I was very confused today to be confronted with one headline that said "Bush Says US Not Heading For Recession" only to then have a headline like this "Economy Slows to Near Crawl", right underneath it. Now, I will fess up. I am no Bush fan, never have been. But come on man! Do you really think that because you are the President and you say something, that we believe it is true? Just how stupid do you think the American public is? Not all of us are C students you know.
Anyone who does not think we are hitting a recesssion is fooling themselves, we are in it people! Writing is on the wall, if you can open your eyes to see it. The money that they are throwing at us to stimulate the economy (yeah, thank you for adding another $100+ billion to our national debt you wienie!), will be a short term fix at best. I predict that within a few weeks of us getting that money, the price of gas will rise dramatically. So, in the end who really gets the money? The oil companies, and who are they friends with? Yeah, thought so. Frankly, November could not get here soon enough for me. We will be lucky to make it through to then without getting involved in another war (can anyone say Iran?).
I am getting on the soap box now before I blow a fuse.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Project Say Something
It was Shane's turn this week to come up with the question, and let's just say he is in a dark place. The question "This week I would like us each to prepare a 60-minute playlist of the music you would like played at your own funeral. Share your list of songs and tell us why you picked the songs you did."
The interesting thing about this is that I have already done this. (Who is the one in a dark place you ask?) I started thinking about this when I had to make funeral arrangements for two people that I loved dearly, something that is never easy but that you always want done right. To spare friends/family from having to deal with it for me, I made the arrangements myself. I am sure some would call this morbid, I call it realistic. Face it, you are going to die...at some point, you don't know when or how. Better be prepared and do one final thing for those that love you. So welcome, to my funeral.
Intro~ Classical Selections
Clair De Lune by Debussy - One of my all time favorite pieces.
Piano Concerto #21 by Mozart - Mozart is my favorite composer, this is one of the favorite pieces and most appropriate.
Hymn
In the Garden - In the top 3 of my favorite Hymns, it speaks to me on so many levels and brings me comfort every time I hear it.
Beatle Selection
In My Life - Well it is the Beatles so that is a given. But, this is really how I view it all, my life and what every person or experience has brought me.
Irish Selection
When Irish Eyes are Smiling - I am so proud of my Irish heritage and by including this I am getting the "wake" feeling that is important to me.
Hymn
Morning Has Broken - This was one of my grandmother's favorite hymns and I always loved it.
Video Montage Tribute
Photograph by Ringo Starr. (This is pictures of me, my kids, husband, family together...through my whole life set to the song Photograph. I have this done already and actually update it anytime I get a new picture that I like and want to add.) To know why it is included you really have to listen to it.
Irish Selection
Will You Go Lassie Go - Another Irish ditty. I like it because it is not overly sad and it talks of going home to Ireland.
She Was the Prize by Gaelic Storm - I really can not tell you why this song is included. Ok, can't is the wrong word, I won't tell you.
Beatle Selection
Golden Slumbers - "Golden Slumbers fill your eyes/smiles await you when you rise/sleep pretty darling do not cry/for I will sing a lullaby". What more is there to say?
Final Hymn
Amazing Grace - accompanied by bagpipes. Amazing Grace is my all time favorite hymn, and is traditionally played at funerals. The bagpipes are something I just love, and incorporate the Irish heritage again.
Recessional
Time to Say Goodbye - Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocielli. If you have not heard this, then maybe you live on another planet or this is just not your kind of music. Personally I love this song, it sinks into my bones and settles there the entire time I listen to it. It has moved me to tears before, both from joy and loss.
I am not sure if that is 60 minutes worth of music, but then, I would not expect the funeral to even last that long really. I will say that I want a huge wake after the funeral is over with friends and family gathering at someone's house, drinking, eating, laughing, reminiscing, etc. I feel strongly that it should be a celebration of life, there are enough days filled with grief.
I am going to take Shane's question one step further and say that I would like to be cremated. (I despise the open casket, I understand why people do it, but personally I can not stand it). The idea of being buried seems pointless to me. I would like some of my ashes buried in the plot I have next to my son, some buried with my husband, some dumped in the mountains, some dumped on the Green River, and some dumped in Ireland.
So, if you are in town and still alive, please do come. It will not be the traditional funeral, but it will be worth it, and hey, the beer will be cold.
The interesting thing about this is that I have already done this. (Who is the one in a dark place you ask?) I started thinking about this when I had to make funeral arrangements for two people that I loved dearly, something that is never easy but that you always want done right. To spare friends/family from having to deal with it for me, I made the arrangements myself. I am sure some would call this morbid, I call it realistic. Face it, you are going to die...at some point, you don't know when or how. Better be prepared and do one final thing for those that love you. So welcome, to my funeral.
