Thank you, General Eaton

I was reading my daily dose of blogs because I knew there would be some shouting about the veto. What I came across (thanks again, Mickey) was a letter from General Eaton (retired) to the President regarding the veto on the war spending bill Congress passed last week. I think his message is clear. Bush is NOT listening to the Generals as he constantly says he is. Bush does not GET that our forces are spent. They are spread too thin. Our national safety and interest is in jeopardy here on US soil because Bush is just not listening. I think that it bears a reprint on every blog out there. I urge you to send this to your Congressmen and ask them to listen to a man who has been on the ground in Iraq and helped train the Iraqi forces.

Here's the letter (Daily KOS):

May 1, 2007
President George W. Bush The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

Today, in your veto message regarding the bipartisan legislation just passed on
Operation Iraqi Freedom, you asserted that you so decided because you listen to
your commanders on the ground.
Respectfully, as your former commander on the ground, your administration did not listen to our best advice. In fact, a number of my fellow Generals were forced out of their jobs, because they did not tell you what you wanted to hear -- most notably General Eric Shinseki, whose foresight regarding troop levels was advice you rejected, at our troops' peril.
[...]
As someone who served this nation for decades, I have the utmost respect for the office you hold. However, as a man of conscience, I could not sit idly by as you told the American people today that your veto was based on the recommendations of military men. Your administration ignored the advice of our military's finest minds before, and I see no evidence that you are listening to them now.
I urge you to reconsider your position, and work with Congress to pass a bill that achieves the goals laid out
above.

Respectfully,
Major General Paul D. Eaton, USA, Retired

Rodrigo y Gabriella

We went to see them tonight. More details tomorrow. Suffice to say they were phenomenal.

A Response

I've been writing to my senators lately. I'm tired of the situation in our government and I don't know of anyway to change it other than to be a squeeky wheel. Yesterday I received a message back from one of them explaining why he votes and supports things that I disagree with. I wasn't going to post my response, but after reading Mickey's blog post about pragmatism I decided that I would do it. So, for better or worse here it is.

Dear Senator Allard,

First, thank you for your response. I do appreciate your time. I do want to respond because I think it's important that you, as a representative of the citizens of Colorado, know how the citizens feel.

I understand that you feel that it's key that we stabilize Iraq, but where is the proof that Iraq is the headquarters of the threat? As I recall Osama Bin Ladin is not IN Iraq and has never been. On that horrible day when the twin towers fell it was not Iraq that had a hand in the terror. By keeping the number of troops we currently have in Iraq we have weakened our forces here at home. Generals of our military have said that they are afraid that we are not well protected at home on American soil, and quite frankly Senator, I thought that was the whole point. I only need to remind you of the horrible situation in New Orleans that took so many other lives because we didn't have the means necessary to do what was necessary. Where were the troops that could have helped? They were not in the U.S. helping to protect the lives of Americans, but rather risking their own lives to fight "terrorism" on foreign soil.

I hate to say such a cheesy phrase, but the whole situation brings to mind the movie lines "Build it and they will come." Well, we've built the idea that terrorists are infesting the heart of Iraq and by the droves the extremists have come. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy and we need to break the idea now and be done with the idea that fighting over there is protecting us over here. It's not.

Senator Allard, this isn't a win or lose situation. We've lost already. We've lost billions of dollars funding a war that was based on lies. We've lost thousands of lives (3335 to date) of our men and women who have bravely served. Thousands more have lost limbs, self identity and will be mentally scarred forever by the war, but yet we still have no clear plan of when we will require the Iraqi government to take over their own protection. Why? Why don't we have a clear plan when not only was President Bush given a plan (by HIS advisors) and also had firm recommendations by the leaders of the Armed Forces that lead to our withdrawal of troops, bringing them home and securing OUR borders? What is the resistance to taking the advice of the professionals that have said we need a different direction? What is really at stake here? The lives of our troops, our economy, and our role in the world as a leader are what is at stake if we don't change the course and support our generals and the other leaders that have recommended a timely withdrawal. I urge you to rethink your support of leaving our troops in harms way. I urge you to think of how vital our military is to defending OUR borders and not just of this idealized version of the war on terror.

Catching up...

I’ve been avoiding posting anything about the Virginia Tech shooting/shooter. I’m not exactly sure why because I’ve had a lot of thoughts and have been keeping up with it. I suppose there is enough out there being said. My heart does go out to all the parents. I cannot fathom the heartache. So, that’s what I have to say about that.

On a more positive note I’ve been very busy doing stuff and not very busy writing about it. I’m not really sure how to talk about what I’ve been doing for a week and not make it sound like a list. I can tell you that I’ve had some great Indian food, seen a baseball game (for free) and welcomed my son back from camp. See, it’s listy.

Speaking of the game we were in our seats eating cotton candy (my weakness) and I happened to look over to the section next to us. The crowd was sparse (and that’s being generous) so I noticed a man I thought I recognized. I did a double take and I was certain that I knew this person, but it was one of those situations where you think, “How could HE be HERE?” I told Dan and he encouraged me to go talk to the guy. I did. Sure enough he was a friend of mine from Atlanta. He was a PhD student at Emory when I was working there. And there he was at a Rockies game in Denver! He got a job here after he finished his dissertation, and is living about 3 miles from us. The world is such a small funny place.

I'm hooked

Will Ferrell. Pearl. I love it!

Fire them...

Alright, so if THIS were to happen in corporate America at the executive level the executives would be under federal investigation and would more than likely be fired. I propose that the same thing happen here. Fire Bush, fire Cheney, and first and foremost FIRE ROVE! Write your representatives and demand action. Do it! Do it now!!

Quick Trip

This image and this blog post have nothing to do with one another.

The yard has come to a stand still. It’s been cold. It’s too early to plant. And quite frankly, we have been having fun instead of working.
Last weekend we went to Winter Park, CO for a little Spring snowboarding. Danimal’s parents rented a large condo so his sister flew in from Brooklyn, his brother’s family, and we all drove up Friday for a nice weekend getaway.
Per usual we rushed out of the house hoping we hadn’t forgotten anything and feeling very much under the gun. I don’t know why vacations or weekend getaways always seem to start like that. The point, after all, is to relax. Even so we were rushed. Even worse I was starving because I’d been so busy trying to get us out the door I’d not eaten lunch and it was 6:00. It was nothing a good candy bar wouldn’t take care of, but that would have to wait until we’d been on the road an hour.
We did eventually stop after we’d left the cold and fog of Denver behind. We all got snacks and felt much less hurried to get up to Winter Park. Dan, Deana and I all talked about grown up stuff, Bronte chilled and Geoffrey played his Gameboy. Then about ½ up Berthoud Pass we noticed how we were rising slowly above the clouds. When we got to the top we stopped at the old ski area parking lot to take photos. Dan got out of the car and Deana poked her phone out of the window. Then Dan saw a GIANT snowball. He started messing around with it so Deana got out to take photos of her crazy brother. It was getting dark and cold so that didn’t last as long as it might have. Once back in the car Deana realized her phone was missing. So, back out of the car we went to search in dusky and eventually dark conditions for her phone. No luck. Really. Just no luck so back down the other side of the pass and to the condo where dinner was waiting.
The evening was a good one full of catching up, telling stories of when the 3 kids were kids, and playing with Lilianna, Dan’s 9 month old niece. Eventually, we all decided it was time for bed. Dan and I were headed down the stairs when Dan gasped and turned to look at me with a startled look.
“Did you grab the luggage?” he asked.
“No, you said you were getting it.”
“I got the kids, but not ours!! OH NO!” Yep, that’s right. We’d left all of our clothes in our luggage in our bedroom in Denver. Woooops! Fortunately, we could buy underwear and we were near the size of other members of the better prepared part of the group. More fortunately we keep our boarding gear separate from our clothing.
The next morning we got up and were ready to go hit the slopes. It had snowed the day before so we were hopeful of somewhat decent conditions. Just before heading out we discovered that we weren’t the only forgetful ones. Dan’s brother had left his pass and ski pants at home. We worked it out and went up to the mountain.
I have to say that I’ve “gotten” it. I’m not great and regular blues still intimidate me a bit, but I can carve like nobody’s business down a blue-green slope. It was so sunny and beautiful I was just loving it. We got in about 5 runs and then took lunch. After lunch we took a different lift and went down a blue. Yeah, I should have worn my knee pads because I took a hard fall and bruised my knees up pretty badly. I made it back down the hill, but that was it for me.
Easter Sunday we woke up to 6 new inches of snow. I can’t say powder because it was so heavy and wet it was more like snow soup. I chose to stay at the condo and relax in the hot tub. It was a good choice. I got to know Dan’s parents even better and I got to play with Lilianna and watch Bronte play with her as well. When the others came back soaked from their 3 or 4 runs we got packed up and headed home.
All in all the trip wasn’t so relaxing, but I did learn a few things. Getting ready for a little trip is just as hard as preparing for a week long trip. Dan’s parents are really nice people. I am actually going to get good at this stupid snowboarding sport so the pain I’ve endured might actually going to pay off.
It’s always nice to be home. The dogs, the cat and I were happy to see one another. Now if I could just catch up on all the house work I’ve been neglecting…

TOMORROW!! TIARA AND LEI DAY!!

