I am! Are you?

Today Kallie would not only have celebrated his 40th birthday, but August is also Organ Donor awareness month. Just one more "godincidence" on my journey through life. I realise that it is very difficult for the ordinary man on the street to understand the importance of organ donation. It is only when you or someone near to you is on the "receiving end" that you realise that organ donation is indeed the ultimate gift - a gift of life!!

I urge you to please consider registering as an Organ Donor right now on the Organ Donor Foundation of South Africa's website.

THERE IS NO CHARGE TO REGISTER AS AN ORGAN DONOR.

A few facts about organ donation in South Africa:

"South Africa is a world leader in the field of organ transplantation; however, while the number of patients waiting for transplants continues to increase the serious shortage of potential donors continues to be of great concern. The Organ Donor Foundation is a non-profit charity, established to address the critical shortage of organ and tissue donors in South Africa through awareness and education campaigns. Currently there are over 3,500 South Africans waiting for organ and tissue transplants. Sadly, as a result of this critical shortage less than 1,000 of them will receive a transplant and the "Gift of Life" this year. Research has shown that organ donation is acceptable to the majority of South Africans and contrary to popular belief, a grieving family takes great comfort from the knowledge that they are able to help others through the donation of their loved one's organs and tissues."

My very first meme!!!!!

I got tagged for this fluffy meme (and my first for that matter) by Jenty … so here goes… !

1. What time did you get up this morning? Half past 4 after snoozing my cellphone 3 times
2. How do you like your steak? Don't eat steak - hate red meat
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Cannot remember for the life of me - too long ago
4. What is your favorite TV show? Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy but only if I can watch the whole series on DVD at my leisure - I hate being left hanging until the next episode.
5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Definitely Paternoster or Tietiesbaai
6. What did you have for breakfast? Only coffee so far planning on having All Bran just now
7. What is your favorite cuisine? Grilled prawns, pavlova
8. What foods do you dislike? Red meat and chillie
9. Favorite Place to Eat? The Boomhuisie restaurant for sentimental reasons (Kallie and I frequented this quaint little restaurant and also celebrated our wedding reception there) 11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? Golf TDi Estate (a real mommy mobile)
12. What are your favorite clothes? PJ's and jeans (Don't worry I don't wear them at the same time)
13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Eiffel tower in Paris
14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? Could change from moment to moment depending on how my day unfolds
15. Where would you want to retire? Definitely Paternoster or Tietiesbaai
16. Favorite time of day? Evenings when the boys are finally asleep and I am surrounded by silence
17. Where were you born? Durban
18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Diving
19. Who do you think will not tag you back? No idea
20. Person you expect to tag you back first? I dunno
21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? I dunno
22. Bird watcher? Definitely - have just neglected this hobby for quite a while now but am planning to rectify that
23. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night person.
24. Do you have any pets? Yes, a whole zoo which includes 3 dogs, 1 bearded dragon (and no I am not scared of it), a hamster, 2 love birds and a 1000+ earthworms in our "Going green" wormery! (There were a couple more pets at one stage but we had a few casualties along the way.)
25. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share? Jenty has helped me revamp my blog and I am now able to add gadgets/ widgets (I think). I feel like such a techno wizz!!!
26. What did you want to be when you were little? A doctor or a vet
27. What is your best childhood memory? Caravan holidays
28. Are you a cat or dog person? Dog
29. Are you married? Yes in my heart - my husband passed away recently
30. Always wear your seat belt? Always.
31. Been in a car accident? Only a bumper bashing or two
32. Any pet peeves? Clutter, lies, office politics
33. Favorite Pizza Toppings? Cheese, chicken, avo
34. Favorite Flower? Longstemmed red roses
35. Favorite ice cream? Lemon sorbet (don't know if that counts as ice cream)
36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Nandos
37. How many times did you fail your driver’s test? Passed first time (probably because I drove around for quite a while without one)
38. From whom did you get your last email? Chantelle - was a mail on how short life is and it made me cry
39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Woolies
40. Do anything spontaneous lately? Bought myself a framed print of the Eiffel tower (not sure where I am going to hang it yet)
41. Happy with your job? Some times
42. Broccoli? Yes
43. What was your favorite vacation? Going to St Lucia for my honeymoon
44. Last person you went out to dinner with? My mom and my 2 boys
45. What are you listening to right now? Airconditioner and colleagues talking in the distance
46. What is your favorite color? Blue (I think)
47. How many tattoos do you have? None (except if the permanent make up on my brows and eyes count)
48. How many are you tagging for this quiz? Not sure this is my first time at this and all the bloggers I know personally have already been tagged, so I am going to be wild and tag 4 I have read for a long time but who probably doesn't even know I exist!
49. What time did you finish this quiz? 7:09 am
50. Coffee Drinker? Oh yes cannot survive without my caffeine fix

And I tag 4 bloggers I am in awe of , and who to my knowledge have not been tagged yet

Kirsty from "We are that family"
Mel from "A box of chocolates"
Angel from "Angelsmind"
Laurakim from "Harassed mom"

The significance of Starfish ...

As I mentioned in my "42 Things I Love" post, Starfish are of great significance to me. My fascination started with an e-mail I received. The e-mail contained the "Starfish Story". Over time I have come across the story, and numerous permutations thereof, many times. The story left such an impression on me that in my mind a Starfish became the symbol of "making a difference". I had been wondering about the origin of the story for a while and decided to a bit of research. I was amazed to discover that it isn't just a little tale that has been passed on over time, but and adaptation from a book ,"The Star Thrower", written by Loren Eisely.

Apparently Loren Eiseley was an anthropologist who wrote extensively. He was the 'wise man' in the story, and he was walking along a beach after a storm and encountered the fellow throwing the starfish back. I am dying to read the original book myself and I have managed to find and purchase it online. I am now waiting in anticipation for it to arrive. Needless to say I will definitely post about it as soon as I have read it. Can't wait!!!

The Starfish Story

Adapted from "The Star Thrower" by Loren Eiseley (1907-1977)

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.
He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"
The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."
"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.
To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."
Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"
At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."