MINDFUL MOMENTS

Back about seven years ago when I moved to Traverse City, I remember talking to Erica who was one of the administrative assistants at an Episcopalian church. We were both highly sensitive people who had a hard time dealing with people that were mean to us. I was shocked when Erica told me that some of the people that came into the office to talk to the pastor would be upset about something and yell at her. A few times, she even broke down and cried. Even, in a church setting there is anger, competition, and jealously. I can attest to this after two experiences I recently had. #1) This year was my third Christmas season appearing in an outdoor play entitled the "Christmas Journey." Since the audience walks on a trail from one scene to the next, the actors have to perform the same scene over and over again for each group of people that passes through. It's a bit challenging to deal with the ever changing weather of a snow storm to high winds, to icy trails, and smoke gettin...

What a difference it makes when we cross paths with a kind and giving soul. Despite trying to be friendly to most people I encounter, not everyone wants to be friendly in return. That's okay, we all have our issues and perhaps there are those of us that are better off by ourselves. The world however certainly seems brighter when someone is friendly and warm. Lately I'm been around some pretty grumpy people, it isn't fair for me to judge them but when they frown at me and make me feel uneasy I feel that it's okay to have some self-pity and ask myself, "Why are they picking on me?"  Today I encountered two people that gave me hope, but the one who really stood out was Linda. It was ladies night in Traverse City, a festive night for ladies to shop at a multitude of stores along Front Street and receive discounts and complimentary drinks and food. The first store I went into was an antique and resale shop that was filled with Christmas items galore. Nobody was the...

This morning I woke up at 2:00 am and turned on my computer to watch some videos. At first I was watching "Charlie's Angels" but I was kind of bored with the episode so I decided to watch an episode of "Touched by an Angel." I have never seen this television show which aired from September 1994 to April 2003 so this early morning was my first time watching it.  The episode was called "Fear Not" and it took place in a small city during the Christmas season. This is the synopsis of the episode: When a small town church puts on a Christmas pageant, Serena, a child dying of a heart condition wishes to play the angel. Meanwhile, Monica and Tess (who are real angels) help a man understand his disabled brother Joey's challenges and to teach him kindness and patience. Joey and Serena are best friends who love each other dearly and Joey is devastated to learn that Serena could die soon. At the end of the episode, an audience is in the church watching the Ch...

So much of what we do in our lives is based on "choices." Yesterday I wanted to spend the day with my Mother but I had some errands to run, one being getting a new shower head for my shower. Traveling by bus takes double the time so by the time I finally made it to Home Depot and bought the shower head I didn't feel like getting on another bus. I wanted to check out the other shops in the strip mall. So I went to Dollar Tree, Home Goods, and Walmart. Big mistake, all three of the shops were crowded and it made me dizzy and lightheaded. All I ended up buying were some shirts at Walmart and Italian made chocolates and truffle sauce at Home Goods. Time wasted but wow those Italian chocolates tasted magnificent. With a half hour wait for the bus in the freezing cold my only option to sit down and warm up was to go inside a Japanese steakhouse called "FUJI." The place was almost empty and I decided to take a seat. By the time I went to the bathroom to wash my hands m...

FOOD is COMFORTING, no doubt about it. It certainly comes in handy when one has had a frustrating day. I'm trying to be healthy this month and have given up certain foods such as meat and sweets. Next up is dairy which is difficult because I love pizza, pierogis, and MAC & CHEESE. Trying to go VEGAN soon but I need some comfort food, especially during cold and dark days. Yesterday was such a frustrating day at work that I didn't even take a break. It was just one disaster after another. I was late, I couldn't complete my tasks because of issues, I fell off my office chair and then another chair fell on top of me. Too top it off my shower head is broken and  after work my friend couldn't help me repair it because neither one of us had a wrench.What saved me from punching a wall? A bowl of Mac and Cheese. I boiled the macaroni and after it was cooked, I added butter, cheese, and some milk to the pot. The Mac and Cheese turned out so creamy and delicious. I just couldn...

Thanksgiving weekend is drawing to an end in the U.S.A.  Many Americans take this time of year to be with family and friends. It's one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, even during the covid pandemic. It's also the time of year that the homeless aren't forgotten either. Almost every community has a group of volunteers that prepare a festive meal and invite the homeless to partake in their own Thanksgiving. In Washington DC, President Biden and the First Lady Jill Biden along with Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff joined chef Jose Andres at the D.C. Central Kitchen. Together they put together meal kits that would later be distributed to homeless shelters and schools. This took place on Tuesday, the 23rd of November. It's a proven fact that showing gratitude makes humans happier. It shouldn't just be done on Thanksgiving Day, we should be thankful everyday for something in our life. Do you have your five senses? Do you have shelter? Do...

