The Power Of The Internet & Dreams

Betty White will host Saturday Night Live in May. How did the 88 year old actress make this decision. Not by executives at NBC calling. It all started by a fan campaign on Facebook.

After watching Betty White receive the Lifetime Achievement Award on The Screen Actor's Guild Awards, a fan started a page on facebook to try and convince Saturday Night Live that they should have Betty White on the show as a host. Over 500,000 fans later, Betty White and Saturday Night Live have come to an agreement, and Betty White will host the shows May 8th episode.

It's amazing to me what a small facebook page started by 1 fan can turn into. It also shows the power of the internet. With almost everyone today having access to the internet, it is so much easier to reach people just by simply posting something on a blog or facebook page. It also shows me that dreams really can come true.

For this one person, that had a dream of seeing the legendary actress on their favorite tv show, so they simply started a fan page to try and get others like him to follow & now his dream is coming true.

This is a lesson, that any dream, whether it be something big or small, is possible.

The Kindness The Snow Brings In Others.

I know several people are tired of snow. Me personally, I love it. In Tenneessee we don't see snow often, and when we do it is usually very minimal. One thing I have noticed during the last two months of snow showers is the kindness of others being shown.
Living in an apartment complex you get "people watch" just by looking out your window. You have neighbors all around you. Most days, people are in their own world focused on their day ahead. They get in their car, go where they need and return home and enter their apartments, never thinking about those all around in the same complex.
During the snow, I have seen people outside talking together, walking dogs together through the snow, kids playing, neighbors scrapping snow off other neighbors cars, neighbors giving others car a push to help them get off the ice or snow that has them stuck. Most of these things people don't regularly think about, but in a situation such as snow when everyone is affected by the same thing, it seems to bring them closer together.
In "Frosty the Snowman" it was his hat that was magic and brought him to life, but just maybe is was the snow that had some magic in it. It definately seems to here, by bringing others closer and displaying acts of kindness that you normally don't see.
As with all things the snow will melt, but my wish it that this kindness that I have seen during the recent snow will continue even on days where the sun is bright and shining. We would all be living in a better world, if we just applied one act of kindness each day.
I hope you are all enjoying the snow as much as I am!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!

I hope everyone has had a great day!!
This weekend I watched the movie "Valentine's Day" and recommend it to everyone. It was funny and told a great story. It took several smaller stories and tied them all together with one theme, "love". Some were happy, others not as much. The stories ranged from a young boy with his first crush to a couple who had been married for several years.
If you are looking for a fun feel good film, I would suggest putting this on your list.

500 Days of Summer & Glee

Two things that I have really enjoyed lately are the movie "500 Days of Summer" & the tv show "Glee". The movie is now out on dvd. The tv show has aired 13 episodes which are all out on dvd now and it will be back on FOX in April with 9 new episodes. The tv show has also released 2 CDs with the cast singing their versions of classic songs. I listen to them quite oftem in my car.

Just thought I would pass these two things along, in case someone might be looking for something fun and entertaining to do.

SNOW!!!

Snow! As everyone has probably seen on the news the last couple of days, the weather forcasters were predicting some snow showers, mainly on Thursday and moving out by Friday, leaving behind colder weather.

On Wednesday I saw where we were expected to receive 2-6 inches of snow. By that evening it had been reduced to 1-2 inches. Schools had already began to close for the next day. By Thursday morning, the snow had yet to fall in my area and the news was not saying we would only receive about .5 inch. It did eventually start falling on Thursday and continued off and on for most of the day. On Friday I was suprised to see that is had started snowing agian and was snowing all day long, for longer that it had the day before. Before going to sleep Friday night I was watching the news and the weather forcaster was showing a map where snow was falling and heading this way. Apparently they didn't think this snow would reach our area but sometime the weather can be unpredictable. It has since snowed all night Friday, and it continues to snow even three ours after I woke up this (Sat.) morning.

I began to think about the weather predicting major snow fall on Thursday, when in reality what we received on Thursday wasn't very much and we have actually received more on Friday and now today, both days that the weather was calling for minor flurries if anythings. I don't blame the forcasters, because like everything else, the weather is unpredictable. You can guess and make estimates about what will happen but you can never be certain until the even arrives.

The weather's unpredictablilty is a lot like life. We can make plans and can guess how things will happen, but until the moment arrives we never really know. I am one of those people who likes to be orgainized. I like to keep list to help me stay organized and remember things I need to know or do. While I don't think I will ever stop making list, I am working on not relying on them as much. Accepting each day for what it is, a new opportunity to enjoy life. Like the weather, life can be unpredictable at time, so the best philophsy I know, is to "just go with it and make the most of every minute".

