Bliss vs Insanity

The Great Turtle Race is underway!

2009-04-23T16:11:00.012-05:00

The Great Turtle Race is underway!Last Thursday, Conservation International and National Geographic’s “Great Turtle Race” hit the open ocean. This year, eleven leather back sea turtles are racing from Canada’s Atlantic coast to the beaches of the Caribbean.

It’s not t oo late to sign-u p for daily race updates — full of fun turtle facts and play-by-play race highlights straight from the waves.Our work protecting sea turtles in Brazil The Great Turtle Race is much more than just a race — it’s about protecting sea turtles and the oceans they call home.

Unfortunately, sea turtles are highly threatened, and their numbers are rapidly diminishing.In Brazil, we are unleashing the power of conservation by helping people understand nature’s economic value. Today, CI’s partner Projeto TAMAR works hand-in-hand with local communities to protect sea turtles nesting on Brazil’s beaches. Learn more about ho w we are creating a strong and sustainable local economy by combining conservation and turtle-friendly economic activities.

Dozens of endangered species and the last remnants of untouched tropical forest in Southeast Asia are at risk of disappearing in the Cardamom Mountains of Cambodia.In response, CI introduced the Conservation Stewards Program (CSP) to six communities which earned income by selling threatened animal species to the Chinese medicinal market and farmed by burning and clearing forests.In return for commitments to conserve endangered animals and forests, CI provides buffaloes to help restore old rice fields, and training, equipment and pay for forest patrols.To date, 150,000 hectares of forest have been protected, including the nests of the Siamese Crocodile — the most endangered crocodile in the world.Beyond Brazil, CI is working on the ground with people to both protect nature and improve community life in countries including Madagascar, China, South Africa and beyond.

New and Noteworthy This Earth Day, we celebrate the beauty, magic, and wonder of the planet we call home. We also keep in mind the essential services nature provides — fresh air, clean water, healthy soil — which each one of us relies on for our survival.Feel the spectacular force of our planet by watching a preview of Disney nature’s EARTH, a breathtaking film that uses stunning images and storytelling to inspire us all to come together to protect our home.Also, visit CI’s Earth Day site for four moving features that honor the dramatic beauty of our planet and the need to conserve it. Check out an awe-inspiring photo essay that celebrates the people and places of Madagascar, and read about indigenous peoples from diverse and distinct cultures who are helping combat climate change using their vast and enduring relationship with nature.

Header Photos:Tiger: © CI/Photo by Frank Hawkins, Forest: © Frans Lanting, Girl: © CI/Photo by Haroldo Castro

© 2009 Conservation International Conservation Internationals mission is to conserve the Earth's living heritage, our global biodiversity, and to demonstrate that human societies are able to live harmoniously with nature. Please visit to learn more.

2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 500Arlington, VA 22202 Telephone: (703) 341-2400Toll-free (within the US): 1(800) 406-2306

I am obsessed with LISTS . . .lists of favorites, lists of preferences, chores . . .everything! Here is a favorite list I found online . . .

2009-04-23T12:06:00.007-05:00

Opinion:
I am so proud that rebel cities of SF and Seattle made the list and of course, everyone's city NYC. I feel a deep affection for those crazy Pacific Northwesters sticking to their predictable values something about that predictability is both heartwarming and charming, while also maintaining a rebel nature and still after all this Chic Greeness going on and the corruption of environmentalism thru mass market media as well as the remaking of images of huge corporations who are still owned by the same people and run exactly the same way using toxic chemicals which are destroying us, our world and our children it is nice to see certain areas of our country trying to rage against the machine. Rage on!!!!!!!!!

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LARGEST U.S. CITIES TO HAVE NO WALMART

Despite Walmart being the biggest department store in the U.S., its presence in the big cities is rather limited (including the largest city in the United States). Perhaps Walmart can't build its super-sized parking lots inside the dense urban cores (or is unwilling to pay for that privilege).

All of these Walmarts have stores in nearby suburbs, however (but not within city limits of these cities, as of July 15, 2006).

