Hmmm ... where to start? Among job stress, family health (including my own), and obligations to another website, I just haven't had the time or inclination to update this one. I have updated the recipe referral page with a lot of new Caribbean recipe links. I actually found a message board in which people post recipes. I'm now considering starting one here. What do y'all think? E-mail me and let me know.
For the 4th of July, I did create a celebration page using the fireworks java from The Anfy Team. I never got around to posting a link to it from the home page. However, if you'd like to look at it, click here. You will need to use your back button to come back to this page.
Saturday, July 27, 2002
Tuesday, May 28, 2002
The Return of Soapbox
Soapbox is back! It's been gone for a year, but I'm finally bringing it back. My old topics are posted (less the ones that no longer apply), and I'm writing some more to be posted soon. Oh, and let me go ahead and answer these questions now: No, I'm not posting my old soapbox about the Comet Zone cursors. No, I was not threatened by the company; they were actually quite friendly and helpful. I don't use them on my website because they just don't fit in with my web site decor. No, I do not have their software downloaded on my computer so I can view them on other websites. If you want them, get them. If you don't want them, don't get them. People are making too much of a big deal about them. Can we drop this subject now?
Friday, May 03, 2002
The Move Is Complete
Well, the move has been done. It was a lot of work, having to go into each web page and change the links and e-mail address codes. It was worth it! Visitors to the pages formerly on Tripod will be redirected to the corresponding new pages. I've been trying to e-mail webringmasters and other organizations that I am a member of to let them know of my new URL and e-mail address.
I have retired my old guestbook from HTML Gear. Bravenet has a couple of guestbook features that HTML Gear does not have.
I won't be adding any more web themes for quite a while, unless I get some inspiration or if someone asks me to do a special design for him/her. I am going to be adding more stationery for downloading. I've already added four new sections: scenery, rosebuds, animals, and sailboats. As for the original three: angels, crosses, and Jesus, I will be redoing most of them since I learned how to use masks (the fuzzy edged special effect).
I'm thinking of adding an Aquazone page (I love Aquazone!). Fish are about all I can handle right now. I've managed to breed 2 Leopard Catfish and 12 Angelfish. My Rummy-nosed Tetras laid 20 eggs, but 12 of them died within 3 hours, so they're saved in a file until I can figure out what to do with them.
I may be putting together a list of programs that will NOT work on Windows XP. I think the public should know these so that they can decide whether or not to get Windows XP, or do as my friend Bill suggested (reformat and partition the hard drive, then install Windows 98). If anyone out there has Windows XP and know of programs that will not work on it, e-mail me at mundlingzone@spamcop.net. By the way, Hasbro Interactive's game Sorry! will not work on my computer, as well as almost all my cooking CDs from Multicomm. I've read that Myst is not XP compatible, also. Quiz Quest (Mind Grind) will play, but it will not be recognized by XP's Task Manager should you try the old "ALT - CTRL - DEL" maneuver. I have to resort to taking out the CD to close the game by encountering an error..
I have retired my old guestbook from HTML Gear. Bravenet has a couple of guestbook features that HTML Gear does not have.
I won't be adding any more web themes for quite a while, unless I get some inspiration or if someone asks me to do a special design for him/her. I am going to be adding more stationery for downloading. I've already added four new sections: scenery, rosebuds, animals, and sailboats. As for the original three: angels, crosses, and Jesus, I will be redoing most of them since I learned how to use masks (the fuzzy edged special effect).
I'm thinking of adding an Aquazone page (I love Aquazone!). Fish are about all I can handle right now. I've managed to breed 2 Leopard Catfish and 12 Angelfish. My Rummy-nosed Tetras laid 20 eggs, but 12 of them died within 3 hours, so they're saved in a file until I can figure out what to do with them.
I may be putting together a list of programs that will NOT work on Windows XP. I think the public should know these so that they can decide whether or not to get Windows XP, or do as my friend Bill suggested (reformat and partition the hard drive, then install Windows 98). If anyone out there has Windows XP and know of programs that will not work on it, e-mail me at mundlingzone@spamcop.net. By the way, Hasbro Interactive's game Sorry! will not work on my computer, as well as almost all my cooking CDs from Multicomm. I've read that Myst is not XP compatible, also. Quiz Quest (Mind Grind) will play, but it will not be recognized by XP's Task Manager should you try the old "ALT - CTRL - DEL" maneuver. I have to resort to taking out the CD to close the game by encountering an error..
Tuesday, April 16, 2002
I Took The Plunge! Announcing MUNDLINGZONE.ORG
Okay, so it has been a while since I updated this site. I've had a lot of things going on, and I felt the need to let some things go temporarily.
The biggest news so far is that Tripod is cutting their free accounts from 50MB to 20MB as of April 30. I had deleted some files to get my account under the limit. However, if I'm going to be able to add more web themes and stationeries to this site, I'm going to have to move. I could upgrade by account with Tripod, but if I'm going to pay for web space, I may as well go a step further and get my own domain name too. Therefore, my website is moving to MUNDLINGZONE.ORG as of May 1, 2002.
Now, don't get me wrong! I like Tripod. They have been very good to me. I still recommend them for their free services. You send the staff members e-mail, and they write you back. However, they are making changes to reflect the times, and I feel the need to do so, also.
