Francis Libermann Catholic High School 40th Anniversary

By: Talin Orfali – Student Alumni – Fall 1999 to 2003.

40 Years ago in 1977, Francis Libermann Catholic High School opened its doors to teachers, students and administrative staff, and this year in 2018, on June 3rd, we had the anniversary and reunion. Many past and present teachers, and alumni students were present.

A couple of months ago, I had opened up my Facebook, and on my news feed, I see an event from Francis Libermann of which a fellow classmate of mine from my time, invited me to it, I definitely said, I am going. At first, I had mixed feelings about it, and I was hesitant at first because my high school life wasn’t what I had expected it to be, but I toughed it out for 4 years. It wasn’t perfect and there were good times and bad times, but nothing really is perfect.

We envision high school to be perfect where everyone gets along, but that is not the case, however, I forgive those who have bullied me and belittled me throughout those times. I realize now that when you are a teenager going to school, all these emotions run high, going through the puberty stages where sometimes teens just don’t know what they are doing, plus getting through school with studies and everything else with making friends whereas some others don’t get so lucky about that. It’s a huge phase that kids go through before venturing out to college/university and maybe not and just going right to work or whatever the case may be.

Anyway, when I saw about 90% of the teachers at the reunion and anniversary, they all automatically remembered me even though 15 years have passed since I took my last walk out of those doors. I never visited back since then, but I feel like I really never left yesterday. I was so sad to hear about my favourite principal back in the day had passed away a few years ago from cancer. I was so devastated and cried. I truly know how to appreciate teachers and administrative staff for all the hard work and sacrifices they make and made to make sure we are educated and well looked after.

Some of the teacher’s names I had forgotten about and some that are still fresh in my mind, but they remembered me and some of the teachers said that they think about me from time to time. One of them said to me yesterday, Talin, you were my favourite student and I think about you all the time. I am so happy to be seeing you here today and in return, she was really one of my favourite teachers at the school. One of them always knew I was going to get into some sort of writing and when I spoke to her and told her what I do now, she got so excited to hear that I am doing what she thought I would do.

Anyway, I did a walk-through the school and I familiarized myself with the lockers I used to have, the classes I went to, the hallways that I walked around, familiar smells of the halls and classes, the gym, the library, and the staircases that was used to go up to the 2nd, and 3rd floors. The memories just came to me and some have faded and some have stayed with me. The washrooms and everything are also the same as I remembered where the washroom stalls are smaller.

I remember being part of teen voices, and other outreach programs. I was never really a sports person and I had joined into more interactive committees and creative writing.

I remember when I used to seldom take public transit home from school. I used to hate taking public transit up to now. That hasn’t changed. I remember getting a sign of relief when I saw I was being picked up by my dad or my brother and one of the teachers pointed that out to me yesterday, saying she remembers that I used to hate taking the bus and she remembers me being picked up. I said to her, nothing has changed on that front. LOL, and the only difference is that I drive now.

The 40th anniversary of Francis Libermann Catholic High School was definitely an eye-opener for me, which has overwhelmed me because time is flying and these are the moments of our lives that we will never get back and it teaches us to be grateful for each moment, even though they weren’t perfect and our expectations weren’t what we wanted, but we are getting older now and it truly makes you appreciate that little time you have in high school. Time never waits for you. You truly have to cherish life and the phases.

I was in tears while walking through the halls and I am in tears now as I write this now. I really miss high school a lot and I miss being a teenager. My advice to teenagers going to high school now, is to never waste a second of it, don’t take this time for granted. Even though it may not be a positive and good time for you, but also I want you to realize that high school is temporary and things do eventually get better and they will. It has for me. 4 years go by so quickly that you don’t even realize once you graduate and have your prom and then life changes right away. Well, it did for me.

2003 for me seems like yesterday, but in other ways, it does feel like its a long time. It really hit me hard yesterday and I just want to say how truly grateful I am for having a school to go to and getting to know many people of whom I am still in touch with. We didn’t really get along in high school, but we do now and that is what counts. Life and our personalities change and it’s absolutely amazing. You never truly learn to appreciate something until after the fact.

Thank you and congratulations to Francis Libermann and here is to another 40 years and beyond. I am super glad to be part of 4 years of it. All the best and may what happens between those walls be educational, fruitful filled with knowledge, respect, and getting closer with God in his teachings while learning valuable life lessons to take with you when you take your last walk out those doors. God bless Francis Libermann Catholic High School and all those in it.

January 2016 is Behind Us. Where did It Go?

