Get a coffee, give a coffee - Jonathan's Card

This is such a genius idea:

Get a coffee, give a coffee - Jonathan's Card

FYI:  If you need to know how much is on the card at any given time, go to Johnathan's Card's Twitter page (yes, the card has its own Twitter page): http://twitter.com/#!/jonathanscard.  It also has a Facebook page, but I do not have Facebook (never have) and do not support Facebook in any way.  Thank you.

Let me know if you give it a try!


So I went ahead and created a Twitter List for this, to make it easier:

Please Help Support My Friend @Tapps (her Twitter name)

Seva Cafe Video Link

Click the above title to see an amazing video about Seva Cafe. Not only is it informative, but, to me, this video is a work of art.

Seva Cafe

*Eve, thanks for another great link!

Seva Café works on a contribute-as-you-wish model. It is important that you understand exactly what this means – both for the sustainability of this restaurant and for a new way of looking at economic interdependency represented by our model.

On the one hand, contribute-as-you-wish means what it says: you, and only you, determine how much you will give to Seva Café at the end of your experience here. Our finances are completely transparent, and it is simple to determine the minimum amount of money the Café will need to take in from each guest if it is to stay in operation. But ultimately, judgments about the care that was taken to bring you wholesome food, the pleasantness of the environment we have created in which you enjoyed your meal, the spirit of our project, and the overall nature of your experience here will be for you to decide – and to express by means of contribution."

~Excerpt taken from Seva Cafe

Make a Contribution Time!

Okay, first a shout out to my cousin Subrina. Hey Sub! I'm happy you liked the pictures. And I, too, think number 15 is a good one.

Subrina you asked about the oatmeal raisin cookies we made the other day. Before I give you the recipe, here's an anecdote for everyone else (since My grandmother is also Subrina's grandmother) about those infamous cookies:

The first time I made the Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin cookies was around 1997/1998. Grandma was here for the Christmas Holiday, and I decided to bake some cookies. I found a great recipe on the top of the Quaker Oats Oatmeal container. Grandma helped me through the process and my cousin Tony was our taste tester (he has a very discerning tongue). Here's the important thing to note, lots of my grandmother's cooking/baking is done by taste. So, I'm not sure if she went EXACTLY by the recipe. I can just hear her saying, "Baby, just let me put another pinch of dis here in there." From there, she'd probably proceeding to put WAAAAY more than a pinch. But that's cause the woman knows what she's doing. In the end, the cookies were a hit! And Tony's taste buds don't lie. Baking those cookies with Grandma Ida Mae is one of my fondest memories of being in the kitchen--and boy do I have fond kitchen memories, and they all involve me stuffing my face.

Anywho, here's the recipe. This time when I made them, they didn't taste like the ones I made with Grandma, but they were still bangin'.

Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) margarine or butter, softened
1 cut firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
3 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup raisins

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Beat together margarine and sugars until creamy.
3. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.
4. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well.
5. Stir in oats and raisins; mix well.
6. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.
7. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to wire rack.

Makes about 4 dozen

If you want to make them into Bar Cookies:

Bake 30 to 35 minutes in ungreased 13x9-inch metal baking pan

Please note: That recipe is MY contribution to you guys!

Now, I know some of you guys had asked how our weightloss girl is doing. She has two new posts up and I left a comment on each. Soooooooo, ya' know what today is:

MAKE A CONTRIBUTION DAY

I'm looking for 5 folks to head on over to her blog and give her a gentle pat on the back. Say something inspiring and motivating. Maria, your wisdom would be a great help to her. Her last post seemed a little down, and I don't want her to remain in that funk.

**Hmmmm, it's funny how invested I am in this "unknown" woman's struggle.**

Click the following link to be directed to her page: http://amidestinedforever.blogspot.com/. And if you've been to her blog before, it might be necessary to hit your browser's refresh button for the page to update itself. I go to her site everyday. Up until today, I'd forgotten to hit the refresh button and that's why I didn't know that she'd added two new post. Also, it's important that you hit refresh when you come to my blog each day.

Now, our second CONTRIBUTION. My dear friend Deb (Zohar's mom) hosts a "Birth Stories" group here in Connecticut. Before I continue, here's a little blurb and some info on it:

“Birth Stories is a supportive gathering for moms, expectant mothers and future expectant mothers to talk about labor and birth experiences, and to share and receive advice. It is held at the Alchemy Juice Bar Cafe, a child-friendly natural restaurant with a play area, so feel free to bring partners and kids. For more information call Deborah at 860-521-3084.

The next meeting will be at 4 P.M. on Saturday, February 25th, at 203 New Britain Avenue, Hartord, CT.

To me, that blurb doesn't fully get at the meat of what this group or her mission is about. Deb birthed Zohar naturally. She labored for 5 days, and then birthed him in a birthing tub. Deb is committed to seeing women have the births THEY desire. And this is not exclusive of cesareans and epidurals. She's not into "every woman should have a natural birth." She's more like, if a woman wants an epidural/cesarean birth/natural birth/birthing at home/birthing in a hospital, that she should strive for the experiences that best suit her.

