Zombies and such

They're baaaaaack. I remember years ago watching in black and white, movies of Abbott and Costello running from zombies. They somehow got themselves in come situation that they were running from mummies or werewolves or something ugly.  There were movies of the Three Stooges encountering inhumane beings, too.  And, back in the early 60s, I watched a show called Dark Shadows, a vampire soap opera in the afternoons after I got home from school. Now, zombies are back big time and I'm wondering what's all the fuss?  I see new books written on how to survive a zombie attack, for 'they' are coming.


Photo credit: guilanenachez from morguefile.com

 
I have a difficult time understanding this phenomena of zombies. It's not scientifically possible for a person to get up and walk again after they've been decomposing.
Can a virus reinvigorate life back into a brain and make it be half-alive? I don't think so.   When the brain's been deprived of oxygenated blood, brain cells die inside of 10 minutes. So how can a dead person think even with part of their brain kick-started by a virus?

So zombies function on basic reflex and hunger to eat living flesh. I guess that's the zombie virus telling a half-dead brain that it instinctly needs living flesh so the virus can replicate itself, because viruses need a live medium to stay viable. This means zombie brains must somehow get the rest of the zombie body functioning-like the sense of smell and/or sight to locate and go after living flesh to eat.  How do cells of the nervous, olfactory, bone and soft tissue systems all become functional again? Decomposing tissue can't function. How can zombie hearts beat to circulate blood? And whatever the virus is  that attacks zombie brains, it's got to be some powerful agent if it can control muscle coordination for standing, walking or shuffling for seeking out their prey and keeping a half-dead brain functioning.

How can zombies go on an attack or do anything? Or are they supposed to be not all-the-way dead? Nothing can be a little bit dead and a little bit alive.  If you're infected with the zombie virus, by a zombie, does the virus kill your brain and make you go delirious? If zombies have hunger for live flesh, do they go after the brain tissue for their meal or any live tissue? 

Maybe the 'undead' don't need air or blood in their tissues. Maybe all the fuss about zombies is they're looking for someone to take them all-the-way out of their misery. But that can't be either. They don't feel anything. They're just beings without knowing or thinking. Just half-existing to kill and eat to stay half-alive, or half-dead. Whatever. 

If zombies and vampires are back, are the mummies not far behind?

Take a look at this blog.

And here's something about zombie-proofing your house.


FYI-
I'm fascinated that people are so fascinated in zombies. Could it be zombies symbolize that we as a people are becoming so disconnected from caring for each other and the sanctity of life? I also find it a bit disturbing that I've taken time to write on the subject of zombies.

Zombies eat flesh, vampires suck blood, what is it that mummies do?

People who overcome obstacles

I like to hear about real people who did things in spite of obstacles. For instance, Helen Keller, FDR, Aimee Mullins, and Ray Charles are only four known for the accomplishments they excelled in, but rather paid little to no attention to their personal, physical obstacles they each had.

I've often imagined what it must have been like to not see, or hear.  How different it would be to relate to a world without color or sound, and live in dark silence?

Navigating a hiking path blindfolded


Photo credit: jppi from morguefile.com
 
I went hiking with a friend one time and blindfolded myself to experience how it would be like to navigate the trail without sight. I had a walking stick so I could have something to hold on to and my friend gave instructions to walk straight or turn or step up. It was fatiguing.  Then I've put in ear plugs to experience a few hours without sound. That experience left me numb and unfulfilled. Sounds are very needed for everything. Even small insignificant small sounds tell us information. For instance, when I don't hear birds outside, the  silence indicates something is going on with the weather without having to hear a weather forecast. Without sounds and sight, I wonder if another of my senses would really become more sensitive? Maybe I could become a super food or wine taster. I could gather more info of my world through a heightened sense of touch. What I'd really like to be is a nose. I think that would be very interesting occupation to have. But for now, I enjoy seeing others excel over obstacles and soar.


Dance and soar to your desire


Photo credit: wallyir from morguefile.com

 
Regardless of physical obstacles, the human spirit wants to fly high. This young man, a Little League pitcher, flies over his obstacle,  which happens to be a physical shortcoming to you and I. Rather than letting his physical handicap of having only one arm be an excuse to this young man, and limit the height he wishes to soar, he doesn't. He chooses to make the best of things-he pitched a no-hitter. His parents and family have got to be so thrilled of his accomplishments. That's the sort of spirit we need to all have. Determination, and motivation without hesitation. That shows us there's nothing too high or too wide that a determined spirit can't tackle, persevere, conquer and win.

Obstacles, what obstacles?

Check out this for running/sprinting.
And view this amazing ballet. Read their story below the video.
And check out Clair Lomas, completing the London marathon. in spite of being paralyzed from the waist down.

