The Day After...

Hello,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with lots of food, family and fun. I did! It has been a while since I have posted but I wanted to let everyone know that did not forget about you all. I have been extremely busy with school and family. It's getting down to the nitty-gritty and I am trying to keep it together. I don't want to slip up at the end the semester and mess up on the final. So I have been putting a lot of time into my studies...for all classes. I only have a few more to go before I graduate, I do not want to have to repeat any. I am having a little bit of trouble scheduling the remainder of my classes, so you all know what I am going to do...that's right, talk to my advisor. I suggest you do the same, even if you think you know what classes you are going to take. Just talk to a counselor or advisor to make sure you are on the right track for the degree you are seeking.

Back to Thanksgiving, I was up at 7:00 am cooking...I experimented with a few new recipes and they turned out okay. I prepared the whole meal this year. Last year my sister made one thing and my mom made another but this year I made it all, even the desserts, which was fun. I really enjoy cooking. The only thing I don't like about big gathering is the "picky eaters". There is always that one person, after they eat up everything, they always got something to say. I tell them next time cook it themselves, they don't have to eat nothing I cook, cause it wasn't just for them. Everyone else is enjoying themselves and their negative behind always trying to ruin something just because...misery loves company. Not during my holidays! I don't let that bother me. I was with my family and now I know who NOT to invite next time. I hope none of you had anybody like that around. I can't stand people like that, just because they are upset about "whatever", they want everybody around them to be upset, so they just start picking on people to ruin the mood.

Anyway I am so sleepy, my children woke me up earlier, they wanted to go to the stores and stuff I told them I don't do the door buster, 4:00am sales, I am sleep. But they keep coming in every 30 minutes until I got up, so I have been up all morning, they are still wanting to do stuff. So I am about to sign off but before I go...How about this weather? Is it really time to bring out the leather coats and ladies is it finally time to floss our boots?

Until next time...

C-YA

Blogging is lots of fun....

This past weekend I volunteered at the Hispanic Business Fair and got to meet one of our fellow STARS... Rosie. It was really great because with blogging, it felt like we already knew each other. We didn't have to break the ice or go through any form of "getting comfortable." I feel like that had a lot to do with being a STAR and even more so with being tapped into blogging.
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Blogging really is pretty cool ...

With blogging, you are able to get everything that's on your mind out without any interruptions..usually..lol... and really open up to others.

Blogging allows you to be yourself ...
There aren't any inhibitions ... no walls ... just you and the typewriter... just you and your thoughts...

When you blog, you don't have to worry about any feelings of embarrassment or what one may or may not think of you.

If you let yourself just "get into it", you could really learn more about yourself, while allowing others to get to know you as well. Many may think that "online" is a little impersonal, but it actually fits into our ever-growing technology savy world.
Many people have desk jobs to where they are in front of a computer practically all day rather than socializing and meeting others in person. With the internet, and this blogging idea(this includes Myspace, Facebook, and other website people are able to go to and meet others and get their thoughts and feelings out)... it allows them to utilize their time and meet others and really get to know them by reading posts and such.

Not to ramble on and on, but I just wanted to share with everyone what I thought of blogging and how it could really benefit your social life as well as help you be a more well-rounded individual.
Not only will it do that, but it will enhance your typing, writing, and reading skills ....

Blogging is overall a great thing and I am really glad that it has been added to what us STARS do ...

For those of you who haven't blogged in awhile, start again soon... and for those of you who know others to join in... get the word out!
The more the merrier!!! :-)

When it comes to relationships, is it better to follow your heart or head?

Good question, right?? Well, I was watching Sex and the City last night and that was the question in hand...

Most without even thinking would answer "heart", but when you really think about it, is that really best??

What if your heart leads you to someone that doesn't reciprocate those feelings you have for them?

What if your heart is wrong?

They(whoever they are...) do say that love is blind, and love comes from the heart, so could following your heart be the same as the blind leading the blind??

