I've decided that I just can't handle dumb people. I don't mean the kind who can't help it; I mean the kind who are completely ignorant because they want to be that way. You know the ones I'm talking about: spouting off political or religious beliefs that they've heard on television or the radio, with no sense of what they're saying or the impact they may be having. Or, the ones who think they know everything about everything and want to tell everyone all about it. A little bit of humility, please. They talk more than they listen; they proselytize more than they practice; and they are usually loud, the only one heard in a room of thirty. I know you know the ones I'm talking about. Maybe you're that person. The one who always has a comment or a dumb question (yes, there are dumb questions); the one who doesn't listen in a meeting and asks someone to repeat something they just said two minutes ago. They irritate me. I'm not very nice when I'm irritated, though I have learned (most times anyway) to hold my tongue. If you know someone like this, and I know you do, start with a dirty stare the next time they're filling the room with something warm and gooey. If the stare doesn't work, an immediate change of topic will sometimes do. In the case where the person REALLy doesn't get a hint (and a lot of these people don't) it will sometimes take a very sarcastic comment to get them to quiet down. As a last resort, you may have to pull them aside and let them know they're making a fool of themself (because telling them that they are annoying you, and everyone else, will only make them defensive and get them riled up all over again) and that it might be better just to listen for a little while.
And if, by chance, you are that annoying, loud, ignorant person, beware: we laugh at you behind your back and make fun of all the ridiculous things you say. We know you're not intelligent, your mind's behind the way. We like you as a person (soemtimes), and tolerate your fluff. But should you do it one more time, expect to get it stuffed!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Rants and Raves
I know that I haven't posted in a while, and, to be honest, I'm not quite sure why. Yes, I've been busy and yes, I've had a lot to do. But, I'm on here reading almost every day anyway, so why am I not posting?
I guess because I have not had a lot to say. Nothing much has changed in my life and so I really didn't feel a need to share my boring "goings-on" with the world. Today though, I have decided to comment about a few things that I have been pondering the last few weeks:
#1 The Election: Hallelujiah! Barack won! Now comes the hard part. Even though he has a Democratic Congress and it looks like he is making some very intelligent and well thought-out choices for individuals in his cabinet (Madame Clinton and Mr. Richardson anyone???), I still worry that the hole we have dug ourselves is going to be too much. In the long run I know that things will change, I'm only concerned that four years will not be enough time for Pres-elect Obama to turn things around enough for the country to keep him in office. I guess only time will tell.
#2 The Election: Part 2: Proposition 8: Having grown up in southern California and been raised in a fairly liberal family, it is mind boggling to me that the people of that great state could not get their heads out of their arses long enough to realize that things like divorce and adultry are a lot more detrimental to marriage than two people who love each other, and happen to be the same sex, getting married. I could have sworn that there is supposed to be a separation of church and state in this country. Did I miss out on some huge Constitutional Amendment that changed that? I don't consider myself religious by any means (and, honestly, probably more anti-established religion than anything), but I do believe that 1) it is not OUR job to judge people or make decisions about their lives; 2) we did not create this earth and whatever, or whomever, did is really pissed off at us right now; and 3) some of the most closed-minded people I have ever met are extremely religious (more like extremists, whether that's Christianity, Muslim, Judaism, whatever), and, I believe, are the ones who will have a lot more to answer to on judgement day than those of us who simply want to live peacefully and allow others to do the same. Uggghhhhh! I could go on for days about this one!
#3) Running: I have continued to run and did another 5k on November 16th in Boulder. The Panicking Poultry 5k www.panickingpoultry5k.com was a beautiful run on a beautiful Sunday morning in the foothills of Boulder. More than 1,000 people showed up and, though my time was not what it could have been, I had a great time. My mom came with me and patiently waited while I ran all 3.1 miles -- something I never in my life thought I would be doing, much less enjoying -- and then we ate some Carrabba's when I was finished www.carrabbas.com. I gave myself a little leeway with the time for two reasons: altitude and I donated blood on Friday, less than 48 hours before I ran. No wonder I was tired!
#4) Relationship: Keki and I are doing very well. I wish I could explain to him why I'm a cry-er, but sometimes I can't even figure out why I'm crying, so how can I explain it to him? My ex used to get on my case about the same thing. Maybe I could try hypnotherapy? We were shopping at Puma on Saturday and, for no discernible reason other than every shoe I picked he didn't like, I started crying and said I wanted to go home. Oops. Bad idea. I was quickly compared to his ex-girlfriend who never did such things and was quietly admonished for making things so difficult. Sor-ry! If I could stop myself from doing such childish things, I would. But I have tried and it's all to no avail. So, bless his patient heart, after me crying off all my makeup and a very long, silent car ride home, he forgave me (again). I guess he must love me -- if he didn't he surely wouldn't put up with all my shenanigans.
