It has been sometime now that I've been collecting menu or italian recipe magazines because I've been trying to straighten out our eating habits. But I rarely have time to cook any of the recipes, 24 hours never seem to be enough to do all the chores a working mother needs to do for her family and beyond. All days tire me, all the new chores as a mother completely changed my lifestyle from a liberal person free to do whatever and whenever. It seems to be a lifestyle-shock for me.When I was single, I used to work and slEEp (eat some, also). Now, every minute is counted (and not even enough, if let's say I feel the need to rest for hours, I simply can't allow that as the rest of the domestic chores are staring at me waiting to be done). GOD, I pray that YOU strenghten me more, physically and spiritually and mentally.I thank my GOD Who is always beside me to uphold me otherwiseI would have collapsed under the pressures.  Thankfully, my very kind sister-inlaw 'borrowed' again my daughter for 3 days so to give me some breather. I also am due to have my italian citizenship, tomorrow I have to retrieve the official document from the immigration office. I don't know if there will be an oathtaking although 1 public official told me and another also told me that swearing will accompany this retrieval. Should I dress like in a ball? Should I be alone? Should I record on film this momentous occasion?

The italian government is not so systematic and that's also true even with beaurocracy. Most important offices do not function regularly, like the immigration office is open only during tuesdays and thursdays from 9 til 12 noon, and also most government offices  serve the public during the morning, or only for a limited time or a limited number of days.Outrageous.

It has been learned that Bill Gates' Microsoft and the Yahoo internet company recently merged together to combat the Google search engine.

The secular world has been recently gripped with the sad news of Michael Jackson's passing away. Apparently he is the historic music icon who earned the highest revenue or income, in the music industry. He has been praised and still is being praised for his extraordinary musical talent, all over the world. Being so, he has many fans around the globe, who all seemed to have stampeded to the music records/CDs shops to get a copy of any of- or, his last album, that in a matter of minutes or hours, the sales of MJ's Cds have skyrocketed to astronomical heights, and the same situation is true for his programmed concert tickets in England. (Consider the headache of concert organizers who must have spent millions of pounds in the hope of tripling their investments-but now they have to or must-refund the costs incurred for this aborted concert event) . He could have used this financial gesture of fans had it been done earlier, before his untimely death. To pay for his domestic bills. Having watched many of his performances on TV, it can be honestly concluded that the world has never known a pure and original and extraordinary talent as MJ. But, there is another side to this, thankfully maybe one can consider a lesson. We may start with a simple and honest curiousity; why or how, inspite of his fame, influence and financial superiority, did he end up isolated from society, from his own family and friends, from himself and worst of all --(we hope not) from his CREATOR, my GOD? And this is the same question we can or must ask ourselves, we don't even have to wait for life's edge to show its ugly face. What really counts? Is it really having much money? How many well-to-do people have committed suicide? Is it fame? Kurt Cobain, of the world famous Nirvana, was at the height of his music career too, when he ended his life. Hollywood pretends that crimes and drug troubles are sweet and normal to a lifestyle of fame and fortune. History rings loud and clear, and repeats what the LORD has said "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.' John 14:27. Everything we are looking for can be found in Christ. All the things that matter most in life. Peace above all. I too, was lost before. I found Christ and HE turned my life around. I may not be famous as MJ, I may not have half of the money he used to possess, I may not know all the famous people, or the admiration of the world. Nevertheless I got the best. In this life and the next. Peace and my LORD JESUS to whom be Glory forever and ever. Amen.