Just like yesterday...

Tomorrow is a day that always brings me at least some sadness.  It is the day my mother passed away, and it will be the 10 year mark this year. I can still recall the night before very clearly and most of the day of.  When I was at Arlington Cemetery visiting her grave site (Columbarium) today, I recalled how it was raining before she passed away, and not long after she passed, it stopped raining.  I can't help but think of how this was a sign of some sort.
I know that tomorrow will be hard, but I know that she want me to be happy.  I know that she is "here" in some manner.  A framed piece of art that she gave me is still hanging above her framed picture.  It says, "A daughter is forever, and I'm so glad you're mine."  Reading this reminds me of how much she loved me, and I know that this will never end.


Davida

Holiday Memories

One of the Christmas memories that sticks out in my mind is the tradition of my Mom reading to me. She read to me at other times too, but the particular book I am thinking of is Christmas related. 

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I miss hearing her voice. I think her love for reading books to me started my love of reading. 

This time of year was definitely a favorite of hers. She loved decorating!!!

Below is an example of the Santa figurines she loved. This is one she gave to me. 

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-D

Places I'd Like To Travel

All of this cold weather has me dreaming of traveling in general. 

Top 5 Places I'd Like to Travel (in no particular order)

1) Australia   (australia.gov.au)

       Some of the things I'd like to see.....     Sydney Opera House, Australia Zoo, Melbourne Aquarium,    

       Various Wildlife

www.immigration2australia.com

2) Hawaii

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3) Italy

In particular, I would like to go to Rome. 

www.tripadvisor.ca

4) Florida

Some of the things I'd like to see....    Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Zoo, Aquarium

www.destination360.com

 

5) Ireland

All of the pictures I've seen of Ireland have made it seem very beautiful. 

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-D

Top Songs of 2013

Since 2013 is coming to end, I thought it might be fun to come up with some top songs of 2013. 

Top Songs of 2013 (in no particular order)

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1) Counting Stars - One Republic

2) Wake Me Up - Avicii

3) Roar - Katy Perry

4) Applause - Lady Gaga

5) Radioactive - Imagine Dragons

6) Brave - Sara Bareilles

7) Safe And Sound - Capital Cities

8) Sail - Awolnation

9) Little Bit of Everything - Keith Urban

10) Wide Awake - Katy Perry

11) Young Blood - The Naked and Famous

12) Demons - Imagine Dragons

13) Hall of Fame - The Script featuring will.i.am

14) Love Somebody - Maroon 5

15) Here's to Never Growing Up - Avril Lavigne

16) Madness - Muse

17) It's Time - Imagine Dragons

18) We Were Us - Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert

19) Sweet Annie - Zac Brown Band

20) Friday Night - Eric Paslay

21) Compass - Lady Antebellum

22) Days of Gold - Jake Owen

23) That's My Kind of Night - Luke Bryan

24) Helluva Life - Frankie Ballard

25) Round Here- Florida Georgia Line

26) Crash My Party - Luke Bryan

27) Night Train - Jason Aldean

28) I Want Crazy - Hunter Hayes

29) Runnin' Out of Moonlight - Randy Houser

30) See You Again - Carrie Underwood

31) Blown Away - Carrie Underwood

32) Downtown - Lady Antebellum

33) Goodbye Town - Lady Antebellum

34) Fall Out Boy - My Song Knows What You Did in the Dark

Are there any songs you would add?

-D 

2013

As this year comes to end, I thought it would be good to make a post about some of the events that happened this year. 

International/U.S. Events

1) Mandela passed away at 95. A powerful statement was made in an article on CNN.com. In this article, President Jacob Zuma was quoted as saying, "Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father [,and] what made [him] great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves" (CNN.com). 

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2) Margaret Thatcher (the Iron Lady) passed away at 87 from a stroke. She was a "towering figure in postwar British and world politics and the only woman to become British prime minister" (CNN.com). 

