Growing up we always had animals running around. Rabbits were one of my favorites. The best was when one was abandoned by its mother, we would take the little bunny, which resembled a baby mouse, and we would nurse it to health. Sometimes they would live, and we would keep them in our care until they were big enough to be placed back into a cage of their own. They'd stay around for a while until one day they weren't there anymore. As a child I didn't quite understand where they went.
The other day I stopped by my dad's house. He was really happy to share a surprise that he had with us. One of his bunnies had just had babies. There were six in total. My little lovely, being an animal lover couldn't wait to pick them up. They were so cute and cuddly.
It reminded me of a story that I had read in Spiegel of a German rabbit breeder that was in talks with North Korea about supplying giant bunnies to feed the people of North Korea. Apparently each of these bunnies was about the size of a dog and could feed up to twelve people. That's amazing. Now if only my sister's and I knew that there was a market for such a bunny we would have held on to our little bunny patients for a bit longer.
Photo: Courtesy of Spiegel Online
Here's our dog Oreo having fun with one of the little bunnies. Nobody was hurt, and fun was had by all.
It's a big day today, an extremely joyous day, and a day of reflection! Ten years ago today I became a mom. As I was designing my little lovely's birthjday card I decided to go with the theme of "hanging ten". I wondered where that phrase originated. Apparently hanging ten is considered one of the most impressive surfing stunts performed on a surfboard. Hanging ten is when the surfer positions the surfboard in such a way that the back of it is covered by the wave and the wave rider is free to walk to the front of the board and hang all ten toes over the nose of the board.
Sounds complicated. Apparently these surfers thought so too because they wiped out before hanging any digets from the board's edge. Ouch!
Thank you for coming along with me on my journeys this week.
Enjoy your weekend and any "Stops that you find yourself making Along The Way".
Time is flying it's true, and no matter how much we want it to stop we can't. Yesterday I was reminded how time is flying when I received a telephone call from my niece. She was calling to give me the details of her graduation ceremony. Graduation?!! What! When did that happen? It was just yesterday that I was listening to an adorable message that she left me after her 3rd birthday party. In her message she said- "thank you for my dollie, I love you, bye bye". I saved that message for years until my computer melted and I lost the message in a puff of smoke. As I think about this new chapter in her life my heart is overflowing with joy. I'm so proud of her accomplishments, I 'm so proud of the women that she has become, and I'm so proud to be her Tia. I'm blessed beyond words. Yes time is flying, but luckily I've flown with time.
Sorry, I just had to get that out. Phew now I feel better....and now for the funny.
Anyhow this whole time is flying thing reminded me of a stop that I made along the way. I discovered Irina Werning, a photographer that has made an art of taking old photos and recreating the same exact scene with same people in the same place with the same outfits. Isn't that genius?! Enjoy here work.
I think I may submit this one of me, my hubby, and my brother-in-law to see if she can recreate this scene.
FIONA IN 1978 & 2010, London
MATIAS IN 1977 & 2010, Uruguay
FLO, MARIA & DOLORES IN 1979 & 201
PANCHO IN 1983 & 2010, Buenos Aires
TOMMY IN 1977 & 2010, Buenos Aires
Thank you for coming along with me on my journeys this week.
A lot of fun things prepared for next week so be sure to follow along!
Enjoy your weekend and any "Stops that you find yourself making Along The Way".
It's raining, it's pouring The old man is snoring He went to bed and he bumped his head And couldn't get up in the morning
It's raining you know. It has for two weeks now. What's so funny about that you ask? Well I'm not really sure. I haven't been laughing at all during this wet season; in fact I haven't been able to sleep very well either because at times the rain is so heavy that it wakes me out of a dead sleep. That's scary not funny. Did you know that too much rain can make people cranky? If you didn't perhaps our paths haven't crossed in a couple of weeks because I'm super cranky. It can also make people unmotivated - couch potato - turtleneck wearing - humans.
Today I thought the rain was kind of funny because as you know today is funny Friday and I actually thought today was Thursday. If you read my post yesterday I know you were patiently waiting to find out who the mystery person is that I spoke about, but guess what? On Friday I post funny things not serious things so I'm sorry to tell you, but you'll have to check back on Monday for the conclusion to that story.
But for today let's have a laugh, build an arc, gather some animals, and talk about the end of the world as we know it. Oh, I'm sorry you didn't hear about that? Well apparently there are some people that think the world will end on Saturday. I'm not really sure what it's based on, but I think it's pretty funny because it reminds me of Y2K. I remember that year really well because IT companies around the world spent billions of dollars marketing their "fix it" technology, while others revised their entire application source code to look for the Y2K bug and to fix it. When the clock ticked Jan 1, 2000, no major problems were reported. The world went on with its normal life. My mother on the other hand was convinced that something big would happen so she ran out and got lanterns, batteries, food, and who knows what else. The funny thing is that I saw the lanterns yesterday when I was at her house. They made me really laugh.
