Martin Luther King teaches all AGAPE

It's more than just a Monday. It's a special day for everyone, for it's the day dedicated to a man that altered the course of our history -- Martin Luther King Jr.

Many times, King is exclusively known for his "I Have a Dream" speech, however, there's more to him than just those words. He created change through his life's dedication to the Civil Rights Movement, his talent for speaking on the power of love and his idea for nonviolent resistance that ultimately became the effective weapon against the social ills of the early 1960's.

To honor him in my own way, I looked back on a speech I first read in 10th grade from Dr. King called "Loving Your Enemies." King's thought-provoking words encourage me to examine my own life and inspire me to strive for AGAPE -- the ultimate form of love. I highly suggest you read it -- you cannot read it and be left unmoved. I get chills reading it, and I can't even begin to imagine what it was like to hear him preach it in person at a Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama in 1957.

April of this year will mark the 40th anniversary of the death of MLK. Hopefully on that day we can look back and see the progress our society has made since his time -- and although we still have a ways to go, we're getting there. So for today, let's honor a man who worked tirelessly to advance our country and consider his thoughts as if he were alive today.

"Love is the only way." -- MLK

The most wonderful time of the year: Girl Scout Cookies!

It's my favorite time of year: Girl Scout cookie season. A time when a plethora of cutie-patooties bombard us with their puppy dog eyes asking us to help them go to camp or earn funds for craft supplies by buying their cookies.

After growing in curiosity with where exactly my funds were going when I succumb to buying the fatty things, I came across a Girl Scout Cookies MySpace page. It's there where I gathered the 4-1-1 on Girl Scout Cookies.

Here are some interesting facts I came across:

• Girl Scout Cookies do not contain preservatives; they are all made with pure vegetable shortening, are all kosher, and all freeze well to extend their shelf life.
• All of the girls pictured on the cookie boxes are registered Girl Scouts; every box shows Girl Scouts in action, having fun and growing strong!
• All Girl Scout cookies are now zero trans fat per serving, with the same great taste that has made them one of America's favorite treats over the years.
• Girl Scouts of the USA approves and licenses two bakers, Little Brownie Bakers and ABC/Interbake Foods; the bakers employ American labor union members, using American-grown agricultural products and American-made packaging materials.
• Licensed bakers offer up to eight varieties of Girl Scout Cookies every year; only three types are mandatory: Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Sandwich/Do-si-dos™ and Shortbread/Trefoils.
• For more than 80 years, this annual cookie sale has helped Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts and Girl Scouts (ages 11-17) have fun, develop valuable life skills and make the world a better place by helping to support Girl Scouting in their communities.
• The best selling cookie are Thin Mints.

Every day, Girl Scouts are working to create a positive change in their communities. From writing and producing a documentary on eating disorders to creating a physical education curriculum for students with multi-disabilities, Girl Scouts should be getting attention not only for their delicious cookies, but for their outstanding service.

Girl Scouts, please continue to ask me to purchase them from you... and give me your Samoa's, your Peanut Butter Patties and how about those Thin Mints? Ohhhh baby. At only $3.50 a box and for a good cause, I can't resist!

Name the newest addition to the Detroit Zoo!

From freep.com:

ROYAL OAK: Help Detroit Zoo name its baby zebra
January 18, 2008
The zoo wants help naming its new baby.

The zebra, a 75-pound foal, is the daughter of 15-year-old Elvira and 6-year-old ZZ.

To submit a name, go to the zoo's Web site, http://www.detroitzoo.org/, by Feb. 8. Zoo officials will select the top five names and post them on the Web site for a public vote.

The most popular name will be announced in late February.

...I'm brainstorming!!!!

It's official! I'm a donor

I got my organ donor sticker in the mail the other day and thought I would share. It came faster than I thought and it was so easy! There's no excuses to not sign up. Again, the website to visit is: giftoflifemichigan.org.

Also, here's some answers to questions you may have (taken from the site):

Why is it important to register my wish to become a donor?
Upon every hospital death, Gift of Life Michigan is notified. Having your donor registry form on file helps to ensure that your decision to become a donor is carried out. Even when you sign the donor registry it is ESSENTIAL THAT YOUR FAMILY KNOWS your wishes.

Will doctors work as hard to save my life if they know I am an organ, tissue and eye donor?

Yes. Every effort is made to save your life before donation is considered. By law, the medical team treating you must be seperate from the transplant team.

Are there any costs to my family?

No. It costs nothing to donate organs or tissues, and no costs associated with the donation are passed on to the donor's family or estate.

Can normal funeral arrangements be made?

Yes. Donation does not interfere with having a funeral, including open casket services.

Will my religion approve of donation?

Most major religions approve of organ, tissue and eye donation, and consider donation one of the highest acts of compassion and generosity. For a list of specific religious organizations and their positions on donation, click here.

I hope you sign up today.

Fun gifts for those you LOVE <3

Just for fun I've compiled a list of my top five favorites gifts this year for Valentine's Day (just a month away...) or any special day for your special someone. With a little help from Gifts.com, here they are:

1. Photo-Opoly. Personal Monopoly with 22 of your favorite photos -- perfect for friends or significant others.

2. A fave gift for the music lover: recycled CD's for coasters. Buy your own scratched up ones at local pawn shops, or visit this artist's Web site to purchase ($17.99 for 6). Just pray you don't wind up with some artist you dislike!

3. What better way to light the fire than with a personalized novel starring you and your significant other? Think "Choose Your Own Adventure," adult style. Hot.

4. On a similar personal note, another fun way to incorporate a slice of you and your friend/sig other into your gift is having a personalized comic drawn for you from artist Mark Weber who draws for The New York Times, The Village Voice, Rolling Stone and Playboy. They're expensive, but awesome!!!

And my favorite...

5. For all the shoe lovers out there... how about about a pair of personalized Nike's? Not only do you get to pick the colors you want, but you also can personalize it with your Nike "iD." How would Metrogal 84 look on a pair of Nike's? I personally think it'd be pretty rockin'. Check out my design image above, lovingly called Luckies 2.0.

Sunday Song: Dancing Nancies

My Sunday song of the day is "Dancing Nancies" by Dave Matthews Band. Download it or watch the YouTube vid and think about the lyrics. It's funny how life just plays out at its own pace... I just love the mysterious qualities of Dave's lyrics and how he interprets things in such a poetic way.

Don't you ever wonder
Maybe if things had been slightly different
You could be somebody else?

Don't you wonder
Maybe if you took a left turn
Instead of taking a right
You could be somebody different?

Don't you ever wonder?

Could I have been
A parking lot attendant?

Could I have been
A millionaire in Bel Air?

Could I have been
Your little brother?

Could I have been
Anyone other than me?

He stands, touch his hair, his shoes untied
Tongue gaping stare

Could I have been a magnet for money?
Could I have been anyone other than me?

Twenty-three and so tired of life
Such a shame to throw it all away
The images grow darker still
Could I have been anyone other than me?

Then I look up at the sky
My mouth is open wide, lick and taste
What's the use in worrying? What's the use in hurrying?

Turn, turn we almost become dizzy
I am who I am, who I am well, who am I?
Requesting some enlightenment

Could I have been anyone other than me?

And then I'll Sing and dance, I'll play for you tonight
And thrill at it all
Dark clouds may hang on me sometimes, but I'll work it out

Then I Look up at the sky
My mouth is open wide, lick and taste
What's the use in worrying? What's the use in hurrying?

Turn, turn we almost become dizzy

Falling out of a world of lies
Could I have been dancing Nancy?
Could I have been anyone other than me?

Soul fire for the day

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

- Marianne Williamson -