Pain management. What a concept. After two nights of no sleep, my post op doc visit yesterday yielded a new pain relief tool -- percocet.
Wow. The doc wasn't kidding when he said he'd give me something stronger. I slept like a baby. And dreamed in technicolor and then some. Vivid, weird, almost epic-length dreams. (Clearly I missed something in all those years of just saying no!)
One dream I think might actually be worth sharing with city leaders, for I now have a 'vision' for just how to bring one of Cincinnati's most historic, and currently most troubled, on-the-edge neighborhoods back. Well, at least bring it back aesthetically. I'll leave the social problems to the bevy of fine organizations (my own employer included) already at work in the neighborhoods.
As I told nurse this morning...
"I was lost in Price Hill, and J came to find me because I was late for dinner at her house. You know, she used to live there. We were climbing up and down all those hills . And my knee didn't hurt. And it was a really cool, safe place."
"That's nice. Do you want some coffee? I made coffee. Didn't you hear the grinder?"
"No, I was in Price Hill. The row houses were like really spruced up... they had terraces. And people were sitting outside, drinking wine. And then there was a sushi place."
"Why would you go to Price Hill for sushi? Did they have espresso bars too? Y'know, Price Hill could use an espresso bar; right next to Price Hill Chili. It's 9 o'clock. Did you take more medicine? What time did you take the medicine?"
"And the sidewalks... they were really smooth. Like marble. It was really amazing. Everything was gentrified. There were no cash advance stores. No 'we buy ugly houses' signs on the street poles. I wish I could draw. Then you could see what I mean. It looked so cool..."
"How many did you take? And everyone had a little white dog, right? Really...let's get you some coffee."
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Thanksgiving
I can hardly believe that we are rolling around to the holiday season again. I thoroughly embrace the holiday season of Thanksgiving and Christmas. You see for me.....my biggest cooking day of the year is Thanksgiving Day. My mother freely surrendered this day to me about 6 years ago. I didn't think it would happen quite honestly because my mother likes to cook and the holidays are her big days too. As maddening as that day will be (I always forget about the madness until the very day) I love the prep work....the selection of recipes, the grocery shopping and all of the chopping, mincing, peeling, grating and basting.
I have learned what works and what doesn't work. (The Cranberry Sauce with five-spice seasoning last year was not a hit.) I have learned to pull in some cherished family recipes with some new exciting side dishes. I have learned that if you want turkey sandwiches the next day....you must get a bigger bird! Which....I do every year since my first go around at this! Probably the most important thing I have learned though is that when Mom says she wants to come early to help........have a project in mind for her to keep her busy and out of the way! Also, a nice big glass of wine before she arrives also tends to keep frustrations down to a minimum.
I am now going to do something on this blog that I have never done since I started blogging.........I am going to share a recipe. Not just any recipe mind you.....this is my family recipe for Sweet Potato (Yams) Casserole - passed down from my great aunt Ady. This is a family favorite and I have always received rave reviews from those folks that have tasted it or tried it at home.
Rita's Sweet Potato Casserole
3 or 4 Sweet Potatoes or Yams
Cinnamon
Dark Brown Sugar
1 Granny Smith Apple (or any good tart apple)
1 stick of butter
Mini marshmallows or pecans (optional)
Peel sweet potatoes and boil the sweet potatoes until fork tender. You don't want them to be mushy. This isn't a mashed potato recipe. Set aside to cool slightly.
Slice the Granny Smith Apple in thin slices - crescent moon type of slices.
Slice the sweet potatoes about 1/3 of an inch thick slices and begin layering the slices in a casserole dish. After you have one layer of potatoes, add one layer of apples followed by a small handful of brown sugar and sprinkles of cinnamon. At the top of this layer, add two or three slices of butter. REPEAT the layers until you fill the dish. (I would suggest that you go every other layer with apples because they can add water to the recipe as they cook)
Once you have filled your casserole with the last bit of butter at the top - bake in a 350 degree uncovered for approximately 40 minutes.
*If you prefer, you can top the recipe off with mini marshmellows.
*I have also added chopped pecans to this recipe from time to time as well.
TA TA!!
I have learned what works and what doesn't work. (The Cranberry Sauce with five-spice seasoning last year was not a hit.) I have learned to pull in some cherished family recipes with some new exciting side dishes. I have learned that if you want turkey sandwiches the next day....you must get a bigger bird! Which....I do every year since my first go around at this! Probably the most important thing I have learned though is that when Mom says she wants to come early to help........have a project in mind for her to keep her busy and out of the way! Also, a nice big glass of wine before she arrives also tends to keep frustrations down to a minimum.
I am now going to do something on this blog that I have never done since I started blogging.........I am going to share a recipe. Not just any recipe mind you.....this is my family recipe for Sweet Potato (Yams) Casserole - passed down from my great aunt Ady. This is a family favorite and I have always received rave reviews from those folks that have tasted it or tried it at home.
Rita's Sweet Potato Casserole
3 or 4 Sweet Potatoes or Yams
Cinnamon
Dark Brown Sugar
1 Granny Smith Apple (or any good tart apple)
1 stick of butter
Mini marshmallows or pecans (optional)
Peel sweet potatoes and boil the sweet potatoes until fork tender. You don't want them to be mushy. This isn't a mashed potato recipe. Set aside to cool slightly.
Slice the Granny Smith Apple in thin slices - crescent moon type of slices.
Slice the sweet potatoes about 1/3 of an inch thick slices and begin layering the slices in a casserole dish. After you have one layer of potatoes, add one layer of apples followed by a small handful of brown sugar and sprinkles of cinnamon. At the top of this layer, add two or three slices of butter. REPEAT the layers until you fill the dish. (I would suggest that you go every other layer with apples because they can add water to the recipe as they cook)
Once you have filled your casserole with the last bit of butter at the top - bake in a 350 degree uncovered for approximately 40 minutes.
*If you prefer, you can top the recipe off with mini marshmellows.
*I have also added chopped pecans to this recipe from time to time as well.
TA TA!!
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Post-Op Musings
- I have a GREAT nurse. She's kept me fed (meatloaf and peas!), watered, properly elevated, iced and drugged, taken out the trash, provided excellent reading material, and seems to be dealing quite well with all the little quirks anesthesia brings out in me. And I'm sure she was THRILLED to go back to work today and rest.
- About the little quirks. On Sunday I completely re-arranged all the furniture and decor items in my house. I decided if I had to sit and look at it for three days or so, it needed to change. Then I became OBSESSED with keeping it neat. That only grew post-op. I must have asked 14 times yesterday that the rug in front of the sofa be straightened. And that the candles on the mantle be moved just a smidge to the left. That the new artwork on the dining room wall -- visible from my sofa perch -- be straightened and if it wouldn't stay, tacked down with two-sided tape.
- The most annoying quirk -- the five miles of Ace wrap attached to my leg. I've pinned it, pulled it, re-wrapped it, and right about now, am wondering what purpose it really serves.
- The knee was apparently not a pretty site on the inside. I seem to have no cartilage, much arthritis. I'm eager to get the sentence directly from the doc on Friday. Then I'll be seeking a new gym -- one with a pool and pilates. URRRGh. What the hell can I do with an I-pod in a pool?
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Closets
I guess at some point in our lesbian lives we live in a closet. Some of us live completely inside with the door locked tight. Some of us leave it opened just a crack just to peek out a bit. And some of us leave the door partially open and move in and out of the closet........this is where I am.
I am not out at work and I am partially out to some of my family members. All of my friends who are worth anything to me know that I am gay. I don't feel the work thing is an issue because it is all about my performance there and not who I choose to go home to every evening. However, it gets a little trickier with my family. Several of them I have come out to but most of them I have not. Do they already know? There is not a doubt in my mind that some of them know and choose to accept me for me regardless if I say anything to them. Several of my aunts do not know and I have made it my business not to inform them mainly because of their religious values or in the case of one.........gossip issues. She's a regular "mouth of the south" she is........a real piece o' work.
Well lately,the "piece o' work" has been sniffing around to my Mom with comments like " I don't know....I think Rita is gay".....that type of thing. While some of you may say.......wow....if she thinks you are already....then why don't you just tell her? My Mom had that reaction and I said......no thank you. You see......this particular aunt..........can take information about people and spread it to the four corners of the earth WITH her own spin on it.........adding editorial comments to further degrade the situation. Plus the fact that she likes to act as the moral majority already at family gatherings and it just makes me think...........why would I invite more stress into my life? By opening up to her, I am opening myself up to more scrutiny later on a broader religious scale at a time of her choosing.
It is very easy to say....."Oh just tell everybody and get it out" and it will all be over with. It is so easy to think that way when it is not YOU. When it is not you who is going to sit down and say...."Hey everybody I'm gay!". They have no idea what all of this means because at the end of the day I am the one doing the fighting to defend my life.
My mother probably has the worst time dealing with it because she knows it IS my decision to tell the other family members........not hers. However, she doesn't like the fact that she has to play dumb when confronted with the subtle questions or suggestions about it. She is quick to say that she would assist in defending me because I am her child and she will battle for her cub. While this provides a bit of comfort.......she is getting older and I don't know whether she could withstand what my aunt is capable of shoveling out.
My "gayness" has the tendency to come around as a topic of discussion from time to time and this too shall pass methinks. However, if she asks me, I am not so sure that I would not tell her. It just opens my personal life up to such scrutiny that I cringe at the thought of her "needing" to know my business.
When does needing to know suddenly become the right to know?
I am not out at work and I am partially out to some of my family members. All of my friends who are worth anything to me know that I am gay. I don't feel the work thing is an issue because it is all about my performance there and not who I choose to go home to every evening. However, it gets a little trickier with my family. Several of them I have come out to but most of them I have not. Do they already know? There is not a doubt in my mind that some of them know and choose to accept me for me regardless if I say anything to them. Several of my aunts do not know and I have made it my business not to inform them mainly because of their religious values or in the case of one.........gossip issues. She's a regular "mouth of the south" she is........a real piece o' work.
Well lately,the "piece o' work" has been sniffing around to my Mom with comments like " I don't know....I think Rita is gay".....that type of thing. While some of you may say.......wow....if she thinks you are already....then why don't you just tell her? My Mom had that reaction and I said......no thank you. You see......this particular aunt..........can take information about people and spread it to the four corners of the earth WITH her own spin on it.........adding editorial comments to further degrade the situation. Plus the fact that she likes to act as the moral majority already at family gatherings and it just makes me think...........why would I invite more stress into my life? By opening up to her, I am opening myself up to more scrutiny later on a broader religious scale at a time of her choosing.
It is very easy to say....."Oh just tell everybody and get it out" and it will all be over with. It is so easy to think that way when it is not YOU. When it is not you who is going to sit down and say...."Hey everybody I'm gay!". They have no idea what all of this means because at the end of the day I am the one doing the fighting to defend my life.
My mother probably has the worst time dealing with it because she knows it IS my decision to tell the other family members........not hers. However, she doesn't like the fact that she has to play dumb when confronted with the subtle questions or suggestions about it. She is quick to say that she would assist in defending me because I am her child and she will battle for her cub. While this provides a bit of comfort.......she is getting older and I don't know whether she could withstand what my aunt is capable of shoveling out.
My "gayness" has the tendency to come around as a topic of discussion from time to time and this too shall pass methinks. However, if she asks me, I am not so sure that I would not tell her. It just opens my personal life up to such scrutiny that I cringe at the thought of her "needing" to know my business.
When does needing to know suddenly become the right to know?
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Ouch. Still. But Not for Long...
