New Years Eve & Last Post of 2011!

So we have come to the last day of 2011. I must say this year went by super quickly for me. I guess from traveling so much to Montreal 32 times just this year, Going to Ottawa twice, Visiting Niagara Falls USA and CANADA, being so busy with writing, day to day life, I just didn’t realize how quick it truly went. This year I learned so much about life, learning from fellow bloggers, readers, commenters on my blog, hearing different perspectives on issues in life, so on and so forth. I thank everyone for giving me all the love, support, courage and 2011 was a year that I finally found my passion and that is to write and blog which hopefully someday with my words that come from my heart will change the world and people can be more kinder to one another, to respect one another and start 2012 with greatness instead of bad that we always hear on the news. So much has happened this year and I just cannot even begin to explain it all, but all in all, I have had a pretty great year and you know how they say, things happen for a reason.

Some friends have come and gone and some of them have stayed and I know who my true friends are. I’ve learned a valuable lesson this year to know who is fake and who is not, and also learning about so many things about life. There is so much I need to be thankful for, getting through another year, etc… What have you learned in 2011? What were some of your highlights this year? What were some of the memorable moments that you went through?

Unfortunately there were some people who past away this year and didnt live past another year, I’d like to send out my condolences and sympathies to those who have lost loved ones in their lives.

Finally, I’d like to end off 2011 with saying thank you to my readers of my blog, followers, supporters, to my family, friends, you all hold a special place in my heart and I will continue to write in 2012. Have a great happy new year 2012, all the best, May all your dreams and wishes come true and hopefully 2012 will be a beautiful year for all.

See you all next year in 2012!

Do not Drink and Drive tonight – Be safe!

LOVE ALWAYS, TALIN ORFALI

 

Service Centres & Truck Stops on the Highways

I must admit stopping at service centres and truck stops have got to be my favourite places to stop when on the road Going to Montreal and coming back on the Highway 401 East and West bounds. There have been many experiences and I must say each one is so much fun. Sometimes I would stay for 10-15 Minutes to fill up gas and go get something to munch on from the Market, I’d stop in for half an hour, sometimes an hour if I am in no hurry. I’d often start making friends here and there and start up conversations with ordinary people. Its fun meeting people at service centres.

I don’t know if I have a map or GPS Written on my forehead but I would just be standing there, minding my own business when people come up to me and ask me and tell me Ma’am, how many minutes or hours left until we get to Montreal? It was this really nice family that came up to me. I said Oh I am headed that way as well. So from the OnRoute Service centre in Morrisburg at exit 758, I told them its about another Hour and a half, and they asked me what there is to Do in Montreal, and I explained to them what the hot-spots and great places to see there. Its like they know me from long ago, they said thank you so much for your help, I said no problem. I told them after 32 times to Montreal in Just this year excluding all the other years I have been to Montreal, I know Montreal inside and out. They said wow thats so awesome! After almost 30 minutes I had spent with them, They ended up giving me $20.00 because I helped them out a lot and said go and buy yourself snacks or whatever you want, I said “I can’t take your money!” They said no we insist, its not everyday we meet someone who actually cares to give directions and information to a place were going to go explore for the first time. So we gave each other our contact information and we have been friends ever since. They are just 15 minutes from me. Its so awesome.  then they had to get back on the road and continue their travel journey to Montreal.

At times I would order food from Burger King, A&W, or get myself a french Vanilla from Tim Hortons, or get a few snacks from the Market and by surprise a few of the workers who I recognize all the time, they surprisingly remember me and a few times they said Hey its you again! I said yes, then they said wow you sure do make lots of trips on this highway, I said i sure do. I know all the exits, cities, towns by heart and I am like a personal tourguide to people who stop at service centres and I dont know what it is, but they always seem to ask me, The worker said, I guess people sense on who knows more than the other person at service centres and they said of course they would ask you of a friendly and lovely face like yours. I would just be like, Thank you! 🙂

Now here is something funny that happened, I know I had said this about the Cops I had spoke about in several blogs ago, but do not want to repeat that in my OPP Post, but another funny thing had happened. This time we stopped in Brockville, Ontario going toward Montreal and there was a huge convention or something going on with cops from parts of Ontario, so here is me always finding ways to talk to Officers, and they had all come to Tim Hortons, so I said to this officer, Now this Tim Hortons is the safest one with all of these fine and incredible officers, The officer from Brockville started to laugh, He said thats the first time I have heard that one lol. He said thanks thanks, Then I told him and his officer partner, that I am on my way to Montreal and they said awesome have fun, and then they said DONT SPEED Or we’ll come after you, I go you have no problems with me because I dont speed. LOL They said good better not ahahaha. it was good ol fun, then I left for the road.

Now a few times I have stopped at truck stops like 5th Wheel, Flying J, Husky on the 401. I would see these big huge trucks and I would actually go stand right beside them. they are so huge, that you dont really realize it from your car driving on the highway all the time unless you stand right beside it. Its a huge beast! I have made many trucker friends. I am telling you, my adventures at these service stops are so fun! I sometimes dont keep track of time only the times i am not in a hurry of course as I said. There are these monthly trucker magazines on the rack and I would always go and get a copy of that and read about the transport trucking industry, about new truck lines, new laws and everything else. Its an awesome truck mag. I like those magazines, pamphlets, brochures about the areas, what to do, see. I keep them all and i document them.

A few of my friends told me, why don’t you work in a Highway Transport Safety Office? Tourism of Montreal office? Or Highway safety? Its awesome. I told them no, but recently, I found my real passion and it is to write, but giving people directions and explaining about the cities towns stretching across the 401 east and stuff is something i like to do on the side. I am not sure when I will go to Montreal again or visit these service centres, but I hope its soon. I just have a blast everytime and I do not think its long at all. 4 and a half hours and I am there. Gotta love it!

The Good Quality Family Oriented TV Show’s Of the Past

Nowdays its very hard to find good quality shows that are tasteful and G Rated. Most shows that we see on TV now are mature adult content and so much content that makes you uncomfortable when children are around to watch it. I remember when I was a kid, we used to have family TV Time and shows like Family Matters, Full House, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Family Ties, Growing Pains, Home Improvement, and all those good quality shows made TV a good thing and parents weren’t afraid of their children watching them because they used to bring out good points in how life is and each show teaches people a lesson on what to do right.

All these shows now, make you wonder why they are put there? Why Reality shows are getting all the popularity? Why people spend so much time and why teenagers get influenced on these pointless shows that I do not think its good at all. It teaches teenagers to get on the wrong paths in life and I do not find it to be so tasteful. I find it to be quite strange. Now, I hardly ever watch TV unless its The Big Bang Theory,  now that show is great and makes me laugh, catching up on world news, so on and so forth. but where do we draw the line? I only watch maybe an hour of TV a day IF THAT.

Those CSI Shows, and shows about law enforcement and so on and so forth are great and it teaches alot about Law and Life. Now those shows are Great and educational to us. How its Made, Discovery, Cooking/Baking shows, Talk Shows are all incredible and greats to Television. I think before shows get put on TV, these TV Stations, People who produce content should overlook it and really think about what the produce and broadcast. Its important.

People want good quality shows with good, positive content, with family values and good lessons in life to make people get to the right path. especially the younger people and teenagers. They get influenced by the stuff they see the most so they end up doing it in their lives and which they get themselves into trouble, thinking that TV People are doing it, so we should too. It is wrong and those things need to stop.

 

The TV Show “The Big Bang Theory” My Love For That Show!

In the past couple of years, I have come to love this show, “The Big Bang Theory”. It is such a funny show, that I enjoy to watch. They make science, physics and all those things so much more fun. Now I am sure that a lot of people would agree with me, that Sheldon Cooper “Jim Parsons” is the best on that show and he makes the show, but all the cast and characters the casting directors have chosen is incredible. They all play a big role in the show and I am so addicted to it. Now on the Comedy channel the past 2 days, almost, the Marathon of this show has been playing and I cannot seem to get off my bum. I am so glued to the tv watching my favourite show, and I know they are re-runs but I still love the re-runs.

I love when Sheldon goes to Penny’s place and knocks three times and says her name after every three knocks. It is so funny. What really makes me laugh so hard is when he says “BAZINGA” then his hilarious laughing style, and when he is picky about everything, his special spot on the couch, what he eats, the room mate agreements, and so much more. I find that show to be a hit and I think its the best show out there. I am not much of a TV Watcher but I will sit and watch The Big Bang Theory. It makes me smile. I must say I am not really into the physics, chemistry, all that space stuff, but boy do they make it so fun for me.

Rajesh really cracks me up, he cannot talk to women until he has had something to drink. He is such a cute Indian. He makes me laugh so hard and I love the way he acts. Howard as well. I just wish we could one day see his Mother on the show who always yells out at Howard. Penny is such a hilarious girl. Shes an ordinary woman who moved next door to Leonard and Sheldon and she works at the Cheesecake factory and is an aspiring actress. LOL very funny.

A few stars have been on the show and its so awesome. Bottom line is that this show makes my day and everyday I watch the re-runs but now that the Marathon has been on, and will go on until 10:30 in the morning. its pretty funny!

If you do not watch this show, i recommend it to you big time. You will be laughing so hard. It will take time to fully understand the characters if you havent watched, but its a must.

BAZINGA! 🙂

On The Road During the Holiday’s! My Respects to The Transport Industry

Recently I have been thinking a lot about the transport trucking industry during the holidays and all year round. I must say that I have a big respect of truckers out there who are away from their families at this time delivering and transporting our lifes necessities and all that. Without these truckers, we wouldn’t have the things we have in our homes and in our life like food, technology, so on and so forth. I have a huge amount of support for these people whom sacrifice being with their families on the holidays to provide for them and to make a living to bring bread and butter to the table. I am sure its as difficult for families to be without their father, mother, aunt, uncle or whoever is part of the industry.

A few times when I went to celebrate Christmas and New Years in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, I would drive on the 401 east and I would see these big rigs, truckers at the service centres and I would just think about how difficult it must be for them to be away from loved ones, friends. Its become a working world and people work 24/7 365 days a year to make a living. When I am stopped at a service centre and I see them in the line up to order coffee or they are just sitting down and having their meals before heading back on the road, I go up to them and say hello and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to them and I tell them thank you for the work you do to provide for us all. May God bless you and give you energy always to continue to deliver and to drive these big trucks.

I must say, driving big trucks/big rigs are very difficult and its not as easy as it looks. So many rules must be followed, guidelines, and ways to operate a truck. Its not like the ordinary vehicles that we drive, but its a lot more difficult. I myself wanted to be a truck driver for a while, get the Licence to drive them because I found it to be so intriguing and interesting. Its a good licence to have. I may seriously consider it and try it out for a year or 2. I have never been in a big truck/big rig before but I do hear its awesome to be so high up and see everything on the highways. I have a few trucker friends, so I may ask them to go on a trip with them someday if they are headed to Montreal and back. 🙂

Anyway, I want to wish all the truckers and their families a blessed christmas and all the best to you all in 2012! Drive safe and becareful of the weather conditions out there!

 

Awards & Achievements

I’d Like to take this moment to thank my following fans for giving me these wonderful awards and acknowledgements. It is much appreciated! All the best to you all:

http://theilongga.wordpress.com/2011/12/23/versatile-blogger-award/ For the Versatile Blogger Award! Thank you very Much!

http://diabeticredemption.com/2011/12/22/the-candle-lighter-award/  For the Candle Lighter Award! Thank you very much!

http://unwrittentruth.wordpress.com For the Kreativ Blogger Award! Thank you Very much!

http://lostupabove.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/awarded/ Another Kreativ Blogger Award! Thank you Very Much!

http://believeanyway.wordpress.com/the-candle-lighter-award/  Another Candle Lighter Award! Thank you very much!

http://slowmoto.me/awards/  Another Kreativ Blogger Award! Thank you Very Much!

http://seekingsearchingmeaning.wordpress.com/2011/12/20/being-honored-and-honoring/  For the Versatile Blogger Award! Thank you very Much!

http://believeanyway.wordpress.com/the-candle-lighter-award/ For the Candle Lighter Award! Thank you very much!

http://diabeticredemption.wordpress.com/  For the Versatile Blogger Award! Thank you very Much!

http://rantingliberal.com/2011/12/16/versatile-blogger-award/  For the Versatile Blogger Award! Thank you very Much!

http://rosewinelover.com/2011/12/13/a-nomination/ For the Versatile Blogger Award! Thank you very Much!

http://amorsthoughts.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/you-got-blasted

http://thecurvyspine.wordpress.com/2011/12/05/the-versatile-blogger/ For the Versatile Blogger Award! Thank you very Much!

http://jajsamos.wordpress.com/2011/11/29/talinisms-for-our-life-and-times-with-thanks-to-talin-orfali/  For More Articles on Talinism please search Dr. Jim Amos’ Site. Thanks!

http://carollefevre.wordpress.com/2011/12/23/and-the-liebster-award-goes-to/ The Liebster Blog Award

Award Buttons to Come soon!

Thank you to all of you!!!

Those Overly Advertised Christmas Commercials Come To An End

Since Halloween has come and gone, the following day the Christmas Commercials on TV, RADIO, INTERNET had come up, and today those Overly Advertised Christmas commercials have come to an end, thank goodness. I mean its one thing to advertise a product but to have the same commercials playing over and over again is something that I do not like. Christmas has become so business saturated, too commercialized and these companies, businesses just want the money and they also pay big bucks to advertise things that do not need to be advertised every 5 minutes.

Where do we draw the line? The true essence and the true meaning of Christmas is becoming rare. The last 2 weeks, the shopping malls, plaza’s have been over-filled with shoppers, people fighting over parking spots, trying to find parking in overcrowded parking lots of malls. I stay away from malls and places to shop in the month of December. I mean whatever there is, I can buy it other times of the year and I do not have to risk being trampled over, waiting in super long line-ups, getting stressed out on finding a good parking spot, so on and so forth.

When I get into my car and I go somewhere, I listen to the Radio and all I hear are Christmas commercials on furniture, cars, toys, so on and so forth, so I turn the channel or I turn off the radio and put music on. I am just so fed up of those commercials. I am glad its all over with today. I mean yes these things are some peoples bread and butter and the way some people make their money to survive, but Who else finds it super annoying when things are excessively and overly advertised?

Everything has its limits.

Thanks for dropping by, and Enjoy Christmas day!

 

It’s Christmas Eve!

Today I am going to keep my message short and sweet. I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Joyous, Healthy Happy New year 2012. Happy Holidays!

All the best to you and your family and may life be be wonderful.

What are your traditions during the holidays? What are your favourite foods during the holidays? What are your beverage choices? Not the regular Egg Nog type of things….

ENJOY!!!!

Love,

Talin

Duty Free Shopping At The Airport Does Not Make Sense To Me.

I have just been thinking a lot lately about the whole airport experiences and things I have seen while traveling within the past 5-6 years. In recent years air travel and security screenings at the airports has been enforced a lot more since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks and I am all for it and I think the more security we have, the better it will be for all travelers including myself and those are great measures to ensure our well-being. They implemented the No Liquids in Carry on bag and all that stuff. I am glad security is tightened a lot more and the customs have been more aware of these things.