Can you believe that January has come and gone? So quickly. It seemed just yesterday we were ringing in 2016. Tomorrow we will welcome February. I have a feeling that this year too will be flying by. I can feel it already. I don’t want it to, but I guess there is no stopping time as some of us would like. Sometimes we question and say, where did it go? Nobody knows where time goes, but all we know is, that it goes. When our lives are busy and we have so much to do and to get done, time just goes by so much quicker.

This year, we will be having a leap year. Which means that February will have 29 days instead of the 28. All in all, it has been a very pleasant winter. We have been very lucky thus far with the temperatures, snowfall and all that here in Toronto. Well, we are really not out of the woods just yet, there is still a few weeks left of winter, but from here on, I think the temperatures and the consistency of flurries we have had will stay about the same and which I have heard from the meteorologist, but then again, I do not want to speak so soon though. I do not want to jinx it either.

Weather like this in Canada is pretty unusual, and people are concerned with global warming and everything. I know it is concerning and something to be alarmed about climate change and everything, but to me this is great. Less problems on the roads and better conditions. People do want the snow and stuff, but it creates havoc on the roads, and it becomes dangerous for pedestrians, drivers and those who commute daily.

Let us continue to be thankful that we have made it past another month. Some people did not get to. I cannot believe we lost so many people in the entertainment industry this year and also unfortunate losses with loved ones, friends and all that. My condolences to all the families and friends.

Let us be grateful always and count our blessings, enjoy our days as much as we can, cherish moments and make memories.

Have a happy and healthy February and the rest of the year. 🙂 Talk to you tomorrow.

I Absolutely Love Social Media – Brings People Close Together

At Almost 11 years that I have been on Facebook, I can honestly say that I have made some great friends through this social media outlet through groups, pages, mutual friends and more. Some, I have met in person for the first time in the last 6-7 years. It was a special moment and we have created some fabulous memories and hopefully we will reunite again soon, however, there are some of my dear Facebook friends, I still have yet to meet. Sometimes I ask myself this question if I am ever going to meet them too? God willing it will happen and to finally see someone face to face instead of looking at pictures and communicating through screens. I am so blessed on great people from all over the world that has a special place in my list, my heart, mind and soul. Thank you for making the world smaller, but hopefully, it will become smaller at the moment we meet physically. I want to make this happen.

Thank you to Social Media for uniting great people to communicate with. Without social media, never knew some people existed, never knew how lovely people can be. Of course being careful all the time. You just feel that gut instinct by the way; someone communicates with you, you feel it in their tone and everything when they write, what the person posts and everything. You automatically feel this closeness or this instant comfort when you being communicating and creating bonds with people. That personality of a person shines and you feel like you have known them for so many years.

It is always good to find people you can relate to, who you have stuff in common with and those who just understand you and so much more.

However, there will always be some people who are not what they say they are and of course; you have to exercise caution at the same time, but you will know. You can sense it. Technology is great at bringing the world of people together but never forget who is near you, beside you and those who are physically with you as well and those who you share your life with. They say that the more further you are, the more sweeter you become, but don’t forget your friends and loved ones who are right there with you. That is super important to remember.

Looking At Pictures from The Past & Into the Present

Ever sit down one day or evening and think about opening up your photo albums shelf, drawer or wherever you store your photos, and just think about all the memories shared, the family and friends in pictures? Some of those people can still be with us, and unfortunately, some people may not be due to the passing of loved ones or those who are not part of our lives anymore. Whatever the situation can be.

In my photo albums, There have been family members and friends we have lost due to passing away and all we have are memories of pictures of them to look at which makes looking at pictures from the past bittersweet for a lot of us. It can be such an emotional moment. Those pictures become sentimental because it makes you think that, these people in my family or family friends used to be with us.

We also look at pictures from happy moments such as birthdays, weddings, engagement, travels, graduation, births, children, and so many other events in our life to capture and document them.

Nowadays, a lot of people seem to upload their memories on social media, as well as on their computers. There are people who still go out to develop photos to keep outside of technology and to me looking at photos that way seem all the more personal and a great feeling without the usage of a screen. I think the traditional method is the greatest. You know what they say, a Pictures says a thousand words and it definitely does. Sometimes you become speechless and just admire the moment that you do see the picture. In present time pictures get sent instantly within seconds.

I became a sentimental person a long time ago since I was about 5-6. My parents always taught me the importance of keeping things that are greeting cards, to gifts, and so many other things. Not to the point where it clutters my space, but super important things, and even things I have kept from my travels from airline boarding passes, airline tickets, baggage tags, and even shampoo bottles and logos of resorts or hotels in the room or around my travels.

Do you still go to get your photos developed?

Social Media Spam & Fake Accounts Beware

In the last few years, as technology of communication across the world has become a lot easier with transmitting information instantly across the world with just a single submit, post, or publish button. The world has come a long way with all that and it is incredibly amazing where technology has taken us. Some for the good, and some for the bad. The bad part about social media, e-mails and accounts are spam and fake ones.

