Sunday, February 28, 2016

Happy Leap Day!

Tomorrow is Leap Day and one of my nephew's birthdays.  I remember when my sister-in-law went into labor I was hoping he wouldn't be a Leap year baby.  But, his great-grandma was hoping he'd leap into the new year on the special day.  Alas, he did but only by a couple of hours.  So, essentially he's only celebrating his 2nd birthday today.

I know what it's like to have your birthday on a holiday.  It sounds great and all, but really it's kind of a pain because everyone is out celebrating that holiday!  So, it's not like you really get 'one' special day to yourself.  It's hard to make reservations at restaurants on that day because everyone is out celebrating that holiday, so if you want to throw a birthday party it always has to be on a different day.  That wasn't the case when I was a kid because you could throw your birthday party on that holiday.  But, now as an adult all my friends celebrate the holiday and I make party plans for a later date.  It's fun in theory to have a holiday birthday, but not so much when the day arrives.

Although, I suppose being a Leap year baby isn't quite the same as a birthday on an official holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas.  But it is a special day that only comes around every 4 years!  Strange, but unique.  At this point, I don't think my nephew really gets what being a Leap year baby means, but by his 3rd birthday I'm sure he will.

So, enjoy your Leap day tomorrow as we say good-bye to February and welcome in March!  Blessings for a fabulous 1st week of March!!

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Into The New Year...

We're 2/3rds into the 1st quarter of the new year!  Time is flying by!  Does it feel that way to you, too?  Or is it dragging by for you?  Either way, time marches on as it always does and it's marching right into March!  Yes, it's already nearing St. Patrick's Day, Spring Break and lawn mowers breaking out everywhere!  Sigh on the lawn mowers revving up, as it's nice not hearing one every day of the week in the neighborhood!

But alas, spring is coming which is odd for many of us in the south where we haven't really had winter yet.  No hard freezes, no ice storms (as we always get at least one of those a year), no snow...not much of anything this year.  And we're fast approaching the planting of flowers and gardens, fertilizing lawns, and allergies booming!  It's definitely not my favorite time of year.  I look to endure it without any massive mosquito bite attacks and with allergies under control, but it doesn't always work out that way.

So, however you approach the "end of winter" and the beginning of spring, may you continue the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the year when everything seemed "new" and possible again, and stay motivated to reach those goals!  It's never easy and there are always set-backs, but it's how often you fall down and get back up that determines if you will succeed or not!  So, just keep getting up and trying!!

Wishing you many blessings these final few days of February!!!

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Don't Forget....

Don't forget that I'm available for book signings...small or large...and am looking for book fairs, adoption conferences, etc. to attend this year!  So, let me know if there's an event in your area that you'd like me to consider.  I haven't done any book fairs or conferences yet, so am looking forward to many opportunities to meet you in person!

If you've been to any in the past that you've enjoyed, please let me know!  I hope to kick-start the new year by getting out and meeting as many of you as possible!  Keep me posted throughout the year as you hear of upcoming book fairs, adoption conferences, etc.!  I appreciate the heads-up!

Enjoy the last full week of February and many blessings for the upcoming week!

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Too Sensitive?

Has social media made us "too sensitive?"  Before social media consumed our lives, we either had to call someone directly, email them or have a face-to-face conversation with them to relay our message to them.  In those instances, except for email, you would get more non-verbal clues or references that would help clarify any confusion or tone of conversation.  Now with social media so rampant in our lives, we just throw out tidbits of ideas/thoughts/complaints/critics that pop into our mind at any time of day.  Is that a good thing?  Is that a bad thing?

If it's directed specifically at us does it sting more or cause you to be even more defensive than you would if it weren't SO public for ALL to see?  Has all the criticism (which is a majority of what is out there on social media) caused us to be too sensitive to anything that is posted?  Has it caused us all to be more cynical than we were before?  

I think the "political correctness" that has infiltrated every ounce of our daily lives...from conversations that we have to emails, and work situations, and TV/magazines/music/entertainment in general, and social media have caused us all to be even more over-sensitive to EVERYTHING!  It's not just politics anymore...it's every single little thing in our lives.  It's quite maddening and sad....but, it's now the world we live in.  How did we get here?  Is advancement in technology to blame?  Is it our own attempts to be more inclusive of everyone that has turned us into a more divisive and non-inclusive society?

