Sherrie Miranda's Blog, page 169
December 9, 2015
100 hundred years ago, things weren’t all that different! Not here in Chula Vista anyway!
Book Review By Sherrie Miranda
This review is for: When Rain Comes: A Sweet Historical Romance
This story is based on real events that happened 100 years ago here in Chula Vista. Pat Maxwell has brought that period alive with the characters of Carrie and Nathan, both somewhat misfits in the proper 1915 world of courtship and marriage. Nate still lives at home, in part to help his father with the lemon orchards, but also in the hopes of getting his act together so he can buy a home for some future time when he could support a wife and have a family.
Carrie is the new teacher in town and she doesn’t have much experience as a teacher or as a humble person in a small town. Having come from Chicago and having lived most of her life with her grandmother, Carrie is used to seeing things a little different than most. Carrie is very concerned about being proper as the rules for teachers were very strict back then. Fortunately, Chula Vista is a very small town (the downtown is just two blocks long!), and being newly formed, people aren’t so apt to judge every little action of their teachers. They are just glad to have a teacher of Carrie’s caliber in their little one horse town.
This is a love story set in the time of a drought. A rainmaker comes to town and everybody’s talking about him and whether he’s doing work that should be left up to God, or if his attempt to create rain is scientific.
It’s a lovely story that can be read by any age. Hopefully, it will get read in schools at least here in SoCal where we are again going through a drought. Let’s just hope that we don’t have a similar ending as they did back in 1916 as it could be a real disaster today!
You can buy Pat Maxwell’s book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/When-Rain-Comes...
Doodle #9
Well, maybe if we learn to be more realistic about who we are as humans, and what effect we are making on the earth, maybe then, we still have a chance. Just remember, as George Carlin says, it is not the earth that is in danger, “The earth will just shake us off like we are fleas on the back of a dog.” AND THE EARTH HAS SHAKEN SEVERAL TIMES ALREADY. WE BETTER HEED THE WARNING BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!
PEACE, LOVE & RESPECT FOR ALL LIVING THINGS, ;-)
Sherrie
I was in class, half asleep and the teacher goes like “Human beings are the cancer of the earth”. WHOA! And I’m thinking..It actually makes sense..hmm.. Hey wait… that could be an amazing idea for a comic strip…
This is the result:
You can read the text bubble right?.. tell me what you think! :)
December 8, 2015
The Nation We’ve Become
I believe this is the first time I have posted something political on my blog. Those of you who know me also know that it’s been tough not to talk politics here, but I have kept to my word (to myself). UNTIL NOW! There is so much important information here that I feel it is necessary just this one time to Reblog this one post.
I will do my best NOT to do this again, but it is really tough to stay quiet when we have liars and thieves running for the highest office in the land!
Peace, love & a descent & just life for all,
Sherrie
Originally posted on Art by Rob Goldstein:
From a 1945 Encyclopedia Britannica presentation on the essential elements of a healthy Democracy. (1) Respect for differences of opinion and in people. (2) Shared Power by voting. (3) A large educated middle class and (4) an enlightened and educated public with access to fully funded public schools and universities.
The “backbone of the Democratic Party” is a “typical fat, implacable welfare recipient.”
Ann Coulter, October 10/29/99
“…He (Donald Trump) represents the country we have become. ZERO experience … flaunting a ticket of unbridled bigotry, sexism, racism and everything that is wrong with America.” Bishop Corletta Vaughn, senior pastor of The Holy Ghost Cathedral in Detroit
I love the challenge of a different opinion.
I listen to an opposing point of view; then I ask myself what I think.
Why would I hide my mind behind a wall of lies and half truths.
If I’m wrong about the facts, I’m…
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4 Character Descriptions/Meanings Infographic…
Excellent infographic on Character Descriptions from Chris The Story Reading Ape! Thanks, Chris! ;-)
Peace, love & great story-writing to all,
Sherrie
Originally posted on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog:
Free library…in a bird house!
