I admit, I did shed a tear or two listening to the inaugural address. I try to not be so enamored with the words, because they are only words, but sometimes they can be so powerful and so true. We will all admit (I think) that we as a country need a new direction, and the things that come out of that man's mouth make me really believe that's exactly where we are headed.
My favorite:
"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace."
I love that his speech writer is like a 27 year old kid. That's a lot of big talk for such a young man.
Play it again, Sam :)
Friday, January 23, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
OBAMA!
AH!
I got in trouble at work today for trying to watch his speech.
I love hearing the words, "Former President George W Bush."
But even more I love that the "-elect" has dropped from Obama's title.
Most of all I adore that, no matter your political affiliation or religious background or lifestyle. you can very plainly see that Obama has something that Americans haven't seen from a leader in a long, long time: the simple ability to inspire and excite the general public.
Almost 2 million people attended the inauguration today. It was below freezing.
To compare, George W. Bush's two inaugurations attracted 700,000 people. Total. Oh, and about 60,000 of them were protesting.
Chances I tear up when I find the Inauguration Address youTube later are good.
Here's to the next four years!
PS - I heart the new First Lady.
I got in trouble at work today for trying to watch his speech.
I love hearing the words, "Former President George W Bush."
But even more I love that the "-elect" has dropped from Obama's title.
Most of all I adore that, no matter your political affiliation or religious background or lifestyle. you can very plainly see that Obama has something that Americans haven't seen from a leader in a long, long time: the simple ability to inspire and excite the general public.
Almost 2 million people attended the inauguration today. It was below freezing.
To compare, George W. Bush's two inaugurations attracted 700,000 people. Total. Oh, and about 60,000 of them were protesting.
Chances I tear up when I find the Inauguration Address youTube later are good.
Here's to the next four years!
PS - I heart the new First Lady.
Friday, January 16, 2009
All Together Now: Awwww
Ah, childhood wisdom. This is adorable.
How to Decide Who to Marry: By Kids
Kids contemplate marriage.
How would you make your marriage work?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck. Ricky, age 10
How can a stranger tell if two people are married?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. Derrick, age 8
What do you think your mom and dad have in common?
Both don’t want any more kids.Lori, age 8
What do most people do on a date?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. Lynnette, age 8
On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. Martin, age 10
What would you do on a first date that was turning sour?
I’d run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns. Craig, age 9
When is it okay to kiss someone?
When they’re rich. Pam, age 7
The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn’t want to mess with that. Curt, age 7
The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It’s the right thing to do. Howard, age 8
What is the right age to get married?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. Camille, age 10
No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married. Freddie, age 6
Is it better to be single or married?
I don’t know which is better, but I’ll tell you one thing. I’m never going to have sex with my wife. I don’t want to be all grossed out. Theodore, age 8
It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. Anita, age 9
How do you decide whom to marry?
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. Alan, age 10
No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with. Kristen, age 10
How to Decide Who to Marry: By Kids
Kids contemplate marriage.
How would you make your marriage work?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck. Ricky, age 10
How can a stranger tell if two people are married?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. Derrick, age 8
What do you think your mom and dad have in common?
Both don’t want any more kids.Lori, age 8
What do most people do on a date?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. Lynnette, age 8
On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. Martin, age 10
What would you do on a first date that was turning sour?
I’d run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns. Craig, age 9
When is it okay to kiss someone?
When they’re rich. Pam, age 7
The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn’t want to mess with that. Curt, age 7
The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It’s the right thing to do. Howard, age 8
What is the right age to get married?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. Camille, age 10
No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married. Freddie, age 6
Is it better to be single or married?
I don’t know which is better, but I’ll tell you one thing. I’m never going to have sex with my wife. I don’t want to be all grossed out. Theodore, age 8
It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. Anita, age 9
How do you decide whom to marry?
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. Alan, age 10
No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with. Kristen, age 10
Monday, January 12, 2009
Am I On Your Google Reader?
Tonight is "one of THOSE nights"
Aye caramba.
Jeff leaves tomorrow for a land far, far away... Boston. I'm going to miss that kid so much. One of my favorite moments the last few weeks went like this: the two of us were sitting at his house watching a movie when my phone beeps for a text message. Its from Jeff, saying "I'm glad we can be miserable together :)" We looked at each other, smiled, and went right back to the movie.
