In fact, I am notorious for deflecting compliments; cancelling out anything positive with something negative.

Learning to accept compliments means setting aside those encrusted beliefs of unworthiness and replacing them with thoughts of value; believing I deserve credit for my strengths and achievements.

We all need recognition and praise.

Accepting a compliment does not mean I am conceited. It means I have a healthy self image.

I can feel proud of my achievements without broadcasting them.

A compliment is a gift.

Simply smile and say Thank You.

It seems that becoming a hypochondriac is much easier than it used to be. The medical community has even gone so far as to coin a fancy schmancy new name for this latest calamity—cyberchondria.

Back in the olden days, a hypochondriac would have to make a search or examination of medical books and journals, as well as call upon various health practitioners for an answer or information pertaining to any number of diseases, disorders, and conditions. No doubt a painstaking task back in the day!

Today, there is an abundance of health information available on the internet.

Most cyberchondriacs are often not particularly careful about where they get their health information—and that can lead to serious misinformation.

For many hypochondriacs, before the advent of the internet, a half-remembered harrowing health stories in a movie of the week about someone with a lengthy illness is considered legitimate and reliable source.

But this new breed of hypochondriac—the cyberchondriac—is using the vast and unregulated health information available on the internet, and that can lead to serious trouble.

When the moon is in the Seventh House,
And Jupiter aligns with Mars;
Then peace will guide the planets,
And love will steer the stars.

This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius—
The Age of Aquarius;
Aquarius!
Aquarius!

The Age of Aquarius signals the end of an era, and the beginning of another.

Its arrival and meaning are marked with mystery, and opinions differ widely in the Astrology community. Its estimated time of arrival is thought to have been sometime around the year 2000. Its exact start date is still being debated by experts and laypeople alike.

Harmony and understanding,
Sympathy and trust abounding;
No more falsehoods or derisions—
Golden living dreams of visions.
Mystic crystal revelation,
And the mind’s true liberation.
Aquarius!
Aquarius!

There is no way to know where the Age of Aquarius will lead us, but we have an opportunity to apply the most positive qualities of Aquarius: compassion, open-mindedness, and philanthropy, etc. toward everyone and everything… to make this world a more accepting, charitable, and intrepid world.

Let the sun shine, Let the sun shine in—
The sun shine in!
Let the sun shine, Let the sun shine in—
The sun shine in!
Let the sun shine, Let the sun shine in—
The sun shine in!

Don’t get me wrong, they are always—or the most part—appreciated.

But I prefer quality versus quantity, don’t you?

Time is a curious thing.

Time, while intangible in and of itself, carries us along our lives from point to point.

Whether we like it, or not, time is a prominent part of the world in which we live and our day-to-day lives.

We plan, we schedule—all according to time.

We curse when there is not enough of it.

We wile away the hours when there is too much of it.

We wonder where it went.

We watch it pass by…

That perception falls away and presents things…

When something sacred reveals itself within the mundane, do you tell the world you participated in such a moment?

How do you tell the world about the moment you were particularly aware of your senses?

The sight of…
The touch of…
The taste of…
The sound of…
The scent of…

Descriptions of these need not resort to the obvious, or the superlatives such as “it was beautiful.”

They simply are.

The extra words serve only to clutter.

I watched those seeds scatter and dance upon the summer afternoon wind—I thought of you.

I am always thinking of you.

That in mind, and with an internet vernacular, a form of etiquette, often referred to as netiquette, was developed.

Essentially, if you find yourself in Rome, find out what the Romans do.

One would think that if you are surfing the ‘net and looking to join a forum, portal, or other web site, that one would take the time to lurk—read the TOS and/or FAQ, etc.—before registering and joining online discussions.

People new to the internet are not reading the TOS and/or FAQ, etc. beforehand.

People who have been online for years, are not conducting themselves in accordance with the rules laid out in the TOS and/or FAQ, etc.—forgetting their manners, and their scruples at the login screen.

There are only 2 rules you need follow to have an enjoyable internet experience:

1. Think before you type—and more importantly, before you hit the [ENTER] key.
2. Use the same courtesy that you would extend—and expect to receive—in any other form of communication.

Bottom line: Check your ego at the login screen!

It’s not that I rarely miss him; it is rare, however, that my emotions overwhelm me so…

I spent the earlier part of this evening in the attic going through boxes; organizing things, deciding what would go for donation tomorrow.

Boxes, upon boxes. Boxes full of old clothes. Boxes full of old toys. Boxes full of knick knacks. So many boxes…

I sat quietly, diligently parting with clothes and toys that were mine and my brother’s once upon a time.

Clothes that we have outgrown, toys that we never play with anymore. Knick knacks my mother has accumulated over the last 50+ years; separating the keepsakes, from the crap—which while on the subject of knick knacks, is a fine line.

Then, I happened upon a box. A box not quite like the other boxes—a very pretty box, indeed. A box set up high and behind others, as if not wanting to be found.

As I reached for the box, so many of the others came tumbling down around me—but I grabbed the box!

