Here's to us ...

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right" ~ Oprah

And that's pretty much what's it all about I suppose ... doing things differently, better than we've done them in the past. Getting it more right than we did last time around.

I don't make resolutions and find myself smirking inside when others proclaim theirs. (Not that I think we shouldn't have goals mind you) But they say the more people you tell, the more you'll find yourself trying to stick to whatever resolution you've made to better yourself. In my experience, the more people you tell, the more people there are to see you fail. I hate to fail and I don't make resolutions.

I'm not saying there's no room for improvement in the Garden of Me. Believe me, there's plenty that could stand some tweaking. But I already exercise and eat healthy (mostly). I've cut back on my sugar intake, stopped smoking and I'm working on the patience thing. I imagine I could have fewer glasses of wine and maybe give my awful neighbor a break every now and then. But I'm not making resolutions. I'm just going to do better for myself, for my people. I'm going to be a better me.

I'm excited about this new year to come. I know that we as a nation have an uphill climb ahead of us, but we're going to have a new leader for this journey and that's exciting. Change is exciting. Progress and better-than-we've-been is exciting.

When we used to do Wilderness Trail ventures, the slogan on our shirts was "Be strong enough to carry your own burdens and be compassionate enough to help others carry theirs." That's where we're at right now, and that's just what we'll have to do to get through all the obstacles we are facing as a people.

And I really think we'll be better because of it. We'll be more human, more connected, more compassionate and more solid. Tough times can weave people together unlike anything else. Hardships, especially when they are so far reaching, make us realize that we are, in fact, made of the same fiber, share many of the same hopes and fears, and can hold each other up in order to soldier on to better times.

I wish you all a peaceful, kind and enlightening year to come ... may we all reach out, support and grow together t0 be a better us.

Happy New Year ... I'll see you on the other side.

A Revisit ...

Just because it makes me happy and I'm in a bouncy kinda mood today ....

What I've Been Thinking About Lately ...

In no particular order ...

Our Neighbors in Terror
With all the effort our country puts toward squashing terrorism across the globe, I just can't seem to wrap my brain around the insane violence going on right now in Mexico with the drug war, and why our leaders don't seem more concerned. The terror that people there must feel has to be excruciating, and considering that we share a border, it seems this should be a pressing issue for our nation as well.

According to NPR, "Nationwide, the number of killings attributed to organized crime doubled in 2008 to more than 5,000, and no city has been harder hit than Juarez. The murder rate there is five times higher than in 2007." NPR estimates that an average of 7 people per day are being gunned down in Juarez.

In this drug war, decapitated bodies strewn about are commonplace; children are being kidnapped; schools are closed because teachers were robbed and are too scared to go back; local police forces are collapsing and corruption among those in "authority" is rampant; innocent people going about their daily lives are getting killed.

So why should we care?

First, we share a freakin' border with both these innocent folks and with these terrorists ... it's not like there are oceans and land masses between us. It's not Iraq ... this terror is a hella lot closer to home.

Second, and most importantly, because the drugs in question are not supporting habits in Mexico. This war is, in large part, because of U.S. consumption. According to the U.N., "Mexico has become the world's largest producer of marijuana, and Mexican cartels control most of the cocaine that's sold in the U.S." It is because of the habits of our people that thousands are dying in a blood bath down south. That's why we should care.

I wonder if that same person who buys organic food and carbon offsets to be a good citizen of Planet Earth considers the consequences of purchasing that bag of blow or cheap Mexican weed. I wonder if they realize the damage it does to Planet Humanity ... that it contributes to another decapitation, another robbery, another kidnapping ... another heinous crime.

It seems to me that our nation should be having a conversation about this particular war, in addition to the others we are involved in ... because we are involved. They tell us pesticides are bad for us so people buy organic foods. And added hormones are unhealthy so we buy hormone-free meat. So doesn't it stand to reason that if people were aware of the true cost of those pleasure baggies that they would consider that as well?

Or maybe it doesn't matter since it's not happening here and we don't see dead people just lying around ... one of those "Not my problem" kinda things. But I've been thinking about it.

Christmas
I have a feeling that this Christmas will be unlike any of my other 29 so far. I know this, in part, because of choices I have made about buying, but also because of the way I'm feeling about receiving (and not) this year.

Christmas has always been an Over-the-Top Big Tent Event in my family, but we're doing some things a bit different this year. We are all doing more for people outside of our family – those who need it more than we do – and less for each other. We all already feel so very blessed and lucky and fortunate that the routine of a Big Tent Event Christmas will most likely give way to a more real experience. Even my 13-year-old nephew wants less this year. It's nice to want less.

One Less Worry (for now at least)
I drove by the Hess station in West Asheville yesterday and gas was something like $1.55 a gallon. It's just nice that right now, when so many things are going so bad, that we have the cheapest fuel we've had in 5 years. Not that I think we all need to go drive more now. But it's good to know that driving home for the holidays will, once again, be a cheaper option than flying for people (or an option at all) and that it won't cost as much for some to heat their homes. It's just a pleasant relief (if only temporary) in such a cruddy economy.

Another Reason I Love NPR
Because they now do an All Tech Considered segment. Love it.

Of Providence, Patience & Pride

Providence
Rhode Island? No, more of the Divine kind. That's what mom says it was anyway.

On Friday, my father battled with a chainsaw ... and lost. The beastly piece of equipment cut through his deltoid and down into the bone, draining 1/3 of his blood and requiring a very immediate surgery, 50 stitches and many months of painful recovery. So, why do we claim ourselves truly blessed despite the bloody panic? For several reasons:

1) Mom & dad were planning a beach trip on Saturday and mom was to drop their dog at the sitter – set to leave just 10 minutes after The Incident. Had she left early to run an errand, zoom by the Coffee Zone (as she often does) or whatever, Pop wouldn't have had a snowball's chance in hell of making it outta that mess.

2) The chainsaw, with new chain that day, got tangled up in dad's loose shirt preventing it from cutting off his arm entirely (or !!!! into his jugular)

3) As always, mom rushed him straight to Haywood Regional .... gasp! Yes. The hospital name strikes fear in those of us who live in the area. The same institution that only recently got its accreditation back after being stripped of all worth earlier this year. So, I receive panicked call from the emergency room ... needs surgery ... lots of blood loss ... can't wait ... no time to get to Asheville.

His surgeon? A recently retired Army doc very adept at dealing with deep, icky war wounds (that's actually what he said it looked like). His name? Dr. Cutting ... no lie. When he arrived for surgery, he actually brought a photo of a very similar operation he had performed in Iraq. So, out of our tremendous fear of leaving my father's life in the hands of a questionable hospital, comes a surgeon fit just perfectly to his particular trauma.

My, oh my, He does work in wonderful ways. And as for my dad ... lesson learned.