This is sooo coool! Thanks for sharing, Ben! ;-)
Peace, love & books for all,
Sherrie
Originally posted on Ben Starling:
Hey, I saw this on my evening walk recently: a birdhouse in a front garden with books inside!
It’s The Little Free Library Project. The note on the door says:
“A free book sharing venue. Take a book, donate a book, return a book. http://www.littlefreelibraryproject.org.uk “
Inside there were thrillers, a book on butterflies and a children’s storybook, crammed in with many, many others.
What a great idea! I’m going to go check out their site now…
…well, it looks like The Little Free Library Project UK is a part of The Little Free Library. All books are donated and all the materials used to create the book boxes are recycled.
Here’s how the project began: “In the beginning—2009—Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a model of a one room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, a former school teacher who loved reading. He filled it with books and…
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December 7, 2015
996. Hold me, Lord, in the light of Your Being…
Most of you know I am spiritual as opposed to religious. But the combination of music, dance & spirituality is something to be appreciated, no matter your beliefs! ;-)
Peace, love & Dance for all,
Sherrie
Originally posted on Sacred Touches:
Then, Breath of heaven, come dance
with me as autumn comes to an end
And turn me round and round
on the earth, the beautiful hem of heaven
So you can sing in my ear
the hymns of the spheres
To fill me with heavenly peace
beneath the moon and stars
Oh dance with me Yahweh
o’er fields of mercy and grace
Waltz with me Emmanuel
as the angels and I sing, “Hallelujah”in praise of You
Let them praise His(God’s) name with dancing… ~Excerpt from Psalm 149:3 ✝
**Images via Pinterest
I posted this on a site that was looking at the link between creativity and depression
There is a school of thought that says we ALL have a shadow side that we try to sublimate or push down. It often comes up when we are partying & do something really stupid that we normally would never do. Or if someone is attracted to children, they act on it when the urge becomes too strong.
I believe the original idea comes from Carl Jung, but Robert A Johnson writes about it in “Owning Your Own Shadow.”
He says that we all need to find a creative way to let our dark side out. Otherwise, we will be either self-destructive OR destructive of others.
Even before reading Johnson’s book I had a sense of this idea. (Honestly, I don’t really understand Jung so I sat mutely through many conversations with grad students when I was younger.)
When I went to Iceland at around 25 years of age, I discovered a country where everyone is encouraged to express themselves creatively, whether it be dance, painting or photography. (I didn’t meet any writers, but I did visit a farm house that was filled with books!) Sadly, it occurs to me now as I write that most countries don’t want us to feel good so they convince us that only the chosen few are artists. That way, they have plenty of unhappy young men (& now women too) who are willing to express their dark side by going to war. Also, content people don’t buy as many products to try to make themselves happy.
Later, I discovered the Popul Vu, which is the Mayan bible. The Mayans believed that we are all little creators. The Popul Vu was filled with little creators of art, whether it was clay dolls they made or paintings or houses. I was fascinated with this idea.
Later, I went to Agape in LA, the one with Michael Beckwith. I learned there that we could heal and in the process, make art that expressed that healing. Rev. Michael’s wife was the chorus director, as well as the musical director for the Agape International Spiritual Center and not only did the chorus travel the country (and sometimes the world), but Ricki Byers Beckwith brought musical groups to Agape every Sunday, often more than one.
The lesson I learned was “Don’t try to push down your “shadow side” or act it out by getting drunk and going home with a stranger.” “Instead use that dark side to make the world a better place through your art.”
These ideas may have saved my life!
Peace, love & Art,
Sherrie
Sherrie Miranda’s historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too:
Monday Funnies…
Another wonderful Monday brought to you by Chris The Story Reading Ape! Thanks, Chris, this one is really special! ;-)
Peace, love & laughter to all,
Sherrie
Originally posted on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog:
THE IMPORTANCE OF WALKING…
Walking can add minutes to your life..