However, there is something that does not seem to make sense to me. I was traveling to Cayo, Coco, Cuba 2 years ago and I had an unopened bottle of Water from me where I bought it straight from the Grocery store, and after having our tickets and baggage checked in, we went toward the metal screening and security area before entering the gates to wait for our plane. This Customs person came and discarded the water I was going to drink until we boarded the flight. So I told them Customs, it is just water, I am going to drink it before I get on the plane while I wait, she said that we cannot allow liquids beyond the gates and we need to dump it out. So without further question, I followed the rules and I proceeded. As I went through the Metal screening process everything was great. Right across from the metal screening, there is these shops and duty free. So I began to ponder about why they discarded my unopened bottled water when they have all these liquids, drinks, perfume bottles, make up, personal hygiene products, coffee, and even sharp objects like nail clippers, tweezers, so on and so forth being sold.

Now, I got so angry at this point but decided not to cause a scene at the airport, so I had to purchase another unopened bottled water which cost me a lot more. It was like $3.50 for a bottle water when I bought mine from the grocery store for a $1.25. So the point is, that they don’t allow liquids being brought in, but they go and sell it at duty free, which does not make any sense to me. I came with a conclusion that they make you spend money at duty free and airport shops before boarding your plane so that the airport and the shops make more money off of you. Thats what I am thinking. I feel that its also a business. I don’t know but that’s just my take on it. I could be wrong, but everyone has different perspectives on things.

Thanks for reading!

 

Another Travel Blog — I Love Cruise Ship Travel

In My Life I have taken 4 Cruise Ship voyages in the Caribbean and I must say it puts a whole new twist in the travel industry. Its incredible how one travel, takes you to several places all at once. I have been to almost all the Caribbean Islands and some I have stayed right in them such as Cuba, Dominican Republic. I have had so much experience traveling and so my family and I thought lets try cruising this time instead of going All Inclusive all the time to the resorts. in the year of 2000 going into 2001, My dad and I we were looking at Cruise Ship travel  for my family to go away again and we looked all over the net, and as well as going to various travel agent offices to obtain our copies of cruise brochures and books.

We did decide on a cruise and we went with a smaller cruise ship which was the Sundream at the time. We booked it and we decided to go on the last day of the year. We flew to Montego Bay, Jamaica and from there we went on board our ship and we celebrated the new year on board. From Montego bay we went to Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Dominican Republic, Havana, Cuba. We had such a wonderful experience, so our selection of the ship size were getting bigger and bigger. We then sailed Sundream’s Sistership the Sunbird from Aruba, a year later. We sailed to St Kitts, Antigua, Barbados, St Maarten. It was so lovely to see different Caribbean island Cultures and the people there. It was incredible. Definitely an experience of a lifetime.

In 2002, we sailed on Costa Cruises, the Costa Atlantica. This ship is Huge! I was about 17-18 at the time. It was a lot of fun. We flew to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, we went to Port Everglades. We saw about 8 other Cruise ships and they were so enormous in size and then we heard the Cruise ship Horn and it was ever so loud sailing out from Florida port. We then sailed to St. Thomas, Nassau, Bahamas, Costa’s Private Island, San Juan, Puerto Rico. At the time Digital Camera’s were starting to come out, but we had the other camera with the film, so we took so many rolls with us. It was incredible to see all these places that I have always heard about from the news, and doing so much research on all countries before getting to them. It was so incredible.

I just love different types of travel. Since then, I created an e-mail address with Cruiseship360 and i had that for a while. I still do, but i rarely use it anymore. I believe travel is one of the most incredible things about life and just going and seeing the world and just taking it all in. So I can say that I am well traveled and being on Airplanes, Cruise Ships, Buses, Cars, Trains, have been part of most of my life. I want to thank my dad for taking me to all these places. My dad has done so much for my family and I to go out and enjoy the world together, to travel, to get that experience instilled in us and since he introduced to us to travel, I love it so much that everytime I hear we are going somewhere, I am so excited and usually the first one to start planning, packing, researching for hours on end online about it, looking at photos, reading other peoples reviews, going to the ends of the internet to fully satisfy me until we go on that trip. I also go to the travel agencies and pick up oodles of books of pictures of the place or the ship I am going on and I would cut them up and put them in a special box of my travels. All my boarding passes from planes, my cruise ship stuff, all these things are kept in boxes. Like I said I am a very sentimental person in previous blogs ago.

