2011 Finale

2012 is hours away for me... in other parts of the universe it's already here and I'm sure it was greeted with fireworks and grandiose displays of bright lights and oooh's and ahhhh's. I am actually going to spend the evening with friends and family chowing on finger foods and playing games, but this year, I'm thinking I would rather just curl up in bed and sleep. I love my family and friends, but I'm tired and haven't been a big fan of this year.

I'm sure I will have resolutions for 2012 and will be thinking about what I accomplished over 2011 and what went awry, but at this time... a moment of silence for the year that is ending. May 2012 bring something new and different on the horizon.
Peace to all...

Just Checking In

It's been awhile since I've written. Things have been a bit nuts around the casa and getting everything in order has taken some time. I can't say it's all in order yet, but it's getting there.

Yesterday, I ended up with a WHOPPER of a migraine. I have had migraines on and off for years and occasionally one will pretty much strike me down. I'm never a fan of them and yesterday was no exception. I went to the doctor and got back on preventative medications. Hopefully, they will quell the recurrance of this ailment.

I am still working on losing some weight. I had lost about 15 pounds and then regained 6. I think it's a case of two steps forward, one step back. However, I'm trying to get back into the swing of things again. We'll see how it goes. Time for now to get back to work...

Duck Duck Goose

What is the big deal with all the "celebrity duck faces" circling the internet? Seriously? Do we not have more important things to do than to watch celebrities quasi-pucker up? I am much more interested in Lindsey Lohan copying Pippa's reception gown, the 6 foot wedding cake no one at Kim Kardashian's wedding ate or the resumation of Kat Von D's relationship with Jesse James now that LA Ink has been cancelled. If you believe any of that, I can probably get you a great water-front condo on the Brooklyn Bridge.

The last week has been nuts to say the least and I haven't achieved any of the goals I set for myself, other than losing a whopping 4 pounds!!! Woot. (Doing a little jig here - did you feel the earth move? No. That's because I'm 4 pounds lighter.) And on that note... I need to actually accomplish one goal before 1600 hours. Adios.

The Write Diet

Exhaustion makes me want to eat. Eating involves about 30 Oreo cookies.
The struggle is on today.... I've had three hours of sleep and when I'm tired I ALWAYS crave sugary snack foods.

I have been reading Julia Cameron's book, "The Write Diet" which helps the writer in me process this whole weight loss journey in a different way. Something that has stuck with me after reading this is her list of 4 questions that are already making a huge difference for me.

Am I hungry?
Is this what I want to eat?
Is this what I want to eat now?
Is there something else I can eat instead?

I'm still trying to figure out the difference in hunger and the emotional eating habits that fall under "angry, bored, or tired." However, when I get to questions two and three... I really stop and think about the "want" ... and question 4 settles it. If I really do want the Oreo now, I would eat it. However, I can generally find something to eat instead that even if it has the same calories, has a better nutritional value.

Now that's some food for thought....

Hey Jealousy

"Hey Jealousy" is a song by the Gin Blossoms and it's quite good. The reality of jealousy isn't quite as good and can leave a person confused and angry. Tonight, my mother's jealousy and mental illness combined together to create an unpleasant situation.

My youngest just celebrated her 16th birthday, which I believe I covered briefly the other day. We were scheduled to go to dinner with my mother one night this week and I MISTAKENLY thought it was dinner, not a delay in her birthday celebration. I don't know why and this wouldn't have been an issue if mother weren't so agoraphobic and made her real celebration like everyone else did. I'm sure we discussed this as her make-up birthday dinner, but for whatever reason, my short-term memory isn't all that and a bag of chips lately. So.... the conversation went something like the following (but not exactly because remember that short term memory loss?)

Me: We're good for dinner, but it will be the four of us. J is out of town with K, B, and B for her birthday. They went to Oklahoma City.

Mom: Well, if she's not going, I'm not going?

Me: Why not?

Mom: Because it's her birthday dinner.

Me: I'm sorry, I got it messed up. I forgot it was her birthday dinner.

Mom: And I think she's spending entirely too much time over there. She's spending two nights a week and now she's gone for the weekend? What is she, their other daughter?

Me: No mom.with an inward groan She's spending time over there because she wants to and there's not much for her to do here in the summer.(Because the other 3 of us in the house are working / school) Plus, she spends a bit of time cleaning and helping around the house.

More conversation back and forth until:
Me: If you want her to spend time over there or want some help, then ask her like K & B do. If you want her to clean or whatnot just call her.

Mom: LONG PAUSE.... I don't want to do things like K & B do.

Me: I understand that, but it's not like J can come spend that much time over there. Referring to spending the night more than anything else. There's no place for her to sleep or anything. She's over there helping them clean because they need the help.

Mom: (Screaming) They don't need help.... and then the subtle sounds of disconnect.

Yes, I did the daughterly duty and tried to call back. I let the phone ring through multiple phone calls over 50 times. I give up. I'm not calling her back and if she wants to talk to me, then she better have an apology ready.

I am so tired of her being jealous because 1) other people are doing what she wants to do, but can't do not because of physical infirmity, but because her mind won't let her. 2) I'm tired of her blaming everyone else for her decisions. I can honestly say I will be grateful when I don't have to deal with this any more. I love my mother, just as I love my father (may he rest in peace.) However, when you have someone in your family who is mentally ill, the emotional cost can be too high and at this point, I'm tired and don't want to deal with it. No wonder my children don't want to call her - it's too much of an effort.

And speaking of effort, I'm done with my rant. Time for snoozing.

Radio, Birthdays and Other Adventures

Yesterday was my youngest's 16th birthday, but because of life and all of it's adventures, we celebrated with friends and family on Sunday. I would just like to say to my kiddo, "I love you... You are amazing."

And I would like to add that despite the birthday, I did fairly well on keeping to the diet and instead of eating the two slices of cake and a half gallon of icecream, I had 1 slice of cake (and tried not to eat any of the icing) and had 4oz of the icecream. yay! My calories were exceeded; however, I'm not going to beat myself up over it too much because I got back on track yesterday. The diet is going okay so far. I'm using CalorieKing to track my food and exercise and it's a program that WORKS.

In other news... I'm totally digging the work at FM90. Being back on the air after such a long hiatus is a little weird, but I'm reconnecting to a part of myself that I hadn't seen in a while. It's nice to rediscover yourself after a long absence. www.kacvfm.org
You can catch me and Tommy tonight from 9 til Midnight covering the best alternative music from the 1990's.

More from the flip side a little later... lunch break is almost over and I need to take a walk.

Transformers 3: Dark Of The Moon - Final Trailer [HD] [OFFICIAL]

Transformers 3 - kicked some serious booty. I went with the family tonight and saw the 3D version. Almost $50 later, I can say I am glad we saw it in 3D. It was pretty amazing and I am going to have to see it again to see what I missed the first time. If you have the chance, see it on the big screen - don't wait for it to come out on video.

Sleep Deprivation

Ok. I'm writing this at 1215AM. I should be in bed, but frankly, that won't happen for a few. So I can continue to toss and turn and generally be pissed off at the universe (again) or I can sit and write a little bit and put the frustrations to good use.

Sleep deprivation is a bad thing and from the targetwomen.com website, I had to do a little cut and paste so I could put this all in perspective.

Some of the common symptoms of sleep deprivation are fatigue, lack of physical energy and exhaustion. Our emotional moods are affected by exhaustion and fatigue. This condition in turn will lead to pessimism, sadness, stress and anger. To function effectively, the frontal cortex of our brain needs sufficient sleep. The ability to control speech, problem solving and accessing memory is all controlled by the frontal cortex and if there is not enough rest, these abilities are affected. If there is no sufficient rest, driving can be dangerous.

Adult symptoms of sleep deprivation may vary from those of a child. Yawning constantly, dozing off while watching a television show, poor concentration and grogginess while waking up are some of the symptoms adults display when they are deprived of sleep. The symptoms of a sleep-deprived child include irritability, daytime naps, tantrums, hyperactive behavior and moodiness. Getting out of bed in the morning is a problem for children who experience sleep deprivation.

