RIP Whitney Houston, one of the GREATEST voices of all time. We will always love you Whitney, you were an inspiration to so many through your music and your beautiful heart, you have touched many and will always be a legendary diva. I sincerely pray that you have finally found the peace you searchd for here… My thoughts and prayers to those you left behind. RIP Whitney xo’s
AKA Paris E.
PSA: Dear Public, please be aware that when you support cuts to Federal spending, and pay freezes for Federal employees, you are not just talking about the fat boys on Capitol Hill, Congress members, etc… You are also affecting the unseen by the public eye ‘little people.’ You are affecting the pay of millions of already underpaid, overworked, and undervalued Federal government workers, people such as those in the social security office who process your social security claims and checks, medicaid, disability claims and checks, unemployment claims and checks, social services and supports, and other SSI/DHHS services. You are supporting freezing the pay of already underpaid/overworked Federal workers who provide invaluable services to the public, such as researchers and support staff finding cures to common diseases, studing the envornment, making perscription drugs, providing medical care and access to medical care to the underserved populations, providing assistance and government grants to send poor kids to school and college, non-military men and women serving our country when disaster strikes–all these poeple out here serving the communities in which we live. These are the ‘Federal employees who are going to be hit the hardest by these decisions to cut Federal spending and freeze Federal pay. Realize, that you are affecting the little people the most, be knowledgable and wise in what you choose to support–thoroughly think it through. Your support of continually penalizing Federal employees affects more than the public big wigs, in supporting these cuts and freezes, you will begin to see the negative effects of a very low moral in Federal government workers and offices, creating longer lines, longer wait times, grumpier–uncaring workers, unfocused workers who are too stresssed out by not being able to provide for their families to be focused you and YOUR claim or your case whatever that may be. It is not-so-much the big wigs on the chopping block as it is more the little people who are already struggling more than their private sector colleagues to make ends meet in a every rising economy with no cost of living benefits coules with higher insurance premiums for the last year and the next year to come, all in the ever-rising cost of living expenses… No hope = no moral, which = people who just stop giving a care.
All that said, be politically aware of the people you are affecting–Federal workers are every where–not just in Congress.
…that is all.
xo’s
AKA Paris E.
Okay, so I received this passage in an email this week:
“God doesn’t give you the people you want; He gives you the people you NEED… to help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be.”
However beautifully inscribed and inspirationally designed… it got me to thinking on the different things that people believe about God, and God’s will… Personally, I had to pick the passage apart because it’s contents pretty much goes against what I believe.
Let’s take the first sentence: “God doesn’t give you the people you want, He gives you the people you need.” I disagree, the Bible says “Ask and you shall receive…” So if you ask God to bring people into your life, He will send these people into your life–however the “free-will” HUMANS–flawed as we are, sometimes we allow the wrong people in. God’s doing? Ummm, perhaps not-so-much.
The passage goes on to say “…He gives you the people you NEED…to help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be.” I, personally, do not believe that our Loving Father sends people into our lives to hurt us or do us wrong just to teach us something. I, personally, beleive that we–having our own “free-will” allow those such people into our lives, and when they hurt us, it was due to our own shortcomings and inability to see the forrest for the trees. We are flawed human beings and we make mistakes, I beleive God tries to show us and guide us to the right path, but some times WE just don’t see it, and CHOOSE to take the other path… therefore creating our own ‘issues’.
When bad things happen, I don’t blame God for putting that thing in my live, I count my Blessings and thank our Almighty Father for helping me out of that bad situation… because I know when I get MYSELF into these bad situations… HE always gives me a door to escape, however long it take me to see it–is on me.
Bottom line: God is GOOD all the time… and all the time God is GOOD…
…just saying… 
Peace, love and jelly beans…
xo’s
AKA Paris E.
Every tech company has a tablet now days… seems it is tablet season and I feel a review coming on in the near future…
Wait for it…
xo’s
AKA Paris E.
