Security for Idiots and Other People the Care was recently honored with an award. More specifically the “Arte y Pico” award. The "Arte y Pico" award was created and to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creative energy and their talents, whether it be writing or artwork in all media's. When you receive this award it is considered a “Special Honor”. The instructions given to those that are given this honor are to carefully choose at least 5 other blogs that they feel embody the traits described above and pass on this very notable recognition.

Heidi of healthnutwannabeemom fame honored us with this award. She herself was recognized with this award by not only one but two fellow bloggers. This fact does not surprise me one tiny bit. This incredible person is a vibrant and loving wife and mom. Her site is a must read for anybody that has an interest in nutrition and other information regarding health and fitness. Heidi presents information that is well written and extremely useful and relative to current trends. Having such a generous heart, she is also more than willing to give you tips on other authors who have posted material on subjects that she feels will also benefit her readers. Please visit her site at the following link;

http://healthnutwannabeemom.blogspot.com/

Hi! My name is Heidi and I am a married stay at home mom who is trying her best to get the health thing down. I started this blog so that I can pass along all the great things that I learn everyday on damage control for our wonderful bodies. It is tough to keep up sometimes with all the things going on in our daily lives so hopefully some of the helpful hints that I provide can make your life easier and healthier. I welcome your comments and tips as well! I am a vegetarian, animal rights advocate and avid animal rescuer. So, there you go-me in a nutshell.

Like with Heidi’s blog, I have placed blurbs under each website address that were written by the authors of these sites themselves. What better source of information about what these sites are about. In parentheses I have added a little blurb of my own. Please visit these wonderful sites and support the work that they do.

The Incredible blogs I have chosen to pass this award on to are as follows:

http://docinthebiz.com/blog

Hi there! I’m Dr. KC and I am swimming in a pool of optimism of what is to come! Visit my website, READ and COMMENT on my blogs! Write in to me for professional counseling! Can't wait to hear from you!

(The author of this site is truly a sweet and caring person. I really do love sites that have the basic intent of truly helping people. Dr. KC presents useful relevant information and is available to her readers for advice and consultation. She even has a social networking site geared towards bringing like minded authors together. You can find this site at GLCzone.com)

http://greyyogi.blogspot.com

“Yogi and Bio Nuclear Physicist...Who wants to bring an understanding of Vedantic Philosophy and Yoga to the World, and make it applicable to the 21st Century. By passing on the Wisdom handed down to me by my Teachers...Namaste”

(Wow, how can you beat that blurb? What I can say about this great person is that he truly lives what he writes. This fact just shines through in his posts. He knows what he is, where he is from, and where he wants to go. His teachers and others that he reveres are frequently quoted and their words explained in a way that makes sense in today’s world.)

http://fancysweden.blogspot.com

“Wireless for the Moment.. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walkside me and be my friend.”

(This author uses imagery to communicate what is inside her heart and mind. She does write short posts to accompany the images that she creates and the combination of the two are quite thought provoking. You have an opportunity to live through her art and feel what she is trying to convey. She has a project called “Bridges”, stop by her site and see what it is all about.)

http://mybedroomblog.blogspot.com

“Real talk on all things sensual... Relationships, sex, love, dating... a girl's point of view!”

(This author is one of the most talented writers that I have had the pleasure to come to know. Every post gives her readers an unimpeded view into the life and mind of this young vibrant human being. Her outlooks are edgy yet sober. She approaches the myriad of topics contained in her site with unabashed openness and frankness yet maintains tasteful dignity throughout. A song writer and entrepreneur, she has a multitude of talents that round out her perspective on life and make her words useful for those that enjoy her site.)

http://teensuicidetalk.com

“Have the Courage to Live Anyone Can Die”
Robert Cody

(I am going to leave the, what and why, to the quote above. Life is precious. Young life, has not even begun to blossom and move towards the potential it represents.)

http://focusorganic.com

“My name is Stefanie, and I started Focus Organic.com. I am currently trying to live a more green life myself, and I hope to share what I learn with the visitors of this site, and to also learn from the visitors. In learning to be more eco-friendly, we can better ourselves, our lives, and the planet. Implementing even just small changes into your daily living can help to make a big difference, and my hope is that, with this site, you may learn something new and decide to make your life more green, as well.”