There are a number of consequences for not getting the recommended number of hours of sleep a night, which by the way are 8. The heftiest one: obesity. The most morbid; death. Not a fan of those ideas.

To put this sleep thing in perspective:
* My darling hubby snores to the point where it's not only loud, but the vibrations carry throughout the bed and there are some nights ( about 50% of the time) I have to take some melatonin or a night time sleep aid to help even get to sleep.
* If I am lucky, I can actually sleep in my own bed one or two nights a week. The majority of the time I have to move to the couch (Remember that not a fan thing? Count this in on that.)
* There are some nights one of the kids is spending the night with a friend or grandparents. Those nights I generally get to sleep an entire night in a bed.
* Couple the aforementioned with a lack of exercise (because I'm freakin' tired) and the extra 50-60 pounds I'm carrying, a lovely case of what I think is RLS (possibly caused by the night time sleep aids) and to top it off ... plantar fasciatis... no wonder I am only averaging 4 - 6 hours of sleep a night.

Now.. if you look at the fact I generally am getting to sleep about 0100 - 0130 and have to get up and pee at least once, sometimes twice, because of other physical problems then I say that starts moving the sleep scale down to 3-5 hours a night because it sometimes takes me a while to get back to sleep after waking.

I'm not the only one in the family that suffers from this malady. My mother is a poster child and I do wonder about some freaked out genetic link. Sleep deprivation has a lot of behavioral side effects and I found this one which really does describe me and my mom to some degree...

If you were a happy-go-lucky by nature, get ready for a new you, if you are a victim of sleep deprivation. Nothing will make you happy, as you will be down almost all the time. Not only will your health be affected, but you will also get drowned from the mental point of view. Thus, the positive vibes, which you would have bought in the room previously, is going to be replaced by a lethargic and a negative atmosphere. www.effectsofsleepdeprivation.net

I can't say mom's ever been happy-go-lucky, but negativity is her mainstay. And lately, I find myself to be quite irritable nature.

Irrespective of the importance that the person, at the other end, holds in your life, you will start getting irritated with everything coming from them. This may cause fissures in the relation and ultimately, lead your life to get filled with stress and tension.

If I look at my situation honestly, yes. This is the case. Not a fan of this either.

So what's the solution?
They claim: exercise, relaxation techniques, meditation, diet and sometimes natural supplements.

I could argue against many of these, but the fact of the matter is I'm knee deep in Crap-Creek and need a way out. I'm starting a new blog that will hopefully focus on these very issues. Stay tuned for more details... after a word from this nap. Good night...

New York City - Days Two - Four

I was blessed to have a relaxing trip this go around to the Big Apple. I got to spend a lot of time in the Flatiron District and wandered from about 30th street to 10th street and between 5th and 6th avenues for the most part.

My sister and I started off the day at Equinox at 19th and Broadway. Great place to workout and I now feel totally gipped at the Amarillo Town Club. The locker rooms are high end and large; the lockers are twice the size of mine and I just realized I'm jealous of a gym. LOL!

After hanging out and wandering around aimlessly, my brother in law took me and Christina to lunch at Blue Water Grill, right up the street from their office and one of the top 10 restaurants in the entire city. This was followed by shopping down 5th Avenue for some much needed T-shirts (New York was extremely muggy; therefore, I was a sweat magnet.) We picked up Romeo at the NY Dog Spa and Hotel, picked John up at the office and we headed home where Christina made dinner.

Wednesday morning, while Christina went to the gym, I wandered around taking pictures and enjoying the city. We then took in "Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark" followed by dinner at Carmines. I have to say the performance of Spiderman was AMAZING and Carmines had the best Italian food I have eaten in a very long time. I could get used to that kind of food. (In fact, my mouth is watering now just thinking about the shrimp we had as an appetizer. The shrimp were HUGE.)

Side note: If I could figure out how to do a photo slide show on this thing, I would and I will try to figure it out so I can properly insert a bunch of cool photos.

Thursday morning rolls around and I have to say, wasn't a fan of Thursday. Christina and I barely had time for breakfast at the Hollywood Diner before Christina tossed me in a cab to get to Newark Liberty for the flight home. Literal tossing as Christina was supposed to drive me, but the car elevator at the garage was FUBAR so there was no way to get the car out and I had to take a taxi. Christina flags down this taxi and pretty much throws me and the monster suitcase, which has been lugged over a majority of the Flatiron District, into the cab. She was kind enough to provide me with a Dunkin Donut's beverage though, which helped because the AC in the cab was for crap. (Remember the hot and muggy thing? OY!)

The driver was pissed that he had to take me to Newark and he took the longest way humanly possible to get there. I knew I was in trouble when I saw the signage for the Lincoln Tunnel and not the Holland Tunnel. In case you didn't know... you have to travel UPTOWN to get to the Lincoln Tunnel. It's about 39th street or so... to put this in perspective, I was close to 34th street when I took the train in to Penn Station and was staying on 17th street. He drove the OPPOSITE direction he needed to because he was pissed. Apparently NY cabbies aren't allowed to pick up return fares from Newark so he was getting kind of screwed on the deal, but I figured I would give him a good tip and he'd be fine with it.

Now, I get to Newark with some time to spare which is good. However, now this cabbie tells me the credit card machine is broken in the cab, and of course also the receipt machine is also broken. Christina told me both of these occurrences are ILLEGAL, but what could I do but pay the freakin $71.00. I told him he would have gotten a big tip for taking me there, but with the CC machine down, he wasn't getting all the cash on me. I got the medallion number as well as his name, but nothing I can really do about it now (other than still be pissed at him.)

All in all, the trip wasn't nearly long enough, but it was a great trip. There were none of the 5 museums in a day or 27 touristy things to do in a week. What I did get was some real NY time and time well spent with my sister and my brother in law who were kind enough to put up with me for a few days. Can't wait for the next trip.... :-)
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Totally Behind

I'm sorry.... totally behind on the blog because of life's varying circumstances. I promise the rest of the NYC trip is coming as well as the 2011 Fitness Challenge and other great things. Stay tuned for more...
Celeste

New York City - Day One

It always amazes me why people think New Yorkers are unfriendly. I would use a lot of words to describe the Big Apple. Words like busy, bustling, thriving, poor, rich, energetic, cutting-edge, artsy, cosmopolitan, strong, imposing, multi-faceted, daunting, culinary, hot and humid topped the list for this trip to the city that never sleeps. However, I have to admit with the exception of a few moments, I slept like an old man propped up in a chair. Out cold.

I managed to make it from Newark Liberty International Airport to New York's Penn Station to the hotel, with the monster suitcase, and didn't end up in Harlem, Queens or the Bronx. I thought I was doing pretty good as I hadn't navigated the subway on my own before. There are so many lines and choices... Shoulda taken the F-train instead of the C-train because I would have been closer to the hotel. Lesson learned. However, after a 30 minute wandering around the platforms and tunnels, I came up "close enough" and took a taxi the few blocks to the hotel. Smart move. As at that point, the suitcase was HEAVY and the heat and humidity had me drenched in sweat. I'm sure I was attractive. I got to the hotel.... and showered and even washed out my clothes so they wouldn't stink up the room or the suitcase. Line dry is a great thing.

This is the room I stayed in at the "Chelsea Inn." Trust me when I say there is nothing fancy about this room. This is one of the guest rooms where you have to share a bathroom with another room. In this case, I stayed in room 303 and had to share the loo with the occupants of 304. For the most part, this wasn't a problem as we both cleaned up after ourselves. However, the downside is if you really have to pee, you can't really yell at the person to hurry up as you would a family member or close friend. You have to wait it out. Waiting it out definitely isn't enjoyable.