Missed white deer opportunity

I will never forget the day. I missed a once in a lifetime opportunity to record in photo my white deer sighting.
Let me tell you about it.


Spotted in a country field similar to this.



Photo credit: thegipper from morguefile.com

 
Early one morning I decided to drive to the beach so I could be there for breakfast one nice Sunday morning about 10 years ago. I was between Troy and Brundidge driving happily along when off in a field I spotted deer. I've seen deer a lot when driving, but not usually in the mornings.  So it was unusual, and even more unusual was these weren't ordinary looking deer. They were  white deer. Maybe they were albino, I couldn't determine that, but they were unlike any deer I had ever seen. I couldn't believe my eyes! A male with females and little ones, maybe 10 to 12 in all, just grazing but walking slowly as a group in the direction of the highway which I was passing by. I slowed down to feast upon this rare sight. No one was behind me so I opened my purse to get my camera. Uh oh, no camera.

So I turned around and made another pass to get another look at this beautiful grouping of deer. Yes, they were all white, not just white tails or light, brownish-gray in color, or no spots of white mixed with another color. My eyes were seeing them clearly and each of them was white in color from head to tail. They didn't run or even seem to care about anything around them. They were walking slowly, but also eating as they walked. The sun was coming up and they stood out against everything else in the field just 30 to 40 yards from the highway. I turned around and made another pass as I still was about the only vehicle headed South on the highway.

My terrible thought was I'd forgotten my camera, and so my opportunity to capture on film my sighting was not to be. It would take me at least 15 to 20 minutes to drive back to Troy or ahead to Brundidge, purchase a camera and drive back. I had to face reality of this missed opportunity and made a promise to myself to never be without my camera again. I just had to burn this image in my brain for my own visual memory.

I'll never miss a rare opportunity again


Photo credit: procrastinator from morguefile.com

 

Below is a website featuring an article and photo of 'the mysterious albino deer herd' in Wisconsin.

http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/big-buck-zone/2010/05/mysterious-albino-deer-herd

Video showing a white buck and a normal buck fighting.
 



There are white deer in Alabama. I witnessed them early one morning. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

The Ultimate Hero

Heroes. Who doesn't love and respect a hero? I have on occasion asked young adults the question if they'd consider serving in the U.S. military for all the benefits they'd receive including the experience and honor of serving their country.  The  responses I usually heard were, "I don't want to die." This answer makes me think about Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipients, whom I consider to 'true heroes'. Non-selfish heroes.

Recently, I searched info on what it takes to warrant a nomination of one of these medals of high honor. What I found was astonishing- The number of nominees to receive medals is fewer now than years past. What's the matter here? I, a Veteran, would accept the chance to serve my country in uniform again. I wish I had opportunity to serve during wartime, but that wasn't a choice for me back in 1976-80. I don't have a death wish, but I can honestly say I would be happy to volunteer and serve knowing the risk of possible dying for something so great as this great country.  Why not be proud to serve for something great? This is what I believe, and I have strong pride and respect for those who feel the same and have given 'the ultimate' for me. 

Here is one recipient of multiple medals whom I don't think was afraid to die.

If you're a follower of Christ, you bypass death. Upon your last breath, in the span of an instant, you're soul is present with the Lord.  So what does a Christian have to fear about dying? Nothing!
(1 Cor 15:11-53)

Symbols of honor bestowed our heroes

Photo credit: natepowers from morguefile.com

 
THE greatest hero, deserving far more than a medal, is Jesus. In heaven, there are unceasing praises unto Him, (Revelation 4:8:11),and deserving so. For He really is worthy of all praise and honor of the highest kind. Jesus is the 'ultimate hero' for what he endured, offering the ultimately for us, and sparing our souls from death. He is The Hero of the World! The Hero of Mankind! The Hero of the universe! The Hero of all time!

This is my definition of what it takes to be a hero. It takes courage, an unselfish attitude, making a decision of committing to action in an unfavorable or extraordinary situation while ignoring possible harm to self, driven by love to prevent harm of another person.


Jesus did more than that. 

He withstood public humiliation, ridicule, unjust accusations, flogging, an unjust trial, being stripped, whipped, made to carry the object he was to be nailed to, (can you believe having nails driven into your wrists and feet), then hoisted up to be viewed by all while, and while waiting to die, He experienced God turning away from him, for the first and only time as he was the 'scapegoat' having all the sins of Man, even the sins of the people responsible for having him crucified, upon him. Yet he said,"forgive them Father....". Then Jesus went to hell for us and there He became our 'ultimate hero' by conquering death for us.  All of this was done for you and I.  He is more than a hero to every man, woman and child since the existence of Man. He is the Savior, our Lord, and deserving of the highest honor and praise for His actions to save us. A hero saves lives by placing others above himself.  A Savior saves souls by placing others above himself by dying to pay their sin penalty so their soul never has to be apart from the love of our heavenly Father.


