Time

Well, my world finally slowed down enough, I can update my blog. Hello to all of you. I'm not sure how it happened, but it's 2 weeks until Thanksgiving. How does the time slip away? Somehow, every year as I start making plans & preparations for the holidays, it always seems like I just did all this. So, I've been thinking about time lately. Not necessarily holidays, but time in general. For instance, when I turned 21, I knew I had plenty of time to have my life lined up straight before I reached 30, now I'm almost 29 and no more structured then I was. So, what did I do with my 8 years? My life always seems to get in the way of my "plan". I once heard it said, "If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him YOUR plan" maybe that's it, maybe I'm planning the wrong future for myself. Maybe for all my talk, I still was trying to build the future I'm "supposed" to have.

My niece is 15 months old, and never is time more evident then through her. If I go a week and don't see her, she's changed. She's grown, learned a new skill, eats a new food, etc. So, I try to use her as a reminder that you can never get yesterday back. Value the time you have. You have to live in the now and be present in each moment of your life.

So, my recommendation is to prioritize your life. Decide the things that are crucially important to you. Ignore for the moment other people's expectations/desires, if it were completely & truly up to you, how would you divide your time? Once you do this, it is easier to pare down the "extra" & find compromises with those around you.

In short, always remember that your life should be about you. The only way you can ever help other people is if you feel confident and in control of your self.

Be Happy & Stay Real
~Rebekah~

In memory of 9/11

We will never forget!!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA

America-The Melting Pot!!!

I hope my post today does not offend anyone, but I warned you that I say what I think. I just felt it needed to be said.

I am sorry but after hearing they want to sing the "National Anthem" in Spanish - enough is enough. No where did they sing it in Italian, Polish, Irish(Celtic), German or any other language because of immigration. It was written by Francis Scott Key and should be sung word for word the way it was written. Sorry if this offends anyone but this is MY COUNTRY - IF IT IS YOUR COUNTRY, feel free to speak up. Let me start by clarifying, I am not against immigration, I just ask that you come through like everyone else. Get a sponsor; have a place to lay your head; get a job; pay your taxes, live by the rules AND LEARN THE LANGUAGE as all other immigrants have in the past --- and GOD BLESS AMERICA! Will we still be the Country of choice and still be America if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in America because it is the Country of Choice? Think about it! All we have to say is, when will they do something about MY RIGHTS? I celebrate Christmas, but because it isn't celebrated by everyone, we can no longer say Merry Christmas. Now it has to be Season's Greetings. It's not Christmas vacation, it's Winter Break. Isn't it amazing how this winter break ALWAYS occurs over the Christmas holiday? We've gone so far the other way, bent over backwards to not offend anyone, that I am now being offended. But it seems that no one has a problem with that. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Americans. However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the "politically correct" crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. Again, let me say, I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to America. Our population is almost entirely made up of descendants of immigrants. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand. This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Americans we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak"ENGLISH", not Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, "LEARN THE LANGUAGE" "In God We Trust" is our national motto. This is not some Christian, Right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women founded this nation on Christian principles. And this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home.........because God is part of our culture. If Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don't like Uncle Sam, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. This is OUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle. Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion and we will allow you every opportunity to do so! But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about our flag, Our pledge, Our national motto, or our way of life...I highly encourage you to take advantage of one other Great American Freedom...... THE FREEDOM TO LEAVE.

As Always, I welcome all comments

Be Good & Stay Real

~Rebekah~

Just a reminder

I really found this song and the video just spoke to me this week. Hope you enjoy it.

http://gunbarrelcityradio.com/InGodWeStillTrust.wmv

I'm BaaaaccccK!!!!

Hello World,

I know I have been away a long time. However, my life got in the way of my planned out existence. Since I was last on, my internet crashed, my aunt had to undergo treatments so she could donate bone marrow to my uncle, my car radio got stolen, my dad got sick and is back in the hospital, my school year began, and an old friend moved back into town. So, I have not been trying to ignore my blog, I really just couldn't seem to fit it in. Fortunately, my life is settling back into a routine now, so I should be back on and blogging again real soon. Hope all is well with you.

Be Good & Stay Real

~Rebekah~

July 25: My Thought for the day: Sleep!!!

Well, it's Tuesday morning, and I have to work today. I'm really tired, so today's going to drag. However, I wouldn't mind if I was tired because I stayed up til 4-5 or didn't sleep well, oh no, I was doing fine until the men re-roofing my house showed up and started marching across my roof this morning. Grrr!!!