Remember this from a few posts back? Well, it's still throbbing, cracking, creaking, locking, clicking, popping. And hurting. Thanks for letting me whine.
The good news is I'm a step closer to getting relief. Mere days, hopefully, as surgery is scheduled for 11/6.
Side bar: Yes, that's election day. And yes, I will still vote. I'm pretty sure I can hobble in to the polls and remain upright long enough to at least get Kentucky once step closer to a non-criminal new governor who just happens to be of the democratic persuasion. I'm looking at it as practice for 2008. It's too important this time around to miss.
Oddly, at 40-something, I've only had one brush with surgery of any kind, and that was wisdom teeth removal. I've never even had stitches, other than those put in after the wisdom teeth were removed. This is arthroscopic, so I'm hopeful it won't be too traumatic. God knows I nursed she-whose-name-i-don't-speak-in-this-blog through enough of them.
So go ahead, share the bevy of lesbian knee surgeries gone bad tales. I'm determined to stay positive and eager!
NFL hits London
While I would love for the title of this blog to say "NFL takes London" I don't think the two teams we sent over there today could "take" anything. I know that someone probably thought that the Dolphins and the Giants might make it a game worth watching but in hindset, it would have been much better to send a sure thing over to London.........like the Cowboys, Colts or Patsies. Either one of these teams would have been a better representation of what the National Football League has to offer.
Yet another bum decision being made at the executive level...........we are certainly showing consistancy to our neighbors across the pond. :\
Yet another bum decision being made at the executive level...........we are certainly showing consistancy to our neighbors across the pond. :\
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Ashes.
Flames. Destruction. Loss. Sadness.
I'm watching California burn.
But as the disaster unfolds, I'm finding it harder to keep watching the news coverage. What can I possibly say about the devastation from clear across the country?
That's what I'm thinking when an e-mail pops up, bringing news of another long-term lesbian couple gone kapput. Though I lost touch with them some time back, the news still causes me to gasp.
They REALLY thought it would never happen to them.
I've heard both say proudly that they'd proved all the nay-sayers wrong. They were going to outlast all of us who questioned why one or both would ever stay in such an obviously whacked-out relationship. Some of us, myself included, said this as our own long-term relationship(s) imploded/exploded/fizzled.
We watched their destructive moments, occasionally added fuel to the flames, enjoyed their hospitality, marveled at the ever-expanding collection of pets, and chalked the fact that it seemed to work up to some weird twist of fate or really freaky chemistry.
By my count they outlasted all but two of the six or so couples who were once some part of that circle. Yeah, I know what the stats say.
But I'm a sucker for a happy ending. Not naive. Just hopeful. Movie magic.
California's burning. And I'm not watching CNN any more today.
I'm watching California burn.
But as the disaster unfolds, I'm finding it harder to keep watching the news coverage. What can I possibly say about the devastation from clear across the country?
That's what I'm thinking when an e-mail pops up, bringing news of another long-term lesbian couple gone kapput. Though I lost touch with them some time back, the news still causes me to gasp.
They REALLY thought it would never happen to them.
I've heard both say proudly that they'd proved all the nay-sayers wrong. They were going to outlast all of us who questioned why one or both would ever stay in such an obviously whacked-out relationship. Some of us, myself included, said this as our own long-term relationship(s) imploded/exploded/fizzled.
We watched their destructive moments, occasionally added fuel to the flames, enjoyed their hospitality, marveled at the ever-expanding collection of pets, and chalked the fact that it seemed to work up to some weird twist of fate or really freaky chemistry.
By my count they outlasted all but two of the six or so couples who were once some part of that circle. Yeah, I know what the stats say.
But I'm a sucker for a happy ending. Not naive. Just hopeful. Movie magic.
California's burning. And I'm not watching CNN any more today.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Great songwriters
Lyn and I have been having an ongoing discussion lately about the great songwriters of the ages. It all started with a discussion about Bruce Springsteen's latest album and how much it sounds like his album of the 80's - Born in the U.S.A. Our conversation expanded out to his contribution to songwriting over the years.
If you had to name your top five songwriters, who would they be? I insisted that you have to have the likes of James Taylor on that list. How about Bob Dylan, Carole King or Melissa Etheridge? If you stop to think about it, it could be longer than a list of five. I also think that it is a sentimental thing with each one of us. Perhaps the right Jackson Browne or Kenny Loggins tune would cause one of them to be on your list of five.
Who are those songwriters who have really had a message and shared that message well? It does pause you to think a little bit. There are so many. I even reached back to the days of Roger and Hammerstein just for fun.
Here is my top five in no particular order:
1) James Taylor
2) Bruce Springsteen
3) John Lennon/Paul McCartney
4) Carole Bayer Sager
5) Stevie Wonder
Five is really too short of a list and is a huge injustice to those other songwriters I have been humming along with for years!
If you had to name your top five songwriters, who would they be? I insisted that you have to have the likes of James Taylor on that list. How about Bob Dylan, Carole King or Melissa Etheridge? If you stop to think about it, it could be longer than a list of five. I also think that it is a sentimental thing with each one of us. Perhaps the right Jackson Browne or Kenny Loggins tune would cause one of them to be on your list of five.
Who are those songwriters who have really had a message and shared that message well? It does pause you to think a little bit. There are so many. I even reached back to the days of Roger and Hammerstein just for fun.
Here is my top five in no particular order:
1) James Taylor
2) Bruce Springsteen
3) John Lennon/Paul McCartney
4) Carole Bayer Sager
5) Stevie Wonder
Five is really too short of a list and is a huge injustice to those other songwriters I have been humming along with for years!
Let's be frank about the NFL
Ok....let's talk about where we all are in the NFL season. Some of you out there are a little better off than the Bengals and some of you are a lot better off than the Bengals and some of that is because your team has beaten the Bengals!
But let's look at the facts as they stand right now. Let's all sit down and be honest with ourselves, shall we? If you are in the AFC, it does not matter what you do or how well your season is going along. The AFC representative in the Super Bowl is going to be the Colts or the Patsies. Plain and simple.........let's not sugar coat this anymore. What is the point? Both of them have outstanding records and are playing fantabulous football. Tom Brady may even set a few new records this season. This leaves the other AFC teams as bride's maids. I mean.....the Colts and the Patsies have to play someone right? We just can't give them immediate rights to the Superbowl. We have to make it look legit and everything.
Let's look at the NFC. I will ask those readers to weigh in on their NFC teams and correct me if I am wrong. Is the Dallas Cowboys the best that the NFC can do? I have to say.....if it is.....the NFC is as sunk as the other teams trying to win in the AFC. The AFC looks mighty strong right now. We have the two most powerful teams in the league.
So riddle me this........does the NFC have a team that can take the Colts or the Patsies down? If it came down to a Superbowl game, are we going to just skip it because its going to be a yawner or is it going to be a competitive match? The Patsies are damn near close to being called "The Evil Empire". For those of you not familiar with that nickname.........it is a name that has been given to the New York Yankees. Nobody wants to see the Yankees win because they have such a long history of doing it. Been there done that........its not worth sitting home watching it on TV if the Yankees are in it.
Inside Massachusetts, no one dares to think that the rest of the nation is thinking that of their Patriots........but we are. The team with the nickname "America's Team" is the Dallas Cowboys. At some point in the past, they had the old "Dubya" Texas swagger so I guess it might be a tip of the hat to those old Texas Republican oilmen.
But I digress...........what say ye? Is there a team out there that can break the back of the best two teams in the NFL? Remember, the Colts and the Patsies can't go there together. One has to win it all for the AFC. Being in the mid-west my money is on Peyton Manning. He has a quiet confidence and has nothing to prove.
If you are good and you come about it honestly, you have nothing to prove. Your game says it all.
TA TA!
But let's look at the facts as they stand right now. Let's all sit down and be honest with ourselves, shall we? If you are in the AFC, it does not matter what you do or how well your season is going along. The AFC representative in the Super Bowl is going to be the Colts or the Patsies. Plain and simple.........let's not sugar coat this anymore. What is the point? Both of them have outstanding records and are playing fantabulous football. Tom Brady may even set a few new records this season. This leaves the other AFC teams as bride's maids. I mean.....the Colts and the Patsies have to play someone right? We just can't give them immediate rights to the Superbowl. We have to make it look legit and everything.
Let's look at the NFC. I will ask those readers to weigh in on their NFC teams and correct me if I am wrong. Is the Dallas Cowboys the best that the NFC can do? I have to say.....if it is.....the NFC is as sunk as the other teams trying to win in the AFC. The AFC looks mighty strong right now. We have the two most powerful teams in the league.
So riddle me this........does the NFC have a team that can take the Colts or the Patsies down? If it came down to a Superbowl game, are we going to just skip it because its going to be a yawner or is it going to be a competitive match? The Patsies are damn near close to being called "The Evil Empire". For those of you not familiar with that nickname.........it is a name that has been given to the New York Yankees. Nobody wants to see the Yankees win because they have such a long history of doing it. Been there done that........its not worth sitting home watching it on TV if the Yankees are in it.
Inside Massachusetts, no one dares to think that the rest of the nation is thinking that of their Patriots........but we are. The team with the nickname "America's Team" is the Dallas Cowboys. At some point in the past, they had the old "Dubya" Texas swagger so I guess it might be a tip of the hat to those old Texas Republican oilmen.
But I digress...........what say ye? Is there a team out there that can break the back of the best two teams in the NFL? Remember, the Colts and the Patsies can't go there together. One has to win it all for the AFC. Being in the mid-west my money is on Peyton Manning. He has a quiet confidence and has nothing to prove.
If you are good and you come about it honestly, you have nothing to prove. Your game says it all.
TA TA!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
A Grey Moment
"Don't you dare come to me for forgiveness you traitorous bitch."
Repeat it five times slowly and file it away.
Who says lesbians can't learn from 'straight' television.
Best line of the week. Callie rocks.
Repeat it five times slowly and file it away.
Who says lesbians can't learn from 'straight' television.
Best line of the week. Callie rocks.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Feed Me
Bailey's on week three of her seizure med -- phenobarbital. No seizures so far, at least as observed by her circle of human caregivers. But I'll be starting the fundraising drive to keep her in dog food later this week.
All she does is eat. Or beg. Or belch. Or inventory hidden treats.
She's been a finicky eater all her life, rarely even sniffing her morning meal in my presence. Confident food will be there when she wants it, and replaced later in the day if it gets a bit stale-looking. We used to joke that she didn't eat on Sundays because she was fasting in observance of some higher canine power.
On day three of the meds she ate three full meals -- in two hours -- before I got control of myself and decided I should probably learn to ignore the whining. Then she went to the spa (grandma's) for a few days while I put in long hours at the office.
Her grandparents can't stand to see her beg -- they typically roast a chicken or turkey breast as soon as they know she's coming for a visit. So I warned them in advance that they simply couldn't feed her constantly or she'd balloon up to Basset size in no time.
I'm sure it was tough on all three of them. And I'm equally sure grandma came up with a solution by day two; grandpa would simply need to increase the number of walks. Not jaunts to the corner, but around the block and then some, from the usual two a day to three. Or four. Or maybe more.
All she does is eat. Or beg. Or belch. Or inventory hidden treats.
She's been a finicky eater all her life, rarely even sniffing her morning meal in my presence. Confident food will be there when she wants it, and replaced later in the day if it gets a bit stale-looking. We used to joke that she didn't eat on Sundays because she was fasting in observance of some higher canine power.
On day three of the meds she ate three full meals -- in two hours -- before I got control of myself and decided I should probably learn to ignore the whining. Then she went to the spa (grandma's) for a few days while I put in long hours at the office.