I'm rambling on this one. Deb is better at explaining it.

So here's my point. Deb is in the process of writing a book on women's birth stories and encouraging women to have the births they desire. She's looking for women from all walks of life to contribute their stories. If you're interested in telling her your story or being a part of the process, email her at WayneJ2434@aol.com or email me at nikkifulse@yahoo.com.

Finally, I know you guys always hear me talking about Isom's best friend, Isom's playgroup and Isom's gym class. Well, I've put together an album of those things. Feel free to take a look. The title of the album is Isom & Zohar. Don't forget to click on "slideshow." And once you're there, you can adjust the speed of the show. Here's the link: http://photos.yahoo.com/nikkifulse.

Okay, I must honor my body and go to bed. My doctor got some of my test results back and he says my iron is fine. Which means...... He was right in saying that a sister is probably is need of some real sleep. Did I tell you guys that my primary care physician is the husband of Isom's pediatrician? Yeah, great. So I think they're exchanging notes, making sure that I'm not having post partum depression and stuff. I find that they are brilliant doctors. And I love how he's into NATURAL ways of healing. And I love how she's a breastfeeder! She was pregnant at the same time I was, her baby and Isom are only 3 months a part. So I think my doctor is getting a real sense of what's going on in my life with this new baby. And being that they're both doctors, they're probably getting way less sleep than I am. God bless them--they have two other kids, too.

Okay, I'm rambling again.

I'm out!

**and um, i have no desire or energy to look this over and edit it. so, don't waste your time pointing out typos and stuff. and for future reference, never waste your time pointing it out because this is the one place i can come and not give a crap about stuff like that.**

What is it that you truly desire for yourself?

Old Business:

As far as I know, 4 of us have donated to the ABCD Center. My goal was 7 people, but 4 isn't bad at all. Thank you Tasha, Tunisia and Crystal. If anyone else is interested in making a donation, you can go to: http://www.abcdcenter.org/donate.html. Also, if you are interested in knowing more about the program, click here. If you know of anyone with any resources or connections whom might be able to help my friend Erica and the ABCD Center, please email me and let me know.

New Business:

Hmmm... What are you guys up to? Me? I'm thinking. I'm thinking that you guys are brilliant. I'm thinking that most of you aren't living up to your potential.

You got up today and decided to settle for less. You got up today and didn't dream. You got up today and didn't do anything new.

What is it that you truly desire for yourself? Why are you on this planet at this specific time?

A possible task: Pull out a piece of paper. Write one word on it. Now, carry that word around with you all day. Meditate on it. Dream on it. See what you come up with. Email me about it, if you feel like it.

Me? In this instant? I desire to make progress on my book, and that's what I'm about to do. I mean, it isn't going to edit itself. I'm leaving you now. I'm going to make progress. I hope that you, too, are able to make progress.

Last tidbit of info:

A fry at McDonald's has:

--30 grams of fat
--8 grams of "dangerous" trans fat
--570 calories

Click here to read more about how McDonalds says its "fries are fattier than reported."

Now, go and meditate on your word. I'm off to edit my novel.

www.ABCDcenter.org

I have a main agenda today. But before I get to it, I'd like to run something by you.

You're driving down the street, when all of a sudden, you have to stop and wait for a car in front of you. The driver is trying to pull into a parking spot. You're in a rush, and you should have been back to work 15 minutes ago. You wait impatiently, and then beep your horn and give a mean gesture as you pass by the other driver.

**sigh**

I'm sick of it all. I'm sick of the impatience and rudeness of US ALL. What's the problem? Where are we rushing to? And why do we have to be so damn mean and rude?

The driver of that other car is someone's mother, father, brother, daughter, best friend, husband, grandmother...

It's funny how the "driver" mentality is. People turn on different parts of their personalities when they're driving. All of a sudden they're BIGGER and badder than they really are. Cussing and going off and stuff. Knowing dang well they wouldn't have the nerve to do that to the person's face.

CHILL the hell out! You're gonna get to where ya' going. And if you keep riding up on my butt, it's a possibility that neither one of us will make it.

I've got my mother and my baby in the car--precious cargo. And not only that, I'm driving safely to look out for your wellbeing and mine.

SO SLOW THE HELL DOWN and GET OFF OF MY ASS.

Life is too short. And kindness is hard to find.

Or if you're truly gangsta', get out of the car and beat my ass. If you ain't gonna put up, then shut up.

I have this new thing I do to myself. Whenever I'm angered over something silly, I recite "Temper, Temper" over and over again. I tell myself to calm that unnecessary noise down. Just shut up! If I'm not gonna do something about the problem, why waste time and oxygen rambling on and on.

Like right now, I'm just gonna move on and shut up about it.

See how easy that is?

Main agenda:

I have a dear friend by the name of Erica. She was a classmate of mine when I studied abroad in Costa Rica. This girl is amazing when it comes to languages, and I've always been jealous of her fluency in Spanish. Anywho, sometime ago, she told me about an idea she was pursuing. She lives in the Atlanta and wanted to open a bilingual school for children ages 6 weeks to 5-years-old. I thought it was a novel idea, being that younger children's brains are like sponges.

