Island Sense

In Memory Of....

2010-09-11T07:38:00.000-04:00

Vanavah Alexi Thompson

Age 26

Victim of WTC

"I'm Free"

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief

Don't lengthen it now with undo grief.

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free

I'm following the path God laid for me.

I could not stay another day

to laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way

If my parting has left a void

Then fill it with remembered joy

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss

Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow.

I wish you all the sunshine of tomorrow.

I've savored much.

Good Friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Lift up your heart and share with me

God wanted me now, he set me free.

Author unknown

Island Sense: If its too good to be true.....

2009-08-07T08:42:00.000-04:00

Island Sense: If its too good to be true.....

If its too good to be true.....

2009-08-06T19:05:00.011-04:00

This just burns my ass and today I'm steamin' truly PIPING HOT!!!!

This so called government CASH FOR CLUNKERS deal is the biggest fallacy and everyone is just running around with blinders!!! Wake up people!!!

Now I'm not going to be winded here Ill get straight to the point.

According to CARS "The CAR Allowance Rebate System" (http://www.cars.gov/) your CLUNKER is going to be euthanized, disassembled, killed, murdered. ( http://www.cars.gov/files/6265_EngineDisablementProcedures.pdf )

I drive a 2002 Ford Taurus, doesn't qualify for the CLUNKER program because it gets about 20 mpg just a tad bit more than the required 18 mpg or less to be a CLUNKER, it has about 160k miles runs just "OK" needs some work and probably will nickle and dime me in about 6 months. I pay $300 a month for this car-only have 10 more payments on it; $125 a month for the car insurance and spend about $200 bucks a month for gas. Total that up $625 bucks a month. I have a good job. I make about 60k a year without overtime. I really don't want a new car nor do I want a car payment for another 3 years or so.

So if you are or were driving something that is older you must be driving that for a reason!!! No car payment maybe, cheaper car insurance, or maybe because that is what you KNEW you could afford. You know what I'm getting at here.... so let me move on.

Has anyone heard of PURPLE HEART, VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA, CHARITY MOTORS?? Come on, for the love of the AMERICAN PEOPLE, what happened to our generosity in America? These organizations can get people to their jobs or job training to get them off WELFARE...AND THE GOVERNMENT SAYS TO KILL THESE VEHICLES???????????????

There are so many factors about this program and people are blinded by the HYPE of "OH I CAN GET A NEW CAR" or "THE GOVERNMENT IS GIVING ME FREE MONEY" you all are nuts. According to Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H. "What we're doing is creating debt. ... The bill to pay for those cars is going to come due on our children and grandchildren," (Congress OKs $2B refill of 'cash for clunkers, August 6, 2009, www.yahoo.com) "Dealers are barred from reselling the trade-ins and are charged with ensuring their destruction." (www.CARS.gov)

I'm disgusted at what I see in the BIG picture.... Americans again falling victim to "HOPE and CHANGE"

Look what P90X did for me!!

2009-06-26T08:55:00.006-04:00

Well here it is.... A little later than I had wanted to post but none the less POSTED!!

P90X START
DAY 1 Size 12
3-7-09
MEASUREMENTS:
WEIGHT-168
CHEST-37
WAIST-39
HIPS-42
RIGHT THIGH-24
LEFT THIGH-23 3/4
RIGHT ARM-13
LEFT ARM-12 1/2
BODY FAT PERCENT 42%

P90X FINAL
Size 7/8
6-25-09
MEASUREMENTS:
WEIGHT-143
CHEST-34
WAIST-31
HIPS-38
RIGHT THIGH-21
LEFT THIGH-21
RIGHT ARM-11 1/2
LEFT ARM-10 1/2
BODY FAT PERCENT 28%

It was a tough and challenging journey through the 90 days of P90x. I only skipped 2 workouts throughout up til the 81st day which was memorial day weekend. That is when I pretty much was done with the program.

Since May 25ish... I have eaten pizza, cake, bread and had a few....ok... alot of beers therefore the final measurements may be a little INFLATED!!!

