Maryannaville™

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue center light pop and everybody goes “Awww!”
*Dennis Hopper

California controller to suspend tax refunds, welfare checks, student grants: John Chiang announced that his office will suspend $3.7 billion in payments owed to Californians starting Feb. 1, because with no budget in place the state lacks sufficient cash to pay its bills.
Read On [L.A. Times]

Next month will be the beginning of a living nightmare for many Californians. ‘The reality is that our state is incapacitated until we resolve the budget crisis. The truth is that California is in a state of emergency.’

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2009 State of the State address regarding California’s budget can be both heard and viewed here. [L.A. Times]

California has operated in the red for decades and it will take much more than this to locate the zero. Blame Schwarzenegger for this problem all you want however he voluntarily walked into this mess. Blame him for his idealistic beliefs, if anything. The rest is simply the result of political history.

Originally posted 2009-01-19 15:51:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Originally posted 2008-11-21 15:08:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Men are different than women when it comes to being depressed. Yet, when women become depressed, they reach out and share the pain. But when men get down in the dumps, they withdraw, go stoic, or act out in some way.

Many men will do anything to stay in the game, which is why so many try to avoid the more typical symptoms of depression, such as experiencing feelings of sadness, anxiety, guilt, and worthlessness. Often, however, they can’t avoid other symptoms like trouble with sleeping, concentrating, remembering, or changes in appetite and energy levels. On the other hand, there are other symptoms that are especially hard for depressed men to avoid manifesting; they include angry, violent, reckless, or compulsive behavior, digestive problems, and physical pain.

Read More: Independent News

Originally posted 2007-05-20 09:29:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

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I almost fell out when I first viewed this video! (Ok, so like, I wasn’t fully awake, k?)

Originally posted 2008-10-30 12:32:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Originally posted 2007-01-12 20:00:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck at the O2 arena in London 13 February 2010

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

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Congressman Ron Paul will be a guest on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” tonight at 11:00 pm ET. ComedyCentral

Also, the third GOP presidential debate will be held tomorrow night at 7:00 pm ET in New Hampshire. CNN will broadcast the debate with Wolf Blitzer as the moderator.CNN

Originally posted 2007-06-04 17:34:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

A time comes in your life when you finally get it…when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out – ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening.

You realize it’s time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon.You come to terms with the fact that you are neither Prince Charming nor Cinderella and that in the real world there aren’t always fairy tale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of “happily ever after” must begin with you…and, in the process, a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are and, that’s OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.

You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you or didn’t do for you and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it’s not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself and, in the process, a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are. You overlook their shortcomings and human frailties and, in the process, a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

You realize that much of the way you view yourself and the world around you is a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche.

You will begin to sift through all the junk you’ve been fed about how you should behave, how you should look, how much you should weigh, what you should wear, what you should do for a living, how much money you should make, what you should drive, how and where you should live, who you should marry, the importance of having and raising children, and what you owe your parents, family, and friends.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view.You will begin re-assessing and re-defining who you are and what you really stand for.You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you’ve outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with.

In the process, you learn to go with your instincts. You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. Also, that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a “consumer” looking for your next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the out dated ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don’t know everything; it’s not your job to save the world and that you can’t teach a pig to sing. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.

You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake. Then you learn about love. How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away.

You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn that alone does not mean lonely. You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over, and ignoring your needs.

You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK and that it is your right to want things and to ask for the things you want and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands.

You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity, and respect and that you won’t settle for anything less.

You learn that your body really is your temple and you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time to exercise. You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty. So you take more time to rest.

Just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So, you take more time to laugh and to play. You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve, and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance.

You also learn that no one can do it all alone and that it’s OK to risk asking for help. You learn the only thing you must truly fear is the greatest robber baron of all: FEAR itself.

You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it.To give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms. You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.

You learn that life isn’t always fair, you won’t always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting yet good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God isn’t punishing you nor failing to answer your prayers. It’s just life unfolding. You learn to deal with evil in its most primal state – the ego.

You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart’s desire.

You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind. You get on your knees in order to hear the grass grow. You make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility. Finally, with courage in your heart and the Creator by your side – you take a stand, you take in a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want and to live it as best as you can.

bonnet tip to: Barefoots World
ABC Page 60 from the Big Book

Originally posted 2006-04-28 14:21:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“I can be changed by what happens to me but I refuse to be reduced by it.”
—     Maya Angelou

I don’t know how many of you have heard or followed the case of Little Caylee Marie.

Originally posted 2008-12-19 23:59:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Most believe that I’m psycho, errrr, I mean psychic, yet, all kidding aside, I’ve been a strong empath since childhood. And no, I’m not psychic at all. I’m extremely sensitive to my surroundings and to other people- not allergic, mind you, just sensitive. The adults in my childhood years noticed my “difference” even then.

I’m happy that they didn’t try to snuff me off as was done during the Salem Witch trials. Instead, I was shunned as if I had leprosy. I was “different” than the other kids my age. Adults recognize how insightful I am even now. I don’t know how it works but it’s kept me alive through many of life’s harrowing moments.

Note: Have log book ready cuz, they’re baaaaaaaaaack!
Man your stations, kids. We’re taking no prisoners.

Originally posted 2008-04-17 18:25:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Children of a Lesser God

A Baylor Universtity study “found that Americans hold four different images of God,” London’s Times reports:

Nearly a third of Americans, 31.4 per cent, believe in an Authoritarian God, angry at earthly sin and willing to inflict divine retribution–including tsunamis and hurricanes. . . .

At the other end of the scale is the Distant God, seen by 24.4 per cent as a faceless, cosmic force that launched the world but leaves it alone. . . .

The Benevolent God, popular in America’s Midwest among mainstream Protestants, Catholics and Jews, is one that sets absolute standards for man, but is also forgiving–engaged but not so angry. Caring for the sick is high on the list of priorities for these 23 per cent of believers. . . .

The Critical God, at 16 per cent, is viewed as the classic bearded old man, judgmental but not going to intervene or punish, and is popular on the East Coast.

That adds up to 94.8%, which leaves some room for other conceptions of God. Here are some we thought of:

Totalitarian God: He is everywhere, and he is watching you.
Multitasking God: Answers prayers by phone, fax and BlackBerry, all at the same time.
Noncommittal God: Loves his children, but isn’t “in love” with them.

Originally posted 2006-09-13 11:27:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter