Hello How are you?

Hello Friend,

How are you? I am doing fine, I got some bad news today. A friend of mine told me she has cancer. I don't know what to say to her. I told her of course, that everything would be okay. I want to believe that and I have to believe that. But I am scared. I am taking a stance against this disease, it has killed people I love. It has changed people I love. IT has touched way too many of us. I am not sure how we can fight this demon..................Oh yes I know............PRAY, prayer is the only thing that can cure cancer.

So my dear friend, I would like to ask everyone who reads this Blog to cut and paste and tell the world about this prayer, Let's stop cancer.

Lord I pray to you

I give you the authority

For my Life and My Heart

Lord

CANCER, I know you can abolish it, you can kill it

You can stomp it from our lives.

Thank you for the doctors who are experts

Thank you for the medicine that keeps it away

We thank you for giving us the weapons needed to fight

BUT LORD

we need your help

We need your intervention, only the way you can do it

Lord

We need you to save us

Thank Lord for this gift

AMEN

Things I want

I want the world to be better, more specific, I want our leaders to lead

(Heb 13:17)

I want all those animals to be safe from the oil

(Gen 49:18)

I want people to say what they mean and mean what they say

(Prov 23:23)

I want the word Love to have meaning

(Psa 18:1)

I want the word faith to have meaning

(Dan 4:37)

I want to go someplace amazing

(Psa 89:11)

I want to eat something I have never eaten before

(Gen 27:4)

I want people to live up to their responsibilities

(Psa 40:6)

I want all families to love each other, no matter what

(Eph 6:1,2)

I want people to ask for help

(Psa 55:22)

I want everybody to experience Joy

(Psa 35:9)

I want everybody to experience madness and real Laughter

(Job 8:21)

I want people to live in others shoes

(Prov 3:5-7)

I want people at least to walk one mile

(Gen 3:8)

I want To Love and Understand and Have Faith everyday

(Rev 21:4)

I want everybody to know God Loves Them

(1 John 4:19)

Little Dog v. Big Dog

Is there a difference between a little dog and a big dog? Well the obvious answer would be heck yeah. But really is there? Beside the obvious.

Little chihuahua v. a South African Boer Boel (by the way is a 150 lb dog full grown). Both need to learn to go potty outside, both need to learn where to eat, what is okay to eat, sit, stay, wait etc. So both are dogs. They both need to learn the same lessons in life, so far the only difference is size.

Now you are walking down the street and you come across a sweet little 3 and a half pound chihuahua and OMG how cute is that. You stop, can I pet your dog, is he or she nice, because you never know what you are going to get with a chihuahua. They are most likely going to be protective of there owners, we have all seen it, those nasty, nasty Chihuahuas. Okay same situation with the 150 pound Boer Boel, Holy S**T, OMG, what kind of dog is that???? Most people are very interested in this dog because quite frankly how often do you see one. But most will be afraid. Would you? I would not be but I am very into dogs and happen to be very close to a chihuahua and a South African Boer Boel. But that's me, the average person is not exposed to these extremes.

But I am off the point, are they different? Just because one is small and one is big. Are they different because they were bred for different things decades ago? Most dogs don't do their original jobs they were bred for. Are they different? I don't think so. There is one big difference and only one, (in this humble blogger opinion) Size!!!!!! I can still pick up my 3 and 1/2 pound chihuahua TJ (Theodore James) and cannot pick my 150 pound Boer Boel Tank (aka Tanky Boy). But to me they are the same. I expect them both to have manners in public, I expect them both to sit on command and I understand they both need their Leader to love them.

So the moral of this story children is, teach your dogs manners, they will love you for it.

OK So It Makes A Difference

Make a difference

Be Strong

Live by a code

realize a moment

get on with life

be right there

understand

love big, lose hard

enjoy the moment, take a minute

and just be there.

These are just some of the things that makes us human

Franky's is back

For all you Venturians and all you who come to Ventura to eat. I am here to tell you that Franky's is back, with a new name. The Dume Room, I know you are all saying what the heck are you talking about???? Well for all you locals, you remember Chris she used to own Franky's when it was the place to go to for breakfast, then she sold it to some idiots who ruined it. They went down, talk about a sinking ship. For some of you, you will remember the spectacle that went down at Franky's late at night, watching the plates fly between lovers. Oh my. Talk of the town.

Well no more, it is now owned by this cute couple, with a 4 year old little girl. If you go in there you will see her, she loves to talk to the patrons. Adorable. But the best part is that Chris is back. Her beautiful menu of curry chicken salad and turkey bacon available again for the heart healthy. Soups she used to make from scratch. Yes finally something new in Ventura that is old. After all the businesses that have gone away, it is refreshing to have an old one back.

