Hey Everyone!
I got a question for ya....How long should I keep clothes that no longer fit?
Here's the dilemma:
Since last winter, I went from a size 10 to a size 12 (don't ask me how, I work out, eat alot less then I used to and I'm active again most of my day). when I first moved home3 years ago this past January, I was a size 8. I kept one or two pairs of my size 8 jeans, a few medium tops and got rid of most everything else the last time I cleaned my closets. For the start of the fall, I've had to buy clothes so I don't have to work naked. I still have mostly size 10 clothes and I'm running again to get in shape for a 5K run in May.
Should I give in and admit defeat by getting rid of my size 10 clothes or should I find a place to store them showing faith in myself I can train and diet to fit back into them. I'm in such a qunadry. Anyone have suggestions?
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Bill Engvall ALMOST Got It Right
Hey Everyone!
I just thought I'd let you know I think Bill Engvall ALMOST got it right. For those of you who don't know who Bill Engvall is, I'll enlighten you. Bill Engvall is a comedian who has been on both Blue Collar Comedy Tours. He does a skit about how stupid people should wear a sign, so we know they're coming. The way he usually starts his skit is, "I hate stupid people". He was SO close. He should've left out the word stupid.
I Hate People is a phrase I say very often. I feel I say it more and more and lately, I'm even starting to believe it. It's either that, I'm cranky and bitter OR I'm encountering more and more people who are irritating, annoying and should be slapped upside the head and sent to an island to live with all the other people I hate...thereby making the world a better place. Instead of a long drawn out paragraph story of all the people I hate, I thought I'd cut into less of my "I need to get out of my head...and hormones...and go to sleep" time and use the hour I have remaining on my laptop battery wisely and just do it in a Top Ten (or so) List Form. And now.....People I Hate (well, the list of people I hate today):
* whiney athletes
* gymnasts ('cuz today, I hate all the ones I see daily)
* coaches who practice WAY too long
* secretaries who are stupid and want to make me do twice as much work because it makes them feel better.
* people with babies who seem to want to keep reminding me how wonderful it is to have babies, blah, blah, blah...YES, I get it. An absolute freakin' blessing. I haven't been blessed. I may never be blessed. Rub it in. (I hate you people!) (Aim, this doesn't mean you. You underestimate your daughter. You tell me she whines, cries and hits you - I still think that was funny - whenever I see her she's an angel, but I appreciate your candor! :) )
* people who can't let go of relationships and seem to torture themselves (namely, me)
* people who propose on Christmas Day and are getting married
* doctor's office workers. What makes you think that when I call you with a medical question, which was obviously important or I wouldn't have called, and involved strange bodily function things that it's o.k. to call me back almost 24 hours later?!?!?! Glad I wasn't dying. While I'm on the subject, don't say "if you leave a message after 4 o'clock, your message will not be returned until the following business day" when my first message was at 12:30 Monday, you returned that call at 10:30 Tuesday morning and I'm still waiting for a return call from my 2:00 today message. Just be honest and tell me you'll figure out if I'm important and if I haven't died or gone to the ER before you get around to it, you'll call me back sometime this week - Be optimistic.
* whatever person took all the bottled water out of the fridge and never replaced it leaving me parched! (again, probably me)
* The freakin' cat who just decides some days he'll sleep here and some days he won't. When did this start? What, suddenly the kitchen floor is better than the spot next to me?!?!? (Yes, I know, technically not a person, but I'm on a roll here!)
* people who obviously have such exciting lives they can't update their blog every day. I have no life, throw me a bone people would ya?!?!?! ;)
* anyone driving 5-10 miles under the speed limit when I can't pass you. Read the speed limit signs people!
* the pig-goat (Again, technically not a person, but he/she makes me smile and it hasn't been around letely!)
well, I guess that's it for now. I'm sure there are many more people I hate...like self-absorbed people who think they are so much more important than you that it's o.k. to run you over with a shopping cart, or those people who roll through stop signs while you're coming at them so you don't know if they're rolling to turn after you or if they're just going to plow right into you...but these people haven't really made me hate them today, so I'll have to save them for another day. Won't you guys be SO glad when the doctor finally calls me back and we can get my freakin' hormones back to tolerable. Believe me, I will be at the TOP of that list!
I hope you guys do not encounter any of the people you hate today. If so, do what I do and look at someone (preferably someone you are with) and say, "I hate people". You'd be surprised how much better you feel. Comments are open, add your own! I'd love to hate them too! :)
I just thought I'd let you know I think Bill Engvall ALMOST got it right. For those of you who don't know who Bill Engvall is, I'll enlighten you. Bill Engvall is a comedian who has been on both Blue Collar Comedy Tours. He does a skit about how stupid people should wear a sign, so we know they're coming. The way he usually starts his skit is, "I hate stupid people". He was SO close. He should've left out the word stupid.
