Weighin' In

I would be lying if I said I had a good week. When food I shouldn't eat is near me, I eat it. I was kind of angry about it, this time, though. I wanted to make healthier decisions, but I felt like I wasn't "allowed."

Let me explain: I live with my mom, and even though I am an adult, I still have that "she's the mom" mentality. So, when she came home last weekend from her holiday food shopping binge, my heart sunk. She brought home hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, macaroni salad, potato chips, some kind of really sweet dessert thing, and lots of bread to go with the burgers and dogs.
So I ate the stuff from Sunday through Tuesday. When I weighed myself Wednesday, the damage was that I had gained a pound. I lucked-out. Trust me. I actually ate small portions, but it was still a lot of high-starch and bad-carb stuff that my body can't tolerate. Why did I eat it all? Guilt. My mom's feelings would have been hurt, not to mention the guilt of knowing money was spent on it all--couldn't waste food, right?

Since Wednesday, I tried very hard to eat as well as I could and made sure that when we returned to school this week, I tried to walk around a fair bit. I lost that pound and I stayed at the weight I had for last week. For that, I am grateful.

It feels like a completely wasted week, but I feel good about losing the pound and about my inward reaction to everything. I'm getting my will back, and now I just have to not worry about hurting other people's feelings. This is about me. (I'm not real good with "about me," especially when it comes to my parents.)

Below are some words of encouragement for my fellow weight-loss buddies:

David Viscott
You must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be.

Eleanor Roosevelt
You must do the thing you think you cannot do.

George S. Patton
You're never beaten until you admit it.

Lee Iacocca
You've got to say, I think that if I keep working at this and want it badly enough I can have it. It's called perseverance.

Here are some diet "tips" that I found (supposed to be funny). The site provides this caveat and quotation before the list:

Don't take our humorous diet tips too seriously, they're just for fun!
Success is when you can look beyond food...and look down and see your feet.

1. To make your hips and thighs look slim on the beach, dig two tunnels under your thighs and make a small dent in the sand for your bottom. Place your towel over the top and sit in the dug out area. Hey presto, no bulging thighs and hips.

2. Always stand 3/4 on for photographs ..... really slimming.

3. Stand next to a person fatter than you whenever possible and never ever befriend a real skinny!!!

4. Always eat in private, if people never see you eat, they'll believe you when you say you have a thyroid problem. (Hey! I really do have a thyroid problem!)

5. If you have a problem with eating too much in the evenings, go to bed at 7:30 p.m. every night and ask your partner to hand cuff you to the bed, you never know, you may solve two problems in one, by spicing up your sex life at the same time ;) (Well, dang!)

6. If you do know someone who's naturally skinny, have them come and live with you for two weeks and eat exactly what they eat at exactly the same times. You are guaranteed to lose weight! (Yeah, because all people are alike and what works for one person works for another. /snark)

7. Con your friends into thinking how good you're looking lately ..... study and memorize your most flattering pose in a mirror and ensure when anyone sees you, you strike the pose..... note, this only works if you then don't move again until they've left the room.

8. Cross your legs at your ankles. Your thighs and calves will look slimmer.

9. Get a tan. A tan helps you look thinner.

10. Whenever a friend calls round, tell them you're on your way to the gym, word will get round about how fit and healthy you are.... and you may feel it necessary to prove it once in a while.

11. 100 laughs a day is equal to 10 minutes of exercise! Now can it get any easier than that? (I like that one the best!)

(H/T: Be Young)

Picture of the Day

A wabbit eating his breakfast:

Today I said two things I never thought I'd say:
"Stop touching his butt."
"Don't sit on his head."

Then later, I learned that it is good to be the teacher. It is especially good when you catch a kid cheating and that kid takes the zero like a champ.

Oh, and I have a possessed car stereo. It will be replaced before my trip. If that had happened while I was driving down to TN, I would have had a cow.

I have a question: Are power windows supposed to be able to go up and down with the car turned off? The keys were still in the ignition, but the car was completely off.

Something tells me that I need to name my car, "Christine." (Don't worry folks, I have a great warranty. I wouldn't take the car without it.)

HEADLINES!

1. Girls Gang Blows Up Houses With Homemade Bomb Over Boy
I bet he feels special. (morons)

2. San Francisco may offer street yoga
Given the street yoga people are more bendy, I bet they steal business from the street walkers. I smell a turf war.

3. Romance lives at Riker's Island.
Just yesterday, Bubba and Bruce had a lovely ceremony.

4. Driver gets in wreck, sees his home catch fire, gets ticket
That just sucks. No funny there.

5. Mystery deepens as 4th severed foot found
I wonder what happened to the remainder of the bodies. Creepy. Stay away from Vancouver, B.C., folks.

6. In final stretch, Clinton says 'I still believe I can win'
Meanwhile, her shrink is making a mint off of her!

7. Studies link lead to adult crime, brain damage
Ummm....and?

8. La Scala to stage Gore's 'INCONVENIENT TRUTH'...
See # 7.

9. TODAY: Sex doesn’t matter, until it’s gone
Again, I say, "DUH!" (Yeah, uh, trust me on that one.)

10. The last headline isn't posted because of humorous purposes. I'm posting it because it is one of the sweetest stories I've read in a long time. Click on the headline to read the story.