However, my weight loss was significant and my energy level was through the roof. I felt the strongest I ever felt considering I had knee surgery for a bone on bone situation in July of 2008 which could not be fixed.

Im pretty happy with the results but Im not finished yet. I am going to continue with P90X doing the DOUBLES for a little while and see where that takes me. Look for more pics soon.

iWant

2007-06-27T09:36:00.000-04:00

Now a days a corporation SHOULD cater to the dedicated. This isn’t a new concept its been going on for years.

iHave 20+ years with AT&T and iLove the fact they are so tech savy.

iHave anticipated the next “WHOOPLAH” device they come out with. It is truly exciting to be part of an organization which has unlimited resources and what seems to be a “Wizard behind a curtain”.

iPurchased the Cingular PalmTreo close to a year ago and have been having the time of my life with it. iHave sold this phone to my friends, family and peers just because “iHave” it. These people look at me as a representative of the company-they say, “hey can you tell me about the…..”, “what does the ….. do”, “you know iHave a problem with my…..can you help me out”. iAm PROUD to be the phone company to a lot of them.

BUT WAIT ….

Over the last several months, iHave waited patiently but with much excitement the coming of the iPhone. iDanced around when iHeard about it, contemplated all the things it will do and what iWould do. iWas so extremely excited and could not wait to be one of the “FIRSTs”. Kinda like a little “Ambassador” if you will of the company.

Since my current cell phone contract doesn’t allow me a device upgrade yet-iWould have to pay full price for any cell device iDecide to purchase. My PalmTreo is out of warranty and since it is a high end phone you aren’t able to purchase insurance to cover replacement. (iHave replaced this equipment twice so iAnticipate needing to pay full price for a replacement soon.)

Then on June 22 it was like being hit in the stomach by Oscar De La Hoya.

The company announced to its employees:

“Customers first:
Attracting new customers drives growth, which benefits us all. We anticipate overwhelming demand for the iPhone, giving us a unique and powerful opportunity to attract customers from our competitors. We need to focus all our resources on meeting that demand, and for that reason, we will not offer employee discounts of any kind on the iPhone, nor will there be any concession on the rate plans used with this device. This applies to all employees at all levels. Employees who choose to buy the iPhone must purchase it at the consumer price and must use it on a regular, undiscounted, consumer rate plan.”

iHave had cell phone service through AT&T since the “bag phone” era. iHave 20+ years with the company, and iHave been a loyal landline customer since divestiture. iPay my bill(s) and jump at almost every opportunity to be a “newby” with their new inventions/creations. What is so hard about me wanting to purchase the iPhone at full price and transfer my, discounted by 19%, $100 a month plan? WHY IS THAT SO BAD!!!! Why do iHave to loose my discount to continue my business with a global company? (My current plan includes all the data & media packages necessary for a high end cellphone.)

iAm truly disappointed.

So now what?

Some say, “quit yer complainin…just buy the darn phone and get a new plan if you want it so badly”, and iAlso got, “well, don’t you need other things first?”, “….just wait and sit on it for a while, something better will come out of this.”

Seriously iLove people’s optimism, especially these days, but you know what ALL THAT IS NOT WHAT iWANT TO HEAR.

DARN IT ALL…. iWORK FOR THE PHONE COMPANY!!!! iWant the iPhone-iWill gladly pay full price but iWant my CURRENT plan, and iWant to be one of the first to have it! Oh do iHave to throw a temper tantrum.

Well this is my conclusion-IF iAm ALLOWED to transfer my current cell number to this DEVICE-surely iWill have to sign another 2 year contract, no big deal iCan do that (currently have one year left to my current contract) and iWill loose my current 19% employee discount, not really a biggie, iCan just sign up for a LESS expensive plan.

Look at it this way, instead of them collecting a $100 bucks a month from me-now they will only collect $79.99.

Are you LOST?

Gift of Laughter

2007-05-16T20:28:00.000-04:00

Ever been mesmerized by someones personality and sense of humor? Someone you’ve never met personally.

Ever love to talk to a certain someone because they make you laugh and connect with you mentally on levels that someone else would have said you were clearly psycho and mental.

How much would you give to laugh; what would you give?

