I've learned...
that you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.

I've learned...
that you should always leave loved
ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.

I've learned...
that we are responsible for what we do,
no matter how we feel.

I've learned...
that either you control your
attitude or it controls you.

I've learned...
that heroes are the people who do what has
to be done when it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences.

I've learned...
that my best friend and I can do anything
or nothing and have the best time.

I've learned...
that sometimes the people you expect to
kick you when you're down will be the
ones to help you get back up.

I've learned...
that true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.

I've learned...
that just because someone doesn't love you
the way you want them to doesn't mean they
don't love you with all they have.

I've learned...
that maturity has more to do with what types
of experiences you've had and what you've
learned from them and less to do with how
many birthdays you've celebrated.

I've learned...
that no matter how good a friend is, they're
going to hurt you every once in a while and
you must forgive them for that.

I've learned...
that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by
others, Sometimes you have to learn to forgive
yourself.

I've learned...
that our background and circumstances may
have influenced who we are, but we are
responsible for who we become.

I've learned...
that just because two people argue, it doesn't
mean they don't love each other. And just
because they don't argue, it doesn't mean
they do.

I've learned...
that we don't have to change friends
if we understand that friends change.

I've learned...
that two people can look at the exact same
thing and see something totally different.

I've learned...
that even when you think you have no more
to give, when a friend cries out to you,
you will find the strength to help.

I've learned...
that credentials on the wall do not
make you a decent human being.

I've learned...
that the people you care about most
in life are taken from you too soon.

I've learned...
that family and friends are what make
us who we are today, and without them
we would never be complete.

I've learned...

that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic and give in.

I've learned...

that it is not what you wear; it is how you take it off.

year of the metal tiger 2010

Every year people, specially the Chinese, look forward to the coming of the sign of the year which they believe would play a big part on how fate of our lives would be. By February 14, 2010, the year of the tiger will begin which will last until February 2, 2011. According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Tiger is the third sign of the twelve animal signs. Ancient Chinese respected this furious animal as a sign that deflects fire, thieves and ghosts; the three main menaces of a household.
Never underestimate people born under the sign of a Tiger. They are clever, attentive and always look at the bigger picture of a situation. They are born competitors and they can plan very well which often lead them to success and happiness. But sometimes, they tend to take hasty actions, react and be affected by their tempers which often lead to burnout. But because of being optimistic, passionate and independent, along with the gift of flexibility, they can often quickly recover from hardships.
Some people under this sign are placid and compassionate. They have a good imagination and are fond of babies. But others may be stubborn and egotistic. Tigers are symbol of power and courage, yet, some born under this sign may be extremes. They can be blissful at moment and poignant the next. In general, people under this sign are easily liked because of their charismatic, enthusiastic and straightforward personality. The feeling of being a failure in ones personal and professional life, as well as criticism specially coming from a loved one can lead a Tiger into a deep melancholy.
They usually design their homes with exotic treasures. They can easily pick up things that are being taught to them and often seek for challenges and dares. They can easily get bored which often lead to often change of careers for some. They are generous when it comes to money but also are spendthrift.
Some of the famous personalities who were born under this year are: Demi Moore, Marilyn Monroe, Penelope Cruz, Tom Cruise, and Hilary Swank.

Tiger Years:
02/08/1902 to 01/28/1903 (Water)
01/26/1914 to 02/13/1915 (Wood)
02/13/1926 to 02/01/1927 (Fire)
01/31/1938 to 02/18/1939 (Earth)
02/17/1950 to 02/05/1951 (Metal)
02/05/1962 to 01/24/1963 (Water)
01/23/1974 to 02/10/1975 (Wood)
02/09/1986 to 01/28/1987 (Fire)
01/28/1998 to 02/15/1999 (Earth)
02/14/2010 to 02/02/2011 (Metal)

Tuesdays with Morrie

wonderful quotes....

On Culture:

"The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work, don't buy it." (p.42)

* * *

"People are only mean when they're threatened, and that's what our culture does...And when you get threatened, you start looking out only for yourself. You start making money a god. It is all part of this culture." (p.42)

On Tension of Opposites:

"Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else." (p.40)

* * *

"A tension of opposites, like a pull on a rubber band. And most of us live somewhere in the middle." (p.40)

On Love:

"Love wins. Love always wins." (p.40)

* * *

"Love each other or die." (p.163)

On Forgiveness:

"Forgive yourself before you die. Then forgive others." (p.164)

* * *

"We...need to forgive ourselves...For all the things we didn't do. All the things we should have done. You can't get stuck on the regrets of what should have happened." (p.166)

On Getting Meaning into Life:

"So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning." (p.43)

On Most Important Thing in Life:

"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in." (p.52)

On Trust:

"...if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them, too--even when you're in the dark." (p.61)

On Friendship:

"...we've had thirty-five years of friendship. You don't need speech or hearing to feel that." (p.71)

On Death and Ambition:

"...the truth is...if you accept that you can die at any time--then you might not be as ambitious as you are." (p.83)

On Family:

"The fact is, there is no foundation, no secure ground, upon which people may stand today if it isn't the family." (p.91)

* * *

"If you don't have the support and love and caring and concern that you get from a family, you don't have much at all. Love is so supremely important." (p.91)

On Having Children:

"There is no experience like having children...If you want the experience of having complete responsibility for another human being, and to learn to love and bond in the deepest way, then you should have children." (p.93)

On Material Things:

"Don't cling to things, because everything is impermanent." (p.103)

* * *

"You can't substitute material things for love or for gentleness or for tenderness or for a sense of comradeship." (p.125)

On Emotions:

"If you hold back on the emotions--if you don't allow yourself to go all the way through them--you can never get to being detached, you're too busy being afraid." (p.104)

On Dying and Living:

"When you learn how to die, you learn how to live." (p.104)

* * *

"Don't let go too soon but, but don't hang on too long." (p.162)

On Being a Child:

"We all know how to be a child. It's inside all of us. For me, it's just remembering how to enjoy it." (p.116)

On Youth:

"...I know what a misery being young can be, so don't tell me it's so great." (p.117)

* * *

"...in addition to all the miseries, the young are not wise. They have very little understanding about life." (p.118)

On Aging:

"Aging is ot just decay...It's growth." (p.118)

* * *

"If you're always battling against getting older, you're always going to be unhappy, because it will happen anyhow." (p.118,119)

* * *

"You have to find what's good and true and beautiful in your life as it is now. Looking back makes you competitive. And, age is not a competitive issue." (p.120)

* * *

"How can I be envious of where you are--when I've been there myself." (p.121)

On Money and Power:

"Money is not a substitute for tenderness, and power is not a substitute for tenderness." (p.125)

On Status and Showing Off:

"...if you're trying to show off for people at the top, forget it. They will look down on you anyhow. And if you're trying to show off for people at the bottom, forget it. They will only envy you. Status will get you nowhere. Only an open heart will allow you to float equally between everyone." (p.127)

On Immortality:

"...love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone." (p.133)

On Marriage:

"I've learned this much about marriage. You get tested. You find out who you are, who the other person is, and how you accommodate or don't." (p.149)

* * *

"...there are a few rules I know to be true about love and marriage: If you don't respect the other person, you're gonna have a lot of trouble. If you don't know how to compromise, you're gonna have a lot of trouble. If you can't talk openly about what goes on between you, you're gonna have a lot of trouble. And if you don't have a common set of values in life, you're gonna have a lot of trouble. Your values must be alike." (p.149)

* * *

"I think marriage is a very important thing to do, and you're missing a hell of a lot if you don't try it." (p.149)

On Shortsightedness:

"...no matter where you live, the biggest defect we human beings have is our shortsightedness. We don't see what we could be. We should be looking at our potential, stretching ourselves into everything we can be come." (p.156)

On Needing Others:

"In the beginning of life, when we were infants, we need others to survive, right? And at the end of life, when you get like me, you need others to survive, right? But here's the secret: in between, we need others as well." (p.157)

On Being Number Two:

"What's wrong with being number two?" (p.159)

On the Important Questions:

"As I see it, they have to do with love, responsibility, spirituality, awareness." (p.175)

On Death :

"Death ends a life, not a relationship." (p.174)

On Relationships:

"There is no formula to relationships. They have to be negotiated in loving ways, with room for both parties, what they want and what they need, what they can do and what their life is like." (p.177,178)

How do you handle cheaters?

eheem..Cheaters ;) adapted from allnurses.com

Alright here is the story in as short and brief terms as possible. One of my classes is taught in a lecture auditorium with about 90 seats and 72 students. Exams are given in this auditorium. It resembles a movie theater with rising rows one section is dead center and their are two sections--one to the right and one to the left. Obviously testing under these conditions is "uncomfortable" to put it in one word because if you want to cheat all you have to do is move your eyes..no looking up or twisting of the head is necessary. Most people have their papers covered like hawks.


It became apparent to me after the exam that multiple people were discussing their cheating habits on the exam and those who didn't even bother to open a book received a grade in the high 90's..and how funny is it that so did the person next to the other. I don't really care about what grade everyone gets..it just bothers me that people are cheating on these types of exams. If they can't answer the questions themselves I don't want them standing over my loved one's bed. As you can imagine because the room is split into three sections it is impossible for the professor to watch all sides at once. When I was in LPN school they were much more strict about adequate room between those that were testing. At least one empty desk between each student and the class wasn't as large. My question is..should I keep my mouth shut and keep it moving..or is this something that needs to brought to the professors attention. I think that I should bring it up..but if I had to I would want to bring it up anonymously. How do you guys feel because I am feeling a tad bit enraged at the persistent lack of integrity that is demonstrated amongst my classmates.

grandfathers clock