Background
In the spring of 2005, Libra, the bartender at the Mars Bar in Seattle, wanted to do a luau night. What was created was “Tiara and Lei” day. At the time, Annetastic (Seattle) was very active on tribe.net and decided to share the event with her friends. The first “Tiara and Lei Day”, April 10, 2005, was celebrated in Seattle, San Francisco, Denver, and Memphis mostly by member of tribe.net in addition to the celebrants at the Mars. Celebrants dressed up in tiaras and leis. Fruity drinks were drunk and many photos documenting the various parties were taken.
April 10, 2006 saw the 2nd Annual celebration of Tiara and Lei day celebrated across the country. Again, celebrants donned their tiaras and leis and partied with their local friends, sharing the various events across the internet with friends afar.

How to Celebrate-

It's really as easy as it sounds. You make plans with friends and put on a tiara and a lei. You can wear them to work, out on the town, or just acting silly at home. The point is to put on a tiara and a lei, submit pictures with a brief description to:

Tiara and Lei Day Flickr Group
External Links:
Historical evidence of the founding
First Tiara and Lei Day as celebrated by Smoooochie
First Tiara and Lei Day as celebrated by Mynx d’Meanor
Second Annual as celebrated by Annetastic!
Tiara and Lei Day at the Mars- Year One

Second Annual as celebrated by Mynx d’Meanor
Second Annual as celebrated by Smoooochie and Danimal
Third Annual Announcements:
Annetastic!

Rememberance

I haven’t forgotten the day that I walked into Wax Trax and this loud music was screaming at me. I loved it! The record was “Bleach” and it had just come out that very day. I bought it then and there and have been a fan of Nirvana’s ever since.
I don’t know why we mark the day of someone’s death to remember them more than we do the date of their birth. Today marks the 13th anniversary of the day that Kurt Cobain chose to end his life. We didn’t find out until days later, but it was such a sad day. In some ways it’s hard to believe it was that long ago. Time again working it’s odd way of altering things. I think for many people of my generation Nirvana was a marker in our lives, and thus the day he died became a marker, too. He was the voice of our angst, of our youth, and of our figuring “it” all out. Maybe I’m projecting, but so be it.
I have wondered what he would have done if he lived. He may have become even bigger than he already was or maybe he would have just faded into a shadow. It doesn’t do much to speculate because he chose not to do either. So, we are left with his work and the effects of his legacy. Thanks, Kurt.

Time flies when you're having fun...or not.

It’s funny the way that time works. Each second is the same measure and all of these add into minutes that are all the same length and eventually you get enough of these little equal measurements and it adds up to a year. It’s all very measured. While this is all very logical it’s not really how time works. Time works this way. You look back and some things that were a very long time ago and they seem like they happened very recently. Then there are other things that happened very recently and they seem distant.

Time itself has definitely not been a good measure to use when talking about how long it’s been since we moved into our house. The process of moving seems ages ago. Perhaps I have distanced myself from the event because moving is not something I relish. I can say that I’m happily embedded into this neighborhood and house. I’m staying place and that makes me really happy. The idea that it was only a year ago that I lived elsewhere is absurd. It had to be much longer ago, but it’s not. I mean we have a completely different yard than when we moved in! That can’t happen in a year.

All of that being said how can I have possibly lived here for a whole year?! We still have boxes that have yet to be unpacked. Granted they are all in the basement and are mostly boxes of books that I still need to buy a bookshelf for, but they are still packed boxes. I have only JUST met some of my neighbors. I don’t even have curtains on one of the bathroom windows yet!! This is ridiculous. There is no way I could have lived here for a whole year.

Yet, we have. We have lived in our house for a year. A year ago we were still surrounded by boxes in every room and were still dealing with our old landlord. A year ago we had a deck, and a lot of not so good landscape. A year ago we had just gotten the dog from hell, and now we have Lily Lucifer, a much calmer version. A year ago I didn’t know any of my neighbors, much less really enjoy some them as much as I do. A year ago the only plan was to find the basics among the boxes, get our refridgerator to fit through the door, and not kill the newest dog. Now the plan is to fine tune all the details that will make this really and truly our home. Well, until we can afford to remodel....

Newt Gingrich for Office...NO!!!

Why speak a second language? According to Newt Gingrich it’s not necessary if you are a resident of the United States. In fact speaking a language as base as say Spanish is like “living in the ghetto.” First off I think he might have said “barrio” since he was talking about Spanish, but since he only speaks English it’s clear why he made that oversight. Anyway, those Spanish speakers (and their ghetto language) he was referring to are a varied bunch. I’m sure that the wealthy Floridians who hailed from Cuba and now are a key factor in the economy there are shocked that the language they use daily is so base. I’m also certain that the ancestors of the Spanish who settled and thrived from coast to coast will be happy to know that Newt Gingrich finds their mother tongue inferior. I’m certain too, that the thousands of Mexican laborers that built Atlanta, GA (his home state) up for the ’96 summer Olympics appreciate his candor in letting them know where their fellow Georgian stands. In addition to the referral of Spanish as “ghetto” talk Newt Gingrich also had this to say-

"Citizenship requires passing a test on American history in English. If that's true, then we do not have to create ballots in any language except English," he said.
Yeah, so go ahead and run for President, Mr. Gingrich. We’ll look at our U.S. history books and see where you had a secret affair while accusing President Clinton of doing the same and then use our citizenship (whether it be by birth or naturalization) to keep you out of office, you hypocritical racist bastard. By the way, for the record the word “No” is the same in Spanish as it is in English.

What I've been doing...

Three weeks ago my boyfriend (seen to the right) decided that it was time for our deck to go. The reasons were many. From the very large and very dead racooon we discovered a month or so after moving in (warm weather and the dead don't make for a good odor) to the skunk that decided to set up house last September to the fact that we could very easily peer into our neighbor's backyards and vice versa. The deck was an eyesore and a hazard. It was time for it to go. At 5 p.m. March 4th he began tearing the deck apart.

After a week of clearing out the debris (the old owners of the house threw a significant amount of brick, concrete and beer cans under the deck during it's construction) this is what it looked like:

We were facing a lot of work and planning on being done sometime in mid-May so that we could have a nice June party on our new patio. Well, my boyfriend Dan (see above) is obsessed. He's been working night and day and having me help out some, having friends and family over to help, and basically being a slave driver. Even so, his hard work and obsessing have paid off. We still have to finish up with the edges along the border, some along the side of the house, and then planting the beds, but it's amazing what's been done in just two short weeks.

I didn't know it was possible!

I really didn't know it was possible for me to be even more disgusted by the state of affairs in Washington, but I am. And here's why.

Alberto Gonzales is a big friggin' LIAR!! There is now more proof and soon to be sworn testimony that he knew the whole time and that his fishy statements of last week were exactly that. Fishy. I'm not calling names here. I'm stating a fact. He told an untruth a.k.a. a lie.

This administration has got to go! When the President is afraid for his "closest advisors" to give sworn testimony and the attorney general is proven to be a liar IT IS TIME FOR THE ADMINSTRATION TO GO!!!

This is not a political theory experiment in a vacuum. These people are making devestating blows to the foundations that our form of government is built on and THEY MUST GO! Write your Congressmen, your Senators and be LOUD about it! Do it now!

A. Gonzales has to go

Thanks to Mickey for posting this link. Mr. Robinson has made a very clear statement about the whole situation. Talk about hitting the nail on the head! Mr. Gonzales is a product of an out of touch, greedy and dangerous political theory, and along with Cheney, Rove, Bush and all the other Bushistas he must go!

happiness

Happiness. It’s a word that encompasses something different for each person and in varying degrees. I’m not setting out here to discuss deep or profound happiness, but rather something that can give perspective on the things that make us unhappy or something that makes us smile or feel good. Oddly enough I’m not talking about sex here although the last sentence might give that perception.