I Hate People is a phrase I say very often. I feel I say it more and more and lately, I'm even starting to believe it. It's either that, I'm cranky and bitter OR I'm encountering more and more people who are irritating, annoying and should be slapped upside the head and sent to an island to live with all the other people I hate...thereby making the world a better place. Instead of a long drawn out paragraph story of all the people I hate, I thought I'd cut into less of my "I need to get out of my head...and hormones...and go to sleep" time and use the hour I have remaining on my laptop battery wisely and just do it in a Top Ten (or so) List Form. And now.....People I Hate (well, the list of people I hate today):
* whiney athletes
* gymnasts ('cuz today, I hate all the ones I see daily)
* coaches who practice WAY too long
* secretaries who are stupid and want to make me do twice as much work because it makes them feel better.
* people with babies who seem to want to keep reminding me how wonderful it is to have babies, blah, blah, blah...YES, I get it. An absolute freakin' blessing. I haven't been blessed. I may never be blessed. Rub it in. (I hate you people!) (Aim, this doesn't mean you. You underestimate your daughter. You tell me she whines, cries and hits you - I still think that was funny - whenever I see her she's an angel, but I appreciate your candor! :) )
* people who can't let go of relationships and seem to torture themselves (namely, me)
* people who propose on Christmas Day and are getting married
* doctor's office workers. What makes you think that when I call you with a medical question, which was obviously important or I wouldn't have called, and involved strange bodily function things that it's o.k. to call me back almost 24 hours later?!?!?! Glad I wasn't dying. While I'm on the subject, don't say "if you leave a message after 4 o'clock, your message will not be returned until the following business day" when my first message was at 12:30 Monday, you returned that call at 10:30 Tuesday morning and I'm still waiting for a return call from my 2:00 today message. Just be honest and tell me you'll figure out if I'm important and if I haven't died or gone to the ER before you get around to it, you'll call me back sometime this week - Be optimistic.
* whatever person took all the bottled water out of the fridge and never replaced it leaving me parched! (again, probably me)
* The freakin' cat who just decides some days he'll sleep here and some days he won't. When did this start? What, suddenly the kitchen floor is better than the spot next to me?!?!? (Yes, I know, technically not a person, but I'm on a roll here!)
* people who obviously have such exciting lives they can't update their blog every day. I have no life, throw me a bone people would ya?!?!?! ;)
* anyone driving 5-10 miles under the speed limit when I can't pass you. Read the speed limit signs people!
* the pig-goat (Again, technically not a person, but he/she makes me smile and it hasn't been around letely!)
well, I guess that's it for now. I'm sure there are many more people I hate...like self-absorbed people who think they are so much more important than you that it's o.k. to run you over with a shopping cart, or those people who roll through stop signs while you're coming at them so you don't know if they're rolling to turn after you or if they're just going to plow right into you...but these people haven't really made me hate them today, so I'll have to save them for another day. Won't you guys be SO glad when the doctor finally calls me back and we can get my freakin' hormones back to tolerable. Believe me, I will be at the TOP of that list!
I hope you guys do not encounter any of the people you hate today. If so, do what I do and look at someone (preferably someone you are with) and say, "I hate people". You'd be surprised how much better you feel. Comments are open, add your own! I'd love to hate them too! :)
Monday, September 26, 2005
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Life is never easy for those who dream. -Robert Weller
When you were growing up, was there ever a time, a moment when you said "I don't ever want to grow up to be that!"? Then one day, it hits you like a freight train some of those things are exactly what you've become?
Thursday, September 22, 2005
All My Friends Are Slackers
Hey All!
This is a blog to my new blogger friends, whom I so carefully added to my list and HAVE NOT WRITTEN!!!!! I SO enjoy your thoughts and comments and would love to douse myself in your intellect, humor and witticisms.
As for me, I will dwell in the house of my blog forever! :)
Night all!
P.S. Kare, I know you are busy moving, etc. I miss you and hope all is going well. Let me know when you are in and settled.
Trish and Reenie - Enjoy Irish weekend! Hey, how's this quote for our fall? "Friends just keep you away from TV." - King of Queens
Aim - Tell Aunt 'Liss I said Congrats!
True - I bogarted your Down The Shore picture and it is now my Desktop Wallpaper. I've gotten SO many compliments on it! :)
AJ - Where oh where is my little Atlanta Braves fan now? Oh where oh where can he be? Good thing you've still got the Falcons! :)
Pill - Living next to a bulldog! WTG! Just FYI - the pig/goat was roaming outside the fence again...I hope it doesn't wander off.
This is a blog to my new blogger friends, whom I so carefully added to my list and HAVE NOT WRITTEN!!!!! I SO enjoy your thoughts and comments and would love to douse myself in your intellect, humor and witticisms.