Del. Students Raise Money For Teacher's Trip Home

Caption Contest

Here's a fun picture this week. Provide your best captions and I will post the winners Monday evening. Have a great weekend! (If you feel this is worthy of your Photoshop talents, have at it.)

THE WINNERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3. Cowboy Blob: It's not ghey to hug another man, as long as you pound him on the back with your fist. The insecure ones tend to overdo it.

2. Rodney Dill: Dubya: "Uh... you got superglue remover right?"

And the winner is. . .

1. Wyatt: President Bush had no problem with bumping and grinding, but after receiving the dreaded "Rear Admiral," he never recovered.



Other Caption Contests:

• Blonde Sagacity
• bRight & Early (I got THIRD place here last week!)
• Cowboy Blob
• Gone Rick Motel (I WON here last week!)
• Right Pundits (I tookTHIRD place here last week!)
• Rodney Dill
• WILLisms
• Wizbang

Harvey Korman

Harvey Korman passed away today. When I was little, the Carol Burnett Show was a must-watch event. The best part was always waiting to see if Harvey Korman would lose his composure during his sketches, especially the ones with Tim Conway. In honor and in memory of Mr. Korman, I give you one of their most talked about sketches:

Playing the numbers

Since I'm going away for the summer, I wasn't able to get an appointment with my endocrinologist until I return, so the whole blood work thing has to wait. However, I decided to check my sugar yesterday using my mom's monitor. I even took my blood pressure and pulse with her other stuff, too.

For about three years, my blood sugar has been running around 100 +/- a few points here and there (o.k...more like 115 a couple of times). Yesterday, it was 87.

When I tested my blood pressure it was 129/73 (a little high for me, but still normal AND a lot lower than it was when I got ill four years ago).

Then came my pulse. I hate taking my pulse. It is always in the low to upper 80's. Yesterday, it was 68.

Now, if the weight just keeps coming off, I'll be a very happy woman. Throughout this weight-loss thing, I've been concentrating on appearances. I know the "numbers" are lurking, but I always seem to forget the health part of the mix. This reminds me of how important the weight loss is, even if I don't end up a hottie.

I'm a winner!

Paul at Shadow of Diogenes has a trivia contest that he runs. Every now and then I feel like entering, but I know I just can't compete. However, this week, I took an educated guess at the answer and I WON! Woo hooooooo!!!

Go visit Shadow of Diogenes. You will find very deep and profound things (haiku and such) mixed with humor. Also, see if you can match wits the next time he posts a trivia contest.

Well, these made me laugh.

Just remember guys. . .


That had to leave a mark. Again, why I don't fly and why I always look up when I see one of those little guys.

Myanmar Kryptonite

I've been told that women have a strange, undeniable power over men. (I lack whatever power that is.) However, I never knew that panties had such an effect.

According to a human rights group in Quebec, a good way to protest Myanmar's human rights abuses is to have women send panties to Myanmar's representatives in Ottawa.

"The Quebec Women's Federation and the activist group Rights and Democracy claim the secretive military leaders in the country formerly known as Burma are superstitious and believe contact with women's underwear will usurp their power."

Imagine the fear in their eyes when they open a package from Rosie O'Donnell!

Some women from Myanmar agree: "They believe this is a very powerful message to the military because they are very superstitious."

Yeah, I know what you are thinking: New or used?

"I think (underwear) that has already been worn will be most effective to put them to shame," Thet Thet Tun (Myanmarese activist) told CTV News.

My only question is one raised because of concern for supply. Most people of an activist nature are hippies or grunge-mongers. They don't wear undies, do they?

I can't believe I came across THIS.

(H/T: UPI)

Not really into older men, but. . .

There are a couple of exceptions: Joe Perry from Aerosmith and actor, Sam Elliot.

I was watching Tombstone this evening (first time I've seen it from the beginning) and then I saw him: Sam Elliot. It has been a while since I've watched a movie with him in it. I know he's been busy in films and animation, but I just haven't seen them. What hooks me is his voice. Well, then the long hair and scruff. Oy.

I remember watching Mask when it came out and just totally flipping out over him. Again, it was the voice and how he played his character.

So, here I give you (especially, the ladies) Sam Elliot, in Road House. I hear men love this movie. I haven't seen it in years, so I can't make that judgment. However, I will say this: Elliot is hot in it! HA! (***cussin' alert***)

Deathlok rocks!

As Wyatt has been saying, Deathlok came up with the best idea EVER! A bunch of us (feel free to jump in, btw.) have been writing parts to a story. It's pretty cool and lots of fun!

To read it in order, click on these links:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Momster tagged Big Bad Wolf (if he's out and about).

Let me be the first to say, that when Hollywood bids the rights for the screenplay, I'm in! Btw., I have a friend who is a teamster in Hollywood, so I have my driver to the set!