For me this happiness is skateboarding. I’m on the couch with my boyfriend and we just popped in a skateboard video. And as I was sitting here mesmerized by these pros skating happiness came over me. No, I can’t skate like the pros, but I don’t have to. I see them just doing a push and kick and I know how it feels to be on that board. I know the feel of the board, the way the wheels feel as they roll along the pavement, and the way my feet feel on the board. I know that is what happiness feels like.

When I see guys skateboarding it makes me want to get out to the skate park immediately. I want to try to bump up what I can do and try some new stuff. I’m not that good, but it makes me want to be that good. When, and this is unfortunately very rare, I see women skateboarding it makes me proud and makes me KNOW that I can get better. While I’ll never be a pro that’s hardly the point in me being on a board. Skateboarders get on a board over and over because it’s our happiness. When that stops for me then I’ll know it’s time to quit. Until then this is my happiness.

quickly

What he said. Read it.

Hearts and years...

I'm in bed at 9:28 p.m. I feel like a child who has been sent to bed with the threat that Santa won't show up if I don't get right to sleep. I can hear my boyfriend downstairs shuffling paper and moving things about, but I know I can't go downstairs until tomorrow morning to find out what all the commotion is about.

Tomorrow is not Valentine's Day for me. Tomorrow is my 38th birthday.

Tonight I sit in bed with the laptop and wonder what surprises await me in the morning. I have time to think about what being 38 is supposed to mean, what goals I might want to associate with my year of being 38, etc. I am excited to see what prezzies I'm getting, but I am pretty excited with the kind words and funny things my friends will say to me. I already got this one.

So, what does 38 mean. It means there are still tricks to learn, friends to discover and enjoy, and smiles to be given. It means that I will get another day (hopefully) of giving to other people because it makes me happy. It means that I've been lucky enough to make it this far. It means that I get more chances to learn, forgive, laugh, love and partake. It means that my children are getting older and will soon be taller than I am and figure out that I don't know a lot of things. It means I get fruit tart for breakfast!! Being thirty-eight is just like any other age I've taken on- fierce and amazing.

still around

Yes, I am still around. It's been a huge adjustment to move from full to part time. That sounds really strange. I think that I have been doing more with the kids though. It's really awesome. I've been taking gobs of photos, but they aren't posted here. Hmmmm...maybe I should do more blogging.

Happy Birthday is in order

I have 100's of photos of myself, and Mynx probably has more than that of herself. Unfortunately, I can't find even one of us together. We need to remedy that soon! In the meantime, this is the best I could do to wish my dear friend a lovely birthday.

Couch sitting

I wrote this a couple days ago. I’m still sick, but I’ve been off the couch doing things. Like interviewing! The interview yesterday went very well and I have a second interview with them next week. I’m keeping hope alive on this one. It would be great.

I’m stuck on the couch today. I’ve been battling a cold for 3 weeks now and I’m finally giving in and taking a day to rest. Well, not do as much as I’ve been doing. Here’s a rundown of the holidays, the vacation, and the job search.

The Holidays-

I’ve often felt that a lot of the holiday spirit died with my grandmother. The careful and creative wrapping of gifts, the excitement of decorating the tree, and just the general joy were altered in some indescribable way that horrible November day. I have tried hard to make my children holiday’s happy ones full of all the dreams, lights and wishes that it should be and with that effort it has changed into something different, but special. My holiday season will always have a certain element of missing my grandmother, but I think building memories and traditions with my children is the focus that has changed it into something special again.

The Vacation-

Five days away from home doesn’t sound like very much time, and really I suppose that it’s not that long. It’s the same number of days in a basic work week. So, how can that time be effectively used to create a fully relaxing vacation? I suppose with unlimited funds that would be an easy task, however unlimited funds were available the question would be if one even needed a vacation. Well, despite the Danimal and I not having unlimited funds (remember I quit my job) we took a five day vacation that was actually long enough. We took two days to travel casually to and from our destination. During the first of the travel days we stopped at the Great Sand Dunes and took some fun photos. We also got more information so we can have a weekend camping trip there in the future. Our destination was Pagosa Springs/Wolf Creek ski area and we made it about 2 hours later than we’d planned, but the springs were hot and ready when we got there. They were a lovely après ski each of the 3 snowboard days, too!
What can I say about snowboarding? With crash pads and knee pads it’s a lot less hurty than without. Also, with a lot of powder the falls are a lot easier. :D We snowboarded for 3 days. The first was groomed conditions, the second full on fresh and falling powder, and the third a lovely mix of the two. Each day ended with food I didn’t have to cook or clean up after and then the hot springs. Our drive home was quite simply evil. The snow we had enjoyed on the slopes had turned the roads into a completely icy and windy way home. Seven hours after we left we were home. So, that’s how we had a 5 day vacation that relaxed us. (Notice how I left out the cursing, crying and whining the first morning back on the board?)

The Job Search-

What can I say? I’ve looked at a lot of job boards, read a lot of job descriptions and applied to a number of positions. I have an interview tomorrow so we’ll see how that goes. I’m taking my time in finding just the right fit. I am not taking the first thing that comes along unless it’s a good fit and fulfills more than just the need of a paycheck.

2007

MERRY NEW YEAR!!!! wOOt!!!!

impending death

Somehow THIS seems a lot more relevant than THIS to me. The constant deaths of innocent people is a lot more important than this one man who has ruined so many other lives. When will it end? That's all.



The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home.
– James Madison

Dear Snow,

Dear Snow,

Thank you so much for your recent appearance at our home. We really enjoyed your visit. However, we really were not expecting you back so soon. And while we enjoy short visits this is entirely too much. I'm afraid I am going to have to ask you to leave for a bit. You can come back for a day or two at a time, but you are starting to effect our ability to work, play and live life normally. I can now snowboard in my front yard, but I would much rather be skateboarding. Thanks for your understanding.

Best regards,

Smoooochie

You can see photos of it all HERE. I'm sure there will be more after this current blizzard is done.

What Abby Said...

READ AND LISTEN!!

If anyone is in the area I highly suggest checking out this band. They are really quite enjoyable and yet another reason for me to take a trip to the SouthEast.

My Elfster!!

I just got this awesome CD from my sweet friend Mynxie. She got my name this year. She is the bestest EVAR!! Thanks, Mynxie.

I'm a quitter

I quit my job. My last day of work was today.

BUH BYE NASTY MANAGEMENT!!! SO LONG AND FAREWELL!!!

WooT! I'm taking off the next 3 weeks to chill and figure out what's next.

2006- a summary

A shout out for Mynxy for reminding me about this meme. This is a good one to do each year, compare to the last, and plan for the next. So, here is my list.

What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before? I learned to carve both front and backsides in a bowl. Visited Seattle. Deskunked my dogs. Snowboarded. Cooked a Tandoori Turkey.

Did you keep your new years’ resolutions and will you make more for next year? Yes. I did. Yes. I will.

Did anyone close to you give birth? A LOT of people did. What was in the water? I think the count is up around 10 at this point with still one on the way.

Did anyone close to you die? Thankfully, no.

What countries did you visit? I only traveled domestically.

What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? A really decent ollie. A maid.

What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? January 19th, 2006. We drove through a blizzard to Casa Bonita to celebrate Bronte’s birthday. April 1st we moved into our beautiful house.

What was your biggest achievement of the year? I paid off both my credit cards and my car. That’s pretty big.

What was your biggest failure? I bought Dan a kilt that he looks super sexy in, but he doesn’t like it because it’s still stiff.

Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing major. I nearly broke my tail bone snowboarding and then got pretty banged up skateboarding. It was worth it.

What was the best thing you bought? My skateboard. Definitely my skateboard.

Whose behavior merited celebration? The American people for kicking the Thugs out of office. IMPEACH BUSH NOW!!

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? The Bushistas

Where did most of your money go? My children. I suspect it will remain that way for years to come.

What did you get really, really, really excited about? Paying off my debt! WoooooT!!!

What song will always remind you of 2006? Transformer by Gnarls Barkley

Compared to this time last year, are you:
happier or sadder? Happier
thinner or fatter? Fatter
Richer or poorer? Richer

What do you wish you’d done more of? I’m a broken record. I would have skateboarded more. I can’t skateboard enough. I need MORE!!!

What do you wish you’d done less of? Putting up with morons, both personally and professionally.

How will you be spending Christmas? With my boyfriend- he’s my sexy Santa. WooT!

Did you fall in love in 2006? Nope. I stayed in love!

What was your favorite TV program? The Deadliest Catch, Top Chef, Project Runway

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Yes. I do.