And speaking of the bathrooms. These have obviously been redone as this style and such wasn't present when the brownstone was built in the 1880's. However, let me explain an oddity. There is a window in the shower that sits above the faucet. This means the shower head actually shoots down on the faucet and getting in the shower takes a little more unique effort. However, this window has an interesting view....

This is the ventilation shaft that runs up the building and all of the bathrooms have windows that face this shaft. No worries about people looking in at you while you are showering because they are staggered. However, I distinctly heard a gentleman singing in German. It actually sounded like Adele's "Rolling in the Deep." Who knows?

My first night in New York was the "surprise" for my sister's birthday. As it was a milestone, I worked it out with my brother-in-law, John, to arrive at the apartment so when they came home I would be waiting there. John was walking Romeo and Christina, I believe, had the bird. She didn't see me when she came in the living room and when she did. Massive freak out. Which is what I was going for. Score! (Two weeks of planning and preparation made for a good event.)

We went out to dinner at "Petite Abeille" which is right next door to the Chelsea Inn where I stayed. This is pretty close to Christina and John's apartment. The Belgian food was amazing. I had mussels for an appetizer and then fish and chips for dinner. I have to say New York is THE place for fish and chips (outside of England...) John and Christina had a couple of Belgian beers and some amazing food. I have tried to remember exactly what they had; however, exhaustion was setting in at dinner and that didn't go too far.

Shortly after dinner, I actually went back to the Inn and crashed to gear up for day two. This trip to New York was different from the other trips I have taken in that I can say with the exception of a Broadway show that ROCKED, I didn't really do any of the touristy things that people do in the city. I actually spent some time wandering around between 10th and 23rd streets between 5th and 6th Avenues. There are some amazing stores and the architecture just can't be topped. More on that to come....

Day 136 - The Latest...

Why do I keep starting my blog titles with Day #so and so? Well, at day 142, it will be June 1st so this is the the number of days from when I started this blog up again. There's no other rhyme or reason and after June 1st, I may or may not continue the practice. I hope that answers the question for you. Now on to other more important things.

Sun. I love the sun. I can't say I'm a sun goddess because I believe to meet that definition, I would have to live in Malibu and walk around as a size 2 in a teeny, weeny bikini. However, I am solar-powered and need to lie in the sun to recharge every so often. While many would tout the cancer-causing effects of the sun, I would tout the fact I'm less bitchy and far more fulfilled on my vitamin D requirements. The goal today is to grab some of that vitamin D because I just like a better attitude and a little less pastiness. And if you need a few other reasons to catch a ray...

"...it has been proven that getting sufficient sunlight aids in preventing chronic ailments such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), osteoporosis, mental depression, type 2 diabetes, and cancers affecting the bladder, breasts, cervix, colon, ovaries, prostrate, and the stomach. To put it more succinctly, sunlight serves as the perfect medicinal pill in promoting a healthy lifestyle."

Speaking of healthy lifestyles...

Dancing with the Stars had their season finale last night. Hines Ward took hime the mirrorball trophy. The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver was in pretty decent shape when the whole thing started. Competitor Kirstie Alley - not so much. However, with all of the dancing and training, Kirstie has whittled away 38 inches of her body from when she started. 38. That's a big number and rumor has it she's dropped approximately 60 pounds to wear almost an American size 6 and . I'm seriously wondering if I need to start dancing for a few hours every day... I'm willing to do so. Meanwhile....

I'm breaking out of my well-padded comfort zone and trying a bunch of new classes at the Amarillo Town Club. They are changing the class schedules in a couple of weeks, but I have to say that at the moment, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE yoga. I'm not a fan of group exercise, but for that, I am willing to bear with it. Other classes I'm going to be trying out include the Les Mills "Body Pump" and "Body Step" and maybe even "Body Combat." I'm also planning to test my coordination (HA!) with Zumba and even things out with pilates. Time to try something new and different.... and time to get back to work. More later from the flip side.

Day 126 - Memory....

....All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again


I've been going though a lot of memories lately and why not pick a song that fits, eh? Katie's junior prom was last night. She was STUNNING and it made me feel strangely old. I remember mine and that's just a little weird. One of her friends put this crown of fresh baby flowers in her hair and it was all done up etc. She was a princess.....

So now and abrupt change of subject:
I'm being a good girl and drinking a Nature's Plus: Spiru-Tein High Protein Energy Shake for breakfast accompanied by an orange. This is day 3 of breaking old habits and getting healthier. Again. But this time, it's actually working. The goal is 30-60 minutes of exercise daily, 8 glasses of liquid (no sodas or anything like that) daily, and eating right. I'll admit the small handful of Chex Mix I ate throughout the day yesterday lured me into the depths of temptation, but I fought back. Obviously, I'm a little carb sensitive and need to leave ALL processed carb-loaded foods alone. Last night I went walking. 1.9 Miles. My right knee hurt and the bone chip floating around in the bottom of my left footie didn't feel so well. Losing weight is NOT fun. I just want to state that for the record. However, I AM the one who let herself get in this condition and I AM the only one who can get myself back out. The good news though... the scale budged just a little bit this morning. Woot!!!

One of the reasons for getting in shape is I've grown out of the clothes I love to wear. I have some AWESOME clothes stashed away and can't wear them. Yet. One of the things stashed is a mini-suit. I love this thing and can't wear it. I'm hoping to be able to in the next few months. It's going to require the loss of a solid 30 pounds though. Yeah... I said 30. Add that to the other 30 I would love to lose, but would be happy with 20. 50. Fifty pounds is the goal. Sixty is "idealistic." I'm carrying around a small extra person that's NOT supposed to be there. My knees and feet definitely feel it.

And with all this said, I must get busy for the day. The busier I am, the more weight I'll lose. Yes... even cleaning house and yardwork burns calories. The only thing I really miss this morning is Starbucks.

Day 121 - What Not to Wear

In the overall scheme of things, there are many things a person shouldn't wear, even though it sounds like a great idea at the time.

Do not wear light colored pants if you are wearing underwear that has polka-dots or a dark-colored, floral design on them. I'd say someone got dressed in the dark to miss that or they didn't realize their pants were that "thin." However, I've seen it twice today and in one of those instances, my eyeballs need to be flushed with NAPALM and even that won't get the image out of my head.

Along the lines of clothing disasters, I know I'm among the minority and want clothes to fit, but I don't want them to actually hug my body. There are several comfy reasons to this, but primarily I don't need everyone in any kind of radius counting the bumps and bulges my body has collected. Yesterday, there was a woman who was wearing a tight shirt. I know this is all the fashion rage, but when I can count three ridges above the muffin-top, something is wrong. Let's leave the tight fitting clothes to movie stars who always seem anorexic to me.

And let's talk glam... prom season is here. I actually like prom season because there are some gorgeous dresses out there. And there are some that make you wonder what the heck happened?
Case in point:

I would have to say this poor thing was attacked by someone who wanted their bed linens back. Honey, Paris Hilton couldn't pull this look off.

And when talking about bad prom dresses. Does anyone besides me remember the 80's? I actually still have my senior prom dress (at my parent's house, where I am NOT living.) But if you don't remember some of the horiffic creations, either watch "Pretty in Pink" or "Never Been Kissed." I prefer the later because of Josie Geller's dress. It's prime 80's material as evidenced here:

The big sleeves and puffy dresses aren’t my ideal of “fashion.” And I have to admit, I can’t stand when attending 80′s throwback parties because I can never seem to find something to wear that I actually LIKE... (Another blog all together, I'm sure.)

Hopefully you have not fallen into any of these fashion traps and if you have, I would recommend you seek professional counselling and a stylist immediately.