#5) Holidays, Specifically Thanksgiving: I'm tired of holidays. Honestly, they hold no meaning or value to me (except an extra day or two off work) and I've never really been a big fan of them. I am glad that I have a reason to go to San Diego to see my sister and the kids (not that I really need a reason), but I also feel like it's all such a farce considering the horrible state of our country and our world. So I'm taking sides with this blogger http://goprairie.blogspot.com and I am not giving thanks to God (or whomever) because she hears it all the time. Instead, I am going to personally thank all the people close to me for the huge, or tiny, part they play in my life. Sure, I could pretend to be superwoman and act like I get it all done on my own, but really. There are so many people I want to thank and I am going to start with all of you: Thank you for reading my blog and for being interested, communicative participants in society. Whatever job it is that you do, it helps make this world go round and for that, I am thankful.
#6) Losing Weight: I'm sure that only those of you closest to me know that I have been trying to lose weight. And we're not talking a little bit or for a short amount of time. For those of you who don't know, there was a time when I weighed 243 pounds and wore a size 18. And I'm only 5'6". Granted, I have always worked out and I did have a lot of muscle, so I never looked like I weighed that much. But, it wasn't pretty. I was fat. When I started the basic academy for ICE I was at my highest weight. That's also when I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Over those nine weeks, I lost 26 pounds, but I was still big. Over the next few years I went up and down a little, but I never got below 211. Well, that is all in the past. I have worked my butt off for almost a year and I am now down to 190 -- from the 223 I started at -- and have 15 pounds to go to make it to my goal. My goal of 175 may still sound like a lot to some, but at 190 I am a size 10 -- a size I haven't been since I was a sophomore in high school -- and I will probably be a size 8. Losing weight has been one of the hardest struggles of my life -- harder than college, working for ICE, or my divorce -- and I am proud of what I have accomplished. I will try to post some before and after pics when I reach my goal -- hopefully by New Year's -- so you can see the difference. All total, from my highest weight, I've lost 53 pounds -- almost 22% of my body weight. It's a wonderful feeling, and definitely something else that I am grateful for this year!
I guess because I have not had a lot to say. Nothing much has changed in my life and so I really didn't feel a need to share my boring "goings-on" with the world. Today though, I have decided to comment about a few things that I have been pondering the last few weeks:
#1 The Election: Hallelujiah! Barack won! Now comes the hard part. Even though he has a Democratic Congress and it looks like he is making some very intelligent and well thought-out choices for individuals in his cabinet (Madame Clinton and Mr. Richardson anyone???), I still worry that the hole we have dug ourselves is going to be too much. In the long run I know that things will change, I'm only concerned that four years will not be enough time for Pres-elect Obama to turn things around enough for the country to keep him in office. I guess only time will tell.
#2 The Election: Part 2: Proposition 8: Having grown up in southern California and been raised in a fairly liberal family, it is mind boggling to me that the people of that great state could not get their heads out of their arses long enough to realize that things like divorce and adultry are a lot more detrimental to marriage than two people who love each other, and happen to be the same sex, getting married. I could have sworn that there is supposed to be a separation of church and state in this country. Did I miss out on some huge Constitutional Amendment that changed that? I don't consider myself religious by any means (and, honestly, probably more anti-established religion than anything), but I do believe that 1) it is not OUR job to judge people or make decisions about their lives; 2) we did not create this earth and whatever, or whomever, did is really pissed off at us right now; and 3) some of the most closed-minded people I have ever met are extremely religious (more like extremists, whether that's Christianity, Muslim, Judaism, whatever), and, I believe, are the ones who will have a lot more to answer to on judgement day than those of us who simply want to live peacefully and allow others to do the same. Uggghhhhh! I could go on for days about this one!
#3) Running: I have continued to run and did another 5k on November 16th in Boulder. The Panicking Poultry 5k www.panickingpoultry5k.com was a beautiful run on a beautiful Sunday morning in the foothills of Boulder. More than 1,000 people showed up and, though my time was not what it could have been, I had a great time. My mom came with me and patiently waited while I ran all 3.1 miles -- something I never in my life thought I would be doing, much less enjoying -- and then we ate some Carrabba's when I was finished www.carrabbas.com. I gave myself a little leeway with the time for two reasons: altitude and I donated blood on Friday, less than 48 hours before I ran. No wonder I was tired!
#4) Relationship: Keki and I are doing very well. I wish I could explain to him why I'm a cry-er, but sometimes I can't even figure out why I'm crying, so how can I explain it to him? My ex used to get on my case about the same thing. Maybe I could try hypnotherapy? We were shopping at Puma on Saturday and, for no discernible reason other than every shoe I picked he didn't like, I started crying and said I wanted to go home. Oops. Bad idea. I was quickly compared to his ex-girlfriend who never did such things and was quietly admonished for making things so difficult. Sor-ry! If I could stop myself from doing such childish things, I would. But I have tried and it's all to no avail. So, bless his patient heart, after me crying off all my makeup and a very long, silent car ride home, he forgave me (again). I guess he must love me -- if he didn't he surely wouldn't put up with all my shenanigans.