Everybody run don't walk back to (Franky's) Dume Room, same place, same food, different name.

Two thumbs up.

I just don't get it

I have not ranted in forever, so I am due. Okay people what do we think of the new health bill? Quite frankly I don't really understand it. I understand two things, One, it is law to have health insurance now, two we cannot be excluded for previous illnesses.

All right, So the thing I do understand is that now the government says I have to have medical insurance. But I don't work for a company who has insurance and neither does my husband. Okay it seems like we are in the same place we were before. Can't afford insurance, but now it is the damn law to get it. Oh don't get me wrong I would love to have medical insurance and they say there will be programs for those who can't afford insurance, but I guarantee we will not qualify for THAT program. Gees, a girl just can't get ahead.

Okay, okay..........so as though this is not bad enough. Have you heard about the 20 cent tax on plastic bags at the grocery store? I am one of those people that carries reusable bags. But when I go big shopping I don't have enough of those. I guess I am going to start carrying a suitcase around, a really big one. Ridiculous..........The government screws up and is looking to nickel and dime us to death. I mean how many things can they tax, how much money do you really think is taken from us by taxes? Think about it, phone tax, hotel tax, service tax, cable tax, tax tax tax. Seriously, add it up I bet it would be in the hundreds per month and thousands per year. Gees no wonder a girl can't get ahead.

Come people don't you have an opinion? I am looking forward to hearing from you.

The thoughts, The thoughts

Oh My, The thoughts going through my mind. Okay first, I HATE people who throw puppies away. I don't get it, what are you accomplishing????????? I think people who can do that are pure evil. Just evil.

Second, I believe that restaurant food should taste good. Unfortunately, it does not. By the way never go to the Mexican place at the Harbor in Ventura............Never. When food is bad you should not pay for it. EVER

Third, Family is important, don't ever Dis your family. If you are lucky enough to have family then no matter what is going on, forgive each other and go on. Realize there is a greater good. Family means forgetting past crap.

Fourth, spend the money on a moment. Go away with your loved one, enjoy something new. Even take a night. Live with the people you love.

Okay these were thoughts, talk to guys soon

Talking with Robin

Hello I am back, I have beat the beast. I feel good and strong.

I was able to have this amazing conversation with my friend Robin. When I say friend I mean somebody I have known for 19 years, FRIEND. Those conversations are perfectly, imperfect. Everything that has happened in the past and everything that happened this week And we get it all in 3 hours. We had a party (on the phone) really aren't those just great fun. I call those mini + parties.

In a nut shell, we were angry at the government, angry that her friend had just been diagnosed with cancer, happy at good things we are doing in our lives, loving our husbands, jealous of the 49 year old woman who is (***) well you know, doing the 29 year hot guy. (But we would never trade our husbands for that 29 year old, no really never.) but the one thing we were happy about is that we could still stay up after midnight.

Joy, is a wonderful thing. Oh and I did something amazing today. I placed my first rescue puppy today. I got him from the pound and he was a mess. You pick it, he had it. But a mere 9 months later he was rehabilitated and now lives with a family of 5 and he is the only dog. It is a good match. Last they called me he was still playing with his new family. Good Thing

Wee glad to be back

Rainy Day Stomache Flu

Unfortunately the blogger of this site, my mom, is incapacitated with a bad tummy bug and asked me to write a little blurb in lieu of her... I myself am not to equipped for this but seeing as I am her daughter and would like to help I will leave you all with this... a friendly link to my boyfriend and my shared blog and a little video from youtube that might cheer up someone at home in bed, sick or other....

http://www.Juliansnow.com/snowday





Love you all,
Amelia

Oh those addictions

Happy Monday folks. This weeks subject will be on addictions. No not the typical addictions you think of. Drugs, Alcohol and Sex. No the under current addictions. The ones we do everyday, the ones we don't even realize we have.

Let's talk about games!!!! AH, those games. Those wonderful games we have to get to the next level with, we have to reach that badge, we have to have more points. And we will do anything to get it. We have them on our computers, phones and TVs. I know I do. Oh yes, it is vital to our existence.

It starts out simple enough, we join a game site for free. We just got a new computer or we are just bored. Then we realize we have to deal with commercial breaks, and other people have these pictures next to there names and we want that. I want that. How do I get that. Oh for fifty bucks a year, A YEAR, that my friend is a deal, we can have that picture next to our name and guess what no commercial breaks. Ahhh we are in, we are someone. YES, oh wait now we have to do the weekly challenges and did you get that badge and I hate this game but I need this badge. It could be my favorite badge after all. Oh yes she has that badge and which badge is that, I WANT THAT BADGE. Then there are gems, oh the gems. They can get me something special for my avatar, which of course looks nothing like me, only what I want to look like. (I could be at the gym instead of sitting on my A**) But the gems cost money, oh just this once, why not. My avatar needs that lab jumping at my feet.