I read a story the other day about a couple living in a 1.2 million dollar home on a lake…with a boat and dock, frequently traveling the world–each receiving Federal fund–allocated by our tax dollars (for people in need)–for 1) disability–both husband and wife are receiving, 2) Wife is receiving $1,200.00 in ‘rental assistance’, 3) social services (AKA welfare) checks, AND 4) food stamps.
Now I know for a fact that this is NOT an isolated case– this type of fraud is going on everywhere and there are more than thousands of cases of blatant welfare fraud in almost every major city (I, personally, have seen MANY not-so much- in need people abusing the system). My question is HOW the heck are we allowing this to go on?? This is our tax money at work… and we are literally paying for LAZY able-bodied people to sit at home and scam the Government into funding their lifestyle of luxury, while hard-working people who are TRULY in need are turned down daily BECAUSE they work for a living–and are thereby disqualified as ineligible for such services. This is a total injustice and failure of the ‘system’ in my opinion, and it angers me to read or hear about such fraudulent waste of government funds (my tax dollars)–the public–or welfare abusers need to be relieved that I am not running Social Services… REALLY. It is time–past time–once again–to look in to ‘welfare reform.’ There are HUGE glitches in the current system…and has been for YEARS.
We have a voice on this–we can exert our voice to influence or encourage REFORM–INVESTIGATION. I don’t get it, so many people listen to the news, rumors other people’s opinions such as friends, family and co-workers to e their ‘source’ to hear and/or learn about politics and what is happening in the world… But are you hearing and learning reality–or someone’s opinion? My thought, instead of learning form the streets, take the initiative to READ, learn and become knowledgeable about what is really going on–how things work, exactly where our/you tax dollars go, and all of the who what where’s and why’s of politics and budget. Learn WHO the go to people are in your community… Things remain the same because so many remain blind, and this is shameful, when We KNOW (or should know) that change will only occur if WE (the tax payers–voters) are knowledgeable, and stand up and let our voices of concern be heard. Seriously, I am tired of hearing unknowledgeable people complain about this government spending and waste issue–and debate about government cuts (including the wherewithal answer of just cutting WORKING people’s salaries)… how using our voices to demand investigating on the money vacuum government programs that we have in place… those that allow abuse and WASTE of government funds? Sometimes, when I hear people complaining about government, I have to ask them, how do you know this–what and who are your sources and lastly, while you are complaining about the issue…what are YOU doing to facilitate change in these areas? –Sadly, my questions are replies to with a blank stare. A blank stare that unspokenly proves they have no real concept. Jump on a band wagon without the facts… who does that–too many. This is America… a country run–on paper, at least–as being a democracy (remember that word… we learned it in school… the two type of government: democracy and authoritarian??)… but when there doesn’t seem to be much democracy we want to know WHY–but instead of question the right people (law makers and officials in positions (positions we put them in) to facilitate change or bring up concerns), we just stand around the water cooler and blindly complain.
All this to say–back to the welfare fraud issue–and even all other political/government concerns, we need some reform in government programs–use your American born right to democracy for good… Look around, learn, and be aware of what is ‘really going on’, and actively do something about your concerns. Write letters, attend community meetings, and VOTE (not just in the presidential elections either–the minor elections are significant as well!) use your voice. Be active and proactive. Knowledge is power, and power brings change…
Ok enough said… rant over!
As always… Live Love laugh…Be happy, be productive…
xo’s
AKA Paris E.