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3) An intriguing advance in medicine was made. On Wikipedia, it was stated that, "American scientists use a 3D printer to create a living lab grown ear from collagen and animal ear cell cultures" (Wikipedia.org). 

4) Pope Benedict XVI was the first pope to resign in a long time. Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) was elected. 

    

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5) Boston Marathon - April 15, 2013

On historyorb.com, it was reported that, "3 people [were] killed and 183 [were] injured after two explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon" (historyorb.com). 

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6) U.S. Government Shutdown 

On Wikipedia, it was stated that, "from October 1st-16th 2013, the United States federal government entered a shutdown and curtailed most routine operations after Congress failed to enact legislation appropriating funds for fiscal year 2014, or a continuing resolution for the interim authorization of appropriations for fiscal year 2014" (Wikipedia.org). 

7) Kenya Mall Attack

On nytimes.com, it was reported that, "masked gunmen stormed into a fancy, crowded mall and shot dead at least 39 people and wounded more than 150 in one of the most chilling terrorist attacks in East Africa since Al Qaeda blew up two American embassies in 1998" (nytimes.com). 

8) Washington D.C. Navy Yard shooting

In a usatoday.com, it was stated that, "Aaron Alexis, 34, a contractor from Ft. Worth, was identified by officials as the shooter who was killed in a gunbattle with police responding to the morning attack at the Washington Navy Yard. A military official said Alexis had been a Navy reservist on active duty before being discharged for misconduct" (usatoday.com). 

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9) AZ firefighters die in wildfire

Fire Chief Dan Fraijo was quoted as saying, "We lost 19 of some of the finest people you'll ever meet. Right now, we're in crisis" (CNN.com). 

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Celebrity/sports news of 2013

1) Corey Montieth, Tom Clancy, James Gandolfini, and Paul Walker (amongst others) passed away in 2013. 

2) Prince William and Duchess Kate welcome baby Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge 

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3) Miley Cyrus fiasco

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4) Lance Armstrong doping (historyorb.com)

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5) Amanda Bynes falls apart

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6) Lindsay Lohan goes to rehab again. 

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7) David Beckham retires

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8) Baltimore Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers in Superbowl (historyorb.com)

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9) St. Louis Cardinals lose World Series to Red Sox (historyorb.com)

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-D

 

 

On the Mend...

Things not fully realized till I had to use crutches and some various insights...

1) Small obstacles start to look like this

2) Simple tasks take 20x longer and wear you out really quick. For one thing, it has made taking a shower a more precious commodity. Hopefully, I won't become too stinky.  lol

3) Getting food and a drink can become a hazard.  I've been coming up with some inventive ways to do things. Sweatshirt hoodies have become especially useful!

4) Getting tired can happen really quickly.  

5) Allowing extra time to complete daily tasks is an absolute necessity. When in doubt, use the bathroom while your already up.

6) Slow and steady really does win the race. Make sure the crutches are all the way under the armpits. I learned this the hard way this past weekend. Falling is not cool! Plus, it hurts a lot. 

Maybe, I need more of this?

7) Accept offered help, and don't be ashamed to ask for it.

8) Having a goal/incentive helps.

9) YouTube can be helpful! 

Two videos in particular helped me at least some. 

         -How to Use Crutches Properly - The Nebraska Medical Center

         -Crutches 101 (ECU)

Not all of the tips are useful in this video, but it's a start. 

10) Sitting around gives one time to think a lot of things over. I have become even more grateful of the fact that my foot will get better! I will definitely look at something as "simple" as being able to walk normally as a precious gift. 

-D

New Blog Title

I decided to rename my blog name because I wanted another fresh start.  I am hoping to keep up with my blog more often this time.  I decided to go with the name paper tigers because of an Amelia Earhart quote.  Amelia Earhart has been one of my favorite people in history for a long while (mainly because of her tenacity).
I am hoping to write another post soon. As many of you know, I ended up having foot surgery on Tuesday (more on that later).  For now, I need sleep.