1. New York, New York

2. Chicago, Illinois

3. Detroit, Michigan

4. San Francisco, California

5. Boston, Massachusetts

6. Washington, D.C.

7. Seattle, Washington

8. Cleveland, Ohio

9. Minneapolis, Minnesota

10. St. Louis, Missouri**There are Walmarts in St. Louis County but not St. Louis City.

Recommended Viewing:

WALMART THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICE

Filmmaker Robert Greenwald takes aim at the corporate giant that's come to symbolize big business in America -- Wal-Mart -- blasting the box-store Goliath for allegedly paying substandard wages, skimping on employee benefits and gutting communities. This hard-hitting, emotional documentary profiles the struggle of everyday folks from around the country who've committed themselves to fighting the mega-retailer.

(List obtained from http://www.geographylists.com/list19p.html)

Friends: Mirrors into Ourselves

2009-04-20T15:06:00.004-05:00

I am such a blessed person. I have wonderful friends, i really do they are quite glorious. Even when my friends screw up: they do it ROYALLY!

I have had all kinds of friends in my life, guys and girls and in between or some have changed from one sex to the other while we were friends. it has been an experience i must say. i am also a person who stays friends with her ex's. so i have some long time friends whom i once loved, slept with or both. some of my best friends i have had crazy nites with where we fooled around, i cannot imagine that ever happening again with most but some it was habitual for awhile.

I also coined the term friend crush because i believe in this. nowadays there is that lame term "bromance" but it doesn't really fill the same space as "friend crush" and it does not imply the same meaning. i think it is perfectly natural to fall for our friends, to see all the amazing qualities in them, to think they are wonderful, fabulous, delightful creatures we just can't get enough of - why not, are we not seeking this in a relationship as well.

I always thought of my friends as trial runs - would i like to date that goth guy whose lingering looks at the coffee shop un-nerve me in a seductive, scary kinda way. maybe i will try on some goth friends first, feel out the scene, the music, the social circle before i jump into a world i am completely unfamiliar with and for me this worked!!

As many, many years have passed i have friends who have known me thru thick and thin and many who have left my life for a long time and then returned. this allows perspective. a unique view of yourself thru a mirror. say your favorite mirror, that takes ten pounds off and adds 2 inches in height! thru this mirror you can see your memories clearly but from another point of view, you can re-examine where you were at that time, why you made the choices you did and where you have ended up.

i was privileged enough to spend super quality time with a wonderful ex boyfriend recently who said some things to me that i had said to him when we were dating. these statements really expressed just how closed i was to love at the time without even really being aware of just how hard i was pushing others away. now, since i am in such a more open space i could not imagine saying those things to someone i loved. how silly we are in our youth and how wonderful it is that our true friends love us thru it all!

i love all my mirrors and i want to thank each and every one of you for serving as a reflection of myself so that i amy grow, change and live to my full potential!

A Little About Me

2009-04-11T02:45:00.002-05:00

About Me: Hip-E! MaMa'

Life before Riley, my four year old son, was a good life, a fun life, a naughty, sensational & somewhat exciting life. Now, I’m Mom. What is a Mom?

I think I may know some days but most days I just feel like I suck at it. I was a rebel, never listened, & pushed the envelope as much as possible hoping, for many years, to push it too far & just drop off. No lie, there were days that the pain was too much & I would rather take a big dirt nap than deal.

My brother's death, when I was a teenager was the worst thing to ever happen to me. I died w/ him in many ways & shut my heart off to others completely. I felt that not wanting love or a family was the easiest way to avoid future pain. Thank gawd for unanswered prayers!!

Riley came into my life & brought w/ him my cancer & my new self! It’s a constant battle, no lie, my gypsy nature just wants to run from responsibility most days. I mean who the hell am I to be raising a kid? I raved, expanded my mind, protested my country’s wars, laws, & ideals all while perfecting the art of the party. But here I am with an amazing little human being who loves me, is brilliant and is the reason I draw each and every breath.

CHARLENE NO MORE!!! she is evil and alive in this indie film! luv it!