Oh yes, one more thing! I am fed up with people who think they can collect my website e-mail address and use it to send me advertisements for their businesses. I have signed up with Spam Cop, so my new e-mail address is mundlingzone@spamcop.net. My other yahoo address will be irretrievably closed at the end of May.
The biggest news so far is that Tripod is cutting their free accounts from 50MB to 20MB as of April 30. I had deleted some files to get my account under the limit. However, if I'm going to be able to add more web themes and stationeries to this site, I'm going to have to move. I could upgrade by account with Tripod, but if I'm going to pay for web space, I may as well go a step further and get my own domain name too. Therefore, my website is moving to MUNDLINGZONE.ORG as of May 1, 2002.
Now, don't get me wrong! I like Tripod. They have been very good to me. I still recommend them for their free services. You send the staff members e-mail, and they write you back. However, they are making changes to reflect the times, and I feel the need to do so, also.
Oh yes, one more thing! I am fed up with people who think they can collect my website e-mail address and use it to send me advertisements for their businesses. I have signed up with Spam Cop, so my new e-mail address is mundlingzone@spamcop.net. My other yahoo address will be irretrievably closed at the end of May.
Saturday, February 09, 2002
Change of Priorities?
Y'all probably have noticed that this site has not been updated much this month. Although I won't go into detail, I will say that my life has had a couple of revelations this month, and I am finding my interests and priorities are changing. This website may be affected by that, but only time will tell.
Saturday, January 19, 2002
Bibles
When I was growing up (1970's), there were two versions of the Bible that I was aware of: The KIng James Version and the Americanized Version. Although I tried reading both versions, I had difficulty understanding them. A few years ago, I discovered the New International Version of the Bible. The scripture made more sense to me, and it made me want to read the Bible more. It has opened my eyes to God's Word. It has also aided in my return to my original faith after a period of time in my life when I had rejected Christianity to the point of being anti-Christian.
I had no idea that this latest version of a timeless and sacred reference would be so controversial. There are those who adamantly refuse to acknowledge the New International Version as a legitimate version of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. I have a very good friend who faithfully reads the King James Version and belongs to a church that refuses to have anything to do with the New International Version. We love each other like sisters, but we feel so passionately about the two different versions that we have had to agree to disagree on which version is more "legitimate."
I wrote an e-mail to my sister Pamela a while back, asking her why there were so many different versions of the Bible and which one did she believe to be the most accurate. This was her response:
Did y'all know that in the old days, when Jesus walked in the flesh, there were at least two versions of the scriptures?
(1) Hebrew ... for the scholars
(2) Aramaic ... for real folks
Even though Jewish men were supposed to be able to read Hebrew, there was a version written more poetically and in everyday terms so that everyone could enjoy and have a decent understanding of God's word.
Did y'all know that there were many different English language translations of the scriptures when King James was translated? The scholar's aim was to put scriptures into the language of the day so that everyone could enjoy and have a decent understanding of God's word.
Did y'all know that the Bible talks about the gifts of the Holy Spirit as available to all believers for all times, but most "Christians" don't believe in them and try to say that was only for the first century church. That's not what the Bible says, in any translation.
Those who seek truth will find answers (usually accompanied by more questions). Those who don't want to know the truth will refute all legal, logical, and liturgical evidence.
Keep seeking God's truth!
Thanks Pamela! I needed that!
I guess what it boils down to is that we are to read whatever version we feel most comfortable with, so long as in our hearts and minds we are seeking God's truth.
I had no idea that this latest version of a timeless and sacred reference would be so controversial. There are those who adamantly refuse to acknowledge the New International Version as a legitimate version of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. I have a very good friend who faithfully reads the King James Version and belongs to a church that refuses to have anything to do with the New International Version. We love each other like sisters, but we feel so passionately about the two different versions that we have had to agree to disagree on which version is more "legitimate."
I wrote an e-mail to my sister Pamela a while back, asking her why there were so many different versions of the Bible and which one did she believe to be the most accurate. This was her response:
Did y'all know that in the old days, when Jesus walked in the flesh, there were at least two versions of the scriptures?
(1) Hebrew ... for the scholars
(2) Aramaic ... for real folks
Even though Jewish men were supposed to be able to read Hebrew, there was a version written more poetically and in everyday terms so that everyone could enjoy and have a decent understanding of God's word.
Did y'all know that there were many different English language translations of the scriptures when King James was translated? The scholar's aim was to put scriptures into the language of the day so that everyone could enjoy and have a decent understanding of God's word.
Did y'all know that the Bible talks about the gifts of the Holy Spirit as available to all believers for all times, but most "Christians" don't believe in them and try to say that was only for the first century church. That's not what the Bible says, in any translation.
Those who seek truth will find answers (usually accompanied by more questions). Those who don't want to know the truth will refute all legal, logical, and liturgical evidence.
Keep seeking God's truth!
Thanks Pamela! I needed that!
I guess what it boils down to is that we are to read whatever version we feel most comfortable with, so long as in our hearts and minds we are seeking God's truth.
Friday, December 21, 2001
Just Do It!
The key word for this subject is "sincerity." What is the sincerity quotient for anything you do for The Lord? When you pray in front of other people, sing loudly in church, pay your tithes, donate to charity, give people your testimony ... is it to show off what you are doing for God? There is a difference between living by example and showing off. Don't show off; just do it.