Her grandparents can't stand to see her beg -- they typically roast a chicken or turkey breast as soon as they know she's coming for a visit. So I warned them in advance that they simply couldn't feed her constantly or she'd balloon up to Basset size in no time.
I'm sure it was tough on all three of them. And I'm equally sure grandma came up with a solution by day two; grandpa would simply need to increase the number of walks. Not jaunts to the corner, but around the block and then some, from the usual two a day to three. Or four. Or maybe more.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Monday Without Meatloaf
Meatloaf definitely makes Monday's better, and clearly inspires creativity. No meatloaf, no posts. Hmm. Perhaps it's a conspiracy.
Or perhaps it's the old 'why would anyone read what I have to say' creeping in. I admire Rita's ability to post at will about any number of topics. Whereas I stress over what makes a worthwhile topic...kind of like I'm missing the point of the whole blogging thing, huh?
As I've started down the blogging path as a Working the Room contributor, I've been doing what any good novice would do and immersing myself in a number of lesbian blogs -- Hahn At Home and The Wishful Writer in particular. I've actually spent time reading the archives of these and others, so sucked in am I by a particular post or random turn of phrase.
I'm soooooo jealous. It seems to come so easy.
Have I spent too many years writing cheesy brochure copy, news releases and event scripts to actually remember how to be engaging, chatty, witty, able to banter at will? Could I ever? (E-mail flirting aside, since I may have actually succeeded at that on a couple of occasions. Accidently, of course.)
I had a very short first career as a news reporter turned feature writer and ultimately columnist. Sure, it was for a weekly newspaper in the late 80s. Pre-laptop, pre-WWW access, but still one of the most empowering things I've ever done. I remember writing my first column about the challenge of finding an apartment with character in suburban Dayton Ohio. That got me a date with a cute sports reporter for a sister newspaper, and, ultimately, the feature and column clips led me to an advertising job in a new, larger city with lots of character-filled apartments I could actually then afford.
And then... I woke up in my current state of mid-life crisis. I'm hoping this blogging thing is going to help move me beyond that. I'll keep reading. Keep writing. And keep hoping someone's at least occasionally mildly entertained.
Or perhaps it's the old 'why would anyone read what I have to say' creeping in. I admire Rita's ability to post at will about any number of topics. Whereas I stress over what makes a worthwhile topic...kind of like I'm missing the point of the whole blogging thing, huh?
As I've started down the blogging path as a Working the Room contributor, I've been doing what any good novice would do and immersing myself in a number of lesbian blogs -- Hahn At Home and The Wishful Writer in particular. I've actually spent time reading the archives of these and others, so sucked in am I by a particular post or random turn of phrase.
I'm soooooo jealous. It seems to come so easy.
Have I spent too many years writing cheesy brochure copy, news releases and event scripts to actually remember how to be engaging, chatty, witty, able to banter at will? Could I ever? (E-mail flirting aside, since I may have actually succeeded at that on a couple of occasions. Accidently, of course.)
I had a very short first career as a news reporter turned feature writer and ultimately columnist. Sure, it was for a weekly newspaper in the late 80s. Pre-laptop, pre-WWW access, but still one of the most empowering things I've ever done. I remember writing my first column about the challenge of finding an apartment with character in suburban Dayton Ohio. That got me a date with a cute sports reporter for a sister newspaper, and, ultimately, the feature and column clips led me to an advertising job in a new, larger city with lots of character-filled apartments I could actually then afford.
And then... I woke up in my current state of mid-life crisis. I'm hoping this blogging thing is going to help move me beyond that. I'll keep reading. Keep writing. And keep hoping someone's at least occasionally mildly entertained.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Disney World
On Friday, I had a conversation with a co-worker from Florida regarding her weekend plans to take her daughter to Disney World for the first time. This spawned into a 15 minute conversation solely on the whole concept of Disney World and how phenomenal it was for ourselves when we were children. Then, after that call finished, my co-worker in the next cube said he was going to Disney as well and we walked out of the building talking even more about the "wonders of Disney World".
For my overseas readers who have heard of Disney World and have never been able to go, I will do my best to fill you in on the wonderment of it all. It will be almost impossible in one blog sitting! However, I will say this, if you are going to make a trip to the United States, please make Disney World in Orlando Florida one of your must see stops. You and your family will never forget it.
Now....there are two Disney attractions in the U.S. - Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California. I can only speak to Disney World since I have only been to this park. I have never had an interest in seeing Disneyland since I have been told that Disney World is larger and more grand.
In the 1960's, the Disney World location was nothing but swamp land. By the time the theme park opened in 1971, this empty swamp land was turned into the most spectacular technologically advanced theme parks in the U.S. Unfortunately, Walt Disney himself did not live to see the doors open since he died in 1966. However, his futuristic creative ideas transformed how we would view amusement parks from that day forward. Many of the technologies that Disney used in the robotics of the theme rides like Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted House or the Hall of Presidents are viewed as the best way to do things even today.
My first trip to Disney World's Magic Kingdom (Magic Kingdom was the only park in the Disney World space at the time - it has grown to include Epcot Center, MGM Studios, Typhoon Lagoon etc etc) was when I was twelve and it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. Presidents coming to life on a stage.....moving around and talking! Pretty exciting stuff for a twelve year old I must say! It is amazing to me (and my co-workers) that even today when we go back as adults how this technology still has us in awe. I mean....it was fantabulous when we were twelve but it is still advanced even today!
Walt Disney was a forward-thinker and the parks that bear his name are still forward-thinking in their advancements. As I write about this today, I am getting excited like the Disney mothership is hovering over the house right now to whisk me down there. Alas......that is not the case. I don't have any near future plans to make a trip to Disney in the next year. I have been to Disney World three times in my lifetime and I will make a fourth trip if my "partner in crime" will oblige my rambunctious inner child the opportunity.
Here are some websites for more information on The Wonderful World of Disney:
http://www.disneyworldtrivia.com/
http://corporate.disney.go.com/corporate/complete_history.html
For my overseas readers who have heard of Disney World and have never been able to go, I will do my best to fill you in on the wonderment of it all. It will be almost impossible in one blog sitting! However, I will say this, if you are going to make a trip to the United States, please make Disney World in Orlando Florida one of your must see stops. You and your family will never forget it.
Now....there are two Disney attractions in the U.S. - Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California. I can only speak to Disney World since I have only been to this park. I have never had an interest in seeing Disneyland since I have been told that Disney World is larger and more grand.
In the 1960's, the Disney World location was nothing but swamp land. By the time the theme park opened in 1971, this empty swamp land was turned into the most spectacular technologically advanced theme parks in the U.S. Unfortunately, Walt Disney himself did not live to see the doors open since he died in 1966. However, his futuristic creative ideas transformed how we would view amusement parks from that day forward. Many of the technologies that Disney used in the robotics of the theme rides like Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted House or the Hall of Presidents are viewed as the best way to do things even today.
My first trip to Disney World's Magic Kingdom (Magic Kingdom was the only park in the Disney World space at the time - it has grown to include Epcot Center, MGM Studios, Typhoon Lagoon etc etc) was when I was twelve and it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. Presidents coming to life on a stage.....moving around and talking! Pretty exciting stuff for a twelve year old I must say! It is amazing to me (and my co-workers) that even today when we go back as adults how this technology still has us in awe. I mean....it was fantabulous when we were twelve but it is still advanced even today!
Walt Disney was a forward-thinker and the parks that bear his name are still forward-thinking in their advancements. As I write about this today, I am getting excited like the Disney mothership is hovering over the house right now to whisk me down there. Alas......that is not the case. I don't have any near future plans to make a trip to Disney in the next year. I have been to Disney World three times in my lifetime and I will make a fourth trip if my "partner in crime" will oblige my rambunctious inner child the opportunity.
Here are some websites for more information on The Wonderful World of Disney:
http://www.disneyworldtrivia.com/
http://corporate.disney.go.com/corporate/complete_history.html
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Nicknames
I just have to ask this question......if you have a significant other in your life, do you have a special nickname for him/her? How did you derive the name? I admit that Lyn and I both have nicknames for each other that are used from time to time. Of course, if I divulge it here I would probably lose my blogging privileges! ;-)
However, since my the blog comments can be anonymous I am encouraged that I will hear all kinds of silly things as a result of this blog. Fire away!
However, since my the blog comments can be anonymous I am encouraged that I will hear all kinds of silly things as a result of this blog. Fire away!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Marion Jones
Until this week, I had forgotten about Marion Jones and her denials of using performance enhancing drugs. This week she joins the ranks of other infamous lying sport stars who have watched their careers incinerate before their eyes.
Marion has been lying about this for six years and it is going to cost her dearly. She has had to return her five medals from the 2000 Olympic games and will also have to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money she has collected over that time frame. Oh yeah she is sorry. She did as most of the sports stars have done. She went on TV and said she was sorry and ashamed and cried a bit more than most of the other infamous liars.
What is worst though....and it does get worse......the teammates that were on two of the winning relay teams may be forced to give back their medals as well. After all, they won as a team with Marion's help. Fair? No...I don't think so but unfortunately I think it is the legitimate thing to do. I realize that these other women were not aware of her drug use and may feel that they should not be penalized. However, the team that they won on was tainted and all of those medals deserve to go to the team who played the sport honestly. I realize that the other women gave their "all" and performed an honest race....however.....would they have won it without Marion? That's a hard thing to say.
If Marion did not hand over her medals, nor was asked to, I would feel a little differently about the rest of the team not handing over their medals. I realize that the feelings run deep on this one. They are in shock about all this but ultimately do they want to say....."this is my medal from the 2000 Olympic relay team which was strickened from the record books." It may be that they say.....ok...you can keep the medals but they are not legitimate because we are now recognizing Greece in the books as winning the Gold medal.
Fairness or doing the right thing?
Marion has been lying about this for six years and it is going to cost her dearly. She has had to return her five medals from the 2000 Olympic games and will also have to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money she has collected over that time frame. Oh yeah she is sorry. She did as most of the sports stars have done. She went on TV and said she was sorry and ashamed and cried a bit more than most of the other infamous liars.
What is worst though....and it does get worse......the teammates that were on two of the winning relay teams may be forced to give back their medals as well. After all, they won as a team with Marion's help. Fair? No...I don't think so but unfortunately I think it is the legitimate thing to do. I realize that these other women were not aware of her drug use and may feel that they should not be penalized. However, the team that they won on was tainted and all of those medals deserve to go to the team who played the sport honestly. I realize that the other women gave their "all" and performed an honest race....however.....would they have won it without Marion? That's a hard thing to say.
If Marion did not hand over her medals, nor was asked to, I would feel a little differently about the rest of the team not handing over their medals. I realize that the feelings run deep on this one. They are in shock about all this but ultimately do they want to say....."this is my medal from the 2000 Olympic relay team which was strickened from the record books." It may be that they say.....ok...you can keep the medals but they are not legitimate because we are now recognizing Greece in the books as winning the Gold medal.
Fairness or doing the right thing?
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Ghost results
Ok.....I am going to preface my blog entry today with the statement that my "Working the Room" blog is not going to turn into a ghost blog. :) Both Lyn and I are too opinionated to be partial to ghost entries every single day. So........I will probably create a new blog dedicated to our ghostly adventures and link it back to this one!
