Dear Week, I'm so over you. I'm leaving you for your best friend, Weekend. Don't try to find us for at least 2 days. Love (not really), Me

I WONDER WHY THERE IS A STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN WHILE THERE'S A HIGHWAY TO HELL?

TATTOOED MOM

Tattoos have been around since ancient Egypt and have also been discovered on "the iceman" from millions of years ago. So why all the talk today about the tattoo culture and its effects on our society? Some nations of the world still sees tattooing as a family and cultural tradition. Children are tattooed as a right of passage. In our day, we feel it is an expression of who we are as a person. With this self expression comes positive and negative feedback from other members of our society.

Some of the positive aspects of being tattooed can be expressed by many tattoo lovers. The rush of putting something decorative on their bodies is like no other feeling in the world. Knowing the mark of the needle is there forever is a beautiful committment to many ink seekers. Picking a design and saying it is part of "you" is what drives some to commit to tattoo collecting. Sports teams, girlfriends names, children's favorite play toys, favorite foods, brand names, flowers, and even frightening subjects are part of the tattooing design platform. A tattoo can mean a committment between two friends to be friends forever.

A tattoo can commemorate a death of a family member, friend, or even a pet. Many times while doing memorial tattoos, artists will see the tears of the living flow under the buzz of the needle. The tattoo gives closure and security in knowing the memorial is permanently a part of the grieving person's body.
"Wearing your heart on your sleeve" is actually what the memorial tattoo does for the client seeking to show their love, committment, or grief of losing a loved one. This is just one positive effect of getting tattooed.

Another effect that can be positive is the ornamental decoration of one's body. Many decorative designs can be seen on young people and even people in their eighties. One episode of Miami Ink showed an eighty year old lady getting her first tattoo. She was a perky eighty year old and wanted to have her initial on her upper arm. It was an honor for Ami to decorate her virgin skin at the age of eighty.

Art on the skin has been around for millions of years. Expressing oneself through artistic designs is an uplifting experience for many being tattooed. The designing of a unique tattoo is one positive part of the tattooing experience. Becoming the designer gives the tattoo client a sense of ownership of the artwork being placed on their bodies. Some tattoo artists do not like to use artwork done by the client or a client's agent. Some art just does not make for good tattooing. If a piece of art is not up to an artist's view of good tattoo art, the artist may refuse to do the tattooing. If the artist approves of the art the client has designed, then it can have a very uplifting and positive effect on the client. The pride that comes with saying they designed their own artwork is great. Choosing the placement is another positive control of one's own body and what will become a part of their being forever. Positive feedback from friends and family also adds to the clients feelings of euphoria from being tattooed.
Tatoos might be the original calling card of sailors and bikers, but as more and more modern-minded parents embrace them as a form of personal artistic expression, they're finding that they can make a favorite moment more tangible than a memory.Like me.. (c:)
An advice; IF your daughter asks why people are staring at you, tell them it's because you are beautiful. ;)

Classroom Feng Shui

I LOVE working, and teaching in my classroom. Classroom feng shui is so easy to do; and people often comment on the peaceful energy they feel inmy room.

There are several feng shui books available specifically for teachers and classrooms, but my favorite (and the only one I use for my classroom) is a book I found online by two Asian women (it was permanently borrowed by someone who loved it, so I can't provide an author or title-yet)

I was skeptical of the suggestions when I first read them. So many different colors in one small space, made me think of a circus theme- which was the LAST thing I needed to create with my students! Nevertheless, I followed the rules as presented and I am so glad I did.

This page is a do-it-yourself instruction sheet for teachers who enjoy decorating, like to feel at home when they are at work, want to enhance learning for their students and would love to enjoy a classroom of peaceful children everyday.

This page explains how I do it (this also works for every room in a house and even for the space on a desk).

Make It Happen

Here are the 6 steps to feng shui a classroom:

* If the room has stuff sitting out everywhere, that anyone can see when they enter the classroom... throw half of it in the dumpster and then pack up and hide the rest in cabinets, and under tables. Goal= make the room look as empty as possible (other than chairs and desks, of course)!

The ultimate goal would be that even the cabinets and shelves are neat, organized and not overfilled; but that can come later.

Feng shui energy needs space to move around and between all the things in a room (even the things in a cabinet or on a shelf) in order to work it's best magic. So please create as much empty space as possible in the classroom.

If you are not familiar yet with the feng shui bagua , be sure to read my introduction to this very helpful tool.