I am sure some of us or if not all of us have encountered people saying “If you follow me, you can get instant thousands of followers back”, and then you see these accounts with fake usernames with so many numbers and a name with it like “Joy34342432456” or profile’s with suspicious fake photos, and then they try to add you as a friend, but you don’t even know them. After they send you e-mails saying “Hey, I saw your profile, you look great, and I want to get to know you and some sort of stuff” I am just getting so tired of all these bot’s and fake accounts that are circulating the internet.

I think the most important priority for these social media website creators, and those who work for these social media companies especially the IT, Security and safety teams, should really begin to clean out fake profiles. I know it is easier said than done and sometimes these fake profiles, hackers and everything made it so complicated to tell, but I can tell right away if it is a fake account.

So many things to look at when dealing with a spammer and fake account holder. here is my list:

– They only have 1 photo of themselves or they don’t have a profile photo and they put a picture of a unicorn or something. That becomes suspicious

– When they do not post anything on their profile pages.

– When you hashtag *#* or write about a certain thing on Twitter, an automatic bot will detect people’s status messages and retweet, like and follow you.

– They spam people to look at adult content videos

– They tag you in potential virus content that will mess up the security of your computer that will steal your passwords, and personal information.

– When they say, follow me and you get thousands of followers

– when there are e-mails that are like this “3535serger345gvdrgererwaefqw@swewed34325435fsfsada.com”

and so much more.

You must be so careful on what you add, who you add on your social media accounts.

I am going to begin to set up a petition online for these social media, and e-mail companies to really start cracking down on fake accounts, bots, and spammers to delete, remove and clean up the internet. Instead of focusing on new layouts, exciting new features and updates on these social media outlets, They should really be focusing on and managing security and safety of all the other users, by making it a little harder in the beginning when signing up for an account to ask several questions, to “I’m Not a Robot” or some sort of captcha, number to type down before creating a site, and go through extra steps to ensure safety and security of us all.

We should also be helping out these social media outlets. If you do see something that is not right or if you feel that you are being followed by robots or whatever, tell your social media outlet, report it, send an e-mail or whatever the case maybe, and they will investigate it and deal with it. There are millions and millions of accounts on these social media outlets and Facebook has over 1 billion people worldwide using it, so it can be quite difficult to combat all these accounts, so we as account holders should help them out and report these fake people or IF we can even call them that to them. It is so important.

Do not be discouraged of joining the social media world, just because of these things that are happening. Social Media outlets are awesome and it can be a fun, enjoyable and great place to keep in touch with loved ones, share photos, status messages and everything. I am not deterring anybody from this age in technology, I am just merely suggesting and advising people to really be so careful on who you add, and everything. If you do feel that it is suspicious, please report the account and delete and block it.

Have you been a victim of social media spam? What have you encountered?

Best wishes always, and remember to make wise decisions when Spammers and Bots come to you. best thing to do is to ignore, delete, report and then block. The social media outlet will see that it happened, as everything is on file at their end. Just be safe and enjoy social media.

Appreciating Someone When They Are Alive

With all these people dying that have happened so far this year in 2016 and other years is terrible and heartbreaking to lose a loved one in our families, friends, co-workers and others, however it seems to me that after someone dies, some people tend to appreciate them more, they become more popular, that person who has died starts trending even more than they were alive and they become more important than they were when they were present in this world. I guess some people do not know how to appreciate a person until they pass away. People need to show the same love, appreciation and importance to someone when they are alive. That is what counts.

After someone dies, don’t say, I wish I had spent more time with this person, I wish I had done things differently and be there for the person and give them more attention, love them and appreciate them more. Do it when the person is alive and can see and feel how important that person is to you. Not just talk about it, but to act on it. Actions speak louder than words. Care about a person when they are alive, not when they pass away.

As we have heard on the news, in our social media news feeds, news sites about Natalie Cole, Rene Angelil, Lemmy, Alan Rickman, David Bowie and others who have passed away, I keep seeing all their names trending even more, a lot more people begin to talk about a person more, their memory and everything. It matters, but it doesn’t matter in other ways because the person is no longer with us. Yes a legacy lives on and we will remember people, but the most important thing is to spread that energy to these people when they are alive.

Life is too short, be kind to each other, care, love, support, appreciate and be there for each other as much as you can. don’t have these feelings after a person dies and cannot feel it and see it. They can only see it from up in heaven when they look down to you on earth.

Eating Healthy is becoming Impossible

In the last little while, as I have been venturing off to the grocery store to do my weekly shopping for food and other necessities for the home, I have noticed that eating healthy is becoming impossible with the huge price hike of fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods. It has been absolutely crazy.