It happened today, my Angel was with me at the piano. How else could I have possibly played the piano so well since I rarely practice anymore. It was one of those miserable days in northern Michigan, cloudy, cold, snowy, windy......the ideal day to be at church. When the service was over I went downstairs to a room where an old piano stands. It was donated by the church administrator who has granted me permission to play it whenever I like. This afternoon I was so grateful to have two entire hours all alone at the piano, playing some songs from my music book, and others from memory. Since I rarely practice anymore it just doesn't make sense that I hardly made any mistakes, that's why I know my guardian angel was there guiding me along. Music is so healing, when you're feeling down, it lifts you up and that's exactly what happened today. If you're having moments of sorrow, turn to music. It doesn't matter what style of music it is either. We all have our favorite...

SOMETIMES, loneliness is the biggest challenge. I think all of us face that at one time or another. Days when you feel like nobody is on your side. That's why I'm so thankful for nature. The other day I was eating lunch on the beach. The weather was cold, damp, and wet and nobody was around. Just as I took one of the last bites of my sandwich, three ducks appeared. They walked right up to me with no fear. They wanted something to eat. Oh, how I regretted only having a small piece of food to give them. The three ducks shared the piece of food but there wasn't any left for the lone seagull who kept crying, and crying. Of all the days, why couldn't I have extra food on me? Those ducks and seagulls wanted me to feed them and they were so trustworthy that they all gathered right in front of me. All my loneliness vanished because these adorable creatures warmed my heart, counting on me to be their friend. I know I can return to Clinch Park again but the chances of those three...

SHOPPING these days is really a bit of a nuisance, no wonder loads of people are turning to internet shopping like Amazon. It's quick and easy and you can avoid crowds. Earlier this year I threw away my favorite pair of tall boots. They were slowly falling apart and for the money it cost to repair them I was better off buying a new pair. I thought it would be simple to buy a new pair of tall boots, was I ever wrong. My first stop was the local shopping mall. I went to three different shoe stores and had no success. Next was the resale shop, no success there either. Finally I headed to my favorite store downtown on Front Street called "Golden Shoes." A sweet and helpful woman named Emily provided me with first rate service. Emily made me feel like a celebrity.  Emily showed me a variety of shoes that caught my interest most notably a pair of gorgeous black tall boots made in Spain. They fit perfectly and they were absolutely stunning. "You should get them. They look g...

HALLOWEEN traces its roots to the pre-Christian Celtic festival of Samhain which was celebrated on the night of October 31. The ancient Celts believed the dead returned to earth on Samhain and would celebrate with bonfires and other practices to honor the deceased. The Celts who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the an area that is now known as Ireland celebrated their new year on November the 1st.  Whether you celebrate Halloween wearing a costume, trick or treating, eating candy, attending a party, touring a haunted house or watching a movie, it's interesting to know how Halloween came about. For me Halloween was plain and simple. After work I stopped at a cafe to get my Mother a sandwich and soup and then walked two miles to her condo. My Mother who has Alzheimers enjoyed her sandwich and soup, as did her cat Sari. Afterwards we ate some delicious fudge made by Trappist monks from Kentucky (my brother ordered the fudge as a gift). I also walked around the old buildings of a 20th ...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TATO! 💖 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST FATHER IN THE WORLD. MY FATHER ROMAN WAS SO GIFTED AND SMART. TO THIS DAY I CHERISH ALL THAT HE TAUGHT ME. IF HE WAS STILL ALIVE TODAY HE'D BE ACCOMPLISHING ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER, BECAUSE HE WAS ALWAYS PRODUCTIVE AND FULL OF UNIQUE IDEAS! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TATO. I KNOW YOU LOVED MANY DIFFERENT FOODS, ESPECIALLY GERMAN AND UKRAINIAN SPECIALTIES! ENJOY YOUR DESSERTS IN HEAVEN!