This enables you at 85 years old
To spend an additional 5 months in a nursing
Home at $4,000 a month.
My grandpa started walking
Five miles a day when he was 60.
Now he’s 97 years old
And we have no idea where the hell he is.
***********************************
I like long walks,
Especially when they are taken
By people who annoy me.
The only reason I would take up walking
Is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.
***************************************************
I have to walk early in the morning,
Before my brain figures out what I’m doing…
Every time I hear the dirty word ‘exercise’,
I wash my mouth out with chocolate.
I do have flabby thighs,
But fortunately my stomach covers them.
********************************************
The advantage of exercising every day
Is so when you die, they’ll say,
‘Well, he…
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The Czech Girl Story
This is what I call the Conquistador Mentality (please don’t take it personally!). Basically, it’s when you HAVE to have somebody (or some thing), but once you win the contest or game, the game is over. You got what you wanted and now want to move on the the next thing.
The Czech girl had it more than you, though I don’t hesitate to say you both had the Conquistador Mentality. She had to have you; she did everything to get you, but once you were there, once you were finally hers, she no longer wanted the game. Her boyfriend probably had it the worst. Once he learned he had competition, he wanted back in the game.
I was with and even married a guy with an EXTREME Conquistador Mentality. I kept trying to leave, kept leaving and he kept pulling me back. When I finally left him for good, he traveled to meet my family and asked my mom to convince me to come back to him. My mom told him “Sherrie does what Sherrie wants. It wouldn’t matter what I told her.”
When my mom told me that at a later date, I knew that my mom finally “got” me. She was right. No one would convince me to change my mind once it was made up, ESPECIALLY after THIS experience. I was forever changed, much like you.
Oh, and by the way, he was a foreigner too. There’s something about people that have a first language and culture different from one’s own. The mystery, the unknowable, the FANTASY!
We, women, have a worse one though, even though we can also have the Conquistador Mentality too. That one is called the Cinderella Mentality. Many girls and young women believe that some Prince Charming is going to come sweep them off their feet and rescue them from their dire circumstances. It takes years, IF we ever do get over this idea. Of course, many of the males have the Prince Charming Mentality too.
And I can think of three women right now who had the Prince Charming Mentality. They thought they could save the man, make him happy and then they WOULD be happy too. (Ooops, I just thought of a fourth one! Yes, myself!)
And so it goes, life is about growing up and realizing that stories are just stories, games are just games, and life has to be lived with all it’s bruises and warts. If you can’t accept the imperfections, you better move on. Chances are that you will, one day, find that IMPERFECT person who is JUST RIGHT for you. Or you may decide you would rather just be that imperfect person, alone, with no one there to yell about you leaving crumbs and your clothes all over the house!
Whatever it ends up being, I do believe “Everything happens for a reason.”
Sherrie
P.S. My 3rd and last husband truly is my Prince Charming! I (mostly) laugh about the crumbs and the clothes, and he teases me after I get upset and cry, or yell, or both. ;-)
Sherrie Miranda's historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/P11Ch5chkAc?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent
Originally posted on Wander & Wonder:
Like most young people, I thought the world owed me something. For what I had been through in life, I felt I deserved the perfect girlfriend. This idea made me into something of a hopeless romantic, and there was really ever only one way it was going to die, hard.
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December 3, 2015
Health is Wealth – A Conceptual Critique
What good is money if you don’t have your health?! Eat right, drink moderately (alcohol), drink lots of water. Take supplements for the nutrients you are lacking. Exercise. Laugh! Spend time with friends & family, time alone & enjoy babies and animals!
And remember to tell your loved ones that YOU DO LOVE THEM! ;-)
Peace, love & Health for all,
Sherrie
Originally posted on Effective Thoughts:
Abstract
We are making two points in this article. First, health itself is the greatest wealth. Second, if one is healthy only then he/she can work productively for income generation activities. In addition, we will mention a few proven practices by which we can maintain our health.
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