I am so not a patient person when it comes to traveling. I would put countdowns, count the days on my calendar, put x’s on the days that go by and just go shopping. I notice everytime we book, the days seem to get a lot longer and the wait is crazy long. I sometimes try not to think about the trip I am going on so that I don’t torture myself, but then again I cannot lol. I am so impatient and I tend to talk alot about my upcoming trip. I used to do that a lot, but to be honest I am guilty and I still do it. lol. Everytime at the dinner table, during breakfast, or were sitting down in the living room with my family or when we go out, our trip is always on my mind and it cannot get out.

If you have any traveling planned and if its your first time or if you need information, do not hesitate to contact me. I will be happy to assist you.

Thanks for dropping by.

 

Thank You to My Family, Friends, Fans, Readers of My Blog!

I’d like to take a moment and say a heartfelt thank you to all my family, friends, fans, and readers of my blog. Thank you so much for all your wonderful inspiring blog comments, ping backs, link backs, and all the people who have come to visit me, for giving me the versatile blogger award and the liebster blog award, so on and so forth and giving me the positive feedback everyday to do what I love to do, to make the world a better place and knowing that a lot of people are moved and inspired everyday, just makes me so much happier. In my life all I want to see is people being happy, who smile, who think positively about life, about how great it is and how we should never take our lives and the people we have in our lives for granted.

Today I thought I write to my readers and just say thank you! It is incredible and interesting to see different people and people with different perspectives on life and certain issues and how lovely this Internet has become to share opinions instantly, to learn from each other, to share our life with the world. Its so lovely to see people from all parts of the globe. I believe that blogging websites are put out there for a reason and its so awesome to see how different people of the world can view blogs, comment on them, like them, share them. I love it so much. We all have that special gift of writing, we all have that poise and talents and as I stated in my previous blogs, that we all have talents and we all have things that are of value to others and we all have people whom can relate to us, and none of us are alone out there when it comes to certain issues. Always remember that.

I love you my readers so much and I think of you all as my brothers and sisters and I think of you all as my one big family of the world and no matter who we are, the colour of our skin, our ethnicity, backgrounds, gender, our orientation,  cultures, heritage, in the end were all the same and we are in the HUMAN WORLD, and we all have a place on this earth. There is no need for discrimination, no need for racism, no need for hating, no need to make fun of others, lets learn to love and spread peace in the world and to just get along. Remember were only on this earth for a limited time. Lets live it to the fullest and spread good cheer.

Thanks again for coming and reading..

I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart, mind, and soul

Love Always,

TALIN ORFALI – WORDPRESS

A Chocolate Lover and A Big Nutella Fan

Since I was a little girl, Chocolate used to be my number one thing. Whether it was at home, or visiting family homes, family friends homes, When they used to put out chocolate, I couldn’t help but snag a few bites of chocolate. Its so good! I love so many types of chocolate, but one isn’t really my cup of tea and they say Dark Chocolate is the best and its good for you, but I beg to differ. Everytime I eat Dark Chocolate, I get this really funny aftertaste in my mouth and I don’t enjoy it at all. If its Milk Chocolate like Hersheys, Cadbury, and with Almonds its all good with me. I love the reese Chocolate peanut butter cups too. Its so delicious.

I love Chocolate cake, Chocolate Fudge, Chocolate Syrup, Chocolate Ice Cream, the Mousse, I sometimes make Chocolate cake and I make a little extra so as I can eat the Chocolate Cake batter. I love eating Cake Batter or Raw Cookie dough. It is so good. I know people say that there are raw eggs in it, but it has never effected me. I just eat it and I know its so many calories and stuff, but I just cannot help it. I love it.