What would you do if it was-one day-just gone.

Gone because maybe you said something wrong or did something that made that person distance themself from you.

What do you do or say to get that back?

Can you get it back?

Is it possible to revive that kind of personality relationship between two people who live several hours away and only communicate on the phone or via messenger, text message etc.

Is it possible?

Would it be something you should try to get back or should you let it go and let it be what it was.

Sort of a death in a way.

What is it worth.

Anything?

Christmas Giving

2006-12-06T11:12:00.000-05:00

Christmas Giving

"If only I get the chance, I will do something great."(School Shoes for Girls, The Child Health Site, 2002)

This year I am doing something a little different at Christmas time.

Instead of giving my family and friends store purchased items from a retail chain, I have decided to encourage my friends, family and blogger-friends to purchase gifts that give more than once.

I have come across a site, referred to by a fellow blogger, where you can purchase things like School Shoes for Girls in Rural Africa for $14.00. The Hunger Site will fund 25.0 cups of food for each School Shoes Purchase for Girls in Rural Africa purchased.

Upon purchase, you will receive an automated e-mail with a link to a full-color certificate of acknowledgement that you may print and frame for display or gift-giving. The certificate makes a great "instant" gift for an honored colleague, family member or friend.

Turn your back on helping others? Nope. Not me. I won’t be turning my back at this time of year. Especially on children.

Why not help out others who aren’t as fortunate?

So, for my post this time, I am challenging my fellow bloggers, to pass the word and to dig deep in your pockets and wallets to find something to purchase/give to the site below. There is still time for items which need to be shipped.

Your purchase is tax-deductible in the U.S.A., and you will receive a receipt from GreaterGood.org for your taxes. GreaterGood Network stores do not receive any profit from the sale of this "gift that gives more"; we bring it to you in the spirit of the greater good.

I have decided to Pay a Teacher's Salary in Afghanistan for $40.00 and to make this a Memorial Contribution in my Fathers name; John M. Aldea Jr. who I miss terribly every day.

Let me know by posting a comment if you contributed in some way. I don’t need to know how much or what but just that you did something.

Thank you all in advance, hopefully we can add to the “glow” of Christmas for many, further in depth than any facet we may be able to visually see.

Here below are just some of the things you can purchase, there are tons of other things like earrings, bracelets, t-shirts etc. Please take a minute to look around the site, I’m sure you will find something to make a difference.

Makes you really think about that $50 you want to spend to play that Xbox game where that same $50 “will fund health services to save or improve the lives of 27 children”. Please click on the link below and see all the fantastic gift ideas.

Pay a Teacher's Salary in Afghanistan
$40.00

Send Two Girls to School in Afghanistan
$20.00

Provide School Supplies for Rural Afghan Children
$50.00

Thanks-for-giving

2006-11-27T11:01:00.000-05:00

Thanks-for-giving

Thank you for my son, he is everything I ever wanted.

Thank you for my health, my eyesight, hindsight and foresight. This too defines me.

Thank you for my family, it’s very strong in small numbers.

Thank you for my pain, my suffering, my struggles, my heartache and tribulations. Without them I wouldn’t be who I am, I wouldn’t have learned what I learned. I wouldn’t be the strong person I am. I wouldn’t have found the strength within to achieve what makes me.

Thank you for my wealth, sometimes taken for granted and criticized-but thank you for what fortune I have no matter the size.

Thank you for my happiness, found.

Thank you for my life, it’s me.

Boo!

2006-10-31T08:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

Answer to "what am I"?

2006-10-27T15:59:00.000-04:00

Yep!

My car.

My car abruptly left me.

Needed a battery.

Never knew a battery would just QUIT.

It did.

I had no tools, no options.

I bought the tools, the battery and a Snickers bar and change it myself.

I could have waited for a tow truck, but lord only knows what "wrench" that would bring.

I wasn't happy.

I was quite the "wrench" to say the least.

However, $70 and 20 minutes later I was back on my way and we all know that if I were to be waiting for a tow truck, mechanic etc, I may still be waiting.

So inspite of what some may think.... there are other things out there that can be just as necessary.

