Music Makes the people Come together

So cute.... visually pure and simple. I'm a Pocoyo fan. From the UK.

"What can you hear that sounds like music?"

Come on and we'll sing, like we were free Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us Come on and we'll try, one last time

Most of you know about my volunteer work and what that involves. So, I just wanted to take a moment and remember one of the consumers who I have spoken with in the past who died a few days ago. Mental illness is so complex and heartbreaking. Sometimes the pain of living is just too great. It’s sometimes hard to imagine such a thing, but if you have ever known someone who has suffered from a mental illness, daily living is more often than not, a battle against yourself. Imagine such a life.

I had an uncle who suffered from a mental illness and I had first met him when I was in Fiji a few years back. I stayed a few days at his house and he was such a good guy. He had a little business with his two boys, who were probably about 10 and 12 years old. It was a mobile video rental business. He’d take the boys out to their regular customers and rent out and exchange videos. They made some good money and I thought what a great business idea that was in the area they lived in. I saw him come back with his boys this one day and the boys brought out 3 money jars (one belonged to each of them and one for their little sister). With their dad, they divided up the money and each got a share for their ‘money jar’. It was so touching to be able to witness that. There was so much joy and accomplishment in the eyes of the boys with their father. I think of some kids I know and have met who get everything they ask for and more and they are not taught the value of work or money. It makes me think that sometimes the seemingly poor are the richest people that you could know. My uncle was a good man and he suffered too – he took his life a couple of years ago around Christmas time. I try to remember him around that time each year. So tonight, I just want to remember those who have tried to live.

Stood on the corner for a while To wait for the wind to blow down on me Hoping it takes with it my old ways And brings some brand new luck upon me

And when you feel like you can't see the light,

"Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is always tomorrow."

- Dorothy Thompson

I'm with you.

Let's learn from our history And do it differently I hope For more love, for joy and laughter I Hope That we'll have more than we'll ever need

A recap of New Year's Eve:

The boys rounded up a projector and a bedsheet and created a Jumbotron fit for Xbox Kings to enjoy into the wee hours of the morning.



Yes, it's true, the sheet is wrinkled. Funny that no one thought of ironing it - not surprising. Minor detail, I guess.




The girls didn't indulge in the Xbox because frankly, I don't think we were allowed to play. We popped in once in a while to make sure they were breathing. We got a grunt or two. We continued with our own fun.

Some of the boys joined us for a Murder Mystery game (must of not been enough Xbox controllers) and it was quite fun. Mo was the killer. As they say, hell hath no fury as a woman scorned.

Next was an intense game of Charades. My team (the winning team) did awesome considering we had 3 people for the most part against 5. The other team made fun of the way we celebrated when we got an answer right. They jumped up and down and squealed loudly. Well, if you got 'Loose Lips Sink Ships' right, wouldn't you proceed with a celebration of high fives and hugging? I'm not ashamed of it.

It's been a memorable year. Here's a toast to each of you for 2006 and 2007. Peace and love.