Well, her dream is coming true. She recently sent me an email about the program. The website is www.ABCDcenter.org. Here's a little blurb from the website:

Atlanta Bilingual Child Development Center is a 501(C)3 non-profit preschool for children between the ages of six weeks and five years old. Our dual-language curriculum teaches both English and Spanish side-by-side helping our students achieve age-appropriate, balanced bilingualism. Our diverse student body nurtures and celebrates a multi-cultural environment, preparing our children for Elementary School and the world! For more information please email Erica Pereira at Erica@ABCDcenter.org.

The program is in need of donations, and you can visit the website to learn more, or go to http://www.abcdcenter.org/donate.html to make a donation.

Trust me, if I were living in the Atlanta area, this is where I'd be sending Isom. I love the Spanish language, and I know first-hand that in the coming years our children will probably need to know Spanish about as well as they know English (and that's whether you like it or not, so get over it! LOL).

Please make a donation. My friend says it doesn't matter how small. Trust me, your $1 could make all the difference. We always talk about what folks in the community aren't doing. Well here is a sister who's doing something and she needs some support.

It's "VINE" Time. MAKE A CONTRIBUTION.

As broke as I am, I will be going to the website tomorrow and making my donation. I am urging all of you to do what you can and to pass the word around. I am also looking for at least 6 of you who will go to the website and make a donation this week. Along with my donation, that will make 7. And isn't 7 such a divine number?

Once again, here is the website link: www.ABCDcenter.org,

AND,

here is the donation link: http://www.abcdcenter.org/donate.html.

If you do make a donation, please let me know so that I can keep count. I want to see if the "VINE" works this time. Last time I asked for 10 folks, and as of today, 8 people have helped the lady trying to lose weight--and that number ain't bad.

Once again, please don't be afraid to donate small amounts. Give what you can.

Erica, keep up the good work. So many of us are about talk, but you are about actions. We need more driven people like you. You took a chance on your dream, and the universe if giving you the tools to see it to fruition. I will do whatever I can to help manifest your vision.

Make a Contribution Day

Thanks to the people who've been emailing AND calling me about the doctor appointment. I had a jam-packed schedule today, and so I didn't make any progress in that area (poor Ang, you tried so hard to get me to call the doctor today, I love you for it). Tomorrow will be a lot slower, and I'm planning to call another doctor. But, please continue to hound me until you hear me say I have an official appointment.

My therapy session was amazing. Kathy is a brilliant woman. One of the steps to FREEDOM that we discuss coincides with the letter M. M stands for Make a Contribution. Kathy always asks me how my actions/non-actions & goals have made a contribution. And after a lot of thinking, I saw a wonderful "vine" of contributions taking place.

Here's the vine:

--I go to Kathy for therapy and she helps me with my issues.

--I take that help and knowledge and spill my guts on my webpage.

--My friends and family read my page and learn something.

--My friends and family pass my page on to someone else and they learn something.

--And, my prayer is that the next person (whom I've never met) will pass it on to someone else.

The next thing you know, almost 100 people have been helped because of Kathy's initial investment in my mental well-being. Crazy, isn't it?

So, today I have a project for anyone who has a couple of seconds to spare. I'd like to prove the power of the "VINE."

About 5 days ago, I was browsing through blogger.com to see what kinds of webpages other people had up. I can across this one blog titled: "...to be overweight." It's by this fat woman who's trying to lose the pounds. Having watched a dear friend of mine suffer from excess weight, I decided to reach out to this woman whom I've never met, and I left her a comment (the same way you guys do for me). Each day that passed, I checked her webpage to see if she'd made any progress, but she didn't post for a few days. Believe it or not, I worried about her. I wondered how things were going. Today I went to her page and she wrote about how she'd failed and would start dieting again "tomorrow."

**sigh*

It made my heart sink.

For some reason my heart tugs for this woman. She's just like the rest of us, in need of support and inspiration. I was hoping that we could extend a "VINE" to her. All I want is for you guys to go to her page and leave words of encouragement (ex: "You can do it," "You're perfect the way you are," "Love yourself," "Change takes time"--you get it).

Remember, I don't know this lady from a crack in the street pavement. I just think she'd feel so inspired if we reached our "VINE"out to her. How amazing would it be to see words of encouragement from complete strangers.

Anywho, let's MAKE A CONTRIBUTION. Life has given so much to us, why can't we give back a little something. I'm hoping that at least 10 of you will help me with this. Here's her webpage address: http://amidestinedforever.blogspot.com/. Just click on that link and you'll be directed to her page. I'll be checking her page to see how many of us have participated. And feel free to email me to let me know you've participated.

And be sure to pass this to your friends. The more the better.

A thought:

In one of my favorite books, "Conversations with God," God explains that if you want something, try giving it to someone else first. God says that, what you give to another, you give to yourself.

MAKE A CONTRIBUTION--it'll come right back to you..