A load of scripture references on praise.-deserving of the 'hero of heroes'.

Jesus is your hero, too, if you believe who He is, believe what He did, and admit that you need Him as your Savior and Lord.


A hero saves a life.
A savior saves a soul.

Remember your soul will exist forever somewhere. Heaven is a place where no sin can be.  YOU decide the place where you soul will spend eternity.

End note- There are many types of heroes. There's a hero in each of us. For this entry, I was focusing on the person offering the sacrifice of his life to save another. There is only one 'ultimate hero' and He desires to be yours.

You need an 'ultimate hero' type love that only Jesus provides for your soul.



Here is a song, "Sweep Me Away" sung my Kari Jobe.

  

A bestseller for Bonnie

This is an update on a soon-to-be bestseller for Bonnie. Her memoir, "Rural Home, Recollections and Reflections",  has been completed and she's now formatting the manuscript to make it an e-book on Amazon and Kindle.  Research shows e-books are extremely popular now. You'll be able to read her book instantly on computer or tablet. How convenient. For the old fogies, she's planning to self publish her memoir so you can turn pages the old-fashion way, too.  And, I might add, she can autograph a hard copy, which will be a good thing.  Bonnie and I talk daily about plans....naturally, I enjoy writing, so I'm happy to pass this info along to you.

Front cover

Her manuscript was sent to a publisher before the holidays, but that publisher decided it just wasn't what they were looking for.  Well, that's all Bonnie needed to hear, make it available in e-book form was on full-speed ahead the moment she got off the phone with that publisher. I'm glad, this way she'll be more in control of her book.

I'm not exaggerating one bit, (I've read the manuscript) and in my opinion, it's a 'very good read'. I suggest reading it in it's entirety in two to three sittings.  From cover to cover, I was enthralled, never bored, and couldn't read fast enough to see what was on the next page. It has all the makings of a movie in my opinion, too. So, if you know someone in cinema or movie production looking for a good story, I really think Rural Home would make a good movie.  Bonnie's writing is fresh and lively. When I read her manuscript, I picture her next to me reading it herself. (mental note--recommend she make this an audio book, too). Listening to Bonnie speak will give an even more added dimension to her story. She has that pleasant, charming Southern-dialect which is becoming rarer to hear any one speak any more).

One last bit of e-book info to provide to Amazon is the "about the author" and I think that's done now.  I also asked Bonnie if she graduated from Troy University.  All she lacked was her student teaching.  If it were up to me, I say her manuscript more than adequately completes that assignment.  Her memoir is filled not only with some pretty incredible life experiences, but it's pages are filled with her wisdom, engaging her readers to think by opening their eyes, thus touching you, the reader about various life situations. I call that teaching. You'll soon agree with me of the numerous valuable lessons gained from reading her book.


I'd like to see her memoir's first volume reach the best seller list of Amazon books, and, the New York best seller list. That would be so cool to personally know a best selling author, wouldn't you think so, too.  If everyone reading this post will share with your followers and contacts, to buy the e-book when it's available on Amazon, then write your comment at Amazon, (good of course),after reading it, or read a hard copy of her book,  we can all be proud in making this book a bestseller. I'm serious, is one book that will make a strong, positive impact on a diverse range of readers, and I'm very proud that she took time and energy to write and compile and want to share her life with you.  So let's help make Rural Home, Recollections and Reflections, a bestseller in record time.  We can do it!

Stay abreast on her Facebook page, or here.  I'll post updates as to when you can promptly place your order on Amazon.  I imagine it could be available sometime this month, February 2012.


The photos below show some of her latest Nature's Notables art/creations. I'm so impressed with her business savvy, organization and artistry.  Read more about her many talents and skills here, here and here. 

Here are some stunning Nature's Notables compositions-

Compositions tagged and ready for owners to pick up

I can't get over the vibrant colors

An original to preserve a special occasion or event

One of my favorites-looks 3 dimensional to me

See much more in the gallery of naturesnotables.com

Goal- a bestseller for Bonnie. Let's make it happen!!!

Until next time, remember to count your blessings.