Lagniappe

Lagniappe- " a little something extra". Good morning everyone, I came across this idea for a blog this morning because I was filling out my volunteer events through TSTA for Be an Angel organization which we shop for children you are blind and deaf and wrap presents. A lot of these are held at Targets around the metroplex. I was thinking what if we ALL just did a little something extra? What if we just took a couple or even one hour out of our weekends and help shop for needy children and their families. There are so many ways to show the holiday spirit even with out donating money, you can donate your time. I love giving my time up for others and doing what ever little bit I can do. If one childs holiday is better because I volunteered some time than it is so worth it. It is just a good feeling to give back and I have been blessed so I believe giving back is a wonderful idea and gesture for the holidays around the corner. I know I always talk about to something you don't have to do but this is a good way to give back. We are going to Targets and taking childrens holiday wish list and spending 50 dollars for each one. SO you shop they pay. Then we get to wrap them at a later date. That isn't to hard huh. The website you can go to, to find out what you can do to make a difference is www.beanangel.org. It is awesome and they do all kind of fun things like turkey trots and fake snow activites. It is always an awesome thing to be around people who share somthing in common like a BIG HEART. There always seems to peace in stressful situations and so much gets done with people who love giving back. So on that note do a little lagniappe. Have a great week. See ya around.

"There are fine things which you mean to do some day, under what you think will be more favorable circumstances. But the only time that is surely yours is the present, hence this is the time to speak the word of appreciation and sympathy, to do the generous deed, to forgive the fault of a thoughtless friend, to sacrifice self a little more for others. Today is the day in which to express your noblest qualities of mind and heart, to do at least one worthy thing which you have long postponed, and to use your God-given abilities for the enrichment of someone less fortunate. Today you can make your life - significant and worthwhile. The present is yours to do with as you will."
Grenville Kleiser
viand(noun) [VIE-ahnd]
1. an article of food: "Todd sniffed at the green viand on his plate suspiciously and crinkled his nose."
2. a choice or delicious dish
3. (used chiefly in the plural: viands) provisions; food; victuals

The Fall Festival

Okay! I know this is a little late talkin about the Fall Festival, but I just had to make a slide show lol! So I'm not going to tell you about how much fun I had ...you can see for yourself! I hope you enjoy it!♥

More on Overcoming Fear

***Excerpts I found on how we can we overcome that fear as discussed in my previous blog***

The fear of rejection can be subtle. It is one of those fears that can operate in the back of your mind quietly limiting your activities, who you talk to and what you will plan for the future.

Even with a positive mental attitude all of your hopes for the future can hit a brick wall if your fears about meeting people and expressing your opinions stop you from speaking up, from expanding into new circles and from recruiting support when you need a team to help you make things happen.

And that´s why worrying about rejection can be subtle. Instead of admitting it you can rationalize away perfectly good plans with excuses that stop you from moving ahead.

Where does that leave you? It leaves you stuck. There is no hope of taking charge of your life until you kick the fear of rejection for once and for all.

Decide right now to face up to it. Do what most people will never do - face the fear and move beyond it. You will be surprised at the progress you will make when you resolve to beat this limiting fear. It can happen faster than you think with the right strategies.

First step is to learn how to accept yourself as you are. Acceptance is the secret to banishing rejection concerns out of your mind for once and for all.

You can only feel rejected if you want approval from someone! And that in a few words holds the secret to letting go of worrying about getting rejected at home, at work or socially.

The best way to deal with those situations that used to leave you feeling stressed out about how people respond to you is to decide beforehand that acceptance is a bonus but not absolutely necessary. Sound strange?

This is an unusual viewpoint and that is why it works so well. Think about it - if you don´t need to feel accepted how can you worry about rejection? You can't!

Now, you might argue that if you think like this people will be more likely to treat you harshly. Not so! This is the great irony of this approach. When you don't have any fear of rejection you will be more relaxed and even more confident and consequently people will treat you differently.

If they see that you are feeling good about yourself they will take it that you must be worth treating well. Accept yourself and others will accept you - they simply reflect the acceptance back to you.

AND TO END MY TOPIC.... I'd like to leave you with a few quotes that pertain to this matter....

Robin Williams
The things which we fear the most in life have already happened to us.

Elenor Roosevelt, You Learn By Living. 1960
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every expierence in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself. "I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along."

Ambrose Redmoon
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, First inaugural address
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, "Always do what you are afraid to do."

Cervantes
He who loses wealth loses much; he who loses a friend loses more; but he that loses courage loses all.

Anon
Fear not that your life will someday end. Fear only that you do nothing with it.

Elbert Hubbard
The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing that you will make one.

H. P. Lovecraft
The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.

JUST THOUGHT YA'LL WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOME QUOTES THAT COULD POSSIBLY INSPIRE!!!