"Wrench"

2006-10-24T14:56:00.000-04:00

Well this is going to be pretty much a riddle to most but I have to start somewhere.

Have you ever been called a “wrench”?

Ever had to “wrench”, having no idea what to do but you attempted it anyway.

“Wrenching” because there wasn’t any other solution.

Well Saturday I encountered the masses of the above.

Left Stranded Holding a cell phone and credit card.

The thing that I relied on and cared for every day-for a while, left me.

Just abruptly left me.

Faced with nothing except the real honest to goodness truth.

I turned into a “wrench”.

I had to. I had no choice.

I had to be the “wrench” because there wasn’t options.

Maybe there was an option but I didn’t know how long I would have to wait-didn’t know what I would be waiting for-could have ended up being nothing more than another “wrench” in the gear.

So

I threw on the tool belt

Dug in my heels

And “wrenched” on it.

What am I?

Free the Big Dog

2006-10-12T14:13:00.000-04:00

Please click on the graphic link above to help Dog

Duane 'Dog' Chapman arrested in Hawaii Thursday, September 14th, 2006 Honolulu

Dog, Leland and Tim were taken into custody by U.S. Marshals early Thursday, September 14 in connection with charges stemming from their 2003 arrest of convicted serial rapist, Andrew Luster.

Andrew Luster, the famed heir to the Max Factor cosmetics fortune, was convicted of drugging and raping three women over a four year span. During his trial in 2003, Luster fled the country to Mexico.

In June 2003, Dog and his team tracked the fugitive Luster in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where he was living under an alias, and arrested him.As bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico, Dog, Tim and Leland were arrested by the Mexican authorities and Luster was handed over to the United States government by the Mexicans. He was subsequently found guilty and is currently serving a 124 year prison sentence. Bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico, and Dog, Tim and Leland were arrested by the Mexican authorities. After being released on bail, Dog, his family and team, returned to Hawaii and to their lives as bounty hunters.

Update, Friday, September 15th, 2006

Dog, Leland and Tim were all released on bail on Friday, September 15th, 2006, as the judge concluded they are not flight risks. While out on bail, they will be required to remain in the state and wear electronic monitoring devices until they return to court for extradition hearings to face trial in Mexico. No date has been set for those hearings.

Closed

2006-10-06T06:49:00.000-04:00

The "beach" season here in Michigan has concluded.

I am almost completely devastated.

As an avid Nitrox SCUBA diver, sun goddess and groupie of the nearest bar bq I shall now seek out antidepressants from the lack of sunshine which the next 2 seasons seem to disregard without a second thought.

This summer has been very eventful all in all though I don't feel I enjoyed the out of doors as much as I could have for some reason.

I truly believe some where in past time, my spirit or soul or whatever you want to call it, was either some kind of underwater life form or an Island Girl as the Summer weather makes me feel so overwhelmingly fantastic.

Within the water I feel complete solitude, peace and comfort beyond definition. I don’t need to be a hundred feet below the surface to feel these feelings, it could be as little as 10 feet with the sun glistening through the water, the sunlight that ripples along the sandy bottom beneath the surface and the bubbles that shimmer like flawless diamonds as they ascend to the surface. Oh these things are priceless.

No children neither splashing around in the water nor building sand castles or chasing each other around barefoot in the warm sand.

It saddens me to see the BEACH CLOSED signs and people walking the beach fully clothed wearing parkas and jeans. I feel I was robbed in a way, working 60 hour weeks and not being able to get to one of the places I love the most more than I did.

As this season ends and Fall and Winter are around the corner I can not help to think what these seasons may bring. Things are changing, the leaves are turning colors, and the weather is getting cooler and pretty soon there will be a different glistening possibly through snow cover trees or lights shimmering on Christmas trees.

These too are the things which bring solitude.

In Memory of...

2006-09-10T21:42:00.002-04:00

Vanavah Alexi Thompson

Age 26

Victim of WTC

"I'm Free"

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief

Don't lengthen it now with undo grief.

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free

I'm following the path God laid for me.

I could not stay another day

to laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way

If my parting has left a void

Then fill it with remembered joy

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss

Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow.