I held the box in my hands. With one quick sweep, I brushed away the time. I opened the box slowly to find… folded pieces of paper.

Letters!

I instantly knew these folded pieces of paper were letters.

They were tied together with a pretty yellow satin ribbon.

I arched an eyebrow.

I removed them from the box and set them on my lap.

I examined them.

The paper was dried and faded—with that yellow tinge. I suspect the pretty yellow ribbon may have once been white.

Then, the air had begun to fill with that smell. You know the one—that ‘I’m a piece of paper and I’ve been stuck in a box for who knows how long’ smell? Yes, that smell.

I pulled the slip of ribbon until the letters were all loose. I picked the first letter up in my hands, unfolded it, and began to read…

My heart skipped a beat. A hand went to my mouth.

I stopped reading, looked up… then looked around… looked down at the box… looked at the stack again.

These were letters—letters from my father to my mother, letters from my mother to my father. Letters before they married. Letters during their marriage. Letters… and cards and notes. An entire life shared… marked by letters… in a box.

I felt entitled.

I reminded myself that these were private, personal moments shared between two people—of how I would feel.

And so…

I began to read…

And then, I stopped.

I folded the letter up quickly, and I placed it atop of the stack.

I placed the stack of letters back in the box, and covered the box with its lid.

For some time, I sat there, staring at the box.

It became enough for me, though, to know that such letters exist—that someday, maybe my mother will show them to me.

And if not… I will remember that these letters are here.

And then, I will read them all.

What are women doing with their webcams?

Many people assume that women using webcams are, in fact, using them in relation to the pornography industry. However, women have a very broad range of use for webcams.

Women are using webcams for hobby, for profit, to communicate, to observe, to educate, etc.

Are you a woman with a webcam? Tell somecanuckchick about your webcam use!

I would like to suggest an idea of non-lethal management of crickets—the Cricket Relocation Program.

To supporters of the Cricket Relocation Program, the cricket represents nature the way it is meant to be; to others, it is simply an annoyance. The former see the Cricket Relocation Program as a righting of past wrongs.

The cost of relocating a cricket is minimal. No permits are required to relocate the crickets. Overhead is kept low by using items already present in the domicile. Cricket gathering instruments and transportation containers are often as simple as a newspaper.

Gathering and transporting crickets shall be done with both care and consideration.

Crickets are typically located within the domicile by the aid of its chirping. Crickets which do not chirp may have expired. If a cricket’s vital signs are low, or non-existent, it is advisable to dispose of this cricket immediately.

Once transported away from the domicile, these crickets search out food and shelter, as well as opportunities to exercise and socialize with one another—far away from prying eyes.

Crickets will benefit from the Cricket Relocation Program. Safety risks, in terms of being poisoned, beaten, or victimized in any way, are minimized upon completion.

Cricket medical care will be limited to triage during the gathering and transportation phases of the Cricket Relocation Program.

Upon relocation, any and all cricket medical care will be cancelled.

Backed up by a rather large team of committed volunteers, I expect to launch the Cricket Relocation Program immediately following the publication of this post.

Questions and/or comments are directed to the Board of Directors of the Cricket Relocation Program.

Update: Wednesday, March 4, 2009

To date, 174 known crickets around the country have been relocated through the Cricket Relocation Program.

Generally, Nancy is good-natured, though at times she can be blunt and sarcastic. As Nancy is naturally talkative, she finds it easy to meet and make friends with many people.

The name Nancy inclines her to be sympathetic and generous to those in difficult or unfortunate circumstances.

Nancy can be firm, positive, and independent in her own ideas and in reaching her own decisions.

Nancy responds quickly to kind words, or any appreciation shown to her.

There are artistic, creative abilities associated with the name Nancy that could be expressed through music, or singing—or, in a practical way, through sewing, or interior decorating.

Nancy enjoys freedom from monotony and is stimulated by unexpected opportunities for meeting people, entertaining, or pursuing activities of a carefree nature.

I am different from the child I was so many years ago; different, still today, from the woman I was just yesterday.

I vividly recollect that sunny, Sunday afternoon…

A little girl out for a walk with her father.

Images come to me in flashes…

My tiny hand…
My father’s hand…
My tiny hand in my father’s hand.
My father’s hand — so big, so strong.

I am a little girl.

I am a little girl walking with my father, skipping along to his stride.

I am a little girl walking with my father… without a care in the world.

I miss that about myself today.

Many times I have walked that same street.

And, today when I walk down that same street…

I can stand on that same curb, close my eyes and conjure that moment.

Standing, with my father…

Standing and waiting.

Cars honking. Cars going by…

“Now daddy?”

“No Nancy, not yet.”

Impatient, so impatient!

Waiting…

People talking. People laughing. People rushing.

“Now daddy?”

“Not yet, Nancy.”

How I wish I had his patience.

Waiting…

‘Don’t Walk’ > ‘Walk’

“Now daddy? Now?”

“Yes, Nancy.”