My thought for the day is: Sleep!

Some people need a lot, some need a little. Some sleep in the day, others at night. I believe that sleep is a personal issue. Sleep how you want and when you want. I tend to get about 4-6 hours a night. I am a night owl, so I may not "hit-the-hay" until 2 or 3am. But all of this works...for me. My brother tends to stay up all night (he plays WoW) and then sleep from 5 am til 2 or 3 pm. My aunt goes to bed at 10 and is up by 7. And this is just to name a few. And the interesting thing is that all of us feel that our way is the right one. So, my point is as with everything else, do it your way. If you are "early to bed, early to rise" GREAT!!!, If you are a night owl, GREAT. Whatever your sleep patterns, just be sure you are getting the rest your body needs. The rest is up to you.

Have a great day. Be Good & Stay Real!!!

~Rebekah~

July 19: My Thought for the day - Military Support

Last night I received an e-mail containing the story of the little girl and the soldiers. This story is so sweet it made me cry. It also put me in mind for my thought of the day: Military Support

I know that opinions concerning "The War on Terror" currently being undertaken by the U.S. government vary greatly which has led a lot of people in my country to allow their negative reactions to influence how they see & treat our military men & women. This is something that should NEVER happen. While you are free to express your feelings about our government, the people in it and the decisions they make, we must always remember that our military are serving our country. We don't have to agree with the war, some of them don't, but we must respect their willingness to risk their lives for our benefit. Each and everyone is a hero and should be told how proud we are of them and their courage. Each of them is giving his/her ultimate gift and placing their faith in us as a nation to see them through. So, let's step up and do it right.

Red, White & Blue: These colors may bleed, but they never run!!!

Be Good & Stay Real!!!

~Rebekah~

July 18: My Thought for the day - Communication

Hi all, I know I haven't been on in a few days. I've been traveling. I went up to Lookout Mountain in North Alabama. And Sunday, I went to the lake. I had a wonderful time, but I got too much sun.

My thought for today is: Communication

I believe that communication is the key to every relationship. Whether romantic or just friends you cannot stay close to someone if you don't communicate. This is not the same as "talking", you can talk to each other all the time and not really have communication. Communication happens when you share your concerns, joys, fears, passions, triumphs & defeats with the other person. If a relationship is not strong enough to survive this kind of open honesty, it probably wouldn't last anyway. On of the most important keys to lasting relationships is always letting the other person know where you stand. You will find that sometimes real communication will lead to arguements, but if your realtionship is not worth fighting over, it's not worth keeping. As always, this is just my opinion. Use of it what you will.

Have a great day. Be Good & Stay Real!

~Rebekah~

For your convenience

Hi all, I'm glad you guys keep stopping by and leaving me comments. I know it takes time out of your day. To assist you, if you would like, I can have my blog e-mailed to you every time I update. Just drop me an e-mail to rebekah8888@yahoo.com and let me know if this will help. Also, I tend to be spontanious about my daily posts but if you guys have any topics you would like to see me rant about, let me know. I LOVE input.

July 13: My thought for the day - Pillows!!!

Today my thought for day is: I love pillows!!!

It's the absolute truth. I love pillows, I have 5 on my bed, 2 on my couch and 1 in my recliner. I think there is nothing better than a cool silky pillow for easing away the stress of my day. I know people that don't use any or only use 1 to sleep on. I don't know how this is possible. I love to layer them under me and position around my head. It may me feel relaxed and safe. So, even if you generally sleep with another person, I recommend that you give pillows a try sometime.

Well, have a great day. Be good & Stay real!

~Rebekah~

July 12: My Thought for the day - Travel!!!

Today is Wednesday, and it's about 100 degrees here. The summer is always hot here so everyone likes to travel. I love to travel and believe it is an important experience. Which brings to my thought for day.

Never be afraid to travel. One of the greatest experiences of my life was taking a road trip across the U.S. Don't get me wrong, I love to fly, and air travel is a great way to get to a specific destination. However, some of my favorite things in this country are not in places I would have flown to, but in places "on the way" to where I was going. The "Arch" history museum in Nebraska, Wall Drug in South Dakota, the rocky cliff beaches of Maine, Sweetwater River in Idaho just to name a few. So, don't be afraid to hit the road and enjoy the freedom of stopping wherever you choose. You miss so much when we view the drive as something to get through so we can get where we're going. Sometimes, the drive has what you really wanted all along. So, if you can't take a long vacation, just take a drive through your county, state, region. Sometimes what you find may surprise you and be just the trip you needed.