Patience
Of the qualities that I (attempt to) cultivate in the Garden of Me, there are some – empathy and a sensitive disposition in particular – that come in, season after season, often in overwhelming quantities, whether I tend to them or not.

And then there are traits such as grace, that I strive to carefully nurture and grow in my garden. In my case, grace pertains to both the physical and inner kinds. I am renowned for being a dropper, spiller, breaker and faller ... just overall, not very graceful. So I really try to pay attention. I also closely tend to my inner grace and decorum, trying to be the honorable, respectable and respectful person that my parents taught me to be.

And then, in the Garden of Me, there are qualities that I must simply will out of myself sometimes. Ones that I long to have as abundantly as the others, but often find quite deficient ... the most apparently lacking is the elusive virtue we call "patience."

Now, I'm not talking about the kind of patience you need when waiting in line for a little old lady to count out pennies at the register; and not the kind you need while waiting for food at a busy restaurant; or even the kind required when you're late getting somewhere and are stuck in traffic.

I'm talking about the kind of patience required to deal with consistent ball-droppers, whiners and beggars in the workplace ... the people who don't do what they're supposed to do and then ask you to cut them some slack. The kind of patience required to not grab said people by the shoulders and shake the living snot out of them because, hey, if I'm doing my job then why the hell can't they do theirs?

That's the kind of patience I lack. The kind that I really do try to cultivate (by not responding, taking deep breaths and "calm down" walks) but that seems to escape me time and again. And when it does escape me, I lose my composure and my grace and my garden goes to pot.



So, if anybody out there has any advice on how to grow one's patience, I'm all ears. Leahpet? You deal with PIA teenagers all day ... got any hints? You always were better at letting things go than me though. This part of the Garden of Me will just have to hang in there until I find some good fertilizer I guess.

Pride
I haven't posted since The Big Day 2 weeks ago but, very simply put, I am proud. I am damn proud. I am proud of my fellow Americans who overcame decades, centuries, of deep-rooted feelings to come together for the promise of change. I am proud of all the young people who came out and voted for the first time and for the countless volunteers who spent sleepless nights championing The Cause. I am proud of those who crossed over the line in hopes of something better than we've had the past 8 years. I am so proud of North Carolina. Carolina blue, Duke blue, Panthers blue ... but BLUE. I love it. And I am proud.

In the center of this bubbly glittering glob of pride, however, I am also troubled about steps taken backward. The biggest one being in California with the passage of Proposition 8. It's like we push for change and tolerance and hope, and then at the same time, take away hope from a whole contingent of fellow Americans. It's hard to digest. But, we are a people of hope, and so I sincerely hope that very soon things can change for the better for ALL our people.

To Opportunity & Prosperity

Out of a hard-fought battle that has turned a nation mired down in the status quo into a people demanding change; that has brought the most unlikely folks together for a common good; that has changed our culture of indifference into one of enthusiasm and movement and HOPE ... the time is now upon us. And I am proud – truly, honestly, sincerely proud – to be a part of this movement, this stirring deep inside our country, this atmosphere abuzz with the anticipation of better days to come. This thing that we call hope.

"We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change ... We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics – they will only grow louder and more dissonant ... We’ve been asked to pause for a reality check. We’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope. But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope."

Whether you've seen this video once or 100 times, I say watch it again. Watch, listen and realize that we are right smack dab in the middle of a most significant moment in our nation's history ... a time when one man and his vision have brought a nation of people together in the name of change. We are on the cusp of a new day, folks, and I am damn proud of where we're headed!



Oh, and if you happen to live near a Ben & Jerry's, you can get a free scoop from 5-8 p.m. tomorrow! What a beautiful country we live in :)

Amusements

Came across a few things today that I just had to share.

#1 – The Smash Shack



Outside of the pure wastefulness of it, this is just unmitigated brilliance. Sarah's Smash Shack in San Diego is just that ... a place to go and break stuff without having to clean it up or lose a family heirloom to anger. Genius this woman! Had a really bad day? Awful break-up? Mad at your boss? For $45 you get a stack of 15 plates to hurl at a wall! Hell, there's a whole menu of items to buy and break ... and they even have a "bring your own" deal. Or, bring in a photo of that jerkwad who broke your heart, slide it in a frame from the Shack and let it fly! I freaking love that someone is actually making money with this, and let's be honest, people need to channel that rage somewhere so, why not.

#2 – Drive-thru Democracy
This is indeed a fine, fine nation we live in, folks, where – at least in Santa Ana, CA – you can do your civic duty without leaving the comfort of you automobile. That's right .... drive-thru voting! I love it. I mean, leave it to us lazy ass Americans to come up with something so very convenient, but still ... drive up to that machine, punch in your selections and cruise on down the road. And unlike our million other drive-thrus, this one won't make you gain weight!

#3 – What Soul



Fish sent me a link to some beautiful photos earlier of Obama on the campaign trail. The images, taken by photojournalist Callie Shell over the past few years, speak volumes about how real, how amazing and how truly dedicated Obama is. My favorite one is above. With all of the reports of the "Hockey Mom's" recent shopping sprees ($150K on clothes? Yeah, that's middle class America right there) I love love love this pic of the holes in the soles of his shoes. The caption said that he's already had them re-soled once since he entered the race. That's the kind of man I want working for our country. This series of pics is on The Digital Journalist and be sure to keep hitting the "Show More Images" link because there are so many wonderful ones.

A (Most Justified) Gloat

Yes, this post is simply a "Yay for me!" post, and since it's my blog, I feel like that's just fine every once in a while.

Today's gloat is that I am officially 5 months and 1 beautiful day (I should've posted yesterday) off the Nicodemon! That's right folks ... 22 weeks and some odd hours free from my self-imposed slavery.

To break it down in more bite-sized bits:
• That's about 2,100 cigs that I haven't smoked
(read that one again for impact)
• And about $380-$400 that I haven't spent
• About 6 lbs that I've gained (small price to pay in my humble opinion)
• And who knows how many hours I've added back onto my journey in this life

The Fun Blocker
This is most likely the only time you will ever hear me push pill-popping, but folks, this great miracle is courtesy of an itty bitty pill (Chantix) that wedged its way into my brain and said "Nico-Fun be gone!" And you know what? That was all it took. Poof – gone! Just like that. I just had to take care of some of those pesky psychological triggers (boredom, stress) in other ways and that was it, done.

It's kinda funny because I was going through the motions to quit – setting a quit date, gathering a support group, gathering my willpower – and my doc said, "Why are you waiting? This works!" And it did work ... like a freaking blast of good grace.

I've talked to people who said it didn't work for them, but I don't think they were really ready yet. You gotta want it ... really want it. And I did. And I quit. And now, "Yay me!"

