallen asleep before I had a chance to write a damn thing. 

BOO ON ME!!!

Is it sick to admit that I was actually going through a bit of withdrawals from blogging?  I have really begun to enjoy writing this little thing and I feel like a piece of me has been missing since I haven't been on here.  It is nice to be back.

To my loyal readers, I'm sorry to leave you hanging for the last week.  I'm a work in progress (as is this blog) and I will make a valiant effort to not let this amount of time lapse between entries again. As my blog is called "Bear-ing It All", I also hope that you all BEAR with me! 

My next blog is an interesting one (or at least I hope it is perceived that way).  And actually, after you read my next post, please comment!  I would love to hear your opinions.

So until then my dear ones....

Today is 10/10/10. But what does it mean?

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Today is October 10, 2010....or 10/10/10!

When all three numbers in the date are the same I interpret it as a lucky day.  Studies show that marriages increase on days like this.  On September 9, 2009 (9/9/09) hundreds of thousands of people got married worldwide.  In China, more than 10,000 couples registered their marriages in Beijing and 6,000 more couples tied the knot in Shanghai. The Stratosphere, in Las Vegas offered a quickie wedding package. It was angling to marry off 99 couples at 9:09 p.m. for -- what else -- $99.09.

A mass marriage celebration in China
So this got me wondering is there any significance behind today's date?

As far as the biblical interpretation, focus could be put on the 10 commandments and the 10 plagues.  Both of these could point to rules or judgments.

In astrology, the number 10  represents completion - it signifies the end of one cycle and the readiness to begin something new. I found this interesting.  Especially in lieu of my personal quest to expand my horizons, try something new, and get outside of my comfort zones (FIND OUT WHAT SCARES ME).  I also thought this was interesting considering I'm in the middle of my Return of Saturn (READ ABOUT SATURN'S RETURN HERE). In the Tarot, the tenth card is the Wheel of Fortune: the knowledge that life brings unexpected occurrences over which we have no control. And supposedly the number 10 is connected with Capricorn, the tenth sign of the zodiac, and represents mastery and achievement.
October 10, 2010 does fall within the opening days of the Venus retrograde, and retrogrades are known to be symbolic!  Often issues of the past return for completion, and this becomes a great opportunity to grow and be in control of our own destiny! With Venus in retrograde one can expect that this time will be focused on relationships, perhaps on a personal level, but it could mean a global level as well.

So "the stars" tell me that today could mean mastery, achievement and controlling my destiny. And with the retrograde of Venus I can expect to focus on my relationships?  Ironically enough this all couldn't be more true for me at this time.  I don't know about accomplishing all of this in ONE DAY but these "factors" are are certainly things I'm dealing with in my daily life. Between my new job and being in the home-stretch of finishing my degree I am without a doubt starting to feel a sense of mastery, achievement, and controlling my destiny.  And the focus on relationships?  CHECK.  Totally doing that! Although this is for sure a different blog topic, I am in the midst of re-evaluating and re-focusing on many of my relationships in my life (friends, romance, family, and professional). 


What can I do to make today a day of fortune and grace, rather than unfinished business staring me in the face? An article on CNBC has a few suggestions.  Here were a few of my favorites.  I left a few of them off because they were totally MATH related and not only did they not interest me, it was like reading a foreign language (TO READ FULL ARTICLE, CLICK HERE) :

10. Kiss your iPhone. 10/10/10 is a binary number (all ones and zeroes) and without binary code, none of your digital dreams would come true.

9. Count your digital blessings. A website has dubbed 10/10/10 "Digital Day," a day for you to share your pre-digital, “Back in my day” stories via blog post, tweet, photo or YouTube video. CHECK OUT THE PAGE HERE

6. Get married. If you tie the knot on 10/10/10, that’ll knock one battle off your “Future Fights” list — because you’ll always remember your anniversary.

5. Throw a global warming party. The site www.350.org is urging people to attend or throw environmental-awareness parties on 10/10/10. If green felt old and busted before, doing it on 10/10/10 gives it a fresh spin.