When you live by example, you do not "make a big deal" out of your actions. You just do it. People will see how you act. If you're being sincere, people will notice it and may even get curious enough to ask you about your faith. If you're "putting on a show," people will notice it and try to avoid you every way they can. How do you expect people to listen to your testimony if they perceive you as a phony?
Matthew 6, verses 1-6:
1. "Be careful not to do your `acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2. "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
3. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4. so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
5. "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
6. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Actions speak louder than words. It was true then, and it's still true now. Whatever you do for God in your heart and your soul, just do it.
When you live by example, you do not "make a big deal" out of your actions. You just do it. People will see how you act. If you're being sincere, people will notice it and may even get curious enough to ask you about your faith. If you're "putting on a show," people will notice it and try to avoid you every way they can. How do you expect people to listen to your testimony if they perceive you as a phony?
Matthew 6, verses 1-6:
1. "Be careful not to do your `acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2. "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
3. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4. so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
5. "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
6. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Actions speak louder than words. It was true then, and it's still true now. Whatever you do for God in your heart and your soul, just do it.
Wednesday, December 19, 2001
Stop Being Pushy!
I must confess up front that this is more of a pet peeve of mine that I'm venting than it is an altruistic thought to ponder. I feel strongly about this topic because I was "pushed" away from the Christian faith several years ago. I would like for you to read this with an open mind and PLEASE take what is written into consideration. We're losing too many people because of our pushiness. One of the biggest problems we have as Christians testifying for Jesus is that we don't know when to back off from the verbal "witnessing." We are supposed to plant the seed of truth, but any farmer will tell you that you don't keep stomping the ground after the seed is planted. It must be watered. It must be fed. It must be given sunshine. Our sincere actions combined with our testimony will determine whether or not the seed flourishes or dies.
Another thing that we are bad about doing is saying, "Christians don't do this;" and "Christians don't do that ..." or "I'm a Christian! I don't talk like that!" Yes, we have moral standards that we should live by, but we make our faith sound so oppressive and restrictive by repeating those and other similar remarks. Being a Christian is supposed to be a good thing, and we need to show more of that to people if we are going to get them to listen to us and maybe even come to know Christ. If you are in the presence of people who are saying or doing things that are unChristianlike, you should either suggest another topic of conversation, suggest another activity, or remove yourself from the group.
Remember the line, "What would Jesus do?" He didn't push himself on people. He lived his life as he taught. People started going to Him ... and listened. Once you've made it known to them that you're a Christian, don't push your testimony unless you know for a fact that they want to listen. Let people know that you will be there for them if they have questions. Be a friend. Show love, compassion, and mercy to them. Be real, not phony. People will be more likely to listen to you.
Another thing that we are bad about doing is saying, "Christians don't do this;" and "Christians don't do that ..." or "I'm a Christian! I don't talk like that!" Yes, we have moral standards that we should live by, but we make our faith sound so oppressive and restrictive by repeating those and other similar remarks. Being a Christian is supposed to be a good thing, and we need to show more of that to people if we are going to get them to listen to us and maybe even come to know Christ. If you are in the presence of people who are saying or doing things that are unChristianlike, you should either suggest another topic of conversation, suggest another activity, or remove yourself from the group.
Remember the line, "What would Jesus do?" He didn't push himself on people. He lived his life as he taught. People started going to Him ... and listened. Once you've made it known to them that you're a Christian, don't push your testimony unless you know for a fact that they want to listen. Let people know that you will be there for them if they have questions. Be a friend. Show love, compassion, and mercy to them. Be real, not phony. People will be more likely to listen to you.
Saturday, December 08, 2001
New Computer, Defective CD Burner
Spent a lot of time on Ebay and chatting with friends on Yahoo! Messenger and ICQ.
Had to take my brand new Hewlett Packard xt928 in to a repair shop for a defective CD-burner and ended up getting a new CPU. That wouldn't have been so bad, except that I had to reload all of my programs and tweak the personalization settings again. Windows XP is a bear to learn and get used to!
Had to take my brand new Hewlett Packard xt928 in to a repair shop for a defective CD-burner and ended up getting a new CPU. That wouldn't have been so bad, except that I had to reload all of my programs and tweak the personalization settings again. Windows XP is a bear to learn and get used to!
Monday, November 26, 2001
Holiday Hiatus
I may not be working on this site much for about a month. A friend of mine just got his business website built, and I am trying to add more items for sale on it. When you have a chance, check out http://www.elitegiftsbydan.com
Added old family photos that I had recently restored. They will also be on display at the Pioneer Island exhibit at the Okefenokee Swamp Park in Waycross, Georgia (the main cabin on display is dedicated to my late maternal grandfather).
I couldn't decide between the weather banners by weather.com or weatherunderground.com, so I put both on my index page. Okay, so I'm into weather gauges and stuff.
Added old family photos that I had recently restored. They will also be on display at the Pioneer Island exhibit at the Okefenokee Swamp Park in Waycross, Georgia (the main cabin on display is dedicated to my late maternal grandfather).
I couldn't decide between the weather banners by weather.com or weatherunderground.com, so I put both on my index page. Okay, so I'm into weather gauges and stuff.