What was the best book you read? Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Offce

What was your greatest musical discovery of 2006? Lupe Fiasco

What did you want and get? My house! I love it!

What did you want and not get? A different job.

What was your favorite film of this year? Little Miss Sunshine!!

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? My Hootie took me to my favorite restaurant.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? A job where I am appreciated. That’s the one thing missing in my life right now. Well, and a maid.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? Nice jewelry is key.

What kept you sane? The Danimal and skateboarding. No joke.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Keith Olbermann. GO KEITH!!!

What political issue stirred you the most? The B.S. in Washington.

Who did you miss? My grandmother. I always do. I always will.

Who was the best new person you met? I finally met Annetastic in person.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006: Listen to people when they tell you who they are and believe them.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
“And so they kick, push, kick, push, kick, push, kick push, coastAnd away they rolledJust rebels without a cause with no place to goAnd so they kick, push, kick, push, kick, push, kick push, coastSo come roll with meJust a rebelLooking for a place to beSo let's kick...and push...and coast”

Recently Said in My House

"Dan! Stop skateboarding in the house!"

"Geoffrey, Stop skateboarding in the house!"

"Bronte! Stop rolling through the house on your Heely's."

"Don't tell that I was just skateboarding in the kitchen."

Proclamation of Thanks!

I’ve been trying all day to decide if I would post about the various things that I’m thankful for. It seemed a little cheesy to talk about all that I’m thankful for, but even though I am thankful everyday for these things I don’t really share it with the general public. So, rather than just saying these are things that I’m thankful for in my life I’m proclaiming my thankfulness to the world.

WORLD, LISTEN UP! I AM MOST THANKFUL FOR THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE AND THINGS-

1. My sweet children. They are the light of every day and the motivation behind most of my determination.
2. My most amazing boyfriend, Dan. He’s without a doubt the most perfect person for me to spend my life with. He is my echo and partner in all things. Quite simply, I love him.
3. My dogs. They (like my children and boyfriend) keep life very interesting. And unlike my boyfriend and children give the best puppy love evar!
4. My dear friends, both near and far. I never would have made it this far without them. I hope I tell them all enough that they know who they are and how much I love them.
5. My beautiful 1886 Victorian house.
6. My debt free life. O.K. nearly debt free. I still have that darned student loan, but the auto and the CC debt from the ex are GONE!!!
7. My skateboard. It gives me hours and hours of joy. It’s my zen.
8. My mother and my father. In their own crazy ways they love me and let me know that I matter. It’s important to know that you matter.
9. A Congress that has a Democrat majority. While the Democratic Reps and Senators might be just as big of assholes as the ones they replaced at least King George and the Bushies don’t get a free pass anymore. Now if we could just get that fucker impeached I’ll have that to add for 2007.
10. Dan’s family.

The Word

One of my favorite blogs has something to say. READ IT.

Cape Town would be a lovely place to get married, actually

South Africa has given gays the right to be married. In most American states domestic partners, regardless of the length of time together, can't even get insurance benefits on one other the others plan. Good job America. Way to lead us into the future! :P

My NeeNee

It’s the ninth anniversary of my grandmother’s death tomorrow. This occurred to me regularly over the course of the last few weeks, but today is the day I realized it. There is a difference between having the knowledge of something and actually realizing it. Today I realized it. It hit me full force and I’ve been fighting tears off and on all day.
I don’t know what to say really. What is there to say about someone you loved as dearly as I loved her? There is no words that are adequate. She was my mother, my best friend, and my echo. I will miss her always.

Answer for Kirrrrt

Geoffrey and Bronte in their helmets


Kirrrt was asking me about skateboards for his boys in a comment down below. I started typing out an answer, but it got long enough I felt like it deserved an entry of it’s own. His question was:

“I have a question about skateboards. The ones I bought my boys have crappy little white wheels that barely roll. Do I need to upgrade the boards (better than the Wal-mart el-cheapo model) or can I upgrade the wheels?What should I be looking for in skate wheels for a 6 and 7 year old?”

As a mother who skateboards I have a little experience with this. The answer actually involves a few questions, but really it’s important to buy the best board for your child, yourself, or anyone that is going to really ride. After all, it’s your money AND it’s your loved one.

1. Have your boys worn out their skateboards? This is a pretty easy question to answer. Are they chipped up on the nose and tail? When you spin the wheels do they stop spinning or not spin at all? If the answer is no and the boards aren’t being ridden you aren't going to want to get anything other than a Wal-Mart board. Why pay money for something that is going to sit in the garage most of the time? If they are using them and having a lot of fun riding then invest in a good solid board. You can get a good blank deck at most skate shops for about $25-30. You can get away with fairly generic trucks, but make sure that the bushings are swapped out for something soft. Bushings are CHEAP (maybe $3) so it’s worth it. Also, make sure that you have some decent bearings. They don’t have to be the top of the line, but bearings are what make the wheels roll smoothly so they are important. Now, on to wheels.

2. With regard to the wheels the most important question is what surface do they skateboard on? You are going to need to get wheels that match the surface because if you get a soft wheel on the street you will need new wheels every two weeks. If they are in a skate park (Atlanta is about to get a new Woodward park!!) and the surface is "wood" then you are going to want to get a wheel that works for that surface. Here we need soft sticky wheels for the park because it's like ice. So, when you are at the skate shop ask them what they recommend for the surface that your boys are skating.

3. How much do you want to spend? You can get blank decks at your local shop or even on eBay for pretty cheap. Then build it up. The good thing about a skateboard is you can swap everything on it out if you wear it out or it doesn’t fit your need anymore. If your kids really like skateboarding invest a little bit upfront and then you can upgrade as they get better.

4. What are you riding? I’m not joking. Get yourself a board (longboards are really fun and super easy to learn) and go out with them. Skateboarding is a very bonding sport. I feel like I am a lot closer with my kids since we started boarding together. Trust me on this one.

Lastly, and MOST IMPORTANT start this rule right now while they are young.

NO HELMET, NO PADS, NO SKATEBOARDING!!

EVERYONE falls and at some point everyone hits their head and it can be very serious if a helmet doesn’t take the majority of the blow. Whether they are on a $15 skateboard from Wal-Mart or a $175+ custom board do not let them ride until they have on their gear. My eleven year old knows the rules and he’s take a number of falls where when he got up said, “I’m really glad I had on my pads/helmet.”

Well, what do you know?

All I can say is "It figures." This doesn't surprise me. It just gives further proof that the agenda was there well before the war. WELL before the war. It also confirms that for the entire Bush administration the neocon 'theories' have overshadowed reason, logic and most importantly FACT. Great. That's just great.

WHOA!

Ted Haggard. Alright, let’s examine his statement here briefly. He was merely contacting Mr. Mike Jones for a massage and for meth that he threw away. According to the reports that I’ve read this is what he’s admitted. He admits that he purchased illegal drugs from a male prostitute that he contacted after getting the prostitutes number from a website that advertises gay prostitution. First of, WHOA!! Is this covered in Sunday School under the section about repenting for your sins? Never the less let’s get back to the facts.
This man is a minister of a 14,000 (that’s THOUSANDS) person church and somehow the general populace is supposed to believe that not ONE of them is a massage therapist? Or knew of a massage therapist he could go to if he was legitimately interested in a massage? And by my recollection of growing up in Colorado Springs there are MANY licensed massage spas in the city. In fact it’s home to one of the best in the country (and it's AMAZING!!) So, rather than spending some of what I imagine to be a pretty hefty salary at a spa near his home he drove for over an hour to meet with a male prostitute he found on the internet for a massage? I don’t know about anyone else, but I call bullshit on that defense.
Secondly, crank is not pot. It's not something you just purchase on a whim. You don’t go from being a Christian fundamentalist role model who has never done drugs EVER to purchasing methamphetamines with no intent to use them. Why would you? Why would someone who is “model Christian” even think it would be alright to purchase an illegal substance from a prostitute secretly? What part of that is even remotely something a good citizen would do much less a holier than thou evangelical leader? Again, after weighing the basics against common sense I’m going to have to call bullshit on the defense.
Shadenfreude indeed, my friends. Shadenfreude indeed.

O.K. This wsn't really taken on 1/7/04. It was taken last night. I have BANGS!! Yay!  

