Round and Round the Mulberry Bush

It's been that kinda day, ya know? It all started when I woke up at 4 am and dozed off and on until 6am. Finally fell asleep only to have the alarm go off. At 6:52, which means I had to have been sleeping through it for 7 minutes. [g] No wonder the dog was antsy.

Then I put my pants on inside out and it took a few seconds for it to register why the zipper tab wasn't where it was supposed to be. Or the button. And this was after I'd showered and eaten breakfast.

It didn't get much better at work...silly me forgot to have the server in a different automatic updates schedule than the workstations and update server. So when the server shut itself down for a restart after installing those approved updates...I guess you could say it caught everyone unawares. That was fun. Not.

And since I feel like I've been in repetitive/backwards mode all day, here's something eerily similar to what I blogged about last week in Muddy Waters.

http://my.earthlink.net/article/nat?guid=20080430/4817eec0_3421_1334520080430803073911

I have to wonder at the timing of this. Did the events in TX give the person making the abuse report courage or the idea? Hard to say. I'm probably being paranoid, being as that's a pretty common state of being for me, but is this "open season" on non-mainstream faiths by local governments and/or religious opponents? Shades of the daycare child abuse scandal in the 1980's, perhaps.

At least I can end this post on a positive note a la Cranky Otter - I had a nice email chat with Dad this morning on Global Warming of all things. :) Just a sharing of ideas and info. That was very nice. :)

Miscellaneous Meanderings

Debrief: 1x Arms & Abs, Mowed Yard (push reel mower)
Goal (4/28-5/4): 2x Arms, 2x Abs

Well, I'm back home and still super exhausted from the trip out of town. In spite of the migraine, and a fill-in Ed Consultant driving me crazy with his last minute exam changes, I managed to make it to Mich.ael's Cr.afts (someone gave me a lovely 50% off coupon while I was browsing the aisles) and to Barnes & Noble. Twice. Okay, the second time was just for the Cafe Mocha to keep me going on the drive home. And oh, what a lovely drive. The weather had cleared and it was sunny. Beautiful, especially going through the canyons. It's just greening up thanks to the onset of Spring and the amount of snow/moisture we've had this winter. The Summer heat & dryness hasn't set in. Only pang that disturbed the beauty was the thought that if the moisture doesn't keep up through Spring, there's going to be plenty of fuel for the fires this Summer/Fall.

Stopped at Shanni's on the way into town to pick up the mutt. That was funny. I made it all the way into the living room and said her name several times in my normal voice before she heard me. She was sprawled across their couch sleeping the sleep of the just. (Or rather, the sleep of those who've just spent their days tormenting hapless dogs & people, and attempting to cow the cats - and then running for her life!) Once she realized I was there, she did the usual "oh, it's been horrible, I've been so abused since you abandoned me!" routine. Like I fell for that.

Spent the rest of the weekend cleaning house, doing laundry, and mowing the yard. Sigh. I really really want to tear out the lawn and re-sod it. Whatever grass moved in last year is still thriving. It grows so dang fast it's crowding out more and more of the nice grass. The kind that gives you that soft carpet. It's hardly spring-like weather and I've had to mow the backyard twice!!!! It was quite a workout...my arms hurt and I thought I was gonna die. It needed to be mowed last weekend, but since it started snowing that Saturday morning, that was kind of not an option. Yesterday was lawn day in my neighborhood. Every house on my block had someone in the yard fixing sprinklers, trimming, mowing, etc. I've already had the lawn service people out 2x - once for the aeration and last week for the first fertilizer/weed killer treatment of the year. Hopefully this will help the real grass take - and keep - root.

I put myself back on the Clar.itinD again. Hopefully that will help. Although so far I'm only doing so-so. The switch from snow last Friday to sunny & windows ope on Saturday is just killing my body.

Not much more to say. Lounged around yesterday, working in the house, spoiling the dog. I'm almost done with "The Birth Order" book by Kevin Leman. Not bad, although as a middle child I find it somewhat lacking. [g] He has very little to say about middle children. I also picked up the latest by Sandra Schwab. Can you believe our Wa.lMar.t got it before Hast.ings? They still don't even have it listed in their database. Stupid store. I can't wait until we get a Bo.rders or Ba.rnes & N.oble. Anyway. I'm saving that book for a few more days - must get the library books read first. I'm out of renewals. :)

Muddy Waters

Sitrep: 1x Abs#1, 1x Arms

Like everyone else, I've been seeing/hearing stories about the F.LDS church in Texas that the government recently raided. 437 children were removed, large-scale DNA testing is being done, and now it appears it was all done on the basis of phone calls from a woman in another state with a known history of false reports of sexual abuse. How much of this was known in advance by the officials I don't know. But before I heard that I was uneasy reading the articles.

What bothers me is the limited evidence (if it can be called that) that prompted the raid. And raid it was. The number of children torn from their families and placed in state custody and moved to foster care...How disastrous is this to them? How disastrous will it be to them in future? To make no attempt to keep these children with their mothers is startling to me. They could demand that the men move off the compound, leaving the children with at least one parent in the meantime. I don't know what "proof" they've found during/after the raid. The articles I've been reading say they have 20 women they think were/are underage. Think being the operative word. How easy is it to tell someones age? Did the FL.DS even keep records? Do they celebrate birthdays? And how old were they when they "married". Sixteen? Seventeen? Younger? It's all so murky. How does that compare with other state laws that allow parental consent to marriage at 16? I don't know TX law.

And the whole DNA thing is scary to me. Now the state has the DNA of all the members of a different religious group, whom many are calling a "cult". I might not agree with their way of life, but really. A "cult"? Go to http://www.dictionary.com/ and type in "cult". If you read those definitions, everything, every religion, can be considered a cult.

Would the authorities have moved this fast if this wasn't a group that kept itself outside the mainstream? What about the Amish? How young do they marry? Don't you think they have pressure in their society to conform, to marry as/when told? Many groups do. Now, I'm not even remotely trying to say the Amish practice child abuse. I don't know if the FL.DS does either. That's what concerns me. The heavy-handed state intervention.

I think the state may have overplayed their hand. Why not investigate? Get some facts, proof before hand. Instead of taking all these children in this dramatic fashion. Maybe my thinking is all muddled, maybe my writing it out is all muddled. I just have this sense of unease when I listen to or read stories on this case. I have from the first. To just go in there and take all these children away, to do the DNA testing on such a large number of citizens (and yes, they are citizens), to require it for them to get their kids back and then to not give the kids back...It frightens me. Our government can and has been zealous when it comes to groups it considers "bad". Ruby Ridge, anyone? But I don't mean to get into that.

How many cases are there of the state wrongly taking children from their parents on inaccurate information and outright lies? And it takes years and money and lawyers to get them back. In the meantime, the children are the ones that suffer. Then there's the plain and simple fact that the majority of states have horrible child welfare systems. Overworked, overburdened, understaffed and underpaid. How is adding this number of children into that system helpful to anyone? Least of all the children? And if it's the girls that are being subjected to child abuse, why take the boys? Are they being abused? They took boys, too, didn't they? Or did they leave them. See, I'm so confused this morning.