Today I honor and remember my "TATO" which means father in Ukrainian. He was born on October 2nd but passed away several years ago from cancer. Every October 2nd is difficult for me because I often wonder what more my TATO would have accomplished if he had more years, weeks, days, and moments on this earth. His name was Roman George Lypeckyj, he was born in Ukraine and spent his childhood there as well as in Germany. In his teens he moved with his parents and brother to the United States. My TATO spoke four languages, had a Masters Degree in Economics, and worked for over 20 years at Ford Motor Company. He accomplished a lot in his life. He was adventurous, charming, giving, kind, intelligent, talented, full of wisdom and so much more! I always addressed him as "TATO" because that's what he wanted to be called. He was an incredible man and I'm honored to have been his daughter.                               ...

Are you dependent on your phone? Is a day without it a terrible inconvenience? Most people rely on their phones for just about everything from video conferencing to texting to learning languages, to watching movies, talking to colleagues, family, and friends, and so much more. It's amazing just how much we rely on our phones, but imagine a day, a week, or even a month without your android or I-Phone! I've never had any problems with a mobile phone before until I got my Google Pixel 4a last year. I got it for a good price at Best Buy and I liked it immediately but literally the day after I bought it, the phone fell down. Fortunately, it didn't get damaged that time but one year later, I just kept dropping it. First there were cracks, than more cracks, and last week I was facing anxiety and as I rushed around during my lunch break at work, somehow my phone fell down again and that was it. All of a sudden the screen started turning green and then the entire phone shut down. Th...

SUSAN is partially deaf, she's been that way since birth but that hasn't stopped her from living a fulfilling life. Susan has been an accomplished accountant for 30 years, is a proud owner of two homes, she has a wonderful man in her life, and an adorable cat and dog. Susan is my co-worker and although we've been on friendly terms I never really knew much about her outside of work except that she's from one of my favorite places in the U.S.A. (Los Angeles) is a great baker, and owns a cat named "PIZZA." This past Monday I was supervising at work and didn't realize there was major rainfall outdoors. Susan knew I often take the bus and said to me as we headed towards the front doors, "Don't take the bus today, I'll give you a ride home." She went to the parking lot to get her car and picked me up at the front door. It was so thoughtful of her to do this but her kindness didn't stop there. Susan invited me to her house to meet her cat an...

What is it about summer that makes us feel lazy? Perhaps it's the hot summer heat, or the long bright sunny days, maybe it's watching the kids having a good time and being carefree or that fun picnic at the beach. I don't know about you but I'm having some lazy summer days just doing relaxing things like swimming in the lake, swinging in a hammock, paddle boarding on the water, having a picnic with friends, and eating homemade gelato in the park. Lazy? It's nothing to be ashamed of, because everyone needs a break from responsibilities. The Dutch have the right idea. They practice "NIKSEN" which means "doing nothing." It's a way to relieve stress and  just relax. We should all try that. It's late August and in some parts to the world this is the month to enjoy the last sweet days of summer. So go ahead be good to yourself and have some lazy summer days! SUMMER, the season to have fun and enjoy life!                         ...

Now more than ever before I have learned to depend on myself and not to rely on others for acceptance, advice, friendship, kindness, or a listening ear. People are busy with their own lives and problems, and in all honesty they're looking out for number ONE (which is themselves). That's just reality. So....even though your life might be filled with glory and sunshine, it might not always stay that way. There are countless people on this planet who have had so much happiness and fulfillment than suddenly, out of the blue they find themselves lost and alone. Cherish those moments of bliss and happiness because unfortunately the reality of life is that happiness come and goes, and that "Into each life a little rain must fall."

JULY, most Americans love the month of July. It's the month to celebrate Independence Day (4th of July), a time for fireworks, family vacations and picnics at the beach. July, the month when days are long and days carefree. July, when kids are off from school and everything gets crowded from the amusement parks to the restaurants. For some people JULY is extraordinary. There are those that have summer homes on lakes, oceans, or in the mountains. There are those that own yachts and sail the waters. Some people just have a jolly good time in JULY.  How was your July? Did you do anything exciting and fun? As I reflect on summer being half way over, I must admit I'm envious of the people that get to have a thrilling summer full of adventures and good times. I so much wanted to spend my summer away from home, someplace different where it wasn't same old, same old. As we get older, the responsibilities pile up and taking off for several months to work in another country or state ...