4. Submit a Top 10 List to Letterman. Dude, you’re so much funnier than those lists! It’s about time you were recognized for your comedic abilities.

2. Throw out 10 things. Seriously, what are you waiting for — to wind up on one of those clutter shows where they have to intervene before you’re buried alive? Say it with me, "I will NOT need this someday ..." Ah, ah, ah! Say it with me ...

1. Make a list of 10 things to do — and do ONE. Lists are helpful but they can also be overwhelming if they’re too long. Make your list, but just do one. Spend the rest of the day doing a victory lap.
So...what should I do to make the most of my 10/10/10?  Kiss my iPhone?  DONE!  Don't think getting married is in my plans.  But evaluating my relationships?  OK! I like the idea of a global warming party, but that's just not going to happen today.  I also like the idea of a Letterman Top 10 List (maybe I'll work on that one later).  I REALLY LIKE #2 and #1 though.  Throw out 10 things....I'm totally going to do this.  And I'm not talking stuff like garbage.  I'm thinking of removing 10 items from my closet and throwing them away (GASP...is it possible?).  And the to-do list?  LOVE THIS!  Although I'm going to be ambitious and try to tackle all ten items. 

Now that I have my day planned out.  How are you going to spend your 10/10/10? 

It's in the Stars...

Thursday, September 30, 2010
How often do you read your horoscope?  Have you had your palm read?

I used to be the type of person who read my horoscope everyday.  Now, I read it when I remember to.  I prefer reading my horoscope at the end of the day to see if it was correct.  I find horoscopes, palm reading, fortune telling, and the patterns of the sun/moon/stars interesting.  I just don't change my life or have my life revolve around a prediction made by a woman who thinks she's psychic.

With that said, I think it's interesting how very accurate predictions can be or how it seems like the phrase "it was in the stars" is true beyond words. 

My best friends "aunt" (it's easier to describe her as that, as opposed to saying my best friend's mom's best friend) reads palms.  Every time we go down to Vegas and stay with her she looks at how things have changed.  The things she's "seen" in my hands have been dead on:
  • I like the finer things in life (not meaning so much that I'm a "brand whore" but more so I'm the type of girl who would prefer a weekend at a spa over a weekend roughing it in the wilderness)
  • I worry about the well-being of others before I put myself first
  • I enjoy traveling/I am WORLDLY
  • I'm in a profession where I'm surrounded by kids
There are more things that she has seen in my hand, but I will leave it at that for the moment.  One thing that is interesting is she was the first one to point out that my life-line "forks" about halfway up my hand.  It's kind of like I have this oval "Lake Tahoe" looking split in the middle of my right hand.  Then the lines converge back together.  She couldn't remember what that meant, and it left me wondering.

A few months ago, my mom asked if I wanted to join her at a psychic convention that was in town.  I thought it would be an interesting experience (it was) but it also put be smack-dab in wack-a-doo central.  Crystals everywhere.  People having their aura's cleansed by a didgeridoo looking thing.  Some guy chanting and dancing in weird, strange tongues. 