My all time favorite that I like to use is....
Some Will, Some Won't, So What! .... NEXT!!

If something doesn't work out... move on and take another chance... what do you really have to lose?? :-)

Fear of rejection....

Why is it that we always want what we can't have... and in that... why is it that we don't seek out those things that we want? Why do so many always choose to stand at a distance and watch what we want, rather than taking action to get it??

Hmmm... I've been doing a lot of thinking about this, and it seems to all boil down to... Fear of Rejection...

What is it about rejection that we are so afraid of?? How do we let it consume us so much to where we would rather stand still or walk, sometimes run, backwards to stay away from it?

What's quite interesting is that whether we take action and get rejected or do nothing, we are still in a sense getting the same response. We are still not receiving what we want.....

So, why not just do it... why limit ourselves...

It's funny because I know that taking action is the only way to reach a goal, but even knowing that, I still find myself getting scared to reach out for what I want in fear that someone may turn me down or I may fail at whatever it is I am hoping to achieve.
What's sad about not taking chances is that sometimes those chances are only put in front of us for but a glance. Sometimes, it is up to us to take hold of them and run **with** then rather than away... they are put in our lives at that very moment for a reason and it is up to us to see them and not let them pass us by...

How do we know which chances to take and which ones not to?? That's a good question that I do not have the answer too... but why not just try them all?? What if you fail??.... well, the answer to that is What if you don't?? What if that chance that you were going to pass up because you were afraid of rejection and failure ended up being the change of a lifetime....

It's better to take the chance and fail rather than not take it and regret not knowing whether or not it would have worked out....

Take on the attitude of the more you fail, the closer you are to success...

Always take chances... you never know if it could be the one that changes your life forever!

Thanks!

Responding to a comment:

Hey Muriel, this is Heather Ross- I went to Mac with you and lived down the street from you...you remember me...anyway, cool blogs, I was so surprised to see you! I know this is irrelevant to your blog, but how did you start doing this? Are you getting paid to blog? Is that something I can do also? Let me know, that would be awesome! Keep up the good blogs!

Hey Heather! Yes I do remember you girl! Wow look how much we've grown !!(we'll talk later lol)

First of all I thought only a few people read my blogs ...I never thought so many people I know would be reading them. Small World! As a student worker in the department of SOAR it's part of my job to blog. I wish I got paid extra for blogging! Shoot, $1,000 a blog... I would be blogging every hour lol! When I first started working in that department it was only Randi & Carlo that was doing all of the blogging. They needed more STAR bloggers so that people could see a different student perspective on college life at North Harris. When they asked me to blog I was like "what did I get myself into?!?" Writing is not my thing! lol But I finally started blogging and I actually like it now. Whenever I'm not busy with work or school work, I blog. It actually relaxes me...

Unfortunately, this blog spot is for STARS/SOAR members only. I'm not sure if they have a blog spot for just regular students that attend North Harris. But if yall aren't STARS (Students Trained in Admissions and Recruitment Support) and want to be one.. you can apply next semester. STARS represent NHC within the community at events and locations, such as area businesses, faith-based organizations and apartments.So if you have an outgoing personality, a love for North Harris, & a strong sense of personal responsibility...you can be a great asset to this organization!

Thanks Heather, I try my best to relate my blogs to my college experiences @ North Harris and my personal life. I'm glad you enjoy them. :)

P.S: S.T.A.R.S also receive a $350 scholarship for all their hard work!!

Learning to deal

Man I just wrote a blog, and I have probably been working on it for over an hour including interruptions and the computers in the learning center shut down. That is a big bummer. I just was about to be done but oh well that is part of life and it was a good way to learn patience and how to deal with things that just sporadically come up.Another life lesson in the works.Well I am sure glad it is Thursday (my Friday) becasue that would have probably happened on a Monday and started my week off troubled haha. Oh well, such as life. I am just gonna say everyone have a fun and safe weekend. Talk to you next week.

Poll Results: Airplanes Over NHC Campus

This poll is closed, but we'd still like to know your thoughts on the airplanes that fly over the NHC campus.

Let us know!