Friday, October 19, 2001
Removal of Code/Removal of Poem
Removed the Geo-phrase greeting from the index page. Half the time the code prompted error messages or would not display the greeting at all. Was at a friend's house in Moultrie, Georgia one weekend and it greeted me on their computer as if I lived in Bogota, Lima (or something like that). Nope ... not worth the hassle.
I have removed the poem "My Beloved Jimmy" from public display. The person I wrote it for hasn't spoken to me since October 1999. It doesn't seem right to continue to display a poem honoring someone who has made no attempt to contact me nor reconcile the disagreement we had. I have done a lot of soul-searching before making this decision. Two years is long enough.
I have removed the poem "My Beloved Jimmy" from public display. The person I wrote it for hasn't spoken to me since October 1999. It doesn't seem right to continue to display a poem honoring someone who has made no attempt to contact me nor reconcile the disagreement we had. I have done a lot of soul-searching before making this decision. Two years is long enough.
Friday, September 21, 2001
Mundling Zone Updates
Wrote a poem about the September 11 terrorist attacks and named it "The Day The World Stood Still." It is posted on this website.
Finally added a page talking about the reason for this website.
Added the MIDI "Mysterious" by Yuko Ohigashi to the index.html page.
Finally added a page talking about the reason for this website.
Added the MIDI "Mysterious" by Yuko Ohigashi to the index.html page.
Thursday, August 23, 2001
Yahoo's Webring Codes
I've had it with Yahoo! and their @#%& webring codes! There was this one code that kept showing up as corrupted on my index page, and I got suspended twice for it. I'm sorry, but I'm not getting enough traffic from these webrings to warrant having them on my website if I have to keep going through this. Oops, can't get on my soapbox about this ... yet!
Wednesday, July 18, 2001
Count Your Blessings!
If I were asked what was the most powerful message from God that I have received, it would be "Count your blessings," and I immediately think of this story. I swear to all who read this that this really happened, and I don't doubt for one second that God spoke directly to me.
From May 1991 until September 1997, I lived away from home in a town called Conyers, Georgia. I had several acquaintences, but no one close by that I could really call "friend." The economy at the time forced a lot of people to take on second jobs just to make ends meet. I was one of them. I worked my day job from 8:00 - 4:30 Monday to Friday. Then I went home to nap for about three hours until I went to my second job working from 10 PM to 6 AM night shift in a convenience store Friday and Saturday night every weekend.
I was able to deal with my schedule the first year, but eventually, things started to take its toll on me: I had no social life, most of my free time was spent sleeping, all the money from that second job went to pay bills, and I still wasn't getting ahead but struggling just to keep up. Physically and psychologically, I was becoming more and more depressed. I kept asking: why do I have to work two jobs? Why must I work so hard just to make ends meet when people I know seem to be able to afford luxuries I'm having to do without? I became resentful of my situation.
Well, God heard me, and he answered my questions early one Sunday morning while I was on duty at the store. A pregnant woman with two children (a boy and a girl, both looking about ages 3 and 4) came to my store in a battered station wagon. She and the children looked dirty like they hadn't changed clothes in days. The pregnant woman came in and asked where the nearest Western Union was while her children headed for the restrooms. I told her the direction to go to get to the Kroger store in which had a Western Union station.
She suddenly burst into tears. I asked her if she was okay, worried that she might need medical help (she was pregnant, after all). She proceeded to tell me that she left her abusive husband and took the kids with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The alternator in her car later went out and needed replacing. She had to give the repairman her wedding ring to pay for it. She was able to contact her mother, and her mother agreed to wire some money to her, but the Western Union would not be open for a few more hours. Moved by her story, I asked her when was the last time she or her kids ate. She told me that they had some crackers and water earlier that day. I then asked her how much gas she had in the car. She told me that she might have a couple of gallons, but not much.
I paused for a moment to think about the situation. I had seen my share of people coming into the store pretending that they were needy and asking for handouts. My heart told me that this woman and her children were truly in need of help and some kindness. I told her to go back to her car and pull it up to one of the gas pumps and I would give her five dollars worth of gasoline. She quickly responded, "I promise I'll repay you ... " but I stopped her and told her that she was not to worry about that right now. I asked her to wait a moment, and I went into my purse and scrounged up all the cash money I had on me ... about five dollars and a little change. I handed the woman the money and told her to go to the Waffle House at the corner and make sure she and the kids ate something. I also added that if the money was not enough to have the waitress call me and I would vouch for the bill. She looked at me funny as her children came out of the restrooms. She then instructed them to go to the car. Then she looked back at me and said with a mixture of disbelief and gratitude, "Thank you." She went to her car and put the amount of gasoline I preset the pump for (at the end of my shift, I wrote a check to pay for the gasoline). Then she left, driving toward the Waffle House I directed her to earlier.
As her car disappeared into the darkness, I fell to my knees and wept. I started praying, thanking God for sending that woman to me. Not only was I able to help someone who was in need, it was a reminder about how lucky I actually was and that I should be grateful for what I do have instead of bemoaning what I didn't have.
I never saw the woman again. No one from the Waffle House called me about the bill. I just hope that she was able to make it to wherever she was trying to get to. If you are her and you're reading this, thank you for coming by my store and I hope your life has changed for the better. I will never forget you.
Thank you, God, for humbling me and showing me how blessed I am.