Our adventure at the home of my co-worker proved to be a disappointing one. The normally frisky spirit clammed up tighter than an oyster shell while we were in the house. We took a lot of pictures - digital and 35mm, recorded about 45 minutes of audio and had a video camera positioned upstairs to try and gain something we would have missed while spending our time in the basement of her home. After reviewing the data last night, while we gained a better foothold on what we should have done and not done, we did not record any ghostly data. In fact the most excitement we had on our first ghostly tour was my friend getting spooked by a electronic air freshener that chose to go off 3 feet above her head in the basement. We did record the screams on that one and it was all very very funny.
So while we didn't get any real data on this trip, we are looking forward to our next adventure. I would like to go out once a month to experience some kind of phenomena. I still believe that ghosthunting is feast or famine.........probably famine most of the time. So we have to be patient. I am sure that we are not going to experience something every time we go out. The door to my co-worker's house has been left open to us in case we want to make a return trip there someday and give it another shot. Always a good option............
In the meantime.....I will work on another blog in the next few weeks and link it back to this one for everyone who may be interested in reading about this type of thing. I have to say it was still very exciting and I look forward to my next adventure!
Our adventure at the home of my co-worker proved to be a disappointing one. The normally frisky spirit clammed up tighter than an oyster shell while we were in the house. We took a lot of pictures - digital and 35mm, recorded about 45 minutes of audio and had a video camera positioned upstairs to try and gain something we would have missed while spending our time in the basement of her home. After reviewing the data last night, while we gained a better foothold on what we should have done and not done, we did not record any ghostly data. In fact the most excitement we had on our first ghostly tour was my friend getting spooked by a electronic air freshener that chose to go off 3 feet above her head in the basement. We did record the screams on that one and it was all very very funny.
So while we didn't get any real data on this trip, we are looking forward to our next adventure. I would like to go out once a month to experience some kind of phenomena. I still believe that ghosthunting is feast or famine.........probably famine most of the time. So we have to be patient. I am sure that we are not going to experience something every time we go out. The door to my co-worker's house has been left open to us in case we want to make a return trip there someday and give it another shot. Always a good option............
In the meantime.....I will work on another blog in the next few weeks and link it back to this one for everyone who may be interested in reading about this type of thing. I have to say it was still very exciting and I look forward to my next adventure!
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Ghost adventure
It is Sunday morning and I find myself up early (as usual) thinking about my first ghost adventure tomorrow night. My friends and I will be going to the home of a co-worker who has had some mysterious things happening at her house for years. We have managed to equip ourselves with some basic "equipment" so that we can try and catch some ghostly phenomena in action. I can easily see how you could spend quite a bit of money on this type of thing so we are moving slowly with this hobby.
Tomorrow nights investigation should be interesting. I have prepared myself to experience "something" while I am there so I am not caught by surprised if something dramatic should happen. I don't want to be the first one running from the house! So expect the unexpected is my thought process right now as I try to keep my mind open and skeptical. You have to be a bit of a skeptic with this whole thing so you can rule out local environmental impacters (noisy water pipes, etc) as voices from beyond the grave.
My co-worker and her husband have lived with this "ghost" for some time and have gotten used to its presence in their home. Apparently it has made one playful appearance to their grandson and gave the little guy a good scare. Children and animals are much more open-minded and naive so they will see ghosts more often. Me on the other hand.....closing in on age 42..........require a stockpile of electronic equipment just to get a glimpse of them. I'm thinking we could have just rented a child for the night and he/she could provide all the data we need! I can't help but be reminded of the little boy in the Sixth Sense......"I see dead people".
Lyn will be staying home tomorrow night still recovering from the fact that I am out gallivanting after ghosts. Yes.....she is a true skeptic but I think some of that skepticism is derived out of the idea that she might actually have a ghostly encounter and that would counterattack years of sound reasoning and practical judgement. I am hoping that after hearing a few ghostly recordings she will come around. It is doubtful that she will ever come out on a ghost expedition with me but she may stop evaluating the need to refer me to a good psychiatrist and submit a new personal ad to Match.com!
TA TA!
Monday, October 01, 2007
Monday Meatloaf Meanderings
Since I'm avoiding the impending Monday Night Football fiasco, a few thoughts from this lesbian life as the week begins...
Meatloaf is good stuff. Especially when someone else makes it for you. Thanks Rita. Low-carb without bread crumbs and all... it's still comfort food. Hated it when I was a kid. Love it now and I'm convinced it's all about the comfort. Yummy good. Especially when it's a Monday leftover.
Coffee is good stuff, too, and a Red Eye is the best way I know to start off the work week. It's even better when it's free. This morning I waited patiently in the drive-thru line at my local independent coffee purveyor -- JET Coffee. It's just down the street from the green mermaid place and doing its darndest to inspire loyalty in its customers without a multi-million $ concept and brand standards out the wazoo. I stop now because it's on the right side of the street and just before the highway onramp -- no left turns required. For the previous few years I stopped for a smile from barista Elizabeth. But she's off to grad school in Iowa (????) so I settle for the coffee.
And today it was FREE.
Apparently a regular customer every so often hands over a $20 and says 'pay it forward' or the coffee equivalent, meaning the next few cars in line get a free fix. How cool is that? Doesn't it make you wonder what little thing each of us might be able to do to share the love on a Monday...it did me. I'll keep you posted on what I come up with.
I also want to muse for a moment on the cool lesbian flick we caught almost by accident this weekend. The Gymnast is a beautifully shot look at a mid-life crisis (far different from my own!) and a former athlete's journey to reclaim her past athletic/artistic success while discovering her own sex/sense-uality. She finds incredible strength within herself, both physical and emotional. Though I'm embarassed to say I'd picked the wrong woman as the love interest for the lead character... yes, I saw the poster in the lobby.
Meatloaf is good stuff. Especially when someone else makes it for you. Thanks Rita. Low-carb without bread crumbs and all... it's still comfort food. Hated it when I was a kid. Love it now and I'm convinced it's all about the comfort. Yummy good. Especially when it's a Monday leftover.
Coffee is good stuff, too, and a Red Eye is the best way I know to start off the work week. It's even better when it's free. This morning I waited patiently in the drive-thru line at my local independent coffee purveyor -- JET Coffee. It's just down the street from the green mermaid place and doing its darndest to inspire loyalty in its customers without a multi-million $ concept and brand standards out the wazoo. I stop now because it's on the right side of the street and just before the highway onramp -- no left turns required. For the previous few years I stopped for a smile from barista Elizabeth. But she's off to grad school in Iowa (????) so I settle for the coffee.
And today it was FREE.
Apparently a regular customer every so often hands over a $20 and says 'pay it forward' or the coffee equivalent, meaning the next few cars in line get a free fix. How cool is that? Doesn't it make you wonder what little thing each of us might be able to do to share the love on a Monday...it did me. I'll keep you posted on what I come up with.
I also want to muse for a moment on the cool lesbian flick we caught almost by accident this weekend. The Gymnast is a beautifully shot look at a mid-life crisis (far different from my own!) and a former athlete's journey to reclaim her past athletic/artistic success while discovering her own sex/sense-uality. She finds incredible strength within herself, both physical and emotional. Though I'm embarassed to say I'd picked the wrong woman as the love interest for the lead character... yes, I saw the poster in the lobby.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Boo!
Ok....before I begin to talk about something really scary (the Bengals and Patriots game on Monday night) I must comment on the whole ghost thing!
Now I know it might be a bit freaky to think about the whole ghosthunting thing but this is something that I am really fascinated by. Personally....I have never seen a ghost.....ever. I have had friends who look so bad they are ghost-like.....perhaps even ghoulish........but I have never actually seen something from the great beyond. The ghost shows on TV intrigue me and the stories that people recall about being terrorized by spirits can be very unnerving. So I can't help but be fascinated by the whole paranormal phenomena. I am an Aquarius after all and we have eccentric interests so I am par for the course here.
There used to be a television show on called Haunted.....Haunting...something like that....from the UK that I really enjoyed. These folks would bring psychics with them to feel out the spirits even more and provide background information. They had all sorts of fun on that program.
Anyway.....I am slowly building the necessary equipment to catch some paranormal activity. Oh yes......no shoes.....but some nice electronic equipment that might provide some concrete results that these things are amongst us. So anyway.....more on that if something exciting happens.
***************************
Ok......the Bengals play the Patriots on Monday Night Football. While in years past I would be excited about the prospects of kicking some Patriot-ass, I am not thrilled about this meeting. The Bengals (somehow) have managed to start the year with disastrous results. We are now 1-2 thanks to losses to Cleveland and Seattle. Just fabulous! Now we have the Patriots at home in front of a nationwide television audience and stand a good chance of being even more embarrassed.
It is my hope......that somewhere......from someones pocket....playbook....diary......we managed to pull together some plays, tricks, slight of hand........that allows us to beat the Patsies. Could it be that the Patsies will take us for granted after our last two losses and not bring their game? This would be my fondest wish because I would really like to be the one sending a voicemail to my Boston friends after a win against them.
This is probably the only game that I will watch with my eyes closed. GO BENGALS!
Now I know it might be a bit freaky to think about the whole ghosthunting thing but this is something that I am really fascinated by. Personally....I have never seen a ghost.....ever. I have had friends who look so bad they are ghost-like.....perhaps even ghoulish........but I have never actually seen something from the great beyond. The ghost shows on TV intrigue me and the stories that people recall about being terrorized by spirits can be very unnerving. So I can't help but be fascinated by the whole paranormal phenomena. I am an Aquarius after all and we have eccentric interests so I am par for the course here.
There used to be a television show on called Haunted.....Haunting...something like that....from the UK that I really enjoyed. These folks would bring psychics with them to feel out the spirits even more and provide background information. They had all sorts of fun on that program.
Anyway.....I am slowly building the necessary equipment to catch some paranormal activity. Oh yes......no shoes.....but some nice electronic equipment that might provide some concrete results that these things are amongst us. So anyway.....more on that if something exciting happens.
***************************
Ok......the Bengals play the Patriots on Monday Night Football. While in years past I would be excited about the prospects of kicking some Patriot-ass, I am not thrilled about this meeting. The Bengals (somehow) have managed to start the year with disastrous results. We are now 1-2 thanks to losses to Cleveland and Seattle. Just fabulous! Now we have the Patriots at home in front of a nationwide television audience and stand a good chance of being even more embarrassed.
It is my hope......that somewhere......from someones pocket....playbook....diary......we managed to pull together some plays, tricks, slight of hand........that allows us to beat the Patsies. Could it be that the Patsies will take us for granted after our last two losses and not bring their game? This would be my fondest wish because I would really like to be the one sending a voicemail to my Boston friends after a win against them.
This is probably the only game that I will watch with my eyes closed. GO BENGALS!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Who Ya Gonna Call?
Let me start by acknowledging I'm a skeptic about many things in life -- the 'paranormal' is just one more. See previous posts on religious upbringing for proof.
Let me also say I fully support individuals' freedom to choose and pursue any and all hobbies they like. Have fun. Really. That said...
Rita and another friend have a new hobby. They are going to chase ghosts. In graveyards. In peoples' homes. Really. Give them a call. They'll soon be appropriately outfitted and will be glad to check it out. Equipment is being purchased as I type.
*hum theme from ghostbusters here*
The root of all this was an opportunity for local folks to participate in a ghosthunting at a local courthouse that's 100+ years old and, being in Kentucky, was likely the site of all sorts of mischief. When they tried to register to attend, they found the event was at capacity and they were on a waiting list of some 85 people (!?).
The madness has ensued from there. Best as I can tell (since I chose not to join in last night's preview of the new Ghost Hunters TV series) they've actually purchased some sort of recording device, are looking into some other piece of ghost-spotting paraphernalia, and possibly even shoes. Spooktacular! It's not even October.