Intro~ Classical Selections
Clair De Lune by Debussy - One of my all time favorite pieces.
Piano Concerto #21 by Mozart - Mozart is my favorite composer, this is one of the favorite pieces and most appropriate.
Hymn
In the Garden - In the top 3 of my favorite Hymns, it speaks to me on so many levels and brings me comfort every time I hear it.
Beatle Selection
In My Life - Well it is the Beatles so that is a given. But, this is really how I view it all, my life and what every person or experience has brought me.
Irish Selection
When Irish Eyes are Smiling - I am so proud of my Irish heritage and by including this I am getting the "wake" feeling that is important to me.
Hymn
Morning Has Broken - This was one of my grandmother's favorite hymns and I always loved it.
Video Montage Tribute
Photograph by Ringo Starr. (This is pictures of me, my kids, husband, family together...through my whole life set to the song Photograph. I have this done already and actually update it anytime I get a new picture that I like and want to add.) To know why it is included you really have to listen to it.
Irish Selection
Will You Go Lassie Go - Another Irish ditty. I like it because it is not overly sad and it talks of going home to Ireland.
She Was the Prize by Gaelic Storm - I really can not tell you why this song is included. Ok, can't is the wrong word, I won't tell you.
Beatle Selection
Golden Slumbers - "Golden Slumbers fill your eyes/smiles await you when you rise/sleep pretty darling do not cry/for I will sing a lullaby". What more is there to say?
Final Hymn
Amazing Grace - accompanied by bagpipes. Amazing Grace is my all time favorite hymn, and is traditionally played at funerals. The bagpipes are something I just love, and incorporate the Irish heritage again.
Recessional
Time to Say Goodbye - Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocielli. If you have not heard this, then maybe you live on another planet or this is just not your kind of music. Personally I love this song, it sinks into my bones and settles there the entire time I listen to it. It has moved me to tears before, both from joy and loss.
I am not sure if that is 60 minutes worth of music, but then, I would not expect the funeral to even last that long really. I will say that I want a huge wake after the funeral is over with friends and family gathering at someone's house, drinking, eating, laughing, reminiscing, etc. I feel strongly that it should be a celebration of life, there are enough days filled with grief.
I am going to take Shane's question one step further and say that I would like to be cremated. (I despise the open casket, I understand why people do it, but personally I can not stand it). The idea of being buried seems pointless to me. I would like some of my ashes buried in the plot I have next to my son, some buried with my husband, some dumped in the mountains, some dumped on the Green River, and some dumped in Ireland.
So, if you are in town and still alive, please do come. It will not be the traditional funeral, but it will be worth it, and hey, the beer will be cold.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Rant
Tonight's blog brought to you by the letter Q and the number 4 and all the random things that irritate me in my heightened hormonal state.
~ People on cell phones. Don't get me wrong, feel free to use your precious cell phone for your important (or not) business. However, please refrain from doing it while driving near me, walking in the grocery store, eating out with your family or friends. I have been just as guilty of the rest of you of doing these things, but if you are ramming your shopping cart into people or shelves because you can not talk and walk at the same time..you have a serious problem.
~ People who decide that it is their right to talk to you about being pregnant (especially touch you). With my first 2 babies I worked around a lot of people, so this was multiplied by a few hundred and it really got on my nerves. I think the basic rule of this is ask one or two questions, if the woman wants to tell more she will, if she doesn't you should change the subject. It irritates me that people who you hardly know want to ask all kinds of questions, none of which are really their business. What is particularly upsetting is when they have asked the questions before and are now asking again. Uh yeah, you give a shit. I know, "be happy that people are interested, blah, blah". My thoughts - you didn't want to talk to me about my losing a child, when I needed to talk most...don't attempt to make up for it now. ( I will ask for forgiveness for this bad attitude later...for now I am just irritated).
~ Telemarketers. I know, they have to make a living. But come on, most of them these days are recorded (don't you love the "don't hang up" statement at the beginning?), and those that aren't have really gotten pushy. I just try to tell them no thanks or not interested and then hang up. My husband has a great tactic, he will tell them that he charges $100 an hour and then ask who will be paying that. Then he just keeps going until they hang up. It is pretty funny I think.
~ People on cell phones. Don't get me wrong, feel free to use your precious cell phone for your important (or not) business. However, please refrain from doing it while driving near me, walking in the grocery store, eating out with your family or friends. I have been just as guilty of the rest of you of doing these things, but if you are ramming your shopping cart into people or shelves because you can not talk and walk at the same time..you have a serious problem.