From May 1991 until September 1997, I lived away from home in a town called Conyers, Georgia. I had several acquaintences, but no one close by that I could really call "friend." The economy at the time forced a lot of people to take on second jobs just to make ends meet. I was one of them. I worked my day job from 8:00 - 4:30 Monday to Friday. Then I went home to nap for about three hours until I went to my second job working from 10 PM to 6 AM night shift in a convenience store Friday and Saturday night every weekend.
I was able to deal with my schedule the first year, but eventually, things started to take its toll on me: I had no social life, most of my free time was spent sleeping, all the money from that second job went to pay bills, and I still wasn't getting ahead but struggling just to keep up. Physically and psychologically, I was becoming more and more depressed. I kept asking: why do I have to work two jobs? Why must I work so hard just to make ends meet when people I know seem to be able to afford luxuries I'm having to do without? I became resentful of my situation.
Well, God heard me, and he answered my questions early one Sunday morning while I was on duty at the store. A pregnant woman with two children (a boy and a girl, both looking about ages 3 and 4) came to my store in a battered station wagon. She and the children looked dirty like they hadn't changed clothes in days. The pregnant woman came in and asked where the nearest Western Union was while her children headed for the restrooms. I told her the direction to go to get to the Kroger store in which had a Western Union station.
She suddenly burst into tears. I asked her if she was okay, worried that she might need medical help (she was pregnant, after all). She proceeded to tell me that she left her abusive husband and took the kids with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The alternator in her car later went out and needed replacing. She had to give the repairman her wedding ring to pay for it. She was able to contact her mother, and her mother agreed to wire some money to her, but the Western Union would not be open for a few more hours. Moved by her story, I asked her when was the last time she or her kids ate. She told me that they had some crackers and water earlier that day. I then asked her how much gas she had in the car. She told me that she might have a couple of gallons, but not much.
I paused for a moment to think about the situation. I had seen my share of people coming into the store pretending that they were needy and asking for handouts. My heart told me that this woman and her children were truly in need of help and some kindness. I told her to go back to her car and pull it up to one of the gas pumps and I would give her five dollars worth of gasoline. She quickly responded, "I promise I'll repay you ... " but I stopped her and told her that she was not to worry about that right now. I asked her to wait a moment, and I went into my purse and scrounged up all the cash money I had on me ... about five dollars and a little change. I handed the woman the money and told her to go to the Waffle House at the corner and make sure she and the kids ate something. I also added that if the money was not enough to have the waitress call me and I would vouch for the bill. She looked at me funny as her children came out of the restrooms. She then instructed them to go to the car. Then she looked back at me and said with a mixture of disbelief and gratitude, "Thank you." She went to her car and put the amount of gasoline I preset the pump for (at the end of my shift, I wrote a check to pay for the gasoline). Then she left, driving toward the Waffle House I directed her to earlier.
As her car disappeared into the darkness, I fell to my knees and wept. I started praying, thanking God for sending that woman to me. Not only was I able to help someone who was in need, it was a reminder about how lucky I actually was and that I should be grateful for what I do have instead of bemoaning what I didn't have.
I never saw the woman again. No one from the Waffle House called me about the bill. I just hope that she was able to make it to wherever she was trying to get to. If you are her and you're reading this, thank you for coming by my store and I hope your life has changed for the better. I will never forget you.
Thank you, God, for humbling me and showing me how blessed I am.
Wednesday, May 23, 2001
Change of E-mail Address
My e-mail address has been changed because a spammer sent out porno spam with a faked e-mail address ... MY E-MAIL ADDRESS!! I have reported it to the proper authorities, and I have been cleared of any wrongdoing. If you are responding to the e-mail, I'm am not running an "Adult Friend Finder Erotic Personals" website. I'm not that kind of girl, so please look elsewhere.
Saturday, April 28, 2001
What's New April 2001
Yes, I've changed the design again. I get bored so easily with them! I liked the jeweled theme look, but the pages took too long to download for those who don't have at least DSL or Broadband internet (love that Broadband baby!).
I'm learning new Javascript codes. Eventually, most of my pages will have to be accessed from the index page. I'm tired of people linking directly to certain pages of my site without starting at the menu page first.
To make the viewing of the pictures of the unicorn and mask collections easier, I have added Java(tm) applets to the display pages.
I never thought I'd see the day that I would be doing this, but I have decided to remove the poem "Sexual Mind Game" from this website. Now, I am a firm believer in the First Amendment and the integrity of my artistic expression as an amateur poet. However, I feel that the poem is inappropriate for The Mundling Zone.
I'm learning new Javascript codes. Eventually, most of my pages will have to be accessed from the index page. I'm tired of people linking directly to certain pages of my site without starting at the menu page first.
To make the viewing of the pictures of the unicorn and mask collections easier, I have added Java(tm) applets to the display pages.
I never thought I'd see the day that I would be doing this, but I have decided to remove the poem "Sexual Mind Game" from this website. Now, I am a firm believer in the First Amendment and the integrity of my artistic expression as an amateur poet. However, I feel that the poem is inappropriate for The Mundling Zone.
Wednesday, March 21, 2001
God Does Not Like an Angry Man
In the Bible, whenever there is a mention of God's anger, there is almost always physical destruction and desolation. Sometimes punishment of people such as enslavement and sickness has been a result of His anger.
