PRAYER REQUEST FOR MOMMY AND BABY

I have a friend who is in the hospital that needs your prayers.

Her name is Rene and is the girl that I have been planning the bird/nest baby shower for.

She is pregnant with a little baby boy. Yesterday she was at Disneyland and fell down a flight of stairs. She is now in the hospital.

They think she may have broken her hip but they can't take x rays since she is pregnant. She is in a lot of pain.

Right now the baby is doing fine but she was told her uterus lining is thin and could lose the baby.

Please keep her and the baby on your prayer list.

I will keep you all advised as to her condition as time goes on.

Thank you so much for your prayers, thoughts, well wishes.

A FUN IDEA FOR A PARTY, WEDDING OR A SHOWER

Anyone who knows me knows I love to plan parties. It doesn't matter if it's a birthday, anniversary, baby shower, graduation or a wedding. If people will be gathering to have fun and celebrate anything, I love to plan it.

I like to plan things early too. The sooner the better. Even a year ahead I am looking for unique ideas for decorating, goodie bags and food ideas.

So, when I came across this idea I had to share it. You may have already been aware of it, but I wasn't.

You can have custom made labels on bottles from Jones Soda Company!

I love that idea! Wouldn't it be fun to have your guests served drinks with the guest of honor on the bottle? Or to give these in your take home goodie bags?


I've seen Jones Soda sold in the stores but I have to admit I've never bought one. I've never even taste one before.

I do know they come in several different flavors and lots of pretty colors to match your parties color theme.

So, the next time I see these being sold I'm going to pick up some and try them out because I can't wait to have them made for one of my up coming parties I'm planning.

If you are interested in using this idea just go to Jones Soda Company web site and click on the link. It costs $29.99 for a 12 pack of sodas to be sent to you with your own custom labels that have a photo on the front and a quote on the back. That's only about $2.50 per bottle.

I think that's a pretty good price for something different that is not seen at every party you go to. Don't you?

No, I didn't get paid to write this post nor did I get any free Jones Soda products. But, I wish I did.

I HAVE A LITTLE CRUSH

I admit it, I have a crush on Craig Ferguson. He is the Scottish comedian on the Late Show.

When I first started to watch his show I thought he was funny and entertaining. But the more I watched the more I found I had a crush on him.


I love his accent! I think he is handsome. I find his personality to be wonderful. He seems to be down to earth and friendly.

He just became an American citizen and he just got married.

Every night I make sure I'm done doing whatever needs to be done so I can turn on the TV and end my day with a laugh as I watch his show.

Have you ever seen him before? If not, then I suggest you stay up to watch him or at least set your DVR or VCR to record him. I think you would get a laugh or two and find that pretty soon you too had a crush!

THEY SAY THE ECONOMY AND LOVE IS MAKING US FAT

So how is everyone doing on this lovely Wednesday? This is our weekly post of A BETTER ME where we talk about all things having to do with losing weight, exercise, proper eating and all topics of staying healthy and becoming a better YOU.

We have all felt the pinch of this tight economy lately. People are being laid off of jobs, business after business is closing, house values dropping and even the cost of eating healthy has gone sky high.

They say this bad economy has even had a tole on our bodies. Why you ask?

Well, because the fact of the matter is, it's cheaper, easier and more comforting to eat junk food.

When money is tight we tend to get depressed and that of course is a big reason why many of us turn to food. For comfort. For a fast feel good fix.

Also, with the cost of the groceries getting so high it's become more and more hard to afford fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy. So we tend to by prepackaged items that are loaded with sugar, fats and calories. Or do a quick drive through the nearest fast food resturant.

While fresh food may be more costly don't forget that there are still good buys on frozen fruits and vegetables. These are tasty and just as healthy as fresh.

If you are going to stretch your meal dollars by eating more pasta go with the whole wheat pasta. It's better for you and fills you up for the same cost.

Use your meats in stews, soups and sauces that are full of vegetables. You don't really need to eat that much meat to get your days worth of protein. In fact, you don't need to eat meat at all to get your daily protein.

You can eat beans, lentils and nuts which are all much less costly then meat.

Just be more aware of what you buy, stay away from the fast food joints and plan. Plan your menus ahead of time. Use the weekly store adds to find the best buys for the week and plan your meals around the adds and what is on sale.