Lagniappe

"A little something extra." I was thinking this morning what if we all added a little lagniappe in our lives. Doing something extra in our lives could mean we fill a little more complete, maybe even satisfied in the direction we area headed. Now I am speaking for myself but the more I do in volunteer work or the more organizations that I am a part of, the more I feel like I am making a better future for myself. Every time I go to an event with the school, I know that there is networking that can be done. You just never know who you meet or who will be your next boss. So I am just encouraging everyone to do something that they are not REQUIRED to do, but make sure it is something that interest you so you will continue to be involved. So lets talk about something new like what about the media writers going on strike. Thats kind of interesting that our society could be puting down the remote for the mouse. At the moment, industry reports say it's not clear whether the Writers Guild of America would allow members to work for online projects during the strike. Some expect that smaller, independent websites or projects might get a pass, but that larger corporate sites might not.

If the strike did help to cause an online boom, history would be repeating itself. The last Writers Guild strike, almost 20 years ago, indirectly helped jump-start the "reality TV" phenomenon, since shows such as Cops and America's Funniest Home Videos didn't have to be written.The 1988 strike also helped to push many traditional TV viewers toward cable, giving the fledgling industry a boost that helped it grow into the multibillion-dollar enterprise it is today. So that is a little blurb about what is going on. What do you think? Do you think we are watching history in the making again? Are t.v's going to be a thing of the past? Or are they just going to turn into huge computer monitors? Well what ever the case may be I was starting to wonder what media writers were going to start doing after documenting everything 'reality' that they could. I mean don't we have everyone being documented in the

New Name and Dreams

* New Name: First things first, our school name is now Lone Star College System. It is exciting yet uncomfortable due to change. We definitely need to, as faculty and students alike, get the name out faster so we can all get used to the name change more quickly. I know we are getting new merchandise with the new name, so I know that I and the STARS/SOAR team can get those items out at events, but I think maybe the school budget should be looked at in giving students a t-shirt or something to kick off the new school name in an exciting way. I mean who doesn't want a free t-shirt, or even the school can think about including it in our enrollment fees.

Isn't that a good idea?....I thought so LOL!

So everyone keep in mind that when someone asks you where you go to school it is no longer North Harris Community College Montgomery District ... ( I know I left some of it out) the point is that we are now Lone Star College Systems and we should be proud (putting all feelings aside if you don't necessarily like the new name)!!!

Next, dreams are unique. No other individual can have your background, your emotions, or your experiences. Every dream is connected with your own "reality." Thus, in interpreting your dreams, it is important to draw from your personal life and experiences. Remember that a dream unifies the body, mind, and spirit. It provides you with insight into ourselves and a means for self-exploration. In understanding your dreams, you will have a better understanding and discovery of your true self.

"For me, words are a form of action, capable of influencing change."
Ingrid Bengis

*Dreams: I have settled on this topic today because I have been having restless nights due to my dreams. A lot of them are good, but some are extremely weird. So I thought I would get on the internet and make sense to my dreams. I thought I would share my experience.

I have been having a recurring dream of driving up tree branches with my mom and then getting scared that I was going too high but then getting out and flying. That is just a little piece of my dream, but lately I have been having a lot of flying dreams. So I researched that particular part (flying) and I was pleased to find out the interpretation of it --I was nervous it might be insecurities or a sign that something bad might be in the works but the interpretation is the complete opposite. I guess that teaches me not to assume and stress myself out over nothing.

Here it goes:

In reality, we do not have the ability to fly. Thus such dreams may represent that which is beyond our physical limitations. In your mind, you can be anybody and do anything. Another way of interpreting flying dreams is that these dreams symbolize your strong mind and will. You feel undefeatable and nobody can tell you what you cannot do and accomplish. Undoubtedly these dreams leave you a great sense of freedom.

Interesting huh?.....Have any of you had flying dreams? Awesome!
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler."
Henry David ThoreauUS Transcendentalist author (1817 - 1862)

deracinate
(transitive verb)[dah-RAS-ah-nate']
1. to pull out by the roots; to extirpate or uproot "In any band of hooligans, there is always a core group of malcontents, without which the band would fall apart. By targeting the core, you effectively deracinate the group."

2. to isolate or displace a person from their native or accustomed environment; "The ugly side of the economic upturn has been the cost of living increase in many urban areas, which has deracinated huge segments of people that may never be able to afford to return."
noun form: deracination

Weather...