Your FREE Stress Tip

Get your own, full-color feng shui bagua for free by signing up for my "Stressology" newsletter. Just fill in your name and email in the box on the left and you'll get an instant download link for your very own bagua map, which not only shows you which colors go where, but also tells you which objects to place in each area of your room, as well as the magic feng shui phrase that you can say to activate the special energy of each of the nine spaces.

This is an invaluable tool for any feng shui enthusiast- beginner or advanced.

* Using a real compass (sporting goods stores have these for hikers), stand in the middle of the room and follow the arrow to see which wall or corner is the north. Get a sticky note and write the word "North" on it, and stick it to the exact spot on the wall where the needle points to north.

Place a sticky note for each of the 8 compass directions on the walls and corners.

* Label each wall and corner (or ceiling tile) with the name of the nine feng shui bagua areas:

North: Career
South: Fame
East: Family
West: Fun
Northeast: Wisdom
Northwest: Helpful People
Southeast: Abundance
Southwest: Relationships
Center: Health

These labels can be as simple as sticky notes or as elaborate as posters. I created my own posters that combine the right color, with the specific word of the bagua and a photo of the matching element. I call this INSTANT feng shui, because all I have to do to feng shui a room, is hang the poster on the exact compass location and then state my intention three times. It could not be easier!

* Put the "right" color on each wall, or in front of the wall-including each of the four corners.

North: black or dark blue
South: red
East: green
West: white
Northeast: turquoise
Northwest: gray
Southeast: purple
Southwest: pink
Center: soft yellow or earth tone

* Stand in each color-coded area and either say or think a positively phrased statement, three times (in the present tense), about your wish for that part of your life.

Ex. In the turquoise, wisdom area say: "My students are hard-working and smart."

* This last step is optional, but does a great job of making the feng shui effect more tangible and therefore stronger.

Place an object of the right color in each area matching it to that areas' natural element.

North: water
South: light or fire (candles in a classroom- a no-no?)
East: wood
West: metal
Northeast: stone
Northwest: metal
Southeast: wood
Southwest: earthen product
Center: earthen product

That's it!

Although feng shui does not specifically involve essential oils; I always have a diffuser (or bottles) of lavender and orange oil at my desk. Lavender creates calmness (when student energy is high) and orange increases alertness (wake up those sleepy heads in the morning).

I use pure, essential oils in a nebulizer-type of diffuser at my desk; and no child (even those who say they have allergies) has ever said they have a reaction to the aromatherapy in my classroom. Use at your own discretion, of course.

Bug-proof Your Feng Shui Clasroom

Just in case you have or want to avoid a bug (ants, cockroaches) problem in your beautiful, new feng shui classroom, here is a natural bug prevention method and a natural bug killer product to try:

* Spray and clean cabinets with a mix of 1/4 cup tea tree oil, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and 2 cups water.
* Sprinkle NATURAL diatonaceous earth powder (not the kind used for pool filters) at all the entry ways to your classroom. It can usually be found in the plant and nursery section of a store like Walmart or Home Depot and at horse feed stores. This product is completely safe for humans.

Note: cockroaches love and need water. If you have any sources of water in your classroom (like a sink), consider closing off the drain when it's not in use.

Personal Feng Shui

Once you have the classical feng shui elements in place and the room does not look cluttered, you are ready to do some personal feng shui adjustments that are specific to your birthdate!

Doing personal feng shui is like a tailor sewing your clothes specifically for your body. Only it's easy to do, and I bet you'll love learning more about yourself.

My intention for everyone reading this:

Enjoy Your Comfortable Classroom and Your Relaxed, Hard-Working Students!

taken from;
http://www.stress-relief-teacher.com/classroom_feng_shui.html

MY NEIGHBORHOOD.. GOZTEPE,IZMIR

Göztepe is a neighborhood of İzmir, situated on the southern shore of the Gulf of İzmir, administratively within the boundaries of the metropolitan district of Konak. The neighborhood is also one of the eight quays of İzmir's urban ferry services.

It is notable for its football team Göztepe A.Ş. which, although currently playing in the Turkish Third League and experiencing difficulties, boasts of remarkable past glories such as that of being the first Turkish football club to ever reach a semi-final in a European Club Competition and still attracts a passionate and dedicated fan base.

In Ottoman times, the alternative Greek name for Göztepe was "Enopi" and the area was a rich suburb inhabited principally by richer Greeks of İzmir.

Pink Martini - "Où est ma tête?" from Robbie Barclay on Vimeo.

THE STORY OF PINK MARTINI

Yes,they are...

