In line at the store, the bank, car repair shop...wherever you are...
Notice the name on the name tag of the person assisting you and use it! Ex.-"Hi Susan, how ya doin today?" They're people too and who knows, they might even say something that makes sense to you or makes you laugh and then you're BOTH better off;)
'Unfortunately, your fortune has run out. You live in a country where your administration, in the middle of an economic crisis, spends millions of dollars on fortune cookies and you've resorted to seeking advice from China!! '
If you know me at all, you know I HAVE to talk about this subject! It's no secret I'm an animal lover. I've had lots over the years, but my zoo currently holds 1 dog, a fish, a large cockatoo, 3 rabbits and 2 chickens. People who don't like animals have always creeped me out. I've been known to go home and get dog food and take it back up the road to a hitchhiker I saw with a dog. So, I understand the appeal of keeping interesting animals we don't see daily in a place where we can enjoy them at our leisure. Though like with all things, we have to draw the line somewhere!
I'm pretty sure that once upon a time one of these creatures did not just walk up to a human and say "I'm a KILLER whale". Humans named this animal because of it's size, habits and presence. Why then are we shocked when they exhibit the very behavior that earned them their name??
Below is a great link to a FOX News article on this story. In reading it, I was baffled when I learned that attacks on killer whale trainers is sort of part of the job! In fact, we see this in bear, tiger and gorilla training not to mention alot of others. If we know these animals are unhappy, why would we put ourselves at risk? This whale had apparently been exhibiting behavior 'like an ornery child' before this happened. Why were warning signs ignored? Luckily, over the years activists been able to curb the urge to euthanize these animals and this whale will not be killed. However, the lesson here should be that KILLER whales are just that. They need to remain in the wild and we can enjoy them from afar or through one of my favorite stations, National Geographic:)
Think of it this way. We put these animals, natural instincts and all, into captivity. (cage, aquarium, etc) Those places become their personal space, their home. As humans, we feel the same protectiveness of our personal space and our homes. Actually, we have a rule that says if somebody threatens or invades that, we can kill them on the spot. Why the double standard?
Tell me what you think! You asked for more singing, so I'll be posting songs every now and then that I might use to try out for Idol:) Let me know your HONEST opinion, it's the only way to really be helpful.
My ankles, calves, knees, hips, behind, back, arms and all the little muscles in between that I haven't heard mentioned since my massage school anatomy class are in a significant amount of ...ummm....OOOWWEEE!!!
Why? Beach Body Insanity Workout with Shaun T!! This guy is serious. More serious than I like to be at 6am, but I did it anyway;) I like this video workout because you don't need fancy weights or a stinky gym, you just need yourself and the TV. Also, Shaun and the people behind him are in great shape, but they don't look like normal work-out-video-bots that can be intimidating. They're in a basketball court with natural lighting and it's a relaxed setting as opposed to a studio. Well, as relaxed as it can be never standing still! Every once in a while, it pans to one of the people taking a break mid-circuit or collapsing during an exercise to remind you that it's ok for you to do the same. I'm extremely competitive, so it's good for me to be reminded that if I do 38 instead of 40 side-to-sides, everything will be ok;)
I wanted to quit about 2 minutes in, then 10, then 30 and then 45 minutes was over and I was still alive...no matter how many times I told my husband I was going to die!! I found myself saying "I CAN'T do this" and then immediately thinking how I tell Leo that 'can't' is a bad word in our house. How can I tell my son that "we don't say can't in our family" and then say it myself? I'm able-bodied and there is no reason I cannot '...do all things through Him who strengthens me' !! And I DID:)
You'll notice though that my feet did not make that list of aching parts and the reason for that is my new kicks! Vibram 5 Fingers. I would rather be barefoot at ANY point in the day. These shoes allow me to do that during exercise, outside, at the store, everywhere. They are a smart choice for those of us with feet issues. Ok, so you asked to hear some of my faults? Bunions!!! Thanks a lot Mom or should I blame Grandma?! These feet take a beating. I like hot pink stilettos as much as any girl or a nice pair of high-heeled boots! Oo-la-la:) Isn't it only fair to my feet to treat them to these ergonomically correct wonderlands?! The company advertises that they are the next best thing to bare feet and I, as a self-proclaimed bare-foot connoisseur, can honestly say, they ARE!
