"Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be different." -- Katherine Mansfield.

I still love quotes. Someday I'll have to put all my quotes together in one place.

Interesting-what does it say about you?

I was yellow.

http://www.careerpath.com/career-tests/career-quiz/

I was an organizer.

http://www.careerpath.com/career-tests/color-test/

My turtles and fish

I have to say that I love my turtles. I could watch them all day. My favorite thing is to feed them by hand. They are actually pretty good at not biting me.

Of course, we know that if children hold something close enough for them to bite onto, they don't let go until they are out of the tank and then they go flying. The turtle was none the worse for it's 5-6 foot flight and landing on a wood floor. It tucked in its shell and the kids gathered around, and then, they scattered as he came out and started crawling.

We like to supplement their diet with feeder goldfish. It's best to buy the cheapest fish possible because they typically don't last long, with the exception of our 6 remaining goldfish. We also have "the monster fish" which is a large plecostamus.

Painted turtles are spread, with different varieties, across the US. They are aquatic and do great in the water as long as they have a basking area to sit on. They are fun to watch when they are hunting. I still can't believe how fast they are.

They are very inquisitive, very interactive, and have very good eyesight. They'll see me in the kitchen and start scratching at the tank when they are hungry. Of course, they decided to be camera shy.

Here is a link to more pictures in my online album. https://picasaweb.google.com/hyamiranda/MyTurtlesAndFish?authkey=Gv1sRgCLvq0pyV-ImQKA&feat=directlink

Quotes

"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." Hellen Keller

"Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit." E.E. Cummins

"Excellence is not an act but a habit. the things you do the most are the things you will do the best." Marva Collins

"Make voyages! -- Attempt them! -- there's nothing else..." Tennessee Williams

My thoughts- truth comes from many sources. Sometimes we see it when it comes, sometimes we don't. Sometimes we need to see it from one place because we won't see it from another. The search for truth is an ongoing journey that can be as exciting as we want it to be.

better late than never

So, I've been typing the bedroom the last 3 1/2 days instead of working in the office which is right off the living room. Why, you may ask? Well, to avoid interruptions, kids and dogs that can push the door open, TV, Internet, etc. Anyway, I've been sitting on the floor with a lap desk, working away, thinking to myself, "This just doesn't seem right, I need small desk or something so I sit on the couch. What did I use last time I was working back here?" Today, as I sat on the floor ready to work and shift and fidget again for hours of uncomfortable typing while sitting on the floor, I looked across the room, and the lights came on, or maybe I should say someone finally came home. Literally right across the room from me is my piano bench. It's probably been sitting there the last few days smugly laughing at me every time I fidget or adjust my position, wondering how long it would be before I figured things out. Better late than never, but that piano bench could have reminded me a lot sooner. :)

What life is all about...

Lately, I've tried to indulge and bend my mind toward a higher plane or level of thinking. Robert Crawford, in his book Think For Yourself has inspired me to at least attempt thinking which is more than just imitating the thoughts of others. Whether or not I have succeeded remains to be seen, but at least the process of realizing my thoughts has begun.

A few days ago, James quoted, "The more I know, the more I know I don't know." This is true, no less for me than for anyone. I have come to realize, that life is not lived day to day, week to week, month to month, year to year. Rather, life is lived as a series and compilations of moments. Moments comprised of choices. This compilations of the moments we live, as evidenced in the choices we make, create the picture of who we are. These pictures are not set in stone, they can be modified, if once we discover the picture is one we would rather not see. Choices are the key.

I have also been highly influenced by a study of Sterling W. Sill. He speaks of two kinds of temptations. He often got the impression, when people would speak to him of temptation, that it appeared many often hoped to be tempted beyond their ability to withstand. This is either good or bad, depending on the temptations we choose to give in to, for it is a choice. Temptations come in two kinds, good or bad, it is possible to be tempted by good things as well as bad things. The choice is ours as to which we will be more highly swayed by in our decisions. This allows us to agree to be tempted by things which will create a great masterpiece of moment compilations, or, on the flip side, to create a compilation of moments which turns the stomach upon contemplation.

While I was teenager, I learned a song titled Be that Friend. I don't remember all the words now, but the concept came through to me again, after many years. I'm sure we've all, at one time or another, reflected upon the person we want to become. Upon current reflection, the person I want to become still seems a distant possibility, the me that I am is far removed from the me that I want to be. Whose fault is that? Mine, all mine. Unfortunately, I am not able to blame anyone else for my own choices, tempting as that may be at times. It would not change the reality; I create my own compilation of moments.

We are not relegated to remain mediocre, we are not forced to be stalled in our progress. We can choose to be that person we desire to be. It is all a matter of choices, moment to moment, which make the difference in who we are and who we will become.

Simple memories

For some inexplicable reason, an old family standby has just sounded and tasted so good to me lately. It's a food that comes with a lot of memories, macaroni and tomato. Such a simple food. I remember sitting down for lunch at Grandma Sorensen's house. She would slice cheese rather than grate it, and you could break it up in the bowl if you wanted cheese. Nathan would always add so much cheese mom hated washing the pan after he made it. I try to be careful when I add the cheese so it melts just right and doesn't disintegrate because it's too hot. You can change it by adding different meats to it, ham or hamburger are my personal favorite additions. Mom of course, always makes her macaroni milk and cheese when we had it. It doesn't change much, but sometimes, that's a good thing.