~ People who decide that it is their right to talk to you about being pregnant (especially touch you). With my first 2 babies I worked around a lot of people, so this was multiplied by a few hundred and it really got on my nerves. I think the basic rule of this is ask one or two questions, if the woman wants to tell more she will, if she doesn't you should change the subject. It irritates me that people who you hardly know want to ask all kinds of questions, none of which are really their business. What is particularly upsetting is when they have asked the questions before and are now asking again. Uh yeah, you give a shit. I know, "be happy that people are interested, blah, blah". My thoughts - you didn't want to talk to me about my losing a child, when I needed to talk most...don't attempt to make up for it now. ( I will ask for forgiveness for this bad attitude later...for now I am just irritated).
~ Telemarketers. I know, they have to make a living. But come on, most of them these days are recorded (don't you love the "don't hang up" statement at the beginning?), and those that aren't have really gotten pushy. I just try to tell them no thanks or not interested and then hang up. My husband has a great tactic, he will tell them that he charges $100 an hour and then ask who will be paying that. Then he just keeps going until they hang up. It is pretty funny I think.
Lindsay Lohan
This was supposed to be posted on the 20th, but I am a little slow this week. Here it is now...my rant~
OK, so I am just a little pissed off today that a person like Lindsay Lohan thinks she is worthy of posing nude to mimic Marilyn Monroe. First off, she is about 60 - 70 pounds to thin. Marilyn wore a dress size of 12 - 14 when she died, Lohan is about a 4. To me that is just offensive that they need some skinny twerp to pose as her, and frankly it looks unattractive. I realize that I prefer the real Marilyn not just because of who she was and her soul, but also because she was curvy. Lindsay looks like she needs a double cheeseburger. Secondly, the only thing they have in common is the inability to control their addictions in public. I personally liked it when Anna Nicole Smith (another f-d up celebrity) posed as her in the Guess? ads...way sexier than Lindsay.
To me this perpetuates the low self image that women have and continue to have of themselves. The average models size is the same as about 2% of the total population, yet it is what young girls (and some grown women) believe that they have to strive for. I can tell you the average women is a size 10 - 12, if you don't believe me try to buy clothes that size and see how many are on the rack compared to a size 2. I am not saying that women should just be obese and not take care of themselves, being healthy is totally where it is at. However, as the parent of a daughter(s) the image that is out there as a model for my girls just scares me to death.
Utah has the highest number of plastic surgeries (mainly breast augmentation) and we also have the highest prescriptions for anti-depressants....coincidence? I don't think so. We are also gaining on the number 1 spot for meth use among women...wow, I am so proud.
Did you know that many years ago a study was done of men from hundreds of different cultures and they were all shown a silhouette of womens body types, no faces or anything. Overwhelmingly they all picked a curvy women, real hourglass figure type women. Think of the pictures from the Renaissance period for what that means. Why did they pick that? Because it is better for fertility and being a life partner, helping out, sturdy, etc.
So what am I saying? I guess I am saying that I am disgusted with what it seems the majority of people value as beautiful. I am sick of seeing it in the magazines, on the newstands, on TV as if it were something great. I am sick of people killing themselves with surgery, diets, etc. to attain some weight...only to then be miserable because their life is still not perfect. Yeah, no shit. Fix yourself first on the inside.
My new hero is Leonard Nimoy for creating a book like this because he is just as disgusted as I am. Kudos to Mr. Spock! http://www.rmichelson.com/Artist_Pages/Nimoy/pages/MaxBeaut.htm
OK, so I am just a little pissed off today that a person like Lindsay Lohan thinks she is worthy of posing nude to mimic Marilyn Monroe. First off, she is about 60 - 70 pounds to thin. Marilyn wore a dress size of 12 - 14 when she died, Lohan is about a 4. To me that is just offensive that they need some skinny twerp to pose as her, and frankly it looks unattractive. I realize that I prefer the real Marilyn not just because of who she was and her soul, but also because she was curvy. Lindsay looks like she needs a double cheeseburger. Secondly, the only thing they have in common is the inability to control their addictions in public. I personally liked it when Anna Nicole Smith (another f-d up celebrity) posed as her in the Guess? ads...way sexier than Lindsay.
To me this perpetuates the low self image that women have and continue to have of themselves. The average models size is the same as about 2% of the total population, yet it is what young girls (and some grown women) believe that they have to strive for. I can tell you the average women is a size 10 - 12, if you don't believe me try to buy clothes that size and see how many are on the rack compared to a size 2. I am not saying that women should just be obese and not take care of themselves, being healthy is totally where it is at. However, as the parent of a daughter(s) the image that is out there as a model for my girls just scares me to death.