Where is the line between freedom of religion and secular law? It really is confusing, and not sharply drawn at all. Nor is it possible to do so, I guess. I don't agree with children being forced to marry. If they are sixteen and want to marry, and have parental consent...Well, I'm not super thrilled with that, but it's been found to be legal in our secular society. Why not in a religious society? I don't have a problem with polygamy, any more than I do with monogamy. It's personal choice, with choice being the operative word I suppose. I think wanting to be married to more than one person at the same time is as crazy as being involved (but not married) with multiple people at the same time. But I'm a loner. And possessive. I do not share well. And that's just my stuff. Forget about someone I'm in an emotional & physical relationship with. Hah. Anyway. I just wonder how young these children really are when marrying, & is that when they start having sex and children? And is there any harm to them if it is how they are raised, and how the society they are raised in functions? In their world it is normal. If it's normal, does it harm? I don't know.

I mean, look at many mainstream religions. Why isn't some of the stuff taught there considered mental abuse? I mean, it's as much indoctrination as anything else when children are raised from birth to believe one way and this is the only way and if you stray from this particular path you will burn in hell for all enternity and all sorts of bad stuff will happen to you, and everyone else is wrong and going to burn in hell, etc, and so on ad infinitum. How many people actually leave what they've been brought up with? Hmm. Looks like another research topic for me. (Why do I do this to myself?) I wonder what the numbers are on that. We can talk about freedom and choice all we want, but how much do we really have when you factor in peer, societal and familial pressure to toe the line and fit in? And when government interferes and makes actual laws or behaves in ways to reinforce a view over another? I understand there have to be laws or total chaos will reign. It's all well and good in theory, but what about the practice?

I know I've already said it, but it really is muddled water. I suppose morals and ethics usually are.

I did some messing around on the Internet (big surprise) and found a blog where posters are much more eloquent than I am. [g] http://daviddfriedman.blogspot.com/ I haven't read too much on this blog, just a couple of the posts on this issue, and the comments. It's interesting, at any rate.

When White is Bad, & Other Silent Dangers

Sitrep: Zero, much to my embarrassment

I never thought of "white" as a "bad" color. I still don't, but around here, it being April, many people hate white. At least, when it's falling out of the sky. This arctic front that came through last weekend has been dumping a lot of snow. We definitely need the moisture. The snow pack is back to normal levels this year, for the first time in something like a decade. (Or so I hear.) Unfortunately, the 10 inches received by GF and approximately 6-8 inches received in H/EH, isn't sticking around long. In town, that is. I'm assuming that's not the case higher up in the mountains. Since I came up to GF yesterday morning for work, it has pretty much been constantly snowing. A solid 4 hours yesterday and about an hours worth since I came downstairs this morning. Worst of it is it's the kind of snow that looks like rain, and melts on the ground. Best thing of it is the top half of my car is red again, not brown like the bottom half. ;)

Our faculty for this seminar is National and from out of state. One of them called me on Monday asking what to pack for MT in April, especially this week. Ummm, shorts and a parka? It's really that unpredictable. A few days before this front we were pushing 80*F. Yes, indeed, we were! Now we're back at highs in the 30's. Ahhh, such is life in the "far, far West". ;) I wouldn't change it for anything.

The best part of being on the road at these things is the food. We get to eat at the nicest restaurants, and I eat soooo much better than usual. "Better" meaning steak. Yes, this is me talking. I eat steak now. Oh, the things living in MT has done to me! (Actually, that started in Paraguay...MT just reinforced it!) But last night I was feeling "responsible" and thought since I'd eaten a burger & fries for lunch, I'd have the soup & salad bar for dinner. I skipped the lovely cream of tomato soup. whimper. Not that it did me any good. Something I selected took my mini-headache (the kind you get when you're dealing with 80 people at a conference complaining about the room being "too cold" and "too hot") and turned it into a migraine. Alas, guess who forgot to pack her migraine medication???? Yes, that would be me. I haven't had any in so long (not real migraines, just sinus headaches) I didn't even think to toss that little packet in my bag. It was not the funnest night. At least the pain got bad enough to make me throw up (get that poison out of my system!). Funny how once I throw up the pain eases. Finally got to sleep around 2 or 3 am. I've got a local pharmacy filling my prescription just in case. These true migraines usually stick around a few days.

I'm feeling better now, and plan to hit the fitness room in the hotel this evening. I should be feeling right as rain by that time. :) I'm just wondering what happened last night at dinner. I was pretty careful with what I selected. I think the 1000 Island dressing had more garlic in it than normal. It tasted different than what I'm used to...That's happened before, usually with store bought stuff, though. And usually not with such a harsh result. Maybe combined with the peanut butter cookie I had in the afternoon. I'll be skipping those today!!!!

I managed to get my car to the dealership today for the 60k mile maintenance. Funny how I picked the one large town in MT that not only doesn't have a Barnes & Noble, it also doesn't have a dealership for my car! They love me here today. They're letting me use 2 coupons at the same time because I'll be spending enough...Maintenance (a big one) plus All wheel alignment (desperately needed, to be sure!) plus Brake Inspection (also needed!) = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$. So the brake inspection is free, and I get 10% off the alignment. That's about $35.00. Hey, every little bit helps! Although I'm sure this will take care of the stimulus rebate I'm getting. [g] But that's okay. This needed to be done!

Everything's Coming Up Roses

Sitrep: zero

So Shanni got to meet the President & First Lady this morning. The awards ceremony was held in the Rose Garden at the White House. Pretty exciting for her! Here's a link to the video of the ceremony: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/04/20080417.wm.v.html

It's about 14 minutes long, the first half is the Prez giving a speech, then the awards. Shanni & her group are the second to last. About 11 mins in. She's the one standing in front of the First Lady.

Afterward she called me, all excited. They were getting ready to go to the zoo, and after that the memorials. She's still more awed by the fancy hotel ("There's a LAKE in the middle of the hotel! We ate dinner on it!") than meeting the President, but it's going to be a fabulous memory for her. I'm glad she's having so much fun.

I'm having a great day myself. It's my 35th Birthday. Got some cool gifts - new camera battery, camera cleaning kit and a heart rate monitor watch. I think this new toy will help me get back on the exercise track. I'm such a geek. [g] I'm also hoping to take pictures this weekend. If the weather holds!

Got my hair cut at lunch today, and my hairdresser wouldn't let me pay since it's my birthday! Wasn't that sweet of her? Then I got my DL renewed...it took less than ten minutes, there was no one in line. To top it all off, they took a new picture...and I'd just come from the hairdresser. At least the hair looks good. [g] I'm sure my smile will be more of a grimace. Hah. ;)

It was tough not checking the BB today during work. Just about drove me crazy. But it doesn't look like too much went on. Coworkers are none too happy about the new time managment monitoring. They announced at our staff meeting today they will be implementing internet monitoring software. And we have to track what we are doing in 15 minute increments for the next few weeks. All I can say is as irritating as it is to track, I got a lot more done today! Which I expected.

And I killed the copier. LOL. At the end of the day, just over halfway through getting all the books printed for next week, it stopped and threw up a message "System Error. Call XXX-XXXX. C2550." And that was that. No copier. They'll be in tomorrow to coax it back to life. [g]

Well, I'm off to email the video to tons of people. I need to see if we can get a copy of it somehow. :)

Up My Mind - Again

Sitrep: Zero.

It's been a lackluster week and a half when it comes to the exercise front. And last week I had spaghetti for dinner every night. It's no wonder I feel like something the cat dragged in. Tomato is just not good for me. I'm getting better, though. Used to be I'd binge on the stuff for months...after just a week the thought of anything with tomato turns my stomach...

Shanni is in Washington D.C. now. She just called - they went swimming. [g] Tomorrow they're going to see all the memorials. She's promised to get her picture taken at the Lincoln Memorial, at my request. She's going to be there on my birthday. How cool is that?