We as humans can create damage and destruction from our anger, too. When we act out of anger, we can physically injure and/or kill someone. When we speak out of anger, the damage is harder to repair; we can hurt feelings, ruin friendships, ruin relationships, end business partnerships, and damage or destroy the hardest thing to repair/create: trust. We hurt others, but we also hurt ourselves.
Examples of some passages out of the NIV Bible:
Proverbs 29
11. A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
22. An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.
Ecclesiastes 7
9. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
Ecclesiastes 10
4. If a ruler's anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great errors to rest.
Jeremiah 10
24. Correct me, LORD, but only with justice -- not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing.
Ezekiel 35
11. therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you.
Matthew 5
22. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, `Raca, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
2 Corinthians
20. For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
Ephesians 4
26. "In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27. and do not give the devil a foothold.
31. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Colossians 3
8. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
James 1
19. My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
20. for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
What kind of example are YOU setting when you claim you're a Christian yet are quick to anger and act on it? The damage you do to yourself involves damage to your credibility, your integrity, and your relationship with God.
When you vent your anger (physical or verbal) on anyone, you are giving Jesus and his ministry a black eye.
We as humans can create damage and destruction from our anger, too. When we act out of anger, we can physically injure and/or kill someone. When we speak out of anger, the damage is harder to repair; we can hurt feelings, ruin friendships, ruin relationships, end business partnerships, and damage or destroy the hardest thing to repair/create: trust. We hurt others, but we also hurt ourselves.
Examples of some passages out of the NIV Bible:
Proverbs 29
11. A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
22. An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.
Ecclesiastes 7
9. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.
Ecclesiastes 10
4. If a ruler's anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great errors to rest.
Jeremiah 10
24. Correct me, LORD, but only with justice -- not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing.
Ezekiel 35
11. therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you.
Matthew 5
22. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, `Raca, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
2 Corinthians
20. For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
Ephesians 4
26. "In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27. and do not give the devil a foothold.
31. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Colossians 3
8. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
James 1
19. My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
20. for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
What kind of example are YOU setting when you claim you're a Christian yet are quick to anger and act on it? The damage you do to yourself involves damage to your credibility, your integrity, and your relationship with God.
When you vent your anger (physical or verbal) on anyone, you are giving Jesus and his ministry a black eye.
Thursday, February 15, 2001
My Struggle with Sleep Apnea
In January 2001, I was diagnosed with having Sleep Apnea. For those of you who do not know what that is, it means that when I am asleep (or unconscious anyway), my breathing shallows to the point that my body does not get enough oxygen. At times during the night, I stop breathing for brief periods of time. Sometimes I remember waking up and gasping for air, at other times I start breathing deeper before I become fully conscious. In either case, I fail to go into the deep sleep my body and brain need to be fully rested the for next day. My mind and body became sleep-deprived and started demanding compensation.
Symptoms of possible sleep apnea include but are not limited to daytime sleepiness or drowsiness, falling asleep with little or no warning or control, difficulty in staying awake or alert during the day, etc. This can be especially dangerous while driving a vehicle or operating any kind of equipment (large or small). If your job requires you to be alert at all times, you could jeopardize your job by falling asleep at the wrong time, and that falling asleep can sneak up on you without warning. I was really bad about falling asleep at my computer while surfing the internet or on the loveseat at home. I was fighting severe drowsiness at work, at home, and in my truck. The final straw was when I blacked out while sitting up, and a friend who saw me had difficulty waking me and bluntly told me so. I didn't even remember being "sleepy." It scared the hell out of me!
I saw my doctor and gave him a list of all the symptoms I was having. He immediately set me up to have a sleep study done at the local hospital. The results of the sleep study detemined that I had Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. What were my results? During the first three hours of the study, I had over 200 awakenings and stopped breathing 80 times. Needless to say, I was shocked and unnerved to hear of the severity of my condition, but it also explained why I was blacking out at the most inopportune times.
I qualified to be prescribed a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This machine, with a nasal mask strapped onto my face every night, delivers pressurized air gently into my lungs so that my body receives enough oxygen so that I can go into deep sleep mode. I'm here to tell you right now, that machine has made a world of difference. I am so much more rested and alert now. That machine and the mask has become my best friends at night. Yes, it took some getting used to, and not everyone can stand sleeping with a mask on no matter how comfortable it is made to be (I have a gel mask, and it's sooooo cushy cushy comfy). I am fortunate that this option worked for me. As an added bonus, I don't snore when I'm wearing the mask.
There are different treatments and options out there; I'm just simply letting you know which option worked for me. If you are experiencing any of the above-listed symptoms, PLEASE talk to your doctor about getting a sleep study to determine if you may have Sleep Apnea or narcolepsy. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that ignoring the symptoms could cost you your life, and possibly the lives of others.
Even if you don't have sleep apnea, don't neglect getting sleep. Your mind and body WILL force sleep out of you if continually neglect getting enough rest.
I recommend these links to other resources about Sleep Apnea.
http://www.sleepapnea.org/
http://www.apneanet.org/
http://sleepdisorderchannel.com/osa/
http://user.aol.com/blackcover/faq.html
http://www.findarticles.com/m0984/5_116/57892925/p1/article.jhtml
http://www.findarticles.com/m1041/n7_v75/19523038/p1/article.jhtml
Symptoms of possible sleep apnea include but are not limited to daytime sleepiness or drowsiness, falling asleep with little or no warning or control, difficulty in staying awake or alert during the day, etc. This can be especially dangerous while driving a vehicle or operating any kind of equipment (large or small). If your job requires you to be alert at all times, you could jeopardize your job by falling asleep at the wrong time, and that falling asleep can sneak up on you without warning. I was really bad about falling asleep at my computer while surfing the internet or on the loveseat at home. I was fighting severe drowsiness at work, at home, and in my truck. The final straw was when I blacked out while sitting up, and a friend who saw me had difficulty waking me and bluntly told me so. I didn't even remember being "sleepy." It scared the hell out of me!