Stock up on frozen and canned fruits and veggies.

Even plan your own vegetables and fruit in your garden this year to help cut cost the costs and stay lean and healthy.

Oh being in love...it's the best thing in life right. Wrong! It can make you fat!

Well, love itself won't make you pack on the pounds but when you are in love or in a happy relationship you tend to feel more comfortable with your loved one and well, how do I say this? Let yourself go.

We also tend to eat more when we are in love. We are happy and want to celebrate and the easiest way is with food. Going out to eat, cooking that special dessert, eating that sweet gift of candy.

Well, don't fall for it ladies! Watch what you eat if you are in love or not. When you cook for your special other, do so with love. Think about their health and your own. Cook healthy so you will both be around for a long time.

Go for long walks, hand in hand. Take care of yourself.

So you can see, even in this bad economy and even if you are in love or single you can still be OK. Just plan, watch what you eat, get your exercise and don't forget to tell yourself every day "I'm going to be A BETTER ME".

PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION ON THE QUEEN MARY

I know I said I was going to post about this two days ago but I've had problems getting the photos to upload properly.

Anyway, Glenda, from Many Fond Memories and I went on a tour at the Queen Mary called Paranormal Investigations. They only have this tour on Fridays at Midnight. It is lead by a well known Paranormal Investigator.

We got there a little bit early so while we were waiting we decided to look around a little bit before the tour started.

Glenda had taken a few photos and then while taking a photo of a staircase she noticed she had what is called an orb.

For those of you who don't know, an orb is what they call it when you catch a "spirit, ghost or energy" of a dead person on film. You can not see them in person. They just show up in photos or on film.

Glenda showed me her photos with the orbs. I then took out my camera to see if I got the same things. After all, sometimes what appears to be an orb is really nothing more then a speck of dust or water or some other mark on your camera lens.

Having two cameras taking photos of the same area would not likely show an orb if one was not really there.

So I clicked my first photo of the stairs and this is what I got.

An orb! I was really surprised to see this. You see, I assumed all these ghost stories I've heard about at the Queen Mary was really nothing more then just that...stories. Stories of sightings in order to bring in the tourist.

So, after seeing that I too had an orb in my photo I then said out loud "OK then, is there anyone else who wants to come along on the tour with us? If so, come out now." Then I clicked the camera again.

Much to my amazement that photo had even more orbs. Now I was not sure if I was starting to believe yet or not. So again I spoke out loud. This time I said "If you are really a spirit showing up then make yourself much brighter so I can really see you." Then I took another photo.

As you can see I got a much brighter orb this time. There is also a smaller fainter one at the top of the stairs.

I have to admit I was a bit freaked out by this. Not scared. Just a strange feeling.

We then left and went back to meet up where the group was gathering waiting for the Paranormal Investigator to show up.

We spoke to the guy who had checked us in and told him about our photos. He was a young guy who had been working at the Queen Mary for about 2 years and when he first started he said he didn't believe in ghosts or anything with the paranormal. After working there he said he has never seen anything but he has felt things. Things like the room getting cold and someone touching him when no one was in the room.

He asked which set of stairs we took the photos at. When we told him he smiled and said that many people have seen things there. He then said those stairs were right by where the children's play room used to be.

Could we have captured some spirits that were really there? I don't really know. I do know it was strange that I asked for certain things and then the next picture they showed up.

Finally our Tour Guide showed up. His name is Pat and he is the one who founded the Paranormal Tours at the Queen Mary. He also is the founder of a Paranormal Magazine. I forgot which one. To be honest, I never even knew there was one.

He then explained what the equipment was that was used when doing investigation and showed us how everything worked. Then he handed out stuff so everyone had a flash light and some piece of equipment to use.

It turned out there was a team of Investigators from San Diego on the ship doing research. We ran into them at the pool area. We were asked to be quiet and careful so as not to disturb their work.

They were set up just outside the pool area in the hall. They were picking up some kind of readings of activity with their camera, infrared machine and something that measures the electromagnetic readings.

I didn't see or feel anything as I watched them.

Our investigator told us there have been stories by many people of a little girl that has been seen in the pool area. There have been sightings of wet footprints coming from the pool even though there is no water in the pool any longer.

Also a lady in white with no head has been seen there.