Once in my cooking/baking class back in High School, we made a huge batch of Chocolate Chip cookies and I remember when the other people in my group weren’t looking, I used to eat the Chocolate Chip cookie dough with the Chips in it and it was sooooo good. They never caught me which was the fun part. LOL. We made a whole bunch so they didn’t even notice the Raw dough was even touched or eaten. Even the teacher didn’t see.

Now, Nutella is my ultimate fave. I love that stuff and they say that Nutella spreads a whole lot of energy and the hazelnuts and stuff in it are good for you and it is nutritious. Whenever I eat it, I feel so energetic and better throughout my day. Whenever I go shopping for groceries, Nutella is one of the things I get and when it comes home, It barely lasts a week or two. Now I am not one of those who puts a very thin thin layer of Nutella on my Pita Bread, Toast or Bagel, I love to add a lot more and actually taste the Nutella. Its such an awesome invention. I just love the rich, incredible taste to it and the smoothness. I once made a Nutella Frosting Cake and The whole cake was eaten in a matter of 2 days. I made it the day of and gone the next day by my family.

In a few blogs that I will post in the future will be all about CHOCOLATE this, CHOCOLATE that. 🙂

Stay tuned.

Thanks for stopping by 🙂

Christmas and New Year Holidays Are Just Around The Corner.

Hello to my family, friends, fans, and readers,

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a joyous, healthy, happy, and wonderful 2012, with the best of the best for everyone!

Remember Christmas should not be all about presents and the decoration. All that matters is being with your loved ones, uniting with each other, enjoying, and remembering Jesus as he was born.

I myself donate non-perishable foods to the foodbank nearby for needy, hungry families, and this is the time of year where I go through my home and things I do not use anymore, wear, or need, I donate them to the good will or somewhere that people would need those things.

All the best and be safe this holiday season and all year round.

DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!

 

I Hope Ellen Degeneres Can See My Blog Posts About Bullying. I want to be on Her Show!

Recently a friend of mine created a Page on facebook to get me on the Ellen Degeneres Show. I am just like her when it comes to the subject on Bullying and raising awareness to stop it.  I want to get on her show and do more to stop bullying and to have 0 Tolerance. I really hope her staff and Ellen does see my blogging posts and this post and Hopefully facebook will lead me to California to be sitting beside her and talking to her.

Here are my blog articles on bullying,

https://talinorfali.wordpress.com/2011/11/29/get-me-on-the-ellen-show-ellen-degeneres-raising-awareness-about-bullying/

https://talinorfali.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/bullying-my-personal-experiences/

Please share and like this amongst your family and friends if you have facebook on The following facebook page and spread this page out to the world and try to get as many people to join this as you can. Thank you so much!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Writer-named-Talin-Orfali/161201797312096?sk=wall#!/pages/Get-Talin-Orfali-on-the-Ellen-Degeneres-Show/152830224821496

My Motherland & Beautiful Armenia

Today, I am going to talk to you about My Motherland and Beautiful Armenia.  Armenia is located between Europe and Asia. We have an incredible history of people and things. Our Alphabet has 38 letters and it was invented by one of our great inventors Mesrob Mashtotz (MES-ROB, MASH-TOTZ). We have a library called Madenataran and our important books of history are kept there and a statue of our Mesrob Mashtotz is just outside. Our very first Pontiff/Pope of Armenia was St Gregory the Illuminator, in Armenian we say (Sourp Krikor Lousavorich). He was falsely imprisoned in a hole for 13 years under this church called Khor Virab (KHO-R VEERAB), and from this Church Monastery you can see the Mount Ararat which was once Armenia’s Property and I still think to this day it is still ours. It is where the Noah’s Arc came to rest. Mount Ararat was stolen from Armenia and it’s lands from the Turkish Government. in April 24, 1915, The Armenian Genocide happened and 1.5 Million Armenians were killed and massacred by the Turkish Ottoman Empire, and which they stole our lands and property. Since then we have commemorated and paid our respects to those brutally murdered in Armenian Communities around the world. In Armenia we have the Armenian Genocide Memorial, and its called Dzidzernagapert (D-ZID-ZER-NAGA-PERT). Every year on April 24th, All of Armenia’s Schools, Workplaces would be closed and everyone would go to the Memorial to place flowers all around the Eternal Flame which has never stopped. The Turkish government still fails to recognize their crimes against Armenia and its been an on-going struggle for the Armenians, but we sure will not give up and we will continue to protest every year until justice is served for our people who’s lives we lost. I have friends whose families in the past have been through the Genocide. There are still Survivors to this day, but Very few left in the world. Armenia’s Capital city is Yerevan. It is located in the heart of Armenia.

