Wednesday, February 15, 2006

URBAN LEGENDS

In keeping with my new found interest in memes and mind viruses ,I thought I would sound off on this:

I received these in an email today.

Thought you might be interested in this forgotten bit of information.........It was 1987! At a lecture the other day they were playing an old news video of Lt.Col. Oliver North testifying at the Iran-Contra hearings during the Reagan Administration. There was Ollie in front of God and country getting the third degree, but what he said was stunning! He was being drilled by a senator; "Did you not recently spend close to $60,000 for a home security system?" Ollie replied, "Yes, I did, Sir." The senator continued, trying to get a laugh out of the audience, "Isn't that just a little excessive?" "No, sir," continued Ollie. "No? And why not?" the senator asked. "Because the lives of my family and I were threatened, sir." "Threatened? By whom?" the senator questioned. "By a terrorist, sir" Ollie answered. "Terrorist? What terrorist could possibly scare you that much?" "His name is Osama bin Laden, sir" Ollie replied. At this point the senator tried to repeat the name, but couldn't pronounce it, which most people back then probably couldn't. A couple of people laughed at the attempt. Then the senator continued. Why are you so afraid of this man?" the senator asked. "Because, sir, he is the most evil person alive that I know of", Ollie answered. "And what do you recommend we do about him?" asked the senator. "Well, sir, if it was up to me, I would recommend that an assassin team be formed to eliminate him and his men from the face of the earth." The senator disagreed with this approach, and that was all that was shown of the clip. By the way, that senator was Al Gore! Also: Terrorist pilot Mohammad Atta blew up a bus in Israel in 1986. The Israelis captured, tried and imprisoned him. As part of the Oslo agreement with the Palestinians in 1993, Israel had to agree to release so-called "political prisoners." However, the Israelis would not release any with blood on their hands, The American President at the time, Bill Clinton, and his Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, "insisted" that all prisoners be released. Thus Mohammad Atta was freed and eventually thanked the US by flying an airplane into Tower One of the World Trade Center. This was reported by many of the American TV networks at the time that the terrorists were first identified. It was censored in the US from all later reports. If you agree that the American public should be made aware of this fact, pass this on.Do Not Break - it is 3 years strong This has not been broken since 9/11/01, please keep it going...This has been kept alive and moving since 9/11. In memory of all those who perished this morning; the passengers and the pilots on the United Air and AA flights, the workers in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and all the innocent bystanders. Our prayers go out to the friends and families of the deceased.Send this to at least 10 people to show your support.PLEASE DON'T BREAK IT!!!!!!

& this little tidbit:

Dr. James Dobson Pleads For Our Action An organization has been granted a Federal Hearing on the same subject by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington, DC. Their petition, Number 2493, would ultimately pave the way to stop the reading of the gospel of our Lord and Savior, on the airwaves of America. They got 287,000 signatures to back their stand! If this attempt is successful, all Sunday Worship services being broadcast on the radio or by television will be stopped. This group is also campaigning to remove all Christmas programs and Christmas carols from public schools!! You as a Christian can help! We are praying for at least 1 million signatures. This would defeat their effort and show that there are many Christians alive, well and concerned about our country. As Christians we must unite on this. Please don't take this lightly. We ignored this once and lost prayer in our school and in offices across the nation. Please stand up for your religious freedom and let your voice be heard, while creating an opportunity for the lost to know the Lord.

I hate getting this stuff and I even though they sound so riduclous..I immediately verify the validity of these claims. It's so simple to simply copy the first line and google it. IMMEDIATELY
snopes.com comes up and right then and there I can see that the story is simply not true. I then immediately copy the link to the snopes page into an email and hit "reply all". I am trying in my own little way to ask folks to PLEASE take a moment to see if a claim is true or not. And if it's NOT TRUE to please share THAT information, instead of continuing these falsehoods. I do believe that the majority of people just believe whatever they receive in an email..or hear from someone other than a knowledgeable source. Why are people so quick to believe and actually defend a rumor without find out whether or not it's true?

I often just shake my head in disbelief.

THINK, THINK, THINK..it's not so hard!!!

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

What does it all meme?

Oh this is interesting...meme....never heard of meme before..already found an interesting site:

http://www.memecentral.com/index.htm

This is what I find when I peruse blogs..one thing..leads to another..

Musical Reverance

Yesterday as I was driving home from my job, I heard the unmistakeable strains of Van Morrison's Tupelo Honey on XM. I immediately turned up the volume and immediately called my friend to share the moment.

There are some songs, many songs for that matter, that when heard, simply reach into my very soul..they lift me up and transport me to a special place in my heart. Some are old songs some are new.