Utah has the highest number of plastic surgeries (mainly breast augmentation) and we also have the highest prescriptions for anti-depressants....coincidence? I don't think so. We are also gaining on the number 1 spot for meth use among women...wow, I am so proud.
Did you know that many years ago a study was done of men from hundreds of different cultures and they were all shown a silhouette of womens body types, no faces or anything. Overwhelmingly they all picked a curvy women, real hourglass figure type women. Think of the pictures from the Renaissance period for what that means. Why did they pick that? Because it is better for fertility and being a life partner, helping out, sturdy, etc.
So what am I saying? I guess I am saying that I am disgusted with what it seems the majority of people value as beautiful. I am sick of seeing it in the magazines, on the newstands, on TV as if it were something great. I am sick of people killing themselves with surgery, diets, etc. to attain some weight...only to then be miserable because their life is still not perfect. Yeah, no shit. Fix yourself first on the inside.
My new hero is Leonard Nimoy for creating a book like this because he is just as disgusted as I am. Kudos to Mr. Spock! http://www.rmichelson.com/Artist_Pages/Nimoy/pages/MaxBeaut.htm
Monday, February 18, 2008
Project Say Something
This weeks question comes from our newest blogger Monica (she of the 9 inch cankales).
Other than having/raising children, what is one thing you can say you have done (or are doing) that will make the world a better place?
I think that the one thing that I am doing that will hopefully make the world a better place is running the non-profit Dylan's Friends/FightSMA Utah. Considering it was inspired by my son, I guess that I view having my children as the best thing in my life. Losing a child to a horrific disease is in no way an easy thing and is something that I would not wish on my worst enemy. However, I looked at the situation and decided that I had a choice. I could either just let his death happen and count it as a life experience, or I could do something positive with it. I decided to do something positive. So I joined the international group FightSMA, started my own chapter, and have raised over $6,000 for research in just my first year and a half. I am proud of that for sure, but I am more proud of being able to talk about it day after day with total strangers and educate them about the disease. Most people that I talked to had never heard of it, which is exactly how my husband and I felt when we were given the diagnosis. I just don't feel that anyone else should have to go through this. I can only hope that in my lifetime a cure can be found and in some way, no matter how small, I hope that we contribute to that. Below is a picture of my son and the reason that I do what I do.
Other than having/raising children, what is one thing you can say you have done (or are doing) that will make the world a better place?
I think that the one thing that I am doing that will hopefully make the world a better place is running the non-profit Dylan's Friends/FightSMA Utah. Considering it was inspired by my son, I guess that I view having my children as the best thing in my life. Losing a child to a horrific disease is in no way an easy thing and is something that I would not wish on my worst enemy. However, I looked at the situation and decided that I had a choice. I could either just let his death happen and count it as a life experience, or I could do something positive with it. I decided to do something positive. So I joined the international group FightSMA, started my own chapter, and have raised over $6,000 for research in just my first year and a half. I am proud of that for sure, but I am more proud of being able to talk about it day after day with total strangers and educate them about the disease. Most people that I talked to had never heard of it, which is exactly how my husband and I felt when we were given the diagnosis. I just don't feel that anyone else should have to go through this. I can only hope that in my lifetime a cure can be found and in some way, no matter how small, I hope that we contribute to that. Below is a picture of my son and the reason that I do what I do.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Not Saved by Zero
I have three classes to go before I earn my degree in April (Hallelujah)! However, there is one obstacle in my way...my eBusiness class. Now, don't get me wrong, it is a pretty interesting class and I am enjoying it about as much as stale potato chips, the problem is my professor (hence forth to be known as Mr. stick up his ass or Mr. SUHA for short). Normally professors put out a syllabus with expectations knowing that if you fail to meet part of them, you will be docked points. Totally acceptable and completely understandable. Mr. SUHA expects you to finish every single thing that he is asking and if you miss one it is a zero for the entire weeks worth of work....for everything. Never mind that you completed 99% of it! So now I am in the happy pursuit of going overboard so that he has no reason to fail me. I did address it with him in my charming fashion, not expecting anything to come of it. My expectations were met.
In the meantime, my other class is just delightful and the professor is a nice enough guy. (Did I mention I am taking two full loaded classes at once and working full time and taking care of a 6 year old and a husband and creating life damn'it?) Life is fun. Yippee.
In the meantime, my other class is just delightful and the professor is a nice enough guy. (Did I mention I am taking two full loaded classes at once and working full time and taking care of a 6 year old and a husband and creating life damn'it?) Life is fun. Yippee.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Project Say Something
What is one thing that you have and should throw away, but can't? Why or Why not?