Now, I can take jokes just as well as the next person, and I am definitely known to put out quite a few on a regular basis myself… however, I received an email bashing our President today and funny as that email ‘joke’ may have been to some, I am a die-hard Democrat—I am an American—and I respectfully served in our military (1st Gulf War Vet!) to support my country, and now I work for in the Federal government system—so basically this man is my boss, …but more than that, I have a personal, ‘politically-aware’, sincere, vested sense of ‘investment’ in this country that we all live, work, and are free to play in, and I don’t think that literary bashing of our President is acceptable–especially for a President who has really shown no signs of unprofessionalism, or un-Americanism in the two years that he has spent being the “clean up man.” “Lying thief?” Really?! I don’t think that our President did any lying, conniving or thieving. I sincerely think he did his best in a very ugly and tough situation that was left to him from YEARS of egregious mismanagement of US government resources by many Presidents before him…
**No matter who our President is (even though I didn’t agree with the previous administration actions in certain areas—it was STILL OUR Administration—and I never bashed our President—whomever it was). As Americans, yes, free speech is in our right, however, we should have enough respect for our country and support the person that is tasked with all the BS of running an entire country–it’s a dam tough job—and somebody has to do it—and in my HUMBLE opinion… unless we think that we could really get in there and do the job better, we need not show such disrespect—or at least not pass it on to those of us who support our country and have literally fought for our country… no matter who’s hands it was/is in. Just as in my household, you don’t like how it’s being run—then stop complaining and leave, go see if the grass is greener on the other side. Enough said.
I realize that this email was just a forward—and I am not shooting the messenger so to speak… however I will say, next time the disrespect of our President jokes come around, I hope that they will kindly leave me off the forward list. I don’t appreciate receiving things to this nature… (especially not to my “Federal Government” email address —>how distasteful!)
(…and yes, in case you were wondering, my reply ‘to all’ was similar to this one 
)
Patriotically and respectfully…
AKA Paris E
Yes, you are worth several million and more…never settle for less than your worth…
…that is all.
AKA Paris E.
…Ladies… stand in the mirror and repeat this 20 times daily: Having a man does not make you or break you!
Too often, during the proverbial girl talk with friends, relatives, co-workers, etc…, I seem to be hearing constant dramatic-isms of how miserable these ladies are because either they can’t find a man, or they are having problems with their man… and it seems to consume their whole perception of their lives in a negative manner. My response and advice to these women is the same every time–but first, I have to ask WHY? I mean seriously, I was brought up to be super independent, not to depend on a man, husband, or partner for anything—but to have my own so-to-speak. Don’t get me wrong, having someone to share this wonderful life’s journey with is a pleasant plus–but it isn’t the end of all if we don’t have that at the moment. Personally, I know that I CAN–I and have survived on my own plenty of times–happilly, and I have never allowed a man or a bad relationship to devour my outlook on life–I am the creator of my own outlook. So I have to wonder, where are these women learning this behavior? Where does that come from–men certainly don’t act this way. But then I have to step back and look around… and realize that this frame of thinking is the societal norm, and I am the one, actually outside the great definition of ‘the norm’.
Society has pushed the ‘socially correct’ path of women for centuries—from day one, as a matter of fact, and sadly, I have to say that subconsciously, in society’s small-minded idealism, that ‘correct’ path, really hasn’t changed to much!
Back in the ‘old days,’ women were raised to follow only the straight and narrow marry, have children, cook, clean, teach, and take care of her family path. It was not important that she be educated, be worldly or knowledgeable, as long as she could cook and clean, take care of her husband and bear children, she was good. Later, as women began showing up in the workforce (teachers, nurses, secretaries, etc..), education and social rights began changing for women, and as time went on, women won more and more different items to add to her path–but still–society continued to nonchalantly push the ‘socially correct’ path. For instance, let’s take a look at our feminine fairy tales, shall we.
Let’s see, we have Cinderella. Cinderella was a victim of her evil step-mother—her father’s second wife who had her own three daughters, whom she was trying to marry off to the wealthiest suitor. Because she was the ‘step-child’, she was forced to do all the duties the other women in the house did not want to do… cook, clean, sew, garden, etc… While the other daughters focused on how to catch the perfect husband. The fairy tale did not focus on anything other than the importance of attracting a good husband—attract the Prince, and life was a happily ever after.