There is another tour at the Queen Mary that is a special effect show/tour and they darken the room and foot prints appear to be walking on the deck. Our guide told us he was the one who painted the foot prints for the special effect show and so we shouldn't come to him saying we saw foot prints as they were not real.

I took a photo to show the painted foot prints. However, right near them...an orb shows up. Right in the area where the little girl is said to be seen.

Her name is Jackie and it has been reported that she has been seen upstairs in this area and also heard. I didn't hear or see or feel anything and nothing showed up in my photos.

The investigator told us that while doing a four day investigation in the pool area they picked up the sound of a little girl giggling in this area at 3:00am.

This is just another shot of the pool area. As you can see, I didn't pick up orbs in every picture. In fact, more often then not I got nothing. So they clearly were not just something on my camera lens.

This area is in back of the pool and was the woman's changing room. There have been lots of reports of people seeing things and hearing voices in this area. Many believe this is where there is a portal that is a pathway between this world and the hereafter.

There are no lights in this area any longer. Glenda and I waited until everyone left this area and turned off our flash lights to see if we felt or heard anything.

Nothing.

We moved on to areas not open to the public at all. We went to the front cargo hold area. To get there you have to go through back rooms, storage areas and climb lots of stairs.

This is also the area where they kept the Prisoners of War. Many of whom died here.

We are sitting in an area just before we entered the actual room. We were warned that if we had any fear of heights or closed spaces that we should stay here and wait for the rest of the group to return.

To get to where we were going we had to climb down a very old, narrow and long ladder. Once we got down we would be in the very bottom of the ship where the Prisoners were held durning World War II.

We were also warned that down there we had to be very careful because there were several places of missing floor boards and we could very easily fall down through the boards and get hurt.

Do you see the orbs in the photo above? Could these be some of the Prisoners or Soldiers from the War?

This is a shot looking down to where were going. Believe me it's much further down then these photos look. It was a scary and eerie feeling just looking down there.

I did have a strange feeling about going down there. Like it wasn't a happy place. A feeling of sadness and gloom came over me.

Do you see the orbs?

But, we were brave and went down. Not everyone in our group did so.

Another shot just before I turned around to go down the ladder. I had a fear that maybe I was doing the wrong thing by going down there.

No orbs in this shot.

This is once I'm down there. I was taking a lot of photos. I caught many orbs down in this area.

It's said to be the most haunted place on the ship.

Our guide played a recording for us of sounds and voices that he had captured over time.

It was scary as we heard voices saying "Help me!" and "We are dying". There were banging sounds and clinging noises.

Our guide had us all sit down so we would be safe. We were going to turn the lights out and record as he asked questions. Everyone was very quiet and we all waited to hear answers to questions such as "Is there anybody with us? Can you make a noise so we know you are here? Will you show yourself to us? Do you want us to leave?".

My heart was beating a bit faster as I waited. It was pitch black down there. I just knew were were going to hear something or see something right before our eyes. The feeling in there was so strong that we were not alone.

After about 15 minutes he stopped the recording and we turned our lights back on and listened to the recording. Again...nothing.

Yet the photos once again showed more orbs.

I snapped a few more photos before heading back up the ladder. Which, by the way, was even scarier going up then it was going down. I had a feeling someone or something didn't want us to leave.

I had a photo showing the ladder and near it were orbs but even though I finally was able to get it to upload here I notice it is now missing again.

Is there a problem with blogger or does someone not want that picture to be shown??? I don't know.

We then went to the engine room. You can see one of the other investigators was in there running tests.

You also notice that to the left of the door it says 13. That is door 13 where a young man of 19 who had just become a fireman was killed as the door shut on him trapping him between rooms.

It is said that this young man still is there in the engine room. Seen by many over the years.

At this point I was standing next to Glenda and we both took a photo of this area. She took a picture first and I then clicked my camera thinking maybe I would capture an orb that may or may not be the young man that was killed.

What I saw was not an orb. I saw a shadow. This shadow did not show up on Glenda's photo so I knew it was not something on the wall or the way the light was shinning.

One of the San Diego Paranormal Investigators heard me talking to Glenda about maybe seeing something. So he asked to see my camera. He agreed that was was captured was not what we could see with our own eyes. He said he wasn't sure what it was but it wasn't a shadow made by any light up in the area as nothing was up there. He found it to be very interesting.