If you've had a ghostly visitor in your dwelling, share my skepticism or want to hang out with a non-ghosthunting kind of gal while her friends are in pursuit of.... whatever, let us know!
Let me also say I fully support individuals' freedom to choose and pursue any and all hobbies they like. Have fun. Really. That said...
Rita and another friend have a new hobby. They are going to chase ghosts. In graveyards. In peoples' homes. Really. Give them a call. They'll soon be appropriately outfitted and will be glad to check it out. Equipment is being purchased as I type.
*hum theme from ghostbusters here*
The root of all this was an opportunity for local folks to participate in a ghosthunting at a local courthouse that's 100+ years old and, being in Kentucky, was likely the site of all sorts of mischief. When they tried to register to attend, they found the event was at capacity and they were on a waiting list of some 85 people (!?).
The madness has ensued from there. Best as I can tell (since I chose not to join in last night's preview of the new Ghost Hunters TV series) they've actually purchased some sort of recording device, are looking into some other piece of ghost-spotting paraphernalia, and possibly even shoes. Spooktacular! It's not even October.
If you've had a ghostly visitor in your dwelling, share my skepticism or want to hang out with a non-ghosthunting kind of gal while her friends are in pursuit of.... whatever, let us know!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Dog Days
The cutie at the right is Bailey. Or Boodle. Or Schnoodle. She'll acknowledge any of them; acknowledge, but not actually come running. Unless there's turkey or a veggie chunk offered as a treat.
Obedience isn't a strong point, but unconditional puppy hugs and kisses are abundant. She's 11 now--past mid-life, but as a small mixed breed, ideally has a few or more good years left according to her friends the Drs. McBride.
That's a good thing, since I can't quite imagine my home without her. She's been scaring me this summer though. Not quite as fleet, though still a flight risk off lead, she occasionally seems lost in her own little world. And the seizure disorder she's had since age 4, if not longer, seems to be causing more frequent seizures. That scares her mama.
I'm trying to stay calm, track the seizures as directed by the vet, etc. But the documented occurence of three in the past couple of months has me concerned. I'll be calling the vet first thing tomorrow to report last night's seizure and discuss starting medication, scheduling a follow up appointment to last month's complete work up.
I hate to resort to drugs, but it's getting hard to watch her little eyes grow glazed and limbs seize up; I wonder if it hurts? Does she know? Is she scared? Fighting back the tears, resisting the anger that builds in me when I see her like that -- as if I or any other person in or now out of her life could change it.
All I can do is cherish the sight of her at the top of the stairs when I come in the door from work. Make room to cuddle her close at night. Play a good game of squirrel toss or rabbit retrieval when she asks. And keep looking the other way when her aunts, friends and grandparents doctor her kibble with yummy bits of people food.
Unconditional love goes both ways.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Random Thoughts
- Wow.....Barry Manilow speaking his mind and being kicked off "The View"! Seems he didn't want to sit with or next to Miss Elizabeth. According to Whoopie Goldberg, you don't want to sit with one of them then you don't want to sit with any of them. So he got the big axe. Never been a fan of Elizabeth Hasslebeck myself.........http://www.abc.go.com/daytime/theview/index
- I have resumed my South Beach diet routine in the last two weeks. Not that I deviated too much over the summer but I was not faithful by any means. I am back to the gym three days a week and trying to escape my cube at lunchtime to walk. This sounds impressive doesn't it? Just want to drop about thirty pounds and I will be content. The South Beach diet is a revised version of the Atkin's diet. This one concentrates on good carbs while eliminating the bad carbs. In other words......throw all of the cookies and bagels away and eat all the vegetables and meat you can hold. Yeeeehaaaa! :\
- I hear "If I Did It" is already in its second printing.
- The latest episode of "Survivor" begins tonight. www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor15 This season takes the show to China. I have to say I am losing my enthusiasm for Survivor. I think if they took a full year off and came back that would be just enough time away for me to want it to come back. I would like to see them survive in the frozen tundra.....just once. Now that would be a twist! All of the tropical locations are beginning to look the same......
- Looks like the Ladies World Cup Soccer team has a tough opponent on Saturday when they take on England. This will be very tough because those folks are given the ball at birth! Go get 'em ladies!
- And finally, this weekend we are going to do a little housekeeping on the blog. Its good to update things every now and again. Lyn has a few ideas that she would like to explore so you never know what might appear on Sunday!!!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
REALity TV
Big Brother is finally over. I'm either aging out of my reality TV obsession or am just generally more easily troubled by some of these losers. So I'll ask a question -- why don't we ever see stereotypical middle-age or approaching that lesbians on these shows?
Wouldn't it be at least mildly amusing to throw a soft butch, ballcap-wearing dyke from the Midwest into the mix? Or even someone who makes us suspect they just might be that person. Not a femmed-out 20 something...
I don't know, the ad for the new Jodie Foster movie comes to mind. Sure, she plays a revenge-seeking bad grrl, but the image has certainly brightened up my Yahoo portal homepage the last couple of days. C'mon, be honest, I'm not the only one. (I may, however, have been the only one to spend a lunch hour reading the NYT in-depth analysis of why such roles work for Jodie). But I digress.
Adding an honest-to-goddess lesbian or two would vastly improve the competitions. And the potential for self-actualization, group process and drama of a whole new sort. And I think it has to be Big Brother. Not Survivor -- that's way too easy (and has been done. and done. and done.)
How about designing a season around a lesbian softball (volleyball, soccer, etc.) team? Even the average lesbian potluck gathering has been known to provide a season's worth of drama.
Hmmm. Nominees? Volunteers?
Wouldn't it be at least mildly amusing to throw a soft butch, ballcap-wearing dyke from the Midwest into the mix? Or even someone who makes us suspect they just might be that person. Not a femmed-out 20 something...
I don't know, the ad for the new Jodie Foster movie comes to mind. Sure, she plays a revenge-seeking bad grrl, but the image has certainly brightened up my Yahoo portal homepage the last couple of days. C'mon, be honest, I'm not the only one. (I may, however, have been the only one to spend a lunch hour reading the NYT in-depth analysis of why such roles work for Jodie). But I digress.
Adding an honest-to-goddess lesbian or two would vastly improve the competitions. And the potential for self-actualization, group process and drama of a whole new sort. And I think it has to be Big Brother. Not Survivor -- that's way too easy (and has been done. and done. and done.)
How about designing a season around a lesbian softball (volleyball, soccer, etc.) team? Even the average lesbian potluck gathering has been known to provide a season's worth of drama.
Hmmm. Nominees? Volunteers?
Sunday, September 16, 2007
"The Killer"
I have resisted the urge many times to post a blog about "the killer" of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown-Simpson. Personally, I don't want to give the man any more media time than he deserves. Not that my little humble blog is going to matter but it is simply the principle of the thing. He does not deserve the publicity. So in order to blog about his recent stupidity, I will simply use the name that everyone knows him by......The Killer.
Apparently, "The Killer" decided to shake a few folks up in Vegas this past weekend by stealing "stuff" that rightfully belonged to him. Oh yeah....and he took a couple of thugs with him who brandished a weapon or two AND THEN he went on CNN and told his side of the story. Ooops!
Yeah.....well now he has been arrested for several counts of armed robbery and burglary all of which could account for him spending some time in jail...........if he is found guilty.
This just ends a tumultuous week for all of us who have had to walk down memory lane with the Goldmans and the Browns regarding the infamous book - If I Did It. If you have been living under a rock lately, the Goldmans won the publishing rights to the book so they can now do whatever they please with it. They have decided to publish the book with an "Afterward" about the trial. They seem to be perfectly fine with it. I think it is in poor taste and a disgrace to both victims. More publicity for "The Killer".
I don't disagree with the Goldmans effort in gaining the publishing rights, but I do disagree with publishing the book. It smells bad......really bad........and I think the Goldmans are looking at this a bit one-sided. Personally, I would have like to see them win the publishing rights and then have a televised manuscript burning......maybe on Larry King. If they want to get a last laugh on "The Killer", I don't think this is going to bring them a laugh or any peace. In fact, on Oprah last week, they acknowledged that it won't bring them any peace or money. (apparently they are only receiving 17 cents per book) Yeah....ok......so what is gained?
Look folks, there are children involved here and this book (according to the Oprah show) is not kind in its description of the killings or his description of his wife - Nicole Brown-Simpson. In fact, it is said that he paints a very derogatory picture of her. If there are lessons to be learned here, then why aren't efforts directed toward aiding the thousands of women who are battered every day by their lunatic spouses? I have yet to hear the Goldmans say that their 17 cents per book is going to go to a worthwhile cause. Let us not forget......"The Killer's" primary target that night was his ex-wife.
While I could go on and on about this, this will be my only blog on this topic because too much publicity, time and energy is given to this guy. We are 13 years removed from this tragedy and it continues to haunt everyone because we allow it to go on mercilessly. We all continue to tune in and watch the train wreck over and over again.
Apparently, "The Killer" decided to shake a few folks up in Vegas this past weekend by stealing "stuff" that rightfully belonged to him. Oh yeah....and he took a couple of thugs with him who brandished a weapon or two AND THEN he went on CNN and told his side of the story. Ooops!
Yeah.....well now he has been arrested for several counts of armed robbery and burglary all of which could account for him spending some time in jail...........if he is found guilty.
This just ends a tumultuous week for all of us who have had to walk down memory lane with the Goldmans and the Browns regarding the infamous book - If I Did It. If you have been living under a rock lately, the Goldmans won the publishing rights to the book so they can now do whatever they please with it. They have decided to publish the book with an "Afterward" about the trial. They seem to be perfectly fine with it. I think it is in poor taste and a disgrace to both victims. More publicity for "The Killer".
I don't disagree with the Goldmans effort in gaining the publishing rights, but I do disagree with publishing the book. It smells bad......really bad........and I think the Goldmans are looking at this a bit one-sided. Personally, I would have like to see them win the publishing rights and then have a televised manuscript burning......maybe on Larry King. If they want to get a last laugh on "The Killer", I don't think this is going to bring them a laugh or any peace. In fact, on Oprah last week, they acknowledged that it won't bring them any peace or money. (apparently they are only receiving 17 cents per book) Yeah....ok......so what is gained?
Look folks, there are children involved here and this book (according to the Oprah show) is not kind in its description of the killings or his description of his wife - Nicole Brown-Simpson. In fact, it is said that he paints a very derogatory picture of her. If there are lessons to be learned here, then why aren't efforts directed toward aiding the thousands of women who are battered every day by their lunatic spouses? I have yet to hear the Goldmans say that their 17 cents per book is going to go to a worthwhile cause. Let us not forget......"The Killer's" primary target that night was his ex-wife.
While I could go on and on about this, this will be my only blog on this topic because too much publicity, time and energy is given to this guy. We are 13 years removed from this tragedy and it continues to haunt everyone because we allow it to go on mercilessly. We all continue to tune in and watch the train wreck over and over again.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Commitment ceremonies
Otherwise known as marriage ceremonies, civil union ceremonies or life partnership ceremonies.......
For those of us who are gay and not living in a state where it is a legal and binding statute, it is a symbolic union of two souls. My question is...........if it doesn't carry any legal weight, why do it?
Many of you know couples who have been partners for over a dozen of years who have not taken the step of having a commitment ceremony in front of all of their friends and family members. I believe that one of the reasons that long term partners do not have commitment ceremonies is because their security with themselves and each other is well grounded. They have nothing to prove to anyone about their commitment to each other. The friends who surround couples such as these are well aware of their commitment and admire them for having the longevity and permanence that most gay and lesbian couples crave.