TUESDAY, not a day most people yearn for as a day off. Usually it's Saturdays and Sundays that are the preferred days off. But the reason I like getting Tuesdays off is because there's a group of women who meet at the church around the corner from where I live to have bible study. It's such a wonderful two plus hours of worshiping the Lord, reading the Bible and other spiritual books. We sip on cups of coffee during study and afterwards there's always a homemade meal made by Mary who leads the study. Not since late May have I been able to attend this weekly Bible Study. It just doesn't seem to work out to have Tuesday off. What's today? Tuesday of course. So once again I have to miss out on something that is so special to me. Things don't always work out the way we want them to and that's just part of life. As I write this a wonderful thing has just happened, the manager on duty where I work just texted me to tell me I can have today off. GOD has opened ...

  SOMETIMES all you need is some ICE CREAM! Work is called work for a reason. It's not all fun and games and has its moments of frustration, pressure, and stress. That's how my day felt on Saturday when no matter what I tried to do, it wasn't good enough. I wanted to quit and leave the whole place behind. When my 8 hours were finished I was so happy. When I returned home I made myself a sandwich and went outdoors to sit near the lake. My stress began to melt away but what I yearned for to really cheer me up was some ice cream. Ice Cream....it's summer and almost everyone wants ice cream. I needed ice cream so I got on my bicycle and just rode and rode the trail until I made it to the Dairy Queen. The place was packed, a long line of ice cream enthusiasts wanting their dessert. I just couldn't wait that long, oh if only I had just got an ice cream cone at the market near my condo BUT they didn't have much flavors. No worries, my final stop was CULVER'S fast f...

"It's when we don't have expectations that life brings us a pleasant surprise" Last 4th of July was hard to top. Even though it was the peak of a horrible pandemic of covid-19, I was invited to a gorgeous home on Torch Lake belonging to a rich family. (The only reason I was invited was because an acquaintance of mine whose a realtor said he could bring a guest to the party and he chose me as his guest). To my surprise everyone at the party was friendly and gregarious. I brought some homemade brownies to the party (which was a great idea since nobody brought dessert). What a grand time we had despite the Covid precautions. We drank craft beer, ate delicious food, and took a boat ride on majestic Torch Lake to see the famous sandbar, and went swimming.  Lou, the man who owned the gorgeous home and hosted the 4th of July gathering with his wife and daughter was so pleasant. He worked hard to become a successful business owner and he deserves owning four homes, (one of th...

                                               This is the church garden that feeds the poor! On Sunday, the 4th of July I rode my bicycle through the countryside up a steep road to Archangel Greek Orthodox Church. By vehicle the church is close but by bicycle it takes longer. I was already off to a late start and knew I was going to enter the church late. On that humid Sunday morning wearing my flowered dress and hat I walked inside the church and was immediately greeted by Anya. "So glad you're here dear," said Anya to which I replied "But I'm so late and I'm so sorry about arriving late." Anya didn't judge me at all for my lateness. Instead she gave me a warm welcome hug, and handed me a liturgical book. "We're glad you're here and please don't have any guilty feelings for being late. All that matters is that you've made it to the liturgy service,"said Anya. Rather ...

In a matter of moments the month of JUNE will be over. How time flies. Back in May I dreaded June coming because it meant I would be a year older on the 12th of June but to my surprise my energy and stamina was strong and this JUNE was filled with amazing moments that I'll cherish till I die. So many adventures, so much good food to eat, and best of all my Mother who has Alzheimer's is still around. Leaving Michigan and being able to spend my birthday week in coastal Maine and the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts (thanks to a friend) was truly a blessing too. What a phenomenal month it was but now I must bid it farewell.                                      My birthday gift, a ride on a Schooner in Camden, Maine! I'm grateful for all the blessings this month brought me and most of all I'm thankful for the guardian angel that appeared to me when I was praying at church on June 7th and told ...

  The end of June is approaching and so is strawberry season in northern Michigan. This past week has been an extraordinary time to pick strawberries because they're at their best, so juicy and sweet. I'm glad I went strawberry picking with my male companion after work. Even though we got caught in the rain, it only took us an hour to pick 16 pounds of delicious ripened strawberries at Urka Farms. Afterwards I made some strawberry shortcake and we really enjoyed this sweet summer treat.What am I going to do with all the strawberries? Give some away to family and friends and I'll also be making strawberry jam. strawberry pie, and strawberry & banana smoothies. Strawberries are such a delicious and healthy fruit. Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese, and folate (vitamin B 9). Strawberries also have a powerful antioxidant content.  Strawberry Moments in June!