HI EVERYONE! =)

I know people out there in the area are enjoying the nice weather. To me, it feels so crispy clean. Need fresh air? Go outside and get the best of it! What's your favorite weather or time of the year?
Have you had one of those moments when you walk into a place and suddenly you flashback to a time before? Does it bring back good memories?

I remember my very first day of elementary school. When I walked in the building, I smelled the cafeteria's breakfast food. It might not have been good-tasting food, but that smell reminds me of the first day. Sometimes it happens in different places, when the smell is familiar. When I do, I find myself in the shoes of a five year-old.

My point to that brief description was to say that whenever I am standing outside with the weather so nice like today's, I know I will remember this day and where I was!

REALLY COOL!

This picture was taken by me a few weeks ago when the weather was also as nice as today!

NHMCCD's New Name

Lone Star College System! We are not part of North Harris Montgomery Community College District. Can you see why? (LOL) The college website gives detailed information about the new name, and it also states the reasons that lead the board to change the name. I think that as a district we need to get more familiarized with "Lone Star College System".

I wonder how many people know about the name change?

I talked to my friend today, and I asked her what she thought about the new name. She gave me an unexpected answer. She said, "What name?" I was shocked, but I showed her.

Abnormal Day

Hasn't everyone had an abnormal day before? Not meaning bad in any way but just feeling a little different than most days, Well I am totally in that kind of mood today. I even dressed out of the norm for me today. I don't know, I feel differently about life today, but whatever I can't really explain it so I looked up some interesting useless facts so everyone can learn somehting new and be a little weird like me. Lol. I hope everyone is having a good week so far. It is almost time to put on a few extra pounds (thanksgiving) and I can not wait. Okay so here are the fun facts:
1) Who invented the popsicle?
It was the Romans who made the first popsicle. They took some ice and added flavour to it and then licked it. What a great idea! Yummy !
2) Did you know it was the Chinese who made the first wheelbarrow?
3) The first kind of PENCIL was a bunch of GRAPHITE sticks held together by string. Then someone decided it would be better to push the graphite into the inside of a hollow wooden stick.
4) Did you know the first bicycle that was made in 1817 by Baron von Drais didn't have any pedals? People walked it along
5)http://www.indianchild.com/phobias.htm ( this is a website of manyt phobias, I couldn't just choose one so check it out)
6) --The the oldest living thing on earth is 12,000 years old. It is the flowering shrubs called creosote bushes in the Mojave Desert.
7)A rat can last longer without water than a camel.
8) Did you know Sailor, Dead Leaf, Paper Kite, Blue Striped Crow, Julia and Great Egg Fly are all names of BUTTERFLIES
9)Did you know moths are not really attracted to light? Moths fly towards the blackest point which is behind the light.
10) An apple, onion, and potato all have the same taste. The differences in flavor are caused by their smell. To prove this - pinch your nose and take a bite from each. They will all taste sweet.
So there you go ten interesting facts. Maybe you can surprise your friends and family that you know something new!!!!! Anyways Have an awesome day, I know I will, I get to go on a field trip and I haven't done that in forever.

"The adjuration to be "normal" seems shockingly repellent to me; I see neither hope nor comfort in sinking to that low level. I think it is ignorance that makes people think of abnormality only with horror and allows them to remain undismayed at the proximity of "normal" to average and mediocre. For surely anyone who achieves anything is, essentially, abnormal."
Dr. Karl MenningerUS psychiatrist (1893 - 1990)

bagnio(noun) [BAN-yo, BAHN-yo]
1. a building where prostitutes are available; a brothel: "It seems that every city has always featured at least one seedy corner, famous for its gambling, bagnios, and drugs."
2. (especially in Italy or Turkey) a building containing public baths
3. (obsolete) a prison for slaves, especially in Asian countries
Ps: If you are traveling to a new place saty away from their bangios!!!