I hope for myself and all of you that 2010 is a great year to enjoy all that life has to offer. Today it is offering snow, so go out and make a snowman, or have a snowball fight.

Enjoy each day! For now I am going out to enjoy the snow!!!

Happy New Year!!!!!

I know, I'm a few days late to be wishing you a happy new year, but honestly it doesn't have to be about just one day. You can give someone well wishes anyday, anyime of the year. For the first week, I hope everyone has had a happy and healthy 2010 and continue to have many more.

I have decided to set goals for myself this year. I decided since this year is 2010, then I will create 10 goals. Everyone usually makes resolutions, (diet, go to the gym, stop smoking, etc.) those things are great but they usually don't last very long. If you are going to do one of those things it has to be about making a lifestyle change, not just a quick fix because its new years and you have to make that resolution for the new year. I have tried different diets and exercise programs before (some working better than others). The ones that generally work are the ones I use when I am trying to make a change and get healthy, not just a quick diet to loose a few pounds.

This year I have decided to set goals instead. Things I want to do, to accomplish, over the next year. Some may be things like taking more time to write and read, both things I enjoy doing, but don't make enough time for. Others will vary but they will all be things that I want to do or do more of this new year.

The last goal on my list of 10 is going to be something a little harder to reach. It won't be as simple as picking up a book and reading for 20 extra minutes. It will be something that will take time and I will have to work hard to make it happen. Hopefully this time next year, when I pull out my list of goals, I can check most of them off and can say Job Well Done.

I hope if you set goals or resolutions for the new year that you follow through with them and get all you wanted from it. I wish everyone a Happy and Healthy 2010.

Happy Holidays!!! 25 Days Until Christmas!!!

Today being December 1st, Thanksgiving is now behind us and Christmas is quickly approaching. Over Thanksgiving I had dinner with my family & friends. Saw the "Radio City Christmas Show" (For Free), stood in line at 3:50 a.m. with my Mom on Black Friday. Went to TPAC for my Mom's Birthday and saw the play "A Christmas Story" and went to see the "Charlie Brown Ice" exhibit. It was a busy but great weekend and a wonderful way to start my holiday season.

My tree is up and presents are wrapped underneath. Christmas music is playing on the radio at work (and in my car), houses are decorated and stores are full of holiday shoppers. It definitely is beginning to feel like Christmas time. Just 25 days!!!

Over Thanksgiving my Aunt (who also blogs) and I had a discussion after dinner about the holidays and we began to look at pictures of different events from years past. The photo at the top of this blog is myself, my Aunt, and my Brothers. This was probably taken over 10 years ago. We for a reason I do not remember all decided to wear these elephant mask, which I also do not know where they came from. However you can tell by our expressions, we were having fun. To me that is the most important part of the holidays. Whether is be eating dinner with family, playing games, watching a ballgame on tv, looking at old photographs, or wearing elephant masks, the holidays should be fun. A time to enjoy with those that you love. I love the holidays because I can spend time with family and friends, making memories like the picture above.

You are welcome to leave a comment with memories of your holiday experiences, (not required, just an option). You can also check out my Aunt's blog: dawnkirkimaginetheshift.blogspot.com (she is going to post the same picture and write about her memories of the holiday season).

I hope your holidays are safe and happy!!!!! Most importantly I hope they are FUN!!! Each moment now, is a memory for the future. Make them good ones!!!!!

8 Days Until Black Friday!!!

I may be crazy, but I am looking forward to Black Friday. Getting up in the middle of the night, standing in line in the cold, shopping in crowded stores with hundreds of other people. (I know what you're thinking, "FUN" right??) Probably not to everybody but to me it is. It's one day off of work, that I can get out with all the other people in the world looking for a good sale. As a child I can't remember going shopping on Black Friday and as I got a little older I started working retail and hated Black Friday, because I had to be the one to smile and greet the customers as they were out shopping and I was stuck working. Now times have changed!!! I now have a job where I am fortunate to be off during the holidays. Last year as I went to my Grandmother's house for Thanksgiving Lunch ( a yearly tradition ) I picked up a newspaper, which being the day before the biggest shopping day of the year, was mainly just sales papers, which was ok with me (they are my favorite part, well the comics too). We sat around looking through paper after paper, sale after sale, and made a decision, this year we were going shopping!!!! My Mom picked me up and we headed out at 5:00 am to stand in line at Target with about 200 other people. Some who had probably been there much longer than we had. After shopping and finding GREAT deals on several items, we stopped at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. A quick stop to rest before getting back out there hitting the stores.
I have already began looking at black friday sales papers online, and will definitely get my newspaper Thanksgiving day, and then get up and hit the lines Friday morning.
Last year was a blast & I'm sure this year will be also.

