I probably taste really good with milk. Dang, I’ve got to start making better choices. Cookies, chocolate and donuts are big on my list these days.
Archive for the ‘Choices’ Category
If you are what you eat…
Thursday, July 31st, 2008Offended
Friday, July 18th, 2008I can’t think of a more unproductive emotion than being offended. What does it accomplish? It seems to give words or actions the power to immobilize you. “I’m offended.” Okay? So? What does one’s chosen take on words or a situation mean to the rest of us. Why should we care? Talk about a conversation killer. Where do you go from there?
I can handle someone disagreeing with me. A differing point of view gives the person on the receiving end somewhere to go. There is no residual feeling that I now have the extra duty of changing the person’s mind, though I may choose to try if I wish. With someone being offended there is an implication of mistreatment, a wrong that must be righted. It sounds so one sided, as if it is solely the fault of whoever initiated the words or actions. The ‘offended’ bears no responsibility in the outcome.
Honestly, I don’t remember ever being truly offended by something. I’m not even sure I know what it feels like. I’ve been turned off, angered, or puzzled by the words and actions of others. There has never been a need to drop the ‘O’ word, however. Perhaps the day will come where I decide, because I believe it is a decision, to make other people more responsible than myself for how much a message affects me. I hope not though.
Are You Okay To Drive
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008Last weekend I overheard my neighbors asking a person who was leaving their home if he was “okay to drive.” From the giggles and loud banter, it wasn’t hard to guess alcohol had been a part of their day. Though asking if a person feels able to drive is better than nothing, it seems if one has the urge to pose the question the person on the receiving end probably shouldn’t be behind the wheel. It’s no secret judgment is compromised by alcohol. Of course, in situations where everyone has had a few, there really is no one with a clear head to make the right decisions. The person being asked isn’t of the mind to say he shouldn’t be behind the wheel. Those questioning his ability to drive aren’t of the mind to know when a “yes” really should be a “no.” It really reinforces the importance of electing at least one non-drinker for every occasion.
Stuck in the Middle
Friday, May 30th, 2008Our new neighborhood has impressive lawns. Most are landscaped to the nines. Our neighbors on either side of us both rely on a lawn service for weekly cuttings. They use the same company, actually. Every Tuesday their lawns are freshly trimmed with a machine that leaves their grass looking like it belongs on the fairway of an exclusive golf resort. This happens whether or not the grass really needs to be cut. As a result, our lawn ends up looking like the fairway rough. It is noticeably longer and lacks the fresh mowing lines that create the amazing linear patterns our neighbors have. We cut our own lawn with a push mower as needed. If the grass hasn’t grown much, it seems like a waste of time and energy (literally) to mow. We’d be doing it for the sake of having pretty lines on our lawn. So, it is fair to say we will likely be known as “that house with the meadow for a front yard” to our neighbors. Never mind our grass isn’t long enough to feed even one cow. Ooh, maybe we should really let it grow and invest in a little milker of our very own.
It’s Not What You Say…
Friday, May 30th, 2008“It’s not what you say, but how you say it.” We’ve all heard that before. So true when it comes to cable news channels these days. What is actually being said is lost on me because I’m so distracted by the ballooning lips of the female commentators and anchors. Don’t get me wrong. I have full lip envy just like many women. The Angelina Jolie’s of this world with their full-figured smackers are definitely blessed, in my opinion. There is something lacking and slightly freaky, however, when mini-mouths try to join the club. They are easy to spot. Their inexperience with large lips is highlighted by the decision to dress up those collagen pillows with heavy gloss and liner. Oh man! Coupled with the growing trend to whiten their teeth to a white Clorox can’t even achieve, the overall affect is so gripping I often rely on the commercials to break my trance.
I wonder how many women will seek out enhancement as more television personalities establish plumped pouters as the norm? I know I won’t. Or shall I say I can’t. I’m too cheap and we are doing what we can to watch our spending. There simply isn’t room in the budget to double or triple my lipstick/lip balm expenses.
Trash Islands
Friday, February 15th, 2008They say one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Well, according to the major news outlets today, many trash/treasure islands are forming in our oceans as a result of countries (especially the United Stated) creating dump sites under water. There is supposedly a large mass of trash somewhere between Hawaii and California.
The thought of our waste intentionally being deposited in our oceans makes me ill. First of all, what have the oceans done to us to deserve such treatment. There is no telling what harm all of that junk is having on the ocean’s inhabitants. Secondly, most of what Americans throw away is recyclable/reusable in some way. The day will come when we will be forced to mine our landfills for the resources we so carelessly disposed of. The ocean with its salt isn’t going to preserve those resources as well as dirt may.