I received an XM receiver from my daughter's boyfriend for Christmas and decided to give the subscription a try. I'll NEVER listen to commercial radio again. The programming is beyond anything that is available commercially today and best of all commercial free.

At home I have a Bose Wave CD player..and a rather large collection of CD's. There is nothing quite like putting on a favorite CD and listening straight through. I prefer to do this in my kitchen, whipping up a tasty gourmet treat or baking something decadent. I don't allow anyone in my family into this special moment..for it is mine alone..actually they don't come close due to the fact that most times I have the volume at 50+.

:-)

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Coretta Scott King 1927-2006

I watched the funeral of Coretta Scott King last night. What a great American. An embodiment of so much of the American ideals I hold dear. A champion of human rights and for a life dedicated to peace and justice. She has left us with an enduring leagcy to continue and uphold. I will try to model my behavior as an example of her and her husband's legacy. Peace, Justice, Equality, Tolerance.

Coretta Scott King, 78, died Jan. 30 of ovarian cancer. Her casket was placed on a horse-drawn carriage and taken to the King Center in Atlanta, where she was buried in a mausoleum of white Georgia marble near her husband's tomb


Here are excerpts from tributes given at Tuesday's funeral for Coretta Scott King:

"Her journey was long and only briefly with a hand to hold, but now she leans on everlasting arms." President George W. Bush

"Americans knew her husband only as a young man," Mr. Bush said. "We knew Mrs. King in all the seasons of her life. And there was beauty and dignity in every season."
He added, "By going forward with a strong and forgiving heart, Coretta Scott King not only secured her husband's legacy, she built her own. Having loved a leader, she became a leader."

"For me, she embodied royalty. She was the queen. ... She leaves us all a better America than the America of her childhood." Oprah Winfrey

"For decades, she was the wind at our back as we worked to uphold civil rights laws." Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

"Who among us will join the freedom choir? Who among us will sing Coretta's song with courage and conviction, to smother the cries of hatred, economic exploitation, poverty and political disenfranchisement? For whom does the bell toll? It tolls for you and for me." Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin

"They overcame one of the greatest challenges of life, which is to be able to wage a fierce struggle for freedom and justice and to do it peacefully." Former President Jimmy Carter

"Let us not think about history. Let us make history and let us move forward." Dorothy Height, longtime chairwoman of the National Council of Negro Women

"We owe something from this minute on, so that this gathering is not just another footnote on the pages of history," said poet Maya Angelou

"I mean to say I want to see a better world. I mean to say I want to see some peace somewhere."
Poet Maya Angelou

"They understood that the difficulty of success does not relieve one of the obligation to try." Former President Bill Clinton, referring to Coretta Scott King and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Thank you Mrs. King.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Winter Olympics 2006


I'm very excited the Olympics are here again. I love to watch. Especially since football is over and it's a couple of months until baseball season starts. I've always considered February and March a virtual sports wasteland (can you tell I'm not a Basketball or hockey fan?) Although I do enjoy watching golf on Sunday afternoons and an ocassional good boxing match if I can keep my eyes open. Yes, I like sports, yes I am a woman and honestly it has made for a happy marriage being able to watch and enjoy sports with my husband.

But the olympics are just something special. Men, women, young and old can get excited about watching and routing for their home country's athletes. I plan on looking for some of the lesser viewed events like curling and biathlon.

Ahhhh...the spectacle, The joy of victory and the agony of defeat. Can't wait!

"Neve": she is a gentle, kind and elegant snowball; "Gliz": he is a lively, playful ice cube. They are the two symbolic characters of the XX Olympic Winter Games. They complement each other and personify the very essence of winter sports.
The mascots were born from the pencil of Pedro Albuquerque, a 38-year old Portuguese designer who won the international competition launched by the Organising Committee for the Olympic Games in Turin (TOROC) on 25 March 2003. He was inspired by his passion for water and the incredible shapes this element takes on when it is transformed into snow or ice; by his research into the Italian spirit and the places hosting the Olympic Games; by the Olympic values; and by the technical characteristics of the various sporting disciplines of the Games.
"Neve" and "Gliz" reflect the spirit of the Italian Olympic event: passion, enthusiasm, culture, elegance, and love of the environment and of sport. They are the symbol of a young generation that is full of life and energy.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

R.I.P. Grandpa Munster

Al Lewis, born April 30, 1923, began his theatrical career as a circus performer but soon turned to acting. His first TV exposure was in The U.S. Steel Hour: Trouble-In-Law in 1959. He also appeared in Naked City in 1960 before landing his first regular role in 1961 as Officer Leo Schnauser in Car 54, Where Are You? opposite his Munsters co-star Fred Gwynne.
In 1964, Lewis landed the role for which he would become most famous, Grandpa Munster. The Munsters was the perfect showcase for Lewis' comedic talents. After the series was cancelled in 1966, Lewis appeared on numerous television shows, including Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Here's Lucy, Green Acres, Love, American Style and Taxi.
In addition to being an actor, the ageless Al Lewis holds a Ph.D. in psychology from Columbia University, was a high school basketball scout, a restaurant owner and onetime politician when he ran for Governor of New York in 1998.