I'm not sure if Saturday will be the end or if today will be the end, but I hope that the rain would end!
Thank you for coming along with me on my journeys this week.
Enjoy your weekend and any "Stops that you find yourself making Along The Way".
AND THE WINNER OF THE YUMMY MUMMY BROWNIE PACK IS.........Amanda Fluet Arria
Congratulations!!
Thanks you all for participating in I Stopped Along The Way's very first contest. I really enjoyed receiving your emails, Facebook, and Twitter posts on the advice that your mom/grandmother had passed on to you.
My mother has given me several good nuggets, I will share one with you. Originally this got passed down to her from her mother. She always gives me her advice in Portuguese so hopefully it'll translate properly.
"Don't spit up, it'll always hit you in the face" In other words don't talk badly or judge someone. It will always come back to get you. I found myself testing this advice one day when I was at the market. I saw a little child rolling around and screaming. I spit up alright..."OMG If that were my child..." Well, as I'm sure you can imagine the spit hit me in the face about a week later when my little lovely decided to pull a fit in the middle of the Verizon. Embarrased and ashamed, I learned my lesson.
_________________________
Here is some motherly advice submitted by YOU!!:
My mom told me that you can't do everything - you can try but something is gonna give. So, you can do everything, but just not well. - Stacey
Always wear comfortable shoes - Don
The last thing my mother always said when we left the house and how she signed notes to us was: "RWYA" Remember who you are. It was always in the back of my head when facing choices and helped guide me to make good choices (usually!)-PstLyDiva
"The best advice that my grandmother gave me was to respect myself, act in a respectful manner, expect others to show you respect, do not accept disrespect and others will treat you respectfully! -Linda
The best advice my mom gave me was to put things away when I was done with them because if not I would just have to put them away later! No one else was going to do it for me!!!" - Linda
The best advice I recieved was actually from my mother in law... when people are making your crazy in your life and there is no reasoning with these people (I think we all have a few of these people in our lives!) she tells me this old Sicilian saying that translates in English to "nod your head like a donkey!". basically you just nod and smile at these people and dont let them bother you, life is too short! - Amanda
When my parents dropped me off at college, as they left, my mother looked me straight in the eye and said, "Tommy, don't do anything stupid."- Tom
"Don't share the details of a fight you have with your husband with your mother. She will remember how hurt and upset you are long after the fight is over and may think differently of the many you love and long since forgiven." - Lori
Wishing the new bride & groom years of happiness, health & love!
Congratulations Prince William & Catherine Middleton!
In celebration, here's a little British Humor! Enjoy
The T-Mobile Royal Wedding
My Blackberry Is Not Working!
Do You Speak English?
Thank you for coming along with me on my journeys this week.
A lot of fun things prepared for next week so be sure to follow along!
Enjoy your weekend and any "Stops that you find yourself making Along The Way".
DON'T FORGET ABOUT OUR CONTEST!!
2 EASY STEPS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN:
1- Like I Stopped Along The Way on Facebook (simply click the Like icon ton this blog)
2- Tell me what the best piece of advice is that your mom/ grandmother has handed down to you.
If you are not on Facebook you can still be entered to win by simply following I Stopped Along The Way (simply click the follower icon on this blog) and leave your advice in the post a comment section.
Contest runs from April 26 thru May 5th
One winner will be randomly chosen to receive a Six Pack of Yummy Mummy Brownies(flavor of your choice $17.50 value)
Every Friday I celebrate two things. 1. All things funny 2. Starbucks. Why Starbucks? Because typically I brew my coffee at home, but on Friday I treat myself to a coffee at Starbucks….so worth the $4 Late’
Today not only is it Funny Friday but it is also Earth Day, and in celebration of Earth Day Starbucks is giving away coffees. All you have to do is bring your travel mug and they‘ll give you a Free coffee. Oh Yeah!
My friend, made me laugh as he described how he was going to obtain his free coffee. First he would drive up in his gas guzzling Ford pickup (leave it running of course), Styrofoam cup in one hand, stack of newspapers in another hand, he’d order his coffee. Maybe this is one of those - you had to be there type of moments, but it made me laugh
Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for our environment. Earth Day was founded on April 22, 1970 by United States SenatorGaylord Nelson . Today this event is celebrated in more than 175 countries. People all around the globe are taking steps to a greener lifestyle. From buying locally, shopping with reusable bags, driving an electric car, to taking shorter showers (that’s where I draw the line), we can all make a difference. Today I challenge you to make one change towards making our universe greener.
Thank you for coming along with me on my journeys this week.
A lot of fun things prepared for next week so be sure to follow along!
Enjoy your weekend and any "Stops that you find yourself making Along The Way".
There’s nothing funny about running 26.2 miles, and there is certainly nothing funny about getting up at the crack of dawn to train for such an event. If you think I’m talking from experience you definitely do not know me because although I like to challenge myself, running a marathon has never placed top on my list.