Last week a spider was building a web over my small deck. My friend suggested destroying it but I couldn't. Just watch "Charlotte's Web" and you'll see how much spiders deserve to live. The mother spider is eagerly awaiting the birth of her children. Every once in awhile I see her bring down the sac then she and the sac disappear to some little spot that isn't visible from my deck. Every life is precious, whether it be the birth of ants, birds, ducks, fish, geese, ladybugs, seagulls, or spiders. Those creatures in nature deserve to give birth to their babies and soon mother spider will proudly show off her baby spiders. It's the season of birth and since I live around nature I get to see proud mothers with their babies all over the place and it's such a blessing to watch. Let's celebrate "Mothers" who give life! I tried taking pictures of the spider web on my deck but due to heavy rains it's falling apart. Hopefully the spiders are ok...

Once upon a time there was no internet, mobile phones, or a wide selection of television channels, but there was one thing that kept me entertained, the "CBS RADIO MYSTERY THEATER" radio program. My father and mother were huge fans of this mystery nightly radio program. As an aspiring actress I too was smitten by all the mysterious stories with three acts performed by extremely talented actresses and actors. Even famous people appeared in episodes of this popular radio show. I was delighted to find out that many of these old shows are now appearing on "YOU TUBE' and most of them sound state of the art as if they were just recorded. Early this morning I was just too tiered to get out of bed and listened to a fantastic episode of "CBS RADIO MYSTERY THEATER" about a mysterious pearl necklace. The story took place in Hawaii and it was performed like a 1940's film noir. So full of suspense, and so entertaining. These days we can watch and listen to programs ...

I had an extremely busy day at work today. Not only did I have to supervise, but I also had to give all the sales advisors their half hour and fifteen minute breaks. Oh, how I longed for some "refreshing moments."My wish came true when it was time to give Jordon a break. He was sampling handcrafted Grilled American Cheese Sandwiches called "Lily's Toaster Grills." and they looked so appetizing. I was excited to take over and serve the sandwiches on a tray. Every time I opened the oven, the scent of bread mixed with cheese drew members in and they raved about how good the sandwiches tasted. When Jordan returned from his break, I placed a small piece of a grilled cheese sandwich in a wax paper and headed to the office to do paperwork. Once in the office, I took a bite of the grilled cheese sandwich. It was absolute perfection, it tasted like a just made grilled cheese sandwich, buttery toasted bread loaded with cheese. The brand name of these grilled cheese sandwi...

High Lawn Farm, Lee Massachusetts Thursday, June 17, 2021 My two favorite things during the summer months are watching cows grazing on grass in the meadow and eating ice cream. On the 17th of June I was able to accomplish both in beautiful Lee, Massachusetts in the Berkshire Mountains. Thanks to a recommendation I made a point of visiting HIGH LAWN FARM, known for its friendly cows and outstanding dairy products; butter, cheese, ghee, milk, and ice cream. High Lawn Farm ice cream is delicious ice cream. What a treat to eat ice cream being made right on the premises while admiring the adorable cows and wide open spaces of a lovely large farm. The vanilla ice cream in a waffle cone at High Lawn Farm was one of the best ice cream cones I ever had. Simply marvelous. Be certain to have your "Ice Cream" moments this summer and remember there's nothing wrong with eating dessert first, once in awhile.

Anderson Cooper, Prince William, Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Angelina Jolie, Ariana Grande, Johnny Depp, Natalie Portman, Courtney Cox, Nicole Kidman, Mark Wahlberg, Mike Tyson, Boris Johnson,  Prince (musician/singer), James Walton (Walmart) What do the above people all have in common? Each one of these people born in JUNE were or are famous. I'm a bit partial to JUNE being that I was born in JUNE too but I'm not famous, popular, or rich. Regardless, I've lived a very adventurous life and maybe before I die I'll have my five minutes of fame. It's funny back in May 2021, I dreaded that JUNE was soon approaching. I wanted May to be at a standstill but JUNE did arrive and to my surprise it's been a fun-filled month of excitement, and now I'm sad to see it soon coming to an end. Even though I banged my head in a minor car accident,  jammed my finger in a shopping cart, scratched my leg on rose bushes, and got my arm pinched on my slid...