(The intent of this site is apparent in its title. Stefanie is a talented author that has chosen to champion the Green Movement. I was able to trade comments with her for a while because of one of her posts regarding the recycling of cell phones.)

To all the recipients of this “Arte y Pico” award, congratulations! A great deal of time and consideration have gone into the decision making process as to just who to give this award to. All of you have been found to truly deserve this recognition. I hope that you also take the time and effort to pass this honor on in the spirit of this award.

Hi Everyone! This is Luz again! I just wanted to share with all of you some of the amazing things Eddie has done. Since the April 17, (which by the way, the doctor is so surprised at what a fighter he is) Eddie had not been moving his eyes, but a few weeks ago, after a prayer and meditation, we all noticed, he began to move his EYES! (he's still sleeping but it was a miracle just to see his eyes moving)
Eddie currently has had a tracheotomy installed in his throat. When you have this, you can not make any sounds because of the cut in your throat the air escapes thus not allowing sound to come out. Well, Eddie has started making grunting sounds, and you can hear him coughing! The doctor is so surprised saying that he is so strong. She can not understand how he is making any noise at all.
Eddie began to move his little toes when touched, then he began to move them when he heard us speaking, then he moved his ankles, and last week, began to bend his knee! (the healing is moving upwards. We just need to make it go higher to the lungs and the brain stem). He is really doing better! We really believe your prayers are soooo strong. We can all feel the love.
Eddie is here with us, he just needs our prayers and love to show him how to wake up, because believe me he has the strength to wake up, and the will, he does not give up. Thank you for the love.

Regardless of your political position on the Iraq war, most people will agree that soldiers make selfless sacrifices on a daily basis. While these brave men and women are on the battlefield, their families are at home constantly waiting for news about their safety. Not all of these soldiers have the same backgrounds and support. Just like the rest of us, they come from a multitude of racial and social backgrounds. For some, just keeping in touch with their families is a logistical and financial challenge. There is a group that is helping with this need. Below you will find a link that will take you to this group’s website. Please visit them and see what they are all about. Part of being the very best that you can be is by helping someone else be the very best that they can be. Thank you.
<a href="http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/"
rel="nofollow">Cell Phones for Soldiers</a>

Recently I watched a movie called “Caregiver”, made by media giants ABS-CBN and Star Cinema, starring Sharon Cuneta and John Estrada. The story focuses on a woman whose husband has left the Philippines to take a job in another country because the pay is considerably more in this other country than what it would be in the Philippines. They decide as a couple that she would leave their young son with relatives in the Philippines so that she could follow her husband to the foreign land. She resigns from her job as an English teacher and sells their home just before leaving. The plan is that within 2 to 4 years they might possibly save enough money to send for their son. Upon her arrival in this new country, she is hired as a caregiver in an assisted living facility. Here, she suffers some culture shock in her new job in that she is required to change the soiled diapers of elderly residents and also by the idea of this type of care, in and of itself, because it is not customary for Filipino families to “deposit” their seniors in this type of facility. She perseveres however and even experiences some minor triumphs even being promoted after a fashion due to her fine work ethic and excellent command of the English language. As the story progresses, we learn that the husband, who is a trained nurse in the Philippines, is but an orderly earning a fraction of what she believed him to be earning. Because of this he plunges into an emotional downward spiral becoming resentful of his life and even somewhat jealous of his wife’s modicum of perceived success in her new “career”. By the end of the film, her husband has decided that he has had enough and wants them to return to the Philippines where they will start life over from nothing. She had already given everything up to make this move in the first place and was inspired by her personal potential in this new land as well as feeling that her husband had already emotionally abandoned her. She decided that she would do something for herself and refused to go back with the husband to the Philippines. The last scenes of the film were of her still in the new country, only now her son was with her and the husband nowhere in sight. There were some sub-plots worthy of mention but this Post is not about the movie but what it is trying to show us.