Click HERE for this week's caption contest winner.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

If you take along your suspension of disbelief and an attitude that you'll allow yourself to be entertained, you will enjoy Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Obviously, there are things in the movie that don't jive with the time periods of the other movies. So what. I didn't find it all that much of a stumbling block; however, I see movies as just that, movies. I don't get caught up in the nit-picking.

The dialogue was o.k., and there was plenty of humor and banter. I think our desire for realism interferes with our enjoyment of fictional pieces of work. Examples: How many times can a guy get hit in the jewels while stradling vehicles during a sword fight, without crumpling to the ground in pain? Or, during the most dire of moments, one-liners leap out of the mouths of the characters. It's o.k. That's part of the fantastical element. The characters are fictional, as are their lives and adventures. Why not have fun and go with it?

Personally, I'd like to know when people stopped having fun and started expecting so much realism. I like when movies are escapes from the everyday.

I read somewhere, on several sites, that Shia LeBeouf is no Marlon Brando. I don't think he is supposed to be one. He has to be larger than life and against the grain. How his character represents himself is proof of that, not to mention, the whole "good guy" wrapped in the security blanket of the bad-ass. I thought the representation (physically) did two things: 1. It provided a little giggle, and 2. It gave a nod to the aforementioned bad-ass syndrome. I seem to remember seeing pictures of a few of my relatives (back in the day) dressed almost exactly like LeBeouf's character. Didn't every guy want to be Brando? Just sayin'. (The heroes of today's kids are "bad-asses" that can't seem to pull up their drawers, but that's a discussion for another time.)

Btw., if you see this movie, you will not believe Cate Blanchett is the character she is. I didn't know it was her until I looked up the spelling of Shia LeBeouf's name on IMDB.

Overall, I liked it. I give it 12 crystal skulls out of 13. Why? You'll see why.

Hmmmm. . .

I've been awake since around 4:00 a.m. Can't figure out why. I don't have to be back to school until Thursday, so it's not like I have to get up.

Stupid me went looking around an alumni site for my high school. Five people from one class have died. Weird. My cousin's class, no less.

I looked up one of the "notorious" guys with whom I was acquainted through another friend. He's married, three kids. He's looked me up in the past and so I thought I'd return the curiosity.

One of my classmates has cancer that she's been battling a while. She's battled her whole life with all kinds of non-medical issues. Sad.

I tried finding some poetry. Didn't like any of it. Frankly, thought most of it was pretentious bullshit. (Last night, I looked for jobs that have absolutely nothing to do with literature wondering if I'd regain my love of it if I wasn't saturated by it. Only problem: I have no clue what I am qualified to do.)

Tried finding something to write about, but with all of the earthquakes, fires, tornadoes, brutality, and general ick, I didn't quite feel like writing or ranting about any of it.

A few days ago, I sent a very nice email to the principal of the high school I attended. They are trying to change some things and I appreciated their hard work. I got a two-sentence reply. Schmuck.

I'll be doing a little shopping in anticipation for my summer. Three more weeks and I won't have to stress because my mom brought home hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, macaroni salad, soda, a strawberry/blueberry parfait, and potato chips. Think she wants me fat? Sometimes I wonder. As long as no one wants me, she can have me around and she doesn't have to be alone.

I'm beginning to think I didn't get enough sleep.

I'll be back later after I go shopping and get some work done at the dentist (tiny cavity). Hopefully, I'll be a bit more chipper. Maybe I'll have some caffeine while I'm out; that always cheers me up.

Hope you all have an awesome day. Really.

-D.

Need a little humor?

You'll giggle.

A day of remembrance

This is not only a day to pause and remember those that have given their lives in battle since the Civil War, but also a day to remember the family and friends that grieve those that were lost.

May their sacrifices never be forgotten.

"Bagpipes Cryin'"
Rushlow Harris

Go visit TrekMedic's site. You will find President Bush's proclamation designating today as a time of prayer for permanent peace.

Standing at my pulpit

I know I already did a Sunday song for the week, and I try not to preach. However, I have to say something that I truly believe. It is something that helps fuel my faith. I actually feel quite moved to say it.

God restores our lives and years of wasted time and effort--no matter whose fault it was and no matter the situation. (Face it, we are our own worst enemy at times.)

God controls everything. We need only open our eyes to it all and allow Him to do His work. We just need to believe that He is able.

I tend to feel trapped inside of self-loathing because of my past and what my decisions have done to my life.

I'm not believing that lie anymore...I choose not to. God will restore EVERYTHING--beyond any expectations I could ever have.

Joel 2:25
"I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm [a]—my great army that I sent among you.

Think about how a car is restored. Sometimes new and improved parts are used, sometimes valuable pieces are found to complete the restoration. Other times, old pieces are shined up like new and that nice new coat of paint is applied to make the car look like new...sometimes better than new and most importantly, better than the rusty heap it once was, battered by use and full of dings.

Sunday Song

There has been a quotation ringing through my head the past week or two attributed to C.S. Lewis:

A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, "darkness" on the walls of his cell.
~C.S. Lewis

People can say and do what they want, but God will always shine through the muck and the beauty. He's greater than all of the lowest things in life and better than all of those who think they are at the pinnacle of their professions and hobbies; likewise, He is greater than all of the things created on Earth to be the "biggest" or the "best."