Have a great day. Be Good & Stay Real!

~Rebekah~

Watch this

July 11: My thought for the day - Beds!!!

Well, here it is, Tuesday. I have to leave for work soon.

My thought this morning is: Why do we make our beds?

For as long as I can remember, I've been taught that making my bed was part of cleaning up. I never understood why I had to make it just to unmake again at bedtime. Now, I'm an adult and I still don't. Think about it. What is the main purpose of a bed? To comfort our bodies while we sleep. Most of us have sheets & blankets to help us relax. Well, to tuck in sheets & make up the bed impedes our bed in it's duties... That's right our bed has a job to do. Our bed is to help us relax and give us a place to rest. Well, we make it harder for our bed to welcome us. So, free your bed from this regime and you might find yourself getting more rest and feeling better. Oh well, it was worth a try...guess I oughta make my bed before I leave (don't want to leave my room a mess)

Have a great day. Be good & Stay real!

Birthday calendar

I thought was interesting and kinda cool. I got this link for another blogger and thought you might enjoy it.

I fell under Life Plan 5, if you to check out my stats.


http://www.paulsadowski.com/birthday.asp

July 10: My Thought for the day - Names

Saw this story today, and wanted to share it you.

HANOI, Vietnam (July 7) - After nearly two decades of ridicule, a father has agreed to change his son's name from "Fined Six Thousand and Five Hundred" - the amount he was forced to pay in local currency for ignoring Vietnam's two-child policy.
Angry he was being fined for having a fifth child, Mai Xuan Can named his son Mai Phat Sau Nghin Ruoi after the amount he was forced to pay - 6,500 dong, or 50 cents, said Dai Cuong village chief Nguyen Huy Thuong.
In 1999, local government officials tried to persuade Can to change the name because the boy was constantly being teased by classmates at school. But Can, a former People's Committee official, refused to back down, Thuong said. They appealed to him again recently, and this time it worked.
"I told him that as his son is growing up, he should have another name - not that weird name - and he finally agreed," Thuong said.
The son, now 19, finally got a new name: Mai Hoang Long, which means golden dragon.

Now, this is an over-the-top case but my thought for day regards names. Why do people feel the need to be creative about naming their children?

I don't understand why people name their children such unusual names. I have heard that they want to instill individuality in their children. I believe that making a child feel individual & special is very important, but this should be done through their activities, accomplishments & nurturing not because their name is off-beat. I understand not wanting to name your child the same thing as EVERYONE else, but don't force them to wear a completely inappropriate moniker. When I hear about celebrities naming their children Apple, Banjo & Pilot Inspektor (just to name a few) it concerns me. So often the people of my country follow celebrity trends in these matters. However, I don't think we can expect to raise stable, well-adjusted kids when we start them off in this way. Most children base their opinions of themselves off the way their peers see them. And let's face it, they probably already have fights at school waiting to happen.

Well, I warned you that you never know what I'll think of next.
Have a great day. Be Good & Stay Real!

~Rebekah~

Happy Father's day

Now I know what you're thinking...Huh, about two weeks late for that one, but today is father's for my family. My grandmother passed away on June 16 after a long illness, so to properly honor my father, we postponed his day. So, this post is for my father (but, feel free to read it).

Daddy,

You have been through so much with your 3 strokes and heart surgery, etc. I know you get tired and despair about your place in this world. Your place in the world and in our lives is as it ever was. You are the one that we look to for the courage to persevere. You are the one that always encourages us to try again, look deeper, and learn more. You are our example of overcoming your difficulties, not allowing them to define you. When I was young, I believed you could do anything. In an adult way, I still do. I believe that you have a spirit stronger than anything this world has to throw at you. I used to believe that you were the strongest man in the world. I still do. but now I understand what this means. When I was young, my belief was based on your ability to lift me over your head and carry me with one arm. I now know that was not your strength at all. After your body was weakened and your physical strength faded, I finally saw your strength was your determination. When I was young, I thought you were brilliant. I still do, you know so much about so much. But the thing that makes you so brilliant is your willingness to share your knowledge. You understand that knowledge only lasts as long as it is known and so you try to pass yours to others. I used to see you as my hero. I still do, you are the one that protects me from the danger of naviete. You protect me from the cold of being unloved. You rescue me from my insecurity and self-doubt. And you helped lead to the safety of my Savior's loving arms. You are truly the most amazing man I think I will ever know. So, daddy, for all this and more...THANK YOU. Thank you for always reminding me of the definition of "true strength". Thank you for showing me the manifestation of love. Thank you for proving that knowledge is power. Thank you for being man enough to show me your pain.