I saw my doctor and gave him a list of all the symptoms I was having. He immediately set me up to have a sleep study done at the local hospital. The results of the sleep study detemined that I had Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. What were my results? During the first three hours of the study, I had over 200 awakenings and stopped breathing 80 times. Needless to say, I was shocked and unnerved to hear of the severity of my condition, but it also explained why I was blacking out at the most inopportune times.
I qualified to be prescribed a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This machine, with a nasal mask strapped onto my face every night, delivers pressurized air gently into my lungs so that my body receives enough oxygen so that I can go into deep sleep mode. I'm here to tell you right now, that machine has made a world of difference. I am so much more rested and alert now. That machine and the mask has become my best friends at night. Yes, it took some getting used to, and not everyone can stand sleeping with a mask on no matter how comfortable it is made to be (I have a gel mask, and it's sooooo cushy cushy comfy). I am fortunate that this option worked for me. As an added bonus, I don't snore when I'm wearing the mask.
There are different treatments and options out there; I'm just simply letting you know which option worked for me. If you are experiencing any of the above-listed symptoms, PLEASE talk to your doctor about getting a sleep study to determine if you may have Sleep Apnea or narcolepsy. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that ignoring the symptoms could cost you your life, and possibly the lives of others.
Even if you don't have sleep apnea, don't neglect getting sleep. Your mind and body WILL force sleep out of you if continually neglect getting enough rest.
I recommend these links to other resources about Sleep Apnea.
http://www.sleepapnea.org/
http://www.apneanet.org/
http://sleepdisorderchannel.com/osa/
http://user.aol.com/blackcover/faq.html
http://www.findarticles.com/m0984/5_116/57892925/p1/article.jhtml
http://www.findarticles.com/m1041/n7_v75/19523038/p1/article.jhtml
Friday, January 05, 2001
The Worth of Web Awards
To get an award was to say that the recipient had something outstanding. Awards are to be earned, and only a few people would get nominated for an award.
Not in the case of website awards. Just because you have 50 or more web awards doesn't mean you have an award-winning website. Seems like everyone is either giving or receiving them. I've seen too many websites that have pages of assorted "awards" given to that particular website. I've seen websites that give awards to just about anyone that applies for one. Either one of those examples would make any award worthless.
At the urging of a friend, I tried getting into the website award thing, but I just didn't feel right judging other people's personal websites, plus I really didn't have the time to look at all the websites who applied. Besides, judging from the websites I had looked at, it seemed like all the webmasters were interested in was just adding to their collection. One of them had the nerve to scrunch my award out of shape to make it fit with the other awards on that particular page. I wrote a letter to the webmaster and told him to restore it to its original shape and size or remove it from his collection (would you shrink the Oscar just because it didn't fit on your shelf?). We eventually compromised, and I sent him a smaller award, but by then my discontent with web awards was peaking quickly.
The bottom line is: an award's worth is based on how hard you had to work to get it. The easier they are to attain, the less they are worth. In the case of website awards, quantity does not equal quality.
Not in the case of website awards. Just because you have 50 or more web awards doesn't mean you have an award-winning website. Seems like everyone is either giving or receiving them. I've seen too many websites that have pages of assorted "awards" given to that particular website. I've seen websites that give awards to just about anyone that applies for one. Either one of those examples would make any award worthless.
At the urging of a friend, I tried getting into the website award thing, but I just didn't feel right judging other people's personal websites, plus I really didn't have the time to look at all the websites who applied. Besides, judging from the websites I had looked at, it seemed like all the webmasters were interested in was just adding to their collection. One of them had the nerve to scrunch my award out of shape to make it fit with the other awards on that particular page. I wrote a letter to the webmaster and told him to restore it to its original shape and size or remove it from his collection (would you shrink the Oscar just because it didn't fit on your shelf?). We eventually compromised, and I sent him a smaller award, but by then my discontent with web awards was peaking quickly.
The bottom line is: an award's worth is based on how hard you had to work to get it. The easier they are to attain, the less they are worth. In the case of website awards, quantity does not equal quality.
Thursday, January 04, 2001
School Violence
Stop blaming the guns! Stop blaming the video games! Stop blaming television and the movie industry! The parents, the school officials, and the media are all missing the point!
You want to know WHY there is school violence? Let me ask you this: what is the most common denominator in these situations? In a large majority of these cases, one or the other was mercilessly picked on or scapegoated by some of the other students (bullies). I'm not talking about light-hearted kidding around that we all get at one time or another; I'm talking about non-stop mean-spirited hurtful picking on or tormenting the victim. What is a bully? If you threaten, injure, coerce, humiliate, and/or harass another person with the intention of hurting that person, you're a bully.