Her flight out was an adventure. An hour delay getting out of here due to high winds. Then their connecting flight had mechanical probs and they sat on it for an hour. So by the time they got to D.C. and their hotel, they'd missed tonight's social event. They get to set up their display and present it tomorrow. Shanni is having a blast, she really is. Loved her first airplane trip, loves the fancy hotel...Her mother is having a nervous breakdown, however. [g] She was up all night crying. I was on the phone by 5:30am with Shanni, who was not too thrilled with her mom..."She's squeezing me to death!" I could hear her eyes rolling. lol. When I talked to M. this afternoon after they'd arrived in D.C., she sounded a bit put out that Shanni is having such a good time.

Anyway. It's been an exhausting day. Lots of meetings at work...they're cracking down on the, uh, lack of production in the office. So I'm blocked from the bulletin board and this blog during the day. Bummer. But not really...I'm in charge of IT and can change that setting as I wish...But I need to be more disciplined anyway, so...I'm bad enough, but not as bad as a few others that do nothing but surf the net all day. I don't know how they think no one notices...It's a small office. Oh well. I'll just have to blog on my own time. I will miss the BB though. I'll have to look at setting it up to allow access during lunch hour or something.

I'm dog-sitting for a friend, and somehow his dog is on the sofa next to me and my dog is curled up on his bed across the room sending us a very pathetic look. [lol]. She's met her match in this dog, my Scully has. ;)

I guess we did good at the fundraiser meet with U.nited W.ay yesterday for Big Brothers Big Sisters, because they (BBBS) called me today to see if I could speak again tomorrow. Ughh. Hate that, but willing to do it for this program. Only I've got tomorrow scheduled to get my driver's license renewed. I've put it off to the last minute naturally. It's $40.00. And fifty cents. Can't forget that fifty cents for the mailed postcard reminder. [rolling eyes] Oh well.

Going to be a crazy rest of the week so I don't now if I'll be blogging much. Big seminar next week for work, so I'm neck deep in preparations for that. I also need to get the car detailed (got a coupon for that, whoo-hoo!), get my license renewed, get my hair cut (got to look presentable at the seminar next week), get the car scheduled for maintenance next week, attend a gardening class on Saturday and maybe some Earth Day celebrations, meet Shanni at the airport at midnight (ughh) and then on Sunday is my birthday celebration at her house. German chocolate cake with this most delicious coconut pecan icing and vanilla ice cream.

And somehow I'm having a contractor in sometime in the next few weeks for an estimate on remodeling the bathroom. Ackkk. It's Morning Owl's dad, so he'll give me a good deal. Nothing fancy, just wanting to move some plumbing around (oh, that's easy!). I'll reuse the sink and toilet, but I want a new tub. Oh, not one of those jet tubs or anything. But one where the back at least slants. I have no idea who designed these bathtubs with straight backs. Whoever it was they oughta be shot!!! There's just no way to get a nice relaxing hot soak when your back is ramrod straight. [g] Anyway. This might just be a pipe dream...it might be a bit beyond my reach. But getting a quote is as good a place to start as any.

Choices, Choices

Sitrep: 0 No excuses, no explanations. Just ZERO. [hanging head in embarrassment]
Goal (4/14-20): 2x Arms, 2x Abs, 1x Bootcamp (as much as I can get through b4 collapsing)

So. It has been very difficult for me to make up my mind as to who I'm voting for in Montana's upcoming primary. To those who know me, it's pretty obvious I'm not picking McC.ain, and why. The next president is most likely going to have the opportunity to appoint one, if not two, Supreme Court justices. The court is already swinging to the conservative side, and that scares me. I don't want women to lose the right to free choice when it comes to our reproductive choices. Whether it's birth control or abo.rtion, I don't want Government mandating what I, my sister, my mother, my female cousins, my nieces or my little sister can do. It should be left as a personal decision. And whatever critics may say, McC.ain's record on these issues is conservative.

For me it's between Oba.ma and Cl.inton. If you look at their positions, they are pretty similar on just about everything. Having listened to the recent speeches in Montana, and watched them replayed on TV (on a local government access channel), I think I've made up my mind. Last night's "Compassion Forum" on C.NN helped affirm my choice.

I'm putting in for Oba.ma for this reason: His ability to inspire, his facility with words, his ability to relate to emotions that the not-so-rich are feeling. Both he & Clin.ton have the ability to be good presidents. I'm just not so sure that Clin.ton will be able to convince anybody to do anything. I don't think she'll be able to get Dems and Reps to work together, and might just be enough of a polarizing force as to make things worse. I worry that if she gets the nomination, that will mobilize many people that "hate" her (I don't get that, but ok) to vote Republican just to vote against her. (A bit of cut your nose off to spite your face if you ask me, but...)

I think Ob.ama doesn't have that negative baggage, and combined with the "freshness" of his "limited" years in D.C., his ability to inspire and talk well, he might have more of a chance to get things done. Domestically & internationally. He has experience, I like his background in Constitutional law, and I think he's smart enough to appoint a broad range of people to his cabinet. I think he's willing to listen to other voices than his own. It's a chance, but both of them are, if you ask me.

And frankly, I'm voting for him because he's half African American/half white, and because he spent some formative years overseas (Indonesia in particular). I believe that gives him a different view of the world. And in some cases, maybe a more realistic one. (I know, I'm making assumptions here.)

I'm ready for someone other than a middle-aged "WASP" (no offense intended, okay?) making decisions that affect me. IMO, a 60 year-old white male born & raised in the USA does not have much in common with me, or much of an understanding of what affects me as a single female in her mid-thirties. I just feel we need fresh ideas, fresh views of the world in the Wh.ite H.ouse.

Clin.ton in my opinion, fits too neatly into the "WASP" category. She comes closer than many others to understanding where I'm coming from, etc., but she still isn't that far out of the box. Especially when you factor in her husband's years in D.C.

Maybe I've seen the movie "Mr Smith Goes to Washington" (The James Stewart version, thanks) too many times. Maybe my idealistic side is coming out (that's how I ended up in the Peace Corps). Maybe I just want to believe in something other than the status quo.

But when I listen to Oba.ma speak, when I read his "blueprint", I want to believe he can get something done. He says thinks that I've been thinking. Puts to words what I've been feeling/wanting to express. Do I think it will be easy? That he'll get a lot done? That everything will be perfect once he's been in office? Nope. But I'm hoping they'll be better. And I think with Mc.Cain they'll be worse, with Cli.nton status quo.

So. I'm buying into the hype, buying into the "dream". And hoping that we'll get some decent leadership in Washing.ton DC come 2009.

And if that isn't enough food for thought, think of this (thank you CrankyOtter for pointing me in this direction):

1981-1989 Vice President = George HW Bush
1989-1993 President = George HW Bush
1993-2001 President = Bill Clinton
2001-2009 President = George W Bush

For the past twenty-eight years, there has been a Bush or a Clinton in the Wh.ite H.ouse. That is 80% of the time I've been alive. For twenty of those years a Bus.h or Clint.on has been President. I'm just saying.

Oba.ma/Clin.ton Photos

I know I said I'd blog about my choice between the two today, but I'm exhausted (too many dreams the last few nights) and can't think straight. Also a little stressed as my annual board meeting is tomorrow. I desperately need to get ready for that and am mostly working through lunch today.

But here are a few pictures. I took several hundred, but since I was using my zoom lens without a tripod in low lighting, many of the shots came out blurry. They should not have had a bright red background in my opinion...Very hard time using the autofocus, but was too paranoid to use the manual focus. Kept the camera on auto settings most of the time, played with some settings once I had plenty of supposedly good automatic shots. :) Still, thank goodness they're digital and I could adjust the saturation & hue of the red tones, and adjust the lighting levels. These are grainy because they're small. I took the originals at the maximum size/quality my camera can handle. Good thing I have a 2GB memory card. [g].