So, there you have it. Two things that come highly recommended by me, if that means anything to ya. I should have a Beach Body right in time for bikini season! Check out the video and maybe you'll want to join me;)
This is my favorite nail spa, the price is fantastic and the people are so nice! My favorite part is the hot rice bags they put on your shoulders, scrumptious!! Find something you like to treat yourself to and DO IT! You're worth it;) This one was my Valentine from Leo!
My best friend Bianca, who lives in Italy, simply does not understand the whole 'American meat & potatoes obsession'. One of her favorite things I say is "I love meat and meat loves me right back!" Well, the way we were raised, a meal just isn't complete without a meat and potato course. I think there are some of us who would never give up these two items, no matter the reward. So, here's a different option that a lot of us don't think about.
Instead of regular old potatoes, try sweet potatoes. We like sweet potato chips, fries, baked sweet potatoes, grilled, etc... They have an abundance of nutrition to draw from, whereas a white potato has practically none. These are a great side to that meat or any other main dish on your menu. Simple too! Just cut your potatoes thinly and lay them out on a paper towel(to dry them a bit) while you prepare your oil. PLEASE try to switch to peanut oil or coconut oil instead of vegetable oils or worse. Now that we've switched to peanut oil at our house, food tastes like it's been doused in lard when we eat out someplace that uses other oils. Put your oil in a saucepan and bring to medium heat or just a bit higher. Test one potato, when it floats and sizzles you're ready to fry! Don't put too many in or they won't move around and cook evenly. I like to cook them til they are half as golden as I like, then take them out and onto a paper towel. When all have been cooked half way, go back for a second round of frying. This way, you drain some of the grease that would normally penetrate the potatoes and you come out with a crispier finish. When they're all done, toss them with a little oregano, some garlic salt and pepper and your done!! The sweetness works with the garlic, trust me;)
*scroll down to hear about all the changes to the blog!! *
Well, wondering what's going on?! I sat back, listened to what you had to say...all of it...and made some changes! If somebody could tell me HOW to add background music to my blog, that would be great;) Beside that, here's what I've done. The 'What's Happening Now' section is gone...it's redundant. I will only be blogging Monday-Friday and only Mon, Wed & Fri are specified topics. That will give me more flexibility with what my topic is. Yes, I heard it....SHUT UP just a little bit on my video blogs, too much talking and trust me, that wasn't too hard to believe about myself;) I also got the message several times over that you WANT more singing?!? Funny, I thought I was subjecting you to torture making you listen to it. Well, you ain't seen nothin yet!! I'll talk about more interesting, even taboo, topics according to what you've said and even show some mistakes and faults of mine along the way. I'll share more recipes and Parenting Leo stories....yada yada yada. Hope you like the changes! I'll always be interested in your ideas, after all you ARE the ones reading!! :)
A public apology? Ok, it's only natural to have an opinion about Tiger Woods unless you've been in a coma for the last several weeks. I have a very strong one, but who am I to judge! We're all entitled to our opinion and we're even entitled to voice those opinions however we choose, but I personally do not know Tiger Woods and his decisions do not affect my life! Why on earth would he owe ME an apology?!!
Nuts! That's what I think of all the media involvement in the personal affairs of public figures, pro sports players and celebrities. Now, before you get all puffed up, let me explain. Yes, I agree that when a person is so widely known they should be aware that there are kids looking up to them and people taking example or wanting to be like them. That doesn't mean that their life has somehow become ours to toy with, invade or control! In fact, aren't we all supposed to be living and leading by example? He plays golf, he's not the Dalai Lama! If mobs of people followed any of us regular folk with cameras or got involved in our personal and private affairs (pun intended), we'd have a conniption.