He'll also make Himself known whether or not you believe and whether or not you want Him to. If He has a plan, it will be done. We have the choice to reject or accept Him, but He will do His work regardless.

Have a great Sunday, everyone! :)

"Let it Rise"
Big Daddy Weave

Jeremiah 9:24
"But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD which exercise loving-kindngess, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight", says the LORD

John 5:24-26
"Truthfully I say unto you, he that hears My word, and believes on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into the condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Truthfully I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so has He given to the Son to have life in Himself."

Sidebar

As you may have seen, I have removed the memorial information for Officer Charles Cassidy. To be honest it feels kind of weird, since seeing his picture has reminded me of the often dangerous and thankless jobs police officers have.

I remove it, though, for a reason. Officer Cassidy's family has received an incredible amount of financial support and they have asked that any donations now be sent to the memorial fund for Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski. Please visit my sidebar for that information. Thank you.

LOTS of pictures!

I thought I'd take some pictures while I was out and about, today. The weather was too beautiful to go home after I took my dad out to lunch. He's looking a bit tired these days. My crazy aunt is frakin' with him, so pray for him. He needs it.

I tried to post the pictures small and line them up, but I suck and I couldn't do it. Just click on them to make them bigger. Sorry this is so long. (Btw., that lady behind my dad's shoulder stared at me almost the entire time we were at the diner. Annoying!)

After we went to lunch, I went to the Delaware River. It is only a two minute drive from my dad's house. We used to go there all of the time. Usually the water is up the retaining wall a bit. It is low-tide right now (smelled like it, too), so you get to see some mud. That mud has lots of shells for the claiming. I used to go down there for the shells.

Views of Philadelphia

Tacony Bridge--opens and closes. I remember when it cost about a dime to cross it.

This is the little marina where I'd like take sailing lessons. Hopefully, I'll be able to take lessons next year.

After I spent a little time in the sun (boy did that feel good), I went to get my car washed--the type where you stay in the car. FUN!

No trip to get my car washed is complete without thoughts of this song and movie:

Weighin' in

I'm not going to mince words; this was a good week! I am down six pounds from the last weigh-in. Going off of the protein shake was definitely the right decision. Of course, now, I keep wondering just how much I would have lost had I never used the stuff as a meal replacement. My leg is finally feeling better, too. That makes it possible to exercise again.

The best part about this week was a breakthrough in the head. When I start to go for the "bad" stuff, I ask myself which is more important: Temporary satisfaction of the taste buds or having a life (hopefully)? Perhaps having a life is a bit more important. Let's hope this, "Look at me, and I am losing weight," thing keeps up. This is making me really excited to go away, since I tend to treat myself much better when I am not living at home.

I saw a MEME and stole it!

I have stolen this from Old NFO and U.S.A. Admiral.

Simple rule: Change all the answers so that they apply to you.

1. What is your occupation?
Depends on who you ask. If you ask me, I'm an educator and teacher of English. If you ask one particular person that sits on our board, I'm a glorified clerical worker. I hope my students would say my occupation is teacher and mentor.

2. What color are your socks right now?
Flesh. The only thing on my feet are toenails in need of a new paint job and pedicure.

3. What are you listening to right now?
Everybody Loves Raymond. Oddly it is an episode for Robert's birthday. His line of the evening? Essentially: "Happy Birthday to the middle-aged man who lives with his parents." Yeah. Ironic, eh?

4. What was the last thing that you ate?
Steak, mushrooms, and peas. Yummy!

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
Yep. I once bought a car that required the salesperson to teach me how to drive stick before I took it off the lot. I hated red lights that day.

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
Haven't spoken on the phone since yesterday. I believe it was my mother.

7. Do you like the person who tagged you?
I love her to pieces! She's really awesome. Oh, yeah, I tagged myself.

8. How old are you today?
39 years, 5 months, and 22 days old.

9. What is your favorite sport to watch?
Hockey. The season begins again in a few months. :) GO WINGS! (Think I just threw up a little in my mouth.)

10. What is your favorite drink?
Cherry Coke. What? Oh, o.k....Bud in a nice, cold long-neck bottle (or something mixed with vodka).

11. Have you ever dyed your hair?
Since I was 16. Variations of blonde and red have adorned my cranium. I tried a temporary black rinse, once. I thought it was cool (fair skin, blue eyes, & red lipstick), but, one guy friend always said he liked me as a blonde and I took his advice.

12. Last time you hugged your child?
Umm....next question.

13. Favorite food?
I'm really hating food these days, but if I have to choose, I love French fries. I try to avoid them, though. Of the stuff I can eat, what I find most favorite is watermelon. (Just remembered...that mixes with vodka really well. I'll have to keep that nugget locked in my brain for my trip.)

14. What was the last movie you watched?
The Robert-Downey, Jr.-is hot movie. Huh? There was a title?

15. Favorite day of the year?
Well, until I have one of "those" dates to remember, I'd have to say this year it will be June 20th-the last day of school.