And here's a picture of my most favorite politician in all the world:

Jag, our Governor's dog. Who accompanies him just about everywhere, including the state capital building during work, and to this fancy
fund-raising dinner!

He was restless on stage, though. It was way too hot. Felt like yelling down at them to give the poor dog some water!

He reminds me of my Scully, and Roadie, who belongs to one of the ladies on the bulletin board.

And here he is again with the Governor:

And because I know Mom'll get upset if I don't share it, here's a pic of me and also a group shot:



Geez I look young. And no, it's not edited. It's the lighting...and makeup! Maybe the shade I'm using is a bit too light. Or I'm really just that pale in winter!

P.S. Hey, Tomara! Recognize the green shirt? That's the one you had me try on...I found another shirt I can wear with it! Whaddaya know...I might have some girl genes after all. ;)

Montana and the O/C Fest (part 2)

Goal: 2x Arms & Abs, 2x Floor (scraping/sanding)
Sitrep: 0x anything. ;)

So. Where was I? By the time Ob.ama left, I was shaking (internally). Partly from the fact that I was in a crowd of around 4k people and I don't do crowds well, and partly because the man is a great speaker.

He finished speaking at 7:30pm, and Clin.ton wasn't scheduled until 9pm. So there was quite a bit of "down" time. Senators Tes.ter and Bau.cus spoke, followed by Gov. Sch.weitzer accompanied by Jag, his faithful border collie (who reminds me of my sweet - hah - Scully.) Then a senator from South Dakota spoke. She was pretty good, but admittedly not many people were listening. They should have given a half hour break after Oba.ma so people could talk about his speech, wind down a bit, and then give their attention to the in-between speakers. None of them got a lot of attention, which I thought was very rude. They could only stretch out their talks until 8:40, so there was a twenty minute break before Hillary Clin.ton appeared.

She got kind of a raw deal speaking so late; I'm not sure who arranged the times, etc, although there have been lots of rumors that they refused to speak too close together, and wouldn't be in the same building together. Sounds a bit too petty to me, and I think it probably had more to do with their schedules than anything else. But by the time she spoke, people had been there for six or more hours, and everyone was exhausted. And had been drinking. She wasn't heckled or anything, but the energy was waning - fast. In spite of that she got a good reception. I'm not sure if it's because she gave more specifics or because I was tired or because I was less moved, but I got more notes from her speech.

Clin.ton comes across a lot better in person than on TV. Speaks smoother, jokes are funnier/smoother, etc. It took her a little longer than Oba.ma to get the crowd warmed up. But I'm not sure if that was her or the late hour. I think it was both. Overall I got a very favorable impression from her. She came across as very capable, and committed, and as knowing her stuff. Experienced, knowledgeable, factual. But she's not as talented as Obam.a for motivating and inspiring, I think. At least, that's how I felt during/after her speech.

Here are the notes I took:

• "we don't even know what damage has been done to our country" (speaking about current administration policies, etc.)
• using politics of fear & fatalism has harmed us
• she'll be ready on day one to end war in Iraq and keep America safe
• focus on improving the economy
• we need a fighter
• she'll be a president who'll "work her heart out for you"
• for her it's not about the next election it's about the next generation
• need to put to work the "entrepreneurial energy & innovation" of the US
• work on/focus on:
  -expanding/developing infrastructure
  -renewable energy
  -middle class in jobs where they can afford to raise their families
  -rein in special interests
• proposes $100bn middle class tax cuts for health care, schools, and so on
• take away $50bn in tax cuts to corporations
• provide tax cuts to companies that keep jobs in the US, not for corporations sending jobs overseas
• return to fiscal responsibility, pay as you go
• trim/cut the budget
• No more no bid contracts (Haliburton)
• Will back a strong Farm Bill:
  -permanent disaster relief
  -renewable energy
  -country of origin labelling
  -a bill that works for real family farms
• will have US people sign a "Declaration of Energy Independence"
• invest in bio fuels, clean coal, wind energy, solar
• "We are more dependent on foreign oil today than on 9/11"
• need to develop and expand energy Transmission and Distribution system
• need an alternative energy plan
• $50bn Strategic Energy Fund paid for by:
  -taking tax subsidies away from oil companies
  -oil companies can reinvest in alternative energy solutions, clean up greenhouse gas emissions
  -or face Windfall Profits Tax
• She'll stand up to China (we send our jobs and money there, they send us lead-tainted toys, tainted dog food, etc)
• Universal Health Care - 47million uninsured ($160k in MT), there are insured but insurance companies refuse to pay,
• If you're uninsured, under insured, or not happy with your insurance, she wants to open up the Congressional health plan
• If you're happy with your current insurance you don't have to switch
• Provide tax credits
• Limit amount ever having to pay for premium to a small percentage of your income
• Regulate Insurance companies so they can't discriminate based on health
• End "No Child Left Behind"
• universal prekindergarten, early head start
• make college affordable for every single student
• Fully fund Indian Health Service
• bring respect, government to government representation/communication
• Pledge to do whatever she can to make that happen
• Social Security - no privatizing
• "You don't have to worry about privatizing social security"
• She'll restore leadership and moral authority
• End war, bring troops home as quickly and responsibly as possible
• "Lead way to new global agreement...include India, China..." [talking about global warming]
• "Comprehensive global diplomatic efforts" using respected people from both parties
• need a new 21st Century GI Bill of Rights - money for college, homes, businesses
• Force is a last resort, not first
• Restore Separation of Powers between the branches, Checks & Balances
• Start bringing troops home within first 60 days
• Home Mortgage Crisis - "if we can find $30bn to bail out one firm on Wall Street, we can find $30bin to help homeowners stay in their homes"

She finished speaking, and we were out of there...I turned around and the people I was riding with were already leaving. So no seeing how she interacted with people on the floor on her way out, like I could with Oba.ma. Overall, her speech was specific and knowledgeable. Not as inspiring or hopeful as Obam.a's, but confident, sure, capable.

Anyhow. Lunch is almost over and I need to eat. Tomorrow I'll sum up my feelings on the two; which one I think I'm voting for and why. I'll post pictures, too.

Montana and the O/C Fest (part 1)

Last Week's Goal: 3x Arms & Abs, Gym Night
Debrief: 2x Arms, 3x Abs, 20 min Basketball (Gym Night)
Goals (4/7-13): 2x Arms & Abs, 2 nights finishing bedroom floor (scraping, sanding)

Mid-day Saturday I met up with friends at the local Wal.Mart just off the interstate. We piled into one car and headed off for Butte, MT (or "Butte, America" as everyone's fond of calling it.) Roads were clear, only "bad" area was Elk Park, with limited visibility. Blindingly white from snow, glare and mist/fog. Very weird.

We met up with 2 coworkers at the civic center around 3:00 pm. They had gotten our tickets earlier that morning (wrist bands, really) and were already in line. I wasn't expecting it to be that long. It took 2 hours to get inside, but the doors didn't even open until 3:30, and considering we had to go through security that's not so bad! We got some good seats. Off to the side of the stage, second section. Good thing I had my zoom lens, though!

The wind was bitter standing there in line, but the sense of excitement more than compensated. Many local/state candidates up for election in November were there, and tons of campaign volunteers for Oba.ma and Clin.ton. My coworkers loaded up on the campaign stickers & buttons. I only took two, one for a candidate for our Congressman At Large position (I want the incumbent out) and one to stop a Constitutional (State) Initiative to declare life begins at conception.