#5) Holidays, Specifically Thanksgiving: I'm tired of holidays. Honestly, they hold no meaning or value to me (except an extra day or two off work) and I've never really been a big fan of them. I am glad that I have a reason to go to San Diego to see my sister and the kids (not that I really need a reason), but I also feel like it's all such a farce considering the horrible state of our country and our world. So I'm taking sides with this blogger http://goprairie.blogspot.com and I am not giving thanks to God (or whomever) because she hears it all the time. Instead, I am going to personally thank all the people close to me for the huge, or tiny, part they play in my life. Sure, I could pretend to be superwoman and act like I get it all done on my own, but really. There are so many people I want to thank and I am going to start with all of you: Thank you for reading my blog and for being interested, communicative participants in society. Whatever job it is that you do, it helps make this world go round and for that, I am thankful.
#6) Losing Weight: I'm sure that only those of you closest to me know that I have been trying to lose weight. And we're not talking a little bit or for a short amount of time. For those of you who don't know, there was a time when I weighed 243 pounds and wore a size 18. And I'm only 5'6". Granted, I have always worked out and I did have a lot of muscle, so I never looked like I weighed that much. But, it wasn't pretty. I was fat. When I started the basic academy for ICE I was at my highest weight. That's also when I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Over those nine weeks, I lost 26 pounds, but I was still big. Over the next few years I went up and down a little, but I never got below 211. Well, that is all in the past. I have worked my butt off for almost a year and I am now down to 190 -- from the 223 I started at -- and have 15 pounds to go to make it to my goal. My goal of 175 may still sound like a lot to some, but at 190 I am a size 10 -- a size I haven't been since I was a sophomore in high school -- and I will probably be a size 8. Losing weight has been one of the hardest struggles of my life -- harder than college, working for ICE, or my divorce -- and I am proud of what I have accomplished. I will try to post some before and after pics when I reach my goal -- hopefully by New Year's -- so you can see the difference. All total, from my highest weight, I've lost 53 pounds -- almost 22% of my body weight. It's a wonderful feeling, and definitely something else that I am grateful for this year!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Finished!
Woo hoo! In 38 degree temperatures, foggy, drizzly, and just plain COLD weather, I finished my first ever 5k! And as testament as to why I am going to keep Keki around forever, the man waited out in that awful weather for me, taking pictures, after only three hours of sleep. I tell ya, he's a keeper!
Keki, got a picture of me stretching. And yes, it was cold enough to need all those clothes!
The attempted start of my run. The walkers were supposed to stay further to the back, but I guess they didn't understand that concept!
The start of the stairs. I think there's only about 50, but it felt like 500! No stopping though...I can say that I never stopped once!
Finally at the top! Can you see the relief in my face? I think I was warm for about 5 minutes before I started freezing....which meant it was time to go home. Me, wet and cold. Not a good combination!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
I started my "Free Write Fling" with Cynthia Morris last Wednesday. The premise is to sit down and write for 15 minutes a day. I have such a horrible problem with procrastination, that this is one of the things that always gets put off: writing. But, I am also horribly competitive and, since those who write every day for 30 days will be entered into a contest to win some life coaching sessions with Cynthia http://www.originalimpulse.com , I want to win the contest. Of course. Most of my writing I have kept private, but today I am going to use Cynthia's prompt and write on here today. Feel free to leave your musings!
Day 7 of 30: Free Write Fling
Prompt: What I want...
I am amazed to think about all the things I want in life. The majority of them are not material. Sure, I would love to have some beautiful diamond earrings and a wonderful new digital camera and MP3 player, but those are not the things that are fulfilling. I want to have a job where I not only do good for others, but that, at the end of the day, I feel good about doing. I want to travel the world, help people wherever I go, live naturally. I want to take beautiful photos so that I can share them with the world and hopefully, show people how special the world truly is so that they will concentrate on trying to save it.
What I want is a world of peace. No more wars because of religion or perceived hate or disagreement. I want all the nations to put the environment at the forefront of their problems because, if we don't have anywhere to live, what does all the rest of it matter? I want children to not be hungry, animals to not be abused, women not to live in fear, men not to live in hate.
What I want is a place where I feel safe allowing my children to walk to school and talk to strangers, and ride their bikes through town. I want a time and place where my children can be children; where they can laugh and grow and spend their childhood just being kids. What I want is to leave this place better than it was when I found it. I want my children and nieces and nephews to be proud of me as their parent or aunt and to be proud of their parents; I want kids who know who they are and are not influenced by material things or music videos or TV shows.
What I want is a husband who loves me unconditionally, who will stand by my side through thick and thin. I want a husband who is strong for himself and for our family; who is willing to sacrifice the things we want for ourselves to provide things for our children that we did not have.
What I want is to live in harmony; to be able to take the time I need to be me and take care of myself, physically, mentally and emotionally. I want to be whole, to be strong, to be the me I was always meant to be. I want the people around me, friends, family, strangers, to feel they can be themselves when they are near me. I want for them to be whole, to be able to express themselves in a healthy, righteous way and to learn from their mistakes.