16. How do you vent anger?
I cuss. Everything becomes a f'kn something or other. I get angry, really grrrrr, it lasts about ten minutes, and them I'm over it. Usually. I don't have the attention span to hold grudges, nor the memory to remember why I should be really angry. In fact, anger is such a draining emotion that I try to avoid it. I choose love. ;)

17. What was your favorite toy as a child?
I had mostly books and dolls. I did get a hippity-hop that was fun. Does my basketball count? I usually opted for dancing around to music. Still do.

18. What is your favorite season?
Fall. I like the scent in the air and the cool breezes mixed with the warm sun.

19. Ocean or pool?
Pool, but only if it is indoors or if the peering eyes of others are completely blocked.

20. Cherries or Blueberries?
I love them equally! I had cherries Wednesday and yesterday. I had blueberries Sunday.

21. Do you want your family & friends to participate?
If you feel like doing this, go for it!

22. Who is the most likely to respond?
Spinster cat-ladies. You know, people like me.

24. Living arrangements?
See # 22 and # 3. Over the summer, I will have a condo to myself, 800 some odd miles away from here.

25. When was the last time you cried?
I find myself whimpering a bit on the drive to or from work. It is when I do the most thinking about my life.

26. What is on the floor of your closet?
Shoes, a few hangers, some clothing that's too big that I am going to donate.

27. Who is the family or friend you have known the longest that you are tagging?
Not tagging anyone.

28. What did you do last night?
Unwound from the week, watched t.v., and slept.

29. Hawaii or Florida? Neither?
Neither. My crazy relatives live in Florida and Hawaii requires too much time in a plane. I'd rather be sitting on a deck, watching the sunset. That deck needs to be attached to a house that has a view of a lake, but up high enough that I don't have worry about flooding. I'm a worrier.

30. What inspires you?
Whenever people triumph over personal obstacles, physical or otherwise.

31. What are you most afraid of?
Don't want to talk about it. Don't want to kill the buzz.

32. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers?
Cheeseburger with mushrooms and bacon. (French fries & Cherry Coke)

33. Favorite dog breed?
The cute, playful ones of any size--generally mutts. I was attacked by a dog when I was little, so I tend to feel a little apprehensive around dogs that can be trained to attack.

34. Favorite day of the week?
Saturday. I don't have to get up at 4:00-4:30 in the morning.

35. How many states have you lived in?
Three (NJ, CA, & NC).

36. Do you like these questionnaires?
Depends/usually.

37. What kind of car did your very first date drive?
Ummm..I know it had a huge back seat and it was a convertible. That's all I remember.

38. What is the Last book you read?
A Clockwork Orange.

39. What are your hobbies?
Blogging, trying to find creative things to do. When I had more time, I used to go out to hear bands play. I intend to pick that guitar back up over the summer, too. I'll be teaching myself, so I'm sure I'll be playing it ass-backwards. (But, I'll have fun.)

40. Can you still make the Hula Hoop stay around your waist?
I rock at hula hoopin'! Well, I used to.

For real

Just a reminder: miracles do happen and God is for real.

Caption Contest

Hmm....wonder what these two are thinking. Hey, they could be talkin' about all kind of things. Provide your witty and creative captions. I'll post winners Tuesday evening. I'll give you all an extra day because of the holiday. Speaking of which, have a relaxing and reflective Memorial Day.


US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (R) and British Foreign Minister David Miliband conduct a press conference on May 21, 2008 at the State Department in Washington, DC. Miliband Thursday branded his predecessor unchivalrous for once letting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sleep on the floor during a 2006 trip.
(AFP/File/Tim Sloan)

This week's winner is. . .
Cowboy Blob: Gray poop on what? I'm sure I don't have any, David.


Here are some other contests waiting for your caption skills!

• Blonde Sagacity
• bRight & Early
• Cowboy Blob
• Gone Rick Motel
• Right Pundits
• Rodney Dill
• Wyatt

Pray for this family

Yesterday, Steven Curtis Chapman and his family suffered a sudden and tragic loss. Their daughter Maria was run over by a vehicle driven by Chapman's teenage son. I cannot imagine what they are experiencing. Pray for his son, too. You know he is just sick over this. We'd all be.

It is hard enough to lose a loved one in private, especially if it is a sudden and tragic loss. It must be even harder to suffer loss in public. Pray for their healing and for God's grace.

This first video clip is of Chapman with his daughter, doing the dishes, just having fun.



This is a song that I played a little while back titled, "Cinderella." The words just have whole new meaning. It was written about his daughters, Maria and Stevie Joy. Chapman talks a little about the song and about his efforts to help those that want to adopt. Sadly, midnight came too soon for this Cinderella. Fortunately, she knew her daddy loved her and he knows how important it is to show/express that love to his children.

Extreme views of the sky

It was half raining, half sunny. I kept looking for a rainbow, but couldn't find one. Darn.

The dilly-yo

I'll be back later today. I tried to find something I wanted to write about, but I kept falling asleep and/or getting a lot of leg cramps.