More on How to Help

Yesterday on Blog Action Day, I read about The Luxury Fund on Jed's website and was so very much impacted by the concept that I wanted to talk share it here, too – you know, just in case the like 6 of you who actually read my blog don't read his ;)

The Luxury Fund is a really interesting way of looking at how easy it is for us, the Haves, to help out the Have Nots. 100% of money donated to the fund is divided among 4 faith-based groups (listed on further down ... check out their sites too!). It's a pretty new venture organized by a guy in Alabama, but seems to be taking off because it's a really great notion that we can give up one or two small things, chip in that bit of money and when it's all taken together, it can really make a difference.

I guess it's just hard for me to completely grasp the worldwide poverty crisis – especially in relation to the privileged life I have lead – but this really helped me put it in perspective and seemed a good way that I can help out and not feel overwhelmed. I was just really impacted by this and wanted to share.

LF Mission:
"Every year Americans spend $15 billion on bottled water. Did you know that $1 can provide clean drinking water for an African person for an entire year? The Luxury Fund asks people to use some of their "luxury money" to help change the lives of those around the world who suffer from great poverty, disease, and injustice.

Here's how it works: Today, you could decide to skip your cup of coffee at the local coffee shop, and rather than running your check card for $3 at the coffee shop, you could contribute a small $3 to the Luxury Fund. That money is distributed among four charities who are helping to end poverty (Blood Water Mission, Compassion International, International Justice Mission, Love 146). It's an easy way to make a small sacrifice while making a huge impact around the world that can literally save lives"

The Groups Supported:

• Blood Water Mission

• Compassion International

• International Justice Mission

• Love 146

Blog Action Day 08

• Almost half the world — more than 3 billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day
• 1 out of every 2 kids worldwide lives in poverty
• According to UNICEF, 26,500 to 30,000 children die each day due to poverty
• Nearly 1 billion people entered the 21st Century unable to read a book or sign their names

Today is Blog Action Day 2008, and the topic on the table is poverty. Jed (whose BAD08 posts are much more concise than my own and most likely more interesting ;) sent me a link about this several days ago and so I started thinking: What do I know of poverty? What do I personally do to help people in need? And, most importantly – What more can I do to help others?

What Do I Know of Poverty?
The first thoughts that rush to my mind are shameful ones, though I don't suppose I really need be ashamed. I guess it's just that feeling of being so very blessed and knowing that so many others are struggling just to stay above water.

I'll be the first to say that I have lived a very privileged existence. Not that my parents were high rollers – hell, they were both public school teachers — but growing up, I got every single thing that I needed, and most of the things that I wanted. I never ever went to bed hungry; was never cold in the winter; was never without good shoes or clothes or any of those things kids all need; and I got a top-notch education.

I was truly fortunate. And, likewise, my friends and their families have been largely untouched by poverty. So, what do I personally know of poverty? Not much.

What Do I Do to Help People in Need?
The answer is definitely not enough. I do some small things every day and some things when they are put in front of me, but I can do much more. I'm not like Brad & Angie with beaucoup money to spread far and wide, but even on a budget, I can do more. And really that is what this day is about – thinking about what we do and what more we can do to help this crisis.

Small things I currently do:

• Buying fair trade products. I pay a tiny bit more to insure farmers get a fair price for their crop. Also, buying non-sweatshop products. This is a much more difficult thing to do in our society because so many things are made oversees, and who knows how they're made? But if we start looking at those labels and really thinking about our purchases and seeking out fair-made stuff, it will make a difference.

• Visiting web sites each day like the Hunger Site, Child Health Site, Literacy Site and Breast Cancer Site. Each of these sites has sponsors who donate life-saving services when you visit and click a button. On the Hunger Site, sponsors donate 1.1 cups of food for every daily click. On the Literacy Site, it's free books and the Breast Cancer Site donates free mammograms. With just a few clicks of a mouse and less than a minute of time, this is an easy way to make a difference.

• During the holiday season, I give money every time I walk by the Salvation Army bell ringers. I never carry cash but actually make a point to do so when I know they will be out. I wonder what would happen if they were outside stores all year long? I would give all year long, but have never considered just making monthly or quarterly donations. Hmmm ....

• Donating old coats during coat drives is also an easy way to help people during the colder months when heat is so expensive, even for those of us in the "Haves" category.

So, that's what I've come up with ... and it's not a lot, but it is a start. The thing is, these meager acts can amount to great deeds when many take part. And then we can always do more.

What More Can I Do to Help Those in Need?
There is a worldwide poverty crisis happening at this very minute. And while things like the aforementioned Hunger Site and buying fair trade are easy enough to do, it's hard to take in such an extreme situation and figure out exactly how one person can make a difference. I've decided that the best thing for me to do is go with the "Think Globally, Act Locally" method right now – to do what I can now to help those around me and then when the time comes that I can go bigger, give more and do more, I'll do it celebrity style, heh.

I will take a cue from my mother who, for as long as I can remember, has gone out of her way to help those around her who were less fortunate. I am going to strive to do lots of small things to help those who are struggling; to donate more of my time to causes in my community (I don't have loads of money but definitely have time to spare); and to be open to ways that I can give back since I have been so tremendously blessed. I encourage you all to do the same.

And if you actually made it down this far, please do take a couple minutes to watch the video below ;)

What Can One Person Do?



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Daily Random Fact

It Was a Good Day

After many months listening to my excited rambles, and out of the goodness of her heart, my Lovely Little Pal Lorney (LLPL) agreed to attend the Obama rally in Asheville with me Sunday. It was an amazing experience and I can honestly say that I didn't give her enough credit for her staying-power. It was a long (hot & waterless) wait, and clear proof that she loves me because she wasn't nearly as pumped about it as I was to start out. But, as LLPL knows all too well, I am not good about going places and doing things by myself. So, first off, thanks to LLPL for being my steady :)

Brother Ben asked if the patchouli stench could be smelled for miles, thinking that it was, after all, held in Asheville. But the absolute diversity of the crowd was a real testament to Obama's message of coming together for change. Young & old with every color of skin (mine much more red after the fact), wearing everything from combat boots and sandals to high heels (it was just after church), tank tops to tunics, gathered to wait in line for hours with a common goal.

He spoke for about 35 minutes with the focus being on health care ... a big deal here in our mountains for both those in the industry and those struggling without it. I kept telling LLPL that it didn't matter if we couldn't see him ... I just wanted to hear him speak, in person. I just wanted to feel it deep down inside me like I have so many times watching him on TV. And he did not disappoint.

So, using Leahpet's "by the numbers" format, here we go:

Obama in AVL Rally ... by the numbers:

28,000: The estimated number of attendants. Local police said there were about 22,000 inside the stadium (which they predicted would hold 15K standing room only) and another 6,000 outside the gates, stacked deep with their faces pressed to the fence .... just to hear him speak.