Day of the Very Much Alive

Today was a cultural day for us. While Danimal slept off the muscle relaxer (his back is fortunately not fractured, but is badly bruised) the children and I went to the library. Geoffrey is starting to do research for a collage that is based on his heritage. We got a number of books about Native Americans, African Americans, and Mexicans. Bronte got a Shel Silverstein book, an Anansi tale and a couple books about dragons. Then we came home, picked up Dan and headed to Boulder.
When we got to Boulder we headed for the Fiske Planetarium. They were having a couple of cool programs today. Both were Mexicano origin. The first one was a program that combined traditional Azteca dancers and music with the creation stories that the Aztec had. They told about the 4 suns that came before the one we have now. Since it was at the planetarium they could project the various images up on the ceiling and have all sort of stars and things going on while the narrator was telling the stories. Then the dancers, who are a local troupe, would come out and do a dance or songs that were relevant to the story.
When they were done we went for dinner at Illegal Pete’s, watched some freaky street performers on Pearl Street, looked for a LaCross padded shirt for Dan. We went over to the new 29th Street Shopping area in Boulder just to check it out. While walking back to the car we ran into Dan’s parents. We chatted for a bit with them and then went back to campus.
The second program was a celebration of La Dia De La Muerte. The musicology department at CU brought in some ethnomusicologists from UNAM and they played their traditional instruments (many that they made) and sang traditional Mexican songs that were relevant to the Day of the Dead. A professor at CU was reading poems first in English and then in Spanish that were all about the day of the dead and then they would play. They were all wearing traditional skeleton masks so it was spooooky. They had people dancing, too. One of them made Dan dance with her, so he danced with the dead tonight. haha! The program was really beautiful and it made me really proud of my Mexican heritage. Click on the link above and check out the "traditions" tab. It’s pretty interesting how the one main tradition has so many different sub-traditions throughout Mexico.
I think we all had a really good time. The kids seemed to really enjoy it and it was really good research for Geoffrey's "Heritage Collage."

Weekend Surprises

On Saturday night we were fortunate enough to be given some really awesome hockey tickets to see the Colorado Avalanche. To make it an event the Danimal and I decided to surprise the children by not telling them that we were going. About 30 mins before we left I told them to go change into warm clothing because we had a surprise for them. Of course there were a lot of questions, but I gave no answers. Secretly a cab was called and the children were given further directions, “Go stand outside and keep an eye out.” “What are we looking for, Mom?” “You’ll know when you see it.” Up came the cab and off we went.
Rather than just going to the game we went to dinner (on the boss) at Brooklyn’s which is right next to the Pepsi Center here in Denver. We ordered drinks, apps, and then a full entrée for each of us. Despite our best efforts to kill some time (as we got there earlier than expected) we were still ahead of time. I ordered coffee and then went to the ladies room. When I came back to the table a Styrofoam cup of coffee was at my place setting. I’m not going to waste time being apologetic about this but that’s just fucked up. We spent $92 on dinner and I got a freakin’ Styrofoam cup?!? I asked the waiter about it in a joking manner and his rebuff was, “You get what you get. We only have about 20 cups here.” Are you kidding me? So, that will be the last time we’ll go there. Whatever. It didn’t ruin the night.
We went out of the restaurant and Bronte wanted to know where the cab went. We pointed to the arena across the street. She wasn’t excited. Her mood and expression changed though after we got settled and the action on the ice started. All in all the kids had a blast and so did the adults. I can’t wait until we can go again. Next time I’m holding out for a real coffee cup though. Haha!

By the way, a note to Brooklyn’s. The next night we went out to dinner at Duo, spent $22 less on dinner and I got an actual china cup. So FACE!!!

what to say

With the upcoming state elections I'm not really sure who I'm voting for yet. But I can assure you there isn't a chance in hell that I'm voting for THIS GUY. What in the hell? Eliminate the last semester of high school for "men?" Is he fucking kidding? Yeah, my vote is NOT going to Rick O'Donnell. I want my son to go through all of high school. Every day of school he can get before college to help prepare him for life. I want him to have every day possible to prepare him to think for himself so like fucknuggets like Bush and his sycophants like Rick O' here don't make it into office ever again is key. Yeah, so I know who I'm not voting for.

My Daughter is a Poet

Here is a poem my daughter wrote. She's a budding poet at the age of 8. Can you tell I'm proud?

The Princess Mirror
by Bronte W.

When the
Princess looks
In her magical mirror
A forest jumps out
Animals jump out
A party jumps out.
The Princess looks
In her magical mirror
She runs in the forest
She plays
with the animals
She has a party
In her palace
Magical Mirror
Magical Mirror

Dan will kill me for posting this.

I posted this on a private site, but I keep coming back to it giggling. It's just to funny to me to keep private though.

Today after test driving a very cool old car the Danimal and I were driving back home. He was fidgetting and then says, "My front leg hurts."

WTF? His front leg? I started giggling.

"I MEAN my left leg!! My LEFT leg!! It's in front when I skateboard." haha!! I had a completely different image in mind. Even so, just shows how much we skateboard. We don't do left and right any more. It's a front leg and a back leg. I guess if he says "middle leg" I'll know what he's talking about.

*snicker*

Only one word works in some situations...

There are moments in life where all you can do is say, “fuck” because quite frankly they are the kinds of moments that your brain can’t really wrap around easily. They are moments where you just are stunned and not sure what to do so that seems like a really good starting point. Last night around 9:30 was such a moment at my house.
Max and Lily, the boxers who we live with, tore threw the house and out the dog door. Max was first and then seconds behind went Lily. Moments after they went out the most ferocious snarling and growling began. It was nothing like I’d ever heard from one of my dogs. Dan went to the door and looked out. He quickly slammed the door shut and turned. “Fuck! Fuck! They have a skunk!” He grabbed the block to the doggie door effectively locking them out and within seconds it was evident that the skunk had sprayed.
“What do we do?” was repeated many times. They were locked out with an either very injured skunk or a dead skunk and we were going to have to figure out a solution to not only getting rid of the wild beast, but cleaning up our now very smelly “attack” dogs. After determining it was, in fact, dead Dan removed the carcass from the yard placing it in a trash bag. I looked up the solution to the smell and called the vet. Both agreed that 3% hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and dish detergent mixed into a solution are the only thing that really works on dogs or people. Dan headed to the store.
I think we finally got to bed around 12:30. The smell in the house was still overwhelming. The dogs still were not completely scent free after 2 washings. The deck was bleached but still pretty smelly.
I’m still sort of thinking “fuck” but that’s life. It’s funny and gross and overwhelming and you just never know what it’s going to bring along.

I *heart* Danimal.

Just in case anyone was wondering...

I love my boyfriend. He's awesome and he takes good care of me. He bought me some of these so I can not get bruised any more while trying to pursue my goal of dropping in before I'm 38.

Yeah, I really love my boyfriend.

Open letter to Mr. Bush

Dear Mr. Bush,

You’ve said that American shouldn’t trust the Democrats to run Congress. That being said I have a few questions for you. Should we trust the wire taps you are using arbitrarily to spy on innocent Americans? Should we trust the prison guards that are presently torturing people who are supposed to be protected under the Geneva Conventions we signed? Should we trust C. Rice~ a woman who doesn’t seem to be able to read clear titled correspondence or listen to people directly telling her that we are about to be attacked? How about us trusting Senators like Mr. Foley? Should we trust Rumsfeld? I hear other people in your own administration and even your wife don't trust him. Or maybe we should just trust you, Mr. Bush. After all, you only lied to us about WMD and about your motives to go into Iraq. Isn’t trusting you and your cabinet what Valerie Plame did? Yeah, so on that note I think I’ll pass on listening to you, Mr. Bush, for advice on who I should trust or not. I did not vote for you or your cronies and will continue to everything in my voting power to get your kind out of office.

Signed,
V.W.
~”dissent is the truest form of patriotism”- Thomas Jefferson

I love this man. He's my hootie.  

Some of the Rules I Live By

Live your life as if everything you do is going to be on the front headlines of the newspaper. If you wouldn’t want it there then don’t do it. If you aren't ashamed of it then who cares who sees what is going on in your life?

Always let the people you love know it. Never let someone you love wonder how you feel. Life is too short and those people are too important.

Fuck the bastards. If someone can’t be supportive of me through good AND bad times then they are not a friend. They might be a useful acquaintance, but that’s it.

Know all the rules so you know how to break them when you don’t agree.

Don’t live by other people’s standards and don’t compromise my own.

I am the queen of my universe and the at the center of my stage.

In Remembrance- Sept. 1, 1933-Sept. 13, 2006 

This just in....