I zoomed in and took another photo and captured it again.

Click on the photos to blow them up for a better look. Everyone agreed it looked like a shadow of a person with a hat on.

The real strange thing was Glenda did capture this same type of image only in the swimming pool area.

Did someone decided to walk with us on the tour???

Now I don't know if what we caught on film is a ghost or spirit. I do know we could not explain them or rule them out as being anything certain.

Are they from those who lost their life while on the Queen Mary years ago? I can't say. I'll let you decide.

I had so much fun on this tour. However, I did think our Investigator was all wrong for this tour. He would try to put a damper on everything everyone saw, heard, felt or captured on film. He said it was his job to explain what these unknown things were. Though he did agree that not everything could be explained.

At the end of the tour we returned all the equipment and he said "So did you have fun? Wasn't that boring? That's what 99% of the time is as a Paranormal Investigator". I was shocked he said that. After all, doesn't he want people to think they saw things, heard thing or felt a presence? Isn't that how they get more people to sign up for the tours? Strange.

There are a lot of words I would use to describe this tour but boring was not one of them.

I want to thank Glenda for finding out about this tour and for asking me to go along. It was really like no other tour I've ever been on before.

LETS GO TO THE ACADEMY AWARDS SHOW

I know some of you were expecting my story about the Queen Mary today. The truth is, I have not had a chance to go through the 136 photos I took so I could pick out only a hand full to share.

But, I will get that post done in time for tomorrow.

Last night, Glenda and I went to Hollywood. She had never been there before so we decided to go down there. We knew it was Academy Award time but we were not sure what to expect.

These signs were posted up all over the place. They had the street blocked off and were getting all set up for the big day today.

Security was tight. With guards and police everywhere.

Outside was set up and almost ready for the action that would be there in less then 24 hours. Light checks were being done, flowers were being brought in and the final touches were being finished up.

On the street that was blocked off is where all the cameras are. The area where the stars will be walking down and giving quick interviews with the different TV stations, before the show starts.

This is where the fan's bleachers are set up. All the yelling and screaming for the stars takes place out here. This is where we get the first glimpse of what everyone will be wearing and who they bring for their dates.

There were golden statutes everywhere you looked. Up on billboards, lining the red carpet, on the large video screens, inside the shopping area where the Kodak Theater is and of course just outside the Kodak Theater.

This is the big Oscar that sits just outside the doors of the entrance to the Kodak Theater. He is sitting in a huge bouquet of fresh flowers.

It was very pretty and impressive.

Everyone, who enters the Theater, will have to clear through security, even the stars.

There were lots of people, working hard, as they were trying to get everything done so the show goes off without a hitch.

This is where the stars and guests walk just before they get to the Theater but after they are greeted by the fans outside. This area is inside the shopping area.

I'm sure it will be lined with a red carpet by the time everyone gets there.

For those who will be seated upstairs, they will be lead to the entrance at the top of these stairs.

Even though I have lived in CA all my life, I have never been to an Academy Award show before. Not even to sit in the stands. My mom and my sister, Patty, has and both have told stories of how much fun they had.

This was the first time I had even been there before the Award Show to see any of the set up. It was exciting to be that close to where all the action will be. To see first hand all effort that is put into the show.

Maybe someday I'll get to go to see the show in person. Until then, I'll be watching with millions of others as we listen to those famous words "And the Oscar goes to..."

GHOSTLY ENCOUNTERS

Yesterday I was excited because I got to meet another fellow blogger. That's right, Glenda from Many Fond Memories came down my way.

We decided to spend the day shopping and then at midnight we were going to the Queen Mary to do a tour of the Paranormal. Or, ghost hunting on the Queen Mary.

During the day we stopped at a thrift store and then headed to the Orange Circle to do some antique shopping.

We went in several stores, purchased a few things here and there and shared some laughs.

Not once did we think about ghosts being at the Orange Circle. That is until we went into two different stores...

We went into one store that had many many booths set up by different vendors. So many pretty things were there.

We stepped into this one room and while we were talking we both heard this strange muffled talking sound. We both looked at each other and asked "Did you hear that?" We acknowledged we did, laughed and then continued to talk.

Then we heard it again. What was it? Where was it coming from?

It sounded like it was coming from this radio. So we walked over to it. There it was again. That sound. It was clearly coming out of this radio.