Day 109 - Idol, White Wedding, and Sleep

Let's start with my fodder from Idol. Last night's performances of Carol King tunes, which is ALL the rage with hipsters these days, was interesting. I have to wonder if this theme was chosen to keep the two remaining females in the competition as it really doesn't make much sense no matter how you look at it. There were 6 solos and 3 duets and I have to say at this point - not really a fan of any of the duets last night. But one contestant stood out from the rest of the pack, again. James Durbin. He totally slayed "Will You Still Love me?" and was by far the best of the night. So... predictions on who I think will be in what position after the votes are tallied:

Top 3
1. James - that was outstanding. Bar none the best.
2. Casey - It wasn't as good as past performances, but not much competition tonight
3. Scotty - All things being equal, parts were really good and it was nice to see him not rely on the LOWs in his voice.

Bottom 3
4. Lauren - She sang it safe and predictable. I'm still confused as to how one's voice cracking qualifies one as a good singer.
5. Haley - So-So performance.
6. Jacob - Has got to go. And whoever dressed him like a spastic golfer had to have been drunk.

In other news, tomorrow there will be a new princess in England. While many really don't care, I'm looking forward to seeing this little event. I don't know that I will get up at 0300, but I do want to see bits and pieces. It's a cool day for Great Britain and I hope they enjoy the show.

Because of the wedding, I will experience a lack of sleep. I don't know about you, but my functionality of this week is already waning and I need a nap even as I write this. Somehow, there is a great force in the universe that has put up a blockade against my efforts to snooze, but hopefully, I will go to bed a wee bit early and get a few good hours in. I hope.
More later...

Day 107 - Part Deux

The Hayes side of the family hasn't been known for it's fabulous health for a long time. I try to keep the complaining down to a minimum, but today I have to say I feel crummy. Massive upset tummy for the past two days, pain in my tummy and I ended up with a migraine at work this afternoon that took 3, count them, three Excedrine migraines to flush out. Not even Billy Joel could help that one... in fact I want to blame Billy Joel and using massive amounts of brain power to try to remember the lyrics to that stupid song. However, I was saved by a friend of mine who posted the entire song on my Facebook page. God bless you, BJ!

We are having a family dinner at the in-laws tonight. I love them and want to see them. I do not however wish to consume much in the way of food. I have a feeling my body will reject any and all attempts to get some vital nutrition in it. So far today I have had a large cup of chocolate silk, an egg with a little bit of wellll drained sausage, some rice, an orange and a 6 pack of Oreos to eat when I took the migraine meds. Not overly healthy, eh? (Long drawn out sigh here.) Hopefully dinner will be light.

"Deadliest Catch" is on tonight. Woot!!! I love that show. I know I have mentioned it before, but I'm sure that after I watch it, I will consider my aches and pains a little more trivial. I can't imagine what it's REALLY like up on the Bering Sea, but based on what I have seen... those men are truly men of steel.

Time to leave for dinner... Hugs!

Day 107 - Billy Joel

I've been stuck on Billy Joel's "We Didn't Star the Fire" all day today much to the disdain of those around me. I didn't even realize I was humming it out loud until an officer came by and started feeding me the lyrics. Now I'm trying to remember the entire song. I have a couple of verses down, but I don't want to cheat and look it up on the net. Hate it when the memory goes... but I'm sure my brain is filled with much more important stuff like where in the heck I left my car keys. Again.

Day 104 - Under the Weather

I'm pretty sure if you feel under the weather, you can feel on top of it. However, right now I have to thank DH for this cold or whatever that has invaded my body. So much for enjoying my mini-vacation. Ugh. Not a fan. Right now I'm lying in bed getting ready to go take yet another nap.

This nap will be accompanied by Adele's new album "21" which I received as a gifty-poo from my sister. It's most awesome. She has such a great blusey sound which I totally dig. Rock on. I have to admit I hadn't heard Adele's latest single until Haley performed it on AI. She did a great job and I've contemplated buying her version as well.

Speaking of American Idol. I am SO glad Stefano is gone. Phew. I was sweating bullets on that on. He sucks. Now to figure out who I want to go home next. Decisions, decisions. BTW - I loved James Durbin's take on Muse's "Uprising." It's a great arrangement and has some substance which I really appreciated.

Well, I can honestly say I could write more, but my eyes are crossing which means I obviously need to get some rest. I think this is just one of those cold / virus type of things and I've been sucking down meds to keep the symptoms and the low-grade fever at bay. So time for a nap. Ciao....

Day 102 - Lost

Sometimes it's really hard to deal with the fact you can't find what you are looking for. I'm a curious person and I love digging deeper to find answers, but sometimes those answers are too deep to be easily located and frustration sets in. I'm at that point. Hopefully something will turn up soon.

An apple,a veggie omlet and some hashbrowns were breakfast and an orange (thus far) for lunch consists of my food intake today. No wonder I'm starving right now. I desperately want some oreo cookies out of the vending machine, but don't know if I will succumb to the temptation. Probably so.

Listening to the IPod while at work today. Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive" came on and now all I want to do is go home and watch "Deadliest Catch." Sad, but true.

Tomorrow begins a 4 day weekend over the Easter break. I'm looking forward to some extra time off and getting a few things done around the house. I need to start dividing up stuff into keep, toss, donate and pack boxes. I figure one of these days either DH or myself will have to find a better job somewhere and better to start sooner rather than later. I figure the garage is first on the list of things to tackle. (Ugh.)

Oreo cookies are winning out right now... searching for quarters as I write this (because I am extremely good at multi-tasking.) And with that said... I have 6 little oreo cookies screaming my name... so much for willpower. Adios for now.

Day 99 - A Royal Wedding and Other Stuff

Kate Middleton is about to marry Diana's eldest, William, and when she joins the House of Windsor this year, her official title will become ‘Her Royal Highness the Princess William of Wales’. I have to admit it. I'm a sucker for a royal wedding. It all started when Princess Diana married Prince Charles, who I am not a fan of. But Diana captured the hearts of I would say half the universe and her wedding was watched by millions around the globe. (Yes, I woke up freakishly early for that event.) Since I'm sure that Kate and Will's nuptuals will be televised, guess who will be watching? (If I really have to answer that, something is seriously wrong.)

I try not to complain too much about Mondays. This has been a "Moooonnndaaaaaay." I'm sitting here listening to Wayne Newton's "Danke Schoen." For whatever reason, it makes me a little happier. Ironically(?) Bon Jovi's "Have a Nice Day" came on the IPod after Wayne. Rock on, Jon.

The brakes on the car finally went FUBAR and I got a new set put on today < Insert Snoopy Happy-Dance here>.
I was very, VERY blessed because it only cost me a couple of Benjamins and it could have been much worse. In fact, I think my car is now worth a couple of Benjamins and a full tank of gas . I am starting to think about getting a new(er) vehicle... something maybe in THIS decade. I'm not sure what I want to do yet. I'm going to do a LOT of research on the subject before I commit to buying a new(er) vehicle. After all, the Pontiac has lasted me 15 years so far. I can honestly say I've gotten my monies' worth on it.

There is some discussion going on about DH getting a new job and possibly moving to a new and interesting place. Personally, I wouldn't mind Dallas or New York, though I really don't see that happening right now. However, I think it's well past time to get out of the Texas Panhandle. I love the sunsets (ans sunrises.) I love the smell of horses in the morning and many other things about this flat and windy place. However, I think change is good too and maybe, just maybe, it's time for one.

Finally... I know there is something on TV I wanted to watch tonight, but for the life of me I can't remember what it is. I hate it when that happens. I don't know if I'm going senile or what. And I'm frantically scrolling through my TV Guide app in order to remember. OY!!!! It's not Dancing with the Stars even though it's on tonight. I don't know. Nothing is ringing a bell. I guess I'll just play it by ear and try to remember.
Hope the evening goes well for you...
I'm outta here

Day 96 -Friday!

I still stand by my previous American Idol post. I think Stefano should have gone home; however, Paul's performance was forgetable. Because of that, I think is why he didn't get that many votes and went home. I also am of the belief that there are people who don't vote for their favourites because they believe they are "safe" and others will vote for them. It was nice though to see Paul perform Maggie May yet again. Now the song is stuck in my head. It will be interesting to see what happens next week on FOX. Stay tuned.

