How did you know it was my birthday? Thanks so much for your message! I'm just back from New York and I'm now having to find a new job because I lost mine just before going away! So it kind of feels like the hangover after the party right now... Anyways it was nice to see Miss Maya and I'm also planning to come back for a lot longer this time.... But as they say "one thing at a time"... Hope you have a great day all!!
Re: Oh Expat...
Girl, a little birdie flew clear across the pond and tapped on my windowsill to remind me of your day. You've got it going on like that! Good luck on the job search, something tells me you will be back to work real soon. You and Maya in New York, what a blast! I imagine the city will never be the same.
I'm so glad that bird flew across. Your post cheered me up!! Thanks so much!
I guess for every hardship there's a lesson to be learnt so we'll
see what this one is about...
Thanks again and yes,the New York trip was an eye opener I'm going to have to wait and see what's in store for me next...
What Are They Thinking?
Things that make you scratch yo' head..
The Netherlands: Pedophile Party Lacks Support
A political party formed by pedophiles will probably not succeed in gathering the 570 signatures needed by Tuesday to run in national elections next month, the party's secretary, Norbert de Jonge, said. The party, formed in May, has managed to attract just about 100 supporters. It seeks to lower the legal age of consent to 12 from 16, and to legalize child pornography.
(REUTERS)
Cat Lovers Lining Up For No-Sneeze Kitties
A small California biotech company says it is ready to deliver the Holy Grail of the $35 billion pet industry: a hypoallergenic cat.
At the start of next year, the first kittens- which the company calls "lifestyle pets" - will go home to eager owners who have been carefully screened and have been on a waiting list for more than two years.
Since it announced the project in October 2004, the company Allerca, of San Diego, says it has received inquiries from people in 85 countries seeking to buy a cat bred so that its glands do not produce the protein responsible for most human cat allergies.
It takes 12 to 15 months to receive your pet and the cost:$4000. And owners must pass Allerca's "finicky" screening tests.
"You're not just buying a cat; it's a medical device that replaces shots and pills," says the chief executive of Allerca.
(Intl Herald Tribune)
Just....
dropped in to say I miss you guys and send all my love!!!!!! SHULAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! LOL!1 Just felt you needed that!
Sereny, Expattycakes, Divine,Star, onfire, MAYA!!! Whoever I missed.. Love you love you love you!!!
Hey Daniel
It's been and still is crazy on my end! Hopefully I will have time ti sitdown and read through some of the posts and catch up on what I missed!
What Are They Thinking?
This is my first gander at posting here although I've been reading the threads for a few weeks now (b/c of Daniel Sunjata, of course!). I must say that for the most part, this is an inspiring group of people and I enjoy reading topics other than the mainstream political stories the media spews.
Alas, I am from Texas: the state where if you are an independent or more liberal viewed person there is not much you can do but you need to try and do what you can anyway! Just so you get an idea about me, here is a post from my blog, <a href="http://fof.carmencolletti.com/2006/09/11/what-a-day--caution--political-message-attached.aspx>What A Day</a>. I don't normally write about politics or the like but on that particular day, I was a wreck and needed to vent.
I may not be the most eloquent writer but I do enjoy expressing my opinion and hope to be a more regular presence here.
Happy Holidays to you all (you were probably expecting y'all, right?).
CC
P.S.
I’ll deal with my allergies for a real cat, thank you very much!
Star Cocoa Lounger
Posts: 48
(12/22/06 1:24 pm) Reply
Seasons of Love
No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it
without leaving behind him distinct and legitimate reasons for
having passed through it. George Washington Carver
Seasons of Love From Rent
ALL
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes,
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Moments so dear.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights
In cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure
A year in the life?
How about love?
How about love?
How about love? Measure in love
Seasons of love. Seasons of love
JOANNE
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes!
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Journeys to plan.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure the life
Of a woman or a man?
COLLINS
In truths that she learned,
Or in times that he cried.
In bridges he burned,
Or the way that she died.
ALL
It's time now to sing out,
Tho' the story never ends
Let's celebrate
Remember a year in the life of friends
Remember the love!
Remember the love!
Seasons of love!
JOANNE
Oh you got to got to Remember the love! remember the love,
You Measure in love know that love is a gift from up above Seasons of love.
Share love, give love spread love Measure measure you life in love.
To All: Sending blessings. May your New Year be ripe with limitless possibilities.
Daniel: Happy Birthday!
PROMISE YOURSELF
•To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind,
•To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet,
•To make all your friends feel that there is something in them,
•To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true,
•To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best,
•To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own,
•To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future,
•To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile,
•To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others,
•To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
- Unknown
Optimist International Creed
(originally published in 1912)
Waiting On The World To Change
By John Mayer
me and all my friends
we're all misunderstood
they say we stand for nothing and
there's no way we ever could
now we see everything that's going wrong
with the world and those who lead it
we just feel like we don't have the means
to rise above and beat it
so we keep waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change
it's hard to beat the system
when we're standing at a distance
so we keep waiting
waiting on the world to change
now if we had the power
to bring our neighbors home from war
they would have never missed a Christmas
no more ribbons on their door
and when you trust your television
what you get is what you got
cause when they own the information, oh
they can bend it all they want
that's why we're waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change
it's not that we don't care,
we just know that the fight ain't fair
so we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change
and we're still waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting waiting on the world to change
one day our generation
is gonna rule the population
so we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change
The Wise Man
Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing.