So then what is it about having a ceremony? Is it simply a "show and tell" event? Is it a way for one or both people in the relationship to overcome a insecurity? ("See I am lovable and we are together")
Now if you are going to say, a ceremony like this is a way for everyone to share in the joy of the couples new union together......I don't know if I buy that. As I said earlier, I know of a few long term couples and I have great admiration for their commitments to each other. It didn't take a ceremony for me to share their joy or clearly understand their commitment.
I think those who jump into commitment ceremonies in Year One or Two of their relationship are probably overcoming some kind of insecurity. Some kind of inner need to show everyone that they are committed instead of just letting things grow freely and naturally. Those that have commitment ceremonies early don't always have the relationship longevity that they hoped for in the beginning.
I have been in a relationship for two years and I am no less committed to her than I would be if we jumped in with a ceremony. I believe that the longevity of your relationship is a silent statement all to itself. What more is there to say?
So what say YOU? Have you been through a ceremony or contemplating a ceremony? What is your viewpoint on it? There are no right or wrong answers here...........only opinions.
For those of us who are gay and not living in a state where it is a legal and binding statute, it is a symbolic union of two souls. My question is...........if it doesn't carry any legal weight, why do it?
Many of you know couples who have been partners for over a dozen of years who have not taken the step of having a commitment ceremony in front of all of their friends and family members. I believe that one of the reasons that long term partners do not have commitment ceremonies is because their security with themselves and each other is well grounded. They have nothing to prove to anyone about their commitment to each other. The friends who surround couples such as these are well aware of their commitment and admire them for having the longevity and permanence that most gay and lesbian couples crave.
So then what is it about having a ceremony? Is it simply a "show and tell" event? Is it a way for one or both people in the relationship to overcome a insecurity? ("See I am lovable and we are together")
Now if you are going to say, a ceremony like this is a way for everyone to share in the joy of the couples new union together......I don't know if I buy that. As I said earlier, I know of a few long term couples and I have great admiration for their commitments to each other. It didn't take a ceremony for me to share their joy or clearly understand their commitment.
I think those who jump into commitment ceremonies in Year One or Two of their relationship are probably overcoming some kind of insecurity. Some kind of inner need to show everyone that they are committed instead of just letting things grow freely and naturally. Those that have commitment ceremonies early don't always have the relationship longevity that they hoped for in the beginning.
I have been in a relationship for two years and I am no less committed to her than I would be if we jumped in with a ceremony. I believe that the longevity of your relationship is a silent statement all to itself. What more is there to say?
So what say YOU? Have you been through a ceremony or contemplating a ceremony? What is your viewpoint on it? There are no right or wrong answers here...........only opinions.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Coach Beli-cheat
As some of you may know, it was reported this week that the Patriots used a video camera to tape the defensive plays of the Jets this past Sunday. Of course, the Patsies beat the Jets soundly 38-14.
NFL Commissioner Goodell is now investigating since it is a league rule that teams cannot use video equipment to tape the other team. Oddly enough.....as soon as Coach Belichick found out that his team was being investigated he issued an apology for the "commotion" that his team has caused surrounding the spying incident. Apparently, he has his own "interpretation" of league rules. Yeah.......whatever.
So my question is - is Belichick really a great coach because he is a mastermind of the game or is he simply great because he has to cheat to win? Talk about a no confidence vote on the abilities of your own team! YIKES!
One final word on this...........Come on down to Cincinnati boys and leave your video cameras behind. I would rather have you beat the Bengals honestly than to cheat to get the quick win!
TA TA!
NFL Commissioner Goodell is now investigating since it is a league rule that teams cannot use video equipment to tape the other team. Oddly enough.....as soon as Coach Belichick found out that his team was being investigated he issued an apology for the "commotion" that his team has caused surrounding the spying incident. Apparently, he has his own "interpretation" of league rules. Yeah.......whatever.
So my question is - is Belichick really a great coach because he is a mastermind of the game or is he simply great because he has to cheat to win? Talk about a no confidence vote on the abilities of your own team! YIKES!
One final word on this...........Come on down to Cincinnati boys and leave your video cameras behind. I would rather have you beat the Bengals honestly than to cheat to get the quick win!
TA TA!
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
^&*%$#@*&? Let's try...
... yet another course of physical therapy.Thanks doc. But when will it stop hurting????
Like many of us 'of a certain age' I have a bad knee.
When I finally went back to the ortho a year and half or so after my last round of PT I thought for sure there'd be a magic pill/shot/outpatient surgery solution looming. Nada. Back to PT for another month to strengthen some muscle group I can't pronounce. Then we'll do another MRI and take it from there.
My slightly to considerably more athletic friends are laughing at my wincing and moaning, I'm sure. They wear their hard-earned knee/wrist scars with pride, sharing memories of the popping sound when they slid into second at every opportunity. This isn't an injury I've earned -- in fact, it's probably just wear and tear. Somewhat surprising since I didn't spend my youth and then some running up and down a court or sliding into bases. I did fall/jump/get tossed off of a good number of horses. And I've tripped and slipped on ice, sidewalk cracks and perfectly dry floors on and off for years. But that should add up a bad back, not chronic knee pain.
It's de-motivating. Why keep my self-imposed commitment to exercise more regularly when I know I'm going to spend the next day with an ice pack, popping OTC pain relievers and dreading the next trip down the stairs to take the dog outside.
What's really bugging me is the suspicion that the doc would be much more concerned about mending the 'slightly' torn meni-something and getting rid of the junk floating around in there if I was a serious athlete. Or even a not-so-serious MAN who spent his Saturdays on the golf course.
Monday, September 03, 2007
112 Days, 43 hours...........
..........until Christmas.
Yes yes I know. Summer is still hanging around and I am already bringing up that dreaded word.......Christmas!
Lyn and I had dinner last night with some friends and the topic of Christmas came up. You see...my friend has an enormous pine tree in the front of her new home and we all decided that it should be decorated in grand fashion for Christmas. My friend shares my enthusiasm for the holiday so I knew that the tree decorating idea would go over huge. Of course, what lesbian would not revel at the idea of climbing into a cherry picker to string lights?
Lyn calls me "Mother Christmas". She does not share my enthusiasm for all of the preparation leading up to the big day. Just to make this clear......I do not start decorating the day after Halloween like some folks. No no......that is a bit tooooo early. I am the "day after Thanksgiving" type of gal and that is still too early for some of my friends.
So as we all head back to work tomorrow......filled with joy that summer is practically over........there is light on the horizon. There will be joy in Whoville in less than 113 days..........
TA TA!
Yes yes I know. Summer is still hanging around and I am already bringing up that dreaded word.......Christmas!
Lyn and I had dinner last night with some friends and the topic of Christmas came up. You see...my friend has an enormous pine tree in the front of her new home and we all decided that it should be decorated in grand fashion for Christmas. My friend shares my enthusiasm for the holiday so I knew that the tree decorating idea would go over huge. Of course, what lesbian would not revel at the idea of climbing into a cherry picker to string lights?
Lyn calls me "Mother Christmas". She does not share my enthusiasm for all of the preparation leading up to the big day. Just to make this clear......I do not start decorating the day after Halloween like some folks. No no......that is a bit tooooo early. I am the "day after Thanksgiving" type of gal and that is still too early for some of my friends.
So as we all head back to work tomorrow......filled with joy that summer is practically over........there is light on the horizon. There will be joy in Whoville in less than 113 days..........
TA TA!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Idaho
I have to tell ya......this week has been enlightening. Don't get me wrong. I am fully aware of the whole gay men cruising thing, but the idea of picking up someone in a restroom had not really crossed my mine. Leave it to a man......straight or gay......to figure a restroom to be a fabulous hookup hotspot.
I can't say that any self-respecting lesbian I know would do it. And if they did, their technique would probably be more clever than tapping your heels together as you sit on the throne. Eeek....now I am picturing something out of the Wizard of Oz!
It is fitting that the Senator is from I-da-ho. He certainly has gained the reputation of being with other people other than his wife. While I don't feel sorry for him, I do feel sad for her. Sad not sorry. She obviously knows or suspects that he has a problem and she turns the other head. It is sad that she continues to stand by him even after he failed to share this arrest with her when it originally happened. Who does that to a partner?
But yes I know.....I really don't want to cast a guilty eye on the Senator because that wouldn't be fair. Oh wait......he pleaded guilty, didn't he? Yeah....that is interesting too. A well-educated man....schooled in law.........pleading guilty to something he wasn't guilty of just so it would go away. Interesting tactic considering he is a high profile person who is already being creamed by his local paper, the "I-da-ho Statesman".
This is all making sense now..................
I can't say that any self-respecting lesbian I know would do it. And if they did, their technique would probably be more clever than tapping your heels together as you sit on the throne. Eeek....now I am picturing something out of the Wizard of Oz!
It is fitting that the Senator is from I-da-ho. He certainly has gained the reputation of being with other people other than his wife. While I don't feel sorry for him, I do feel sad for her. Sad not sorry. She obviously knows or suspects that he has a problem and she turns the other head. It is sad that she continues to stand by him even after he failed to share this arrest with her when it originally happened. Who does that to a partner?
But yes I know.....I really don't want to cast a guilty eye on the Senator because that wouldn't be fair. Oh wait......he pleaded guilty, didn't he? Yeah....that is interesting too. A well-educated man....schooled in law.........pleading guilty to something he wasn't guilty of just so it would go away. Interesting tactic considering he is a high profile person who is already being creamed by his local paper, the "I-da-ho Statesman".
This is all making sense now..................
Monday, August 27, 2007
Mid-Life Crisis...continued...
Apparently no one is going to solve my 'mid-life crisis' for me. Though thanks to those of you who commiserated or chimed in with your own suggestions for improving my work-a-day outlook.
- I didn't win the powerball Saturday.
- The dog, though cute as can be in a snazzy-if-late-in-the-season haircut, hasn't auditioned lately.
- And of course, two days after I give in and post an updated resume on Monster, there's some sort of hacking going on and my plea to prospective employers is possibly being used to generate even more spam in my e-mail.
I have been giving this whole career-switch thing some serious thought. I considered several options while strolling around the season's first Oktoberfest yesterday. Yes, I said first. One beer-fueled excuse to wear silly hats, leather shorts and funny hats isn't enough in Zinzinnati. Perhaps the least expensive potential new career, start-up cost wise, came to my mind as we drank warm beer and waited for the tug-o-war between the German societies and the Ancient Order of Hibernians (GO IRISH) to begin.
One of the gaming booths at this and many other local festivals features The Rat Game -- I'm sure it has a more formal name. But the gist of it is you put a quarter on the color/number square you think the rat will run toward when released and if he/she goes down the hole on your square, you win.
Do you have any idea how many quarters beer-fueled festival goers will bet on a rat? Multiply that by three days, then by the number of potential bookings each summer/fall, subtract minimal marketing & equipment costs (Rat Game Here signs, maybe a catchy t-shirt or so for the rat handler to wear). And feeding a rat, of course, is even less expensive...
Or maybe I target a different market segment. A guinea pig instead of a rat, church festivals and pta fairs, maybe even take the game indoor since guineas are a bit more sanitary than a rat. They're also cuter and come in more varieties.
Hmmm...
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Football 2007
Ahhhhh here we are again......football season! For those of us who love this time of year it has been a long time coming.
However, I have to count on the Bengals performing well to truly enjoy the season. We have very fair weather fans here in Cincinnati and I guess we have every reason to be skeptical. After enduring the debaucal of the 1990 seasons we are running short in the faith department. We have gotten close to post season activity but have fallen short in the last two seasons due to miserable performances or intentional injury to our players.