I've loved you all my life and I love you even more now that I really know all that makes you who you are. I thank my Heavenly Father every day that He gave me such a great example of fatherhood for my journey towards Him. No matter old I get, I remain.

Your baby girl,
~Rebekah~

July 9: My thought for the day - Family

Well, Today is fathers day for my family. We didn't celebrate it in June because my grandmother passed away the day before. There was so much to do and so many emotions we couldn't give dad the attention he deserves, so we postponed it. So, today my brothers and I are going over to eat dinner and "hang out". For those of you who know me, you know how this will go, but for the rest of you. My mother (God love her) is a great woman, but she is incapable of just letting people visit. She always seems to have a "plan". She would have made a great cruise director. My father loves to visit; as long as it involves some form of electronic equipment. Usually he wants to watch a movie, if not then he wants to play one of his DVD board games. If we just sit and visit, he wants to keep the TV on (for the music). My older brother is very opinionated and enjoys discussing controversial issues whenever possible. He is very intelligent but seems to doubt the intelligence of anyone that doesn't agree ith him. My younger brother is married with three kids, and he works nights, so he usually passes out on the couch and then gets upset that he missed everything. My sister-in-law is the peacekeeper of the bunch, she tries to lead my brother onto friendly topics or distract him completely. She always tries to help my mom to relax and just let things be. In addition, I have two nephews and one niece. They are 6, 4 & almost one (and she crawls)...enough said. And finally, we have me, the quirkiest and craziest of them all. Instead of relagating myself to the sidelines to watch all of this unfold, I find myself arguing with my brother, frustrated with my mother and father and wishing there was a lot less noise. Because deep down, no matter how many get togethers my family has, somehow I still find myself thinking "this time, it'll be different".
So this is my family in a nutshell, all of us individual personalities. We are all quirky, irritating, & about half crazy. But lets face it, this may be why we always have such a good time. Because when all is said and done. I love my family because of how we are and wouldn't really change them if I could (well maybe a little)....

So I guess my thought for the day is: Make time to appreciate the uniqueness of your family. They made you who you are.

Have a great day. Be good & Be Real!

~Rebekah~

July 8: My thought for the day - Friends

Well, I've a really good day. I spent this morning with my niece & nephews. We watched a movie, played, and ate lunch together.

My thought for day is: Why do we let our "friends" run over us?

I'm sure at some point we have all had that friend that calls constantly, is always coming by, or gets offended if you choose to spend time with ANYONE else. We tend to let them do it, we invite them along on our outings, we let them stay whenever they come by, we never imply that it may be a bad time to talk. Why is this? I think the answer is two-fold. I think that we are taught to see blunt honesty as rudeness and therefore will never tell them what we really think. Also, I think that part of our nature likes all the attention and fears we will lose their admiration & friendship if we don't allow this behavior. It is important to have friends and to make time for those friends, but it's important to do the same for all of your friends. It is important that you not let one friend impose him/herself onto your schedule in such a way that you are forced to neglect everything and everyone else. That is disrespectful to you, your family and to your other friends. If they are not willing to compromise and work within some boundaries, maybe they are not a real friend. We talk about seeing respect and consideration as part of friendship, if this true, why do we not expect this from the people we call friends. If someone is truly your friend, they should understand that sometimes your life may require you to not have endless amounts of time to give them. If you explain that while you enjoy their company, you may feel at times like spending time without them. And who knows, it might encourage them to branch and broaden their circle of friends and activities. So, never be afraid to ask your friends to respect your time, family or your life.

Well, just food for thought. Hope you all have a great day! Be good & Be Real!

~Rebekah~

Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest review

Let me start by saying that I loved the first movie and have been looking forward to this one ever since. I went to the 12:01am screening and I have to say I'm a little disappointed.
Although the actors are all back at the top of their game; I felt that a lot of the charm of the characters was lost. I love the character of Captain Jack Sparrow, but in this film they did not make use of his spirit, but seemed to rely on rehashing of earlier jokes and more "twitchy" craziness without carrying over his confidence and cleverness. Jack apparently has developed a need for some sort of redemption, which I don't understand, because one great thing about Jack was that he was who he was and made no excuses for it.
Elizabeth's character development started off well but ended up consisting of nagging, and whining. Also, apparently she's now indecisive and dishonest.
As for Will, his character seems the most in keeping with the first film, and is a good solid part of the film, but they don't really give him growth or development.
The only character I can really say I thought was brought forward properly was Norrington. He was played wonderfully as a man who has truly lost it all and wants it back.