Day 95 - A Question

I'd like to say I have been productive today, but I really haven't. I figure I'll get back into the quick of things momentarily. For whatever reason I just HAD to rework my blog page. It still needs a little bit of re-design, but for the moment I am pretty happy with what I've done. Now it's time for the Question.

Is there anything particular you would like to know or would like me to write about? I'll be happy to oblige. Just send me a comment and I'll add it to the mix....
Happy Thursday
Cel

Day 95 - A Few Notes

I love the purple haze that settles over the city in the mornings when the sun is coming up behind the buildings. It's always calming and makes me realize how much I love the "city." I suppose I'm kind of a big-city girl at heart. I love the open plains and the way you can see for miles as the sun sets in the evening, but there's something about the way the sun moves and highlights the buildings that's pretty awesome to me.

I'm taking a quick break and chowing down on an orange. So far, the "diet" has been going well this week and only a few challenges to will-power. I have not deprived myself, but I am being careful to keep things in line with what I need to be eating. So... more fruits and veggies and less crap. As a result of that and some 20 minute workouts (walking, elliptical and such,) I am already noticing a wee, small, little change in the way the pants are fitting. This is a good sign and motivation to keep things going. I'm not sure what I'm going to do for lunch today as I didn't pack one this morning. I'm thinking maybe a chicken breast, spinach and some salad (that veggie thing is all important.) This is under the assumption I can get Jesus to make this for me.

I watched American Idol last night and just for the record... LOVED the show. There are so many great songs from movies that it would be really hard to narrow down what to sing. There is this little part of me that was hoping someone would TRY to sing the theme song from "Titanic" because it's one of the hardest to try to master.
But in case you missed it...
Paul's performance of Bob Segar was forgetable, but don't know if he will go home. It's not that he did a bad job, but by the end of the show I actually had to try to remember what he sang.
Haley totally butchered "Call Me" by Blondie. I understand what she was going for, but when you compare it to the original, it comes across as screamy. I think she wore the outfit she did because her singing wasn't singing.
Casey Abrams did "Nature Boy" and while I love the Nat King Cole song, I think he jinxed himself. I don't know if that America would see him as an "idol" after that jazz performance.
Stefano and Jacob. Ugh. Can't stand Stefano at all and Jacob's Idol career was saved tonight by the song choice, "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" suggested by the mentors. If he had gone with his choices, I'm sure he would have gone home.
Favorites of the night were:
James Durbin doing "Heavy Metal) - he ROCKED it out. I am hoping that next week will be something totally different. He's a rocker and I would love to hear him doing a rock ballad.
I also enjoyed Lauren Aliana's "The Climb." This Miley Cyrus song is a good one and she totally trumped Ms. Cyrus. She was a little bit pitchy in parts, but overall, she sounds so much better than Billy Ray's princess.
Scotty doin George Straight's song, "I Cross My Heart" was obvious. He's good, but I wonder if he's getting predictable. I would like to see him branch out, take a chance and all that good stuff.

Tonight's result show should be interesting. There's some great talent there; however, at this stage in the competition, I would say it's all about song choice. Tune in for the results tonight on FOX.

Day 92 - Already

It's been 92 days since I started writing again - writing in the form of a blog, about something, about nothing, but about me and the little things that make up my life. This means for the past three months, I've expended just enough mental energy to say some things that you may or not care about. I have to wonder what 992 is going to say?

Tomorrow night is the season premier of "Deadliest Catch." I love this show, but it's not going to be the same without Captain Phil Harris on the Cornelia Marie. I have to say I loved that guy and the way he dealt with his crew and his family. He had a wicked awesome sense of humor and a straightforwardness that didn't go unappreciated. There is this one episode that Josh, the oldest son, makes a bet with the Cornelia crew that he can throw the line and nail the buoys. Phil speeds the boat up, slows it down, moves it out and in... it's all in good fun, but it's evident the son enjoyed showing dear old dad what he could do. This is the first season since Phil died at the age of 53 (stroke)... it's going to be interesting to see what's come of the Cornelia Marie, Josh and Jake.

On that note - time for bed. I'm tired and my knee still feels a little puny. Tomorrow is another day. Goodnight Moon.

Day 91 - Not So Positive

I woke up this morning and my knee hurt. It wasn't the kind of hurt that you can really get past with positive thinking. It was the kind of hurt where you try to walk and the pain shoots all the way up your leg, grips your intestines and makes you wanna throw up. It's been over 10 years since I felt that kind of pain in my knee and I'm sure it's back because I haven't been exercising, my diet has been shit and I weigh a good 50 pounds more than I should.

I didn't get this out of shape over night and I don't think I can get back in shape that quickly. I'm sure some of this has been brought on by the walking I've been doing as my knee has taken a little bit of a pounding. Walking is good, but I am sure I have over done it. Tomorrow shall be a new day where all of that is concerned will start changing. I am going to take my lunch, eat healthy and find my way to the gym tomorrow. I am also going to remember to take it slow.

Day 88 - Positivity

There are a lot of jobs in the universe... some good, some bad, some downright ugly. However, I have decided the one I will never work, no matter how bleak a situation could be is: porta-potty drainer. Once a week, I see this guy outside the PD emptying the porta-potty used by the construction crew. Now, it's bad enough to think that a lot of people have to use this little potty-coffin with no ventilation and no way to wash their hands afterward. In the middle of summer, I have to say that those little towers of terror are NOT a place to hang out for any period of time and if you do have to use one, pray the person(s) before you were not sick with any kind of stomach virus. However, to be the person that drains the crap and carts it away: ewwwww....

On a more positive note, I'm trying to be more positive about things around me. I have had quite the negative energy going for quite awhile and I have to say that being positive takes a lot of work. It's much easier to be negative about things going on around us. Now, I'm not even close to where I need to be on this matter; however, I find myself having a much better day when trying to find the bright side of situations.
Case in point: My car has ISSUES. (Note the bold caps...) However, approaching the situation in a more positive light, I am grateful that I have a car, the car is still running and it takes me from point A to point B. I could literally sit and list all of the things wrong with it, but I figure if I only try to focus on the positives, surely the car will keep running. And if for some reason it doesn't, I am positive I will receive a "new" car with minimal fuss and nonsense.

Some other things I am adding to my more positive outlook on life include "attracting" positive things to me. Instead of focusing on the bills and the debt load, I am focusing on the fact that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and will provide for us. Instead of focusing the fact I am a little chunky, I am focusing on the fact I am beautifully made and need to remember that. I believe that God didn't intend for us to live lives without abundance, I think we (in general) seem to think we can get and do everything ourselves, but without reliance on the Lord, we are nothing and can achieve nothing.

Yesterday, I utilized the power of positive thinking and Kate's dress came in the mail and Kyle received another project. I really reached and believed I was going to win the state lottery last night with a bunch of co-workers. Did it happen? No. Am I disappointed? No. I believe that God has something bigger and better for me.

Day 85 - Yummy Sabotage

My stomach thought my throat had been cut this morning. The solution was a Chorizo Breakfast Burrito - made by Jesus. Jesus isn't Christ himself (though I'm certain a breakfast burrito made by the King of Kings would be AWESOME.) You have to speak Spanish please - the J is a soft H and the rest is pronounced "zeus."

I'm not a big proponent of the Spanish language, which is somewhat surprising to me because I love the romance languages as a general rule. It's probably even more bizarre because I live in the great state of Texas, where there are wayyyy too many illegals who speak Spanish and REFUSE to learn how to speak English. I could go on a rant here, but just for the record, I have learned German and French and have no desire to learn to speak Spanish until they learn to speak English. (Rational or not.)

But back to the breakfast burrito...it was perfectly made with just the right combination of chorizo, eggs, onion and other spices that Jesus adds to make it yummilicious. I'm fairly certain this burrito has sabotaged the diet portion of my day. I'm trying to figure out of I should just beat myself into a complete guilt-ridden state or to blow it off. I'm tired of doing this to myself... if it's not the burrito, it's something else (ice cream generally tops that list.)

