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!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
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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