1,000+: Times I felt really, truly grateful and excited to be a part of something so big and so important ... and all with my LLPL

30: Minutes we waited in line to pee once we finally got inside the stadium

22: Dollars spent between us (1 T-shirt, 2 waters & 1 Gatorade)

5: Number of Port-a-Potties ... seriously. Thousands and thousands of people who have waited in line for many hours, and there were only 5 Port-a-Potties!

4: Number of lines waited in ... 1) to get in ... 2) to pee ... 3) to get up in bleachers ... 4) to get out (though that was more of a moving mass than a line)

2: Number of hours we waited in line after about 45 minutes just trying to get there (with many thanks to AVL's Players' Express for the free shuttle ride up the big ol' hill ... that was 7 to a bench seat folks!)
• Also the number of peanut butter samiches consumed while waiting in line ... without water.

0: Pictures of Obama on my camera (the one above my boss took ... apparently my zoom not so good)

So, yeah ... it was a really good day. Sometimes it just takes a little effort to get moving and get there and the end result is just freaking beautiful.

And on a pretty amusing sidenote, my editor found this pic online and sent it along for my amusement ... yeah, that's Palin's kid giving her brother the finger while mom wears some weird egg/bubbly cloud/stupid coat and some little old lady smiles on. Love it!

Herbivore

Happy World Vegetarian Day!

So, last week I gave my "For the Animals" reasons as to why I'm a veggie, but today I would like to present the "For the Environment" reasons (for those of you who don't give a damn about the critters ... which is fine, it's your call). Below are some Fun Facts from goveg.com about the environmental impacts of meat production ... it's pretty interesting stuff no matter which food route you are taking.

"A 2006 United Nations report summarized the devastation caused by the meat industry by calling it 'one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global.'"

Land
• An area of rain forest the size of 7 football fields is destroyed EVERY MINUTE to make room for grazing cattle, but each vegetarian saves 1 acre of trees every year.

Food
• It takes up to 16 pounds of grain to produce just 1 pound of meat, and more than 70% of the grain and cereals that we grow in this country are fed to farmed animals.

• The world's cattle alone consume a quantity of food equal to the caloric needs of 8.7 billion people—more than the entire human population on Earth. About 20 percent of the world's population, or 1.4 billion people, could be fed with the grain and soybeans fed to U.S. cattle alone.

Energy
• Of all raw materials and fossil fuels currently used in the U.S., more than 1/3 goes to raising animals for food (producing fertilizer for crops to feed the animals, oil to run trucks that take them to slaughter, electricity to freeze their carcasses)

• If every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetarian foods instead, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than a half-million cars off U.S. roads.

Water
It takes 5,000 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of meat (watering crops to feed animals, drinking water for animals, cleaning the stanky warehouses and trucks, etc), while growing 1 pound of wheat requires only 25 gallons of water.

• You save more water by not eating 1 pound of beef than you do by not showering for an entire year (This one blows my mind!)

Global Warming
• Eating 1 lb of meat emits the same amount of greenhouse gasses as driving an SUV 40 miles, and scientists are now saying that the meat industry is one of the leading sources of greenhouse gasses that lead to global warming.

And ...
• If you're a glutton for punishment, check out "Meet Your Meat" ... I made it about 45 seconds into the video before I had to turn it off. Go ahead, watch it ... I dare you.

An "I Love Natalie Portman" Sidenote:
Yep, she's a veggie too :)

And so are Forest Whitaker, Russell Simmons, Sir Paul McCartney, Pamela Anderson, Alec Baldwin, the Dalai Lama, Clint Eastwood (yup, you heard it here), Alicia Silverstone ....

Happy Veggie Day!

I'll give it a rest now ... but since it is my blog, I figure I can ramble about whatever I want to ;) And you just might have learned a little something in the process (I did!).

The Forgotten Yum

In my earlier post, I somehow forgot to mention one of my most favorite of pumpkin delicacies .... Pumpkin Pancakes at IHOP!



Saturday morning, following a bourbon soaked evening of giggles and grins, my BFF Lorney and I went to the brand spanking new IHOP in West AVL where I indulged in the most exquisite pancakes ever. And they come sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and topped with whipped cream. IHOP is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy (so is good bourbon if you ask me ;)

A Proposal, A Questionable ? & Some Amusements

Worst Case Scenario
So I've been in talks lately with fellow Believers-in-Change about what we will do if Old Man McCain and The Running Joke somehow manage to get the great nod in November. Apparently, the rest of the world kinda hates us Americans so running to Canada or Europe or wherever doesn't seem like a very likely choice (unless some dashing young Spanish or Greek or British fellow offers to slip a ring on my finger that is ... then it's bye-bye Old Glory).

I've been thinking perhaps we should start a commune. Wiki defines a commune as "an intentional community of people" who share their lives and their stuff ... I like that. We would need some land (Becky, still got your holding in Mtn City?) and a group of like-minded folks to set up our own little happy world. We'll grow our own food, educate the young'uns and live very green, peaceful lives together. I imagine it's more complicated than that, but I think it's a start. Anybody interested?

Ummmmmm .... I dunno .... Actually, no way
This week, PETA asked Ben & Jerry's to replace the cow's milk used in their yummy-nummy ice cream with ... wait for it ... human breast milk, saying "the breast is best." Now, I am a vegetarian, but I'm not vegan so I still do dairy and the such. So I read the letter on PETA's website to B&J and while the argument is so extremely valid animal-treatment wise ... I dunno. It kinda freaks me out to think the most delicious Mint Chocolate Cookie or Phish Food could be concocted using some random lady's breast milk. Yeah, pretty sure I couldn't eat it whether that's rational or not. Couldn't we replace it with, say, soy milk or rice milk or something?

I'm not big milk drinker, but I LOVE cheese. I guess I've just come to a weird place now having to think about the fact that cows are impregnated every 9 months so they keep producing milk. And while B&Js most likely does things in the most ethical way possible, I don't know that you can get around this fact. And in many cases boy calves are taken from their mothers right after birth to be raised in tiny cages and served as a delicacy. I mean, no human female would want to be pregnant ALL THE TIME.

A friend of mine recently said something to me along the lines of "What you don't know won't hurt you." We were discussing the movie version of Fast Food Nation and also how I am so concerned about my food. (This movie is definitely worth seeing, but it's hard to take at moments.) I highly disagree with the "what you don't know" notion. If I were eating fast food burgers, I sure as hell would like to know if there's fecal matter in them. I want to know how my food is produced if it's at all possible ... if it's organic or if chemicals were used. I like going to the store and being able to not only buy organic produce, but also locally produced food. And yeah, sometimes I don't buy organic because it is quite a bit more expensive and money is tight these days. But I do as much as I can afford and keep hoping that one day, as more and more producers choose an organic route, it will be easier for everyone to eat these healthy products.