JUNE is passing by so quickly, it's like a whirlwind. The month of JUNE started out on such a positive note, I found out I could keep my affordable insurance, the weather was glorious, the days were long, and I was looking forward to my trip to MAINE for my birthday. I arrived by train to Albany, New York on the 10th of June to meet my friend who picked me up at the station. Together we drove to the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts to spend the night and the next day it was off to Maine. On my birthday, June 12th I was so happy to wake up in Wells, Maine near Ogunquit and enjoy the Atlantic Ocean beaches and part of the day in York, Maine with all its attractions. After a delightful lunch at the Maine Diner it was off to gorgeous Camden, Maine. The drive over there was nerve wrecking. My friend was going so fast on the interstate that I started to feel dizzy. We got off at one of the exits past Portland and took the one lane highway 1 all the way to Linconville, Maine where we ...

The first of JUNE is always significant to me. It means that the days are the longest in North America with plenty of daylight and that summer is on its way. It's also the birthday month of my favorite performer Judy Garland, and my close friend Sharon whom I've known since high school. This morning I texted and called Sharon to wish her a "Happy Birthday." She was up bright and early preparing for her special day. She was going shopping, getting a hair cut, and looking forward to her outdoor BBQ. What was she having? Burgers and of course cake and ice cream. Sharon is an amazing woman. She has spent many years working in child care. Her heart is golden. She's a caring person who never tries to outshine anyone but instead remains humble and sweet. That's why I appreciate her friendship so much, because she always has a listening ear, gives great advice, and has profound wisdom. Soon she'll get the birthday gift I mailed her and I hope she likes it.  Happy ...

Even though I was born and raised in Michigan I never appreciated it. Every state in America seemed better than Michigan. That's why I ended up living and working in other states; California, Colorado, Florida, Maine, Montana, New Jersey,  New York, and Vermont. I got to work in other countries too; Austria, Ireland, Norway, and Ukraine. So where am I now?  M I C H I G A N When my Mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's my brother insisted that she be moved from Dearborn (a suburb of Detroit) where she had lived 40 years to Traverse City, in northern Michigan. I drove my Mother and her cat Sari from Dearborn to Traverse City where my brother had a rented house waiting for her. I was only supposed to stay in Traverse City three months while I helped my Mother get settled into her new community but I stayed much longer. Seven years to be exact. I still thankfully have my Mother but her Alzheimer's is quite advanced. She's in a wheelchair now and doesn't talk much but sh...

I suppose it's normal to be fearful at times. One can be fearful of lots of things; getting arrested, flying in an airplane, confronting a grizzly bear, being stuck in an elevator, walking alone in an unfamiliar neighborhood in the dark, losing a job, becoming homeless...... Have you ever had a fearful moment? Whatever problem you might be facing, try not to be too fearful, because fear robs you from living in the moment and enjoying the precious moments of life. When you feel fearful, read a scripture from the Holy Bible or take a walk in nature. Find ways to be peaceful and overcome anxiety. We live in a fast paced society full of responsibilities and at times it is challenging to keep up with everything but fear not because usually things will work out for the best. Be Healthy, Be Faithful, Be Hopeful, Be Optimistic and Enjoy your Moments of Life! "DO NOT FEAR FOR I AM WITH YOU" Psalms 41:10

 "Chocolate Chip Cookie Moments" Sometimes a kind gesture enters our life when we least except it. I had a chaotic day yesterday at work. I was called into supervise at the last moment at work and knew I could't cancel my appointment with the optometrist that I had made weeks ago. What was I to do? The breaker for the sales advisors staff wasn't coming in either so I had to juggle two job responsibilities and still leave for an hour for my appointment. It was all quite entertaining, having to change into a different pair of clothes, waiting for a friend to pick me up to take me to the optometrist since driving wasn't an option (I was getting my eyes dilated). Everything ran smoothly though, thanks to a team of people that had my back. Well...when work was over, I was relieved to have some "me time" and decided to go to a strip mall that has my favorite natural foods market but I made a detour and went inside a bake shop. This bake shop is known for makin...

  I recently read that "Chick Fil A" is one of America's favorite fast food restaurants and that the chicken sandwiches are really addicting but did you ever meet a chicken or chickens? They're quite entertaining. Last week I was drowning in depression and exhaustion. I took a short bus ride to the countryside and while walking down one of the streets ran into chickens who were slowly walking across the street. They were free ranging chickens that were heading to the front lawn of their lovely home. There were 3 of them and I could tell they were close friends. Those chickens brought a smile to my face especially when I realized that they were dear pets to the owners. "Chicken Moments" is what I called my encounter last week. I got such a kick out of them and I bet these chickens don't have to worry about becoming a chicken sandwich at CHICK FIL A. Today I wish to honor chickens who provide millions of eggs and meat to people around the globe. I myself w...