I have so many things that I should throw away or get rid of, but can not bring myself to that narrowing this down is actually quite difficult. I am not a pack rat at all really, I am the first person to throw anything away that I think is junk, I go through my closets twice a year and donate clothes to charity, I make my daughter clean out her toys several times a year and donate as well. However, I am hopelessly addicted to things that have sentimental value, namely old cards or letters from friends, family, old boyfriends, my husband. I do not even read through them that often and have them stored away in a box, yet I just do not want to let them go. Part of it is the affirmation of how much people care for me I guess. Another part may be that I know I will not get that card again. Mainly it is because it brings me back to the moment, it reminds me of good (or bad) times. I thought about it and figured out that I have cards going back to when I was about thirteen or so. Which is a lot of crap folks.
I have so many things that I should throw away or get rid of, but can not bring myself to that narrowing this down is actually quite difficult. I am not a pack rat at all really, I am the first person to throw anything away that I think is junk, I go through my closets twice a year and donate clothes to charity, I make my daughter clean out her toys several times a year and donate as well. However, I am hopelessly addicted to things that have sentimental value, namely old cards or letters from friends, family, old boyfriends, my husband. I do not even read through them that often and have them stored away in a box, yet I just do not want to let them go. Part of it is the affirmation of how much people care for me I guess. Another part may be that I know I will not get that card again. Mainly it is because it brings me back to the moment, it reminds me of good (or bad) times. I thought about it and figured out that I have cards going back to when I was about thirteen or so. Which is a lot of crap folks.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Grow Up
Do you ever feel like you are still in high school even though you are all grown up? Why is it that some people have the need for drama in their lives? I keep wondering why it is necessary for people who are well into their late thirties to decide that they need a big group of friends to go party with, that they have to date, create gossip, and consistently act/dress/behave as if they are 18. It is a breed of person I will never understand. I mean, I get the whole "you are divorced/newly single/newly married" and want to still be crazy thing, but then at the same time they worked so hard to find the man/woman to marry and settle down with. What the hell?
Personally, I see no need for the drama, the tears, the drunken nights of not remembering what I did and if anyone took pictures. Maybe it is so they have something to talk about. Maybe it is that there is a deep desire to feel young, needed, wanted. Maybe it is an extreme lack of confidence in themselves. Maybe it is just a lack of their wanting to grow up. Whatever it is a lack of, entertainment as an observer is not lacking.
Personally, I see no need for the drama, the tears, the drunken nights of not remembering what I did and if anyone took pictures. Maybe it is so they have something to talk about. Maybe it is that there is a deep desire to feel young, needed, wanted. Maybe it is an extreme lack of confidence in themselves. Maybe it is just a lack of their wanting to grow up. Whatever it is a lack of, entertainment as an observer is not lacking.
Project Say Something - Childhood Neighborhood
I think that I had the quaint all American neighborhood growing up. It was a nice tree lined street in Roy where I could ride my bike, knew all my neighbors, and had lots of friends to play with in the neighborhood. My best friend lived across the street and down a few doors, I could walk to elementary, Jr. High, and High School. We lived in the bottom of the "l" and it was perfect for playing baseball in front of my house. I used to sneak out and have water fights in the street light in front of my house, and our house was always the one where all the kids came to hang out. My mom still lives there and every time I drive to her house it is still like coming home to me and regressing to my childhood. It is completely the type of place I would like my daughters to grow up in.
Amy
Amy
Thursday, February 7, 2008
First Blog
Wow, I swore I would never do this...shows you what I know. The whole idea of having a blog and putting my thoughts, opinions, etc. out there for the whole world to see is a little much for me. I will, therefore, be private about my life at times and at others get myself in too much trouble for opening my big mouth!
So why did I decide to write a blog? I think because I have too much that I want to say, I want to communicate with my friends around the world without writing a million emails, and I always wanted to be one of the "cool" kids...NOT!
What can you expect out of my blog? The ravings of a mad woman sometimes, hopefully funny things the next, and finally things that do not make sense to anyone but me.
Enjoy, or don't....it really doesn't matter as it is all about me.
So why did I decide to write a blog? I think because I have too much that I want to say, I want to communicate with my friends around the world without writing a million emails, and I always wanted to be one of the "cool" kids...NOT!
What can you expect out of my blog? The ravings of a mad woman sometimes, hopefully funny things the next, and finally things that do not make sense to anyone but me.
Enjoy, or don't....it really doesn't matter as it is all about me.
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