2009-03-29T16:51:00.006-05:00

I caught Guinevere (1999) on the IFC Channel. Now, I will come right out and say it was predictable and a bit boring but for 3am on a Tuesday it wasn't too painful. And there is this shining moment of Charlene from Designing Women embodying this evil upper east side mom (though I don't think it's set in NY,i missed a bit of the beginning).

Jean Smart - Charlene NO MORE!!! and luvin' it. She is disconnected and plays the most amazing ice princess. She is ruthless, devoid of any true ability to connect with others, most of all her own family.

The rest of the movie is hardly worth a $1 rental fee but the dinner scene when she tries to make the family say "sex" after the fortunes and then the scene where she rips into the 45+yr old photographer who is with her 20yr old daughter is FABULOUS**She is the only star in the film even the old indie standbys of Gina Gershon & Sandra O don't save this storyline.

She asks him why he doesn't like women his own age and then not allowing him to answer, she neatly slices him bit by bit. She leaves him in a pile of insecurity and bloated self delusion. It is hard to believe that this convincing, evil, cut to the quick senation is the same woman who once played Charlene just as convincingly.

Ja'dore!

GREAT QUOTES BY GREAT LADIES

2009-03-26T19:26:00.006-05:00

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.

-Eleanor Roosevelt

Inside me lives a skinny woman crying to get out. But I can usually shut her up with cookies.

- unknown

The hardest years in life are those between ten and seventy.
-Helen Hayes (at 73)

I refuse to think of them as chin hairs. I think of them as stray eyebrows.

-Janette Barber

Things are going to get a lot worse before they get worse.

-Lily Tomlin

A male gynecologist is like an auto mechanic who never owned a car.

-Carrie Snow

Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you cry with your girlfriends.

-Laurie Kuslansky

My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first is hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint.

-Erma Bombeck

Old age ain't no place for sissies.

-Bette Davis

A man's got to do what a man's got to do. A woman must do what he can't.

-Rhonda Hansome

The phrase "working mother" is redundant.

-Jane Sellman

Every time I close the door on reality, it comes in through the windows.

-Jennifer Unlimited

Thirty-five is when you finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart.

-Caryn Leschen

I try to take one day at a time----but sometimes several days attack me at once.

-Jennifer Unlimited

If you can't be a good example -- then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.

-Catherine

When I was young, I was put in a school for retarded kids for two years before they realized I actually had a hearing loss. And they called ME slow!

-Kathy Buckley

I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb -- and I'm also not blonde.

-Dolly Parton

If high heels were so wonderful, men would still be wearing them.

-Sue Grafton

I'm not going to vacuum 'til Sears makes one you can ride on.

-Roseanne Barr

When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country.

-Elayne Boosler

In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.

-Margaret Thatcher

I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man, I keep his house.

-Zsa Zsa Gabor

Conservation International

2009-03-26T08:56:00.011-05:00

the reason i love this charity is because it is the opposite of our idea of charity as a world. this is successful because it is an exchange of knowledge and needs. this is the future of charity and volunteering worldwide. we cannot just dump money or resources into places without giving the knowledge to allow these people to eventually be successful for them selves without our assistance.

“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”—Author unknown

Too often humankind sacrifices the natural world for short-term gain.

But in my work with Conservation International in the field in Cambodia — I’ve found that communities will embrace conservation when they can understand its importance to human health and benefit from its economic value.

Until people can experience these benefits, the incredible species, habitats, and landscapes we are working so hard to protect will remain under threat.

Today I’d like to give you an inside look into my work and encourage you to make a gift of support to Conservation International.

To help make conservation a community-based choice, I work with community members to set up Conservation Agreements — which provide concrete benefits to the community in exchange for effective commitments to protect their local resources.

Our Work in Cambodia

The Cardamom Mountains in southwest Cambodia are part of the largest intact forest stretch in Southeast Asia, and support many threatened and endangered species including the critically endangered Siamese Crocodile and endangered Asian Arowana (dragon fish).

Communities living in and on the edges of the Central Cardamom Protected Forest (CCPF) have relied on slash and burn agriculture, which destroys habitat. They have also supplemented their income and food sources by hunting and trading animals including tigers and sun bears.