The world is far from perfect and I know that it will never be. My head is not in the clouds, my dreams are not ones that I believe can be achieved tomorrow or the next day. I see the mess that our economy is in; the tragedy that is our morality; the sadness that is children bearing children and babies being killed by guns. I see the fear of parents losing the only home their children have known, not sure where they will go or what they will do. But I also see the charity of others; the willingness of those who have little willing to give to others to help them on their journey. We all eventually end up in the same place and, whether or not you believe in heaven or hell, we all end up dead. So, it truly is the journey that matters. When I come to the end of my journey, what I want is for those I leave behind to miss me, but to be happy that they had the chance to have me in their life. I want to make a difference, not for selfish reasons, but to benefit the lives of others, to put a smile on others' faces.
Day 7 of 30: Free Write Fling
Prompt: What I want...
I am amazed to think about all the things I want in life. The majority of them are not material. Sure, I would love to have some beautiful diamond earrings and a wonderful new digital camera and MP3 player, but those are not the things that are fulfilling. I want to have a job where I not only do good for others, but that, at the end of the day, I feel good about doing. I want to travel the world, help people wherever I go, live naturally. I want to take beautiful photos so that I can share them with the world and hopefully, show people how special the world truly is so that they will concentrate on trying to save it.
What I want is a world of peace. No more wars because of religion or perceived hate or disagreement. I want all the nations to put the environment at the forefront of their problems because, if we don't have anywhere to live, what does all the rest of it matter? I want children to not be hungry, animals to not be abused, women not to live in fear, men not to live in hate.
What I want is a place where I feel safe allowing my children to walk to school and talk to strangers, and ride their bikes through town. I want a time and place where my children can be children; where they can laugh and grow and spend their childhood just being kids. What I want is to leave this place better than it was when I found it. I want my children and nieces and nephews to be proud of me as their parent or aunt and to be proud of their parents; I want kids who know who they are and are not influenced by material things or music videos or TV shows.
What I want is a husband who loves me unconditionally, who will stand by my side through thick and thin. I want a husband who is strong for himself and for our family; who is willing to sacrifice the things we want for ourselves to provide things for our children that we did not have.
What I want is to live in harmony; to be able to take the time I need to be me and take care of myself, physically, mentally and emotionally. I want to be whole, to be strong, to be the me I was always meant to be. I want the people around me, friends, family, strangers, to feel they can be themselves when they are near me. I want for them to be whole, to be able to express themselves in a healthy, righteous way and to learn from their mistakes.
The world is far from perfect and I know that it will never be. My head is not in the clouds, my dreams are not ones that I believe can be achieved tomorrow or the next day. I see the mess that our economy is in; the tragedy that is our morality; the sadness that is children bearing children and babies being killed by guns. I see the fear of parents losing the only home their children have known, not sure where they will go or what they will do. But I also see the charity of others; the willingness of those who have little willing to give to others to help them on their journey. We all eventually end up in the same place and, whether or not you believe in heaven or hell, we all end up dead. So, it truly is the journey that matters. When I come to the end of my journey, what I want is for those I leave behind to miss me, but to be happy that they had the chance to have me in their life. I want to make a difference, not for selfish reasons, but to benefit the lives of others, to put a smile on others' faces.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Smiles
Things that make me smile:
friends
boyfriend
family
the color purple
dark chocolate
pizza
a cold glass of wine
my niece and nephew
the beach
sunshine
a cool fall breeze
hiking
running
lifting weights
holding hands
a good song on the radio
pretty flowers
the kindness of others, especially when it's unexpected
love
friends
boyfriend
family
the color purple
dark chocolate
pizza
a cold glass of wine
my niece and nephew
the beach
sunshine
a cool fall breeze
hiking
running
lifting weights
holding hands
a good song on the radio
pretty flowers
the kindness of others, especially when it's unexpected
love
Thursday, September 25, 2008
The Good, the Bad and the Ridiculous
They're going to pass this $700,000,000,000.00 bill. Did you see all those zeroes? How about we construct a REAL bailout plan where the money goes to the American people? If you split all that money between the approximately 200 million 18+ year old adults, we would all receive, after taxes of course, over $250,000. Now, what could you do with a quarter million dollars? Pay off your mortgage = bailout the mortgage companies. Pay off credit card debt = bail out the banks. Pay off student loans = help all those who have graduated from school. Buy a new car = more jobs (and help out the top three US automakers who are also about to go under and who the government is considering bailing out). Save money = prevent this from happening again. There are so many better things that could be done with that kind of money than bailing out businesses whose own fault it is that they're failing in the first place. We need to allow the economy to correct itself, not allow the government to OWN part of the US economy. Sounds a bit socialist to me. Personally, I am tired of my tax dollars going to fund things I don't want them to go to (the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, anyone?), and I certainly don't want any more of them going to bail out large companies that have made a mess of themselves and whose CEOs will probably end up with several million dollar bonuses. This must sound crazy to someone else!