As for me, I will dwell in the house of my blog forever! :)
Night all!
P.S. Kare, I know you are busy moving, etc. I miss you and hope all is going well. Let me know when you are in and settled.
Trish and Reenie - Enjoy Irish weekend! Hey, how's this quote for our fall? "Friends just keep you away from TV." - King of Queens
Aim - Tell Aunt 'Liss I said Congrats!
True - I bogarted your Down The Shore picture and it is now my Desktop Wallpaper. I've gotten SO many compliments on it! :)
AJ - Where oh where is my little Atlanta Braves fan now? Oh where oh where can he be? Good thing you've still got the Falcons! :)
Pill - Living next to a bulldog! WTG! Just FYI - the pig/goat was roaming outside the fence again...I hope it doesn't wander off.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
I don't care. Giles, I'm sixteen years old. I don't wanna die. – Buffy The Vampire Slayer
I don't care. Giles, I'm sixteen years old. I don't wanna die. – Buffy The Vampire Slayer
How do you instill this kind of intensity in a 16 year-old? More importantly how do stop a 30 year-old’s heart from wrenching just thinking about it? I’m not even sure how to write this blog, I’m just hoping the words will begin flowing once I start typing. I’m just at a loss as to how to convince a 16 year-old, R and his parents about the seriousness of R’s condition when he keeps getting a clean bill of health. I’m hoping today, I did everything right and when the ER sees him, his parents will relay everything I told them and R will be completely checked out. Just thinking about it makes me anxious and tense, when now, it is out of my hands.
I sent a 16 year-old football player to the emergency room today and my heart has just been broken ever since. I think he was having a stroke. I hope I’m wrong. Actually, hope is a very light word; I’ve been praying ever since he left me that I’m wrong. You all know how I am, so I know you’re not surprised when I say most of me feels for him, while the left over parts of me keep analyzing everything I did to make sure I did everything right. I am going to drive myself into an ulcer one of these days. Tonight might just be the night.
Travel back about two weeks ago. I was talking to our football coach who told me he was worried about one of his players, R. R had been diagnosed with Lyme’s disease before the season started and had lost about 30 or so pounds. Bell’s Palsy developed as a result of the Lyme’s disease. Many tests were done and he was cleared to play football, even though he was still having problems controlling the movement of his eyes. I relayed this conversation to Bill (my boss) the next day (Saturday) before Bill traveled to our away football game. Sunday, I opened the paper to find Bill and R on the front page as they were sending R to the ER for a “concussion”. The ER said it was mild and cleared him to return to play.
This past Friday night, R got hit in the 3rd Quarter and looked a bit “out of it” again. I tested him for a concussion following the game. He could not hold anyone’s gaze, as his eyes twitched and moved, but his balance and coordination tests were flawless. Since we have a “bye” this week, coach gave them off Monday. They had a light practice yesterday, watching film and doing some light play work. They were back in normal practice mode today. Coach called me to come to the Training Room to see R, as he was having head problems “bad”.
R was doing o.k. when I saw him, except he was holding his head saying he was having extreme pain through his temples. I called his dad, told him to come get him. Shortly after hanging up the phone, R began writhing from side to side because of the pain in his head. Then, it calmed down. He said he had the pain in spurts and now his chin felt numb. He could feel my touch and react to pain stimulus. His blood pressure and pulse were normal for post-participation. R told me he’d had trouble reading today. He could see the words, but they wouldn’t come out his mouth. I told him we were sending him to the ER and he went into fits of hyperventilating and crying. I tried to calm him, feeling this was only making his symptoms worse. We needed to get him looked at, ASAP. His parents walked in then. I talked to them about the signs. His father has constantly reassured us the R is fine. R wants to play football more than anything (and has for a few years) and I think his father just wants him to be fine and play football. Bill and I both were hoping for the last few weeks R’s parents would notice some of the little things we’ve noticed and take him for further tests. However, when a doctor tells you everything is fine, who are you to disagree and be proven wrong repeatedly? I think I finally got through to his mother that this was serious when I told her about the not being able to speak in class, but being able to read the words. There is something more than Lyme’s, Bell’s and concussion going on here. We need to know what that is. He left with his parents, hopefully for the ER. I think his father was opting for heading home first, to drop off one of the two cars they had, but the mom seemed to want to go right to the ER. Go Mom Go!
I just went online while preparing to write this blog and read the signs and symptoms of a stroke from the American Heart website. Now more than ever, I hope R is in a hospital bed somewhere undergoing tests. As I told his parents, I don’t care about R as a football player. I care about him as a person. In my head I thought, I just don’t want him to die or be seriously, debilitating ill when he was having signs which were supposed to warn us (him, family, friends, etc) to get him help.