There are men and women actively seeking employment in other countries because they cannot find meaningful employment in their own country. Another issue is that while they may have employment, the same position in another country might pay double or triple what they are able to make in the Philippines. This issue is especially marked among professionals, like doctors, nurses, and teachers who are lured out of the Philippines by salaries and opportunities that cannot be found in their homeland. This creates another problem known as “Brain Drain” because many of the finest in any given field leave the country and are not working for the benefit of their countrymen but for a whole other people and culture. Some of these OFW’s (Overseas Filipino Worker) work towards assimilation in their adopted lands and others are employed via contracts that last a couple years to as much as a few years.

The personal issues are abundant. Many of the people being recruited are not well educated and fall into the hands of human traffickers and sold into slavery or prostitution.
Immense fees and loan payments of loans taken out to pay for the “fees” of both legal and illegal recruiters make it nearly impossible for some of these people to pay off the cost of getting the “job” much less being able to send money to loved ones. Others are abused by what would otherwise be legitimate employers, sometimes being accused of crimes and jailed because of false allegations. Often times, Overseas Filipino Workers, become stranded in far off lands because of war, natural disaster, or due to these unscrupulous employers and recruiters themselves. It is then up to the families to scramble to put together the means necessary to rescue their loved one thus adding to their burden. On occasion well meaning government officials pool resources to offer rescue to these families in need. An example of this type of assistance happened recently when the Senate President of the Philippines, Manny Villar, pooled certain resources and was able to facilitate the return of several such stranded Philippine Nationals.

Not all stories are nightmares. There are many that find meaningful employment in these far off lands. While abroad, these workers have built reputations as being talented and hard working. Often these OFW’s live frugal lives so that they can send relatively large amounts of money back to their families. It is not uncommon to hear stories of nice houses being built, businesses being started, and educations of children being paid for by OFW remittances. For some of these people, the opportunity to make this kind of money and the lifestyles that they have become accustomed to almost necessitate leaving repeatedly on new contracts. Minimum wage in the Philippines is currently pegged at approximately 380 pesos a day, or roughly $9.05. Meaning that for an eight hour day, you would be getting paid approximately $1.13 an hour. What would you do making this amount of money? Would you be motivated to find an overseas job thus requiring that you leave your loved ones behind even only for a couple of years?

The movie itself presented a real life scenario of people making difficult decisions. We all want the best for our families. Whether for our parents, siblings, spouses, or children we are all willing to make sacrifices for their benefit. Where do you draw the line? Is money the only consideration when deciding to be apart from your loved ones? Is leaving them for extended periods of time the only possible solution? Is the human cost worth the financial gain? (If there is a financial gain to be had) These are questions that can only be answered by you as the one living the life in question. The decision though must be weighed very carefully making sure that you do your due diligence to ensure that it is an educated decision, a decision that can affect not only your destiny but that of your loved ones and even that of your nation.

The following words are meant for everybody that brought Eddie Boy into their lives by sending their positive thoughts, to him and for him, through prayers, well wishes, and inspirational advice.
Your continued support is sought and very much appreciated. I think that after you read the following message, you will agree that everybody's efforts have made a difference not only in Eddie Boy's life but that of his families and loved ones lives. Please let these words fill your heart with satisfaction;

Dear Sphinx & all you sweet wonderful people,
This is Luz (Eddie's girlfriend) Thank you for your words... I must admit that I have gotten a bit teary eyed by the beauty of your words. I am FEELING and SEEING and KNOWING that Eddie will open his eyes. The Doctor has said that he is doing things that someone in his state shouldn't be doing! THANK YOU EVERYONE... THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE AND LIGHT AND PRAYERS! I know for a fact that Eddie himself would be so touched by the love and kindness you are all showing to him, someone you do not know... THANK YOU and thank for spreading the word...
Love,
Luz