So here we are.....yet again. The schedule is not incredibly tough. I see a few games that will definitely speak to the talent on this team. Are we in this to win or are we just a perceived threat with nothing to back it up with?
Of course.....there is one game on this schedule that is the most important to me and that is the Monday Night Football matchup with the Patriots on 10/1. This game is happening waaaayyyy too early in the season for my liking. I only have three games to make a legitimate decision on whether or not I intend to make a bet with my friends in Boston. Placing bets with my friends has only been favorable for them.........and miserable for me. So being prudent is advantageous.
For those of you who are football widows, don't lose heart. If the team really stinks you will have your partner's full attention by Christmas............just in the nick of time.
TA TA!
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
To hyphenate or not to hyphenate?
That is the question my dear lesbians..............
This is a popular concept with straight married women as a means to maintain some glimmer of their identity after they are married. The whole name changing concept comes from scripture which said that when a man and woman marry - they become one. I like to think of it as being a part of that subordination stuff that a woman must have for her husband.
So in your relationship...........would you hypenate your name? Would you take the last name of your partner? And what do you think that means when lesbians hyphenate? Or do you think some women us it as a "public display of affection"?
This is a popular concept with straight married women as a means to maintain some glimmer of their identity after they are married. The whole name changing concept comes from scripture which said that when a man and woman marry - they become one. I like to think of it as being a part of that subordination stuff that a woman must have for her husband.
So in your relationship...........would you hypenate your name? Would you take the last name of your partner? And what do you think that means when lesbians hyphenate? Or do you think some women us it as a "public display of affection"?
Barack Obama
What would life be without one more blog about the presidential candidates?
I watched the debates on Logo the other night. I must say that after this debate I am beginning to doubt whether Barack has it in him to be our President. He has hopes, dreams and aspirations. I am easily charmed by his vision for a better and brighter tomorrow. Who doesn't want all that?
However, we have to acknowledge that he is not going to get his way on every issue. The next President of the United States is going to be closely watched in regards to how he/she uses his powers. Of course, we have "Dubya" and Dick to thank for that extra scrutiny. So I have to be a bit skeptical about some of the ideas that Barack has recently proposed.
I don't want to say that he views the world through rose colored glasses but he certainly has such a fresh approach that perhaps his naivity is showing. Maybe a little more experience in Senate is necessary in his case.
I don't want a politician to lead me down the garden path of goodness and light. I want them to be honest and straightforward. Don't pull any punches. We all know being President is not an easy job. You have high hopes going in but you cannot be fooled into thinking that every initiative that you want to pass is going to fly through the House and the Senate unchallenged.
I think that with each debate we clearly see how much more educated and realistic the other candidates are in comparsion to Barack Obama. I have to give him a A+ for his enthusiasm and optimism but I just don't think that is enough to carry him through trying times as President.
I want to know that we have a strong person leading our country instead of a puppet with a strong VP pulling the strings. We have already endured seven years of that scenario.
542 more days to go!
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Mid-life Crisis?
Oh yeah. I already had one of those. Maybe even a couple. (No snarky comments from those unfortunate enough to have crossed paths with me during one or more of those, thanks!)
So maybe what I'm really having this week (this month?) is a symptom of the ridiculous heat that's oppressing a better mood from evolving. Or maybe it's my most recent failure to 'forward this e-mail to your 10 closest friends and enjoy days of happiness beyond your wildest dreams'.
Then again, maybe it's my job. My increasingly overwhelming-workload-out-of-control-ideas-with-no-strategic-purpose-or-resources-8-to-whenever-I-log-off-at-night job. Do I need a change? If I told you how long I'd been there, you'd laugh and say OF COURSE you need a change. But as I've often joked, I'm still not sure I know what I want to do with my life.
And I don't think that's so uncommon for 40-somethings these days. Most of my close workplace-based friends (okay, sue me for segmenting) are a few years younger than me. They're just approaching mid-career. I think I missed it all together. Now I actually find myself thinking that lay off I endured in my 20s was seriously wasted on me at that point in my life. I traded one job for another so quickly I didn't even know I'd lost a job, really. And now I'm old enough and enough of a worrier (thanks mom) that I'm even afraid to contemplate change. That's even funnier when you know I have a reputation on the job for 'embracing and leading change' -- a direct quote from my last appraisal, no less. But I'm solo breadwinner unless the dog gets a big movie break or Rita finally convinces me that buying lottery tix is a viable option.
How does one find the next 'thing' they're passionate enough about to endure, oops, I mean pursue avidly for 10 hours a day? I'm pretty sure the answer isn't found at monster.com. But of course, I'm actually to afraid to go there...
So maybe what I'm really having this week (this month?) is a symptom of the ridiculous heat that's oppressing a better mood from evolving. Or maybe it's my most recent failure to 'forward this e-mail to your 10 closest friends and enjoy days of happiness beyond your wildest dreams'.
Then again, maybe it's my job. My increasingly overwhelming-workload-out-of-control-ideas-with-no-strategic-purpose-or-resources-8-to-whenever-I-log-off-at-night job. Do I need a change? If I told you how long I'd been there, you'd laugh and say OF COURSE you need a change. But as I've often joked, I'm still not sure I know what I want to do with my life.
And I don't think that's so uncommon for 40-somethings these days. Most of my close workplace-based friends (okay, sue me for segmenting) are a few years younger than me. They're just approaching mid-career. I think I missed it all together. Now I actually find myself thinking that lay off I endured in my 20s was seriously wasted on me at that point in my life. I traded one job for another so quickly I didn't even know I'd lost a job, really. And now I'm old enough and enough of a worrier (thanks mom) that I'm even afraid to contemplate change. That's even funnier when you know I have a reputation on the job for 'embracing and leading change' -- a direct quote from my last appraisal, no less. But I'm solo breadwinner unless the dog gets a big movie break or Rita finally convinces me that buying lottery tix is a viable option.
How does one find the next 'thing' they're passionate enough about to endure, oops, I mean pursue avidly for 10 hours a day? I'm pretty sure the answer isn't found at monster.com. But of course, I'm actually to afraid to go there...
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
What a week!
Wow, where do I begin? So much to talk about and it is only Tuesday!
Let's start with the debate! I think the YouTube thing was a fabulous idea. They succeeded in bringing a national town hall meeting to a room in South Carolina. I am sure that CNN was flooded with questions and I am not jealous of the person who had to wade through hours of 30 second videos to choose the most pragmatic of the bunch. As a technology freak, I can totally rally behind using today's technology to inspire more Americans to be more involved in the election process. Hillary looked great, Obama showed his growing pains.........and who was that old guy on the end? Gravel something? Honestly.....they could have clipped two people from each side of the stage and we really would have had a more lively debate with more YouTube questions!
Drew Carey......come on down?!! Whoa......totally surprised me on that one but I guess a comedian is the best person to fill Bob's shoes. I am sure that CBS was particularly antsy to fill its daytime slot with something other than Bob's reruns. I just don't know if Drew is the kind of guy you fall all over. Maybe the old ladies will rush the stage to kiss Drew but I kinda doubt that he will get the same reception from the younger crowd. But then again.....ya never know. This was probably the best choice to fill a difficult position.
Calling all cars....Calling all cars......Lindsey Lohan is on the loose again! I honestly thought that this merry-go-round had stopped once she disappeared into rehab. She never fails to disappoint. She has been arrested again for drunk driving and it looks like she had a little cocaine with her this time. I really do feel sorry for her because she obviously has no one close that has half a mind to bring this train wreck to a screeching halt. It simply keeps getting worse and worse. Paris darling.........ring up Lindsey and fill her in on the latest prison fashion!
Barry Bonds. Ok.......we know he is going to break this record. Do I care? No....I don't. The main reason and the only reason is because he is tainted. No matter if he admits it or not......the record means nothing to most Americans outside of San Francisco. This is a guy who could be swimming in endorsements but corporate America won't even touch him because of the steroid allegations. Throw in his award winning personality and why would you want to celebrate this accomplishment? It's a tough day in baseball but it will survive just as it has survived all of the other mishaps along the way. We in Cincinnati have one of our own - Pete Rose.
And on a happier note...........the NFL began training camps this week! YAY!
Let's start with the debate! I think the YouTube thing was a fabulous idea. They succeeded in bringing a national town hall meeting to a room in South Carolina. I am sure that CNN was flooded with questions and I am not jealous of the person who had to wade through hours of 30 second videos to choose the most pragmatic of the bunch. As a technology freak, I can totally rally behind using today's technology to inspire more Americans to be more involved in the election process. Hillary looked great, Obama showed his growing pains.........and who was that old guy on the end? Gravel something? Honestly.....they could have clipped two people from each side of the stage and we really would have had a more lively debate with more YouTube questions!
Drew Carey......come on down?!! Whoa......totally surprised me on that one but I guess a comedian is the best person to fill Bob's shoes. I am sure that CBS was particularly antsy to fill its daytime slot with something other than Bob's reruns. I just don't know if Drew is the kind of guy you fall all over. Maybe the old ladies will rush the stage to kiss Drew but I kinda doubt that he will get the same reception from the younger crowd. But then again.....ya never know. This was probably the best choice to fill a difficult position.
Calling all cars....Calling all cars......Lindsey Lohan is on the loose again! I honestly thought that this merry-go-round had stopped once she disappeared into rehab. She never fails to disappoint. She has been arrested again for drunk driving and it looks like she had a little cocaine with her this time. I really do feel sorry for her because she obviously has no one close that has half a mind to bring this train wreck to a screeching halt. It simply keeps getting worse and worse. Paris darling.........ring up Lindsey and fill her in on the latest prison fashion!
Barry Bonds. Ok.......we know he is going to break this record. Do I care? No....I don't. The main reason and the only reason is because he is tainted. No matter if he admits it or not......the record means nothing to most Americans outside of San Francisco. This is a guy who could be swimming in endorsements but corporate America won't even touch him because of the steroid allegations. Throw in his award winning personality and why would you want to celebrate this accomplishment? It's a tough day in baseball but it will survive just as it has survived all of the other mishaps along the way. We in Cincinnati have one of our own - Pete Rose.
And on a happier note...........the NFL began training camps this week! YAY!
Monday, July 23, 2007
Muggles All A Twitter
I cheated. I read the spoilers. I know who lives, who dies in the latest Harry Potter tome. And I'll probably still read it.
When I was a kid, reading a book -- any book -- was my preferred way to spend a morning, noon or night. I'm convinced that reading Little Women at least twice a year between the ages of 9 and 15 should get me some sort of record. I even recall being disappointed when Little House on the Prairie appeared on television, and the rolling hills and trees looked suspiciously more like California than the vast stretches of prairie described in the books I'd read. Not just the one book, but the entire series, and most of the books more than once.
What those books, and the dozens if not hundreds of others I devoured, did for me a therapist would likely have a field day decoding. For a start, they expanded my horizons beyond small-town Mid-West reality. They taught me to ask questions. They taught me to use my imagination.
When I discovered Harry and his pals five or six years ago I was hooked. J.K. Rowling's oh-so-richly created wizarding world jump started my imagination -- who doesn't need that from time to time? I think I read the first two or three books in about a week during a particularly trying summer.
I chuckle first, then get downright annoyed when I hear Rowling's critics claim the books lead young readers to the occult, or trivialize the battle between good and evil. So some kids are wearing capes and waiting for owls to deliver mail; at least they're reading. And asking questions. And imagining.