Motivated by the Chinese Women's Army

I was surfing the web and found an interesting video which has motivated me. After viewing it, what stayed in my mind was the huge number of women in the Chinese Army- the number of women in the Chinese Army is greater than the entire population of the United States!  I know this video is just a quick look at the women in China. But is saw not a one of them on the video is fat, and are appear to be very light on their feet and look to be extremely agile.  If they can march kicking their legs up like that, and they all look to be probably all of 100 pounds, I best get myself in better shape than I am right now.  I used to be in top physical condition by staying active with aerobics. cycling, tennis, racquetball, jogging, swimming, and hiking.  I could do push-ups, sit-ups and run during my physical tests while I was enlisted in the Marine Corps and used to think when was the tough stuff coming?  I used to jump up and down and nothing on my body moved. I was solid, fit and strong before during and a while after my years as a Marine. I still am proud to have worn the uniform well.

Below is the video that motivated me to get off my 'butt' and work to get myself in better physical condition. And, I don't mean later, but now!  Even though my military days are many moons past,  I owe it to myself for my health's sake, and heaven forbid, should any crisis or emergency arise requiring physical fitness, I will be prepared the best of my ability to accommodate to take whatever action on my part I can fill. These women in the Chinese Army have really, really motivated me.


Chinese Women Army





Then I searched to see what is typical daily Chinese diet.  

I may not eat rice at every meal, or even every day, (here are interesting facts on rice in China) but I am going to eat healthier. If China can show off their Army of women, then I am going to show off and make being an woman ex-Marine proud.

For the person reading this, you may be motivated by a different trigger than I. I was not looking for this to motivate me, but it has. This video, and thinking of what I saw in this
video is now a 'fire' under my behind and has ignited me to seriously take steps to go about getting back in physical condition.

I hope you find your motivation to action for any changes you need to make in your life. 

By the end of this new year I will come back to see how much progress I made during the year. I want to be able to jump up and down and very little move.  I am realistic about this. I've been out of the military thirty years.


Below is the Insanity interval training I'm challenging myself to.







Another challenge of mine is to do upside down situps. 





I'm challenging myself and I'm motivated!

Heart warming love- the perfect way to start any day

I want to share a heart warming email I received recently. It's about love. It's perfect for any one, any day.

I don't know any more of the contest mentioned in it- below is the email.  I found a video with some really good content on 'Love' by the lecturer. It's funny and wonderful. I know it will be very beneficial to you to see it.






             God's Mother
                                IT WILL KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF

I especially liked number 5!

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once
Talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the
Contest was to find the most caring child.
The winner was:

1. A four-year-old child, whose next door
neighbor was an elderly gentleman, who had recently lost his
wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old
Gentleman's' yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When his mother asked him what he had
said to the neighbor, the little boy just said,
'Nothing, I just helped him cry.'

*********************************************
2. Teacher Debbie Moon's first graders were
discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture
had a different hair color than the other members. One of her
students suggested that he was adopted.
A little girl said, 'I know all about
Adoption, I was adopted..'
'What does it mean to be adopted?', asked
another child.
'It means', said the girl, 'that you grew
in your mommy's heart instead of her tummy!'

************************ *********************
3. On my way home one day, I stopped to
watch a Little League baseball game that was being played in a
park near my home. As I sat down behind the bench on the first-
base line, I asked one of the boys what the score was
'We're behind 14 to nothing,' he answered
With a smile.
'Really,' I said. 'I have to say you
don't look very discouraged.'
'Discouraged?', the boy asked with a
puzzled look on his face...
'Why should we be discouraged? We haven't
been up to bat yet.'

*********************** **********************
4. Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot
in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott.
Jamie was trying out for a part in the
school play. His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being
in it, though she feared he would not be chosen..
On the day the parts were awarded, I went
with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her,
eyes shining with pride and excitement.. 'Guess what, Mom,' he
shouted, and then said those words that will remain a lesson to
me....'I've been chosen to clap and cheer.'

*********************************************
5. An eye witness account from New York
City , on a cold day in December,
some years ago: A little boy,
about 10-years-old, was standing before a shoe store on the
roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering
With cold.
A lady approached the young boy and said,
'My, but you're in such deep thought staring in that window!'
'I was asking God to give me a pair of
shoes,' was the boy's reply.
The lady took him by the hand, went into
the store, and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks
for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water
and a towel. He quickly brought them to her.
She took the little fellow to the back
part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed
his little feet, and dried them with the towel.
By this time, the clerk had returned with
the socks.. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him
a pair of shoes..
She tied up the remaining pairs of socks
and gave them to him.. She patted him on the head and said, 'No
doubt, you will be more comfortable now..'
As she turned to go, the astonished kid
caught her by the hand, and looking up into her face, with tears
in his eyes, asked her:
'Are you God's mother?'
 
****



Leo Buscaglia- video  "Speaking of Love"

Love, what a perfect way to start my day. Hope it has yours.