Moving on, snow White. Snow White was a beautiful princess—the fairest in the land… who got hated on by the jealous queen who instructed the woodsman to take her out to the forest to kill her. However the woodsman did not so the evil queen poisoned an apple to kill her. Snow White ate the apple and she never woke up. Somehow, the Prince finds her–is taken by her beauty, opens the casket and either kisses her (or shakes the casket whereby she spits up the apple–depending on which version you see/read) which awakens her. Snow White marries the Prince, and lives happily ever after.
Next we have Sleeping Beauty. As a baby, Princess Aurora is cursed by an evil witch to die by her 16th birthday by a poisoned spinning-wheel. To try to prevent this, the king places her into hiding, in the care of three good fairies to protect her and one of the fairies casts a spell upon her that will allow the her to awake from an ageless sleep with a kiss from her true love… Needless to say, she gets poisoned, and is in ageless sleep, the Prince fights his way to her, kisses her, she awakes, she marries him and she lives happily ever after.
…You get the point, from childhood on up we, girls, are put in the mindset that the most important thing for us in order to live happily ever after is to find Prince charming. Yes, finding Prince charming is great, but living our lives and following our dreams and reaching our goals are important too… so why are so many women putting their whole life’s outlook into having a man…?
I don’t know, just something I was pondering as I was listening to someone going on and on about how miserable this person has made her life… I mean, yes, love is grand… but it isn’t the only thing that constitutes “happily ever after”.
Love yourself 1st Princesses! Make yourself happy 1st! Live YOUR lives in happiness and positivity… and love will come.
And that is all )
AKA Paris E.
I was just thinking, there is MUCH to say about being a Mother.
I was talking with a co-worker this morning about her morning exhaustion caused by lack of sleep due to her endless evenings worth of ‘Motherly duties’ and how tough it is to be a Mom of toddlers, and it got me thinking back to when my children (twins–now 12) were that age, and I thought, wow, that part was easy… Try getting them up & ready for school every morning, waking them up at 5am because the alarm sure doesn’t; pushing them into the shower, teeth brushed/flossed; pushing them to get dressed; nagging them to eat (and stay off the game systems/TV); double checking that they have their homework in their backpacks; that they have their clean gym clothes bags, lunch money, keys, socks, shoes, jackets, walk the dogs and warning them not to miss the bus (so I dont have to leave work, come home to take them to school!), all the while trying to get myself together and out of the house by 6:30 too… Then think about literally racing home at 3:30 to get to after school activities and sports, practice after a full days work…. followed by 7th grade homework for two involving hours of extensive research for health, history, literature, foriegn languages & science projects, editing papers, remembering, studying and re-teaching algebra and geometry formulas, and relearning to aid them in studing for all of the above subject area tests, filling out tons of redundant paperwork, while simultaneously cooking a nutritional-well-balanced dinner (yeah right), folding laundry, walking the dogs, feeding all the pets, cleaning up, ironing for the next day, and preparing your thoughts and paperwork for your own morning meeting. I know I have left a whole slew of things out, but any of the moms out there know exatly where I am going with this so I will end it here… All of that merely to say that the word(s) “Mommy”, “Mom”, “Mother”, “Mamma”, “Mama”, “Ma”, “Mami”, “Madre”, “Mum”, etc… should always be written with a capital letter to show the MUCH deserved respect for the meaning of the word…
SALUTE to us all.
I LOVE my children and I am truley BLESSED to be their ‘Mommy’… though I admit it is always quite challenge–but one I so willingly accept in love. <3
xo’s
AKA Paris E
I just have to say RIP Amy Winehouse. Many warm thoughts, prayer and condolence to her family and friends. I feel so bad for them, her life in addiction was such a long difficult battle… I feel for her, but mostly for her family and friends that have seen her through all of the ups and downs of addiction and now her passing… RIP Amy, I hope that you have finally found your peace… xo’s
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