I know most of you out there are carnivores and that's absolutely fine. It's just not for me. I came down with a bad case of the "cute little piggy" syndrome a while back. But mostly, I have a huge problem with how animals are raised for food in our society ... the hormones and antibiotics and factory farming. It all reeks of badness if you ask me. I'm pretty sure Oprah has done like 50 shows on puppy mills and people get so angry and upset with the thought of how the cute puppies are treated. But, thing is, seems like people would also be up in arms about how big factory farms work. I mean, people actually eat those animals. Do people really not care that not only are the animals treated poorly, but also the workers (many time immigrants with no recourse) are treated like crap? Seems like eating animals that die in such an awful inhumane way could transmit some very bad chi to a body.

I just know that if I were a meat eater (and in my last days of being one), I would be sure that what I was consuming was raised in a humane way and not pumped full of chemicals and drugs to make it bigger and feather or beak-free (you know, so it's easier to kill). One change of heart that I've had recently concerning all of this is in regards to hunting. I've always been so anti-hunting. But, the more I've thought about it lately, and after several exchanges with an acquaintance who does hunt, it makes more and more sense ... I mean, as long as you're eating what you kill. The thing about hunting is that you know where the meat comes from and that it is "un-messed around with" ... and you know that it was raised wild and free and not in some cramped, filthy sad awful place.

So, anyway ... that might've been too much but it's what I've been thinking about lately. And it also kind of links back to the commune notion because there, we would produce all of our vegetables, fruits and meats and know exactly what was in them. Not sure I'd go back to the carney lifestyle, but I'd sure feel better about it if I did.

Points of Interest (to me at least)
• Natalie Portman is now single and apparently dodged a bullet when she ditched this, um, I'm gonna go with freakshow. She is way too cute for this ... guy?



• This week, 2 frat boys in Arizona decided to vomit milk off a bridge and caused a lady to wreck her car ... with her 6-year-old daughter inside. I bet their parents are damn proud.

• The silly McLame camp posted the ad below online before His Oldness even decided to go ahead with the debate tonight. I really want those people to lead my country ... really. (Oh, and thanks for the McLame bit Fish!)




I guess that's it (enough?) for now. Y'all have a good weekend!

Hooray for Fall!

“Autumn's the mellow time.” ~ William Allingham



What follows are my most favorite things about this delicious season — which begins today — in no particular order.

All Things Pumpkin!
(OK, this probably is my actual Number 1 and will fill most of this post I'm sure) My fancy for this squash-like fruit has evolved over my 30 years from the kid fun stuff to the "Watch out! I will plow you down to get to one of my favorite pumpkin delicacies!"

• Let's start with the (obvious) best-of-pumpkin — Yummy-nummy nutmeg and cinnamon infused pumpkin pie. (I also love its close relatives sweet potato and candy roaster). Oh, and let's not forget pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin bread, pumpkin spice cake ...

• Then there's pumpkin beer. Man, oh man, when I had my first at Brewgrass many years back, I was sold! Dogfish Head Punk at 7% is my favorite followed closely by Cottonwood's Pumpkin Ale. And then there's the most delightful Pumpkin/Porter half-and-half that's so good you almost want to cry a little :)

• Pumpkin coffee — A number of years ago I turned my back on flavored coffee, preferring instead the darkest/strongest/boldest roasts I could find. But when fall comes around and our local roasters stock the shelves with this goodness, I can't resist.

• Pumpkin seeds – These are, in my humble opinion, the best part of slicing up one of the suckers. It stinks to have to dig 'em out of the goo, but when you toss them in Worcestershire sauce and bake 'til crispy, it makes every slimy string worth the effort.

• And I'll round this one out with: pumpkin candles and other home fragrance, pumpkin carving parties (Becky, are you out there?) and, of course, Linus' sweet sweet devotion to the Great Pumpkin.


Saving Energy which Means Saving Money!
I love, love, love that this time of year (at least in its early stages) allows me to turn off the fans and the icky AC, leave a window open at night and not yet have to feed the oil beast for warmth. My power bill this month should be a slight relief compared to the past few, not to mention the ones to come.


Zaps of (Natural) Energy
This one applies to both me and my Old Man Blackie Dog. When we walk outside and get those little gusts of freshness or the chill in the evening, we both feel so much more alive ... and he gets a little spring in his step, a rare occurrence these days. It's like he waits all year long to feel comfortable in his big fur coat.


General Mellow-ness
For some reason, this is a season that lends itself so much to sharing time with friends & family be it around bonfires or sitting on porches, taking drives to see the fall colors, carving pumpkins and going on hayrides, going to football games or just enjoying a good meal together. The big summer vacations, camps, activities and whatnot are over and life is in a nice, mellow place before the big holiday-crazy sets in.

Happy Memories
This time of year always always makes me think of Wilderness Trail. I wasn't the trooper some of my friends were during the summer months, going on Trail for weeks at a time. Instead, I went on the nice, compact 4-day ventures that usually landed us near Damascus, VA, long about the time the leaves were all colored up. I most remember when my friend Leahpet drove 3 or 4 of us girls up (we were probably 16-ish) and we sang Indigo Girls songs at the tops of our lungs as we wound up the mountain, and we were just young and silly and carefree (boy if we had only known then ...) Good times, good times.

And so again I say, "Hooray for Fall!"

So ....

After an evening of quite heavy discussion with a few friends about our "Plan(s) B" (in case our jobs get cut or whatnot in this fabulistic economy) ... I came home to this delightful tidbit (thanks Jed!) After all the talk of babies in China being poisoned, the government having to bail out previously strong financial institutions and yada yada yada ... it sure as hell lightened my load a bit :) And the serious stuff can wait 'til tomorrow. Enjoy!

Brilliant!

I think this should suffice for today ... enjoy!

Food of the Gods

I love cereal ... always have. My preferences have changed through the years, mainly moving to healthier varieties as I got older, but even the healthy kinds can rock. Cereal is a comfort food for me not to mention it's quick and easy to fix when you're hungry ... instant gratification. I like that. And it comes floating in a bowl of vitamin-packed milk (I prefer soy these days) and the healthier varieties can provide other good things for a body.



As a kid, my favorites were Cookie Crisp, Cap'n Crunch, Count Chocula and Cinnamon Toast Crunch ... oh, and anything that brought forth a Great Prize hidden inside. It was like finding a Golden Ticket in every single box! And I have a lot of good memories tied to cereal too: how my grandmother used to put a spoonful of brown sugar into a bowl of Cinnamon Life for me (my mother would have died if she had known); eating Honey Comb and peanut butter sandwiches at a sleepover once; stashing bags of the dry stuff in my backpack to munch on throughout school.