Okay, so that was the ridiculous. The bad is this: I'm tired and my heel still hurts. Can't complain about much else. I think I'm going to start taking Lance Armstrong's quote to heart a little bit more: "I don't have bad days. I have good days and I have great days." I like his thinking. It's like I told my mom the other day: There is very little that we really have control over in this world. The one thing we always have control over? How we react to what happens to us. I think a future post of mine might be quotes that I wish to live by. The Golden Rule is great, but I just don't think it's enough in this crazy world.
So, the good. I have been changed to a different position at DHA. No pay raise :( but I'll actually be doing something and I'll be working more with the youth, which is what I really enjoy. I've also found a part-time job writing curriculum for a group that organizes classes for seniors to keep them interacting and learning -- and I finally get to write about international relations and politics again. Woo hoo!
I think that's all for today. I'm excited about one of my few TV indulgences coming back tonight: Grey's Anatomy! I think I'll go home and crap out on the couch. Thank goodness it's my Friday!
Okay, so that was the ridiculous. The bad is this: I'm tired and my heel still hurts. Can't complain about much else. I think I'm going to start taking Lance Armstrong's quote to heart a little bit more: "I don't have bad days. I have good days and I have great days." I like his thinking. It's like I told my mom the other day: There is very little that we really have control over in this world. The one thing we always have control over? How we react to what happens to us. I think a future post of mine might be quotes that I wish to live by. The Golden Rule is great, but I just don't think it's enough in this crazy world.
So, the good. I have been changed to a different position at DHA. No pay raise :( but I'll actually be doing something and I'll be working more with the youth, which is what I really enjoy. I've also found a part-time job writing curriculum for a group that organizes classes for seniors to keep them interacting and learning -- and I finally get to write about international relations and politics again. Woo hoo!
I think that's all for today. I'm excited about one of my few TV indulgences coming back tonight: Grey's Anatomy! I think I'll go home and crap out on the couch. Thank goodness it's my Friday!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Oh Sarah....
A dear friend of mine sent this to me and I think it's hilarious. Read on...
I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.... If you grow up in Hawaii , raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different."* Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers,-- a quintessential American story.* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim. -- Name your kids Willow , Trig and Track, you're a maverick.* Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded. -- If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian. If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married heiress Cindy the next month, you're a Christian.* If you teach responsible, age appro priate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.* If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America 's.If your husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA , your family is extremely admirable.OK, much clearer now.
I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.... If you grow up in Hawaii , raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different."* Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers,-- a quintessential American story.* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim. -- Name your kids Willow , Trig and Track, you're a maverick.* Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded. -- If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian. If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married heiress Cindy the next month, you're a Christian.* If you teach responsible, age appro priate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.* If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America 's.If your husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA , your family is extremely admirable.OK, much clearer now.
Left, right, left
My boyfriend and I apparently have very different ideas when it comes to fashion. I am definitely not the high fashion, must have a Coach purse and a Burberry coat kinda girl. Quite the opposite. If I can find something that looks similar to these brands and costs less than, let's say, $30...it's mine! Keki, however, is a name-brand-having-fool. We were at Park Meadows Mall this weekend and he insisted on spending money at Lucky. Natch, $277....on four, yes 4, items. Craziness I tell ya! One pair of jeans for him and three tops for me....$277. The following day we went to Kohls and, mind you I only planned on spending about $75, bought two pairs of jeans and about 8 tops, all for me, for a grand total of $222. Much, much more reasonable. On top of the $100 we dropped at Target, I'd say we did our part in contributing to the (failing) national economy.
I went for a run on lunch today. I don't know why I thought it would be a great idea to run when it's 85 out, but run I did. My 5k is in three weeks and since my heel injury (playing football on the beach with my nephew, brother-in-law and boyfriend) has slowed me down a little bit, I'm trying to pick the pace back up. Like I said, all I want to do is finish. As long as I'm not last...or close to last...and I don't fall....or trip on the stairs at Red Rocks....all will be well. I can just see it: Red hair frizzed out from the cool morning, face looking like a tomato from not being used to running at altitude, shorts riding up my (still chubby) thighs, and I trip going up the stairs in the last part of the run. Okay, as an athlete I know all about using my mind to envision a picture perfect finish, running the whole race with ease and finishing with a personal best, but come on, don't tell me you can't see it too. Like some Saturday Night Live skit with Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, trying to shoot an eight-point buck and not being ready for the kickback from the shotgun and being sent flying right onto her butt. (BTW, what is with those horribly ugly jackets she keeps wearing? I guess it's an uptight Republican thing, but everyone knows she's hot -- no matter how much we Dems hate to admit it -- so why not try to get some other votes and dress the part? Just a suggestion...)
A girl I sorta knew in high school is trying to get a group of women together to do a sprint triathlon in the spring of '09. I am seriously considering doing it. I'll already have the run down and riding a bike for 12 miles isn't too big a deal. I'll definitely have to work on the swimming since I haven't swam 800 meters since I was a freshman in high school ( a really long time ago), but I think I can do it. If anyone has ever done a triathlon before or knows anyone who has, and has any suggestions, please let me know.
I'm going to sign off for now and pretend to actually do some work. Pray that I hear something about a new job soon. I need some change....