As we came around the corner of the building and the door came in sight, the crowd sort of parted by the vendor tables for O and C. I saw the sign first, then I saw the neanderthal holding it. The sign said "America's not for N-word". To say I was shocked, horrified, sick to my stomach puts it mildly. I have never been confronted face to face (so to speak) with that kind of hate before. Obviously, the guy holding the sign was a skin-head; bald, swastika-wearing, stereotypical neo-Nazi. And just a few feet away from him was an African-American male working the Obam.a table, selling buttons, t-shirts, promoting his candidates...Now that is courage. I'm not sure I could have done that. Not one single person in the crowd paid any attention to that hatemonger. Everyone (while I was out there) turned their backs on him...refused to give him the attention he wanted. Best thing for me though, was the fact that that guy was alone. It was only one person, far outnumbered. Maybe it's false hope, but that made me feel a little better, somehow. Only thing I could think of was KT, Shanni's sister. She's half African-American. And this guy was....I'd better not go there. I'll tear up again from anger and fear and sorrow...

We got inside and were at our seats by 5pm. The event started at 6pm. Let me just say here and now, that the evening did not help me make up my mind. At least, not entirely, and not right away. By the time Oba.ma was done speaking, I was determined to vote for him. Ten minutes into Clin.ton's speech, I wasn't so sure. Sigh. After a few days now, I think I've made some headway in my choice. But I'll get to that later. There were around 4,000 people in attendance, 2400 in the bleachers, the rest on the floor, apparently.

O.bama took the stage at 6:40, and his reception was wild. From the second he stepped out from behind the curtain it was insane. We were sitting between two groups that were definitely for Obam.a. I thought my head was going to explode. LOL. Here's my impression of him, from the notes I took. I will admit, it was hard to take notes while taking pictures, cheering, etc. Sometimes I would only catch the first part of his statement because everyone would start screaming, and I'd miss the rest. [g]

He is a phenomenal speaker. The pitch, tone, phrasing...masterful. He was poised, confident, radiated strength and capability. Humor, as well. The best lines of the evening were when he was talking about Bu.sh leaving the W.H., and taking "my cousin Dick Cheney with him." Pause for light laughter. "That was really embarrassing [when that came out]." laughter "We've been trying to hide it for a long time." Brought the roof down with that one.

He captured the crowd within the first few minutes. I haven't seen someone work a crowd like that since I attended a Gar.th Bro.oks concert years ago. I'm not saying this was a performance, I'm just saying it was that kind of energy, electricity. At least, for me! FYI, when I'm in crowds I tend to get drained fairly quickly, am too sensitive to the energy, etc. It's one of the reasons I don't do crowds or big cities. One of my coworkers said she wasn't moved by him at all; I got chills quite a few times during his speech. He's a great motivator. He made me believe what he was saying. I believed change can and will happen, that we can make a difference, that Washington and politics doesn't have to be the way they are. He used his voice well; smooth, soft, booming when needed. Controlled the flow very well. Was extremely comfortable giving the speech; impassioned, serious or firm or humorous when called form. Varied between those. Was not nasty about opponents (C or M) or Bus.h.

Anyway. Here's what I managed to write down:

• "American people are desperate"
• "pain is trickling up"
• "I am many, we are one"
• focused a lot on positive aspects of the US and our past
• "[focus] on talking to not just our friends but to our enemies"
• examples of good things US has done, "something, something, Peace Corps Volunteers to forgotten corners of the world"
• He or Clin.ton would be better than McC.ain
• "Party will be unified"
• Need new kind of politics, no money from special interests
• He wants to be "not just president of blue or red states, but President of the United States of America"
• Change from bottom up
• Mother died of cancer @53, remembers her lying in hospital bed reading insurance forms/policy because it was a new job and the insurance company was trying to claim it was pre-existing condition.
• He knows what it's like to fight insurance companies
• tax breaks to working families, seniors, homeowners
• no tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas
• give tax breaks to companies that keep jobs here, invest in US economy
• $150billion over 10 years to sustainable energy - wind, solar, bio fuels
• Used example of going to moon - no one said couldn't be done, President said "Go" and we did.
• What's holding us back? [Someone in crowd yelled out "R.ehberg" - our republican congressman at large.]
• focus on schooling, health care, taxes
• no more No Child Left Behind
• no teaching to test, teach music, science, literature [said more, but was drowned out by cheers]
• $4,000 tuition credit for community service
• "We'll invest in you, you'll invest in America"
• first job as president is to keep us safe
• he won't hesitate to strike against any that threaten to do us harm
• take care of our troops, including when they come home - care, VA, etc.
• use our military wisely
• end war in Iraq, win war in Afghanistan
• rebuild our strong [something, something] world? (I think it was moral standing)
• focus on common threats - terrorism, nuclear weapons, poverty, global warming - work with rest of world on this
• close Guantanamo
• restore habeus corpus
• "only standing here because someone stood up for me"

Overall the speech was inspiring, but not extremely specific on how he would achieve these things. But I've been getting that specific info from research, etc. Last thing I wrote in my notes for Oba.ma was "words, power, strength - capable". Like I said earlier, I got chills several times during his speech.

Anyhow. Lunch is over; must return to work. I'll try to get online tonight to post my notes on Clin.ton, and then my overall feelings comparing the two.

On the Exercise Front

Last Week's Goal: 3x Arms & Abs, Gym Night
Debrief: 2x Arms, 3x Abs, 20 min Basketball (Gym Night)
Goals (4/7-13): 2x Arms & Abs, 2 nights finishing bedroom floor (scraping, sanding)

I just wanted to pop in with a post on my exercise for last week. I feel much better, almost made my goal. Only short one Arms workout. Also got in some stair climbing via the bleachers at the dinner on Saturday. And does it count that we stood in line for several hours? In the "bitter wind and snow" to quote the local paper? It was cold when the wind blew. Enough to make a person move around alot. But I did the layers thing which was smart. Because it was darn hot inside. At least up in the bleachers. Too many politicians campaigning on the floor. ;)

Will download pics to my computer today from the rally, and compose a post. Lots to think about. It was an amazing evening. Left me completely exhausted yesterday. Managed to hangout with Shanni and KT though. Watched "Sweeney Todd" (excellent, if bloody - had to make Shanni cover her eyes for some of it), and "Enchanted" (fun, different.) I guess it was a day for musicals of a different color...ST is on my "buy" list for DVDs now. Hint, hint. (Hey, someone has a birthday coming up in oh, ten days?)

Be back later with info on Montana's O.C. ;)

Today's the Day: ROAD TRIP!

Goal: 3x Arms & Abs, Gym Night
Sitrep: 2x Arms, 2x Abs, 20 min Basketball (Gym Night)

The dog woke me up at exactly 3:21 this morning. She was very insistent on not only sleeping in the bed, but in also getting under the covers. Considering she hasn't slept in the bed for several weeks, I was a little surprised. Until it dawned on me that it was pretty cold in the bedroom. Colder than it should have been with the electric baseboard heater on. Then I realized there was no red glow coming from my nightstand alarm clock. Uh-oh. Looked outside, and lo and behold, there's at least 3 inches of snow covering everything. And I could tell it was the very heavy wet stuff. The wind must have been blowing pretty hard as well, because there was quite a bit of snow stuck to the window, which is unusual!