I wish you all the sunshine of tomorrow.

I've savored much.

Good Friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Lift up your heart and share with me

God wanted me now, he set me free.

Author unknown

Time[ing]

2006-08-22T20:10:00.000-04:00

Time

What would you do with it if you could do anything you wanted with it.

Would you turn back time?

Speed ahead to the future?

Maybe slow it down…a bit so you could accomplish a lot more in the hours of the day, week, month etc.

How about add more hours to the day?

We can hold time, "If I had more time on my hands…"

Would you "waste time"?

How about "Now isn't a good time" or "Its just not the right time" does this mean the same as, "its just bad timing"?

Pray for "better times" or "good times"?

Ever given the "gift of time"?

I would do all sorts of things with time.

I would be the "KEEPER OF TIME".

First I would reverse time to reverse and change the events which were very traumatic for society and for the people I love.

I would make time stand still when I am blessed with the presence of the ones that I love or an event I never want to forget nor to end.

I would speed up time to reach a goal, speed up work time, chore time, so I can finish sooner than later.

I would slow down time or add more time to the weekend or to my vacation.

More sleep time would be nice too.

Imagine if time didn’t matter.

Imagine if it were something that we controlled individually.

Imagine, never hearing, "I don’t have enough time…"

Enough

2006-08-12T10:01:00.000-04:00

Happiness, independence and success are the fuels of drive and determination for so many, why do so many throw in the surrender towel.

When is enough, enough.

When do you give up.

How long do you fight for something, someone or some belief.

Do you want to keep battling but don't any longer have the strength.

Do you look for support from friends, lovers, family or business partners only to refuel.

If you had the drive, determination and the ability to fight like a warrior...How far would you go before you said you had enough and let it go?

Would you even consider the psychological impact it would make on your self esteem and ego.

What about those who care about you, how would they feel if you just caved in. Would they support you, help you to refuel, or fight you.

Would you let it go because you became weak.

Would you let it go because you knew it wasn't good for you any longer.

Would you let it go because your views have changed.

Or maybe you want to let it go because you just don't care anymore.

Giving up?

Keep going, there is a gas station straight ahead.

Food or Gasoline

2006-08-08T11:58:00.000-04:00

Gas Prices….what are you kidding me AGAIN!!!

London-based BP Plc, the world's second-largest oil supplier, is shutting down half its production on Alaska's North Slope to repair rusted, leaking pipes. As a result, BP said, output will be reduced by 400,000 barrels a day, close to 8 percent of U.S. production. (Alaska oil shutdown may boost local gas prices By Janis Mara, 08/08/2006 http://www.insidebayarea.com/dailyreview/localnews/ci_4150058)

The price of gas is the most INSANE issue there is!

The economy SUCKS and HAS for years, war HAS BEEN financially SUCKING the LIFE out of AMERICA and BP yes the U.S’s OWN GAS supply wants to SHUT DOWN for REPAIRS forcing gas PRICES to escalate AGAIN!?

Will someone please pass the VICODIN and VALIUM…let me SLAM them down with a VODKA chaser CUZ I can not stand another DARN minute.

American automobile manufacturers and Airlines are GOING BANKRUPT and there is ALL SORTS of CORPORATE CORRUPTION, downsizing etc….meanwhile, Those of us that still have JOBS, are being forced to CHOOSE between food and GASOLINE !!!! Are we even MAKING the minimum wage?!@&*%$

Didn't know I was about to experience HOOVER VILLE.

MY GOD……ARMAGEDDON has to be near.

Does the US have to stick their nose INTO EVERY single OVER SEAS AMERICAN FINANCE/ECONOMY SUCKING THING!

CAN the AMERICAN GOVERNMENT just focus on giving/getting the AMERICAN some kind of GASOLINE price stability!

This is just crazy, and yeah as a single parent who chooses by PRIDE to stay out the pocketbook of the government to make ends meet…I’M PRETTY DARN P'ED OFF RIGHT NOW.

Todays TRIVIA question...can you tell me how many years we the US have been at war? Huh?