I went for a run on lunch today. I don't know why I thought it would be a great idea to run when it's 85 out, but run I did. My 5k is in three weeks and since my heel injury (playing football on the beach with my nephew, brother-in-law and boyfriend) has slowed me down a little bit, I'm trying to pick the pace back up. Like I said, all I want to do is finish. As long as I'm not last...or close to last...and I don't fall....or trip on the stairs at Red Rocks....all will be well. I can just see it: Red hair frizzed out from the cool morning, face looking like a tomato from not being used to running at altitude, shorts riding up my (still chubby) thighs, and I trip going up the stairs in the last part of the run. Okay, as an athlete I know all about using my mind to envision a picture perfect finish, running the whole race with ease and finishing with a personal best, but come on, don't tell me you can't see it too. Like some Saturday Night Live skit with Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, trying to shoot an eight-point buck and not being ready for the kickback from the shotgun and being sent flying right onto her butt. (BTW, what is with those horribly ugly jackets she keeps wearing? I guess it's an uptight Republican thing, but everyone knows she's hot -- no matter how much we Dems hate to admit it -- so why not try to get some other votes and dress the part? Just a suggestion...)
A girl I sorta knew in high school is trying to get a group of women together to do a sprint triathlon in the spring of '09. I am seriously considering doing it. I'll already have the run down and riding a bike for 12 miles isn't too big a deal. I'll definitely have to work on the swimming since I haven't swam 800 meters since I was a freshman in high school ( a really long time ago), but I think I can do it. If anyone has ever done a triathlon before or knows anyone who has, and has any suggestions, please let me know.
I'm going to sign off for now and pretend to actually do some work. Pray that I hear something about a new job soon. I need some change....
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Ch-ch-ch-changes....
So as I was unpacking my trunk this morning (to take in a reusable bag full of things to keep me busy since my job is absolutely no challenge whatsoever and, in fact, I've had nothing to do for the last six weeks), I realized that I was holding in my hands two things that should indicate to me what my passions in life really are: my International Sports Sciences Association text book for finishing my personal training certification and "Create Your Writer's Life: A Guide to Writing with Joy and Ease" by Cynthia Morris http://www.journeyjuju.com. On that note, I am exploring ways that I can combine my love of fitness and sports with a career in writing. I think I shall begin with chronicling my last three weeks of training for my very first 5k http://www.mrsnv.com/evt/home.jsp?id=2015#. I am actually quite nervous about this as I have never run a race before, and only recently got into running (even though I've been an athlete all my life, my running was more like a giant slug trying to cross a sidewalk). Keki says he will be there to support me, and I am grateful for that, but I wish I had someone to run the race with. Oh well, I guess I'll just get out there and be my little miss competitive self and try to kill myself running 3.1 miles like an Olympian. (Guess what. There is no way in hell I will finish 3.1 miles in less than 15 minutes, but I will damn sure be happy to finish under 35!).
So I had this wonderful conversation with my two-year old niece this morning, who wanted to talk to Keki and not to me, and she was absolutely hilarious. She was trying to show me the owie on her knee through the phone and was coloring on her legs. Oh, the joy of children! I really love being with her and my nephew and sometimes I seriously question my decision not to have children yet. I suppose all women must question whether or not they are going to be good mothers. My need to be the best and never fail (ha ha ha) forces me to see myself for all the things I lack that a mother would need: patience, time, a willingness to give up sleep. But I just can't convince myself that I don't want kids, even though I think I'll be that terrible, over-bearing parent that pushes their child to have a 4.5 GPA, be the star athlete, a concert pianist, and student body president.....but who ends up muttering to him or herself dressed in dirty rags standing on some corner, brain addled by the "pressure from Mom". Ugh. Can't anything ever be easy?
I am seriously considering a complete career change with an attempt at financing it through personal training. I started working on getting my certification last year after I quit ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement for those of you not in the know) and never finished the test. Queen of Procrastination, anyone? So, I am determined to finish it by the end of the month and then I have to get CPR certified again, get this technical editing job I found and a job as a personal trainer (shouldn't be that hard, I see a million places hiring for them). Then I'll be all set to find time to become a free-lance fitness writer and travel to wonderful fitness spas all over the world and train for fun athletic events (like triathlons and whatnot....maybe even the Iron Woman one of these days). Sounds like my best life plan yet! And, since I'll be a free-lance writer, I can have a kid (or two) and stay home with them. This just keeps getting better and better! Seriously though, upon suggestion of all this to a dear and (very) honest friend, he suggested that I just throw the towel in on all of it and become a life planner. Ha! It's taken me 30 years to figure out my life plan. So, maybe if you hand your newborn over to me, I'll have it all figured out for them once they get their PhD and have a family of their own.
Has anyone tried the Dole fruit parfaits? I wasn't sure about purchasing them until I discovered that their calorie and sugar content was within the mildly acceptable range. Best. Thing. Ever. The apple ones taste like the inside of an apple pie and they work great for a dessert. Don't even have to be refrigerated. Love 'em.