Radio Shack has officially won the "Shittiest Move In Corporate America" of the Day Award. Or maybe it's the "We have electronics but no balls award." I don't know. What I do know is that I've lost even the most remote (heh..that's punny) interest I ever had at shopping with them. I never have really shopped at Radio Shack. I think I went in a about a year and half ago because I needed to replace a radio antenna. I just don't foresee myself going in again after this. How is it that they couldn't take a few minutes to lay these people off in person? What a loser move. Good going, Radio Shack. Maybe that's why you are still a shack and not even a shed or a garage yet.

So, how DID we get to this point?

Alright. It's really hard to keep track of all the dealings in Washington that have summed into a body count of 2639 U.S. soldiers, but here is a really great summary of part of it. A really important part of it. The part that outlines some pretty big, fat lies that the Bushistas don't want you to remember. READ IT!!

And since I'm feeling a little pushy just go ahead and bookmark that blog. It's a keeper.

Telepopmusik makes me smile

It's not new, but...

I brought you something close to me,
Left for something you see though your here.
You haunt my dreams
Theres nothing to do but believe,
Just believe.
Just breathe

Blame this rant on Rummy

I read this just a bit ago and here is what I came up with.


Here's my take on all these old coots in Washington. They don't have anything to lose at this point because they are fucking old and falling apart (Cheney is seriously going any minute and Rummy already looks like a skeleton) so they use their power to test their cockamame theories. If the false theories by some crazy miracle work then they end up having a grand legacy. If they fail then they don't give a shit because they'll be dead in a few years before the poo hits the fan anyway. Ultimately, they aren't basing anything they do on knowledge or fact or experience, but rather theory and belief. They want it to be true that their god/power/psychosis has made them right they move ahead on false pretense. And there’s an old saying in Georgia, I know it’s said in Georgia, that “you can want in one hand and shit in the other and see which fills up faster.” Perhaps that is a good saying for them to move to Texas. Either way, that is where we are, our “leaders” with their hands full of shit and still insisting that they are right. Our country was built on a solid foundation that's been eaten away by greedy fuckers who want to prove that their beliefs and theories are the right ones. *sigh*

Alright. That's all I have to say for now.

Annetastic loves Devo! 

Thai Fried Rice

I'm not really sure what it is about the words "Thai Fried Rice" but they make my sweet Max into a very vocal bucking boxer. He responds by saying his very boxery "woooooohhhwooohwooh" and then hops around like he's on the PBR. Gooo Max! THAI FRIED RICE!!

sitting in the dark

Ain’t technology grand. We had a big thunderstorm a little bit ago and lost all power. Yet, here I am writing a blog. It’s kind of fun to be in my 1886 house using only candles to see by. I suspect this is how it felt back when the first owners of the house lived in it. Although, I suspect they had a few more light sources that didn’t require electricity in the house than what we have. I need to go buy more candles.

On another note, my legs are sore. Geoffrey and I got up and were at the skatepark by 7:15 and didn’t leave until sometime after 11. All the practice I’m getting in is really helping though. I actually am getting the idea of how to do turns in the bowls. Fun times.

Smile Maker!

I have a little challenge for all of you that read this. Here is the challenge and from where it stems.

Today I went for a little walk. When I was done I stopped in at Whole Foods to get some raspberries. The man behind me in line placed a chocolate bar down and only a chocolate bar. So, when it was my turn to check out I paid for his chocolate bar. I told him that everyone deserved a little free chocolate now and then and I hoped he had a fantastic day. I love to do this now and then because it makes my day to make someone elses.

So, the challenge- In the next couple of days treat a total stranger and report their reaction here. You can either be discrete about having paid for it or tell them that you’ve paid for it but either way do it. It doesn’t have to be expense (the chocolate was less than a dollar.) It’s really a lot of fun to treat someone that might take the inspiration and pass it along.

A poem for the "President."

Percy Shelley wrote this along time ago, but I think it's appropriate today. I would like to dedicate it to Mr. Bush.

OZYMANDIAS of EGYPT

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said:—Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert.
Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shatter'd visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamp'd on these lifeless things,
The hand that mock'd them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains: round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

I feel too icky to blog...

I was trying to work on a blog post about the fantastic time I had at the Bloc Party show on Monday, but the week’s chaos had gotten to me and I haven’t been able to really find good words for it. It’s been hard. A very hard week. I don’t want to whine about how hard it’s been so I haven’t posted anything. Here’s a quick synopsis of my immediate thoughts.

My ex-husband is a selfish bastard that doesn’t really consider his children in his life plans. Therefore instead of having a nice visit at Christmas they will get 4 days with him. I wish he would have some sort of epiphany of some sort, but I'd probably win the lottery before that would happen.
It sucks to feel distanced from a friend. It really just sucks.
It’s awesome when you can reconnect with an old friend. I got to do that this week and I am happy she wrote me back.
I love my dog and hope he lives a very long time. It will devastate me when he goes.
Work isn’t worth what I put into it emotionally. I need to disconnect the pride in my work with the bullshit I put up with. I work very hard and am not accepting excuses for not paying me for it.
Tea is good.
There is no way in hell I’m giving that jerk money for childcare when his girlfriend (who wants MY children to call her mom) is taking care of them. If you want to be called “Mom” you don’t get babysitting money.
I am very lucky to have the boyfriend I have. While I never would have thought initially that we would be so compatible I cannot imagine all the fun and happiness I would have missed out on without him.
I cannot wait to get my new skateboard together and go for a ride at the skate park. I haven’t had a short board in such a long time. I cannot WAIT!! I cannot WAIT!! I am going on the horseshoe!! WooT!
I don’t like being taken for granted.
I wish I didn’t feel like I’m about to throw up. Migraines suck.

100 Smoooochie facts

Go ahead. Count them. There are 100.

I took this idea from Mynxy.
I didn’t start out being allergic to cats. I had one until I was 6.
The smell of milk disgusts me.
The first time I ever had Chinese food was in Yucaipa, CA
My first skateboard was handmade. It was purple with a spider on it.
I love eating berries.
I believe in power underwear.
I like room temperature water.
I nearly died of asphyxiation when I was 14.
My last tattoo hurt worse than I expected by a LOT.
I’ve never cared for the Sex Pistols.
I enjoy how it feels to have my legs waxed.
Orange juice without pulp is as wrong as chocolate bagels.
As a rule I don’t like other people’s children. I love mine more than anything.
If I am home alone I prefer to sleep w/ a nightlight.
Trivial Pursuit is my favorite board game.
I hate to play cards.
I don’t get enough sleep.
I don’t let relationships go easily.
I’m not fond of wearing clothes.
I believe in God.
I’m a particular eater. I like good food done simply.
I dream of owning a spa.
I love to dance. Once I get started I don’t like to stop.
I love to give presents.
I’m very selfish.
I want what I want.
Everything about eggs is disgusting. Even the way the word sounds.
I don’t like making exceptions.
I love to kiss for hours.
I love the way YlangYlang smells.
I’m super sensitive to scent. It’s important to smell good.
I love to wear skirts.
I believe that patience is only a virtue to people who think they will live forever.
I try not to have regrets, but I still do.
Coca cola is good room temperature.
I once had the police called on me for spraying the neighbor’s dog w/ the hose.
I am hard on my tailbone.
I used to walk a LOT.
I had never taken care of a baby until I had one.
I don’t like going out on my birthday.
I think bald is sexy.
I think skinny is so NOT sexy.
I can fold a load of towels in less than 5 minutes.
I like my CD’s alphabetized and in date order.
I like my books kept the same way w/ fiction and non-fiction separately filed.
I believe in road maps to achieving my goals.
I want to try burlesque.
I would never take a job where I was required to wear pantyhose.
Cinnamon gum is my favorite flavor of gum.
I have a very low tolerance for blatant stupidity. If you don’t know something, make an attempt to find out. If you just don’t know and don’t care that you don’t know do not interfere with my space because I have no problem letting you know that you are an idiot.
I refuse to shop at Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club.
I don’t like to be cold. It hurts.
I look horrible in all pastels except for pink.
I love my skateboard and like my snowboard a lot.
I’m pretty good at algebra.
I love creating spreadsheets.
I like my feet to look good.
I love my friends fiercely.
I like tea a lot. Hot, cold, room temp it really doesn’t matter much.
I’m in love.
I like to play.
I really don’t like minivans.
I can be a snob about certain things.
When I was 6 I told my grandmother that I only wanted brown children. I got them.
Civil disobedience is sometimes a requirement.
I love bats. They are so cute and fascinating.
I think Gwen Stefani is a fun person even though I’ve never met her.
I know how to use power tools.
I love to have my photo taken.
Country music nauseates me.
I still buy into love songs.
When I was young I wanted to be a star. The kind in space. Not in Hollywood.
Cotton candy is the best food ever invented.
I can’t imagine owning any dog but a boxer. I do think Boston Terriers are cute, though.
I have two fake teeth because I was born without permanent ones.
I love a bargain, but only if it’s something I really will use.
I know a lot about finances, but don’t always use the knowledge well.
I’m allergic to eggplant.
I love political science and history. They are fun!
I lived in the same house until I was 24 years old.
I didn’t meet my father until I was 27 years old.
I have a lot of scars.
I realize that police officers are necessary, but I don’t like them very much.
I have no interest in visiting Hawaii really. There are too many other places that intrigue me.
I fight fires and clear up bullshit for a living. Very little glory in that.
Ham and cheese sandwiches are super tasty, but they make me sick to my stomach.
I have 7 e-mail accounts.
I do not want a Blackberry EVER.
I am obsessive about wearing sunscreen if I go outside.
I have little patience with a lot of talk and no action. Put your money where your mouth is and take action!
I don’t like jasmine tea. It tastes like A&D ointment.
I excel at written and analytical exams.
I am very worried about the Constitution.
Even though I really enjoy most vegetables I could never be a vegetarian.
I love to celebrate Halloween.
I don’t like gin because it tastes like juniper.
I saw the Osmonds when I was 6.
I bruise easily.
It took me 2 weeks to come up with 100 things.