Vidivodo.com : the doors people are strange  Etiket: the doors people

THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY

Vidivodo.com : the bridges of madison county  Etiket: the bridges of

THE BRIDGES OF MADISON OF COUNTY

Madison County is Eastwood's gift to women: to Francesca, to all the girls he's loved before -- and to Streep, who alchemizes literary mawkishness into intelligent movie passion...

HENNA NIGHT of my sister! TONIGHT!!!

Tonight,we're going to celebrate the henna night of my sister, two day before her wedding.. She is going to wear our special costume and the henna will be put in her hands.. We're going to have a girls' party after then.. Ahh,can't wait.. (c:)

Some info about a Turkish wedding and Henna night..

The Weddıng Ceremony ın Anatolıa


Wedding ceremonies play an important role in our culture and are one of our most colourful traditions.

Wedding ceremonies are composed of a series of ceremonies connecting the houses of the bride and the bridegroom and celebrated between these two houses. On those occasions, relatives and friends join the ceremonies and celebrate the happy event together.

In most regions of Anatolia, the wedding ceremonies last for a week. The entertainment organized for the night before the wedding in the house of the bride among the women is called “henna night”.

Henna night is the most important element of wedding ceremonies. The bride takes part in the ceremony wearing a special dress. After sunset prayer, the women of the bridegroom’s house and the other guests meet at the house of the bride. Appetisers, cakes, desserts, and sweet fruit drinks are offered to the guests on large platters. The bride enters the room with young girls holding burning candles. There is music and folk dancing, and henna is put on the bride’s hands while an elderly woman says prayers. Henna is a plant of Indian and Arabian origin, which grows in the Middle East and Africa and is used to dye hair and nails. Dried henna leaves are ground and the resulting powder is mixed with water.

In some regions a gold coin is put in the bride’s hand and henna is applied to her hands. Her hand is tied with silk handkerchiefs. Henna has an important place in Turkish folklore. It is the theme of many proverbs and folk songs. To put henna on hands is a sign of joy. The custom of applying henna to the bride’s hands is accompanied by folk dances and folk songs. The following day is the wedding day, when the silk handkerchiefs are untied and the gold coin is presented to the bridegroom in a handkerchief. The bridegroom carries this coin as a symbol of fortune or sews it in his money pouch.

In some regions, one married and one unmarried woman apply the bride’s henna. The bride sits on a cushion and the henna is put in a silver bowl. The married woman applies the henna to her right hand and the unmarried woman applies henna to her other hand. Then the guests play folk dances and the entertainment continues until late at night. The henna is washed off on the wedding day. On the same day, henna is applied to the little finger of the bridegroom.

The dress, specially sewn for the purpose and carrying the characteristics of the region, is the most important piece of a bride’s trousseau. It is the most important inheritance from her mother and one that she will pass down to her daughter.

Though henna night has local characteristics in many regions, the object is the same everywhere and it still survives in many regions of Anatolia.

ME&MY SISTER

ME&MY SISTER DANCING ALL NITE!

HER SECOND COSTUME

 

 

BACK TO SCHOOL!!!!

Ahh,It is school time once again.. God,summer days just passed so fast.. Now both me and my kids are getting back to school. After two months of holiday, it will be real hard to concentrate to school... I read some tips for students getting back to school;

Survival Tips for students...

•The old saying "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" is never more true than when you're going to school. Students are more alert and perform better in class if they eat a good breakfast.
•Get enough sleep. Studies show that teens need at least 8½ hours of sleep each night to feel rested. Sleep deprivation can lead students to fall asleep in class (embarrassing if you're caught!) and can also make it hard to concentrate. It can be more productive to get the sleep you need than it is to stay up late cramming: A recent study found that students who got adequate sleep before a math test were nearly three times more likely to figure out the problem than those who stayed up all night.
•Do more at school and you'll have less to do at home. Take advantage of those times during the school day when you're not in class: Review notes, go to the library or computer lab, get a head-start on your homework, or research that big term paper. You'll be thankful later while you're at the mall or a concert and your classmates are stuck at home cramming!
•One of the best ways to make friends and learn your way around is by joining school clubs, sports teams, and activities. Even if you can't kick a 30-yard field goal or sing a solo, getting involved in other ways — going to a school play, helping with a bake sale, or cheering on friends at a swim meet — can help you feel like a part of things.
School is a time to make friends and try new things, but it's also a place to learn skills like organization and decision making that will come in handy for the rest of your life
http://kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/school/back_to_school.html#

THE MISSING ROSE-KAYIP GUL Serdar Ozkan

THE MISSING ROSE...

A very touchy novel from a Turkish writer... It is said to be the Turkish 'Little Prince' in the book world. I will read the original version in Turkish once again because I think the English version is a bit poor in translation..