One of their main sources of protein is fish but their fishing nets result in by-catch of the Siamese crocodile, the most threatened crocodilian in the world - there are only 200 left.

In 2006, CI reached out to the Chumnoab and Thmar Dan Pov communities — in an effort to protect the rich biodiversity there. So far, we have achieved amazing results. These two communities told us they needed more rice for food, additional income opportunities, and teachers who stay in their school year-round to educate their children.

In exchange for specific conservation commitments such as stopping deforestation and controlling hunting, we provide per diem, equipment and training for patrolling their forests, crocodile sanctuary and dragon fish pools. In our first agreement in 2006, we supplied 10 buffalos and plowed 25 hectares with a tractor to restore old paddy rice fields. We also provided a salary for 3 teachers.

Two years later, the Chumnoab and Thmar Dan Pov communities are engaged and supportive of conservation. They have increased rice production four-fold. They have teachers in the school year-round. In return, they have helped to protect 40,000 hectares of forest and have earned income for their work patrolling these areas. They no longer fish around crocodile nesting and dragon fish pool areas, which has contributed to a significant increase in the number of Siamese Crocodiles hatched and boosted dragon fish population.

Even more significantly, CI has built on the successes of these agreements and expanded conservation agreements to 4 other communities in and around the CCPF, so that we are now effectively protecting 150,000 hectares of tropical forest, and improving the lives of people who live in these communities.

Your support today will help CI pioneer conservation programs like these agreements that help benefit people and protect the natural world.

I’ve seen the tangible conservation successes we can achieve when communities benefit from conservation first hand. It is inspiring to be a part of a new era of conservation one where it is every person’s responsibility to protect the Earth’s services for the good of generations to come and benefits are equitably distributed.

I hope we can count on your continued support.

Sincerely,

Bunra Seng
Cambodia Country Director

Bunra Seng
Our Faces of Conservation series shows CI working on the ground to achieve breakthroughs in conservation for the benefit of people, everywhere.

Make a gift to support our work.

© 2009 Conservation International Conservation International's mission is to conserve the Earth's living heritage, our global biodiversity, and to demonstrate that human societies are able to live harmoniously with nature. Please visit http://www.conservation.org/ to learn more.

2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22202 Telephone: (703) 341-2400
Toll-free (within the US): 1(800) 406-2306

Afghan government must take firm action to protect women human rights defenders

2009-03-25T17:48:00.002-05:00

6 March 2009

Afghan government must take firm action to protect women human rights defenders

“I am receiving death threats and there was an attempt to kidnap my nine-year old son…The people who were threatening me were clearly saying that I should close the shelter for women at risk and if I don’t I will see the circumstances.” - Shahla, a women’s human rights defender who runs a shelter for women at risk of domestic and sexual violence and forced marriage.

The October 2001 US-led international intervention to oust the oppressive Taleban regime was accompanied by a pledge by the Afghan government to protect women’s human rights and promote gender equity in Afghanistan, but eight years on the condition of Afghan women remains bleak as Shahla’s predicament testifies.

There have been some advances in respect for women’s rights since the fall of the Taleban, notably through the establishment of the Ministry for Women’s affairs, a constitution that grants women equal status to men, improved access to education and representation of women in parliament. But Afghan women and girls still face endemic violence, including domestic violence, abduction and rape by armed individuals, trafficking, forced marriages, including ever younger child marriages, and being traded in settlement of disputes and debts.

A small number of brave women human rights defenders dare challenge the status of women and promote human rights through a variety of activities such as reporting abuses by local warlords, running safe houses, raising awareness of child and forced marriages and providing education programmes and family planning services.

These courageous women frequently face intimidation and attacks, particularly by powerful elements in society, some of them members of the government, others allied with the Taleban and other anti-government forces. In some cases, these women even suffer attacks from their family members who may be politically opposed or embarrassed by their outspokenness. In many instances women human rights defenders have faced death threats and kidnapping attempts against themselves and their families, as well as physical attacks, including acid attacks. Some have fled the country while others have been killed for raising their voice.