It really is astounding how little thought we humans give to our planet’s finite resources. We consume without any regard for the future. We dispose without any concern of consequence. It’s not like the message isn’t out there. There are programs designed to educate citizens on how to protect and preserve. Recycling centers, pick-up programs and bins are more plentiful. Yet still, you will see people throw something recyclable in a trash can that is 10 steps away from a recycle bin. I don’t get it. Throwing away recyclable materials gives me the same feeling as throwing trash out my car window. How is it any different than littering in the grand scheme of things?
Do Not Deliver
Tuesday, January 29th, 2008A lawmaker in Maryland is attempting to create a “Do Not Deliver” registry for free newspapers. It would work the same way as the “Do Not Call” registry. People who do not wish to have these papers left at their doorstep could sign a registry to put a stop to unwanted deliveries. My name would be on that list the second the registry activates.
For those of you don’t live in metropolitan areas, this may not be a problem for you. In my neck of the woods we are forever getting free newspapers. This drives me insane. These papers tend to go right from my sidewalk to my recycling bin. Such a waste. Sadly, many of my neighbors’ papers never even get recycled. They pile up on lawns, curbs and in drainage ditches and slowly rot in their plastic sleeves. There is no reason to piddle natural resources away on papers that are not wanted and, therefore, not read. I get just as mad over this practice as I do junk mail.
Groups who are trying to stop this legislation from going through are arguing a registry of this nature would limit freedom of speech. What?!!! The real reason these newspapers toss their product to every doorstep possible is so they can claim high distribution numbers. Distribution numbers are what drive advertising rates. Papers with a ‘supposed’ reader base of 100,000 can charge advertisers more than a paper with a reader base of 10,000. This is about money, not freedom of speech. They would still be free to write whatever they wish. They would still be free to distribute their paper at no cost. The only thing they wouldn’t be free to do is toss their product on the doorstep of someone who has asked to be excluded.
I hope this legislation passes. The time has definitely come for people to start putting a stop to the squandering of our resources in the name of corporate dollars. Justifying the behavior with constitutional arguments just turns my stomach.
Two More Weeks
Monday, January 28th, 2008It is two more weeks until my State’s primary and I am actually feeling like my vote will mean something this time. For States that fall after Super Tuesday, so much is usually a foregone conclusion that the mentality is “why bother”. Both parties are running close contests this year. So far there doesn’t appear to be a clear winner on either side of the fence.
The record breaking voter turn-out is encouraging too. I firmly believe no one politician is going to be able to get America back on track. No matter who is elected, they will need the involvement of the American people to accomplish anything. The number of people participating in primaries is a sign Americans are starting to understand they need to insert themselves into the solution. I hope the trend continues beyond the voting booth and into their daily lives and habits.
Mystery Solved
Tuesday, January 15th, 2008I’ve been scratching my head over what seems to be a decline in the maturity of some of my peers. It’s silly things like snarky back-talk, references to popularity, name calling, foot stomping and generally rude behavior. The mystery to me was what the catalyst to this behavior could be. I don’t believe these individuals were always immature. What could cause a person to regress to their teenage years? Why do I often feel I am back in high school again? It hit me all of the sudden this morning.
You know how when people move to a new area they gradually pick up the local accent? My uncle grew up in Michigan and now speaks with a Kentucky drawl. Madonna also grew up in Michigan and now has a British accent. Accents aren’t the only thing to change. The language we choose can be altered by new places too. After 3 years in Texas, I would occasionally comment on something I was “fixin” to do.
Think about the above. As a result of the internet, more and more adults are spending huge amount of times with online social groups. Many groups (MySpace, Facebook) were originally created by younger people for younger people. Because of this, more adults are actually in environments where teen behavior plays a dominant role. Is it a huge leap some might eventually start talking and acting like teenagers? It seriously makes sense to me.
I confess I have a MySpace and Facebook account. I haven’t done anything with my Facebook account. In truth, I have no clue how it works. My MySpace account has been used to find old friends and post my blog. That’s really all I know how to do there too. Perhaps it is a good thing I’m clueless as to how some of this stuff works. A majority of my time is still spent with adults. I hope that makes me immune to acting like a teenager again any time soon.
Feel The Rain On Your Skin
Saturday, January 5th, 2008I love the lyrics to Natasha Bedingfield’s song “Feel The Rain On Your Skin.” I first heard it as the theme song to the television show “So You Think You Can Dance” last season. It is the kind of song that really wants to make you jump up and experience life. Here are the lyrics:
I am unwritten, can’t read my mind, I’m undefined
I’m just beginning, the pen’s in my hand, ending unplannedStaring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not findReaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your innovations
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwrittenOh, oh, oh
I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We’ve been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can’t live that wayStaring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not findReaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inner visions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book beginsFeel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwrittenStaring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not findReaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inner visions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book beginsFeel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwrittenOh, yeah, yeah
I just love how this song encourages you to open your mind to the paths you have in life, insert some courage and just go for it. It’s something I’m thinking about a great deal these days. The beginning of a new year tends to get the mind spinning about the future. Perhaps yesterday’s blog about “Crossing the Line” already tipped you off to that.