Doctors, dietitians, health pros keep telling us to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, but they should also realize that groceries are not cheap anymore. Many years ago, it was decent, you could go a long way to stretch your dollar, but now food, cost of living is increasing. People have to work harder to make a buck, and that is just ridiculous.

I do not care, food should never be expensive and on top of all that, people need to pay food tax too. Some people are buying less healthy foods in other aisles of what they can afford. I remember one time I was shopping at my local store, and I was in the canned food aisle with the high sodium soups and those ready made noodle ramen soups as well as pasta and rice and all that, also aisles with sugar based foods, I couldn’t help overhearing these 2 people talking to each other saying, “I have been trying to get healthy, but I cannot afford it, the prices for healthy food is insane, so to feed my family, I have to do anything and everything, so I got to do what I can”. It broke my heart. Life has become so difficult. It is unbelievable.

These governments and those who control the prices for our food, should think about all the people that need to dig into their pockets a lot more, but I do not think they care about people at all, as long as they make the money, who cares the health condition of people?

If all these professionals are promoting and expecting us to eating healthy, then they should back us up and offer us coupons, or better yet to work with the government and these food companies, farms that these veggies and fruit come from to come up with a plan that healthy eating is important and where obesity, overweight people can be motivated more when they see prices becoming more reasonable.

For cauliflower now, it is at a staggering $6.00, then for apples it is almost $4.00 for the bag, and there the total is now $10 just for 2 items. For a bag of onions is like $3.50, for red, orange, and yellow peppers is $2.97 a pound. So on and so forth. So with tax and everything it comes up to $20 or more for those things. fruits and veggies should not be more than 1 dollar or $1.50 at the most. They are fooling us.

No wonder why people are so stressed out. I am planning on setting up a petition online to decrease prices for food and to encourage people to eat healthier.

What do you think about it?

Positive Thinking Quotes to Live By

I absolutely love these quotes, so I decided to share them with you all.

credit goes to — Addicted2Success

Original Article Posted Here:
http://addicted2success.com/quotes/50-positive-thinking-quotes-for-more-inner-strength-growth/

“Life has many ways of testing a person’s will, either by having nothing happen at all or by having everything happen all at once.” – Paulo Coelho

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it.”  – Edith Wharton

“With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.” – Dr. Wayne W Dyer

“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.” – Norman Vincent Peale

“Hate. It has caused a lot of problems in this world but has not solved one yet.” – Maya Angelou

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” – Milton Berle

“An attitude of positive expectation is the mark of the superior personality.”  – Brian Tracy

“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill

“If you can dream it, then you can achieve it. You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.” – Zig Ziglar

“The only place where your dream becomes impossible is in your own thinking.” – Robert H Schuller

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” – Anais Nin

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” – Thomas Edison

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” – Douglas Adams

“Learning is a gift. Even when pain is your teacher.” – Maya Watson

“I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened” – Mark Twain

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” – Buddha

“Hope is a waking dream.” – Aristotle

“The past has no power over the present moment.” – Eckhart Tolle

“Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same.” – Francesca Reigler

“I do believe we’re all connected. I do believe in positive energy. I do believe in the power of prayer. I do believe in putting good out into the world. And I believe in taking care of each other.” – Harvey Fierstein

“If you want light to come into your life, you need to stand where it is shining.” – Guy Finley

“Today is a new beginning, a chance to turn your failures into achievements & your sorrows into so goods. No room for excuses.” – Joel Brown

“Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” – Tony Robbins

“We are all here for some special reason. Stop being a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future.” – Robin Sharma

“If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” – Henry Ford

“No matter what the situation, remind yourself “I have a choice.” – Deepak Chopra

“All you can change is yourself, but sometimes that changes everything!” – Gary W Goldstein

“The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.” – Confucius

“If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone.” – John C Maxwell

“Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.” – Mary Tyler Moore

“I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.” – Muhammad Ali

“We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves.” – Swami Vivekananda

“The difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is how you use them.” – Unknown

“If someone tells you, “You can’t” they really mean, “I can’t.” – Sean Stephenson

“There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.” – W. Clement Stone

“Whatever you want to do, do it now. There are only so many tomorrows.” – Michael Landon

“When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That’s my religion.” – Abraham Lincoln

“The difference in winning and losing is most often…not quitting.” – Walt Disney

“You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream.” – C.S Lewis

“All things are difficult before they are easy.” – Thomas Fuller

“Success is falling nine times and getting up ten.” – Jon Bon Jovi

“Happiness, like unhappiness, is a proactive choice.” – Stephen Covey

“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.” – Kurt Vonnegut

“You must make a decision that you are going to move on. It wont happen automatically. You will have to rise up and say, ‘I don’t care how hard this is, I don’t care how disappointed I am, I’m not going to let this get the best of me. I’m moving on with my life.” – Joel Osteen