In 2007, Zakia Zaki, director of Radio Peace in Parwan province and known to be vocal against warlords, was shot dead while sleeping aside her two young sons. Zaki had previously received several death threats after criticising local warlords and the Taleban. No one to date has been brought to justice for this terrible crime.

Laila, a human rights defender working on justice for victims of war crimes told Amnesty International: "Since 2007, I have been under systematic pressure by unknown people who were calling me, sending me emails, following me and threatening to kill me. During the first six months of 2008, there were at least two kidnapping attempts on my children on their way home from school."

A lack of political will, together with discrimination against women in both the formal and informal justice systems, reinforces a climate of impunity and entrenches cultural attitudes and abusive practices that repress women’s rights. The police, the courts and local jirgas (tribal councils) seldom address women’s complaints and perpetrators are rarely brought to justice for attacking women or violating their rights.

Although Afghanistan has signed the Convention on All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and its Constitution guarantees equal rights for women and men, the government – along with the international community that provides some 90% of Afghanistan’s income for public spending – has failed to ensure that the human rights of all Afghan women and girls are respected, protected and fulfilled.

As a genuine step to advance the status of Afghan women, the government must take immediate and effective measures to ensure that human rights defenders are able to play their vital role in promoting and protecting human rights in Afghanistan, without the fear of violence or intimidation.

To mark International Women's Day, take action to demand that women human rights defenders are properly protected in Afghanistan.

I Just LOVE the hell outta my kid . . .check out these funny moments

2009-02-27T17:23:00.005-06:00

Caught him in the tub - singing his heart out & chewing on toys he knows he is not supposed to be chewing on - this is his "you're letting me get away with this?" look!

These are his monkey ears - don't ask me they are an art project from library time when they were doing "Fuzzy Friends" Week - he loves these things - he tried to take a nap with them on today! He really gets into character when he is pretending and he doesn't like it when you break charecter or try to talk to him like he is Riley.

AND OF COURSE HERE IS HIS NEWEST HIT - NOSE HOLES!

Can You Disagree? well, maybe it'll make you think, at the very least . . .

2009-02-27T16:09:00.005-06:00

I DO NOT ENDORSE THIS GUY"S PRODUCTS OR ANYTHING - BUT I REALLY LOVE THE IDEA OF JUST REFUSING TO AGREE WITH ALL THE NEGATIVITY. . .SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE!! PEACE!

Do You Dare to Disagree?

Let’s start calling it the Economic Opportunity of the Century instead of the economic ‘crisis’.
If you just remember that when anything crashes, a phoenix arises, you can look forward to the birth rather than bemoan the death.

And especially of a system that has had its day and is now outworn, outdated and completely disenfranchises all of us. It’s built on air, for goodness’ sake! Did you know that the word ‘fiat,’ which is what our type of economy is, means ‘air’ in Italian? That’s what it was named for! Who wants to live on air?

Our economy was sold down the tubes years and years ago. We adopted a system built on the theory that debt is a good thing. Personally, I think it’s a good thing it’s coming to light how crippled it is, because now we can build a new way to play with our money. I say let the thing crash, pick up the pieces and make something better.

I’m always so interested to see what people agree to align with. We all hear about ‘movements’ and ‘conspiracies’ all the time, with high and low belief levels. But the reality of it is that there is no actual conspiracy of the Bad Guys–all there is is a huge agreement field.

We AGREE to call it the economic crisis. We all AGREE to freak out, worry and fret.
WHAT IF YOU JUST REFUSE TO AGREE ANYMORE?

What if you had a singular thought:

like, “I’m creating prosperity and joy in my life, no matter what.” If you keep that mindset, your reality will always BE prosperity and joy. And it will be ongoing, since you say you ‘are creating,’ rather than ‘I will have it.’

Happy Birth Day, Phoenix! I’m happy to be in the crowd of creators (all of us!) and I so look forward to what you will be like!

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P.S. Are you a creator or a reactor? If you want to keep creating instead of continually trying to keep up or put out fires, it’s imperative that you take hold of your thoughts, emotions and actions and keep them as squeaky clean as you can.