There have always been bullies. People who pick on other people ... the reasons are numerous: insecurity, neurotic need for control, peer pressure, or just for the sheer meanness of it! I believe that we as a society need to come down harder on the bullies. Bullies have a tendency to provoke negative actions out of others. A lot of people feel that if you ignore the bully, he'll eventually get bored and leave you alone. I have news for those people: most bullies will keep at you and get worse until they get a reaction out of you, and then they still continue their verbal and/or physical torture. This is from personal experience. Until you take action to stop the bully's actions, he'll continue to pick on you and other people. The school principal and the bully's parents need to be made aware of the situation and take action. Then they need to monitor and correct that bully's behavior. If that doesn't work, it's time to contact law enforcement and the courts. TOLERANCE EQUALS ACCEPTANCE. NEVER TOLERATE BEING BULLIED.
A student bringing a gun or knife to school is definitely a sign that a situation needs to be looked into PRONTO! Either that student is desperate to defend himself or he has a vendetta against someone (is being bullied or is bullying someone else). For whatever reason the student uses to justify bringing a gun or other weapon to school, the underlying provocation needs to be addressed.
Teachers used to be able to discipline unruly or mischevious students. Parents used to make their children behave. Not in today's society. Yes, there are teachers and parents who care and are involved in the children's lives to inspire them to be better people. However, a greater number of teachers and parents are quick to duck their heads in the sand at the first sign of trouble and don't act until things really get out of hand, then claim that they had no idea that anything was wrong. That's a copout, folks! There are signs, and with some observation, they can be easily spotted. Until the students are made to behave, they will continue to be progressively disrespectful and disruptive.
The parents that care about their children are alarmed at how their children are being treated by some of the disruptive students. These parents fear for the safety of their kids in school today. Many of these parents have resorted to taking their children out of the offending school and placing them in either private school or utilized home schooling. They've read the news stories of students being stabbed or shot, and they're acting on this information.
The zero tolerance rules for weapons and drugs was a good idea, but it needs to be modified so that common sense can be used to determine the severity of any action taken if a violation of the rules occurs. For example, I don't believe a student should be suspended or treated as a criminal for giving another student over-the-counter pain medication for a headache, especially if that recipient has taken that medication before. However, with the zero tolerance policy for drugs, those very students have been treated as if they brought crack cocaine to school. Common sense needs to be applied here.
.
The bottom line is ... until parents and teachers hold the students more accountable for their actions and are allowed to take stronger disciplinary measures, the problem of school violence will continue to get worse.
You want to know WHY there is school violence? Let me ask you this: what is the most common denominator in these situations? In a large majority of these cases, one or the other was mercilessly picked on or scapegoated by some of the other students (bullies). I'm not talking about light-hearted kidding around that we all get at one time or another; I'm talking about non-stop mean-spirited hurtful picking on or tormenting the victim. What is a bully? If you threaten, injure, coerce, humiliate, and/or harass another person with the intention of hurting that person, you're a bully.
There have always been bullies. People who pick on other people ... the reasons are numerous: insecurity, neurotic need for control, peer pressure, or just for the sheer meanness of it! I believe that we as a society need to come down harder on the bullies. Bullies have a tendency to provoke negative actions out of others. A lot of people feel that if you ignore the bully, he'll eventually get bored and leave you alone. I have news for those people: most bullies will keep at you and get worse until they get a reaction out of you, and then they still continue their verbal and/or physical torture. This is from personal experience. Until you take action to stop the bully's actions, he'll continue to pick on you and other people. The school principal and the bully's parents need to be made aware of the situation and take action. Then they need to monitor and correct that bully's behavior. If that doesn't work, it's time to contact law enforcement and the courts. TOLERANCE EQUALS ACCEPTANCE. NEVER TOLERATE BEING BULLIED.
A student bringing a gun or knife to school is definitely a sign that a situation needs to be looked into PRONTO! Either that student is desperate to defend himself or he has a vendetta against someone (is being bullied or is bullying someone else). For whatever reason the student uses to justify bringing a gun or other weapon to school, the underlying provocation needs to be addressed.
Teachers used to be able to discipline unruly or mischevious students. Parents used to make their children behave. Not in today's society. Yes, there are teachers and parents who care and are involved in the children's lives to inspire them to be better people. However, a greater number of teachers and parents are quick to duck their heads in the sand at the first sign of trouble and don't act until things really get out of hand, then claim that they had no idea that anything was wrong. That's a copout, folks! There are signs, and with some observation, they can be easily spotted. Until the students are made to behave, they will continue to be progressively disrespectful and disruptive.
The parents that care about their children are alarmed at how their children are being treated by some of the disruptive students. These parents fear for the safety of their kids in school today. Many of these parents have resorted to taking their children out of the offending school and placing them in either private school or utilized home schooling. They've read the news stories of students being stabbed or shot, and they're acting on this information.
The zero tolerance rules for weapons and drugs was a good idea, but it needs to be modified so that common sense can be used to determine the severity of any action taken if a violation of the rules occurs. For example, I don't believe a student should be suspended or treated as a criminal for giving another student over-the-counter pain medication for a headache, especially if that recipient has taken that medication before. However, with the zero tolerance policy for drugs, those very students have been treated as if they brought crack cocaine to school. Common sense needs to be applied here.
.
The bottom line is ... until parents and teachers hold the students more accountable for their actions and are allowed to take stronger disciplinary measures, the problem of school violence will continue to get worse.
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