I’ve decided I need to become closer with our doctors. I’d like someone I can talk to about these things when they happen; ask them how they convince parents, patients, etc. to seek help when they don’t want to; someone to question about the symptoms, differential diagnoses, etc.
I also think I need to learn to let go before I destroy me. I know I get overly maternal sometimes. I think I feel it internally more than I show it externally, which is good. I also try and separate my emotional feelings (especially emotional this week with some weird hormonal issues, not new to me, just not normal) from professionalism. Trying to have some bedside manner, without smothering or appearing cold. The balance is sometimes the hardest thing….so is the “leaving it at the office”. Being over analytical (I know, you guys never would have guessed it about me, right? ;) ), I beat myself up worrying about kids, making sure I did the right thing, second guessing myself and beating myself up over not doing what I would change in hindsight. I need to learn to learn from a situation, not beat myself up over it and then let it go. I’m trying to learn I can’t heal the world. I can’t control everything and then, revel in the peace I hope that brings.
As for now, keep your thoughts with R. I’ll let you know how he turns out.
How do you instill this kind of intensity in a 16 year-old? More importantly how do stop a 30 year-old’s heart from wrenching just thinking about it? I’m not even sure how to write this blog, I’m just hoping the words will begin flowing once I start typing. I’m just at a loss as to how to convince a 16 year-old, R and his parents about the seriousness of R’s condition when he keeps getting a clean bill of health. I’m hoping today, I did everything right and when the ER sees him, his parents will relay everything I told them and R will be completely checked out. Just thinking about it makes me anxious and tense, when now, it is out of my hands.
I sent a 16 year-old football player to the emergency room today and my heart has just been broken ever since. I think he was having a stroke. I hope I’m wrong. Actually, hope is a very light word; I’ve been praying ever since he left me that I’m wrong. You all know how I am, so I know you’re not surprised when I say most of me feels for him, while the left over parts of me keep analyzing everything I did to make sure I did everything right. I am going to drive myself into an ulcer one of these days. Tonight might just be the night.
Travel back about two weeks ago. I was talking to our football coach who told me he was worried about one of his players, R. R had been diagnosed with Lyme’s disease before the season started and had lost about 30 or so pounds. Bell’s Palsy developed as a result of the Lyme’s disease. Many tests were done and he was cleared to play football, even though he was still having problems controlling the movement of his eyes. I relayed this conversation to Bill (my boss) the next day (Saturday) before Bill traveled to our away football game. Sunday, I opened the paper to find Bill and R on the front page as they were sending R to the ER for a “concussion”. The ER said it was mild and cleared him to return to play.
This past Friday night, R got hit in the 3rd Quarter and looked a bit “out of it” again. I tested him for a concussion following the game. He could not hold anyone’s gaze, as his eyes twitched and moved, but his balance and coordination tests were flawless. Since we have a “bye” this week, coach gave them off Monday. They had a light practice yesterday, watching film and doing some light play work. They were back in normal practice mode today. Coach called me to come to the Training Room to see R, as he was having head problems “bad”.
R was doing o.k. when I saw him, except he was holding his head saying he was having extreme pain through his temples. I called his dad, told him to come get him. Shortly after hanging up the phone, R began writhing from side to side because of the pain in his head. Then, it calmed down. He said he had the pain in spurts and now his chin felt numb. He could feel my touch and react to pain stimulus. His blood pressure and pulse were normal for post-participation. R told me he’d had trouble reading today. He could see the words, but they wouldn’t come out his mouth. I told him we were sending him to the ER and he went into fits of hyperventilating and crying. I tried to calm him, feeling this was only making his symptoms worse. We needed to get him looked at, ASAP. His parents walked in then. I talked to them about the signs. His father has constantly reassured us the R is fine. R wants to play football more than anything (and has for a few years) and I think his father just wants him to be fine and play football. Bill and I both were hoping for the last few weeks R’s parents would notice some of the little things we’ve noticed and take him for further tests. However, when a doctor tells you everything is fine, who are you to disagree and be proven wrong repeatedly? I think I finally got through to his mother that this was serious when I told her about the not being able to speak in class, but being able to read the words. There is something more than Lyme’s, Bell’s and concussion going on here. We need to know what that is. He left with his parents, hopefully for the ER. I think his father was opting for heading home first, to drop off one of the two cars they had, but the mom seemed to want to go right to the ER. Go Mom Go!
I just went online while preparing to write this blog and read the signs and symptoms of a stroke from the American Heart website. Now more than ever, I hope R is in a hospital bed somewhere undergoing tests. As I told his parents, I don’t care about R as a football player. I care about him as a person. In my head I thought, I just don’t want him to die or be seriously, debilitating ill when he was having signs which were supposed to warn us (him, family, friends, etc) to get him help.