So a couple days ago John McCain said that our economic building blocks were still strong. Then, after less than 24 hours of being brought back to reality by the media and the Obama campaign, he rephrases and says that the economy is in trouble and that his party is the only one that can fix it. Sound like Bush to anyone else? I was watching one of the news channels last night that was playing in the women's locker room at 24 Hour Fitness while I was changing for my kickboxing class and they were pointing out the fact that everyone that Sarah Palin has on her team of advisors are former Bush advisors. Now, if they were able to make Bush brainwash the American public into electing him twice, I am ever so slightly concerned about what they may be able to get Palin to do. She's already a gun-toting, evangelical, MILF -- now she has the power of persuasion on her side with a bunch of lying, cheating scumbags? I really hope that the voting women of this country are not so dumb and mesmerized by the prospect of a woman, any woman, getting into the White House, that they elect McCain/Palin. Instead of making ourselves the butt of many more jokes abroad, why not wait until the RIGHT woman comes along -- not some woman who is so far right that Louis Farrakhan is scared of her. Honestly, this woman scares me. More than Hillary Clinton does -- and I really don't trust Hillary. Please people, research how these candidates really stand on the topics before making a decision. I don't think we need more guns and more unwanted babies in this world.
Peace
So I had this wonderful conversation with my two-year old niece this morning, who wanted to talk to Keki and not to me, and she was absolutely hilarious. She was trying to show me the owie on her knee through the phone and was coloring on her legs. Oh, the joy of children! I really love being with her and my nephew and sometimes I seriously question my decision not to have children yet. I suppose all women must question whether or not they are going to be good mothers. My need to be the best and never fail (ha ha ha) forces me to see myself for all the things I lack that a mother would need: patience, time, a willingness to give up sleep. But I just can't convince myself that I don't want kids, even though I think I'll be that terrible, over-bearing parent that pushes their child to have a 4.5 GPA, be the star athlete, a concert pianist, and student body president.....but who ends up muttering to him or herself dressed in dirty rags standing on some corner, brain addled by the "pressure from Mom". Ugh. Can't anything ever be easy?
I am seriously considering a complete career change with an attempt at financing it through personal training. I started working on getting my certification last year after I quit ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement for those of you not in the know) and never finished the test. Queen of Procrastination, anyone? So, I am determined to finish it by the end of the month and then I have to get CPR certified again, get this technical editing job I found and a job as a personal trainer (shouldn't be that hard, I see a million places hiring for them). Then I'll be all set to find time to become a free-lance fitness writer and travel to wonderful fitness spas all over the world and train for fun athletic events (like triathlons and whatnot....maybe even the Iron Woman one of these days). Sounds like my best life plan yet! And, since I'll be a free-lance writer, I can have a kid (or two) and stay home with them. This just keeps getting better and better! Seriously though, upon suggestion of all this to a dear and (very) honest friend, he suggested that I just throw the towel in on all of it and become a life planner. Ha! It's taken me 30 years to figure out my life plan. So, maybe if you hand your newborn over to me, I'll have it all figured out for them once they get their PhD and have a family of their own.
Has anyone tried the Dole fruit parfaits? I wasn't sure about purchasing them until I discovered that their calorie and sugar content was within the mildly acceptable range. Best. Thing. Ever. The apple ones taste like the inside of an apple pie and they work great for a dessert. Don't even have to be refrigerated. Love 'em.
So a couple days ago John McCain said that our economic building blocks were still strong. Then, after less than 24 hours of being brought back to reality by the media and the Obama campaign, he rephrases and says that the economy is in trouble and that his party is the only one that can fix it. Sound like Bush to anyone else? I was watching one of the news channels last night that was playing in the women's locker room at 24 Hour Fitness while I was changing for my kickboxing class and they were pointing out the fact that everyone that Sarah Palin has on her team of advisors are former Bush advisors. Now, if they were able to make Bush brainwash the American public into electing him twice, I am ever so slightly concerned about what they may be able to get Palin to do. She's already a gun-toting, evangelical, MILF -- now she has the power of persuasion on her side with a bunch of lying, cheating scumbags? I really hope that the voting women of this country are not so dumb and mesmerized by the prospect of a woman, any woman, getting into the White House, that they elect McCain/Palin. Instead of making ourselves the butt of many more jokes abroad, why not wait until the RIGHT woman comes along -- not some woman who is so far right that Louis Farrakhan is scared of her. Honestly, this woman scares me. More than Hillary Clinton does -- and I really don't trust Hillary. Please people, research how these candidates really stand on the topics before making a decision. I don't think we need more guns and more unwanted babies in this world.