4 Tips for Developing Academic Stengths in College

I was given this book (Strengths Quest by Donald Clifton, Edward Anderson and Laura Schriner) at a STARS meeting and I eventually got through reading most of it and I really appreciated what was written. It really helps put goals in to perspective and put my talents to good use in the right areas. So after reading and be able to take these applications and apply them to my life I thought it would be a good idea to share with you. YOur overall academic expierence can be greatly enhanced by the perspective and direcvtion you take in setting goals and making key decsions. So today I have the 4 Tips for developing Academic Strengths in college:
1) Define college success in terms of maximizing your talents through strengths development.
If you are going to assume responsibility for your college expierence, you must come to grips with defining success for yourself. Defining college success in terms of identifying and building upon your greatest talents emphasizes building yourself into a person of excellence.
2) Select Classes ib the basis of your talents and strengths.
In the first couple of years, it is especially important to build your confidence by following your talents. Every time you go to select your classes ask yourself two questions: a) which of my talents will I be able to apply in this class? and b) What strengths will this class help me create? If you have to say none to both questions, you must ask yourself why you are enrolling in the class in the first place. Then they go on to say something very intriging: " We are not trying to undermine the need for all students to have certain basic skills. We are certainly not trying to limit students' exploration of new fileds. What we oppose is educational practices that give students placement tests to find out what students can't do or don't know- and then force them to focus first on where they struggle before they can learn most naturally powerful talents. Now as a student and a future teacher I am caught in between but I do agree with what they had to say. It is interesting that schools don't pull the positives from people but gathering the negatives and spewing it all out as once and making people cope with things by themseleves, leading to drop outs and an unhappy world.
3) Consider your talents when selecting extracurricular activities.
To gain maximum benefis from college, think about college as a total expierence in which you purposely become as deeply involved as possible. Become personally involved by forming study groups, meeting with professor, and making use of campus programs and servcies. Seek opportunities to build on your talents; form relationships with students and teachers who share your talents. Become involved in clubs and organizations that provide opportunites for you to use or develp strengths.
4) Choose your college jobs by considering the opportunites the proved to develop stengths by following your talents.
Most college students must work in order to make ends meet. That is a reality. Therefore, carefully consider where you will be empolyed and what type of work you will be doing . The most ideal situation would be (1) to work on campus so you can increase your involement, and (2) to work in a job where you can use and build on at least some of your most natural talents. That way you will be doing more than just earning money.
So keep all this in mind. I was pleased to read that I am doing the best and most I can right now in my college years to make the most out of my future. I am in 3 school organizations, use the free work out facilities, work on campus and am involved in many close realtionships with teachers and students. I am enjoying every moment, it is funny that I say this the second time around in college. The first time I was enrolled in 2002 and stopped in 2003. I hated it, I certainly didn't appreciate it because my parents were paying for it and I was just doing what I was told to do. I had to stop, go down my path, which was the restaurant business, partying and not making use of my greatest talents quite honestly. But now I am back more than I ever have been in school. The way I look at it is I am paying for this, I have to come to class to get the grades to get the job to get the money, so I mine as well do things that I enjoy doing while I am here instead of making it all work, you can play too. School does not have to be miserable. Have a great day and an awesome time in college!!!

Someone's boring me. I think it's me.
Dylan Thomas, in Rayner Heppenstall, Four Absentees (1960)Welsh poet (1914 - 1953)

dystopia(noun) [dis-TOE-pee-ah]
1. an imaginary place or society in which the condition of life is extremely bad, as from deprivation, squalor, oppression or terror: "Robert Dole's presidential ad campaign will be remembered most for its over-the-top TV commercials. They featured a dark, desert-like dystopia -- as a narrator described what would happen if Clinton took a 2nd term."
2. (as in literature) a work describing such a place or society
adjective form: dystopian noun form: dystopianism

To Smoke or Not To Smoke

Hey guys how are y'all doing? I haven't blogged in like forever ... I've been so busy with school and work, but now I have a little break so I guess I should start blogging again. *Sighs* LOL

This is regarding to our recent poll results.

As everyone can tell from that image above I am not a smoker, but I have family members that do smoke. My dad quit smoking when I was 3 years old; he was smoke-free for about 11 years straight. Then he started back again when I was in 6th grade because he said that his job was stressing him out. I was so disgusted when I heard that, I was like "Ewwww my daddy is a smoker and he's going to stink up the entire house. My hair and clothes will smell like smoke!!" LOL But fortunately my mom didn't allow my dad to smoke in our house. So that was the advantage but it was really nothing good about seeing my father take a piece of his life away every time he smoked those "cancer sticks".Some people say "once a smoker always a smoker" that statement is not true. Yes smoking is a real bad habit, but a person can quit if they have enough support and determination.