I’ve decided I need to become closer with our doctors. I’d like someone I can talk to about these things when they happen; ask them how they convince parents, patients, etc. to seek help when they don’t want to; someone to question about the symptoms, differential diagnoses, etc.
I also think I need to learn to let go before I destroy me. I know I get overly maternal sometimes. I think I feel it internally more than I show it externally, which is good. I also try and separate my emotional feelings (especially emotional this week with some weird hormonal issues, not new to me, just not normal) from professionalism. Trying to have some bedside manner, without smothering or appearing cold. The balance is sometimes the hardest thing….so is the “leaving it at the office”. Being over analytical (I know, you guys never would have guessed it about me, right? ;) ), I beat myself up worrying about kids, making sure I did the right thing, second guessing myself and beating myself up over not doing what I would change in hindsight. I need to learn to learn from a situation, not beat myself up over it and then let it go. I’m trying to learn I can’t heal the world. I can’t control everything and then, revel in the peace I hope that brings.
As for now, keep your thoughts with R. I’ll let you know how he turns out.
Monday, September 19, 2005
The Man With Which I Share My Bed
Hey All! Not a whole lot new today either. Kinda boring. I'm trying to train to run the Susan G. Komen Race For a Cure Mother's Day weekend. It just seems I can't get into the run everyday thing. In the "begin training" guide, it tells you to run 2 minutes, then walk 1 minute. Today, this lovely formula had me doing 1.25 miles in just under 20 minutes. I've GOT to get faster! :) With all this training, the most important thing is to get LOTS of rest and very good nights sleep. However, given this is the "Little Man" I share my bed with, is it no wonder my double bed feels more like a twin?!?!?! :) Shouldn't complain...it's NICE to be loved! :) :)
Sunday, September 18, 2005
A Few Of My Favorite Pictures.....
Hey Everybody! Since I don't really have anything exciting to write, I thought I'd post a few of my favorite pictures! This is one Trish took at her mother's birthday party one time when I came up from N.C. This is one of her step-brothers. (Trish, David? Danny? I can tell them apart NOW, but I couldn't when they were younger!)
KareNJenn
This is Karen and I Memorial Day of some year. Amy and I stopped over after graduation at Salisbury a few years after I graduated.
TrishWithHats
This is Trish in all the hats she thinks should have been hers, plus the hat Amy brought me back from the Bahamas.
A Few Of My Favorite Things
Hey Everyone! I just thought I'd post a few of my favorite pictures. This is Trish and I at Point to Point in Delaware 2002.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
"Y"? Because we like you!
I must really like words ending in "y" Here's Today's non-word!
trafficy (trf'k')
1. (adj.) Describing a period of heightened traffic.
trafficy (trf'k')
1. (adj.) Describing a period of heightened traffic.
Friday, September 09, 2005
Let's Make Stuff Up!
Hey Everyone!
Trish just started a blog! Many of you know, the Murph (as she was formerly known! :) Well, we still call her that, as it's now a middle name, but technically, her new last name is German! hehehehehe ) Anyway, feel free to check her out www.irishmurphdawg.blogspot.com.
Her latest blog is about NOT using dialoging as a word, since it is not one. If you peruse the comments section you will see I told her I will join her cruisade for People Against Using Dialoging As A Verb, if she'll let me continue to make up other words. I just love throwing non-words into a sentance. She said I could, so I found this website www.unwords.com that has a WHOLE dictionary of unwords! I decided to randomly post some and here is my first one. I picked this one because I decided I wanted to say a non-work with an "m" sound and this one just struck me as GREAT!!!! (Probably because it reminded me of cheese and I LOVE cheese!)Enjoy your non-word. Feel free to make up your own! :)
melty (ml-t)
1. (adj.) Of a melted consistancy; The state of being partially melted. This term has been used recently in televised Taco Bell ads for the "Cheesy Gordita Crunch."
Example: The s'mores were deliciously melty".
Trish just started a blog! Many of you know, the Murph (as she was formerly known! :) Well, we still call her that, as it's now a middle name, but technically, her new last name is German! hehehehehe ) Anyway, feel free to check her out www.irishmurphdawg.blogspot.com.
Her latest blog is about NOT using dialoging as a word, since it is not one. If you peruse the comments section you will see I told her I will join her cruisade for People Against Using Dialoging As A Verb, if she'll let me continue to make up other words. I just love throwing non-words into a sentance. She said I could, so I found this website www.unwords.com that has a WHOLE dictionary of unwords! I decided to randomly post some and here is my first one. I picked this one because I decided I wanted to say a non-work with an "m" sound and this one just struck me as GREAT!!!! (Probably because it reminded me of cheese and I LOVE cheese!)Enjoy your non-word. Feel free to make up your own! :)
melty (ml-t)
1. (adj.) Of a melted consistancy; The state of being partially melted. This term has been used recently in televised Taco Bell ads for the "Cheesy Gordita Crunch."