As for the story, in my opinion, it lacked the originality and style I expected and it was carried out in a fairly confusing way. While I did get caught up in the high seas adventure, I quickly got lost in the mess of frenzy that filled this movie. There were so many "villians" and dangers, they lost the main story in the sea of sub-plots. I feel they should not have tried to create a love triangle again for this film. When the movie begins Elizabeth & Will are preparing to marry, however, as the movie progresses she seems to shift her affections over to Jack. This transition seemed forced and without solid reasoning. On the brighter side, I really enjoyed the surprise guest at the end of the film, I thought that the scenes involving Will & his father were heartfelt and powerful. I think that Pirates 3 has a lot of potential and may resolve a lot of these concerns.

So, in summary, it's the middle movie in a trilogy for all the good and the bad that brings. In some ways, they tried too hard, others not enough. It has some great fight/battle scenes and humorous moments. I truly believe that it was weak in many ways but I can't say I regret going. Because, let's face it, in the end it's all just a great ride and you want to go along.

P.S. Stay all the way through the credits!!! Trust me!

July 7: My thought for the day

Just wanted to share my thoughts for today. I went to see Pirates of the Caribbean 2 last night (review will be posted later) at the 12:01 showing. So, I'm running on about 5 hours sleep, but if you know me, you know that's about par. I've been sick for the past week, but I'm finally better. So, yea!!

Anyway, my thought for today is: Why is it so hard to live our own lives?

I live a life that very few people understand for my age. I have made a lot of choices for reasons they don't understand. Some of my family seems to be the worst. I used to feel like I had to explain it to them, but I have only now come to realize that they are my reasons and they were my choices to make. So, while I care about them and want them to respect me, I must always try to be true to myself and not live my life for others.

Well, I'm gonna sign off now. I'm watching Smallville with my brother & sister-in-law (who also happen to be my two best friends) tonight. Be good & Be real.


~Rebekah~

Hello

Hello! Welcome to my world. Well, this is my first blog ever, so I will learn as I go. I plan to open my thoughts to you all (heaven help you, getting sucked into my head...). I will also post reviews, opinions and feelings on everything - Politics, Cinema, Books, Music, etc. My mind is a complex and busy place so you never know what I might talk about next. Anyway, welcome, I hope you like it and please come back.

Review of Superman Returns

As a fan of the first two films, as well as Tv shows Lois & Clark and Smallville. I have to admit that I went to see Superman Returns expecting to be disappointed. I'm so happy I was wrong. I expected recycled cliches, but instead got a fresh perspective of this classic story. Even with a few plot holes, I feel that the writers gave us a engrossing and entertaining tale that fully involves and develops each character.
The actors each brought us a full presentation of the people we know and love (or in the case of Lex Luthor; love to hate),the only exception to this would be Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane. I think Ms. Bosworth is a fine actress, but she is just not strong enough to pull the spark and "Spit" needed to be Lois Lane. Kevin Spacey plays Lex Luthor with such sarcastic, vindictive & plain evil perfection I am reminded as to why Lex is always a favorite villian. And Mr. Spacey does so with such ease and grace that he draws attention to the strength of his costars. Brandon Routh as Superman really suprised me, I did not expect him to be able to so completely take on this role that you sometimes forgot that he hadn't always played it. His performance, mannerisms and speech are so similar to Christopher Reeve's portrayal while adding his own stamp on it as well. It was the perfect way to blend the old with the new. James Marsden brought a lot of heart and power to his role. You very quickly see that he is not just a pretty boy but has compassion, courage and a spirit that make him a worthy contender for Lois' affection. The supporting cast is all fantastic, from Parker Posey's dream-big henchman with a conscience, Frank Langella's hard-hitting, no bull Perry White all the way to having Noel Niell (one of the original Lois Lane's) make a small appearance.
The effects are so amazing you actually find yourself forgetting that a man can't really fly, but even more, you just don't care.
Bryan Singer's direction brings all this together is such a seamless way that from the moment THAT music starts till the very end it brings out that little eight year old who still believes in superheros, truth, justice and the spirit of it all.

As always, there were plot holes, over played scenes, and predictable shocks and twists. But in my humble opinion, that all washes away in this fascinating and captivating tale showing all of us "Why the World Needs Superman" all over again.