Here are some comments from the official website of the writer...

''Up to this day, I have never read or heard of such an interesting book. My sister had read the book and recommended it to me, she especially kept praising the ending. I started reading it and finished it on the third day; I would have finished it much earlier if I had not had exams. I am very intrigued how you came up with such an unusual story. The ending was especially excellent. I thank you very very very much for writing such a wonderful book.''

''A rich first novel which perhaps most authors could only write as their last… I am really impressed. I bought your book and in the evening it was finished. In one word, it is magnificent. It’s a wonderful blend of many philosophies from different cultures. Since then, many of my friends have also read your book and The Missing Rose still hasn’t come back to me. In fact, some of them have bought copies of it to put into their libraries. In the middle of the night I received one sms message from a friend of mine, saying that she has just finished the book and wanted to share her feelings with me. (At different times of the day, I received other messages and I think they will continue to come.) She thanked me for giving her the book. I would like to thank you for putting together such a treasure and sharing it with us.''

Gemini September 2010 forecast

Gemini Horoscope for September 2010
By Susan Miller
Although it's September, the traditional month for high energy and fresh starts, Mercury, your ruler, is still retrograde until September 12, so as you enter the month, take it slow and easy. The world will be in warm-up stage, not quite ready for your ideas yet. To push hard now would be out of sync with the flow of things, and you will actually gain more by spending some time thinking and perfecting your strategy.
Mercury is the planet that is responsible for your superb intelligence and talent with communication, but when he retrogrades, we are all liable to overlook certain facts that later cause problems. Miscommunications and misunderstandings abound, as do delays and changes in plans that require backtracking. Strikes and technical problems delay trains and buses while airlines bring delays and passengers change flights. Glitches and errors crop up in publishing, broadcasting, Internet, software, telecommunications, and shipping.
We become forgetful during these phases and are prone to lose things if we are not very careful. Keep track of your electronic devices, keys, wallet, sunglasses, and eyeglasses. Female readers could lose their makeup cases and guy readers may misplace season footfall tickets. In an effort not to lose your treasures, tape your business card inside every case (or slip it inside your case) and tape it on the underside of your computer or smart phone. When you get an address or phone number, enter it into our computer or cell phone immediately, and don't carry it around on a tiny slip of paper that could get lost.
Some readers ask, "Is Mercury retrograde all the time?" The answer is no, but it sometimes feels that way. Whenever Mercury speeds ahead of the Sun and gets to 27-1/2 degrees in separation, it's as if the Sun has a leash and pulls Mercury back and it appears that Mercury is retrograde in the sky. It's as though the Sun wants Mercury to be his front man, for after all, Mercury is the most articulate of all the planets and has been called "the messenger of the gods" for good reason. Mercury is very fast and very reactive. Mercury pulls ahead of the Sun four times a year, so he retrogrades about every 12 weeks for a three-and-a-half week period.
Readers have asked, "Is it a bad for a baby to be born with Mercury retrograde?" No, not at all! This aspect causes a child to be quite philosophical and deeply reflective. Actually, I was born with Mercury retrograde and it's never hindered me. That is saying a lot since I work in all phases of communication, including publishing, the Internet, and broadcasting, and have cell phone apps (Astrology Zone Premier and Astrology Zone Mobile) - those are all areas ruled by Mercury.
The next time Mercury will retrograde after it goes direct September 12 will be December 10-30. This means holiday shopping will be very difficult this year. Aim to make your most important purchases (especially electronic ones as Mercury rules moving parts) in October or November. If you don't shop early you will risk seeing your recipient disappointed with your gift, or else something may be wrong with it.
The good part about Mercury retrograde is that we go back to the past to discover possessions we haven't seen in a long time and presumed were lost. We also tend to connect with one or two people we know but haven't seen in a very long time.
While it is never wise to take a job when Mercury is retrograde, you CAN accept it if the offer is from your past, like if a former boss or old friend makes you the offer. In that case, you can accept the position, for it means you both were meant to do something more together in this lifetime.
Mercury happens to be retrograde in Virgo right now, suggesting that you can go back to get a lot accomplished in your home during this period. It's a great time to paint, repair, refurbish, and do cleaning and maintenance. If you once tried to buy a house, only to have your offer rejected, the owners may come back to you now for a second chance.
Speaking of home-related matters, this month the new moon on September 8 will help you get all kinds of home-related goals in gear within the two weeks that follow. If you paint, be sure to ask the painters to do the closets too for when you empty those closets, you will be excited to find old treasures that you never know you had. Repairs are perfect to do when Mercury is out of phase.