Example: The s'mores were deliciously melty".
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Like, I'm getting all misty
I know this is a bit late, but I just learned of it. The Title is a Quote from Maynard G. Krebs (The "G" Stood for Walter. He was named after his Aunt.).
R.I.P. Bob Denver Died Sept 2, 2005
Gilligan's Island is wherever you want it to be in your mind. -Bob Denver
And just so you'll always have them.....
"Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
A tale of a fateful trip,
That started from this tropic port,
Aboard this tiny ship.
The mate was a mighty sailing man,
The skipper brave and sure.
Five passengers set sail that day,
For a three hour tour, a three hour tour.
The weather started getting rough,
The tiny ship was tossed,
If not for the courage of the fearless crew,
The Minnow would be lost, the minnow would be lost.
The ship set ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle,
With Gilligan, The Skipper too, the millionaire and his wife,
The movie star, the professor and Mary Ann,
Here on Gilligans Isle. "
R.I.P. Bob Denver Died Sept 2, 2005
Gilligan's Island is wherever you want it to be in your mind. -Bob Denver
And just so you'll always have them.....
"Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
A tale of a fateful trip,
That started from this tropic port,
Aboard this tiny ship.
The mate was a mighty sailing man,
The skipper brave and sure.
Five passengers set sail that day,
For a three hour tour, a three hour tour.
The weather started getting rough,
The tiny ship was tossed,
If not for the courage of the fearless crew,
The Minnow would be lost, the minnow would be lost.
The ship set ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle,
With Gilligan, The Skipper too, the millionaire and his wife,
The movie star, the professor and Mary Ann,
Here on Gilligans Isle. "
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Knees of My Heart
Since pre-season is now officially OVER, I scheduled myself for a Deep-Tissue Massage today. It was wonderful!
The thing people don't often realize about deep-tissue massage is that it is not completely relaxing and comfortable. To me, even this is wonderful. I may be the only person alive who analyzes a massage while they are getting it. I think about the muscle it is massaging, I stay very aware to see where my knots are and I even am keenly aware of my massuse's technique. This is my favorite type of massage for one (well, two is seems now) very specific reason...the giant knot permanently present in my trapezius muscle, from my neck to my shoulder on the right side of my body. When I worked at Lenape in 1996 I began losing feeling in my right hand. I saw my general doctor, who advised getting a massage to relieve the giant knot, thereby restoring feeling to my hand. I always know it is time to go back when the tingling begins in my pinkie and ring finger on my right hand. I say it is now two reasons because as Ali (I usually go see someone new each time, just because I have to see whomever fits into my schedule) found a medium-sized knot in my left shoudler, in the exact same spot. I also seem to have added lots of little knots all over my body - along my shins, the arches of my feet and the ENTIRE trapezius muscle, in such places as under my shoulder blade, along my shoulder blade and along my rib cage including MY ARMPIT!
Seriously, who gets knots in their armpit?!?!?!? The thing I look forward to most now, besides knowing someone is going to push, prod, dig and mash into the lump (now two) in my shoulder(s) is when they massage my knees. I know that sounds very strange. I mean, it's not like you EVER hear anyone say "Geez! I'm so stressed and tense. I need a massage on my knees."! If I hadn't ever had a massage, I might never ever have known I like having my knees massaged. I could've spent my whole life with the tension just building up and building up in my knees. And then what would've happened?!?!?!?! The first time I went to a professional massuer and they rubbed my quads (thighs) and then began rubbing my knees I thought, "How odd! A massage on your knees!". After he finished the first knee I realized how much bettter it felt than my untouched knee. When he got to the second leg, I could actually feel tension just melting away. Who knew there was tension there?!?!?!? It never occurs to me again until I'm on my way to my massage appointment. Then, secretly I begin saying "Oh goody! My knees will feel SO good soon."
We all know I am a bit "unlike most other people" (some may even venture to use the word strange :) ), but I know now I am not alone. Jill went with me today and had a massage in another room, by another person while I was having mine. In the car on the way home, I told her I secretly enjoy the massage on my knees. "Me too!" she replied. "Who ever thought you held tension in your knees?!?!?"