I called the power company's outage line, and the recording indicated crews had already been dispatched. I made the rounds of the house turning faucets on so the pipes wouldn't freeze, and turned the thermostat up on the direct vent furnace in the living room. Good thing I didn't listen to that idiot salesman and stuck to my guns on getting the furnace that doesn't have to have electricity to run. ["Oh, the power never goes out in E.H." - rolling eyes]

You know something? It's not a good sign when the power company truck rolls slowly down your street shining a light along the power lines checking for the downed line. [g] Power was out until about 6:30 am.

And today is the day we drive down to Butte for the Ma.nsfield-Metcal.f Dinner featuring Oba.ma and Cli.nton. It should be fun, but the roads aren't going to be! My coworker in Butte already called and suggested we leave at least an hour earlier than we'd planned because it's still snowing there; quite heavily, in fact. At least they've lifted the restriction on wearing coats tonight. They were saying absolutely no coats as recently as yesterday. This morning they said it's too cold to do that. I'm still planning on dressing in layers!

I've got my camera ready to go. Brief scare last night when I couldn't find my 75-300mm zoom lens, spent over an hour tearing the house apart, even searched the car! Turns out I left it at my little sister's house. So now I have to race out to the valley to get it today before meeting up with my friends to drive to Butte. I'm taking a little notebook with me to write down any notes/my thoughts. I'm sure I'll be posting about it here. It might take me a few days to percolate my thoughts, though!

Oh, Woe is me!

Goal: 3x Arms & Abs, Gym Night
Sitrep: 2x Arms, 1x Abs, 20 min Basketball (Gym Night)

It's starting to look like I'll be spending my summer "vacation" in FL at the parents house; odds are my siblings and their families will be there as well. Math might not be my strong suit (I did okay until we hit fractions), but even I know that Florida + June = Significant Pool Time. And Significant Pool Time =

Oh, the horror! The past few summers I have managed to limit swimsuit time to one afternoon. That is just not going to be possible this summer. The kids live for the water. So does Mom. I will be out in the water. Pool, beach...it's all bad. ;)

I'm really going to have to amp up my workout routine...got to flatten that lower belly some more!!! I guess next week I'll start the Boot Camp DVD again. Oh, the things I do for my family!!!

And it's no coincidence that I got the Land's End Swimsuit catalog in the mail a few days ago. The universe is out to get me. (Not that I'm paranoid or anything!)

It's all about your Reputation

Goal: 3x Abs & Arms, Gym Night
Sitrep: 1x Abs & Arms, 20 min Basketball (Gym Night)

"Don't get my kid kicked out of the White House."

That's what I woke up to at 7am this morning. Well, okay, I was awake at 6:15, I just kept hitting the snooze button. Man, did I dream a lot last night. All I can remember of that is something was being torn down or deconstructed or taken apart. It was not a good night. So when the phone rang as I was putting in the first contact lens, I'm pretty sure I swore. Popped the second lens in and ran for the phone.

It was Shanni's mom. Yesterday was the big family meeting for the upcoming Washington D.C. trip. Apparently the kids get to meet with the delegates from their states (delegates as in our states' congressmen). Each kid has to come up with a question for our representative/senators, along with a solution, on important issues facing MT. Well. Guess who's gotten tasked with that? Not that I really mind. [g] Of course, I was sitting there going "What? Why didn't she ask me last night when we were hanging out together?" (Shanni has a really bad habit of leaving homework/reports to the morning of the day they're due.) I was a wee bit irritated because I'd specifically gone over her homework list with her last night! Turns out it's due on Monday. So then I asked why not have Shanni come up with it? Because really. I don't think like a 12 year old. At least, not all the time! They'll be able to tell we're feeding her lines. ;)

I bet Shanni can come up with a good one, and a suggestion for a solution. She's smart enough, definitely creative enough, and let's face it; the poor kid has been around me long enough she's not exactly in the dark as far as current events and politics go. And from what I gather there have been more than a few heated arguments at her Dad's house between him and her older sisters...Dad is a staunch conservative, his girls are more on the liberal side (as is their mother).

Jeez. A girl lets her hair down once around this family and they never let you forget it!!!! ;)

Last night's foray to BBBS' 2nd Gym Night was fun. No volleyball available, so it was more of a free-for-all. Shanni & I shot hoops for a while, and then I challenged her to play some one-on-one with me. She scored more baskets than I did, even though she grumbled at first that she didn't know how to play. We did that for about 20 minutes, until it got too crowded on the court. I think our case manager got some shots of us. I didn't give Shanni any quarter....I wanted that ball and was determined she wasn't going to score. That girl is fast, and can turn on a dime!

But I got to beat her at air hockey. Three games in a row. Hah. And then we played checkers. Can you believe she's never played checkers before? Shocking what kids nowadays aren't exposed to. ;) I explained the rules and we started to play. Apparently she didn't quite get that you can jump more than one checker in a row as long as there's an empty square on the other side and you're headed in the correct direction (unless you're a King, then you can go either direction). The first time I jumped two of her pieces I thought she was going to swallow her tongue, she was so startled!!! It was absolutely hilarious. I don't think I have ever seen her look so surprised and shocked...

Now I can add to my reputation - at least with BBBS - that I'm a ruthless air hockey and checkers player. I will give my chosen victim no quarter! ;)

Bright Eyed & Bushy Tailed...

Goal: 3x Abs & Arms, Gym Night
Sitrep: 1x Abs & Arms

...I am not. I think I need a keeper. [g] Went to the bookstore yesterday during lunch to get Dagger Star, the new Elizabeth Vaughan book (author of Warprize, Warsworn, Warlord trilogy). This book returns to that world. Of course, I couldn't get just one book. After work I made a particularly dismal stop at Wal.Mart to pick up prescriptions on the new insurance ($18 cheaper a month, whoo hoo!). I really wonder about some people, you know? I handed them my new insurance card, said it was new insurance and the other insurance was cancelled. Please refill prescriptions X and X under my new insurance. 30 minutes later, I pick it up and they've run it under the old insurance. Sigh. How it went through I have no idea.

So they had to re-run it. One prescription changed, the other was still at $8.00 when it was supposed to go up to $10.00. I could not make them understand this, and eventually I was too frustrated so I left. Ended up finding the $1.00 candy bin and brought waaaaayyyy too much of that stuff home. Ugh. Then at the checkout my Flex Plan debit card kept getting denied. Now I know I have enough in that account. So I had to pay out of pocket. I had the funds, but that's not the point! I'm on a strict budget which I'd already gone over earlier with the books.

Got home and checked online, and they've closed out our Flex Plan account. Our new health insurance is through the same company, and apparently they want to tie the two accounts together (Flex and Health Ins) so last week they moved the funds. Only didn't tell us, didn't give us new debit cards, etc. Arghhh. Do you have any idea how embarassing it is to be sitting there at Wal.mart and having your card declined? That has never happened to me before. Ughh.

To "comfort" myself, I ate too much candy and stayed up late reading. Past midnight. So today I'm tired and cranky. And I decided to give up coffee again today. I must be deranged or something. [g]

Tonight is Gym Night with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and I so do not want to go. But I'm going to because a) I promised Shanni and b) I blogged here and posted on the bulletin board. So. My big mouth is doing me in again. ;)

Probably because I'm cranky, but the talk - again - of bailing out the homeowner crisis is ticking me off. Read one article about this woman that works specifically with homeowners that are in default. She is the middleman between the homeowner and the loan holder. They specifically showcased this dual income couple that had to take out TWO loans to get into their $300,000 plus house, BOTH with adjustable rates. Their mortgage went from $1600 to $2200 over several years, and they ended up behind on their payments. Eventually this lady was able to work it out where the two loans were consolidated into one loan, with no penalties or fees paid by the homeowners, and locked in at a 3.5% for five years, with them needing to refinance again then. WTF? Give ME that deal. I can guar-an-dam-tee you that in 5 years my credit score will still be high enough and my finances at least as good as now that I'll qualify for a loan no problem. What makes them think these people will be any better with their finances or decision making in five years when they haven't suffered any repercussions with their current decision? Why is it that people who are stupid and irresponsible seemingly get all the breaks???