I feel it's a good idea to pretend you're moving out each year by calling in the painters to do one or two rooms. Doing so helps you keep the clutter at bay. Painting the closets almost forces you to give away things that you would never do if you didn't just empty it all first. Painting makes me enthusiastic about adding new little accessories and other touches, and I love the feeling of being in a super-clean apartment. I bet you feel the same way.
If you need to do something more ambitious, like move house, purchase a condo, or sell a co-op, do so AFTER September 12 for best results. This month could well prove to be pivotal for home and family-related matters, so get started on those plans!
Your career is due for some truly exciting news in the coming weeks and months once Jupiter, the giver of gifts and luck, moves into Pisces and your tenth house of fame on September 9, to stay until January 22. Jupiter only visits a sector of the chart once every 12 years, and you have Jupiter at the pinnacle point of your chart now, the house ruling honors, awards, achievement, and fame. The ancients called this house "the house of dignity," and when it is triggered, there's an opportunity to reach a new career level, to a place where everyone - even competitors - agree you have proven your worth in a new and important way. If you have been looking for a new position but not really seeing things click, you have the very best outlook for a major professional victory.
I would like you to watch September 18 as a potentially very special career day, when Jupiter and Uranus will conjoin in Pisces in your tenth house of professional achievement. That will be a Saturday, so watch the day or two prior for news, for September 16 and 17 will be work days when it might be more likely to bring news.
Also this month, Mars will enter your sixth house of work projects, indicating that from September 14 to October 28, you will be working very hard on your career. Get ready - there won't be a moment to breathe! It will be a good feeling to be so valued.
The ruler of your solar tenth house of career is Neptune, and Neptune is still retrograde (since May 31) but will turn direct November 7. No doubt about it, November will be a key month for you, for Jupiter will also go direct on November 18, having been retrograde since July 23.
November will also be great because it'll be the first month that the planets will start being friendlier to one another. The period from June through August was an especially tense time astrologically, but the first five months of 2010 weren't exactly a party either. Planets have kept you in a pressure grip, so you will notice a sense of ease that is both unfamiliar and welcome once you get to November. At that time you could see quite a career breakthrough, although this month September 17-18 could bring one, too.
Financially, this year (and last year, possibly as far back as July 2009) you've had to scramble to keep up with the kaleidoscope of changes that were being wrought by the eclipses. At some point in the past 15 months, you may have seen a source of income end, but if so, new sources were showing up, too. Gemini is a quick adapter, and you've shown outstanding resourcefulness. Still, it likely was a very nerve wracking period.
If you didn't see income end, then you may have had a number of unexpected financial setbacks or expenses. No matter, it kept you thinking about money, which is never Gemini's favorite subject. You prefer to think about new ideas and concepts, and thinking about money all the time can be mentally and emotionally draining. This month, you are likely to see a change for the better to your income, and here's why.
Pluto will turn direct this month on September 14, having been retrograde since April (yes, big, slow moving planets retrograde for months). This is going to be really good news for your finances, so watch for clues that things are looking up within days of September 14.
When a large outer planet goes direct, it brings immediate clues to the path to follow in the days surrounding that move to direct speed. Keep your antenna up in the days surrounding September 14 and listen acutely. You may feel very encouraged at that time, too. Your old optimism is returning, little by little!
Your social life will bring a fun evening out on September 23, the full moon in Aries, plus or minus four days. This full moon will conjunct Jupiter and Uranus, but in hard angle to Saturn. This tells me that: 1) It should be fun - surprisingly so. 2) You may be able to mix business with pleasure if you want to, or you may want to keep this evening purely personal. On the minus side, 3) one friend may give you pause, and you may feel sad to see a side of this person that you'd rather not see.
If you do have problems with the friend, don't let it overshadow the evening. Because this full moon is in zero degrees of Aries, you'll be in a courageous, adventurous mood - and I say that even if you are usually a little shy. You will want to be with others and within four days of this date, you can be! If you were born on or near June 21, you will reap the benefits of this full moon most. You really do need a night out, so hopefully you can make this work for you - it would be special, with a touch of luxury, too.
Saturn's position might make you a little worried about going out because of responsibilities that you have for your children or for work that needs to be done. Knowing this, perhaps you can find a way to have someone cover for you so you can plan for a night out. (I know you probably don't know yet that you are going out on or near September 23 because with Uranus involved, the option will come up quickly, but it looks like you are, so go with that idea and plan ahead.)
The hardest day of the month is due to be September 21, when Uranus opposes the Sun, so a VIP, client, important relative, or other major person in your life (most likely male) could bring completely unexpected problems, and when it happens, it could be shocking. Or, it may be that a male near you is under unusual duress.