Too tired to post.

In the meantime, enjoy this article. You'll see why NJ teachers get so pissy.

Have a great day, everyone. I have a five-day weekend! Woo Hoooo!!!

A really lame post

Don't say I didn't warn you. I fell asleep while writing this and woke up at 3:00 a.m. I tried to write something different at that point, but I decided that I'd rather go back to sleep for an hour. I like sleep.

I thought it would be fun to play with questions found in music lyrics. Eh, turned out kind of lame, but here it is. Whatever.

Do you know of any good questions posed in song lyrics?

1. What you gon' do with all that junk?/All that junk inside your trunk?
I'm going to take it out to make room for my stuff for my trip. Got a problem with that? (Yes, I'm pretending to be clueless.)

2. Should I stay or should I go now?
It depends. Are you going to piss me off or make me smile. If you're going to make me smile, then you're welcome to stay.

3. Why don't we do it in the road?
The options of asphalt finding places to hide that aren't comfy and getting hit by a passing vehicle kind of kill the mood.

4. Who Are You?
I ask myself that everyday when I look into the mirror.

5. Do you know the way to San Jose?
No. However, I do know how to get to North Carolina, Tennessee, Los Angeles, NYC, and Philly.

Here's one of music's deep, philosophical questions...one of my favorites:

Hard words

I was speaking to a colleague about a student I've been trying to help graduate. He's got a lot of strikes against him, especially right now. He has to be away from school because of his poor choices, but hopefully someday he can return to his studies. When I found out he accomplished something we'd been shooting for all year, I wanted to know if someone was in touch with his mom to let her know, as this would be a glimmer of hope in a dark time for him.

I heard words that just break my heart: "She hates him and never has anything nice to say about him. She won't return our calls." I've was kind of sad all day after hearing those words. I know parents get frustrated, especially when they have one of "those" kids.

HOWEVER, he wouldn't have come to school almost every day and to my class almost every class if he wasn't interested in being a better person. I spent the year trying to help him see he can have a future and not have to be with the thugs. I could see some hope in his eyes when I spoke with him.

It all reminded me of this story I read as part of one of my education classes.

I wish I was able to tell the young man that I understand his hurt, his angst, and that lost feeling. I was one of those kids.

Just breaks my heart to see kids hurting, not to mention hurting themselves.

A special post for the guys

Two drunk guys, a urinal, and a video game: What could go wrong?

Imagine you are in Belgium, at your favorite watering hole. You've been slamming back the suds all night. However, the inevitable happens, and you have to take a leak. What was it guys used to say back in the day? "Drain the main vein of all pain." Whatever. I really did hang out with way too many guys (girls were too much drama). I digress.

You're drunk, you gotta go, and you lumber into the men's room. You find yourself bored with just standing there and doing whatever it is men do when they take a communal leak. (Never understood that whole thing.)

Enter the brainchild of Werner Dupont and Bart Geraets: "Place to Pee." Instead of just staring at that urinal cake (I hear it doesn't come in chocolate, or my favorite--pound cake), you get to "slalom down ski slopes or kill aliens while relieving" yourselves.

"The 'Place to Pee' booth is designed for two users at a time and offers two games -- blowing up aliens in outer space or skiing down a virtual slope. Gamers hit their target by aiming at sensors positioned on either side of the urinal."

I want to know how many hours these guys spent developing this. Imagine the mess! YUK!

The ladies shouldn't feel left out, though:

"A specially designed paper cone allows women to play too, the inventors say."

What a pisser!

(H/T: MSNBC)

Wild West

Once upon a time in the wilds of the untamed frontier city of Boulder there were two ornery men: Harvey and Casey. They were the type of men you wouldn't want to cross. They were quick to settle scores with a hasty draw that would "stick" to your ribs.

One night, though, they crossed each other. As they met outside the local eatin' and drinkin' joint, they faced off over a perceived wrong. You see, Casey felt Harvey would do him in.

So there they stood, the cold air of the night wisping across their sweaty brows, staring at each other without so much as a twitch.

It was so silent you could hear the coyotes in the foothills mocking the alpha-man showdown.

Then, like glass shattering, the silence was broken with a flash. Casey got his man.

(H/T: MSNBC)

Meme from Noddy

Noddy over at Welcome to Toy Town tagged me for a thought provoking meme. It's about books.

"Books are scarce in the world. They are illegal in some provinces. They are not easily replaced, if not impossible to replace if lost in many if not most circumstances. If you can replace a book or buy one, it is usually through the black market at astronomical costs that you cannot afford. Yet you have been able to maintain one of the best collections in the world. If your entire library was about to burn up and you could only have one* book to take with you other than the Bible, what would that be and why?"

Simple Rules:
Answer the question.
Offer one quote that resonates with you (I broke that rule).
Tag five people whose response is of genuine interest to you and inform him or her that they have been tagged.
*and it cannot be an entire series of something, that’s cheating.

The first book (other than the Bible) that popped into my head was F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.



