September 28, 2011

The Christianville Spirit: The Way My Mind Works


The Christianville Spirit
The Spirit that Sparks Your Heart
September 28, 2011- TCS # 268
So, I know that You may think that what I’m going to about write on This Week is really weird but, this is what I like to do. You See, As I’ve told you before, I “Cyber Travel” on Google Maps’ Street View and I can “Drive” on it for Days or Hours on end. So, I thought I would explain the science of how My Mind works when I do it. Usually, the first thing I do is decide where I want to go, Do I just want to see an Airport?, Cross an International Border? (like Mexico or Canada back to The US; or, drive across borders in Europe), “Go on Vacation?” like driving through Cancun and seeing the turquoise water of The Caribbean. Another one would driving along The French Rivera from Italy; There are many places that I could go but, I go where ever Street View is available. To give you an Example, I’ll write to you as if I’m driving on it. This is based on an actual trip I did with a little twist. So, I start in a chosen town and land on a street in a chosen neighborhood. Let’s say the location is a town south of Fredrikstad, Norway. So, I start driving in a beautiful neighborhood in the woods and then, I drive on a National Highway getting to E-18(or sometimes, I call it, E-highway 18). Once I get to E-18 (while looking at the front and back of the road signs along the way), I read the sign, E-18 south: GØteburg and Swedish Border or E-18 north: Oslo, I take the south exit. I drive down the road looking at all the surroundings of the last 20 Kilometers of Norway, “The Happiest Country in The World”. Once I get near the border I get off shortly and look around at the last exit going south and first exit going north of Norway. Then, I get on E-18 south to continue to Sweden; I read the signs and talk to myself about them or read them in a Scandinavian Accent. Like, there’s a Toll Booth when leaving Norway going into Sweden and the sign says it cost NOK 20 (talking to myself I say, “NOK means Norwegian Krone”) which by the way is the currency of Norway. Anyway, as I cross into Sweden, I look back and read the sign that says “Norway” in Norwegian and Sami; And, I read it how Norwegians pronounce it, “Nor-gae” or “Norge” in Swedish. After driving a couple Kilometers I do what I call “Skipping Around” where I get out of Street View and scan the Google Maps to get to another area like seeing the Signs of GÖteburg (or Gothenburg in English), skip some more to Malmö and drive across the Öresund Bridge into Denmark (Danmark in Danish) then, I get off what is now, E-20 and drive to Copenhagen Airport. After driving to Copenhagen Airport, I fly to Newark, NJ on Continental Airlines and then fly to Dallas/Fort Worth International (or D/FW Airport to locals in Dallas) and do what I call “Reintroducing Myself to America”. So, I say the speed sign, Interstate Sign, US Highway Sign, and State Highway/Route and I say the following “Miles per Hour(Because I came from Kilometers an Hour), American Interstates (like Interstate 35 or I-35), United States Highways (like US 75), and US State of Texas, Texas State Highway (like State Highway 121)”. Finally, I drive into Grapevine which is north of D/FW Airport on 121 to Bass Pro Road and drive to end of the road. At the end of the road, is what I call a “Transfer Station”, where a helicopter picks me up and takes me to another “Transfer Station” near my house and I drive home once I land at the “Transfer Station.” By the way, I imagine the “Transfer Station” as way of getting somewhere really quickly. Finally, I drive home and do what I call “Killing The Trip”(which is when I move on and go on another trip). Anyway, I hope this gives you an idea of what is going on in my head when I Cyber Travel. All in all, I take wonderful imaginary trips around The World with the help of Google Maps and Street View.
Thanks for Reading The Christianville Spirit. Enjoy the World around You, Take an imaginary trip somewhere.

September 21, 2011

The Christianville Spirit: People and Animals in Distress


The Christianville Spirit
The Spirit that Sparks Your Heart
September 21, 2011- TCS # 267
So, This Week I’m going to tell you something that is Personal to me, Something that bothers me. I think I need to write about this because it’ll help you greater understand me. The thing that bothers me is called Humans and Animals in Distress; For Example, People screaming because they’re in danger, about to die, or stuck in something like a capsule or anything. Another Example would be Animals making noises because they’re hurt or being taken. It’s why I don’t see Action or Horror Movies because that stuff just doesn’t interest me. Most of My Life, I’ve felt this way about it; As I describe it now I “feel what Other People are feeling”. If I see Adults, Children, or  a Baby that is crying I feel what they’re feeling and it upsets me. Feeling what Others feel at times to me can become an annoyance. However, it is a blessing because if someone who is Sad talks to me about how they feel, I can relate to them. I think the first time I saw a person distress I think was watching a show on Nickelodeon called Are You Afraid of The Dark? And this kid had a dream of walking in a graveyard and he fell into a wooden coffin and the coffin closed, he banged on the wood while being buried alive and then, the dream ended. By the way, this show in My Day (being the 90’s) was Rated TV-Y7 and I must have been around that age when I saw it. Another Time was watching the Movie, Hook (Again, a Movie that was in my day) in the beginning when the guy is shoved into the treasure chest and then, he is saying,“Help” and medal things are being dropped in. I should mention that at the time, it was a kids movie. As far as Animals in distress go; I hate watching them be stolen from the owner, or just hearing Animals whine and being killed for food. The worst example was on Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations on the Puerto Rico episode where they have a Roast in the forest and Anthony is seen carrying The Animal in a bag, while squirming and making the noise that the animal makes then, later he shoves a spear in it. All in All, Having PTLS makes me very sensitive to how People and Animals feel. 
Thanks for Reading The Christianville Spirit. Be more Sensitive to how People feel and They’ll appreciate You.      