Generally, it may help to know if you were born late in the sign, say, from June 17-21, you currently have Uranus opposed to the Sun. Your Gemini friends and relatives already had this aspect sometime between 2003 and this year, and when it triggers its news depends on the exact date of birth. For example, if your birthday falls May 22, you felt this aspect in 2003. If you were born at the end of your sign, it is hitting about now.
This is a very separating aspect, so you may have torn yourself away from a career path, particular job or relationship, or even from a city, or other endeavor. It's not an easy aspect, but it will be enlightening. Uranus is known to send thunderbolts to sweep away whatever it deems no longer viable, so that you can replace that situation with something more appropriate to your life. It is a tough aspect that comes once in a lifetime. Fortunately, once you deal with it, it's over as quickly as it comes up, but the episode can leave a scar.
If you were born near June 17-21, you would have to watch your health very carefully during this phase, as you are shouldering a lot of pressure these days. When Uranus enters Aries on May 27, 2011, you will be in the clear. Uranus will leave its present position and not be back to this placement again. You will be done!
Romantically, you have some good aspects as you start the month, as Mars will travel closely with Venus in your house of true love until mid-month. Later, after September 14, as mentioned, you are about to get very busy with work projects, so you might not feel as carefree as you will at the start of the month.
The weekend of September 11-12 seems very bright indeed. Mars will be signaling Neptune (lovely for travel or for doing cultural things together, like attending a concert, going to the movies, or going dancing), and the moon will conjoin Venus. Nice.
Also, I do feel that despite the slight problems associated with the full moon, September 23, you WILL enjoy yourself completely, so try to be out on that night or one close to it.
Best romantic nights: September 1, 2, 5, 6, 10-12, 23-24, and 28.
September ends the month on a somber tone. Saturn will conjoin the Sun on September 30, a time when you may need to make a long-range decision. Saturn will be conjunct the Sun, so you may feel sensitive to criticism, especially from someone you love or admire. You may also feel financial pressures, too, due to the position of Pluto and Uranus. At first you may feel bereft of options and completely cornered. Stay calm - the right answers are there if you look. Fortunately, you are a resourceful Gemini and you will find those options, so don't panic.
Summary
Jupiter, the planet of good luck, is headed to the lofty career and success part of your chart (tenth house) and will conjoin Uranus on September 18 giving Gemini, of any birthday, reason to celebrate a professional victory. A broadcasting or publishing project may come up, or news from a foreign person may thrill you. Circle September 18 - it's one of 2010's red-hot career days for you.
Keep your eye on September 7 when you will need to make a decision about an important financial matter. What comes up may relate to the events that happened near the lunar eclipse of June 26.
The turn of Pluto to direct speed on September 14 will help you craft a plan to fortify your financial situation.
Still, when it comes to money, you may be moving toward a difficult situation at month's end, so if you can guess what might be coming due, try to head off problems before they start.
You've been career-oriented all year, but the new moon, September 8, will help you take care of pressing needs at home that you may not have had time to address until now. No matter what your goal, you should be able to make real progress in September, from making a residential move to completing a decorating project. Even small projects, say, to schedule repairs or reorganize closets, will bring a welcome feeling of calm.
Although you would theoretically begin your home-related plans the moment the new moon appears September 8, you'd be wise to wait a few days. Mercury, your ruling planet, has been retrograde since August 20, but will turn direct on September 12. Make sure you don't buy anything, sign anything, or agree to anything important until AFTER this date.
The Sun will oppose Uranus on September 21, a time that may bring jarring news about your career. Indeed, any weak link could show signs of wear, or even break at this time. You'll likely feel pulled between needs of your family and those of your profession, and both sides will want your full attention. Keep breathing.
Romantically, your best moments will come either very early or at the full moon later in the month. First, Mars and Venus will keep things dazzling during the first week of September.
Later, a bright and very important social event could dot your schedule within five days of the full moon September 23. This full moon will be conjunct Jupiter, indicating an exceptionally luxurious evening out awaits you. You may find participating to be quite expensive, and only clever juggling will allow you to go and survive it financially! You will, but only by a hair! Oh, dear Gemini, just go!
September 30 may bring a depressing day in matters of the heart, so don't bring up any touchy subject with your significant other on this day. Saturn will conjoin the Sun, so you will be super-sensitive to anything you even construe as criticism. Alternatively, your partner may be under a lot of stress or not well, and you may be concerned about your beloved. See what comes up and just know, in three days you will be feeling better. Get through this, and you'll be feeling your old self again