He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer.
He smiled to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?" The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean." "I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?" "The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die."
"But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!" The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for that one."
There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. And if we can become aware of that gift, we gain through the strength of our visions the power to shape the future. We must each find our starfish. And if we throw our stars wisely and well, the world will be blessed.
The outward freedom that we shall attain will only be in exact proportion to the inward freedom to which we may have grown at a given moment. And if this is a correct view of freedom, our chief energy must be concentrated on achieving reform from within. Mahatma Gandhi
POWER of LOVE
Hello CC! I read your blog and it is outstanding... I got a visual of you on the podium with fists pounding! You have expressed the frustration so many of us are feeling right now. "We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace." (Gladstone)
As the new year approaches may you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope; the spirit of Christmas which is peace; the heart of Christmas which is love.
Christmas ...
Hello ladies ... gentlemen ... long time ... long long time, but now felt like the right time to delve in and wish you all the best of happinesses and sparklies for 2007!!!
I am celebrating Christmas with the family in France, but head back to London in two days ... sigh, Expat, where you at? I missed the birthday young lady, so I hope all went merrily ... Shulee, Maya, Star, Onfire, Minerich, Divinee, Serenee ... everyone ... (Frenchrum ... welcome ...) kisses and love ... ahem, actually, after a bit of a break I'm back studying at university ... I've got my work cut out for me! Whew!
Mais la vie est toujours aussi belle comme on dit!
Hey Serene, Maddy Baby and Star...Thanks so much for keeping this board alive..What would it be without you???
Maddy baby,
I went to Maya's and saw your choccies..I was very impressed.. You kept your promise and you kept it in style!! You are a truly beautiful person-- such kindness!!
If you wanna message me sometime (and that goes to you all!! you can do so and add me onto your messenger: annececileville@hotmail.com )
Serene, Liquid, Star, Shula.... I don't know where you are all at but I wish you all so much happiness... 2006 was a painful year of truth, but be joyful, 2007 will be a year full of wonderful realisations...Mind my words!!!
Disappearing Acts
Excerpts from a recent article (2.8.07) featured in The Guardian newspaper.
How the US sent $12bn in cash to Iraq. And watched it vanish.
The US flew nearly $12bn in shrink-wrapped $100 bills into Iraq, then distributed the cash with no proper control over who was receiving it and how it was being spent.
The staggering scale of the biggest transfer of cash in the history of the Federal Reserve has been graphically laid bare by a US congressional committee.
In the year after the invasion of Iraq in 2003 nearly 281 million notes, weighing 363 tonnes, were sent from New York to Baghdad for disbursement to Iraqi ministries and US contractors. Using C-130 planes, the deliveries took place once or twice a month with the biggest of $2,401,600,000 on June 22, 2004, six days before the handover.
Details of the shipments have emerged in a memorandum prepared for the meeting of the House committee on oversight and government reform which is examining Iraqi reconstruction. Its chairman, Henry Waxman, a fierce critic of the war , said the way the cash had been handled was mind-boggling. "The numbers are so large that is doesn't seem possible that they're true. Who in their right mind would send 363 tonnes of cash into a war zone?"
"One CPA official described an environment awash in $100 bills,"the memorandum says. "One contractor received a $2million payment in a duffel bag stuffed with shrink wrapped bundles of currency. Auditors discovered that the key to a vault was kept in an unsecured backpack.
"They also found that $774,300 in cash had been stolen from one division's vault. Cash payments were made from the back of a pickup truck, and cash was stored in unguarded sacks in Iraqi ministry offices. One official was given $6.75m in cash, and was ordered to spend it it one week before the interim Iraqi government took control of Iraqi funds."
The minutes from a May 2004 CPA meeting reveal "a single disbursement of $500m in security funding labelled merely 'TBD', meaning, 'to be determined'."
The memorandum concludes: Many of the funds appear to have been lost to corruption and waste...thousands of 'ghost employees' were receiving pay cheques from Iraqi ministries under the CPA's control. Some of the funds could have enriched both criminals and insurgents fighting the United States.
Re: hi board
Hello Vanessa, so glad you finally made it! It's been awhile since anyone has posted. Maybe with Spring's arrival it will spring some life back into the board. Welcome!
Beautiful Minds
Hey La Maddie! Long time no hear... I miss everyone so much, been wondering the same thing??? Lots of love to all! The holidays bring families together, here's hoping for a reunion.
I’m Baaaaaack
Hello Ladies, wow thanks for holding the fort. I’ve been absent for a long while. We will have to catch up, but I have very important and exciting news.
Daniel is attached to a film project call Le Chevalier de Saint-George. Not sure how many of you are familiar with this renaissance man. The story is super interesting, he was also called the Black Mozart. Check out this website and find out more info. I think Daniel would be perfect for the role and is a great story that needs to be told.
Good Luck Daniel, I think you were born to play this role.
Thanks so much for your message! I'm just back from New York and I'm now having to find a new job because I lost mine just before going away! So it kind of feels like the hangover after the party right now...
Anyways it was nice to see Miss Maya and I'm also planning to come back for a lot longer this time.... But as they say "one thing at a time"... Hope you have a great day all!!
Thanks so much!
I'm going to have to wait and see what's in store for me next...
says the chief executive of Allerca. 
m.xxx
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