I have loved this book since I was in high school. Back then, I loved the imagery provided by it. I could imagine the sites, smells, and sounds. I wanted to be a flapper! But then I studied literature and I ended up teaching the book for a few years. That's when the book provided meaning beyond the brain bubble-gum.

The character of Jay Gatsby makes me sad. He refuses to be real with himself about his past. He's convinced that if he gets enough money and name recognition, he'll win back the girl of his dreams from his early adult years, Daisy. She's moved on and married, has a child. Jay moves across a bay from her, and that bay might as well be an ocean.

He woos her, they have an affair, but he never gets her back. Why? You can't relive or recreate the past. In his trying to do so, he was reliving one side of the relationship, his own--with his own memories, possibly with some delusions of just how "great" that love was. Ever the dreamer, Gatsby dies convinced Daisy will call and that she'll be his.

There are other parts to be analyzed: the existence or non-existence of the American Dream, the values of pre-WWI shown through the narrator Nick and his Mid-Western upbringing versus the newly changing values seen in NY via Gatsby, Daisy, and her husband, Tom. For a relatively small book, there is so much to think about and to read.

Here are some quotations that have always jumped out to me when I read The Great Gatsby as an adult:

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

This is from the end of the book. We keep trying to relive old glory or to reclaim the past, but it is like being in a boat going against the current...impossibly tough and tiring. I could try to relive my spandex wearing, spiked hair days--running around drunk all of the time, having a good time. However, I'd be very empty (besides looking quite scary).

"I hope she'll be a fool--that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool... You see, I think everything's terrible anyhow... And I know. I've been everywhere and seen everything and done everything."

This is the definition of jaded and lost. This quotation is stated by Daisy. She is speaking about her little girl, Pammy. In choosing her life of "old money" with the character of Tom, Daisy has had to play the fool. She sees a use in it, but knows its emptiness, too. It is probably said with some regret, too. She dumped Gatsby and married Tom for stability and money.

"There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams--not through her own fault but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything. He had thrown himself into it with a creative passion."

Simply put, Gatsby is chasing after a dream, that even if it came true, it wouldn't live up to what he has recreated in his mind. It has become fiction.

"He wanted to recover something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy. His life had been confused and disordered since then, but if he could once return to a certain starting place and go over it all slowly, he could find out what that thing was."

How can you not relate to this guy? Sometimes, when I read this, my heart just breaks. He essentially changes his entire life, even to the point of utter corruption, just to win back Daisy. He dies and she goes on being the beautiful little fool.

"Can't repeat the past?... Why of course you can!"

You can pick up where you left off with people and just move forward, even with a slightly different perspective; however, you cannot recreate the past.

That's blind hope in another person, thinking that they are able to do the impossible.

You thought I forgot to tag people, eh? Not a chance! I tag Wyatt, Deathlok, Captain America, USA Admiral, and Rogue.

Maybe I should stop faking it?

Because of my job and the fact that I don't want to send my students into therapy as adults, when they get on my nerves or take out their drama on me, I just smile (or give them a blank look). Mind you, on the inside, I'm singing the chorus to Dennis Leary's "I'm an Asshole," replacing the "I am" with "you are an" asshole. (Yeah, I know you are giggling like little kids because I'm cursing.)

Well, lo and behold, maybe my mask needs to be put aside for some good ol' fashioned grrrrr! According to scientists in Germany, that fake smile is causing some of my stress.

"Every time a person is forced to repress his true feelings there are negative consequences," Zapf said. "We are all able to rein in our emotions but it becomes difficult to do this over a protracted period."

To be honest, I know my blood pressure goes up when I'm in those situations, but I have to be professional, right? I like treating people kindly and feel awful if I think I've hurt someone. However, maybe I need to be a little more honest about my feelings.

(H/T: UPI)

Sunday Song

A little bit ago, Momster tagged me with a meme that required I talk about something precious to me. Had I children or a significant other, I'd probably cite them as my "precious." However, that might be why I don't have either. You see, as part of my faith, I'm taught, through the Bible, that God is to be first and foremost in my life. I have no power to be what anyone else needs me to be unless it is through God's efforts and work in me. Once I accept that and try to "live it," then maybe I'll be of use to someone, and I'll see that God is at the center of it. He can bless or deny; He's the one with the power.

It is a reminder that it's not about me, but about Him. (I have a thick skull and it takes me a while.)

So, I'd have to say my relationship with God is my "precious." Anything else in life would most definitely be major blessings, but again, from God. All of those blessings are there to remind me of His power and His grace.

I've played this song before, but heard it this week and it just speaks to the thoughts that I'm sharing through this meme.

Newsboys
"He Reigns"

Part of having a relationship with God is reading the Bible; that's where the life lessons are found. Here are some of my favorite verses:



Philippians 2:13
. . .for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Corinthians 13:4-13
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (Reminds me just how much that God is love.)

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

I'm not going to tag anyone on this one; however, if you are interested in doing it, by all means do so. Leave a comment on this post if you do decide to do it; that way, we can visit and see what is precious to you.