Does it make sense that these two people who are going through a terrible time in their lives and should be focusing on their children, have to take time for a press conference and a public apology?? No matter their decision about a divorce, it's going to be a hard enough stage for them. The headlines are filled with questions like 'Will they announce a divorce?' 'What will Tiger say?' 'What will Tiger's woe story be?'....they've been showing shots of the empty stage where he's supposed to speak all morning long! The EMPTY stage?!?! That's news?! Disappointing.
It's disappointing because the media would only make Tiger and his mess as high profile as it is if that's what got the best ratings! That's what we want to hear? We're most interested in others hard times, mistakes, embarrassments, etc?? I'm not watching the news this morning intentionally because I think the whole spectacle is ridiculous. He owes his wife an apology. He owes his children an apology. He owes his mistresses(even though they made their own choices as well) an apology. Maybe he even owes Elins family and his own an apology for the embarrassment and disrespect, but he certainly does not owe you or I one at all!
Can't we be more interesting than this? Can't we find better things to fill our headlines with? I mean, do you want to get up on a stage and publicly talk about your biggest mistakes and failures? Every single one of us has them. Think about it.
As much as we love men....and boy don't we;)....it's wonderful to be a woman, isn't it? I mean, and I'm sorry fellas, just simply the view in the mirror after we get out of the shower is an argument in itself as to why I'd never trade my sex! I know we have to 'deal' with things that men don't and it doesn't seem fair.
My neighbors were getting out of the car the other day (she was due to have a little boy days ago ) and I was talking to the male half of the two. I said 'how you guys doin' ?' and he quickly replied with 'we're great!!' and went on from there about how easy this pregnancy had been, how she's taking it like a pro that the baby is overdue ...etc etc....and for the 4 or 5 minutes he went on I listened and nodded, but kept my eye on her. She had that 'so swollen I'll bust open if you touch me, so don't you dare!' look about her, she rolled her eyes all the way in the back of her head when the words 'like a pro' came out of his mouth and I think I saw a tear come out of her eye when she tried for the 5th or 6th time to pull herself up out of the car and just could not do it. However, she'd probably tell you she's 'great!' too if given the chance.
One of my sisters is pregnant with her 5th baby girl right now and she hasn't slowed down a bit! Even though she knows from previous pregnancies that she might have some postpartum depression and she has 4 girls to keep up with already, this lady has taken on more responsibility, a few new hobbies and gotten even more active in the church she loves! Amazing!!
My mom has been through some tough situations in her life, I mean tough. She saw the end of two tough marriages and then when she married my dad with two girls of her own, she became the stepmother of 6 more! That many mouths to feed has it's obvious struggles, but she always persevered. She runs a company with my dad from sun up to sun down practically to keep up with it's success. She's dealt with the loss of both of her parents and two of her brothers and the discovery of a sister!!! Yet, she makes time to stay active in church and ALWAYS makes time for her children and grandchildren. Not to mention, she looks ten years younger than she should at her age and is one of the most stylish, intelligent, complex ladies I know and after all the ups and downs of her life, keeps a smile on her face!
Another sister of mine is the 'workin-est' person I know. She made straight A's all through school, got a bachelors AND a masters degree, pushed her way up the ranks in the US Navy, was even on the presidential medical staff in Maryland, works medically with inmates and doesn't even flinch. On a typical 'day off of work' you'll find her on scaffolding painting her house, tiling a floor, cleaning the pool, trimming trees, cleaning gutters, running 8 or 10 errands....you catch my drift?
My best friend is Croatian and Italian, proudly. She came over to 'nowhere USA' as an exchange student our senior year (luckily for me). She went on to obtain a prestigious college degree and can speak/translate something like 8 different languages. She's traveled to more countries than I could even try to list. Just bought, gutted and remodeled her apartment by the sea and on top of it all helps to run a high-end international company after taking the place of the people she used to work under! There's no stopping her!
These are just 4 women that are close to me and there are around 3.3 billion women in this world. All of them with a story, struggles, failures, accomplishments. It's incredible to me. Especially since we've been this way since the beginning of time and for most of history were labeled as the lesser sex! Would we trade it? Absolutely not. That's what makes us so special.