Oooooh, I think I need to take these red-colored glasses off and go talk a quick walk outside or something. Shake loose the cobwebs and crankiness from my brain!

Here are two good things to blog -

- for the 2nd week in a row on Biggest Loser, a girl beat the guys. Heheheheh. I really, really, really hope Ali wins.

- my sister emailed me a picture on my phone of my 4 yr old niece at Disney...Daddy was not able to talk his little girl out of the Princess Jasmine costume...[g]

Jedi Mind Tricks

Debrief (3/24-30): 1x Arms, 1x Abs, 20 min Walk (w/the Dog!!)
Goal (3/31-4/6): 3x Arms, 3x Abs, Gym Night (Big Brothers Big Sisters)
Sitrep: 1x Arms, 1x Abs

I'm sure any one reading this is aware by now that I've been seriously slacking on the exercise and eating the last three months. I'm slowly getting back into REVing, and noticed something. Even if I haven't exercised for weeks, about 5 minutes into the workout I start feeling slimmer, more compact...I look at myself and look slimmer, more toned. I've been pondering this for awhile now and think it's one of two things:

1. A Jedi Mind Trick (hey, I'm no Toydarian, I'm susceptible.)
2. I'm actually seeing myself as I really am

As much as I'd rather believe there are Jedi in the world, I'm thinking it's the latter choice. [g] All kidding aside, it's a very strange phenomenon. I know that I don't see myself as I really am when I look in the mirror. It's something I've struggled with since high school...when I was a size 7 and thought I was fat. Now I'm a size 12/14 and am semi-okay with that. (Oh, the irony!!!) But when I look at myself while I'm exercising or just after working out, I see myself as I really am, I think. Oh, I'm not saying I'm in super shape or model thin. But I'm not some big giant blob either. Yes I'm still out of shape. Stamina, muscle tone, weight - all need work. But I'm not Jabba the Hutt. ;)

It's kinda weird, and I wonder if this happens to anyone else? It's almost as if when I work out, the blinders are lifted and the inner me and the physical me are more aligned, fit together better. It's like when my equilibrium is messed up because of fluids in my ears. I bump into walls because I don't know where I am...where I think I am is not where I am at physically . But when the fluid goes away, my equilibrium returns, and my mind and my body are in balance. I am physically where my brain thinks I am. I hope this makes sense.

Either way, it's a bizarre sensation, looking at myself and seeing myself differently. I might not feel that way a few hours later, but when I exercise again, it returns. And really. If I keep working out consistently, the blinders will stay off longer and longer, and hopefully, eventually I will always see myself more clearly.

Define: Statesman

Sitrep: 1x Arms, 1x Abs
Goal: 2x Arms, 2x Abs

Instead of blogging yesterday I felt the need to shake up my blog a bit. After several hours of frustrated attempts to modify one blog layout to fit my desires, I switched to this one and tweaked it. My apologies to those of you who might have checked in yesterday during the "experimental" portion of the "design". I like this, although the orange is already getting to me. Too fall-ish, I expect. So don't be surprised if it changes up this weekend.

Around 4 am this morning I blundered onto a show about Lincoln on the History Channel. It was different than any I've seen before, and painted quite a different picture of Lincoln and his wife, etc, than I'm used to. Not necessarily bad, either. Just more detailed, and a more human view. As in Lincoln, the Man, then Lincoln the President. Not just Lincoln the President. It made me admire him that much more and think to myself that I really need to read up on this extraordinary president.

It also reinforced for me that politics have not changed all that much. Twenty-four hour television and always on Internet just make it seem so. Everyone is so inundated now, there's this constant barrage of information we have no time to really process or think about things as they occur. Different, I really think, that when information was limited to newspapers and a few radio stations.

Last weekend my sister and I spoke on the phone for quite awhile, and we got to talking about the upcoming presidential elections. With Obama's speech on race occurring just that week, naturally we got to talking about it, and Obama himself. Why are so many people responding to him the way they are? Is it just the message of hope? But there have been others with messages of hope that weren't received this way. Is it that he comes across so differently? Not part of the status quo? More dignified, more distinguished, somehow? Fresher? It's hard to express. And yet I'm not blind to his reported shortcomings; although the melee about his Pastor doesn't upset me as it has some. But that's a post in and of itself, so I'll save that for another day. I've read about his connections to that land thing. (Can't remember the guys name off hand). I've been reading up on his campaign style, tactics, ads. It's not that different from the others. And yet there's still this little something that keeps me going "hmmm." And looking at him some more.

Regardless of all that, I thought the speech was extremely impressive. I haven't heard anything so well written or well spoken by a politician in a long time. I'm still torn between him & Clinton, but was very impressed by the speech. It occurred to me during our discussion that that speech made him come across almost as a Statesman, not a Politician.

Statesman: a person who exhibits great wisdom and ability in directing the affairs of a government or in dealing with important public issues.*

Politician: a seeker or holder of public office, who is more concerned about winning favor or retaining power than about maintaining principles.**

"Politician, statesman refer to one skilled in politics. These terms differ particularly in their connotations; politician is more often derogatory, and statesman laudatory. Politician suggests the schemes and devices of a person who engages in (esp. small) politics for party ends or for one's own advantage: a dishonest politician. Statesman suggests the eminent ability, foresight, and unselfish patriotic devotion of a person dealing with (esp. important or great) affairs of state: a distinguished statesman." **

I can't think of anyone really that I would call a statesman. At least, not anyone current. President Carter comes to mind, but more for his actions after leaving office than during. I don't know much about his years in the Oval Office. What does that say about my government? Or about us as a people?

* statesman. Dictionary.com Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Random House Inc http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/statesman (accessed: March 28, 2008).
**politician. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/politician (accessed: March 28, 2008).

Speed of light; ie, Who was that masked man?

Sitrep: 1x Arms, 1x Abs
Goal: 2x Arms, 3x Abs

I'm here, I'm okay, Dad's doing great last I heard, Dog needs treatment for something Vet will talk to me about when I get there at 5pm (if I get out of work on time) because he's in a major surgery right now, will someone PLEASE disconnect our phones at work, and I forgot I have a Big Brothers Big Sisters meeting tonight at 6pm on a topic I've been requesting for MONTHS so I kinda sorta haveta go, which gives me one hour from end of work to pick up the dog, talk to the vet, get the dog home, eat dinner, and get back to town. It's a small town, but this might be pushing it.

Oh, and my company bought our own office space today...here's the virtual tour: http://tours.justsnooping.com/2346401/?b=true

We're moving in April, only we have 2 board meetings in April and one of my big 3.5 day seminars that occupies 2 weeks of prep time. Can we say nightmare? ALthough I'm thrilled to have the new space, and I want an office with a window! Hoo-yah!!!!

Exhaustion

Goal: 3x Abs, 2x Arms
Sitrep: 1x Arms. Yesterday was a typo - I didn't do Abs. That was pure wishful thinking. [g]

Scully woke me up multiple times last night to be let outside. Just like the night before. I thought Sunday night it was from the food she got at my little's house. Easter goodies. Ham for sure. I turned around just in time to see a deviled egg (tons of mayo in it) sprinkled with paprika going into her mouth. sigh. Not sure who looked guiltier, Shanni or the dog!!! But that should be out of her system by now. The food, I mean. For the dog.