____________________________________________________________________

You know how to do that, right? With EFT, the Emotional Freedom Techniques, of course! If you don’t know that system, get it here for FREE: EFTinEveryHome.com. If you do know of it, you’ll want to check out WealthMaverickAudios.com.

December 16, 2008 Filed Under - IDYRadio Show -

The Human Side of The Wars In Iraq & Afganistan

2009-02-26T16:35:00.003-06:00

I am watching the Oprah show while I work taking customer service calls from home and she went to see the amputees at Walter Reed Hospital in D.C. and now she is interviewing a mom who lost her hand in the war.

I want to make this very clear, I am openly opposed to the war. Any war and most especially all wars within my lifetime and my child's lifetime.

But I also want to make most clear that I support our troops, those that sacrifice everything and anything and would go do it again. This is what tears me up inside about this war - these are my fellow humans, from my hometown and my country and they love this country as much as I do. I die on the inside that they willingly give themselves to protect our country when I so vehemently disagree with why there are dying. It makes me so angry to have this new generation of heros and soldiers who are moms! I just burn on the inside that these strong women and men could have been doing so much more for our country by being home and pursuing college, raising their kids and just living their lives happily.

Instead, we were lied to by a corrupt goverment and these amazing, wonderful people were slaughtered and will live scarred for the rest of their lives. And yes, some will be stronger, better people for their experiences but is this worth it?

It is my hope that the needless slaughter of our best and brightest men & women will never be in vain again. And as part of my pledge to these amazing heros, I will write letters to my congressional representatives and I will voice my opinion. I will seek justice against those that lied to us and our governing bodies and made this war happen because they selfishly wanted it. Because the contracts of huge companies they own made millions and millions and millions of dollars. I will vote! And I will assist President Obama in every way that I can, including volunteering so that my fellow country men & women will never again be torn apart, literally, by the irresponsibilty of our Leader(s).

I also want to echo Oprah's words when she said to all the soldiers everywhere, "We lift you up and we hold you in our prayers!" and I do, very truly appreciate each and everyone of you! Much love to you all. And to my sisters, you are warriors ladies and I find you a source of strength and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service to our country.

Going for it!

2009-02-25T11:17:00.003-06:00

so there are times in our lives when we must go for it, no matter the cost, no matter the embarassment, no matter the outcome! We must nut up and do everything necessary to achieve the specified goal.

I must be honest I rarely nut all the way up, I am always far too concerned about the embarassment and I always worry far too much about the outcome. In fact, most times I never even go for the goal because I am convinced I will not succeed before I even try. This is an awful habit, talking myself out of things before I try and it is the one quality about myself I just cannot stand. This is the one area of my life when I let my fear win.

Well, NO MORE!!!!

I am brave and strong. I have nothing to be afraid of, who cares if I fail a few times, I mean why should I not even try. Great things are not ever achieved if one does not try!! I am going for it full force from now on. I am spending today preparing my first "Go For It!".

I have tried out for the biggest loser before but I did not follow up. This time I have got my video together and I mixing it today. Tonite I will put it on DVD and tomorrow I will mail it. Then on Saturday, I will go get in line way early and once again, interview to be on the show!

Wish Me Luck!!

In words and deeds . . .what are your words? What are your deeds?

2009-02-25T00:16:00.007-06:00

In words and deeds we showing the world that a new era of engagement has begun!

Talking about YouTube - US President Barack Obama 2/24/09 Address To Joint Session of Congress L...

Of course, I love Prez. Barack Obama. I am a bleeding heart liberal all the way. I want the field levelled so everyone has a chance to play. i do want to include everyone, I do believe there is enough for us all and I do not believe we need to fight for what is ours but rather that our universe will rise up to meet us. That there is truly enough for us all. We do not need to step on one another on the way to the top, whatever your personal top might be.

He is an amazing speaker but the reason it resonates with people, all people and people who do not like him or his politics, is because it resonates with you as a person on a human level. In fact even those greedy old bankers who sold their souls to the devil decades ago no matter how you try to deny yourself as a person and put money in front of everything eventually the truth will rise up to meet you and your human nature will overwhelm the greed and you will see! There is no question about this, it will occur, it may be the last breath you draw when you realize the money does not go with you and that it is our actions towards others that fill us up as people and if all you did was step on other people and rob them of their money, their life, their health for your own gains then you did not live at all.