“The next time you feel slightly uncomfortable with the pressure in your life, remember no pressure, no diamonds. Pressure is a part of success.” – Eric Thomas

“When the world pushes you to your knees, you’re in the perfect position to pray.” – Rumi

“If you can change your mind, you can change your life.” – William James

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” – Viktor Frankl

“Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open.” – John Barrymore

“The best way to gain self-confidence is to do what you are afraid to do.” – Unknown

Book Smarts Vs. Street Smarts

Intelligence Vs. Education
Logic and common sense

I’d rather have street smarts, intelligence, logic and common sense. Yes, people go to school to get educated, get all these fancy degrees and all that, gain knowledge about mathematics, science, biology, English, and other subjects, people have this perception that if they do not earn high marks in school that they are not smart or anything, and then lose all the confidence in the world to try to prove a point. To me, those numbers mean nothing. Every person has their own ways of learning and at their own pace. Each person is great at something. What I look for in an individual is that they have intelligence, the know-how, common sense and logic in reality. Those are the most important things in life. Not a number. being book smart doesn’t determine if you are street smart. That must come within yourself and of course from the teachings of your past teachers, teachers assistants, family and friends.

I am not saying that book smart people don’t have the intelligence and common sense, and all that. That is not my intention to say that at all.

I went to grade school, high school and college, and my biggest strength was English class, social studies, civics, writing and reading. I did bring high marks and excelled in that above the 90’s. Other subjects did not seem to get me motivated to learn it.

A lot of people knew I had it in me to write and there were a few teachers I had that said, “Talin, you will go places in your life with your writing, creative writing”. She also stated “Talin, I know in my heart that you will make a difference in this world, do not worry about others who have bullied you emotionally and mentally”. Do what you love doing and do not worry about trying to prove a point with bringing high marks”.

Now, look where it is has got me. I have almost 2, 500,000 followers of my writings, my blog site worldwide in all of social media combined, University Professors from the US are using my words and my craft to use in their lectures and more. I’d rather make a difference in the world, use logic, common sense than having those fancy/schmancy degrees and trying to boast, and impress people, but it is not good to brag to people constantly about it.

Never Give up Your Passion & Talents

Never Give up, and never allow others to allow you to give up.
You never need to prove yourself to anybody.
Your passion(s) and talent(s) are born with you. utilize them, and don’t waste it.

Always be you, follow your passion, do what you want to do, focus on positivity, happiness, what makes you smile and go forward in life. The right people will understand and recognize that. whether it is family, friends, your blog fans and followers, social media friends you met online.

There are some really mean and terrible people out there who discourage, putting jabs at you every chance they get, they say the worst things and hurt your feelings so much that it can and will scar you for life.

I know ignoring it is the toughest thing, but always know that you win when you ignore, you win when you keep your head up high and still follow your passion and talents.

For example, on social media we bloggers, video bloggers would always like positive feedback and kind comments and everything. Depending on what it is all about. I know that people will not always agree and there will be really mean and unkind comments, but there is a way to say things to people, and others do not care if they hurt the person’s feelings. No matter what they say. Now, that is unacceptable.  Never allow someone’s negative opinions and comments get the better of you. Somethings are better left unexplained, rather than explaining to those who will not understand you. Unfortunately, that is how life is and how some people are.

Usually, when people keep throwing jabs at you and those who are negative, really tells a whole lot about the life they are living, and they also think that they are right all the time, and everyone should be agreeing with them with whatever goes on. Those are the type of people who could be jealous and insecure about themselves, so they end up making everyone else’s lives miserable and you end up in the middle of that crossfire. Never allow others to walk all over you. Always speak up and defend yourself. When you do speak up, you will see the reaction. If it means that the person will no longer be communicating with you and everything, then so be it. Not everyone will be like you and not everyone will think like you. That is fine.

That will be a lesson to the person always putting you on the spot, throwing jabs at you.

Sometimes things happen in life that makes us open our eyes, to select our friends wisely and to find true people who will always stay by you, support you in whatever you do in your life. You create your own destiny. No matter how fast or slow and no matter what it is.

Always feel comfortable and you know when they say, you have to get out of your comfort zone? Sometimes that is true, but most of the time it is not. You have to be comfortable with however your life is and will be, and whatever you can handle.

True friends and true people will always encourage you and steer you to the right direction.

Not everyone is and will be on the same chapter of your life’s book. That is why Some people are just beginning to read the table of contents and the introduction and some have not even opened the book and already began judging it by the cover.