Soul Food & Sunshine Enemas

The house is being warmed by the comforting scent of “soul” food. Not the Southern traditional food that I completely love, but rather vegetable latkes and some fried zucchini and yellow squash. Food that is good for my soul and healing for a wounded ego. I guess it’s my ego that it wounded. Perhaps a better description is my work ethic that has been wounded. So, anyway, I’m making comfort food because I got my 6 month review at work today.

The good news is that my boss recognizes that I go above and beyond for the job and said that I do a great job at all the various roles I have at work. I am a trusted employee that makes the work place a better place to be and that my coworkers like me. That made me feel like despite a few bumps along a very hard path in developing the payroll and H.R. department my hard work was not in vain. The position has basically grown from me being a glorified receptionist to HR manager. The bad news is that I haven’t really brown-nosed enough to get a raise. Even when I do get a raise it won’t be as significant as other people where I work because my job is more secure than theirs (because no one else in the company knows how to do my job) so they get paid “hazard” pay for being in a more precarious position. Mind you he wouldn’t have a second thought of firing anyone if he thought they weren’t performing including yours truly. I was foolish enough to think that if I busted my ass day in and out, holidays, weekend and even on vacation I would get a raise. I was foolish enough to think that if I excelled at my job it would be enough. Well, it wasn’t so pull out the sunshine enemas! I’m going to bullet proof myself and bide my time with a smile. Then watch the bastards fall.

The house smells even better than when I started writing this. I might even treat myself to a beer! Comfort food rocks.

GOLDEN!!!

I've said on my blog a number of times that I have a hard relationship with money. I'm doing great personally, but then there is that mothering part of me that is like "Shoot! How do I teach them all this stuff?" I have the SOLUTION. They even have summer camps specifically for girls!! Woohoo!! I'm stoked.

a quick little rant

Until every parent of a child in public school signs a petition requesting that both Congress and the President agree to put as much into public education as they do into other people's wars I am not selling another goddamned piece of wrapping paper, candle, frozen pizza, coupon book or any other piece of crap fundraiser swag the school might think will generate a little revenue. And when they ask me to I am going to say no and suggest the following. Have an open house at every damned school in the nation and ask for signatures to petition the meatheads in Washington to actually have the balls and foresight put the education of American children at the top of the list. Thank you, I'm done with my rant.

Parking Nazi Logic

We had been in our new house for a couple of weeks and for whatever reason I ended up leaving the house a little bit after 8 a.m. one Thursday morning. I had a ticket because it was street sweeping day and I didn’t realize it. So, I had the ticket and forgot. Four days before it was due I remembered, wrote the check, and mailed the $20 fine to the City of Denver. No worries. It was postmarked before the due date.

Three weeks later I get another fine. This time it’s a late fee! What? A twenty dollar late fee for something I postmarked 4 days before the due date and which should have only taken a maximum of 48 hours to get to the right office? I called the City and they said that they didn’t get the check into their system until the 26th. That was 2 full days AFTER the due date so my payment was late. The woman wasn’t budging. FINE! I paid the $20. My simple $20 parking ticket had now turned into a $40 fine.

I just opened a collection notice on the $40 I already paid and that they actually show being paid on the notice! Now, just how is it that they can charge me $20 on $40 I’ve already paid????? And what recourse do I have with the City government that has now charged me $60 for a ticket that was initially only $20? They show that I paid the money right on the collection notice. They are just charging me for collection. How are they having to do anything to collect money they already collected? I’m so angry and confused. Fucking parking Nazi logic.

Ramblings about history and the present

Childhood memories are often the remnants of stories told by parents and grandparents of their youth. In many ways it’s the stories that we hear as children of their past that root us in our family and our sense of belonging. I know that the stories that I heard of my grandparents and great-grandparent still are important and relevant in my own life. They give me a perspective of where the world has been that help me compare it to where the world is now.

When my grandparents were in their early twenties the World War II was about to take place. The world had seen atrocity before, but was naïve to what was about to come. I think somehow being told by someone who experienced it rooted me in the idea that it was real and that all the images that I saw in books and on film were real. It was a perspective that rooted me in history. I knew it from first hand accounts.

Today as I watch the way the Mideast seems to be crumbling into chaos at the hands of the power hungry it scares me. It scares me a lot, because I know the history and I know how a simple event can tumble the whole world and all the tensions into massive war. I know that it was real, and I know that people really died. I know that what is happening in Iraq and now in Lebanon are real and that people are really dying and it not only saddens me but scares me. I do not want those kinds of stories to tell my grandchildren. I don’t want them to have to be rooted to whatever tragedy we are about to experience, but what history never gave me the lesson on how one person can stop it.

Scentses....

I’ve been putting off writing a blog post, and I’m not sure why. I keep thinking that I need to figure out a topic, but really that will come if I start writing. It always does and then I end up erasing the nonsense that I’ve written before and have a nice little post. Acually, I’ve been working on one post, but it’s taking a long time so I just need something in the mean time.

The sense of smell. I’ve been thinking about this topic for awhile now and trying to figure out what I want to write about it. You know, for me it’s just about as important as my sight. It’s a big part of my memory and my connection to people and places. It’s a big piece of recollection for me. If I see something and there is no particular smell associated then I only have my sight and maybe some sort of sound to connect me. But if there is a smell, something specific, it makes the memory go from being very flat to making it pop and become real again. I can remember the way my grandfather would smell after he showered and first opened the bathroom door. The steam from the shower would collect the scent of his shaving cream and deodorant and push through the house. It puts me there and I can remember him so much more vividly. There are so many people I remember this way~ by the way they smell as much as by their face or the sound of their voices. I don’t know if it’s this way for everyone, but I’m glad it’s this way for me. I like that a scent can invoke a memory and make it real again. I have some really enjoyable memories that are just that much better because of it.

See, just starting to write always ends up in a decent blog. Weird, but nice.

saying one thing a lot

It's hot. Really hot. I was never this hot when I lived in GA because they believe in A/C. It's really freakin' hot. Ridiculously hot. It was One Hundred and THREE today. 103!!! That is hot. Really just dangerously fucking hot. It's just hot. Damn. It's hot. I hope I remember how damned hot I am right now when it's like 10 degrees this winter, because it's just hot. Damn. It's hot.

Question of the Day...

Comments are not only welcome on this, but required.

Is it wrong to hoola hoop naked with a borrowed hoola hoop? What about if it's your own hoola hoop? Have you ever hoola hooped in the buff?

haha!! This whole idea makes me giggle.

The good, the bad, and the ugly

The Good news- Our national deficit is “only” $296 billion dollars which is about ½ what it was a couple years ago.

The Bad news- We were supposed to have a surplus in the trillions by the projects made before Bush took office.

The Good news- Gitmo detainees are getting their Geneva convention rights as prisoners of war.

The Bad news- The fact that we ever denied them the rights at all in our “war for democracy.”