These days, I tend to stick to the healthier adult varieties but will occasionally break down and buy some (Reduced Sugar) Cinnamon Toast Crunch if I'm down in the dumps. It's a pretty instant pick-me-up. I've also started asking people I've just met about their favorites, both when they were kids and now. It's an especially good tool with first dates because if he says his "now" daily favorite is Lucky Charms, you're staring at an overgrown child and should back away slowly ;)

The reason for this random "I like cereal" post is that I just read about the history of this favorite food of mine and how it has impacted our culture so very much. The article is here and if you have a few minutes, I'd really suggest checking it out. From its roots in vegetarian culture as a health and wellness food to its mass market appeal with children and the many hundreds of characters through the years, it's a pretty interesting tale. Check it out.

So ... what's your fave?

Without Further Ado

So it's been almost a week now since Sarah Palin took the stand at the RNC, and it's taken me about that long to calm down and stop wanting to absolutely smack her head off for being such a snot.

I've been discussing her with my friends, family and colleagues every chance I've gotten, and now here they are .... my personal Top 5 Reasons Why Palin Stinks, followed by 2 well cited articles about who she is and what she's done (and they include all the other sketchy things like her special earmarks, how she used to think Alaska should secede from the US, etc etc)

Reason #1:
I pretty much despise that she touts herself as a feminist when in reality, she's anything but a supporter of women's rights. Her "family planning" positions irritate me to no end. Not only does she promote abstinence-only education in Alaska's public schools (because we all know kids aren't having sex), she opposes abortion in all cases except when a mother's life in in danger. It's her right to feel this way (note I said to feel not impose as law), BUT, she has actually said that even if her daughter was raped, she would "choose life" ... meaning "choose life" for her, not give her a choice about her own life. Now, even Cindy McCain has come out and said she doesn't support this.

I am completely pro-choice. I fully believe that it is a woman's decision to do with her body as she sees fit, to live with her decisions and that it is not a matter for government to decide. Now, I understand that not everyone feels as I do and that's fine, it's a free country. But, then again, that's the point isn't it? It's a free country ... freedom to choose what is best for one's own body.

Reason #2:
This one is short and to the point. As Mayor of Wasilla, Palin asked the town's librarian how to go about banning books that she deemed inappropriate. Seriously? What century are we living in that a silly little mayor wants to put a stop to freedom of information? Maybe next she'll move to take down offensive websites, heh heh. Like China.

Reason #3:



Sarah Palin hates polar bears. In May, she threatened (as head of state) to sue if polar bears were put on the endangered species list because ... wait for it ... she thought it would hurt oil and gas development in the northern part of the state. You know, melting sea ice and global warming aren't really reliable indicators that the bears are losing their habitats. She's an oil slut.

Oh, AND she supports gunning down wolves from airplanes and has opposed efforts to protect beluga whales in an Alaskan Inlet because it might negatively affect the oil and gas industries.

Reason #4:
She won't admit that climate change and global warming, which are especially threatening her home state, are caused by human activity ... even though the Republican party has officially adopted this stance. According to the Washington Post, Palin said she "wasn't sure climate change wasn't simply part of a natural warming cycle" ... "I'm not one ... who would attribute it to being man-made." Yep, she's smarter than all those scientists who devote their lives to this research.

Reason #5:
At least 3 of her close friends told Good Morning America that they weren't sure who they were voting for in November. That's just scary if even your closest friends aren't sure they'll vote for you.


Here are the articles I mentioned above ... check 'em out. Pretty interesting stuff.

Top 10 Most Disturbing Facts & Impressions of Sarah Palin
8 More Shocking Revelations ...

Ok, well, guess I can move on with my life now that I officially got that off my chest. Though I'm sure there will be more to come ;)

Hehehehehe

Saw more than a few of these bumper stickers today when visiting my less-than-young client at Deerfield's Retirement Community ... love it!

A Word to the Populace

Verizon is the Devil, and I'm for serious about this one y'all. And if you, like me, aren't aware of how the corporate badness works because you live in a world of good people, pay attention.

Long story (nowhere near) short:
I'm on a family plan with the Evil Empire (EE). Our contract is good through next June, but we were up for our "New Every Two" phones as of last week.

I thought to myself: "Self, you should just order those bad boys online, skip the rebate crap all together and never set foot in that awful store."

A very good friend (VGF) of mine (and a Verizon insider) said: "Sometimes, if you do it online, they make you change your contract."

Me: "But our contract goes through next June. It's no problem. I'll just order our phones online, activate them online, and the world will be happy."

Unfortunately, I could not have been more wrong. Scene is this:
I order the first two "freebie" phones online and it's a breeze ... no text/pix plan needed and the basic model will do. Great! I get to my phone (the main line on the plan) and using my special "credit" a lovely EnV 2 (a pricier model than I would buy flat out) can be mine for only $29.99 with my rebate and upgrade credit. Excellent! As I proceed to purchase this delightful little phone, I realize that the EE is trying to change my text/pix plan ... to double the monthly cost in fact. And there's no way for me to change it back.

VGF calls his buddy at the EE, who in turn calls me and sets me up with a plan of attack, but it must happen in store. Ok, fine then. So, this morning, we march into the EE, tell our Sales Representative (SR) that our plan is fine and we just want our new phones.

SR (NOT VGF's buddy, btw) tries to imply that the two freebie phones will cost $70 each. That apparently includes the accessories package, but he doesn't really indicate that. He just says they'll cost $70. And my phone, online a mere $29.99, will cost, after rebate, $110. What?! Oh, wait ... apparently that includes accessories too. I say as politely as possible: "Thanks but we don't want any accessories. The regular charger will do."

And it was downhill from there. Apparently, the "accessories" are where these folks make their commissions, and after I said that we didn't want them, he simply turned into a complete jackass (JA). For the rest of the time, JA did not once make eye contact with us, did not offer to transfer our phone numbers (even for a fee ... he just didn't mention it at all) and did not even throw out a "Have a good day." He wasn't getting a commission so he turned into a complete jerk.

I guess my biggest problem is with the EE itself ... that its employees must swindle good, unknowing people out of money just so they can make commission; that I couldn't just go online and order new phones without having to change my contract and pay more money; that every day, EE employees walk into that store, most likely freaking hating their jobs, and end up being complete JAs to customers because of the system; that if I hadn't been there, my mother would have forked over $150 for stuff none of us needed or wanted. That's freaking wrong!

I don't know that other places are any better. I don't know if there's another answer. I just know that I absolutely HATE that we as a society allow places to operate like this (and apparently a lot of the Big Box tech retailers do).

I don't know of a solution, but after we left and I fumed for a bit, I told mom maybe I should just go back, give JA a big hug and apologize for the fact that I have a happy job and he works for Satan (but that still doesn't mean he should be rude to loyal customers).