Don’t ever give up, be the pen of your life, and write your own life. Don’t ever let someone else hold the pen.

I want the best for everyone, may all your wishes and dreams come true, and Best wishes always.

My Full House Nostalgia – My Dream Came True

By: Talin Orfali

As you may or may not know, from September, 1987 to May, 1995, there was an American sitcom named Full House which was created by Jeff Franklin. It was a Miller-Boyett production. They only broadcasted eight seasons as well as 193 episodes. The show then has been syndicated and rebroadcasted. They then created a series of books and other merchandise that were in the market. In 2016 on Netflix, they will show brand new episodes and a reunion.

The actors and actresses of the show were Bob Saget, Dave Coulier, John Stamos, Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Lori Loughlin, Andrea Barber, Scott Weinger, Blake and Dylan Toumy-Wilhoit, as well as their beloved and adorable dog Comet.

The Show was based out of San Francisco, California, however the show was filmed in Los Angeles in a studio.

The opening theme was “Everywhere you look” performed by Jesse Frederick and composed by Bennett Salvay & Jeff Franklin.

The show was nominated and also won many awards as well as the actors and actresses on the show.

You would hear the iconic quotes and sayings from the show “How Rude?” “You got it Mister!”, “Have Mercy”, “You Got It dude”, “Wake Up San Francisco”, “Tattle-Tale”, “Oh Mylanta” “Not the Hair” “GA-GA-GA-” “I’m Popeye the sailor Man” and a lot more.

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In May, 2015 I ventured out to San Francisco, California and my nostalgia hit me pretty hard. My Dream had come true. I began to cry with happy tears and thoroughly enjoyed my experience in seeing the Full House on Broderick St and then the Painted ladies homes at Alamo Square Park. I also saw the Golden Gate Bridge, Fishermans Wharf. I also began re-enacting the theme opening of the show. Some people saw me and started to laugh and knew what I was doing. It was pretty cool. I could not believe I went up close and person with the real deal.

I will never forget it. It was absolutely an incredible feeling that was so indescribable, that I saw it all from always watching the show from my childhood. I hope that I can one day meet all the actors and actresses from the show. That is also on my bucket list that I want to cross it off. Their Stage names are DJ Tanner, Stephanie Tanner, Michelle Tanner, Danny Tanner, Uncle Jesse Katsopolis, Aunt Becky, Kimmy Gibler, Steve, Uncle Joey Gladstone, Nicky and Alex.

I always felt like I was part of their family and I felt like I knew them. When I was a kid, I would always have imaginary friends and I would include them in it and then that is where I was dreaming of celebrities coming over to my home, and trying so hard to reach out to the show. I wrote many letters to the production, but I knew how many letters they used to receive, that I got nothing back in return. Which then afterwards I understood why with all the fans and people also writing to the show. Which is completely okay. I was not upset at all.

It was a great show with family values, taught people lessons on how to act, behave, to have manners, to instill responsibility, and so much more. There aren’t these kinds of TV shows anymore that instill family values with quality and excellence.

I will forever love this show and always will. I am excited to tune into the Fuller House and continue with my Nostalgia. Thank you for the memories Full House. You all meant and still mean a lot to me. I love you all very much. I will always cherish each moment as I was growing up with them.

A Writers Passion

In life all of us, if not most of us in this world have a passion and something or somethings that we are good at, and we should always share that passion with the world. I have a passion and that is writing, telling a story, sharing my experiences, my education, my knowledge, and all the while recognizing, acknowledging things that are happening in the world and that have happened.

I have so much to contribute, write about and do so much for the world in inspiring, sharing, and during that process to being happy and also with what I do and get noticed in the entertainment capital of Los Angeles. I just hope that one day I will catch my big break into that. I am working so hard to reach my goals, to circulate my writings to people in Los Angeles.

Writing is definitely a skill that is so challenging, overwhelming sometimes and also developing writers block where there is a road blockage into rendering more thoughts and fresh ideas. It does happen, but then again a writer always gets out of that road block and gets on the road to write once again. Some write without a rough draft, and some write with brainstorming, outlining and jotting down ideas. For me, I do not need a rough draft. I just write naturally as the thoughts come through my mind and my soul.

 

If I was residing in Los Angeles, California I would definitely be in the entertainment industry with writing for the big directors, movie companies, soap operas, TV shows, and so much more. I know now with technology and communication that you can sit at home and transmit information to the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, but it is a lot different to sit behind a computer screen and actually being there in the action up close and personal.

It is not about being famous and being popular. It is not about that at all, but merely putting my name out there, to make a legacy for myself, to leave a mark in this world that will have a positive, incredible and wonderful impact that I will have for the citizens of this world of now, tomorrow and future.