I'M LATE,I'M SORRY! (:P)

GEMINI AUGUST HOROSCOPE BY SUSAN MILLER

You'll be in a highly social mood, ready to meet and greet others, but there will be obstacles to fun and love, particularly during the first half of August. Don't try too hard, for if you do, your frustrations will multiply. It might be better to beg off social obligations and new opportunities to meet potential romantic partners in the first two weeks.


Venus and Mars, now in Libra, will light your fifth house of love, a lovely place for these two romantic planets to be - but heavy-duty Saturn will be in that house too, in close proximity. Saturn could, unfortunately, spoil the pudding. Saturn wants you to work, not play, and will make conditions difficult until you cave in to work-related demands and pare down your social schedule. Worse, with Uranus stirring the pot too, you may have confrontations with friends, or a serious disagreement with one. Alas, sometimes life is that way. Be cheerful though, for your love life will go far easier in the second half of August, so you won't miss too much.


Do your best to make plans to travel to a new setting before summer slips away. The new moon August 9 will allow you to find the ideal location that offers a chic experience but is also affordable luxury. The fact that Neptune will be prominent suggests a locale near water would be ideal, and being there will inspire your creative side, too. You may even get an invitation from a wealthy friend to spend time at her cottage - accept!


This month, travel really does bring you all sorts of fortunate possibilities in addition to the chance to wind down. Mercury will be retrograde from August 20 to September 12, and because this planet is your ruler, you won't find anything too pressing going on at home, so you can safely duck out.


Your career will get a mighty boost from Uranus' move back to Pisces on August 14 though January 22 - this is fantastic news, for it means your work will come to light and be appreciated. Uranus is soon to link to good fortune Jupiter, a lovely cosmic coincidence that will certainly raise your profile.


Yet you won't have to wait until Jupiter enters Pisces in September to see some exciting developments. This could happen at the full moon August 24, so plan to be back from your journeys then. Lots of pretty fireworks will light up your professional sector ruling reputation and applause, and you'll want to enjoy all the fuss about you that comes your way. You may be finishing up a long-term project or reaching the end of a negotiation for a new job that comes with great responsibility and power. Whatever occurs, you'll be ready to tell the world.


Neptune will be close to that full moon, so if you are in a creative field, you'll show the full range of your talents near that full moon August 24. Pluto, now in a financial house, will beam excellent support, so you are likely to be very pleased with the financial rewards that this full moon delivers too, most likely in terms of a bonus, fee, commission, court settlement, or other one-time chunk of cash. This full moon could easily mark a watershed moment in your career, so start now to make it a special moment by interviewing for a new job, going after publicity, or by taking another assertive, but judicious, risk.

'SAY YOU'RE ONE OF THEM'- ONLARDAN BIRI OLDUGUNU SOYLE Uwem Akpan

I have just finished reading that book. To be frank, it wasn't 'the book of my life' (!)

I often get this feeling when I read best sellers. There must be something wrong with me,or the critics.. Simply... I didn't like it and hardly finished it..

BUT...... Of course,I will let you read some different reviews from Amazon..

By A. O. AKEMU


Before I bought Say You're One of Them, I had heard the hype about the book. It was supposed to the work of an original voice from Nigeria, a Catholic priest, who weaved stories of the continent's ills and grace, with the dexterity of a traditional basket maker. After reading the book, I am left wondering what all the hype was about.

To be sure, there are some good stories. I liked the eponymous short story, Say You're One of Them. It is told from the perspective of a ten-year old middle-class Rwandan girl, whose father is Hutu and mother Tutsi. The little girl notices her mother dressing up for an evening out--without her father. After mother disappears into the night, her paternal Hutu relatives storm the house looking for her mother. One of the assailants almost rapes the girl. In time, they discover that mother had dressed up only to hide in the ceiling. In the presence of the little girl, Hutu father is forced to kill his Tutsi wife--with one blow of a machete. The scene is thoroughly macabre. Finally, the little girl's life is spared. She is let out onto the streets with the admonition from her father, "if they [resumably the Hutu] ask who you are, say you are one of them".

However, I was disappointed with the longest story in the book, Luxurious Hearses (a play on the word, Luxurious Bus, which, in Nigeria, connotes buses used to ferry passengers on long intercity trips). The story is about Jubril, a Muslim boy with an identity crisis. His mother is from the Muslim north of Nigeria and his father from the Christian South. Jubril, along with other passengers on the bus, is fleeing religious riots in northern Nigeria. On the bus, Jubril's parochial conception of the world is challenged by his experience of the kindness of southern Christian Nigerian strangers (mostly women, to Jubril's alarm). His trip is cut short when he reveals his religion: the passengers kill him by slitting his throat.