Oddly enough I have many friends that have run marathons. Some have even run more than one; which got me thinking, am I hanging around with a bunch of lunatics or am I simply missing out on something really special.
I Stopped Along The Way to talk with my friend Barbara Vanderwilden about what has inspired her to run in this year’s Boston Marathon. I can assure you that Barbara is not a lunatic, but she is a woman of strength propelled by a passion much deeper and stronger than a finish line.
The Boston Marathon is the oldest annual city marathon in the world and is ranked one of the most prestigious running events in the world. On Monday April 18th approximately 25,000 people are expected to contend. To enter you have to qualify, and to stay in the race requires months of training.
Barbara shared how as a little girl living in Boston’s North End she had always wanted to run the Boston Marathon. She is running as part of a team that supports MDSC the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. The MDSC team advocates for people with Down Syndrome. Because this is the 115 Boston Marathon, and the last year that the MDSC is a sponsored charity for the Boston Marathon, the stars aligned and she decided it was time to live out her childhood dream.
Barbara is a wife to John and mother of two to Emily and Max. Emily, the older of the two, is a wonderful big sister. She is Max's biggest cheerleader, and patient with him in everything that he tries to accomplish. Max has Down Syndrome and is a burst of sunshine. Whether he’s giving you a rendition of Taio Cruz’s Dynamite or flashing his wide smile at you, he’ll have you in stitches and win your heart.
In speaking with her it was clear that her journey was made possible by so many people. The continued support of her family has been crucial to her daily routine and a source of motivation and inspiration. With over $18 thousand dollars that she raised for MDSC she is extremely grateful to family and friends that helped her achieve her financial goal. In total 24 runners supporting MDSC have raised over $80 thousand dollars. Let's not forget about Beantown Bootcamp, six months of rigorous training during the extremely cold New England winter, now that's commitment!
I wish Barbara an easy run on Monday, and salute her and all the participants that have devoted their time to a cause bigger than they. I'm so glad that I made this stop! It reassured me that my friends are not lunatics, and that yes, 26.2 is no laughing matter.
To follow Barbara during the marathon click here and follow her number 22678
It was a cold and long winter and now a cold start to spring here in New England, so when I came home yesterday and saw that the thermometer read 59 I was tempted to sit on the porch and soak up the rays. My husband was enthusiastic about this idea but I told him the blog wouldn't write itself. He chuckled! Happy Funny Friday to you all! I was thinking about my post and wondered what it would include. I thought about this for a second and then it came to me. Isn't it funny how one thing can make someone laugh out loud to the point of tears, and the same thing can bore someone to the point of tears. Some YouTube videos are like that too.
For instance the Friday song by Rebecca Black. To date it has 87,944,639 hits. I don't particularly find it funny but who am I to stand up against 87,944,639 people(that's a crazy #).
I'm not sure if I laugh at this because it's funny or because I can totally see myself in the mirror singing to this and looking quite odd as well. Keenan Cahill has a slew of these parody videos. He's really made a name for himself and has the numbers to back him up.
What about these talking twin babies. If you watch long enough you'll actually think that you can understand them, now that's a funny thought.
And this one I really do like .Can your man......NO HE CAN'T... Where is the one that says can your women... Because anyone that knows my family unit knows that my husband is a genius when handling a computer mouse, but not so much when handing a power tool.
The weekend forecast is looking really warm - It may be time to switch wintery wools to warm weather whites. I'm excited because I love the sun and I love the heat too.
Thank you for coming along with me on my journeys this week.
A lot of fun things prepared for next week so be sure to follow along!
Enjoy your weekend and any "Stops that you find yourself making Along The Way".
My husband told me that all these Stops Along The Way are really starting to add up with the cost of fuel these days. He told me I needed to make some stops on the web versus the road. "That's funny , I'm gonna call my Friday post Funny Friday". He looked at me kind of strange, as if to say what does one thing have to do with another. After all the years that we've been together he ought to know that creative minds are rarely tidy.
So I heeded his advice and went to some of my favorites that I had bookmarked, and here's what I found.
Need Gas? Want to know the cheapest gas prices in and & around Boston? Click here for a list of gas stations, and the prices that they are charging.
Need Fuel For Your Body?
Feeling like you need a cup of Joe but would rather support a independently owned coffee house in your neighborhood. Click here for a list of the best and the boldest.
Need Time?
Fall back Spring forward- Don't forget to turn your clocks forward this Sunday March 13th. Want to know what time it is in Africa, Japan, Portugal, Brazil or anywhere else in the world? Click here for a world time clock.
Need A Bargain? Locate fresh discount coupons for thousands of web merchants and services right from the home. Click here to start discovering some deals.
Need A Laugh? Check out some this funny (and practical) 100% user-maintained dictionary where users provide and vote on definitions for urban words (slangs). Click here to talk jive.
That's all she wrote!
Thank you for coming along with me on my journeys this week.
A lot of fun things prepared for next week so be sure to follow along!
Enjoy your weekend and any "Stops that you find yourself making Along The Way".
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