Our Armenia flag has 3 colours, Red, Blue and Orange. Armenia has so many different types of produce and food. Armenia’s national fruit is the Apricot (Dziran) (D-ZEE-RAN), and as well as the Pomegranate. We also have the freshest Cherries, Grapes and Watermelons.  Armenia has a beautiful lake called Sevan. I remember going there a couple of times, to swim and take in the beauty of Armenia. We have incredible monasteries and churches such as St Etchmiadzin, St Mary, Haghardzin, St Hripsime, Garni, Geghard, Saghmosavank, and so much more. We have incredible Cafes, and restaurants, we have incredible fashion stores, Armenian Cognac and different types of Liquor Factories, Kotayk Beer, Coca Cola Bottles written in Armenian letters, Wonderful tasting Ice creams. Armenia is beyond rich in History.

When I was a child., I began to learn a lot about my culture, heritage, history, Alphabet, to learn how to speak it, to read and write Armenian, my parents sent me to Armenian Saturday School. When I graduated grade 8 in 1999, and it was the first year from the Armenian Saturday school trip that we embarked on a trip to our Motherland Armenia on July 21st, 1999. We flew with Air Canada to Paris, France Charles De Gaule Airport, where we toured Paris for a good 10 hours, then we headed back to the Airport to take Armenian Airlines (Which is now Armavia) right to our Motherland Armenia. I will never forget the feeling when I landed on Armenia’s Soil. I kissed the ground and I felt so different being there. All around me are Armenian Letters, Armenian Speaking people, and everything I learned in school came right before my eyes. It was an incredible journey and experience of a lifetime and I will never forget it. At times when I was in Armenia, I felt very homesick with my first time taking a trip without my parents as beforehand all the traveling was done with my parents. My cousins also had come with me and it was a great experience. To this day, I still remember everything so fresh in my mind ,and everything was incredible. After Armenia, we took Armenian Airlines to Frankfurt Germany, where we were there for 6 hours. Then we flew Lufthansa back to Toronto, Canada where our families were waiting anxiously for us in the waiting area of the Airport.

I had arrived to Toronto, but my luggage was left behind in Germany. I had so many things and souvenirs I had packed in my luggage and I got so upset. About a few days later, my luggage was found and later brought back to Toronto on another flight. All my things were safe and nothing was broken thankfully because I had packed them very well and I had already become an experienced and good packer. I have kept my boarding passes, tickets and everything from my Armenia trip and I have created a Special Armenia box with everything in it. Later then I began to join Armenian clubs, youth committees and trying to do everything I can to keep my Heritage alive and to this day, I still do. I love being Armenian and I am a proud to be one. If you have the chance and if your making travel plans, make sure Armenia is on your list. In terms of getting a visitors Visa, you can get it right from Armenia’s Airport called Zvartnotz. You do not need any special vaccinations, shots to enter Armenia. It is very safe and clean. Armenia people are so friendly and helpful and they will accomodate your every need.. Visit Armenia. Its beautiful. for more information and if you want to know more, search the internet and you will find photos, history, background and so much more.

Shunoragalem (SHEN-ORA-GAL-EM) in Armenian means Thank you.