I need a job. I hate having so little to do with myself. Bored bored bored.
I got my first grad school rejection today. Reason: "Non-competitive Grade Point Average". Shit. Can I start college over?
I did my laundry today - finally! But now I have mountains of clean clothes to fold, and you know how much I hate folding clothes. When I have my own house I will have nothing but closets, and I will hang up every article of clothing I own. Even t shirts. ESPECIALLY t shirts. But the unmentionables, those can have a drawer somewhere.
I want a doggggggggieeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Its 10. I'm going to bed.
Aye caramba.
Jeff leaves tomorrow for a land far, far away... Boston. I'm going to miss that kid so much. One of my favorite moments the last few weeks went like this: the two of us were sitting at his house watching a movie when my phone beeps for a text message. Its from Jeff, saying "I'm glad we can be miserable together :)" We looked at each other, smiled, and went right back to the movie.
I need a job. I hate having so little to do with myself. Bored bored bored.
I got my first grad school rejection today. Reason: "Non-competitive Grade Point Average". Shit. Can I start college over?
I did my laundry today - finally! But now I have mountains of clean clothes to fold, and you know how much I hate folding clothes. When I have my own house I will have nothing but closets, and I will hang up every article of clothing I own. Even t shirts. ESPECIALLY t shirts. But the unmentionables, those can have a drawer somewhere.
I want a doggggggggieeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Its 10. I'm going to bed.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Part 2
I guess I need to get these finalized, since its already January 11th!
My Nutrition and Food Resolutions:
1. 5+ fruits and veggies a day, every day. This is theoretically very easy: 1 with breakfast, 1 with lunch, 1 snack, 2 with dinner. In practice I'd rather have a Costco chocolate chip muffin than carrots, but this year, carrots will win!
2. Think about vitamins and nutrients. I bought a multivitamin pack and I want to take one every day. I want to make sure I get enough fiber and enough protein and enough omega 3's. I've never even had a passing thought about omega 3's before so this might be tough :)
3. Try new foods, and give foods I've already rejected another shot. I want to expand my palate. I'd never had beets until last week; they're pretty good. In 2008 I discovered the magic that is the sweet potato. There are so so many foods out there I've never tried and I want to make an effort to sample them. Also, I want to try some things again, namely fish, that I didn't like when I was 5 so I haven't eaten it since.
4. Cook more! I want to cook new things, too. I made gnocchi in 2008 and it was so so good. And black bean burgers and chicken parm. I am pretty handy in the kitchen, so I'd like to expand that to new recipes and new types of food.
5. Be smarter about my food shopping. Cooking and eating can get expensive, especially when you want good quality ingredients like I do. I want to make friends with coupons and not be afraid to shop at different stores. Maybe I can even start some sort of rudimentary meal planning so I know what ingredients to pick up ahead of time, and I want to stop buying things and not using all of it.
My Nutrition and Food Resolutions:
1. 5+ fruits and veggies a day, every day. This is theoretically very easy: 1 with breakfast, 1 with lunch, 1 snack, 2 with dinner. In practice I'd rather have a Costco chocolate chip muffin than carrots, but this year, carrots will win!
2. Think about vitamins and nutrients. I bought a multivitamin pack and I want to take one every day. I want to make sure I get enough fiber and enough protein and enough omega 3's. I've never even had a passing thought about omega 3's before so this might be tough :)
3. Try new foods, and give foods I've already rejected another shot. I want to expand my palate. I'd never had beets until last week; they're pretty good. In 2008 I discovered the magic that is the sweet potato. There are so so many foods out there I've never tried and I want to make an effort to sample them. Also, I want to try some things again, namely fish, that I didn't like when I was 5 so I haven't eaten it since.
4. Cook more! I want to cook new things, too. I made gnocchi in 2008 and it was so so good. And black bean burgers and chicken parm. I am pretty handy in the kitchen, so I'd like to expand that to new recipes and new types of food.
5. Be smarter about my food shopping. Cooking and eating can get expensive, especially when you want good quality ingredients like I do. I want to make friends with coupons and not be afraid to shop at different stores. Maybe I can even start some sort of rudimentary meal planning so I know what ingredients to pick up ahead of time, and I want to stop buying things and not using all of it.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Resolutions, Part 1
I have lots of resolutions this year, and to make them more manageable I've broken them down into some categories. My Fitness goals are the most well-developed at this point so that's what I'm going to share with you today.