As you may or may not know, blogs, social media, article writing, and a lot more important to me. I am so dedicated to my passion and it is a big part of my life and will forever be. It is very hard work and I absolutely love it so much and hopefully people will appreciate that hard work that it takes to write, contribute, distribute, and share to the world.

Bloggers are just as Important as Journalists

In recent years now, technology, social media and ways to communicate with the world have advanced so much. Today writers, journalists, and bloggers have discovered a way to get our feelings, points, experiences, current events, society and education across the world. That is sharing a virtual journal and diary so the world of people can read what we write. I am sure there are still people in this world that do have a hand written journal and keep contributing to it.

Now, I have come across some statuses on Facebook and other means of social media that what bloggers say is not as important as an educated journalist says that has been published in major newsletter and newspaper publications, news broadcasting sites and more. I find that to be very offensive, and so terribly rude of them to even have the audacity to write those things.

Some of us bloggers and those who contribute to social media may not be educated in journalism or some sort of writing programs, but that does not necessarily mean that we do not have a voice and that we do not matter. We are as important as a professional journalist. We also have the right to write what we feel, and nobody is better than the next person. We all have our writing styles, our abilities to share our words, thoughts, experiences, society, news, and updates about our lives and what influences us.

We also have that right to be published in major newspapers when we submit our craft to them. Just because a person has a diploma, certificate that only gets accepted in them doesn’t mean that they are more important than a person who does not possess them. When I e-mail some newspaper publications, they will not even look at me, but then I say you know what? It is their loss for not giving me that chance.

It is not about being famous, putting my name on the map of the world that people will recognize, it is mostly about getting my word across, and feeling great about it that I made someone’s day, that I inspired, educated and gave insight to somebody else who looks for a certain type of information whether it be about a school project, generalizing, and even educating one’s self about anything their heart desires to look up.

Bloggers somehow seem to have a bad rap because we tend to get more personal with our craft and that a blog is not a writing style, but merely an article that is meant for grade school and high school level that English teachers give to students to complete a creative writing assignment.

I am not saying that journalists with a diploma do not have a talent and who are not great at what they do, That is not my intention to say at all. I am saying that we bloggers and of course, journalists all have something to give out and have worked hard to get up there in the world and success is always under construction and improving, and getting up on that ladder will never end. Bloggers too! Even those who just joined the writing and blogging world. No matter how new or advanced we are, we still matter and what we do as well.

Not a lot of people can do what we do, not a lot of people can put words, sentences and phrases like we can, and they look up to us and want to read, get insight, and want us to contribute to their lives and what they are feeling or thinking about at the moment, but do not have the means to share it in writing.

I think that out of the many people who do write blogs on a daily, weekly or monthly basis have a talent, and we must utilize it. We do not have to prove to anyone anything in our craft, but just to shine what has been instilled in us. We all have a talent that we need to shine through and contribute to the world, and if writing and blogging your talent, and if you feel accomplished and good about yourself at the end of the day, then you have done your job. Never give up your passion and never let others rain on your parade. Best wishes to you on your important blogging journey.

The World Is A Beautiful Place, We Need It

The World is Beautiful place to be and to live, and, of course we need it to go on about our day to day life  however, Some people take a lot of things for granted, some people take advantage of others, who are never grateful for those around them or the things they have, some people are so materialistic.

Some people have learned to hate, do and think negative things in life, greediness, selfishness, and who are surrounded by negativity, hate, killing, disrespect and lack of love, dignity and who have pessimistic attitudes. We need to change that, and we need to change that now.

We need to pray,
We need God,
We need people,
We need health,
We need togetherness,
We need more kindness,
We need more love,
We need more respect,
We need more inspiration,
We need more attention to goodness,
We need to accept each other,
We need to stop racism,
We need to be selfless,
We need to feel and be appreciated,
We need to be thankful,
We need to be thoughtful,
We need to spread more good news and good cheer,
We need to support each other,
We need to help each other,
We need to be around positivity,
We need to stand up for one another,
We need to be honest,
We need to be reliable,
We need to smile,
We need to be optimistic,
We need to follow the right path,
We need motivation,
We need fun times,
We need to enjoy.

We are blessed with many people and things in our lives, we just need to recognize, acknowledge and be well aware of that.

We are all special, beautiful and great in our own ways, we are also unique. We should always count our blessings and be who we are in the process.

What are you doing to better your world and everybody and everything around you?