Passing time

Yeah, another, "this-is-what-I-did" post. I took my car in for some servicing in advance of my road trip in June. While I was there, the really nice television on the wall was tuned to CNN. Yeah, that made me a little queasy. What I couldn't get over was the coverage that Ted Kennedy's seizures were getting. While I don't wish him ill (even though he has gotten away with murder and other poor behavior), I was left shaking my head more so by the questions the reporter asked a pundit-type doctor. One question was kind of like, "What should a person do if an elderly loved one has a seizure?" Umm....hmmmm.....let me see, here. Oh, wait; I've got it! Call an ambulance? Can I pick up my Nobel Prize, now? Do I get a membership to MENSA?

Ugh. So, while that was just driving me ape-crap, I decided to calm myself by reading the Bible I keep in my purse. It is small and looks like a wallet. I decided to read the book of Philippians. It is four chapters long, and after each chapter I'd stop and watch the television for a few minutes. In it I read some things I haven't thought about in a while. But to not repeat myself, I'm putting some of those thoughts into my Sunday Song post, so you'll have to read that to understand what I learned.

When I sat there with my Bible it occurred to me that I couldn't do that in a lot of places around the world. Well, I could, but I'd be thrown in jail, beaten, or killed.

I'm grateful that I am blessed to live in a country where I am free to worship God.

I did notice something else for future trips to the car dealership: FREE WIFI! Now, that's just too cool!

Weighin' In

I was hoping Wyatt would ignore that I hadn't posted my weight yet, today. No such luck. I gained three pounds. It isn't necessarily food consumption; it is my body's kick-arse ability to retain fluid that has caused the gain. I tried standing while I waited for my friend to meet me for dinner, but my legs could only handle a half an hour (which is better than feeling the burn after 20 minutes last month). So, I sat all through school and sat until I got home at around 11:00 p.m. last night.

I'm trying to walk more and eat more fluid based foods so that I can work on the retaining issue. Overall, it is caused by a wonky thyroid...one of the symptoms. I am just trying to learn to work with this bad-boy.

I looked in the mirror today, after I weighed myself. (Don't worry, I was dressed and it was from the neck up.) I turned into Stuart Smalley and told myself, "Don't get down about it, you will lose ALL of the weight, eventually. Just keep working at it." At least I keep trying.

Too freakin' cute!

Today, when I took my dad out to lunch, there were two little girls (one appeared to be around two or three and the other about five years old) eating pancakes with their daddy. At one point the daddy asked the two very obnoxiously cute little girls what will happen tomorrow. Neither could remember and he reminded them that they were going to Hershey Park. The older little girl became really excited and exclaimed to her little sister, "We're going to spend the whole day at Hershey Park! That means we can eat chocolate all day!" WOW! How cute! Imagine the thrill of thinking you are going somewhere to eat chocolate all day.

Later, when the waitress brought the check to their table, she playfully asked the little girls if they were going to pay the check. The littlest one, standing on the floor beside her daddy said no. The waitress asked, "Who's going to pay it then?" The little girl walked over to her daddy and pointed to his back pocket (guess that's where he keeps his wallet). HA! That was just so cute.

I just thought I'd share that to give you all a smile.

Friendship

Tonight, I had the opportunity to have dinner with someone I haven't seen in eight years--since our graduation from college.

We decided to meet a few blocks from a certain Ivy League school (The picture was taken from in front of the restaurant). At first, I thought our plans fell through, since my friend was about an hour and half late. I was worried more than anything, since it had been raining really bad and she was driving from North Jersey. Dang Turnpike! She was stuck in major traffic. However, my waiter was awesome, patient, and really sweet. I think he felt sorry for me. (He earned a huge tip.)

What was nice about meeting my friend for dinner was that it felt like we picked up where we left off--never skipping a beat. We've kept in touch via email and her MySpace. What was really nice (that I especially noticed while I was sitting alone) was having company. I do a lot of stuff on my own and it was great to just have someone other than one of my parents sitting on the other side of the table talking to me. We had a really nice dinner and a three-hour conversation. I'm sure I ate too much and that it will impact my weigh-in, but sometimes it is better to just enjoy yourself.

It was a very long and very good day in my book.

So, I'm kind of tired, and I'll get back to posting later, tomorrow (really busy day and weekend). I'll get to the meme posts and to my responses to your comments, too. You can always enter my caption contest...dangit!

But will he be as HAWT as Tony Stark?

(Mind you that is not what matters most in a warrior...I'm just stuck on stupid.)

The Army is producing a suit that might someday help in combat. For now, though, practical applications such as heavy lifting and loading ammunition are seen as the most likely uses.

Imagine wearing something that gives you 20 times your normal strength. Think of all the backs that could be saved on loading docks and in warehouses. Think about how much fun it would be to pick up a car or heavy truck without a jack!

Knowing the United States' ability to scale things down to suit our purposes, I have a feeling that we'll see this helpful suit become less weighty and less expensive.

WOW! Think of the entertainment implications: Ultimate Exoskelteon Battle-Bots! Pay-per-view, anyone?

It is a cool idea. I wonder if they are working on flight capabilities. Just hope they consider the icing issues. Heh.

(H/T: USA Today)