Just a warning to you all ... go into these places with a plan; only get what you need; and don't let the EE pull the wool down.

Color Me Amused

For your Labor Day entertainment ... Note: All tidbits heard on this weekend's Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me! God Bless NPR ... linked a few if you want the whole story.

• In a rant on his video blog Sean "Diddy" Combs revealed that high gas prices have forced him to fly commercial. Poor Diddy! What's next ... only 8 cars in the entourage? What a shame! And then he makes a plea to his Saudi brothers and sisters ... heh sure thing Diddy.
(Here's the rant for your viewing pleasure)

• Apparently, a fella named Jason Slagel was holding 5 people hostage in an Iowa motel and was arrested after the Brilliance sent two of the hostages out to buy beer, and held them to their honor that they would come back! I tell you, people just aren't as reliable as they used to be.

• In Brazil, a couple of thieves broke into a woman's car and ended up leaving some money for her on the seat after they realized what bad shape the vehicle was in. Who said chivalry was dead?

• In order to break up a drug smuggling ring in Bosnia, police have thrown one of the biggest culprits behind bars ... a drug smuggling pigeon who brought the goods to prisoners. Hehehehehe that's too good.

• An elderly woman at an airport in Sweden misunderstood instructions for the baggage chute and instead of putting her bags down it, put herself down the chute. That silly old bag ;)

• And last, but most certainly not least, it seems Alaska's Republican Gov. Sarah Palin — also McCain's new running mate — has a 17-year-old daughter who is unmarried and preggy. I can't wait to see what surfaces next. Guess that's what happens when you pick a VP who you've only met once in person. Of course, I imagine it's only because they're super conservative that anyone actually cares about this. Maybe if they had some sex ed and condoms in their schools ... oh, but wait, conservatives don't support that because it encourages pre-marital sex. And we know kids don't have sex. I'll lay off this now, but there's a funny bit here about the baby's daddy. Again, had they been a more liberal, they could have let her raise the kid alone and kept this brilliant father out of the picture all together.

I guess that's it for today ...

Time Wasters Extraordinaire

Time-Waster #1: The Amazing Fact Generator on mentalfloss.com
My Amazing Fact(s) for Today:
• About 5 percent of the entire U.S. potato crop goes to make McDonald’s French fries.
• The S in Harry S. Truman didn’t stand for anything; Truman had a middle initial but no middle name.

Time-Waster #2: Facebook
I've had a Myspace account for a few years but am relatively new to Facebook. This site, in itself, can literally consume hours of my day if I'm not careful. But, I mean, I get to have pieces of flair and I can send my friends treats like jelly beans and cupcakes! Oh, and let us not forget that you can Superpoke people! Does it get any more fun than that ... really? And it's sooo much more "grown-up" than MySpace ... OK, maybe not ;) Be my friend? I'll send you some ice cream!



Time-Waster #3: LOL Cats
I would like to start by saying that I am NOT a cat person, however, icanhascheezburger.com almost makes me pee my pants sometimes. I have to be careful looking at this while I'm in the office for fear of loud "Ha!" outbursts. Oh, and occasionally they throw in a funny non-cat too.



And last, but (certainly) not least ...

Time-Waster #4: Famous People & Cool Gadgets
I'm almost embarrassed to put this out there, but even I occasionally need a good Hollywood Hot Pink Stupid Celebrity Fix, and thesuperficial.com provides just that. But it's better than just your run of the mill celeb stories because the guy who maintains the site (and updates it several times a day mind you) is a smart ass of a superb caliber. I also have to be careful perusing this at the office due to sudden outbursts of laughter.

Also included as part of this time-sucker is a techy/gadget sister (brother?) site — geekologie.com — which has some really cool stuff sometimes (and often really dumb stuff too).

Oh, and apparently blogging can take up a good portion of an afternoon ;)

All Across America, Something is Stirring ...

It's been an exciting week for sure ... from Michelle's beautiful speech to Hillary's very dignified nod to Barack during roll call, a glimpse into Biden's world and finally the Main Man's powerful message of unity and change. But in my (very humble) opinion, amid all the moving, exciting and well-delivered speeches of the week in Denver, our soon-to-be-VP said it best with:

"The American people are ready. I am ready. Barack is ready. This is his time; this is our time; this is America’s time."

And on a completely un-political but still relevant note: Y'all, we are going to have a damn fine looking First Family!



Yes. Yes. Yes We Can.

It's DNC Week!

"And out of this long political darkness a brighter day will come."

First off, let me just go ahead and say that I've not always been so interested in politics. I used to roll my eyes, tune out the talk and hear "blah blah blah." I guess it really started when people I grew up with were being shipped off to Afghanistan and then Iraq. It was the first time that my peers were having to put their lives on the line and that's when it really hit home, the importance of who's in charge. {Oh, yeah, and also when my friend Jed's political "blah, blah, blahs" started forming into real and meaningful words in my brain ... heh. Thanks, man.} Don't get me wrong, I've always done my "civic duty" and voted ... but I didn't really "get it" until then. I was one of those people just walking around in my own little bubble, not thinking about the bigger picture.

And then came the '04 election. I was working at a small design company with a few local politicos as clients. One of my closest friends was serving as campaign manager for one of those clients, and at the same time John Kerry was trying to get that Nasty G.W. (NGW) outta the Big House. I was already riding the "Kerry Me" wagon ... and then Pearl Jam came to Asheville for the Vote for Change Tour. There is simply nothing better than Eddie Vedder pushing for a better administration! (I actually dressed up like My Love Mr. Vedder for Halloween when I was in the 9th grade ... just, you know, fyi).

And I was excited.



And then ... we got four more years. It sounds like a prison term because, essentially, it has been.

And now ... well I'm head over heels for a presidential candidate (my mother's generation would add a "Bless her heart" before that statement). And the fact is, it started 4 years ago when he was just a guy giving a speech at the Convention. But even then, that speech gave me goose bumps and caused me to get all teary-eyed (ok, I guess that's not that hard to do but still ...) and man, I felt proud. And as I sat there and listened to Obama's keynote, I kept thinking, "I wish this guy could be The One."

And now, only 4 years later, it's happening ... that very same Goose Bump Giver will be on the ballot come November. That same man who only 4 years ago was someone many of us had never even heard of ... just a young Senator from Illinois. And all I keep thinking is ... this is how it is supposed to be. For once, this is how it all should be happening. Just like he said about Kerry in that '04 keynote: "Our party has chosen a man to lead us who embodies the best this country has to offer."

And so I'm excited again ... really excited. I'm an optimist anyway, but I honestly believe that now is the time we can have some real hope.