A Day In The Life in Cuba – The Reality

In life, one of the most incredible experiences is travel. I believe that when you travel to see the world, different lifestyles, realities, different people, places is something that is such a great thing. You become more aware, educated, informed and get in touch with your personal self to get a better understanding than what you hear in the media and pictures, also to change your perspective on things of the way your life is and in your own backyard to appreciate, count our blessings, and to be grateful for everything you have in life where others are less fortunate and do not have much. For example, in Cuba.

I have traveled to Cuba 13 times in my lifetime. I have traveled almost all over the island and have seen cities, and towns along the way. I have spent time with the locals, and met families, and have seen the way people live their day to day lives with the bare minimum. Some people make about $12.00 – $30.00 a month. Maximum 35 if they are lucky. Most people work in the resorts and touristic parts, some who are teachers, doctors, room makers, cleaners, bartenders and more.

A lot of people nowadays are so picky about what they want to eat, some people have a fridge full of food, pantries full, stomachs full, and they still are trying to figure out what to make. I admit, I am one of them, but It is really an eye-opener when you see the world. Not only in pictures, but when you see it with your own eyes. That is a whole new ball game. Well, some people in this world unfortunately do not have that option. Cuban people get a certain amount of food per month or every 2 weeks and that they need to space out how much food to eat during the day, some have to struggle to make their own food.

As I was going through towns from Cayo Santa Maria, back to Santa Clara where the airport is to come back home, I saw some of the most saddest things I had ever seen, there are run down buildings that look like they will collapse any minute, people walking around the streets with heavy bags, people cutting grass with machetes or some sort of cutter, some people going somewhere with horses, busted up cars, and it just made me tear up and think to myself, how can people live like this day in and day out? I teared up and so did the person who was sitting next to me and I overheard 2 ladies behind me saying that, we shouldn’t complain anymore and be choosy about everything we have. This really opened up my eyes one of the ladies said, and the friend of hers or whoever it was said, yes that’s true, you are right.

I have been through towns and cities in Cuba, and some of the conditions of the homes the Cuban people live are terribly sad. It breaks my heart. They don’t have proper windows, the roofs of some of the houses are coming apart, a lot of the houses are the size of a 14 to 17 foot place and some of the houses are even smaller than that. Can you imagine a family of 5 living there? Well, I met this family of 5 and they live in such a small house and they have to go outside of the home to use the toilet and to shower they have buckets inside the house and there is running water outside, so they have to go out to get running water then come back to wash up inside where there is just a drain.

In Cienfuegos, Cuba when I went. I had met an entertainer and then he invited my family and I over to his house, so the next day we took the taxi over to his place. We met his family and I remember how hospitable they were with us and so friendly. So, we took them a few items we do not need anymore and they were so happy. So the mother of the entertainer made us a whole table full of food, and started preparing the day before when the entertainer told them we are coming over. The dinner we had was so delicious and it was probably their months worth of food for us for that night. It was done without our knowledge or else we would have refused and if we did, they would get offended, so we ended up eating all of it as we were hungry. They then served us coffee and then we went back to the hotel.

They were so incredibly friendly and we got to see how they lived the whole day. They struggle so much with the deplorable conditions they live in. Some places though are really nice. It depends on the monthly salary as well. Again, I came to my resort and I just thank my lucky stars. I showed a few Cubans my pictures from my Camera, and they have never even seen an airplane in their lives, they have never even seen a camera, let alone the type of clothing I was wearing. It absolutely broke my heart to pieces.

I will continue to visit Cuba. I really like the people there and they are so friendly, witty and energetic, but for some people you can see the sadness and depression in their faces and you can tell some of them don’t have much, and some show they are happy, but they are not. The desperation can be seen. They love it when you give them shoes, clothing and anything else. For these people I will donate and give them the shirt off my back. Put yourself in their shoes and see what its like, but some people don’t realize.

I see them working so hard at the resorts, non-stop and they have to travel long ways to make a Buck which is a Peso there. There are people who come to these resorts who travel there, and I see how rude the guests can be to them and waste so much food on their plates, demand things from them. I mean at the end of the day, they are human beings just like us and deserve to be treated with respect and to have patience. Those Cubans see it and they said, I wish I had this much food at my home and I can see the frustration and sadness in their eyes. I am very observant when I travel. Some of these tourists don’t realize that, however I do and I am compassionate and patient with them. I put myself in their shoes and I go from there.

Moral of the story is that you should always be thankful for what you have. You never know what someone else is going through and people in this world do not have anything, so we must stop begging for more, being desperate for buying the next newest and latest smartphones, or super expensive things that really suit no purpose in life. Some people are so spoiled to the fullest extent. It is unbelievable. We should always count our lucky stars because people in this world aren’t so lucky.

Have you been to Cuba or anywhere else and have seen the way people live?

Do you travel to other destinations to see other peoples reality and what it is like?

Would love to hear from you.