Ok, so Al Lewis was no world leader, no sports hero,no Oscar winner etc. But he brought fun to MY afternoons when I was a kid. RIP Grandpa.

A WEEK AT THE GYM: ONE MAN'S STORY

I wish I could claim authorship of this, but I received it in an email this morning..author unknown. And as you know, I am NOT a 65 year old male, but I did laugh out loud while reading. Thought you might enjoy it too.

Dear Diary , For my sixty five birthday this year, my wife (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me. Although I am still in great shape since playing on my college football team 45 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try. I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Belinda, who identified herself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear. My wife seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress . . .

MONDAY Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Belinda waiting for me. She is something of a Greek goddess - with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Belinda gave me a tour and showed me the machines. She took my pulse after five minutes on the treadmill. She was alarmed that my pulse was so fast, but I attribute it to standing next to her in her Lycra aerobic outfit. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which she conducted her aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring. Belinda was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, all though my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time she was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!

TUESDAY I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Belinda made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air -- then she put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. Belinda's rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT!! It's a whole new life for me.

WEDNESDAY The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying on the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot. Belinda was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. Her voice is a little too perky for early in the morning and when she scolds, She gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Belinda put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Belinda told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. She said some other sh*t too.

THURSDAY Belinda was waiting for me with her vampire-like teeth exposed as her thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late, it took me that long to tie my shoes. Belinda took me to work out with dumbbells. When she was not looking, I ran and hid in the men's room. She sent Lars to find me. Then, as punishment, she put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank.

FRIDAY I hate that b*tch Belinda more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic little cheerleader. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat her with it. Belinda wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the M----- f----- barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?

SATURDAY Belinda left a message on my answering machine in her grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing her made me want to smash the machine with my planner. However, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.

SUNDAY I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my wife (the b*tch) will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or a vasectomy.

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Who gets custody of the bed?

About a year and 1/2 ago we made a major purchase. We bought a Tempurpedic mattress. I LOVE this flippin mattress. This morning as I was luxuriating in it..prior to getting up and starting my day. I was pondering if god forbid my husband and I would ever split up..who would get this bed? I really would like to have it. I am NOT a materialistic person, I could care less about "stuff" and there is nothing else that we own that I simply must have for the rest of my life (children aside of course and mine would be past 18 anyway)...except this bed. Never mind that we actually shared the bed..the comfort of this thing supersedes all emotional connections. I'm telling you, this piece of NASA engineered foam is wonderful. Your partner could do back flips on this thing and you would never even know it. I swear it's true. My daughter had to see if the infomercials were right. She laid a towel on the bed (just in case) placed a full glass of water on the towel and proceeded to jump on the other side of the bed..The glass never wavered...it didn't shake..it was in a word AMAZING!!





I even was wondering if it could be cut in half..he could have 1/2 and I could have 1/2. Never mind that I would now be sleeping in a twin bed as a single vibrant woman..who cares..as I said...this mattress supersedes all emotional connections.




Ah well..I need to ponder no more as the situation is moot anyway...no signs of trouble in Tempurpedic-dom. Stay together for the sake of the kids??? forget that...stay together for the sake of the bed!

Friday, February 03, 2006

Stop the rhetoric and listen to some truly intelligent folks.

PLEASE..find an hour this weekend or anytime for that matter and listen to The Friday News Roundup on the Diane Rehm Show on NPR. I'll even provide you the link:

The Diane Rehm Show

10:00 News Roundup 2/03
A panel of journalists joins Diane for review and analysis of the week’s top national and international news stories.
Guests
Linda Feldmann, White House correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor
Stephen Hayes, "The Weekly Standard"
Martin Walker, editor in chief, United Press International

What I find so enjoyable about this show is Ms Rehm and her producers CONSISTENTLY invite folks from all sides of the political spectrum to discuss and sometimes debate. Always INTELLIGENT always BALANCED views from all sides concerning the issues of the day.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

A funny poignant story..