I embrace my bleeding heart and I am happy to be a champion of the underdog, the underserved and those the FatCats forgot long ago. I adore the truth which comes out of this man's mouth and I love the transparency he is bringing to my goverment, it has always baffled me that my parents generation trusted the goverment so much and thought my generation was conspiracy nuts because of our realizations of corruption, manipulation, greed, lobbying and entire presidential camps being bought and sold. It is nice to see that even the older generations of our country have come to see that we must know what is going on in our goverment and that WE MUST stand up and take them to task on how they spend our money.

And thank gawd most of all for the focus on our education because this has gotten to the point of antiquation. We are literally a generation of antiques. I feared bringing my son into this world with the schools in my country falling apart and people graduating because they can play sports - idiots who can throw balls - what will they contibute to our world?

I adore that Obama is offering services for those who are responsible and willing to volunteer. As a reciepent of state aid, in the form of food stamps and medicare. This has been the most frustrating thing I have ever gone through and the most degrading. I abhore the state offices and the horrendous attitudes of those who are supposed to be of assistance to me. I am more than willing to volunteer both to obtain my aid and college funding but also to assist in reforming the antiquated system.

2009-02-24T01:32:00.007-06:00

2:30am tues . . .

still getting used to trying to write every day but i am very stoked about this blog and i have some good ideas for the future.

I already creating my first BLISS vs INSANITY video and I have my first Friends making Bliss and the first Bliss List will be up tomorrow as well(well technically later today)!

The upcoming Friend Making Bliss is:

The Fireplace Girl
thefireplacegirl@aol.com
myspace.com/dafirplacegirl
myspace.com/elegant_reflections_USA

HERE'S A LITTLE PREVIEW TO TEASE YOU

Friends: watching myself evolve thru my choice of friends

2009-02-21T15:17:00.004-06:00

So as I change and grow I have cycled thru many, many friends in my life, groups of friends, individuals and even amazing places have been some of my best friends. I am that kind of person, I am someone who has always had a "best" friend.

Currently and for the first time in my life I do not have a best friend. It has been a tough adjustment for me, especially since the crumbling of my last "best" friend and I's relationship was so painful and filled with lies.

So I have been processing, why do I feel I need a best friend? I mean I don't really need a best friend and I do have wonderful friends, tons of them though sadly most of them do not live close to me at this time. I need a best friend so I have someone to tell about all the amazing things Riley is doing, to talk with about my mom and all her antics, to chit chat with about nothing at all, my dreams, my goals, my desires this is, after all, the nature of friendship especially between women. And I, being an extremely insecure person, sometimes need my strength to be bolistered by another person.

It has been almost six months now since I lost my best friend and I have written her a million letters in my mind but not put anything to paper just yet. I want to speak to her with love but I am so angry with her it seems I cannot even find the love within me that I once felt for her. I am beginning to understand where the love goes in long term relationships.

Through all of these months I have slowly started to see that I do have a best friend, in fact, two. Myself and Riley. I have never really been my own best friend, I have always poured myself into other people and for the first time in my life I actually do need to put myself first because my lack of self love has lead me to an unhealthly physical place in my life. So my life has yet again forced into a lesson I just refused to learn on my own.

I gotta be my own best friend before anyone else really can be.

And Riley, my little man he tells me all the time I am his best friend and I tell him he is mine but I don't think I meant it until recently. Since I was forced to think about it seriously I realized he is my best friend. His opinion matters more to me than anyone else's and he is the most fun person I know. I would rather spend time with him than anyone else and should I ever actaually meet someone cool to date it will be what he thinks of them that tells me if they will a permanent part of our lives or not.

Now I know parents are not supposed to be kids friends and we are supposed to be "parents" and no, I don't discuss inappropriate things with Riley and no, I will never party with him and his buddies, I am not Deena Lohan. But why can't he be my best friend? He is a better friend to me than I am to myself and he teaches me new things about myself every single day.