September 14, 2011

The Christianville Spirit: When The World Stopped Turning


The Christianville Spirit
The Spirit that Sparks Your Heart
September 14, 2011- TCS # 266
So, As most of You know, This past Sunday was September 11th, but, this year’s “9/11 Anniversary” is different than ones in the years before. This Year was different because it’s been exactly 10 Years since 9/11 happened, which makes My own Memory of it stronger because it was a decade ago. So, with Allen Jackson’s Song Where were You when The World Stopped Turning playing in my head when I think about My Memories of The Day. Now, I’m writing this because I have a better understanding of the events of 9/11 because, as I told My Mom, I was too immature to understand it. So, hear it goes; It started as a normal Tuesday Morning, it was a school day and I was in 8th Grade. I remember this because one of My Crushes named Ali was in that classroom. Anyway, it was a day of the usual routine, of getting ready for school, while Good Morning America was playing on TV. Then, we drove off to school listening to KISS-FM (which at that time, was clean music and clean comedy). Anyway, so right after class started at Rice Middle School in Mrs. Parker’s Class, the principal said something that still rings in my head every year, “Attention: Teachers and Students, I’m sure that you have heard about what’s happened in New York...” The Teacher’s aids behind me started talking about it saying something like, “Oh!, I heard about that!”, The Principal continued “...Teachers, You may turn on your TV and watch it for a couple minutes then, You should continue with Class”. Now, Fortunately and Unfortunately we had a TV in the room but, we didn’t turn it on and watch. Luckily, we didn’t do so because I was already scared by the announcement and what I see of it now, I’m very thankful because it would have scarred me for life. Anyway, I continued on with my day, not really knowing much about what was happening. Then, late in the day, I walked into My Technology Class (which, by the way, at that time was one of My Favorite Classes) and I saw what was on TV. On the TV, there was smoke rising out of New York City but, nothing was there. After class started, the teacher turned the TV off and we played at My Favorite Module (Weather and Aviation) which was playing The Flight Simulator where I could fly around places and see the skylines. Anyway, when I got home, I finally got a chance to see what happened and I was shocked at it. After seeing all that, I wondered what was going to happen next and what would we do about it. At that time I thought we were just going to go to War but, there were a lot of scared people including My Mom and me . Anyway, that is My Story of where I was on September 11, 2001 (also known as 9/11) and All in all, I will never forget what happened or where I was when it happened. Will you? 
   
Thanks for Reading The Christianville Spirit. Cherish each Day and Love Everyone. Because those who perished on 9/11 were so loved by so many

September 7, 2011

The Christianville Spirit: The Most Welcoming Countries to those with Special Needs


The Christianville Spirit
The Spirit that Sparks Your Heart
September 7, 2011- TCS # 265
So, as most of you know, I’m what I call a Geography Lover; So, it shouldn’t be a surprise when I write what I’m going to tell you. You See, being a Geography Lover also means (at least for me) that you like statistics about a country’s progress, developing, and how it treats it’s citizens. I enjoy Stats just like most men enjoy Stats about  Baseball or Football. But, the Stats I like are more like, which country’s people are happiest, the most developed, most peaceful, and now for My own reference, The Countries that are most receptive to People with Special Needs. Now, I know that the word, “Receptive” is the statistical term for it, but there’s something about that word that I don’t like because to me it sounds like that country is forced to like or are paid to be interviewed for the list to say “yes” to being “Receptive” to People with Special Needs so they get a good rating. So, I would like more, the word “Kind or Welcoming” to us. Anyway, This list that I found as a Gallup Interview that interviewed around 100 people in 112 countries, came up with a list of Countries that are The Most Welcoming to People with Special Needs. Now, I bet your asking “Why should I (The Reader) or You (Christian) care about that?” Well, I care because it gives me many ideas. You See, If I ever wanted to visit or move to another country for something different, I’d want to know if that country would be for My Benefit and how well they would handle or take to me. Most Parents with anyone with Special Needs should at least take a look at the list to see the country your visiting, moving to, or living in think about People with Special Needs. This is important because as a parent or child, you’ll want to know how easy or hard it is to get a job; how general people will accept you; How the doctors will treat you or if your diagnosed with something, label you; and, lastly, how people will handle you, if you have a problem you need the answer to. Of Course, For those in a wheelchair, it’s even more important because how high (which is good on the list) or low on the list the country is tells you how the accessibility is for that area and good luck if you are in low accessibility country. As a person with Special Needs, I want to feel included and accepted in the society. I shouldn’t have to live in a Place that doesn’t accept me, care about me, or makes it difficult to live in peace and in happiness. Even in My own Country, I have to struggle with this sometimes. So, I compared My Favorite Countries to those on the list, I found that My Favorite Country, Norway didn’t even make the list which really frustrated me because it’s the best country.    The first on the list was The Netherlands, followed by Germany, Austria, United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark/Sweden(tied), Ireland, and The US in that order. All in all,  It’s Important how people are treated in societies around the world, especially those with Special Needs.
Thanks for Reading The Christianville Spirit. Be part of The Solution not The Problem. Welcome Everyone to your society.