I also need to get to the gym. I'm paying for a membership I'm not using and that bothers me. However, it's a catch 22. I go to the gym to feel better and look better, but the whole process of going to the gym when I feel / look like heck isn't my idea of a good time. I know I need to just suck it up and do it, but I haven't really found the motivation that will break through the self-loating I have at the moment. I have workout videos for the house, but (whether it's an "excuse" or not) I can't find a decent place to actually exercise at home so I need to get to the gym. Argh.... if nothing else, at least I'm honest, eh?

Well, I need to get back to work. On my breaks today I do plan on trying to take a walk around the PD, whether inside or out. It won't burn a lot of calories, but every little bit helps.

Day 84 - Celebrities and Other Meltdowns

I appreciate Donald Trump and the empire he has created in "The Apprentice." I haven't really seen a version of "Celebrity Apprentice" until tonight and tonight made me realize no matter how old we get, we can still all act like 4th graders. Meatloaf spontaneously combusted all over Gary Busey and a slur of four letter words went flying through the air quicker than a time warp. (Thought I would throw that in there.) And in an oh-so poignant moment, the apology between the two was very sweet... or as sweet as it can be when two old celebrities hug on camera. In fact following the hug, I heard my favorite quote of the night: "...Dancing on a Rainbow with no fear. And no doubt." It's definitely something to think about.

Something else to think about - vacation. I need one. Somehow I need to save up a few dollars and get the heck out of dodge for a few days. Of course I want to go back to NYC for a week or two (or more), but realistically, I may just have to hang around the house and read some good books or something like that. I love to read and haven't spent quite enough time doing that lately. Nice and relaxing.

I suppose I should start getting ready for bed and also figure out what I'm going to wear tomorrow. Goodnight moon....

Day 81 - The Best of Times....

I can honestly and unabashedly say that today was one of the best days I have had in a very long time and now that it's drawing to a close, I want another one like it. For just a little while, I got to take a step back into the past, reconnect with some old friends, listen to some of the best tunes ever written and pretend for just a little while that the last twenty years hadn't flown by in a blur.

I'm sitting here trying to figure out exactly what I want to say, because many of the events of the day were spectacularly mundane. We had a good staff meeting followed by me helping the bunch of guys with some computer stuff. I actually started getting all excited and left mid-morning to do the time-warp (as it were). With many others, I helped celebrate FM-90's 35th birthday.

I saw so many friends from the past and so many more I missed, who came to the all day event at different times. It was amazing because this little thing called "radio" ties us all together into this warped bundle of a family. There were a few who are no longer with us and we took a moment to remember them - because again, they were family. The first time I was ever pants'd reading live copy was by SuperDave, rest his soul. (One in a long list of ongoing pranks, I promise you that...)

The world of radio has changed dramatically in the past twenty years. Corporations have come in and bought up almost all of the smaller stations around the country. These conglomerates are formulatic and the things we used to get away with would no longer be tolerated. (Of course there were more than a few that really weren't tolerated then... but that's another story.) I remembered today how much I loved being a DJ and am seriously contemplating doing one more tour at the Mighty 90 just to see how much the technology has changed and to see if you really can go home again, but I have always felt that behind the mic was home. I'm sure there will be a lot more thought before I make a decision.

However great technology is, I dare any of the kids today to put together an entire radio program with a reel to reel, grease pencil, razor blade and splice board. Or to have to cue up vinyl records and pray it wouldn't skip - or to always keep 42 cents on hand because of skippage... I could go on, but these kids today really do have it easy.

In honor of FM-90's 35th Birthday, I got my choice of song - any song. It only took about a minute and a half to realize the Cult would be the only thing that fit. Enjoy...

Day 80 - Old People on their Birthdays

Today is my mother's 77th birthday. I'm pretty sure she would be a little unhappy with me for sharing her age with the universe, but I like to think 77 is quite the achievement. Mother actually gave up on life a long time ago and trudges through each day, which is really no different than the last. I think for her the process of living was just too hard. So her birthday is a day my sister and I "celebrate" and I think she actually mourns.

Tomorrow would have been my dad's birthday. He would have been 93 tomorrow, but he decided to stop when he was 91. I think dad was actually at the point where he lived as much as he had wanted to and after a life-time of adventures, taking care of families, running businesses and all the things life has to offer, he just decided he was done.

The difference between my mother and my father's ways of life are so different that it's hard to believe they were together for as long as they were. For over twenty years, mom has just "gotten by." She doesn't want the change or really any part of learning anything new or experiencing anything different or exciting. She is not the woman I remember from my childhood. My dad actually made it a point to learn something new every day, to try something new every day and to live life the best he knew how. His basic personality / character never changed and I like to think I take after him.

So... today I shall wax a little philosophical and remember both of my parents - "the old people" - on their birthdays.

Day 78 - Oreos and Carmel by the Sea

There are very few things in life that can improve the outlook on my day quicker than an Oreo cookie. Two chocolaty crispy delicious cookies surrounding a yummy creamy filling. Mmmmm good. I say this because I consumed a snack pack (6) of these cookies this afternoon. I didn't have time to pack a more nutritious snacks in my lunch bag and the desperate need for something with a quantity of sugar rivaling that of Mt. St. Helen's was important to keeping my job lest I fall asleep at my desk.

I believe the exhaustion I've been experiencing lately could very well be cured with a vacation.

I would like to requisition a few weeks of solitude at Carmel-By-The-Sea. I have a few places that I absolutely love to go and don't get to spend nearly enough time there. New York City tops the list, but number 2 is undoubtedly Carmel.

Carmel offers a lot of things to do that aren't necessarily hustle and bustle, but a truly relaxing time. Wine tastings, the many artist studios and galleries, the Carmel Roasting Company (excellent coffee), and shopping that doesn't include an outlet mall feel - real boutiques with amazing clothes, art, jewelry, hand-blown glass and more.

Sidenote: A quaint place to eat lunch is a little place called The Tuckbox. I had the BEST (and I do mean...) THE BEST Welsh Rarebit at the Tuckbox. (And now I'm getting hungry.) I haven't been back since 2007 and the food or the service may have changed since then, but the atmosphere is "English Quaint" and I was very pleased with the food. (Vacations are really about the food for me.) Finding Welsh Rarebit on the West Coast was quite the treat. Maybe that should be the mission - devote where we go on vacation by what is served? If that's the case and I want some Welsh Rarebit, there's a place in Brooklyn Heights - Brooklyn, NY that serves it called the Chip Shop...
129 Atlantic Avenue
At Henry St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 855-7775
I may have to try that out next time I'm up there... which I hope is really, really soon... after I gain some solitude and decompression from the hustles and bustles of life.

More later...

Day 74 - Abs, Butt, Thighs... Brains?

I know I'm basically a masochist, but even out of shape, I subscribe and avidly read a few of the fitness magazines out there. However, I got to thinking about what each one offers if they are all offering basically the same thing? Is there a real reason to get more than one? These are some of the cover headlines from two of my favorite fitness mags - both April 2011 editions.

The No-Diet Diet: Low Cal Meals that Truly Satisfy

56 Slimming Meals that Rev Your Metabolism

Flat Abs Fast

Keep Your Curves, Lose the Extra

Boost Your Energy

23 Ways to Boost Your Energy

I could probably go back several months and find many other instances, but I don't think it would be mere coincidence. However, as I really do need to work on the de-chunkification of the body that has collected chunk like Charlie Sheen has collected bimbos. It's hard when the body doesn't want to cooperate physically because of things that have gone fubar, but I figure eventually it will happen.

(Slam Segue)
I'm watching Billy Madison tonight while working on this. I have lost 37 IQ points and I have a couple of brain cells that are running down the street begging for mercy - yet I watch. Oh. Commercial is over.... hasta for now.

Day 73 - Motown and High School

Tonight on American Idol the contestants did "Motown."

