bragging rights - round 1

Today was the last day of the first round of the Biggest Loser in our office.....drum roll..... I won!!!!! I lost 15.4 pounds and won 155.00. WOOO HOOO. I have been very consistent with smart choices for food. I no longer even care about fattening foods really because dropping this weight is so much more exciting then any possible food could ever be, at least for today. As the saying goes:

"Nothing tastes as good as thin feels."

Next week we will start round two, which will be much more difficult because many of the participants are getting closer to their goal weight. I will be adding daily exercise and light weights to my arsenal. By the first week of May, I believe I will have reached my goal, never to return to the past "fat pants era".

Happy Monday!

my letter to President Obama

Dear President Obama,

I am hopeful that people everywhere will be inspired by you and your leadership and aim to be “better.” Whether it is a child in school, a single mother, a CEO of a corporation, or a politician who has forgotten his purpose, each will look to you and be reminded of the enormous responsibilities, endless choices and wonderful opportunities we all face. I think that an empowered and optimistic America will, in fact, create a better America and will begin to mend the world.

I will only ask you to do one thing in this letter; please see to it that legislation is passed through Congress allowing Federal funding of technological research and development in the field of stem-cell research including embryonic stem cells.

I have the utmost confidence in you and I wish you and your family well. Thank you for being the one, “that won” Ohio and the presidency.

Trevor P.
Ohio
Aka. Unlikely Burrito

conference room at work

Just want to say that I waited a long time for this day, just to get rid of Bush, but today was even better than I ever expected because I believe we just inaugurated possibly the best-ever man for the job. I have really come to embraced Obama's philosophy and his vision. I would be lying if I didn't say I am very excited for this change!

I have a bit of sorrow for those who are no longer here to share this moment, those who went before and paved the way for this day in so many ways.

Now, the time for work has begun and it begins with me in my home, office and life.

I will never be the same.

a personal observation

So the other day, maybe a week or so ago, a video tape of a leader of Hamas was being shown on television and he was saying something like, “I am going to kill you [Israelis], it won’t be a “picnic” and Gaza will be you graveyard.” In all honesty, his words seemed incredibly immature, shallow, and staged like in a poorly written play, directed by a pre-adolescent boy, or some low budget sci-fi when the awful monster spews G-rated evil. He sounded like he needed a time-out and a nap. I just couldn’t believe it, it seemed surreal.

I pondered my reaction to this Hamas clip many times over the next several days. I came to the conclusion that I had become personally detached.

Americans have been almost entirely shielded from all images of combat, death, and human suffering for the last eight years. Remember even in the Iraqi war, people were actually fired for publishing images of American flag draped coffins. This all leads to callousness, coldness and a detachment of personal responsibility and empathy. Personal involvement is thwarted; political pressure on our government is lessened. Withholding images depicting the atrocities and the ravages of war squelches outrage.

I started to note general opinions put forth by everyday Americans. People, like myself, who are not well educated regarding this ongoing conflict. People who are not even remotely qualified to imagine what could possibly lead to a lasting resolution. In doing so, I was able to identify various “talking points” that many people were just regurgitating. They heard it; it made sense at the time, now they professed it to be the truth and/or their opinion. It appeared all very contrived and controlled.

In the end I could only reason: Peace will come when people, and when I say people I mean individuals, demand peace above all else. Peace will happen when the weak and the powerful, the poor and the wealthy, the armed and the unarmed choose peace as their ultimate goal.

Currently and moving forward, I choose to fight my own complacently and support peace, which is all I truly know I can do.

Peace~

UB

Veterans for Peace

Red Cross

United for Peace and Justice

Click on the image above and see how you can help OLPC ......happy holidays everyone..... or click on the link above and learn more about this great program.

One Laptop Per Child

".....and endure the betrayal of false friends" ~ Emerson

"To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty,
to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier
because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded."

bitter sweet thanksgiving

In my extended family, interpersonal relationships are strained, and where it started and how it is now is just one stupid thing after another and some real issues, with a few outside and inside forces that decided the final coarse which has been set into stone. Just mentioning this as background, I am not complaining, I accepted this many many years ago. The bitter sweet comes in, because I will be in the city with my daughter, and my men will be at home in Ohio. Odd to be away from those I love, but on the other hand, exciting to be in the city with my girl this time of year.

It's only a day. I don't eat turkey anymore. We may lay low, we may hit the town with a vengeance. In any case, I will enjoy it fully, moment by moment, even if inside my heart breaks a bit, it will never show.

can't remember when I last ate

(art by my daughter)

I guess this is the beginning of yet another life struggle. Mind you the cast of characters have changed somewhat, little does that make anything better, in many ways it makes it all worse.
I will try my best to do and be my best, but it's damn fucking hard. I have to look deeper and harder for the strength on so many levels it's mind boggling at the moment.

a good thing to know

On Thursday, I attempted what no sane woman should ever attempt. I made the effort to teach my sixteen year old son, who only has his temps, how to drive a stick shift. Not any stick shift but a brand new car, still has temporary tags, no less.

