Pray Hard. Live Easy.

“Gong Xi Far Tsai” (Happy New Year - Year of the Ox ) If you're on the Chinese calendar, party like it's 4707. To find your animal in the Chinese zodiac, click here . Over a sixth of the people in the world celebrate Chinese New Year, remembering the family and wishing everyone peace and prosperity in the coming year. Good timing. The U.S. House of Representatives is going to vote on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“Stimulus Package”) this week. Congrats Liane ... a special highlight in the official citizenship ceremonies today !

by ♥ℓiσn.&.the.ℓαмb♥ "The Perfect Way is only difficult for those who pick and choose; do not like, do not dislike; all will then be clear. Make a hairbreadth difference, and Heaven and Hell are set apart." ~ Seng Ts'an

In moments where I want to bash my gadgets all together, I still find myself smiling over this interview from last fall, " Everything's great, nobody's happy," A few great truths behind the madness. Ladies and gents, we reap what we sow, don't we?! photos by jeromebg and konderminator on flickr "We live in an amazing, amazing world, and it's wasted on the crappiest generation of spoiled idiots." Louis CK

"Ancora Imparo" ...like the great Renaissance master, still, I am learning.

" Dreams are the seedlings of realities. The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul, a waking angel stirs." - James Allen

W e see the everlasting in everything that is passing. - SHARON GANNON It may look like I'm moving but I'm standing still. -BOB DYLAN

Welcome to my magical world "Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you anywhere." -Einstein

T hrough repetition the magic will be forced to rise. - ALCHEMICAL PRECEPT

"Write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow." Lawrence Clark Powell We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection . -Anais Nin

I tried always to do better: saw always a little further. I tried to stretch myself. - Audrey Hepburn "There are certain shades of limelight that can wreck a girl's complexion." - Audrey Hepburn "Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm, as you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others... The best thing to hold on to in life is each other." - Audrey Hepburn Just one week ago, a miracle occurred in Austin. I was so excited to come across this fun collection of Audrey quotes to celebrate. To me, it's a small tribute to the lovely mother of one of my greatest friends in this life, a must view for Audrey lovers. Audrey L, thanks for loving the world so unconditionally, we love and adore you. Praying Hard honey!

Fantasy is a reality you can dance to. - Richard Cohen

Little Woman.... "What we learn with pleasure we never forget." - Alfred Mercier

Follow the yellow brick road... "All the way to heaven has got to be heaven." - St. Catherine of Siena

Aside from ( double Disney) Dubailand , it is quite easy to locate a bold philosophy within the inspiration for many of the UAE's newest structures. Perhaps claims of Islamic inspiration a bit stretched with one of the main principles, "avoiding extremes so as to maintain balance and orderliness..." But then again, if you look at the region's dreams of rebuilding the future and the world as we know it, Dubai will host plenty of places to celebrate Islam's essence, which "enables man to lead a good and happy life and at the same time strengthens bonds of human brotherhood and fortifies the social fabric." I find it fascinating to watch so many levels of fantasy coming to life, so quickly. Several inspiration quotes appear in the captions below. Hydropolis , the world's first luxury underwater hotel, "where those who do not dive, or do not even swim, can experience the tranquility and inspiration of the underwater world." Burj Dubai ,

Read the caption below the first photo, then view the second picture. In the picture above you can see where this driver broke through the guardrail, on the right side of the culvert, where the people are standing on the road, pointing. The pick-up was traveling about 75 mph from right to left when it crashed through the guardrail. It flipped end-over -end, bounced off and across the culvert outlet and landed right side up on the left side of the culvert, facing the opposite direction from which the driver was traveling. The 22-year-old driver and his 18-year-old passenger were unhurt except for minor cuts and bruises, just outside Flagstaff, AZ on U.S. Hwy 100. Now look at the second picture below. GOD is in control! If this guy didn't believe before, do you suppose he believes now?

Filmmakers  hit the streets in Brooklyn to ask people where they’d wish to wake up tomorrow. The result was a touching video, with echos in NY, New Orleans, and London now posted... More questions, cities, and stories to come! ...Where would YOU wake?

“Let's not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it.” ~ Vincent Van Gogh

...what's your measuring stick for love ? c'mon, take a peek ...bet you'll smile!

"For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be, yes." -Daj Hammarskjold Cheers to this precious, ever-evolving, mysterious life! Healthy, happy 2009! This quote's a beauty, shared by precious Mykla: "You can have anything you want if you want it desperately enough. You must want it with an exuberance that erupts through the skin and joins the energy that created the world." - Sheila Graham