Ein) This is the best season of AI since the first season. I'm so glad that the judges actually have a clue. Simon got to be excessively annoying - 9 years of being a pain in the ass and really not having a nice thing to say about anyone??? Paula Abdul was a joke and useless. I mean seriously? She wasn't a good singer back in the 80's / 90's. She was a great choreographer, but I'm not a huge fan (and I am stating the obvious.) And Randy actually was the only one who tried to offer musical criticism. My complaint - Randy is stuck on "Yo Dawg." After 10 years, it gets a little old. Find a new schtick dude.

Zwei) This is the most unique group the show has ever had. I'm grateful the judges are such a diverse group because I honestly think that's how we ended up with such great talent. Paul and James are probably my favorites. There are a couple I don't like at all - can't even remember their names. Hopefully neither will win.

Drei) I haven't voted. I probably won't vote. I understand the concept of the fans choosing, but I honestly don't know if it costs money. If it does, screw it. I don't have the funds to waste on an entertainment vote. If it doesn't, why do I want to waste the time when I could spend it blogging?

In other news, I had to have a chat with both of the girls about their grades tonight. I don't understand why it's hard to get good grades. If you just remember to turn in homework, half of the battle is won. I'm giving the girls the same lecture my parents gave me, only with less hellfire and brimstone. If the situation called for it, I would probably open the gates of hades; however, they know what needs to be done and they are pretty good at beating themselves up. We'll see what happens. Right now, the both of them need to lose the spring fever and go for the gold.

Finally, haven't been feeling up to snuff lately. Between the pain in the foot, the knees hurting from the extra baggage and the bladder problems... I feel much older than I am. I am thankful tonight for painkillers. Somehow and some way I need to get healthy. How to manage that I'm not sure, but am hopeful it will happen sooner rather than later. Sweet dreams (and may Charlie Sheen not be a part of them.)

Disturbed

Let me set the stage for you. I'm sitting in bed with the laptop. Maverick is curled up next to me and the television is on for some background noise. The next thing I know is I look up at the TV and see a clip of devil worshipers doing a ritual with a willing female subject. Seriously...
What in the world has this world come to? I think we are past the point of "gratuitous" sex and violence to get an R rating. The R rating has become common place. Why did we let this happen? I don't need to see naked women on TV in the middle of a living room and a Satanic ritual - which is just one in a million things that really no one needs to see.

When I was in high school, I led a movement against Tipper Gore and the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) aka. The Washington Wives. This committee was formed in '85 and it's goal was to increase parental control over music deemed to be violent or sexually explicit. This committee was inspired by Prince's song, "Darling Nikki" which suggested sex and masturbation. Along with "Darling Nikki", the committee released a list of the "Filthy Fifteen," songs that were too objectionable to be aired or sold in good conscience. As I recall it just wasn't Prince, but Madonna, Def Leppard, Judas Priest, and even Cyndi Lauper made the list. I was a little cranky at the time because how DARE these snooty, out of touch women decide what I can and can't listen to. The PMRC contended warning labels on explicit lyrics (sex, drugs, violence) would allow parents to really take a look at what their kids were doing and bring a morality back into the family unit.

I could go on and on about this whole ordeal; however, 1) the history of this mess is available on the internet and 2)I find myself looking at the situation with a fresh set of eyes.

Ever since my girls were born, I have tried to make sure they weren't overly exposed to sex and violence on television. In fact, "kissy face" was okay, but any time I was watching a show or just flipping channels and people were doing the "humpty dance" I changed channels. In fact, most of the time, I still do because I really don't see any good purpose in showing sexual acts on television, the movies or what have you. I have also tried to make sure the rules of Carlin's 7 dirty words were held in place in music because who wants their kid growing up cursing and thinking it's okay. (Do as I say, not as I do?) As the girls have gotten older, they have been exposed to stuff I can't say is the best, but not the worst either. We can't keep our kids behind castle walls, but we can't open the gates and allow the enemy army to freely cross the moat either. It's a fine line and we just have to teach them the best we can.

Wouldn't it be refreshing if there was actually good programming on that didn't involved people lying, cheating, stealing, and f-ing a different person each time you tuned in? Wouldn't it be amazing if a new generation would stand up and say they have had enough? It won't happen because this generation has been conditioned to what they have seen and heard is okay. No wonder I'm stuck putting movies in the DVD player with regularity. My moral compass is generally not in line with anything resembling what the entertainment industry puts out today and I pray my children are following in my footsteps.

After the satanic television incident, I switched channels and am now watching a movie that I enjoy. Morally, it's not the best, but there are some good lessons that can be learned from watching. The movie - chick flick "Raising Helen." It's a romance and a comedy and there's a small moment of suspense or two. This is a movie directed by Gary Marshall, which means it is automatically going to do fairly decent at the box office. Kate Hudson is lead actress and does a really good job with this. John Corbett (cutie) and Joan Cusak, Hayden Panettiere also gave some pretty good performances. Like I said, this movie is not a "G" movie and has some cursing in it; however, because it sounds like something I would actually say, I have to share one of my favorite quotes:

You listen to me. If you ever so much as blink in her direction again, I can and will bury you so far in the ground that the heat from the earth's core will incinerate your sorry ass!

That seems like a pretty good way to end the evening... a threat to maim and destroy anyone who hurts those you love. Rant over. G'night.

Day 71 - Interesting Way to End the Day

I love the written word and while I may not always follow the MBA rules of composition exactly, I do succeed in getting my point across in a fairly easy and conversational manner. The rhetorical question I have, is do I try to take up writing again as a side-line career? My dad used to breakout a yellow-pad to make pro and con lists. I would actually prefer a Big Chief tablet, but the end game is still the same. This is something I think I will be working on for the next little bit. It could be I just keep my blog and be happy with that until some other changes are made at the casa.
Side note: Now I really DO want to go out and get a Big Chief tablet but they stopped making them in 2001 after 80 years of production. It's rather sad really. Big Chief tablets were the BEST and I now wonder what kind of crap kids today have to use in their place. AND I could go into the metamorphosis of all the different chiefs and the sons of the chief depicted on the covers over the 80 years, but I have a feeling it would be only for my personal gratification and you wouldn't find it overly interesting. If you would though, please advise.

And speaking of careers... a friend of mine at work told me today that I should be a stand-up comic. While my anecdotes can be amusing, I don't know if they would qualify for the Improv, which is pretty much the mother of all comedy clubs.

(Insert abrupt change of subject here at 2111 hours.)

I appreciate the fact I have raised my girls to be honest with me. This was experienced first hand tonight when my youngest called and said she and a friend had "gas problems" and would be late coming in thereby missing curfew. When she came in, she came straight to me and admitted she lied and explained what really happened at John Stiff Memorial Park @ the skate park. I was upset, but not angry. Had she not told me the truth, anger would have taken hold and I'm sure I would have erupted like Mt. Vesuvius. I'm not sure how to handle the situation that occurred, but I'm sure I will think of something - something fair because I certainly don't want to pull an "O. William." (Sorry dad, you're idea of discipline was outlawed by the Geneva Convention in 1949...)

And for your learning pleasure this evening... we all have heard about it, but this is the summary of the protections afforded to prisoners of war and war criminals.

Protected persons are entitled, in all circumstances, to respect for their persons, their honour, their family rights, their religious convictions and practices, and their manners and customs. They shall, at all times, be humanely treated, and shall be protected, especially against all acts of violence or threats thereof and against insults and public curiosity. Women shall be especially protected against any attack on their honour, in particular against rape, enforced prostitution, or any form of indecent assault. Without prejudice to the provisions relating to their state of health, age and sex, all protected persons shall be treated with the same consideration by the Party to the conflict in whose power they are, without any adverse distinction based, in particular, on race, religion or political opinion. However, the Parties to the conflict may take such measures of control and security in regard to protected persons as may be necessary as a result of the war. ”
—- Article 27, Fourth Geneva Convention

One For All....