Pretty amazing that the US OIL RESERVES have not been tapped into…I bet they will wait until there is a WAR.

HELLO! IS THERE ANYONE LISTENING HERE!

WE HAVE BEEN IN SOME KIND OF A WAR FOR YEARS can you tell me WHEN we CAN tap into the oil reserves…..seems to me NOW might be a GRAND TIME!

I'd like to live like an American with A LITTLE MORE PRIDE again.

Do you have it?

2006-07-07T08:27:00.000-04:00

Integrity

Does it exist anymore and if it does…where?

It definitely is not with lawyers, politicians, CEOs, managers, teachers nor is it with the young.

Where did it go?

Did we forget to teach it?

On the other hand, did we "sweep it under the rug" because there are other so called important things to teach?

Maybe we are just taking the "oh what the hell-who cares" attitude.

Many believe it is easier to hire that attorney to "sweep it under the rug" rather than taking responsibility for our own actions.

Here is an idea, how about thinking about our actions before we act?

What happened? Have we become so selfish that we do not have any remorse? Is this a sign?

It seems to be an "old fashioned trait" but I have something to say about why, I feel, it is not there as much as it use to be.

I remember my parents telling me and my brothers, "...it may not be the decision you want to hear but it is the RIGHT decision", "we do the RIGHT thing the first time and we take responsibility".

I can still hear my father, God rest his soul-I love and miss you Dad, saying, "T, we choose the path we take, we can do right or we can do wrong... how do you want to feel about yourself...can you sleep at night with that decision?"

My Father was an inspiration to me and still is....he is the reason I choose the RIGHT not so favorable decision. He taught me to hold INTEGRITY to its highest to always be conscience of the decisions I make and to understand the consequences should I choose otherwise.
I don't feel that many people even give a damn about INTEGRITY. Its more like DOG EAT DOG, or ME ME ME.

Its not right.

People doing WRONG because they want to and because they can and don't care.

How do we get it back?

Can we get it back?

Who is going to be the role model and set that standard, because I believe its buried so deep
today that we may see more lies, greed and deceit than ever before.

I wonder if hell is going to be full this year....

So, with my long winded essay, as my boss says about my blog, I leave you all with a few final words to ponder found from Merriam-Webster...

Main Entry: in·teg·ri·ty
Pronunciation: in-'te-gr&-tE
Function: noun

1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : INCORRUPTIBILITY
2 : an unimpaired condition : SOUNDNESS
3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : COMPLETENESS

synonym see HONESTY

This is me and I have INTEGRITY do you?

Opinion Vs Advice

2006-06-12T06:38:00.000-04:00

When is it appropriate to offer or give either?

And do you tell it from experience or belief?

Do you know when to shut-up.

Over our lifetime "people will come and people will go". Some making the grandest impact, whether good or bad, and some will just clutter our space.

It is these times when there are some people who enter our lives at the most perfect time and the most perfect place offering the best gifts of all, companionship and friendship.

What do you do with an abundance of wealth which is contained within your heart and soul?

Some see the gift is truly one to be cherished and held to the highest of placement within.

Others might just see it as something to do for now.

Not all mankind seems to think in the past, present, and future...not all mankind even care nor are some capable of carring past unfinished business with newly found treasures.

Do you offer adivce? Or do you offer opinion.

Do you even care? Do you want to care.

Or are you just sticking your nose where it doesn't belong?

Ultimately it comes down to the "how much" of the "do you care" there is.

Advice can be offered and given because there a desire to obtain harmony, solitude and retention of a cherished gift.

Opinion can be offered and given because there is only a desire.

To give advice is to counsel. To offer an opinion is offering a belief.

But the question now is “when” do you “offer or give”?

Do you give/offer “it” when the opportune time rears its head…or do you wait until the perception of the situation is just shy of a World War II fighter plane possibly stuck in a downward spiral about to crash. In either case do you even consider it a worthy cause.

Or do you decide to just pass the time with, “you will be fine” and see where it all goes.

These are the questions which some of us may ask ourselves at selected turning points in our lives with the people or person who has entered our “space”.

Where are you?

Do you care enough?

I do.