1. Run a Half Marathon. Pretty self explanatory :)
2. Run consistently! I would love love love to keep up my 5 miles, 3 times a week. I don't know how realistic that actually is, but if I can run consistently I'll be happy. I'd be happy with at least 2 times a week, at least 3 miles... at the very least, but am shooting for that 5x3.
3. Explore other options for exercise. All I do at the moment is run and play soccer. Its fun, I love it, but I would love to get into other things, like yoga or cycling or kickboxing. Or all three! It would to keep that exercise thing fresh and fun, which is really important to me.
4. Be more active, period. I don't mean run more, I mean in my daily life. Stand up more. Walk to places that I can walk to, like the grocery store. Rake the leaves. Go for more walks. Dance. It doesn't matter what, just increase my level of overall daily activity.
5. Lose 10 more pounds. Last year I wanted to get down to 130 and I didn't quite make it, but I did make a huge step in the right direction. This year I want to finally hit that number, and maybe even dip down into the 120's again.
6. Weight Train. I've been scared of the gym since my college athletics days, but there's no reason to be scared. Lifting doesn't mean I have to bulk up, but I would love to be stronger and more toned. Ideally this would be mostly with plyometric and isometric exercises (my poor body can't handle much more!) with some free weights thrown in there too.
So, these are my fitness resolutions of 2009. Go me!
1. Run a Half Marathon. Pretty self explanatory :)
2. Run consistently! I would love love love to keep up my 5 miles, 3 times a week. I don't know how realistic that actually is, but if I can run consistently I'll be happy. I'd be happy with at least 2 times a week, at least 3 miles... at the very least, but am shooting for that 5x3.
3. Explore other options for exercise. All I do at the moment is run and play soccer. Its fun, I love it, but I would love to get into other things, like yoga or cycling or kickboxing. Or all three! It would to keep that exercise thing fresh and fun, which is really important to me.
4. Be more active, period. I don't mean run more, I mean in my daily life. Stand up more. Walk to places that I can walk to, like the grocery store. Rake the leaves. Go for more walks. Dance. It doesn't matter what, just increase my level of overall daily activity.
5. Lose 10 more pounds. Last year I wanted to get down to 130 and I didn't quite make it, but I did make a huge step in the right direction. This year I want to finally hit that number, and maybe even dip down into the 120's again.
6. Weight Train. I've been scared of the gym since my college athletics days, but there's no reason to be scared. Lifting doesn't mean I have to bulk up, but I would love to be stronger and more toned. Ideally this would be mostly with plyometric and isometric exercises (my poor body can't handle much more!) with some free weights thrown in there too.
So, these are my fitness resolutions of 2009. Go me!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Home Again Home Again
...Jiggity Jog
I have made a good decision.
I went to New York.
We laughed and cried and fought and kissed and gallivanted around the city. We ate a lot and talked even more. We loved and yelled and hugged and made up and smiled. And then we said goodbye.
We are both in a much better place right now than we were before.
Not that this still doesn't suck... because it does. And not that it isn't going to be hard... because it will.
So I'm back for a very extended period of time, at least. And its a good thing for me to be here.
In 2009 I'm getting my shit together. I'm figuring out my heart and my head, and making them work together for a change. I'm doing good for me, and better for the people around me. I'm feeling good about what this year can bring, oh baby yes I am.
Real resolutions will be coming later this week. Just know that I'm going to kick ass this year.
I have made a good decision.
I went to New York.
We laughed and cried and fought and kissed and gallivanted around the city. We ate a lot and talked even more. We loved and yelled and hugged and made up and smiled. And then we said goodbye.
We are both in a much better place right now than we were before.
Not that this still doesn't suck... because it does. And not that it isn't going to be hard... because it will.
So I'm back for a very extended period of time, at least. And its a good thing for me to be here.
In 2009 I'm getting my shit together. I'm figuring out my heart and my head, and making them work together for a change. I'm doing good for me, and better for the people around me. I'm feeling good about what this year can bring, oh baby yes I am.
Real resolutions will be coming later this week. Just know that I'm going to kick ass this year.
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