The Ugly- 847 more days of the Bush Regime.

thinking aloud

What is it about loving and emotions in general that don’t go away as easily as saying “I don’t feel this way anymore?” Life would be much easier if it worked that way, but emotions are such sticky illogical things. It’s not about controlling the actions that the emotions might evoke. We can avoid someone, but that doesn’t mean loving them has gone away. I think even when we’ve moved on for whatever reason the emotion is fully capable of being there. It’s emotion void of action. I don’t think it requires action, because if we did then when someone we love dies we wouldn’t feel love for them anymore. Anyone who has had someone they truly love dies knows that this isn’t the case at all.
Maybe I’m rambling about something we’ve all analyzed. If that is the case then why are we conditioned to feel hurt when someone we love still has feelings for someone else? If we had looked at emotions logically wouldn’t we rationally say, “It’s normal that they still feel something” rather than have our own feelings hurt? Or why are we so surprised when we have feelings of love, hate or whatever for someone we haven’t been around in ages? I am not sure that we do analyze it carefully. We are socialized to think that emotions go away if we ignore them. I need to think more about why. What is the purpose of this idea that emotions just go away? Do they just go away for some people?

I can’t stop thinking. That’s as absurd as saying for me to stop having emotions.

Time as a commodity

“Nobody sees a flower - really - it is so small it takes time - we haven't time - and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.” -Georgia O’Keefe

In our everyday rushing lives time has become such a valuable commodity. We rush to and from work spending more and more time there. Work takes up a lot of those irreplaceable minutes. So many of the things we do are rushed. Microwave food, drive thru meals, 30 minute workouts, etc. We are obsessed with time and we’ve completely forgotten how to invest it as a commodity into something as important and rewarding as friendship. I read the other day that people have fewer close friends than they did even 20 years ago. Why?

It does take time to be a friend. Attention to the details that take time that cannot be replaced by anything. There really is no replacement other than taking the time with a person to become a friend. Perhaps this is the difference between a friend and an acquaintance. One of them is willing to take the time and know and remember the details, and the other simply either hasn’t had the opportunity or doesn’t want to. Isn’t it worth it though? I cannot think of a better resource in my life than my friends when I need support or love or listening to. I love that I can make my friends feel better or be there for them when they need me. It’s all about time and spending the time to be a friend, listen, learn and really examine the smallness and detail. It takes time.

It's not all about work. It just can't be.

place holder

I have a couple of really good blog posts at home, but well, I’m not at home. So, in lieu of something profound and interesting I’m going to post something I find amusing. On my work e-mail I have been getting a lot of spam and for whatever reason the program we use doesn’t have a very good filter. In fact I suspect the filter they have in place doesn’t even work just like the hyperlink button, “insert picture” and numbered list functions don’t work. ANYWAY… I get some funny spam. Most recently these are the “people” I have gotten spam from-

Kneeling C. Indignantly
Sudanese H. Tuneless
Takeoff A. Dispaired
Wrongheadedly A. Hosed
Freshet M. Dadaism
Maxflies T. Depravity

Personally my favorite is Wrongheadedly Hosed. O.K. That’s all. Thanks for reading my placemarker.

Happy Independence Day 

Independence Day thoughts

The celebration of Independence Day brings to mind parades, houses decorated with flags of all sizes, fireworks and barbeques. It is a day to remember the Founding Fathers of our great country and of all the men that followed in the beliefs that they risked life and limb to define and secure. These were all men that believed in the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence and then later solidified in the Constitution of the United States. It’s easy to call them patriots.

The beauty of the country we live in is that the men and women that question the government when they believe it isn’t following the foundation set by the Founding Fathers is that we can also call them patriots. They are doing their duty as citizens to create an open society where debate is welcomed and even required. This Fourth of July I am reminded of one great patriot that did just this. Frederick Douglass is that man, and despite the issue he was speaking about being much different than the one we face today the words he spoke on that Independence Day so long ago still ring true.
“Go search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the Old World, travel through South America, search out every abuse and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say with me that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival.” ~Frederick Douglass - July 4, 1852
On this Independence Day I am ashamed of the barbarity the Bush Administration has propelled our country into with its paranoid ideology that is full of lies and deceit. We are the hypocrites of the world when we say we are trying to spread democracy into countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, and throughout Central America. Yet in our very own country our phones, internet and bank records are secretly being watched by the government, when anyone who dares challenge the “thinking” of the current administration are called unpatriotic or worse “traitor”, and when women and mothers who have lost loved ones in this war of lies are ridiculed for publicly mourning and speaking out against what changed their lives forever. Yes, we are hypocrites and barbarians in our comfort and apathy for not holding our government true to the foundation that the very basis if this country was founded upon.
I love the principles that my country was founded upon. I admire the men and women who have risked and sometimes given everything to defend it- even the hard to swallow patriots that dissent. Thank you, Mr. Douglass, all these years later.

my garden

My fingernails are dirty. I have been working in one small bed of our garden. There is a gratification in knowing that I am doing the work and have a plan for each little section that our yard will eventually be divided into. I get much more satisfaction from this kind of domesticity than I do with knowing that my floors are sparkling or that all the laundry is done. It’s just a little work and a whole lot of stress relief.

It's not the germs. It's the people with the germs.

Let me start by saying that I am not anywhere close to being a germaphobe, OCD, neat freak. I don’t freak out if my kids give me a sticky kiss after being out playing and sweating all day. I don’t have some major breakdown if I have to touch the toilet seat to lower it or if there aren’t ridiculously thin toilet seat covers at a public bathroom. And yes, I do follow the 5 second rule when it comes to important foods like candy, etc. There is a level of germs that I think is healthy and to be expected. So, this post isn’t about all of that really, but all of that was to sort of give an idea of my comfort with germs.
That being said what in the hell is wrong with you nasty fucks that don’t wash your hands after using the bathroom? YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. Turn on the water, get a little soap and WASH.

OKTHXBYE

Mountains out of mole hills...not really

The world is a wonderful place. Here are a few tiny reasons why-

- My children love me and still let me give hugs and kisses without being embarrassed.
- THIS VIDEO is amazing and is a voice from the past saying something so dead on and applicable today. (thanks Abby and Mickey for sharing)
- A good friend of mine came to me because she needed a little boost. I was able to help.
- My boyfriend loves me completely.
- A couple of big projects at work have come together successfully and are just about done.
- I have a number of people that I really look up to in my life and am glad that I can call them friends.
- I am starting to work on a plan for our landscaping and I think it’s going to be a really amazing garden when it’s all said and done.

Maybe those aren’t exactly tiny reasons after all.

I've said it before...

but I'm going to say it again, because I'll be damned if it's not worth repeating.


READ THIS BLOG

Relationships are hard

Relationships are hard. Even relationships with “things” that we use everyday. The relationship that I constantly am challenged by is my relationship with money. My attempt to gain a strong and good relationship with money is not only fueled by my desire to be comfortable, but also by my desire to create a good start for my children so they don’t have the struggle learning the basics and beyond.
My earliest memory regarding money is one of immediacy and lack of. I think I was around 5. I was very young. My grandmother had mentioned that I needed a new coat at some point so the next time we were at the store I saw one I loved. Being the girl that I am I felt that I really needed this coat. My grandmother said that we couldn’t buy the coat because we didn’t have enough money right then. I was heartbroken. I begged and pleaded. I cried, but alas we didn’t get the coat. She said that we could come back and get the coat later. We did come back. She knew how much I wanted THAT coat. We went back as soon as she had money for it. The coat was gone. Since that day I remember thinking of how if I wanted something I needed to get it then or it would be gone. Obviously, money played a big factor in that disappointment and how I dealt with money. It was most definitely a defining event in my life.
After my divorce and freedom to guide my own finances the fear of things being gone if I didn’t get the immediately was added to with the fear that I wasn’t in control. I am afraid that my children have witnessed this “bad” relationship that I have and I’m sure it’s affected them in some way. My job as their mother is to fix that AND give them a positive idea and knowledge of dealing with money. I don’t want them to think of money as a way to gain “things” or feel the immediacy that lost left in me. I want them to think of money as a tool that they can use to gain wealth, secure their present and future, and of course to provide the things that they want in life.
There are a lot of pieces and parts to this puzzle. Earning money, taxes (yeah they have to learn this one don’t they?), saving, investing, credit, debt, etc. It’s a lot. It’s a whole lot and it seems that each of the parts has so many little pieces that it’s almost overwhelming. The advantage is that I have years. Years to explain to them all the various aspects as they grow and see me regain a good relationship with money. Years for them to experience the earning, taxes, savings, loans (because college isn’t free), etc. with me to at least give them some piece of whatever I’ve learned.
I realize now how important learning about money is. I wish I could have learned this lesson back when I was growing up, but I think it’s key that I’ve learned it at all.