What Makes Something "Classic"???

Who decides what becomes a classic? When something is created, did the person making it know they were developing something that would live forever?

Recently "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" was on ABC. I watched it as I do every year. The story is very simple. While all his friends are getting dressed up to go out on Halloween, one little boy decides to sit in the pumpkin patch and wait for the Great Pumpkin. (Halloween's version of Santa) Even though I have seen it several times and know what is going to happen, I still enjoy it year after year. Why? Because it is a "classic". It is a holiday show that has been around for many years and everybody of all ages has probably seen at one time or another. Most probably more than once.

"The Wizard of Oz" is a movie that was made over 70 years ago, yet it is still as popular today as it was then. "It's A Wonderful Life" is a movie that was filmed in the 1940's but continues to air every Christmas over 60 years later. "Monopoly" is probably the most well know board game ever made. It has become so popular over the years, now you can get theme monopoly games, where the boards are designed to be a popular movie, or sports team. They even make the Monopoly game now where you can play with debit cards, instead of the paper money in the original game. Even places have become classic must see attractions. When tourist visit Nashville, most stop by the "Grand Ole Opry" while "The Statue of Liberty" is a major tourist stop in New York. The list goes on and on. What about cars, stamps, music, even candy. Each one of those things have been around for longer than any of us can remember. But not all types can be "classic" like "Elvis" and "The Beatles" for music, or "M&Ms" and "Jelly Beans" for candy.

Recently over dinner, the topic of conversation turned to t.v., which if you know me probably isn't a big surprise. We started discussing different shows and how t.v. has changed over the years. One person asked the question, "What one t.v. show could you watch over and over and never grow tired"? After a lot of discussion the group decision was "Roseanne". Everybody may not agree, but at dinner that night we decided it was one show that you could watch and regardless if you had already seen the episode or not, you were guaranteed to laugh at least once. Personally Roseanne is one of my favorite t.v. shows. I have seen each episode more than once and still enjoy them as if I was watching it for the first time. I guess that makes it a "classic".

While everybody will probably not always agree 100% on what is a classic or not, most can agree that things like, "The Andy Griffith Show" & "I Love Lucy" will be around for many years to come.

Who knows, maybe something one of us creates, or invents will one day be a classic...

Christmas In October...

When is it to early to start celebrating the holidays?

The other night while watching t.v. I saw a commercial for a new holiday special airing on NBC. It is based on the Madagascar movies. It looked very cute, and I will probably watch. However, the one thing that I did notice that was a little odd, it will air November 17th, 38 days before Christmas. Over a week before Thanksgiving. Is that to soon?? I remember being confused as a kid watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Santa Claus would be there. Whey was Santa in a parade for Thanksgiving? I asked my parents and was told that Santa was in the parade because it was the start of the Christmas season. That made complete sense to me. However as I have gotten older, it seems that Christmas and the holidays seem to start earlier and earlier. Now in some cases as early as October. Months before Christmas, Thanksgiving, and even Halloween. I was in Cracker Barrel the other day, and in the gift shop, noticed three separate corners in the store. One decorated for Halloween, another for Thanksgiving, and then one for Christmas. All three in one room at the same time.

I have heard people talking who feel that the holidays start to soon in stores, restaurants, t.v., etc. I remember working at Books A Million a few years ago, and the day after Halloween, November 1st we began playing Christmas music in the store and it would continue until New Year's - 2 months later. I love Christmas music and it didn't bother me, but other coworkers were upset and grew tired of the same thing day after day, long before the actual holiday. They said that by Christmas it was hard to enjoy it, because it had been going on all around them in one way or another for months already.

For me personally, I LOVE Christmas and the holidays. I enjoy spending time with family and friends. Putting up the tree, and wrapping presents. I look forward to watching movies like Christmas Vacation, It's A Wonderful Life, and A Christmas Story (for 24 hours on TBS). I love Christmas music and am guilty of occasionally listening to a holiday song all throughout the year. In my family we have always made Birthday's a fun occasion, and celebrate our birthday week, instead of just one day. So for me, I enjoy the holiday season and prefer to celebrate more than just December 24th and 25th.

So while the early holiday programs on t.v. and the holiday carols playing in stores in November don't bother me, to others I think that it is too much. Now, if we start putting up holiday decorations in stores in June or July, I'll reconsider, but for now, I'm ok. What about you???