The family gets together fairly often for movie night. Tonight was such a night and after we dismissed more Tom Hanks movies than I realized I actually had, the mutual decision was made to watch the Three Musketeers.

This version of the film was made in 1993 and it's still one of my favorites. Charlie Sheen (strangely enough) received top bill. Keifer Sutherland, Chris O'Donnell and Oliver Platt along with Tim Curry and Rebecca De Mornay are also in it. The movie does not follow Dumas' work to the letter, the "accents" are pretty abhorrent (O'Donnell can't even pronounce his own name.) And last but not least there are a lot of continuity errors in the film. So why is it one of my favorites?
* Dialogue - witty
* Comedic timing
* Action and Pacing
* Musical score
* The acting / script is good enough that I can overlook the flaws.

When I watch this movie, time flies because even though I know what's coming it's (for me) a perfect mix of action / adventure, romance and sarcasm. If you haven't seen it, it's a pretty jolly romp if you keep your expectations realistic. In fact, I think I may have to watch it again.

The idea of the three musketeers is interesting to me - as is the musketeer in general. To me, they are the cops or the secret service of the day. Their job is to protect the king, the queen, the country and each other. Maybe in a way, we are all musketeers.

"This world is an uncertain realm, filled with danger. Honor underminded by the pursuit of power, freedom sacrificed when the weak are oppressed by the strong. But there are those who oppose these powerful forces, who dedicate their lives to truth, honor, and freedom. These men are known as Musketeers."

Day 69 - Birthday Wishes

March 19, 1971, was a Friday. Headline stories in the morning papers around the country include an antiwar protest in Boston outside a hotel yesterday, where Vice-President Spiro Agnew gave a fiery anti-media speech at a Republican fundraiser. A crowd estimated at 3,500 clashed with a group of hard-hats before being pushed back by police. Today, the prime interest rate is adjusted down, from 5.38 percent to 5.25 percent. (It will go back up in April.) In Texas, Amarillo Air Force Base closes. In the current edition of Life, TV critic John Leonard eviscerates the CBS-TV series All in the Family, which premiered in January, calling it “a wretched program” and “insulting.” The cover story, written by Norman Mailer, is about the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight of March 8, won by Frazier. Ali is also on the cover of the current Rolling Stone.

On this date in history... it was 40 years ago today at High Plains Baptist Hospital that my darling hubby took his first breath. Happy birthday honey... you are amazing!

Day 68 - A Piece of History

Everyone in life has a passion. They are passionate about something or someone, even if no one else knows what that passion is. It's one of God's more interesting gifts to us. I have a few things I could consider passions - my DH and my two darlings I am very passionate about, I'm passionate about helping others. I'm also passionate about writing. But one of the other things that I am truly passionate about is a story that started 99 years ago. As the anniversary draws near each year, I always find myself reading, contemplating and wondering about a cold, moonless night on calm seas where 1,517 people perished because of a set of circumstances that spiraled out of control.

I segue here because I will write more on the tragedy in April. I wanted to actually tell you about something I own - a piece of the Titanic.

When I was in New York City a couple of years ago, the TITANIC exhibition was there and my brother-in-law, my sister, my DH and I went to it. I can't really describe it to you, it HAS to be experienced and if you EVER have the chance... GO!!!

You will find at the end of the exhibition, you have the opportunity to buy books and tapes and all sorts of things that are pretty cool. Of COURSE I was going to buy something, but the question was what. I looked around high and low and dodged people right and left. I fell in love with a few of the books and some replicas of some of the instruments used on board and that type of thing. Then I found the one thing that WAS Titanic.

Before Titanic left port, there were 5,892 tons of coal loaded for the journey and much of that came from other ships who had to relinquish their loads because of a coal miner's strike that was going on at the time. Titanic burned almost 700 tons of coal a day and as she was just a couple of days into the trip when she sank, thousands of tons were scattered across the debris field.

The exhibition had custom made necklaces with some of the coal recovered from the sea floor inside. My daughters have matching glass hearts filled with coal and I have a cross filled with the same. I wear it proudly, though for a very long time I was afraid to. I was afraid of it breaking or me losing it or something like that. However, I realized if we all live our lives in fear, we wouldn't have a life worth living. That necklace is a pretty good reminder to me to live fearlessly. And that's what I try to do.

If you want to see a permanent exhibition, Branson,MO has one and here's the link for you. http://www.titanicbranson.com/

Like I said... I will write more in April on Titanic... but in case you are wondering how this "lady" became a passion of mine. It all started in 6th grade at St. Joseph's Elementary School and a dreaded report. I don't remember exactly what the assignment was, but I do remember I couldn't think of a darned thing to write. I looked all over the house for some inspiration - everything from my father's Yankees baseball contract to flipping through pages in the encyclopedia (A big set of expensive books that quickly became outdated.) I remember sitting in the living room going through a book of old newspaper articles and found this.....

My heart was touched and I sat in the living room crying as I read and reread the article many times over. Yes, I did make an A on the paper, but I learned more than Mrs. Akeroyd anticipated.

Day 67 - A Day for the Irish or the Tired

Happy St. Patrick's day to one and all. I hope this day has found you blessed beyond measure and full of joy and if not joy... beer. This has been one of the longest days or rather, it has felt like one of the longest days. It's 9:30pm and I'm in my jammies already tucked in bed because my level of exhaustion is through the roof. I am hoping a blessed sleep comes quickly. However, I did want to try to jot a few thoughts before I drifted off in the Land of Nod.

My cousin-in-law's wife, her sister and the FIVE children are in town visiting. I have decided a few things after this visit that are crystal clear and really have nothing to do with any of them.

1) I am not a little people person. I never have been a little people person. Even when my own children were small, I can say I was not a huge fan. Yes, I loved them more than life itself (and I still do.) However, I have to say that as they have gotten older, I really do find them a lot more interesting. I love listening to what they have to say and I love watching their thought processes. My girls have changed immensely from six to sixteen and now they are starting to know who they are and they express themselves in a way that I can truly appreciate. I know there are millions of women who loooooooove babies and the little ones. I have to say, with the rare exception (my nephew Erik for one), I'll take a teenager any day of the week. I'm sure there are many who will claim sacrilege. I say, "honest."

2) My children are now old enough that when I was asked to buy 3T-4T pull-ups tonight, I was actually confused. I purchase bras and panties for my girls and haven't even looked at a pull-up in many a moon (slight pun intended.) I was so grateful I didn't have to regularly shop at Babies R Us or Toys R Us or anything like that any more. I was instantly grateful that I no longer had to worry about breast feeding or formula or baby cereal or food or diaper bags or toys or pacifiers or bottles or sippy cups. The relief was instantaneous and I made eldest DD carry the pull-ups to the register so I wouldn't have to. And really... even though we went through our fair share of pull-ups, I still wonder what all the fuss is about because truthfully, kids know how to undo their own diapers at that age. Seriously wonder if you could throw a poise pad in a pair of panties and have better results. Oh well... until grandchildren many moons from now - my days are done.

3) My final thought on the children thing is noise. Oh mother. My girls can make more noise than the Texas Jam sometimes and my head can ring for quite awhile. However, because they are older, the noise level is usually not this piercing "shriek" that can be heard by dogs 23 miles away. Multiply that shriek by four and add in a newborn baby's subtle cry (not the "feed me now lest I kill you in your sleep" cry) it was LOUD. And don't tell me you don't know the shrieking I'm talking about because ever since the first dogs looked at Adam and Eve's kids, they had that moment where they looked at each other and said, "Seriously? That's annoying and it hurts our little ears." Piece together the shrieks of the little ones with the fact American Idol was on and the fact that I had a long day at work and am rather cranky.... you can imagine my relief when my eldest advised me she had to go to Barnes and Noble to get a book for school.

I know I have been rambling and I'm sure I have much more to say, but will work on it later. Huggies and Goodnights...