My Dad passed away in our home in NJ in 1990. He had cancer and when all treatments had been exhausted, the Dr suggested we bring him home to pass peacefully. Without a second thought my husband and I decided it would be best to have him with us. We made the necessary arrangements with Hospice and Nurses aids, we got him set up comfortably on the first floor with a hospital bed et al. The first few days went well, he was comfortable and happy to be with us. The aids were helpful and for such a trying and painful time, it was ok. My daughter was about 18 months at the time and a typical toddler. Dad enjoyed watching her play. But after about 4 days he started to slip away..a little bit more each day. To say this was difficult to watch is an understatement, because I was extremely close to my Dad, I loved him deeply. We were alike in many ways and I believe I was always his "favorite" But that is just my humble opinion.

If you can believe that in a situation like this there can be a brief bit of levity, please read on..because...the universe or God or whatever thought that we could use some.

Let me preface the next bit by saying, my father had a glorious sense of humor and he loved and cherished his grandchildren. He was able to often look at the big picture with clarity and a joyful heart.

about 6 days into his stay with us, Dad slept, he was no longer lucid he was on Morphine and was nearing the end of his journey here on earth. I was in the kitchen...my daughter was playing within sight but as toddlers do...she wandered off. I immediately went to check on her....It was very quiet..I walked in to the room where Dad was and lo and behold..the baby had the button controls for the hospital bed and had pushed one to have my Dad...sitting straight up, his eyes wide open, helpless to do anything or say anything. I gasped. horrified as the baby stood there looking at me with that control in her hand, with an expression that said.."What's up Mom?". Needless to say, I got the controls and gently eased Dad back down into a comfortable position. He closed his eyes to rest. But I swear to this day..his eyes were smiling while that baby gave him a ride. I knew that he understood and was smiling on the inside. He would have enjoyed that story, had he heard it told. It makes me smile to tell it..

My Dad was 69 when he died, he stayed with us for the last 10 days of his life. It was the hardest experience of my life, but I wouldn't trade it away. Death is a part of life..and my witnessing his death taught me a wonderful lesson about life. He was a tech sergant, aerial engineer and tail gunner in the USAF during WWII. My father flew missions with 11 other men in B-29's over Japan, The pacific, China and India. My father's plane was shot down over the Pacific..everyone died but him, he was 23. He was resuced by an American submarine patrolling in the area. They saved his life.

When I heard this story as a child..I knew he was special, I also believed that I was special too. It was obvious to me at a young age, that there must be a reason for everything. He was spared because either he, or me or my brother or sister..our offspring or someone down the line would make some kind of mark on the world. What I only recently realized is..WE ALL make a mark on the world..always, every day. As corny as it is...the film It's A Wonderful Life shows what that means to an ordinary man. You get my drift...don't waste a second of your life..even bad days are good days.

Ok I'm rambling now..

To blog or not to blog...That is the question...or is it?

Well thought it was about time, I did some writing again. I've journaled for myself and have been a voyeur here..reading other peoples blogs, but haven't taken that giant leap into blogdom. They say..jump in, the water's fine. So here I am.

I put a bit about myself in my bio here but i thought I might elaborate a bit more. I AM 47 years old and living in South Florida, I'm a NJ native and I suppose I will always be a "Jersey Girl" and frankly I'm proud to be. My perfect scenario would be to be a "snowbird"... spend the winter here in sunny SoFl and the summer up north, away from Hurricanes and the oppressive heat and humidity that challenges us here 6 months out of the year. But all in all, it's not so bad here. I would say it's more a suburb of NY/NJ than anything else..Most people are from somewhere else. The pace is fast, the food is good and the people...well let's just say they have that "edge" which I grew up with so I can handle it.

I have a terrific husband who I work with and a lovely teenage daughter, who gave us quite a wild ride from about age 13 on...thankfully she has grown into a more mature, focused, smart young lady. Believe me, it wasn't always that way. She spent 13 months in a program for troubled teens. It was as much a learning experience for her father and I, as it was for her. Happy to say, it was/is a terrific program and we are once again a whole and healthy family. She has been home for a year and is a senior in HS and planning on attending community college in the fall. May seem mundane to some folks, but for this child, it's huge, we had almost given up hope. Anyway, it's all good. Everything happens for a reason doesn't it. We're proud of all she has achieved and all that she is and can be.

My husband has 2 other daughters, one is 24 and is a High School teacher and studying for her Masters degree in education. His other daughter is 34, married and has 5 children and one on the way. WOW!! They are a lovely family. I am mazed by this mother of 5 who home schools and runs quite an orderly little ship. I must admit...it's rather strange to have a young child call me Grandma..at first..I never answered..I kept looking around for an old lady...then I realized that they were talking to me! I enjoy them so much because of course I am too old to be a G-Ma, therefore I am really fun to be with. My grandma was old with support stockings and sensible shoes. That doesn't quite describe me. But then again, I am merely a G-Ma by marriage aren't I. Serioulsy though, I am blessed to have them in my life and I could ask for better step daughters!

There..I did it...that wasn't so bad....