We checked it out only to find out it wasn't even plugged in. I thought maybe it was a reproduction and ran off batteries. So I turned the knobs. Nothing.

Strange! We heard strange things coming out of this radio even as we stood right by it and was touching it. Yet, it wasn't turned on. Wasn't even plugged in.

Glenda and I just looked at each other and giggled. Then we walked away.

She went to the cashier to pay for her things. I told her I was going to go back to see if I could hear anything again.

This time I didn't hear a thing. So I tried to explain it to myself as maybe it was someone talking near by that we heard.

As I walked away the sound came back. I stopped in my tracks and clear as could be I heard a woman's voice coming out of the speaker of the radio and it said "Carl".

I told Glenda what happened and she asked up at the cashier if anyone has ever reported a ghost in their store. "Yes" was the answer she got. In fact, they even had a newspaper article about Paranormal Investigators that came there.

They told her we "had to" go downstairs. So of course we did. We had no idea what to expect down there or what stories had been told before.

At first I didn't understand what they wanted us to go down there for. I fully expected to see an area set up where they had a speaker set up to the radio and a camera to watch the people freak out. You know, sort of a "Smile, you are on Candid Camera" type of set up.

But there wasn't anything.

Then I came across this space. Lot's of vintage clothes. "Nice", I thought. Then I saw a little girl. She looked to be about 5 or so. She had blond curls and was in a dress. She was playing in the space and smiling as she went amongst the clothes.

I wondered where her mother was. I looked around but didn't see anyone anywhere near me. I turned around. I was going to ask her where her mommy was. Only there wasn't a little girl there anymore.

In the area where this old stroller was, Glenda, got a strange feeling and even had to walk out of the space. She didn't see or hear anything. She got a strange feeling.

We went back upstairs. Spoke to the workers and told them what we saw. Only I didn't tell them about the little girl. I had told Glenda though.

I was more intrigued by the radio then the little girl. That was until one of the ladies said there have been reports of a little girl following people downstairs. Glenda and I just looked at each with eyes wide open. Was that the little girl I saw?

The lady that worked there asked if we would show her the radio we had been speaking about. So we took over and was telling here where we were standing and then all of a sudden...there was that noise again. We all heard it this time.

The worker looked like she was freaking out. Her mouth was open and eyes were about ready to pop out of her head. She just kept saying "I heard it. I heard it".

No one knew who Carl was though.

We also had gone into this shop before we stopped in the last one. This place was filled from top to bottom with so many things you couldn't take it all in.

We just walked through sort of quickly.

As we got to the back area I started to get a strange feeling. Like someone was there that didn't really want us to be there. Not really scary or a mean feeling but more like a crotchety old man was there and didn't want to bothered with anyone.

Glenda came around the corner and I told her "I have a feeling that if we were taking pictures in here we would be getting orbs.

She validated my feelings by saying she felt like someone was pushing her along and she saw (not with her eyes but as a picture in her mind) an older man, hunched over, dressed in a blue shirt and khaki pants. Sort of a "crabby old man".

So we took our cameras out and started to click away before we left.

At first I thought we didn't catch anything. Then I noticed this photo in the same spot I had felt strange. There was an orb.

You may need to click on the photo to blow it up to see it.

While we were in the other store Glenda asked the workers if they heard anything about the store where we had just been. Nothing really. Then one of the girls said the owner had died not to long ago.

Glenda asked what he looked liked. Asked if he was the crabby old man. They answered "Yes, you know him?" Glenda just said "No, we have never met him but that is who we had just had a run in with."

We then went to go grab a bite to eat. Strange things were going on. We both agreed. Nothing scary really, just strange. Was it all in our heads? Were we just trying to see and hear things. We did not think so because the worker also heard the sounds. We agreed, something was there in those stores. We just didn't know what.

At midnight we went to the Queen Mary and went with a group to go search for ghosts. The Queen Mary is known for being haunted and has had many many sightings there.

We met up with a group of around a dozen people and a well known Paranormal Investigator and went off for several hours on the ship. In places not open to the general public. Places that were known to be haunted. Where people had died or been held captive as POW's durning World War II.

You will have to come back tomorrow if you want to hear that story though. I think you will enjoy some of the pictures and things captured on film.

Until then, be careful...you may not be alone.