I am off to drink the gallons and gallons of water to flush the toxins out of my body and to keep my muscles from aching and bruising from the immense workout it has undergone so far today. I am also going to head out to pick up some things from the store for our family get together tomorrow. I'm so excited, 'cuz I've got full functioning, feeling good, relaxed....knees. :)
The thing people don't often realize about deep-tissue massage is that it is not completely relaxing and comfortable. To me, even this is wonderful. I may be the only person alive who analyzes a massage while they are getting it. I think about the muscle it is massaging, I stay very aware to see where my knots are and I even am keenly aware of my massuse's technique. This is my favorite type of massage for one (well, two is seems now) very specific reason...the giant knot permanently present in my trapezius muscle, from my neck to my shoulder on the right side of my body. When I worked at Lenape in 1996 I began losing feeling in my right hand. I saw my general doctor, who advised getting a massage to relieve the giant knot, thereby restoring feeling to my hand. I always know it is time to go back when the tingling begins in my pinkie and ring finger on my right hand. I say it is now two reasons because as Ali (I usually go see someone new each time, just because I have to see whomever fits into my schedule) found a medium-sized knot in my left shoudler, in the exact same spot. I also seem to have added lots of little knots all over my body - along my shins, the arches of my feet and the ENTIRE trapezius muscle, in such places as under my shoulder blade, along my shoulder blade and along my rib cage including MY ARMPIT!
Seriously, who gets knots in their armpit?!?!?!? The thing I look forward to most now, besides knowing someone is going to push, prod, dig and mash into the lump (now two) in my shoulder(s) is when they massage my knees. I know that sounds very strange. I mean, it's not like you EVER hear anyone say "Geez! I'm so stressed and tense. I need a massage on my knees."! If I hadn't ever had a massage, I might never ever have known I like having my knees massaged. I could've spent my whole life with the tension just building up and building up in my knees. And then what would've happened?!?!?!?! The first time I went to a professional massuer and they rubbed my quads (thighs) and then began rubbing my knees I thought, "How odd! A massage on your knees!". After he finished the first knee I realized how much bettter it felt than my untouched knee. When he got to the second leg, I could actually feel tension just melting away. Who knew there was tension there?!?!?!? It never occurs to me again until I'm on my way to my massage appointment. Then, secretly I begin saying "Oh goody! My knees will feel SO good soon."
We all know I am a bit "unlike most other people" (some may even venture to use the word strange :) ), but I know now I am not alone. Jill went with me today and had a massage in another room, by another person while I was having mine. In the car on the way home, I told her I secretly enjoy the massage on my knees. "Me too!" she replied. "Who ever thought you held tension in your knees?!?!?"
I am off to drink the gallons and gallons of water to flush the toxins out of my body and to keep my muscles from aching and bruising from the immense workout it has undergone so far today. I am also going to head out to pick up some things from the store for our family get together tomorrow. I'm so excited, 'cuz I've got full functioning, feeling good, relaxed....knees. :)
Friday, September 02, 2005
I Was Trying Not To Comment on Katrina, but I can't help it.
Dear President Bush:
I am writing to you as a concerned Republican and American citizen. As I write, I am watching the news about Day 4 of the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The strong feelings of heartbreak and anger are overwhelming in me. These two emotions seem to be present in most of your second term and I felt the need to express my concern for our country.
I voted for you in the last election, honestly believing you were the person I wanted in control of my government. I wanted someone who I believed, when I lay my head on my pillow at night, was running the government in my best interest, even if it was against my beliefs of what should be done. I believe the government to act as a parental figure, both nurturing, comforting, disciplining and taking care of it’s “children”. It is because of this belief that I feel so heartbroken by your second term so far.
President Bush, I feel abandon, deserted and duped into believing I should trust you to take care of me. I can only imagine how the people in New Orleans feel at this moment, as our government leaves them abandon, with no food or water in conditions we wouldn’t wish upon our most hated enemies. Where is our government? Where are our people? The people of Houston lined the streets at 3am to greet the buses coming in from the Superdome. They took in the displaced, took them into their homes to feed and care for them, knowing these were people who had lost everything they had. Yet, our government has failed to do the same.
The people of New Orleans are literally FIGHTING for their lives. They are looting for food. They are tearing each other apart to make sure THEY are the one on the bus out of town, to better conditions. We are kicking people when they are down. Those people are in the most primitive of conditions, their hierarchy of needs is at the bottom of the pyramid and we keep pushing them down. It’s no wonder they are fighting, looting, setting fires, etc.
I know those who were able should have evacuated. I know you severely underestimated the amount of poor who were unable to evacuate. Should we punish them for this? The media interviewed one man who swam for 8 hours, begging boats to rescue him, pleading for forgiveness for NOT evacuating when he should have as boats passed him by.
I am also angry with the people of New Orleans. When the Tsunami hit Thailand, the survivors seemed to go on , thinking “I must do for me. Rebuild, find food, shelter. I must take responsibility for my survival.” While I know the conditions in New Orleans are dire, it seems the people are thinking “what is someone going to do for me?” and then, getting angry and violent when no one comes to help them. The violence is not going to facilitate aid. If anything it’s going to slow it down. An acquaintance, Patsy, said it best (I’ve paraphrased), “How can you take poor people who steal, loot and resort to violence to survive in everyday life, put them in dire situations and expect calm and patience?” Still, I just want to scream, “You idiots! Stop trying to hurt the few people that ARE trying to help you, so they don’t STOP trying to help you!”