How can we shift the balance, the mind-set, the paradigm to a more respectful, compassionate, understanding and tolerant world?  How do we move the needle to more humanity and peace in the world?  We all have a part to play...in our own homes, communities and in our own ways...so, do what you can and hopefully together we can make a difference that matters!

Blessings to you in your attempts to make our world a little better!!

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Happy Valentine's Day to you!  I hope everyone is enjoying the day, whether they have a special someone or not.  Either way, let you love flow freely to those you love dearly and even to those you've just met.  You never know what kind of an impact you may have on just one person by showing a simple act of love and/or compassion.

I asked my Korean insider (Mrs. Kim, from church...if you've been following my posts you know who I'm talking about), if they celebrate Valentine's Day in South Korea.  She said they didn't in the past, but they do now and "men are crazy!"  Ha.  Not sure what they means exactly, so if you do let me know.  But, it was pretty funny to hear.

Love yourself first (sometimes it's the hardest thing to do), love those closest to you, and love those around you!  May you have an open heart to let your love flow freely!

Blessings to you on this "lovely" day!!!

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Calling All Book Fairs and Conferences!

This year I'd like to get into some book fairs and adoption conferences to continue to share my story with others and promote my memoir, Corn-fed with Rice on the Side.  I'd love to get more involved in both of these forums and get out and meet more adoptees and authors!

So, if you know of any local or national book fairs, adoption conferences/events, please let me know!  And who knows, maybe I'll show up in your area!  I appreciate any leads and information you can provide.  Thank you!

Many blessings for the rest of the week as we approach Valentine's Day this weekend!


Sunday, February 7, 2016

The Big Game!

It's almost it's own holiday with all the food, parties, etc for the NFL's Super Bowl game today.  Are you going to a Super Bowl party?  Hosting your own?  Don't care?  Whatever you're doing today, most of the country and even those overseas will be watching the Super Bowl later today.  Maybe not even for the game...maybe just for the commercials or for the half-time performance...whatever the reason it draws in millions of viewers from around the world.  The hype of the game, the commercials have grown to new heights year after year.  It's commercialism at it's best!

Is it just a "good" excuse to eat?  Tailgaters have taken game food to another level and today is just another day for the rest of us to join in on the fun!  Food assembled to look like stadiums, the best dips, BBQ, sandwiches, etc.  It's a food fest!  What's your favorite game day food?

I like all the pageantry before the game and of course the half-time entertainment.  I watch intently at the commercials at the beginning of the game, but they usually don't get good until the second half when I'm not paying as much attention.  So, I usually miss out on the good ones that people talk about the next day.  And, hopefully the game will be competitive and close, which really is why we're all supposed to be watching in the first place.

Good luck to the two teams and may the best team win!  And for all those watching, enjoy all the food, commercials and entertainment!!

Blessings to you this week before Valentine's Day!! 

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Do You Watch?

Do you watch the TV comedies Fresh off the Boat or Dr. Ken?  Both are 30-minute comedies with mainly Asian casts.  I think the last time we saw a majority Asian cast was back when Margaret Chow had her sitcom, All-American Girl.  I never watched that show nor have I really watched the most recent sitcoms.  Why?  I think because they are mostly filled with Asian stereotypes that haven't applied to me or that I necessarily don't care for...so, in other words it's not that funny to me.  I have watched a full episode of Dr. Ken and it was OK because Ken Jeong is funny in general, but not enough to keep me watching every week.  But, I do watch Last Man Standing right before Dr. Ken with Tim Allen.

Do you think it's strange that I don't watch shows with all Asian casts?  Finally there are actually Asians on the small screen and I don't care to watch them.  Weird?  Or do you get where I'm coming from?  Maybe I'll make more of an effort to watch each one and see if it appeals to me, but up until now it really hasn't.

Like with the Oscars discussion so rampant lately regarding diversity in films, we all just want to see ourselves represented on the big screen...to reflect our diverse culture.  And no, there aren't a lot of Asian actors out there that you see regularly on the big screen.  Yes, there is an Asian actor on Elementary, Lucy Lui, which I do watch because I like her and I do like the show.  And, there's an Asian actor on Marvel Agents of Shield show that I haven't watched.  She used to be on a soap opera I watched a long time ago.  So, there are a few regular Asian actors on the small screen, but is it enough?  It'll never be enough no matter what ethnicity it is (well, except for white), but progress can be slow and tedious.  We all just need to continue to make our voices heard and do our part in whatever small way that is...keep progressing, keep moving forward.

I hope your first week of February is going well and you are sticking with your new year's resolutions!  Many blessings to you today!!