When I was a kid, reading a book -- any book -- was my preferred way to spend a morning, noon or night. I'm convinced that reading Little Women at least twice a year between the ages of 9 and 15 should get me some sort of record. I even recall being disappointed when Little House on the Prairie appeared on television, and the rolling hills and trees looked suspiciously more like California than the vast stretches of prairie described in the books I'd read. Not just the one book, but the entire series, and most of the books more than once.
What those books, and the dozens if not hundreds of others I devoured, did for me a therapist would likely have a field day decoding. For a start, they expanded my horizons beyond small-town Mid-West reality. They taught me to ask questions. They taught me to use my imagination.
When I discovered Harry and his pals five or six years ago I was hooked. J.K. Rowling's oh-so-richly created wizarding world jump started my imagination -- who doesn't need that from time to time? I think I read the first two or three books in about a week during a particularly trying summer.
I chuckle first, then get downright annoyed when I hear Rowling's critics claim the books lead young readers to the occult, or trivialize the battle between good and evil. So some kids are wearing capes and waiting for owls to deliver mail; at least they're reading. And asking questions. And imagining.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Equal partnership
Let's pretend for just a moment that the gay & lesbian marriage and/or civil unions already exist in every state. We no longer have to worry about having equal treatment in our long term relationships. We all share the full legal privileges under the law just as any other heterosexual couple.
What would be the next issue that compels you to vote? What choices would you make in a candidate and what would they need to represent for you to vote for them? Would you vote Republican? Or does the Democratic party continue to uphold the ideals that you hold dear?
For many of us who live in U.S. states that continue to resist granting civil unions or domestic partnership benefits, it is the main issue that compels us to go to the polls. It is interesting to engage in conversation with folks who live in states where such benefits already exist. Some continue to vote Democratic and yet some are swayed by a more conservative standpoint.
I guess there should be some amount of apprehension when you live in a state where by law you are protected. As we have seen in some states, equality can come and go in an instant. Your vote four years ago can have quite a different outcome at the next election. Nothing is guaranteed.
So......here we are.....living in the perfect world........what is the next issue that compels you to vote?
What would be the next issue that compels you to vote? What choices would you make in a candidate and what would they need to represent for you to vote for them? Would you vote Republican? Or does the Democratic party continue to uphold the ideals that you hold dear?
For many of us who live in U.S. states that continue to resist granting civil unions or domestic partnership benefits, it is the main issue that compels us to go to the polls. It is interesting to engage in conversation with folks who live in states where such benefits already exist. Some continue to vote Democratic and yet some are swayed by a more conservative standpoint.
I guess there should be some amount of apprehension when you live in a state where by law you are protected. As we have seen in some states, equality can come and go in an instant. Your vote four years ago can have quite a different outcome at the next election. Nothing is guaranteed.
So......here we are.....living in the perfect world........what is the next issue that compels you to vote?
Thursday, July 12, 2007
The Great Gas Crisis
Despite our political differences, there is one thing that most Americans can agree upon. The gas prices really suck. Here in the Cincinnati Tri-state area the gas prices can range anywhere from 2.99 to 3.21. If you are lucky, you can fill up for 10 to 15 cents less at one of the gas stations connected to a local grocery store chain if you swipe your grocery card.
I am one of the lucky ones who has an automobile that can run on ethanol or regular unleaded. There aren't too many stations offering ethanol but I went ahead and tried it anyway because it was at least 25 cents (or more) cheaper than regular gasoline. How can you beat that right?
Well....during the two weeks that I used it, I found that I was actually filling up more often than I was before. It seems that ethanol has a funny little kickback that while you are saving the environment you are actually consuming twice the amount you normally would if you had chosen regular gasoline. So ultimately that squashed all of the "I am going green" feelings that I had by fueling up with it. I must admit it did smell better than the other stuff.
I am one of the lucky ones who has an automobile that can run on ethanol or regular unleaded. There aren't too many stations offering ethanol but I went ahead and tried it anyway because it was at least 25 cents (or more) cheaper than regular gasoline. How can you beat that right?
Well....during the two weeks that I used it, I found that I was actually filling up more often than I was before. It seems that ethanol has a funny little kickback that while you are saving the environment you are actually consuming twice the amount you normally would if you had chosen regular gasoline. So ultimately that squashed all of the "I am going green" feelings that I had by fueling up with it. I must admit it did smell better than the other stuff.
In August 2005, I blogged that gas prices were 2.55 a gallon and that was with my 10 cent discount. I guess we really can't complain too much since we are really not too far away from that price today. Back then I would have expected us to be at 4.00 a gallon by now. Thankfully we have not reached that plateau.
I heard this morning that the gas companies are, once again, in the top 10 revenue/profit generating companies in the U.S. With no one pushing them to build more refineries, they have lots of money left over every year because gas prices continue to stay elevated. I have to ask myself...........if someone had a proposal to build just five new refineries in the U.S. and those new refineries would mean lower gas prices........would I want one built in my neighborhood?
I don't know if I am inconvenienced enough to say "yes" to that question. What about you?
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Pope Benedict - King of the Catholics
Ahhhh yes......the Vatican declared today that the Catholic Church is the one true church and the only church that is a full church of Jesus Christ. The other churches.......well....they are only secondary entities. According to the Vatican and Pope Benedict, if they can't recognize the papacy of "The Pope"......they are wounded. They are limping around with no real reason to exist.
I wish I was joking about this self-righteous comment but if you look at Reuters.com and search for Christians...........you will find the whole ugly story.
Gone are the days of saintly Pope John Paul.....the friend to all people of all religions. The same Pope who had open dialogue with all faiths in ecumenical councils without a biased word one way or another. Granted..........there are many opinions and facts about the Catholic faith......but Pope John Paul seemed to be a kindlier, gentler soul.
Ok....let's come back to reality with Pope Benedict. He believes that even with his edict today that the Catholic Church is determined to maintain dialogues with other Christians. Wow.....who is likely to believe that any conversation with the Vatican is going to go well or come without any preconceived ideas? Who will want to talk to him?
Today, "The Church" has slipped even farther back into the middle ages. The belt has been tightened and a clear signal has been sent that there will be no more wishy-washy, gentler, kinder souls hanging around the Vatican.
I am sure that he is only warming up. His arrogance will be his downfall.
I wish I was joking about this self-righteous comment but if you look at Reuters.com and search for Christians...........you will find the whole ugly story.
Gone are the days of saintly Pope John Paul.....the friend to all people of all religions. The same Pope who had open dialogue with all faiths in ecumenical councils without a biased word one way or another. Granted..........there are many opinions and facts about the Catholic faith......but Pope John Paul seemed to be a kindlier, gentler soul.
Ok....let's come back to reality with Pope Benedict. He believes that even with his edict today that the Catholic Church is determined to maintain dialogues with other Christians. Wow.....who is likely to believe that any conversation with the Vatican is going to go well or come without any preconceived ideas? Who will want to talk to him?
Today, "The Church" has slipped even farther back into the middle ages. The belt has been tightened and a clear signal has been sent that there will be no more wishy-washy, gentler, kinder souls hanging around the Vatican.
I am sure that he is only warming up. His arrogance will be his downfall.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Take two of these..............
According to CNN.com today - the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at 2.4 billion drugs prescribed in visits to doctors and hospitals in 2005. Of those, 118 million were for antidepressants.
Wait.....it gets better. They go on to say that the doctors think that is good news because it is a sign that Americans are more comfortable asking for help with their psychiatric problems.
Apparently antidepressant sales rose 48% between 1995 and 2002. Hmmm.......let's see Dubya was voted into office in 2000.........interesting. But.....I digress.
In this day and age, therapy is the hip thing to do. Hip.....but not cheap. I would imagine that along with all that advice there are a lot of prescriptions being handed out. So what does this say about us? I don't believe that the antidepressant statistic is one to be bragged about.
Now I am not saying that there are folks who have a truly legitimate need for such medication, I just have to wonder if there are truly 100 million of us out there. Is it simply a panacea or are we truly a depressed nation? Are there folks who need the medication or simply being medicated because its easier for the physician?
We live in an age where a doctors visit is like a trip to the local deli counter. Take a number from the machine and the doctor will see you in about 30 minutes. Quick in and quick out........ Rapid solutions for a rapid world.......Presto chango - here is your diagnosis......stop by Walgreens on your way home.........have a nice day.
For those of you wondering.......the second highest medication prescribed in the U.S. is for blood pressure medication. So perhaps there is a linkage to Dubya being in office after all........
Ta Ta!
Wait.....it gets better. They go on to say that the doctors think that is good news because it is a sign that Americans are more comfortable asking for help with their psychiatric problems.
Apparently antidepressant sales rose 48% between 1995 and 2002. Hmmm.......let's see Dubya was voted into office in 2000.........interesting. But.....I digress.
In this day and age, therapy is the hip thing to do. Hip.....but not cheap. I would imagine that along with all that advice there are a lot of prescriptions being handed out. So what does this say about us? I don't believe that the antidepressant statistic is one to be bragged about.
Now I am not saying that there are folks who have a truly legitimate need for such medication, I just have to wonder if there are truly 100 million of us out there. Is it simply a panacea or are we truly a depressed nation? Are there folks who need the medication or simply being medicated because its easier for the physician?
We live in an age where a doctors visit is like a trip to the local deli counter. Take a number from the machine and the doctor will see you in about 30 minutes. Quick in and quick out........ Rapid solutions for a rapid world.......Presto chango - here is your diagnosis......stop by Walgreens on your way home.........have a nice day.
For those of you wondering.......the second highest medication prescribed in the U.S. is for blood pressure medication. So perhaps there is a linkage to Dubya being in office after all........
Ta Ta!
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Independence Day
As we approach yet another 4th of July holiday, we will once again be reminded about our brave soldiers overseas and the thousands of men and women who have died serving our country and protecting our freedoms.
Despite the fact that I am one of the 70% of all Americans who are against the war in Iraq, I have to give credit where credit is due to those Americans who are brave enough to go down to a military office and volunteer to serve under this new world reality. I mean.....who would want to do that in these times? I think it takes a lot of intestinal fortitude to stand up and volunteer after watching daily war coverage on any of the news networks. I do know that volunteers have slowed down primarily because of the Iraq situation, but slow down doesn't mean new enlistments have come to a screeching halt.
I don't think I would have been able to make the same decision 23 years ago but then, in 1984 we were not facing the same threats as today. I think the idea of going into the military seemed like a boring thing to do........a passing thought at best. The military was just not on the agenda when I was 18.
So today I want to give credit and thanks to those folks who, for whatever reason, will make the decision today or tomorrow to volunteer to serve in our national forces. These are troubling times across the globe and it takes courage to enlist and allow your life to be completely guided by someone elses plan and agenda.
Despite the fact that I am one of the 70% of all Americans who are against the war in Iraq, I have to give credit where credit is due to those Americans who are brave enough to go down to a military office and volunteer to serve under this new world reality. I mean.....who would want to do that in these times? I think it takes a lot of intestinal fortitude to stand up and volunteer after watching daily war coverage on any of the news networks. I do know that volunteers have slowed down primarily because of the Iraq situation, but slow down doesn't mean new enlistments have come to a screeching halt.
I don't think I would have been able to make the same decision 23 years ago but then, in 1984 we were not facing the same threats as today. I think the idea of going into the military seemed like a boring thing to do........a passing thought at best. The military was just not on the agenda when I was 18.
So today I want to give credit and thanks to those folks who, for whatever reason, will make the decision today or tomorrow to volunteer to serve in our national forces. These are troubling times across the globe and it takes courage to enlist and allow your life to be completely guided by someone elses plan and agenda.
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