There were also people doing Tarot Card and Palm Readings. Still curious by my BFF's aunt's discovery in my life-line I went for the palm reading option.  He did a little pre-interview but I was very vague.  I didn't want to give him any information that he could then use to try to "trick" me into a prediction.  Again, he was oddly accurate.  Through reading my palm he told me:
  • I enjoy helping others, and I do this as a career (he guessed that I worked in Social Services...CORRECT)
  • I pass knowledge on to others (correct again, I have taught classes to youth in the community for years)
  • I often forget to take care of myself because I am busy taking care of others
  • I am destined for great things (WELL OF COURSE)
Again, he talked about many other things (I sat with him for an hour) but I won't bore you with that now.  I did ask him about my life-line split, and what that meant.  Interestingly enough he said that it could mean one of two things:
  • THE POSITIVE OUTLOOK: That everyone assumes or sees me taking one path in life.  However I am going to do the complete opposite and surprise everyone.  And this ties into the whole "destined for great things" part.  For example, if everyone saw me as a simple teacher, I would in fact, go on to be a teacher-of-teachers.  Or something like that?  Again, I'm not up on all this palm-reading lingo!!! 
  • THE NEGATIVE OUTLOOK: That things are going to go REALLY BAD sometime...possibly soon.  My world is going to be rocked, turned upside down, inside out, hit by a train, etc.  This experience will help me grow, make me stronger, and refocus me.  I will make it through "it" triumphant and more successful, and a happier, healthier person.
I remember thinking, "WOW...all that from my hand?"
Again, let me stress that I find this stuff interesting but I will never change my life because some guy with a ponytail told me that things may go to shit.  I just put it on the back-burner in my brain in case I may need that information later.

In addition to having my palm read and internalizing the prospect of my own personal "fall of Rome", several people over the last few months have mentioned the phenomenon of "Saturn Cycles" or the "Return of Saturn".

Return of Saturn?  Real or BS?

Basically (without weighing you down with all sorts of mumbo-jumbo) the "Saturn Return" is an astrological phenomenon that occurs at the ages of 27-30, 58-60, 86-88, etc., coinciding with the time it takes the planet Saturn to make one orbit around the sun.

It is believed by astrologers that as Saturn "returns" to the degree in which it occupied at the time of birth—approximately every 29.5 years—a person crosses over a major threshold and into the next stage of life.
  • With the first Saturn Return, a person leaves youth behind and enters adulthood.
  • With the second Return, maturity.
  • And the third and usually final Return, a person enters wise old age.
The first Saturn Return is famous because it represents the first test of character and the structures a person has built their life upon. Apparently if these structures are unsound, or if a person is living out of touch with his or her true values, the Saturn Return will be a time of upheaval and limitations as Saturn forces an individual to reevaluate their life and make changes. It is not uncommon for relationships and jobs to end during this time of life restructuring and reevaluation.

But the Saturn Return is not all about painful endings. It has been noted that during this time people tend to gain a better vision of where they are going in their life.  Many major life milestones seem to happen around the ages of 29 and 30. This is why astrologers believe that the thirtieth birthday is such a major rite of passage because it marks the true beginning of adulthood, self-evaluation, independence, ambition, and self-actualization.

My mom said she has entered her second Saturn Cycle.  From her 30s to late 50s she was a mother, a wife, and a full-time employee.  Then things changed around her 60th birthday. Yes she's still a mom, but my brother and I don't live with her or need her on a daily basis (LOVE YOU MOM). My mom is now retired.  And my mom is single (my parents divorced a few years back).  There was a tough period for her, but now she has a new release on life.  She seems happier, more confident, and more independent.

So knowing all of this, I can't help but wonder if I've gone through my Saturn Cycle?  I am on the tail-end of my 27th year on this earth.  That puts me smack-dab in the middle of the Return of Saturn.  I have had some really rough (low) moments this year, but at the same time I've had some really fantastic ones too.  For example, I lost my job, but I found a FABULOUS one in return. 

But for some unexplained reason, I'm hesitant to say that my Saturn Cycle is complete. I've always been an optimistic, glass-half-full kind of girl but for some reason I feel like there is more shit to come.  There is still  time until Saturn's return and I wonder what other havoc is going to ensue. 

I also can't help but wonder if this whole "Return of Saturn" thing has anything to do with the split in my life-line.  One would think that there would be a direct correlation?  But then again, I'm not a palm reader, an astrologist, or psychic. 

So what am I going to do with all of this.  Honestly?  Not a damn thing.  I will continue to live my life to the best of my ability each day.  I won't live my life on regrets.  I WILL put myself first.  Because by taking care of myself, I will be more able to do what I love (taking care of others).  But if (and when) things get bad....and then get REALLY GOOD, I will blame it all on SATURN!!!

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