Oh yes addictions, they come in all shapes and sizes. Some socially acceptable, some not, some we can justify, but are we fooling ourselves? Aren't we nation of some addiction or another? How many times have you used the expression "I'm just addicted to it"?

Gentler, Kinder Me

Okay it is Sunday and today I am going to put my politcal ranting away for a moment. I dedicated a year of my life to this blog. So I have committed to write everyday.

So here is today's. Enjoy your life. Take time out for the moments, connect with God. Connect with family. Connect with friends. Life is too short for sorrow and grief. Sit on a park bench and watch the birds and squirrels. Turn off the tv and computer and sit down at a table and eat with someone. Talk to them. While we are only human, the joy of being human is to be grabbed and pursued. Sit on the beach or on the mountain. Closed your eyes for 10 minutes and breath. (hardest thing to do, try it sometime) Play a board game to the end. Sleep when you need to, wake when you need to, work when you need to, but don't forget to play. We underestimate to NEED for play. It can be as refreshing as sleep, as important as waking and as fruitful as work.

So fellow bloggers, followers, family and friends, Go Play

Haiti, Haiti, Haiti

First things first, some of you have said you are having trouble leaving comments. (thanks for the emails) Try hitting the comment down below, I have set it up so you can even leave a comment anonymously. Just keep trying, I look forward to hearing from you.

Okay with that out of the way. I was laying on the waxing table going through the social exceptable womens routine of having hair ripped off my face. All I could think about is the responses to yesterdays Blog. The most interesting was my beautiful husband, he pokes his head out of the shower and says to me "hey honey, did you hear about the group of homeless people that got together and raised money for Haiti." He continues to tell me "they did this because this group thought that the people of Haiti had it worse than them" Okay WOW!! Now that is a statement. Even the homeless are getting in on it.

I tell you this story because I believe that we should help people. Of course it has been brought to my attention that being a good Christian of course you give. But I can't help but to think about our self preservation. While the world is sending millions probably billions to Haiti. We are in a DEPRESSION. Yes I said it, a depression. While the news or our government is not saying it, I will. Foreclosures are at there highest, unemployment is at it's highest, and let's not forget the under-employed. While I have lived through a few earthquakes and have had a roof fall through and lost my home in the last big earthquake. I know they are horrible, scary and a lot of clean-up. Nobody came to my families rescue, I had to live in a friends trailer (in her backyard) with my two young daughters until we could come up with the money for a new home. I do thank God for my friends trailer and my friend. Please know I do appreciate. However, the government my government did not come to my rescue or any of the other 1000's of people who were misplaced. I was actually one of the lucky ones. Some of you might be thinking what about FEMA? Oh that was helpful and long. Okay Okay, enough about that, but what about New Orleans, it still is not rebuilt. What about the hundreds of houses that have burned to the ground right here in California. Those aren't rebuilt either. Didn't our goverment bail out the banks so that they could in turn loan money, which in turn would produce jobs?

Hmmmm......I sound a little Tony Bourdain. Cynical and angry. But I am not, no really I'm not. I do feel sorry for the people of Haiti and of course a tear comes to my eye when I see the images on tv. I just can't help but to shed a tear for us too. It is a little scary what is happening in our own country. Hey Government people What About Us????

The Beginning

While I understand with a name like Cook's Thoughts. One might think this blog will be about cooking. As it turns out I am a professional chef. In the future there may be some useful information about cooking. However, that is not what this blog is completely about.

Today for instance I was trying to get a badge in pogo (it is a game site) and in the chat people were talking about Haiti and how they were tired of seeing the send money to Haiti relief. People were talking about how broke they were but they did send 10 dollars to Haiti. (maybe it's because the tv won't let us forget) One woman had been looking for a job for months and had a interview later this day and we all wished her well. Then the conversation turned to how expensive food was and how the bail out for the banks was a joke. I started to think.

Wow, how amazing people are that even though they don't have a job, they found 10 dollars to send accross the ocean. To people they will never meet.

While I am mad at the banks and our government. In fact, my husband supports us by building. He is a contractor and there is no work right now, because banks are not loaning. So while we pinch every penny and try to save our house like the rest of the country. I am still amazed at us as a whole. We still give what we can at church when that basket comes around. We still send 10 dollars a person for people we will never meet. I find that amazing. Is this good? Should we be more self preserved? A little more selfish? After all what can 10 dollars get us these days?