I'm happy to share with everybody that my dad just recently stopped smoking. He's been smoke free for about a month in a half now. A month in a half is not that long but I know that if I keep encouraging him he won't think about going back to that habit.I can really tell a difference now that he stopped smoking:he looks alot younger, he has more energy, his eyes are clearer, he smells better LOL and ...I don't know... he just looks healthier.

I think smoking is a really big issue at this college.

When I have a break in between classes I want to go outside and hang out with some friends, or just go out to take a breath of some fresh air, but it's kinda hard to do that when you have 50,000 smokers around you (I know that I'm exaggerating, but that's what it feels like to me). I think North Harris should have 2 designated smoking areas. Maybe the parking lot or like the wooded area around the campus LOL

I hope they don't start a forest fire. But seriously I don't see why people smoke when they know it causes cancer, it makes you look older than you really are, it makes you smell bad, etc.

For those who want to take that big step and stop smoking or those who know someone that want to quit smoking this information can be very helpful for them.

Immediate reasons to stop
Bad breath and stained teeth
Bad smell in clothes and hair and on skin
Lower athletic ability
Cough and sore throat
Faster heartbeat and raised blood pressure
Risk of second-hand smoke to people around you
Cost of smoking

Long-term reasons to stop
Toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke
Risk of lung cancer and many other types of cancer
Risk of heart disease
Serious breathing problems
Time lost working or having fun because you're sick
Wrinkles
Risk of stomach ulcers and acid reflux
Risk of gum disease
Risk of damage to babies of pregnant women who smoke
Setting a bad example for your children

How can I stop smoking?
You'll have the best chance of stopping if you do the following:
Get ready.
Get support and encouragement.
Learn how to handle stress and the urge to smoke.
Get medication and use it correctly.
Be prepared for relapse.
Keep trying.

PS: I'm not hating on smokers or trying to be mean. I just know that there are a lot of people out there that want to stop smoking but don't know how and there's alot of people that don't have the support they need at home. Maybe this blog can be a little support.

NHC's Fall Festival

Hello Everyone

I am so grateful for events like NHC's Fall Festival. I DON'T do Halloween at all. Last week my niece, who's ten, was telling me that she wished I did so they could go trick or treating. Since I signed up to work at the fall festival, I brought my children and her with me. They had a blast and I felt so much better than if I would have left them with a sitter while I worked. My babies got their face painted, jumped in the moon bounce, colored and ate so much candy that it was hard to get them to go to bed last night. But it was worth it.

As a mother, I am thankful for safe community events like that. It's still based in Halloween but more family orientated than the average haunted house type places and not religious based like our church's Fall Festival (that was nice too). It's for everyone! It gives parents who may not like,for whatever reason, their children going door to door asking for candy a place to take them so they can wear their costumes and get tons of candy. My children were not in costumes, like I said I don't do Halloween at all. I did see some cute little outfit and then there were some that scared my two year old. We tried to stay away from them so my babies could enjoy themselves, and they did. I was so tried by 8:00 pm, I couldn't wait to get home. So coming from a mother...THANK YOU to all that were involved in organizing this event, worked the booths, and participated to make it the best October 31 event possible.

A great big kudos goes out to the lady that was doing the face painting...wow, she has some talent. She painted my 1 year old face like a cat, my two year old was a mouse, with ears and everything, and the ten year old a pretty painted on face mask. She did a beautiful job on everyone's face that I saw that night.

I could give you my students p.o.v but I have to go pick my girls up. Hope you all got something positive out of this post, until next time...

C-YA!

Fall Festival

Hi Guys,

I was at the Fall Festival last night and it was so much fun. I was at the sucker pull with Sang and Freddie Kruger. Yes I said Freddie Kruger. He was standing next to me scaring all the little kids and many adults. It was so funny to see that as they reached to pull a sucker Freddie would try and grab them. I was surprised to see that even adults were scared or I should say surprised! Those who weren't scared of Freddie all wanted to take pictures with him. I think he made the sucker pull more entertaining. Everybody wanted to come over our booth just to see if they could take a sucker with out Freddie getting them. They didn't even notice if their sucker was marked or not, they were so entertained with Freddie that they didn't even pay attention.

Well my mom brought my little 2 year old sister and she was dressed up as a princess. She looked so cute and pretty!!! She was so excited to get so much candy. Her face always lit up whensomebody gave her candy. When I got home from the festival the first thing she showed me was how much candy she had gotten. I am glad I was able to be part of the fall festival. I think everyone did a really good job. Especially the actors of the Haunted House, it was SCARY. Then again I do get scared pretty easily.