The author introduces various passengers into the bus to give multiple perspectives on Nigeria's toxic religious milieu: an animist chief, an atheist army captain, and a Roman Catholic market woman. This device is so transparent that I almost choked with disbelief. The characters are hopelessly one-dimensional; thoroughly unbelievable.

Jubril's village companions (almajiris) are the most unbelievable of them all. They are supposed to be barely literate, fundamentalist Muslims, yet they have a commanding grasp of regional politics and even articulate their grievances with Jubril in English and the local patois. As a Nigerian, who lived in northern Nigeria for six years, I think that Uwen Akpan stretches the English vocabulary of the almajiris. While they seethe with riotous religious zeal against the infidel, I find it difficult to see how they can be as articulate as Uwen Akpan portrays.

Say You're One of Them makes for interesting reading, but don't go away thinking that he has captured the 'compelling reality of Africa's children', as one reviewer put it. Such hyperbole is unjustified. I would recommend that you read and enjoy it for what it is: entertainment.



By Ms. Hilary Truscott "sista-h" (london)

This book is a collection of stories all written from the point of view of a child-whatever happens in these stories is seen ,witnessed experienced from total innocence and it is shocking emotional and yet hopefull too.It made me think how children experience all kinds of situations from a purely innocent perspective and it is the adults in the world who inflict such horrendous experiences on them -for what?- greed- power-self gratification-.Just because the events in these stories take place in Africa does not mean that we in the west are somehow exempt from this or that this only happens 'over there'--we have similar horrendous things that the youth here go through too i.e sexual physical and emotional abuse glue sniffing drug taking alchoholism etc.etc. The writing is honest and this book will open your heart and hopefully enable us all to see that we all need to treat each other with more love and respect and we must care for all the children in our lives with respect, honour and dignity and LOVE .Read this book -it will change you!!!!!!!

IN SUMMER THE SONG SINGS ITSELF...

HOLIDAY !

Hi All,

Don't you worry.. I'm not dead.. I was just on holiday.. (I still am though) So, here's what I did during the 'Çeşme' part of my holiday...

ON HOLIDAY.. Where I've been..

ÇEŞME.. ÇEŞME.. ÇEŞME... My favorite place,the place where I want to live for the rest of my life... I spent my holiday with my family at my husband's family's summerhome.. Our summerhome is in Ildırı,Çeşme.

Ildiri, a quiet seaside village 20 km. northeast of Cesme, was ancient Erythrai. Those who climb up to the Acropolis at dusk are rewarded with beautiful views as the sun sinks over the bay and islands.

Çeşme lies (~ 80 Km) west of Izmir on Turkey's Aegean coast, it is within easy reach of Izmir or Adnan Mendres International Airport (via a modern 6 lane highway) and can also be reached by ferry from the Italian port of Brindisi, or the Greek Island of Chios (in Turkish called Sakiz) The name Çeşme (“Cheshme” derived from the Turkish word for Fountain) has always been a popular summer resort for the residents of nearby Izmir and over recent years the “secrets” of Çeşme have been discovered by an ever growing number of European tourists. The region is a combination of rich agricultural land enclosing unspoiled turquoise bays with beaches of fine white sand and (as its name suggests) natural hot water springs.

ON HOLIDAY.. WHAT I'VE READ..

My holiday book was 'A Fraction of the Whole' . It was a beautifully written novel which takes you to one place from another like a squash ball. I loved it..

Let's have a look at some other comments from Google;

A Fraction of the Whole is narrated by Jasper Dean who is telling the story of his father, Martin, and his uncle, Terry. Their stories begin in Australia, where Martin was in a coma for four years as a boy and remembered every word read to him while comatose, and Terry was a criminal who achieved folk hero status for taking his revenge on a bribe-taking cricket team. Martin and Terry longed for the same woman, and as Martin became obsessed with rising above his brother's shadow. Martin's inspired lunacy led Jasper and him to different parts of the world as each of his schemes led through unexpected twists and turns to become another adventure where Martin was determined to impart all of his offbeat wisdom to his son. Steve Toltz's debut novel has received positive reviews with the Seattle Times saying, "The real pleasure in reading this book is the pace and the language. While there is a narrative thread, what Toltz has done masterfully is have his way with every aspect of modern life. He racks 'em up and knocks 'em down with a laser wit, a fine turn of phrase and a devastatingly funny outlook on everything human."