Peace
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Virgin Blog
I've been reading friends and acquaintances blogs and I've come to the realization that maybe blogging should be my way of communicating with the world. There are so many things happening today that I feel the need to change, to participate, to be less apathetic in an uncaring, cold world. My job is completely unfulfilling and though, as my boyfriend constantly reminds me, I should be grateful just to have a job, I am just enough of a Type A to need something with purpose, meaning, something to do! I couldn't figure out why I was feeling so depressed -- perhaps because my job serves no useful purpose. And my purpose is not to help people -- I already know that I don't do well with people with problems (can I even handle my own?) -- and I'm not particularly funny or witty, so it isn't to entertain others either. Perhaps maybe to inform them then? From a distance? I like my little world of few people; I feel no need to have a thousand friends or plans every weekend. But I do feel like people, especially our youth, need something real in their lives. Reality TV? Not real. Actors and actresses? Not real. The news? Not real either. Maybe my purpose is to bring them something real. So, that is what I am going to attempt to do here.
I read an ad for a job today, looking for people to be stormchasers -- tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, etc -- and I can't help but think that these people must have a hole where their heart is. How can they travel to these far flung locales to look at the storms? Death, devastation and destruction -- and they're looking at a writhing mass of clouds or a surging wall of deathly water. Am I just too sensitive? I know I'm empathic; maybe I've also become cyncial. How can anyone want to be in these places? I look at Houston and I think that I might, but for the grace of God, have been living there, and I can't help but think that being there would be too depressing. The Red Cross - that is my medium for sympathy. Send money and thank God that I live in Denver where the worst thing that happens is hail damage and icy roads. I cannot go because it would not be good for me. It would not be healthy. Which is exactly why I cannot work here any longer either.
Teaching computer classes to people who don't give a rat's ass about their future -- except if they'll contiue to receive foodstamps and public housing benefits -- is not my idea of a dream fulfilled. I once imagined myself a diplomat and could probably still be one if I went back to school (again). I've imagined myself traveling the world, writing books, taking photos -- never did I imagine myself a "teacher" to a bunch of people who barely made it out of high school. Elitist? No. Just honest. Do I defend peoples' right to screw their lives up? Absolutely. Do I defend their "right" to rely on the rest of us to live? Absolutely not. I know that people need help now and then. But our "support the underdog"attitude in this country allows these people to perpetuate the cycle of being poor. Many of them just don't care. As hard as that may be for some people to swallow, it's the truth. They would rather live in public housing, buying groceries with food stamps, than get an education or a job and actually be productive citizens. Maybe this is all very un-PC (and no, I'm not a Republican by any means -- God forbid this country elect McCain and Palin), but it is one of those honest issues that people don't want to face. Maybe they'll think they're being racist. I'm not. This applies to everyone who takes advantage of the system -- black, white, hispanic, asian, green with pink polka dots. Everyone. Times are tough; they're tough for everyone. Which is exactly why I think I should be able to decide where my tax money goes. I'm pretty sure that if the American people had a choice, more tax money would go to education, finding alternative fuel and energy sources, protecting the environment, and eliminating the national debt than would to this ridiculous war or to maintaining a welfare system that has completely gone to pot. Think about it: Where would you want your tax money to go if you had a choice?
I read an ad for a job today, looking for people to be stormchasers -- tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, etc -- and I can't help but think that these people must have a hole where their heart is. How can they travel to these far flung locales to look at the storms? Death, devastation and destruction -- and they're looking at a writhing mass of clouds or a surging wall of deathly water. Am I just too sensitive? I know I'm empathic; maybe I've also become cyncial. How can anyone want to be in these places? I look at Houston and I think that I might, but for the grace of God, have been living there, and I can't help but think that being there would be too depressing. The Red Cross - that is my medium for sympathy. Send money and thank God that I live in Denver where the worst thing that happens is hail damage and icy roads. I cannot go because it would not be good for me. It would not be healthy. Which is exactly why I cannot work here any longer either.
Teaching computer classes to people who don't give a rat's ass about their future -- except if they'll contiue to receive foodstamps and public housing benefits -- is not my idea of a dream fulfilled. I once imagined myself a diplomat and could probably still be one if I went back to school (again). I've imagined myself traveling the world, writing books, taking photos -- never did I imagine myself a "teacher" to a bunch of people who barely made it out of high school. Elitist? No. Just honest. Do I defend peoples' right to screw their lives up? Absolutely. Do I defend their "right" to rely on the rest of us to live? Absolutely not. I know that people need help now and then. But our "support the underdog"attitude in this country allows these people to perpetuate the cycle of being poor. Many of them just don't care. As hard as that may be for some people to swallow, it's the truth. They would rather live in public housing, buying groceries with food stamps, than get an education or a job and actually be productive citizens. Maybe this is all very un-PC (and no, I'm not a Republican by any means -- God forbid this country elect McCain and Palin), but it is one of those honest issues that people don't want to face. Maybe they'll think they're being racist. I'm not. This applies to everyone who takes advantage of the system -- black, white, hispanic, asian, green with pink polka dots. Everyone. Times are tough; they're tough for everyone. Which is exactly why I think I should be able to decide where my tax money goes. I'm pretty sure that if the American people had a choice, more tax money would go to education, finding alternative fuel and energy sources, protecting the environment, and eliminating the national debt than would to this ridiculous war or to maintaining a welfare system that has completely gone to pot. Think about it: Where would you want your tax money to go if you had a choice?
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