Well that was my Holloween Night, I hope everyone else had a safe and happy Holloween!

True Love

My friend of 20 years is getting married on Sunday.
We have been through so much together...
Smiles, hugs, fears, and tears...

From pig-tails in pre-k, being the best 3-legged racers in elementary school, all those nights at the skating rink, camping with Girl Scouts, inside jokes galore, first boyfriends, first kisses, first loves, first heartbreaks, changing schools, moving away from home, making new friends, losing loved ones, sharing all the memories that will last a life time and being there for the other to lean on for those times that we wish we didn't have to go through.

She's been my forever friend that has truly been a joy to have in my life.... someone who I could always count on no matter what zip code we were in... someone who never asked questions if I needed help... someone who truly cared. She has been the sister I never had...

It's funny how God made us apart of each others lives at such a young age only to make our bond grow stronger and stronger as the years grew on. God didn't put us together for a limited time, he made sure what we had would be for a lifetime...

And now, this weekend, I get to watch her wed the man of her dreams. The man who completes her. The man who has not only befriended her, but has loved her in every way imaginable. I get to watch my best friend, my sister take one of the most important steps in her life.

I can't even begin to explain the way I feel knowing I get to watch someone I love and cherish hold out her arms to someone who is reciprocating that love back to her.

Their love for one another is one in a million... they have truly compromised and sacrificed for one another time and time again...

They are the epitome of what true love really is.

This weekend, I not only get to be there for my friend at such an important milestone in her life, but I get to open my arms to such an amazing man as well... her husband, her friend...my friend, my new "brother".

I've known from the beginning that he was the one for her... I never once doubted it... and in just a few day, it will be confirmed before God... How exciting!!! I can't wait to share more memories with the BOTH of them till the end of time....

I just wanted to take this time to thank God for bringing Amber into my life and gifting her with Gabriel and giving me the opportunity to welcome him into my life as well...

Love is just so amazing...

To all... I have to give a speech as Maid of Honor at the wedding... I don't know what to write... can anyone suggest anything??

Poll Results: Are You a Smoker?

This poll is closed, but we'd still like to know your thoughts on smoking. Are you a smoker? Reformed smoker? Abstainer? Closet smoker?

Let us know!

What a Wonderful Halloween Event

Wow was I impressed or what. I was so impressed by the amount of games, the laser tag, the moon walk and the awesome haunted house. The drama and theatre team did such an amazing job. I was scared out of my mind. The actors did a good job acting like they were in an insane asylum, it was totally creepy. I didn't get an opportunity to check out the laser tag, yes I said laser tag (isn't that awesome), but my cousin told me it was a lot of fun and was surprised that it was at our college. Man we have an awesome school. I was so proud to be a part of the festival last night. I was at the sucker pull and I loved watching those kids try to decide which one was the winning sucker. They were having so much fun. I can't wait to be a mother and a teacher. I guess I always say that but it seems like I am always volunteering at events that are dealing with children. I guess I am going into the right field. The costumes were awesome last night, some real creativity was flowing around our courtyard of Halloween fun. Some of my favorites were Mr. and Mrs. Pac Man, a LEGGO, my 3 week baby cousin was a hot dog, and Mario and Luegee. The event was well organized and had creative games for kids and adults of all ages. Great job to the event coordinator and the volunteers. I was amazed with the amount of volunteers from students, that is a good sign that there are a lot of students involved in student organizations. Keep it up and get your friends involved too. So that was my little blurb about last night. It still makes me excited when I think about it and I am looking forward to next year.

Even if I am at Sam Houston, I will definitely come to see the haunted house and say hello to all the people who have inspired me to make something of my life. Like I have said before I am really appreciate of the faculty and the remarkable outgoing, creative, intelligent students here. Thank you!

"Let's assume that each person has an equal opportunity, not to become equal, but to become different. To realize whatever unique potential of body, mind and spirit he or she possesses."
John Fischer

impel
(transitive verb)[im-PEL]
1. to urge or force to action by exerting moral pressure: "Volunteers blanketed the city with countless posters associating candidates with worthy causes like the children, jobs, and the environment, as if one liners would impel voters to choose one candidate over another."
2. to urge or drive forward; propel