I know hindsight is 20/20, but I also am angry with the people who had the means to evacuate and didn’t. Their need to stay with their homes and their things are taking supplies and rescue efforts from those who couldn’t leave. They should have left. Evacuations began when Katrina was a Category 5 hurricane approaching a low-lying state (in case you didn’t KNOW New Orleans was a low lying area, the above ground graves should give it away). Which part of that statement made you think it wouldn’t be at least as bad as other severe hurricanes?!?!? Which part made you think you could ride out the storm untouched?
Mr. President, I am tired of feeling as though you are ignoring the needs and feelings of the American people for your own agenda. Your beliefs I used to think mimicked mine, but I question these things when it seems as though the American people are crying for one thing and you deliver something completely different. Your actions make me constantly question whether I should remain a Republican, a party I have been tied to since I registered to vote 12 years ago. The only comfort granted me is the echoing of these feelings by many Republicans I know. Mr. Bush, I hope you take my thoughts are concerns seriously. I am heartbroken over the state of a Country I love. I am the future of the Republican Party and, more importantly a disenchanted American citizen.
I am writing to you as a concerned Republican and American citizen. As I write, I am watching the news about Day 4 of the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The strong feelings of heartbreak and anger are overwhelming in me. These two emotions seem to be present in most of your second term and I felt the need to express my concern for our country.
I voted for you in the last election, honestly believing you were the person I wanted in control of my government. I wanted someone who I believed, when I lay my head on my pillow at night, was running the government in my best interest, even if it was against my beliefs of what should be done. I believe the government to act as a parental figure, both nurturing, comforting, disciplining and taking care of it’s “children”. It is because of this belief that I feel so heartbroken by your second term so far.
President Bush, I feel abandon, deserted and duped into believing I should trust you to take care of me. I can only imagine how the people in New Orleans feel at this moment, as our government leaves them abandon, with no food or water in conditions we wouldn’t wish upon our most hated enemies. Where is our government? Where are our people? The people of Houston lined the streets at 3am to greet the buses coming in from the Superdome. They took in the displaced, took them into their homes to feed and care for them, knowing these were people who had lost everything they had. Yet, our government has failed to do the same.
The people of New Orleans are literally FIGHTING for their lives. They are looting for food. They are tearing each other apart to make sure THEY are the one on the bus out of town, to better conditions. We are kicking people when they are down. Those people are in the most primitive of conditions, their hierarchy of needs is at the bottom of the pyramid and we keep pushing them down. It’s no wonder they are fighting, looting, setting fires, etc.
I know those who were able should have evacuated. I know you severely underestimated the amount of poor who were unable to evacuate. Should we punish them for this? The media interviewed one man who swam for 8 hours, begging boats to rescue him, pleading for forgiveness for NOT evacuating when he should have as boats passed him by.
I am also angry with the people of New Orleans. When the Tsunami hit Thailand, the survivors seemed to go on , thinking “I must do for me. Rebuild, find food, shelter. I must take responsibility for my survival.” While I know the conditions in New Orleans are dire, it seems the people are thinking “what is someone going to do for me?” and then, getting angry and violent when no one comes to help them. The violence is not going to facilitate aid. If anything it’s going to slow it down. An acquaintance, Patsy, said it best (I’ve paraphrased), “How can you take poor people who steal, loot and resort to violence to survive in everyday life, put them in dire situations and expect calm and patience?” Still, I just want to scream, “You idiots! Stop trying to hurt the few people that ARE trying to help you, so they don’t STOP trying to help you!”
I know hindsight is 20/20, but I also am angry with the people who had the means to evacuate and didn’t. Their need to stay with their homes and their things are taking supplies and rescue efforts from those who couldn’t leave. They should have left. Evacuations began when Katrina was a Category 5 hurricane approaching a low-lying state (in case you didn’t KNOW New Orleans was a low lying area, the above ground graves should give it away). Which part of that statement made you think it wouldn’t be at least as bad as other severe hurricanes?!?!? Which part made you think you could ride out the storm untouched?
Mr. President, I am tired of feeling as though you are ignoring the needs and feelings of the American people for your own agenda. Your beliefs I used to think mimicked mine, but I question these things when it seems as though the American people are crying for one thing and you deliver something completely different. Your actions make me constantly question whether I should remain a Republican, a party I have been tied to since I registered to vote 12 years ago. The only comfort granted me is the echoing of these feelings by many Republicans I know. Mr. Bush, I hope you take my thoughts are concerns seriously. I am heartbroken over the state of a Country I love. I am the future of the Republican Party and, more importantly a disenchanted American citizen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)