Inspiring isn't it? Doesn't it make sense that I would devote an entire day each week to the HERs in this world?The only thing I would ask of these ladies and all of the rest of you is to take time for yourself! As a massage therapist I've used a comparison a million times to express how important it is to do this - 'Would you drive your car if the gas light said empty? Would you go without an oil change??' - (I blew up a car engine once by doing that so I would NOT recommend it) What is it that 're-fuels' you? What is your body's 'oil change' ? A pedicure? A massage? A glass of wine and a bubble bath? A day spent with the family? A good work-out? For me, it's taking time to enjoy a sunrise at the end of a good long walk in the morning. I have more energy on days I make time for that and tonight I think I'll go to my favorite nail spa tonight and use the gift certificate Leo got me for Valentines;)
Hold your head high, be proud of who we are. We CAN do it all. We are beautiful complex, top-of -the-line machines ladies....but even a Ferrari can't run on empty!
I just wanted to share my Valentines;) My mom got me these beautiful flowers. Leo got me a manicure & pedicure at Polished, my favorite nail spa. The heart necklace from Skeletal Metal is very cool and my husband, Paul, got me that! Thanx guys:)
Today I'm going to keep my mouth shut and listen to you! Partly because I want to make my blog more interesting and partly because I broke my tooth;) I'm going to the dentist now to get it fixed and it's in the back, so it's not that bad. I'll tell you this though....lollipops are meant to be sucked on NOT bitten!!
So, take advantage of this time that my jaws aren't flapping like normal! Tell me what you've liked/disliked about my blog. Tell me what you want to see more of/less of.....any questions you've been dying to ask, yada yada yada....I want YOUR two cents this Tuesday!
Alright, I can't procrastinate any longer, gotta go to the dentist. Wish me luck! :(
*Be sure to scroll down and look at yesterdays posts. Valentine and a photo shoot of my sister and her girls. I posted them late yesterday, but they're too good to miss;)*
Perfectly unperfect, my daily life could never be summed up in a few sentences! My son, Leo (3yrs), keeps me on my toes while I'm multi-tasking the daily duties around the house, getting lost in photography, shopping, cooking, working out (or not), crafting, crocheting, scrapbooking, meeting for MOPS, going to church, singing, acting, taking classes, running Leo to the library or to play with friends, reading up on the news and our government, watching a good cage fight...not to mention being married to my husband Paul and the list that goes along with that... it just never ends! So, at the end of it all I'd like to share my Peace with you each day. Hope you'll be back!
FOLLOW MY SITE !!!
Parenting Leo:
Leo and I were down in Dallas visiting my sister and niece. My sister and I decided to go get our nails done and Leo sat patiently, watching everything they did. The very nice vietnamese ladies who worked there did a great job and were friendly, talking to us the whole time.
We got back to my sister's house and Leo went about playing by himself. After a while, he brought a dish towel to me and asked me to tie it around his face. "gonna play cops and robbers?" I said.
"No. Gimme your nails, mom" So I did and he said...
"Mpokono, mpokono?" I said "sure" and he did my nails!! He just kept saying "Mpokono, mpokono...mpokono..."
A public apology? Ok, it's only natural to have an opinion about Tiger Woods unless you've been in a coma for the last several weeks. I have a very strong one, but who am I to judge! We're all entitled to our opinion and we're even entitled to voice those opinions however we choose, but I personally do not know Tiger Woods and his decisions do not affect my life! Why on earth would he owe ME an apology?!!
As much as we love men....and boy don't we;)....it's wonderful to be a woman, isn't it? I mean, and I'm sorry fellas, just simply the view in the mirror after we get out of the shower is an argument in itself as to why I'd never trade my sex! I know we have to 'deal' with things that men don't and it doesn't seem fair. 
I just wanted to share my Valentines;) My mom got me these beautiful flowers. Leo got me a manicure & pedicure at Polished, my favorite nail spa. The heart necklace from Skeletal Metal is very cool and my husband, Paul, got me that! Thanx guys:)