After the third time I let her out last night she got up on the bed and sat there looking all sad and pathetic. And trembly. She wouldn't lay down. After a few minutes she got off the bed and lay on her own. After the fourth or fifth (got hazy after awhile) she did the same thing. I think she's having some reaction to the meds she's on. I took her in last Monday for a follow up because on Sunday (a week ago) she had some funky seizure like thing going on. Vet thought it might be the Terbutaline (bronchodilator) so we took her off that. But she was still on 2 antibiotics & prednisone. sigh. Her re-check is tomorrow morning so that's good. I'm worried it's affecting her kidneys. She had that one flare up just over a year ago, and she'd been on lots of meds then too.

And Dad's going in right about now to get his new pacemaker with defibrillator. He's been in the hospital since Sunday night...just found out that yesterday evening. Looks like he's okay, and the pacemaker procedure is "routine" and the last one went without a hitch. It's just a nerve wracking day today. No wonder I'm exhausted!!! It shows in my BB and here, doesn't it? I can't type correctly to save my life today. Yikes.

No good books to read either. Finished Spymaster's Lady last night. Maybe I'll hit the UBS on the way home. See if they have the earlier Sandra Schwab The Lily Brand. Looked for it on Ama.zon but it's not in print??? Only available used. I was hoping to do the Amazon Prime free 2 day shipping. Guess I'll check locally first. And she has another book coming out in April - Bewitched. Yay. Amazon just says April 2008, B&N has it as a March release, available now new and used. Hastings has April 1 as the release date on its website. Hmmm. Maybe I'll call them and see if they're going to get it in. Probably not - they're lousy at having books in - but then again - that's where I found the one I just read. So miracles do happen!

I'm so going to stop now. Totally rambling 'cause I'm tired and stressed. (Like you hadn't guessed that!) I should probably try to get some work done today!

Books & Movies

Sitrep: 1x Abs
Goal: 3x Abs, 2x Arms
Check out Alden's blog today - great post. And definitely try the Perfect Pushup. If I can do it, so can you!

Lately I've been on quite a roll when it comes to books and movies. Knocking quite a few off my TBR (To Be Read) or TBW (To Be Watched) piles. So I thought I'd give some reviews:

Castle of the Wolf by Sandra Schwab - I picked this up due to a review posted on the readers bulletin board I go to. Well worth the money and the time. I liked it for several reasons:

1. Character Driven - well developed characters, can understand why they do what they do, no large cast of unnecessary-to-the story-line and just-there-for-spin offs characters
2. Set in Germany - unusual place setting for a Historical Romance
3. Shades of paranormal in it, but just shades. Wasn't about vampires or werewolves or whatever
4. Well written.
5. The hero/heroine didn't have that misunderstanding for three-hundred years thing keeping them apart. The heroine took action, made mistakes, etc. She wasn't TSTL (too stupid to live), either.

A definite Buy.

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Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne - also purchased due to a recommendation from a friend & BB posts/reviews. Well worth it.

1. Character driven - definitely are seeing more in their heads than those stories that are more suspense/action than romance. The romance/character development is the primary story, the suspense/action is the vehicle showcasing the character development, the vehicle moving it along.
2. Again, no large cast of characters that are there only for amusement and for potential spin-off books. The characters that are there are there for a reason. Only one I find maybe more lacking in development, and a caricature or more of a stereotypical role is the bad guy they're running from. Reminds me of Chauvelin from The Scarlet Pimpernel.
3. Well written. I'm not rolling my eyes and flipping forward, skipping paragraphs.

A definite Buy - and I'm only half-way through it!

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Babel (starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett) - avoid this movie at all costs. Premise is great, execution is terrible.

1. Five minutes into the movie I figured they weren't going to a) start speaking in English and b) give me subtitles. So I turned them on myself. Not sure if the movie is intentionally supposed to be non-understandable for most of it...Doesn't work for me. If I want a foreign film with subtitles, that's what I'll rent. At the least, give me subtitles. I think they were aiming for it to be unintelligible unless in English, to give the watcher more of the feeling of being in the middle of this chaos...Doesn't work for me.
2. What was up with the Japanese family? Tenuous connection to the other 2 story lines at best, waste of time at worst. Did not like at all. Especially the 10-15 minute disco/club scene of nothing but flashing lights and dance music and bodies moving around...would have given a few people I know seizures (epileptic) & started giving me a headache. So I fast forwarded. Again, not sure why this was in there or what point they were making. That people are people and miserable the world over? Great. But what connection did they even have to the main story? Small, inconsequential. Should have ended up on the cutting room floor.
3. The Hispanic woman taking care of the kids. Had real issues with this because a) What illegal alien in their right mind would head back to Mexico for a wedding? Even if it is her son's wedding. She's an illegal. I don't think she'd do it, even if she did have her boss' kids with her. And b) If she did raise those kids from birth, why would the family just toss her aside because of this one mistake? Didn't buy it.
4. Didn't buy their miraculous rescue from the desert either. Or that the nephew never came back for her, that she started walking instead of waiting where he left her - at least until daylight so she could see the road. At least their story tied in more with the one in Morocco...these were the kids of the parents.
5. Didn't like the US government thinking it was a terrorist attack. Seriously. Out in the boonies where they were, with one shot at a tourist bus? What would be the point? I don't think the embassy would have gotten involved to the point of stopping the ambulance from picking them up. Would they even have been able to stop it anyway? And then to send in the helicopter? Give me a break. Americans get in trouble all the time overseas and the embassy's power is limited...Usually the can't do much more than get you a lawyer if you're in jail, get the Red Cross involved, maybe make a phone call...But hey, maybe that's just my take on it.
6. The actual Morocco storyline, which I thought from previews was the main point of the movie, was a backseat to everything else. I thought it was going to be more along the lines of Frantic starring Harrison Ford. Would have been better.

Don't buy, don't rent.

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The Last King of Scotland (Forest Whittaker) - AWESOME MOVIE.

1. Well acted, to say the least. Whittaker did an unbelievable job. No wonder he got an Oscar for the role.
2. This is a dark movie, a historical thriller. I'm not an expert on the time & place or Idi Amin, but I thought they did a masterful job of tying the fiction in with the historical facts. At the end I wasn't sure if the doctor was a real character or a fictional one. Watch the special features after the movie to find out. Definitely worth watching.
3. Well written and acted. Tense, believable, I could definitely see the doctor being taken in at first. Young, naive, newly in country. Oh yeah, it takes awhile to really get a sense of things when you're fresh in country. And after all, historically Idi Amin was popular with the people...until his madness and paranoia took full control.

Definite watch. Buy or Rent.

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I Am Legend (Will Smith) - Very good movie, if dark and depressing.

1. Good acting
2. Great special effects
3. Jump in your seat moments - mostly in the beginning.
4. End was kind of the usual blow 'em kind of thing, but overall it was a good movie.
5. Spoiler coming - don't read if you don't wanna know (The dog dies. For those of you that prefer to know those things in advance...like me.)

Definite watch. Rent.

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So that about sums up the last few weeks. I also spent inordinate hours this weekend watching History Channel & Discovery Channel doing "Easter" shows. Discovery's "In the Footsteps of Jesus" is worth watching. The History Channel's "Exodus Explained" is great. I love the historical & archaeological searches to prove/explain things that happened in the Bible. I've always thought the Bible was a fair history book of sorts.