"The hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes America has a place for him too ... Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope. Because in the end, that is God's greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation. The belief in things not seen. The belief in better days ahead."

And this week I, along with so many fellow Americans awaiting a regime change, will be watching as Democrats from across the country gather in Denver to celebrate a shift in our nation ... a shift toward hope, toward things more of us can agree with and feel good about, toward a person we can believe in, toward a better US.




I. am. ready.

Early Evening Addendum:
On NPR this afternoon, they had a bit about how in 2000, Barack tried to go to the DNC and couldn't get the credentials needed to attend. And when he got to wherever it was being held, he tried to rent a car and his credit card was declined. That was a mere 8 years ago folks ... and now, he's on the freaking presidential ticket. If that's not the American Dream I don't know what the hell is! It keeps getting better and better and tonight, it's Michelle's turn at the mic. I can't wait!

August 19

1692
Salem witch trials — 5 people are executed after being convicted of witchcraft

1848
California Gold Rush — The New York Herald breaks the news to the East Coast of the gold rush in California (although the rush started in January)

1871
Orville Wright, American aviation pioneer, was born

1946
Bill Clinton was born

2008
It's Root Beer Float Day!

2008
Amy_k8 celebrates the 3-month anniversary of her big breakup with the Stanky Nico-demon (yeah, I pretty much rock) and considers treating herself to some potato chips. Mmmmm, potato chips :)

Something I learned today:



Root beer floats used to be called "black cows" or "brown cows" ... and a "purple cow" is grape juice and ice cream.

Of my need to control everything

As I mentioned in an earlier ramble, I'm a control freak. I've always been the over-achiever. I've always wanted to please. At least I realize that though right? I mean, acknowledging the problem is half the battle (or so they say). And since it was pointed out to me by a friend (which means people outside of my little world see it too), I've been trying to make some changes. And I'm taking baby steps so as to not throw myself into any kind of shock ;)

Example #1 - At Home
Since I moved into my own little space years ago, I've had a real problem leaving dirty dishes in the sink overnight. In fact, I just haven't done it much at all. Now, when I had roommates, it was different because it was more of a "clean up after yourself" deal. But since it's been just me, I wash every last dish before bedtime rolls around. In fact, I wash most pots and pans that I've used for cooking before I even sit down to the table to eat. (I should probably add that to my "let go" list too.) But during the past week, I've started leaving a few things in the sink overnight .... a glass or two, maybe some silverware ... and the world hasn't stopped spinning yet, so it must be OK.

Example #2 – At Work
Now, this is going to be a slower process. As a self-employed person, this control factor worked entirely to my benefit in creating a work routine for myself and getting stuff done in an efficient manner. I am still technically self-employed, but I have one client who takes up most of my time and energy. So, 3 days a week, I am a contract employee in a office situation (magazine) that thrills me with its deadlines and structure but that kills me with the other people who don't like to adhere to The Rules.

The editor of the mag and I are very similar creatures ... we first bonded over being "Grammar Nazis" when it came to the publication. Another co-worker, however, is not so much the disciplined type and likes to push deadlines and do things when she "feels like it." Now, this wouldn't fly in a normal corporate environment, but we are a liberal, open family of sorts and there is some "taking care of" and often some coddling that goes on. I say, so be it ... as long as our deadlines are met. This round, they were not, and there was a bit of uproar.

And so the two sides faced off: the "Best Practice" and "Always Meet Deadlines" among us against the "But if nothing went wrong what's the problem?" part of the group. This infuriates me. And though I ardently believe that my side is in the right (deadlines are made for a reason and that's how things are accomplished in a timely and accurate manner) I have decided to do my best and try to understand that some people work at their own pace and do a good job, even if it's not in a set time frame. In the industry I'm in, I don't think this should be the case (and if it is, said person should find another job) but I'm going to try to give up a little bit of my deadline control for the greater good ... Read: the greater peace of our office. I'm not really excited about it though. (It still counts though right?)

Example #3: My Imperfect Hobby



Last winter, I did a very small pro-bono job for a friend and was given a gift certificate for a free knitting lesson (we had previously discussed my desire to learn this craft). So, I took the one lesson and learned how to knit, sort of. I learned how to knit one stitch, and only in a straight row ... no patterns or sleeves or toes or whatever. So, essentially, I spent last winter making lots and lots of scarves (oh, and coasters ... but they kind of leak). I made around 10 scarves of various yarns – keeping some for myself and giving the others as gifts. The problem here is that though I learned how to do a basic knit stitch, that's all I knew. And when I messed up, I wouldn't realize it until way into the scarf and at that point, it was undo a lot and start over, or keep going (and I did both). But even as they were so very un-perfect, every person I gave them to just loved them ... bumps and all, because they knew I made the scarf with them in mind. And every imperfect knot was still made with love.

So, as the summer begins its stride toward fall, I think I'll take up this warming hobby yet again. And this, I know, is something that I cannot have full control over. I'll most likely take another class so I can at least throw some other article of wear/use into the mix, but I will again be OK with the fact that what I produce won't be perfect. But it will be made with lots of love ... and that's the most important thing anyway :)

A Common Thread

My neighbor and I have been at war the past week or so over her junk in my yard and a number of other things that I haven't brought to light but have just bitched about to those who will listen (abrupt and disturbing noises at 1:15 a.m.; stank cigarette smoking wafting up through my bedroom window; sketchy people who idle their cars in our shared driveway for whatever reason, etc).

Today, however, she came running out to catch me as I went to take the Big Black Dog (BBD) on one of his many daily walks. She and her boyfriend had to put his cat of many years down last night after a lot of deliberation about when to hold on and when to let go ... and after dropping a lot of money they don't have to spare.

That really got to me ... that despite all the crap of the past week she wanted to let me know what had happened to them so I could grieve with them. Because all other issues aside, the love of a pet is something we can both understand. I can't even think about the time when I will have to say good-bye to my BBD, my love, without getting teary eyed. Hell, I'm teary eyed even writing about it.

She told me they planned to have a ceremony today and bury Harley up the mountain. BBD and I said our prayers for the Humans and wished blessings on Harley boy as he goes to a pain-free afterlife. Though I'm not much of a cat person (I'm fairly allergic) I do believe that yes, all dogs go to Heaven and I imagine their feline rivals do too.

And so this awful thing that she shared with me made us OK again, at least for now. And we all cried together. (And the fact that she gave BBD — the dog of a vegetarian — venison tenderloin after our evening walk didn't hurt her chances for redeeming her good neighbor status.)

Ahhhhh .... for the (even if temporary) peace on Short Street.

Why I adore ...

Natalie Portman



• Beautiful Girls
• Garden State
• Closer
• Goya's Ghost
• The Other Boleyn Girl

Oh, yeah ... and she's freaking beautiful.

That's all ... that's enough.