When I was at the dealership, I wanted a deal, I always want a deal that my nature. So in order to get the deal I wanted , the special rate, and the special price, I had to take delivery that day. All they had on the lot was a stick. So I bought it. Not thinking too much about the stick because well, I learned on a stick, and I remembered that some guys think they are fun. No big deal.

Well Thursday, my patience was tested, I was scared out of my skin, and frustrations were running high. In the middle of a deserted Target parking lot, we tried over and over again.....he could shift into second once we got going, but the starts were anything but smooth. "That was really good," I would say, trying not to discourage. Several more jerky starts and stalls and he hit the wall, he said, "That's it, that's enough for the day."

Fast forward to today, and he and his father went out and had a perfectly wonderful time. No stall outs at all, and a young man who returned beaming with confidence, almost ready to take to the open road. At first I thought, well, he took what I "taught" him and improved.....that was not the case. He made that pretty clear to me. Ha ha. I am not a teacher, I may be many things but not a teacher.

random thoughts about Obama's win

I feel joy. I feel an abundance of joy for the entire world, and a special joy for those whose lives have been shackled and held down due to the color. I cry tears of joy, and feel unbelievable relief that the Bush presidency actually will indeed end.

Barack, Michelle and their two beautiful young girls, will be a welcomed change to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Heavy sigh..... peace and safety to the Obama family. The world loves you, because you love the world. Be blessed.

driving election day

"To change the world start with one step."

memorial for Gracie

low down on JayZ

To the booing audience JayZ said “let’s change this picture” and it changed to Obama.

We found our way to really great seats, right in front of the boxes, big screens everywhere. Every single seat in the place was taken; nearly 20,000 fans filled Quicken Loans Arena for the "Last Chance for Change" rally. Wearing a black leather jacket, baseball cap and huge diamond chain in the shape of Ohio, Lebron James encouraged the crowd to participate in next week's election.

"I want everybody in here, moms, dads, aunts, uncles to get out and vote," James said. "November fourth is the most important day of our lives."

….and then it happened…..the reason this concert was free: they played the whole Obama 30 minute piece. The crowd reaction to several points made by Obama was weak. Not even a cheer for ending the war, which really surprised me. This indeed was not a politically active crowd. The majority of this crowd was anxiously waiting to see JayZ, period the end.

Plenty of fashion statements filled the packed arena. Some that turned even my head in disbelief. Many, but not all, women were wearing tall stiletto boots; tights and some piece of clothe resembling a skirt but the size of a small dinner napkin and a skin tight sweater. Oh and I don’t want to forget the 2008 fashion staple “the scarf.” Everyone, yes everyone, had on a scarf.

On the political front, I was surprised that there wasn’t more effort by the Obama campaign to promote voting on the concourses. There was nothing, no free stickers, no posters or postcard maps to the Board of Election, with direction on how to vote early or how to vote on November 4^th.

All that being said, the most lasting impression I took away from the show was how low- key it was from beginning to end. Even after the last song, people just started leaving. No screaming for an encore, no cell phones in the air (replacement for lighters) asking JayZ to come back, to play more. He came back anyway.

Best song of the night -”99 problems.”

Best quote of the night - ''Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther King could walk,'' JayZ said to the relatively quiet arena. ''Martin Luther King walked so Obama could run. Obama is running so we all can fly.''

mean people are unnecessary

This is me living by my own rules, what I have told others to do for, like, forever. Do not put up with ugliness and meanness.

As my life becomes more and more busy, this bull shit negativity must be eliminated. Therefore my blog is now for mostly for my family and myself and a few friends. Please visit once in while. Post comments if you want. This election is almost over, and painting season should begin soon.

I love you all.
Mom

always something you don't expect

Just another beautiful day in the metro parks, in the distance you can see a river and an old bridge. We took the pups yesterday and they had a fabulous time. Icey, had to be rushed to the vet, because we noticed some marks on her face....turns out that she has demodectic mange, sometimes cause by stress. So I looked back over the past weeks, and remembered her being circled at least three days in a row at the dog park. A dog named JJ is to blame. I knew she was stressed at the time, but had no idea that it could or would effect her physically.

So the dog park is off the list for a while, and she needs to go through treatment, which is a series of "dips." I feel badly for her, but we are confident that it will clear up after several "dips."

I can still walked them, but it's not quite the same as running free at the park. So this is really kind of sad.

a walk in the park

I had a great day aimlessly wandering and snapping some pics....

my right my sign

I don't like when someone steals my stuff.

dissent

On the flag it says: There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.

We are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels – men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with loyal subversion.