Friday, February 27, 2009

Chicks were born to give you fever...Be it fair and have a sense of game

It could not be any prettier here in Boston for the 27th of February.
60 degrees, and feeling like Spring.
(Or like Spring Training?)
I swear, I could smell pollen in the air.

Okay, so maybe I'm a bit over enthusiastic about the day but it just makes me feel alive after always feeling so huddled with the cold. I'm trying to ignore the weather reports that in a mere 24 hours we'll be subjected to another snow storm.

Even the bugs are feeling it. I came into work this morning to discover calamity abound in the breakroom. Seems that cockroaches overtook the cabinet spaces - and didn't even feel the need to hide from the bright daylight shining in the room. So while I'm no longer in a building that smells like sour ass (Yes, Felger - you and Ms. Malone are not alone...and I do believe that I'm the one who coined that phrase regarding the work space. Just sayin'...) I am however in a building that apparently has an infestation of the lovely North American variety of cockroach. Not a huge surprise, yet disgusting none the less. And also a lovely reminder as to why I should never, ever consume anything from that room again. So apparently, even bugs are feeling a little Spring Fever.

I actually stopped at HomeGoods during lunch for a very quick run through to get some ideas for storage for glasses and linens, etc. for a possible new store location. Found some beautiful display items for a song - but hesitated on buying them since we're not a green light yet. I have very definite ideas on what I want to do for a register as well as tasting bar, so these things would be perfect for those areas. But now isn't the time. I did find a beautiful display option that I love, but it's something that I think is relatively common enough that I can purchase it - or a variation of the theme - as we get closer.

Plans on tap for the weekend is total business. (That is busy-ness, as opposed to business.) Tonight, we are going to the Home Show and then out for dinner; Saturday day, I have yet to find an adventure for the kiddies and I to go on, but I'm looking.... Saturday night, we have dinner plans for sushi at one of my favorite restaurants. Sunday, I'm supposed to have a friend visit during the day - but the weather may hinder that, and it may be a day spent focusing on layout and design of the new space.

But for now, I'm going to enjoy the weather -- drive home with my sun roof open and windows down, and refuse to buy into the concept that we're still in the middle of winter.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

"When I grow up, I wanna be famous..." - Part Deux

I'm going on a casting call!

The upside -- it's for Food Network.
The downside -- it's not to host a show.
It's a reality show of sorts.
We're not super clear on the concept but we're guessing it's modeled after "The Amazing Race".

However....this does not mean that the audition process itself doesn't lend exposure.

It's a team effort -- I'm partnering with another "foodie" girlfriend of mine on this audition since they specified doubled partners.

If I don't make it, eh - I won't be heartbroken.
But I am however, thrilled for the audition and interview.

As I said, truly the dream never dies.

Monday, February 23, 2009

'Cause see when I was younger I would say..." When I grow up, I wanna be famous, I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies..."

Last night Kate Winslet made a very appropo statement, something to the effect of "none of us ever dreamed we'd be in a category with Meryl Streep". To be considered of the same caliber as the lovely Ms. Streep was something that all of us young, thirtysomethings who wanted to be actresses dreamed about. To be actually competing against her or with her, was never part of the equation. Though I think it came across as an age thing last night - to me, her reference was that it was more of an unattainable goal...a pipe dream. To be considered similar to Meryl Streep meant you were the pinnacle of what you could achieve - something that doesn't happen to "us" -- it happens to other people.

Watching the Oscars is the one night a year that I can honestly say that I revel in the "would've could've should've" in my life. I can entirely relate to the actresses and their emotions as they overflow. I thought that this year in particular was the nicest way to present the nominees with their moment of glory; instead of watching a small clip of their work, to have them honored by those who have held the prestigious honor before them and speak accolades of their bodies of work on a very warm and personal level -- was to me by far, a touching and gracious way to honor those who were anxiously awaiting to hear the words "and the Oscar goes too...".

I was so very proud of my girl Jennifer Aniston, who though clearly nervous -- looked beautiful, and was so gracious in the face (literally, directly) of her heartbreakingly beautiful ex husband, and his homewrecker of a...what is she anyway...girlfriend, if you will. If you ask me, Angelina didn't look that great. A little too thin and pale, but again - I've always been on Team Aniston so maybe I'm a bit biased.

The only real gripe I had about the show was that I thought the camera men were going a little crazy during the portion where they show those who have passed onto the silver screen in the sky. They kept zooming in and out...I couldn't see all of the names, and truly - that's an important piece of the show. At least to me it is. ( Note to the Director: please, please keep the camera straight, focused and on the screen next year. Thanks!)

So to the very end I watched...thinking back to how if the world was as small of a place as it is today back when I was able to dedicate my time to finding employment in the theatrical field -- what would I have been able to achieve? Would I possibly have been on stage last night, accepting my award....similar to how myself, and clearly Kate Winslet - had done, back when we were 8,9,10 years old - speaking into a brush at the bathroom mirror?

Truly, the dream never dies.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Monday cycling,Tuesday gymnastics, Dancing on a Friday night...I got Bridge Club on Wednesday, Archery on Thursday, Dancing on a Friday night...

I am not the kind of girl that says "super" a lot; That's "super good!", or "I'm super happy!". Typically - one would never hear that phrase and think "hmm. Yes, that sounds like Rebecca." But for the record, let me just state that I am going to go out of character for a minute, and exclaim that I am "super excited" that today is Friday.

For a short week, it was a busy one. I refinanced the house...bought a new stove....attended important new business oriented meetings....got a hair cut...got sick. Oh - and work in between all of that. So, I'm ready and willing for the weekend to arrive.

This was supposed to be an incredibly busy weekend; I had a wine party to attend, one of those Travelling Vineyard kinds that I always get a chuckle out of going to. ( I feel badly because most of the time they end up referring to me for questions....plus, their wines are really not good and sorely overpriced. But I digress....) Then a Mia Bella Candle party...oh, and this weekend was going to be a soiree that I had to postpone due to no oven. You know that whole "everything happens for a reason" logic I referred to in my last post? Well, it applies here for sure. Because at the beginning of the week as I was terribly disappointed to have to cancel -- it's a good thing I did. Because no way, no how would I be up for cooking for a houseful tomorrow.

Tonight the kiddies are having a campout in my son's room - they're so excited, they're going to sleep in their new sleeping bags on his floor. So we're making home made pizza and cookies -- then they are going to settle down and watch their favorite Viva Pinata DVD before hopefully snoozing for the night.

Saturday, I think I'm going to take them to our local gymnastics facility for a tour - and possibly get them enrolled in a program for Saturdays. My it's a great place, they have a gym for adults as well as a centralized location for adults to be able to watch the kids do their classes. So I think that would be good, something for my daughter who had opted not to do dance this year; and to tide my son over until Spring Soccer starts. Plus my Princess Petunia is so gymnastically inclined, I want to get her in there before she develops fears, because as of now -- there are none.

Sunday, I'm hoping to do food shopping and I really, truly want to make a turkey. So fingers crossed, my sense of smell and taste will be back by then so I can. I can't consider the oven truly "christened" until one has made a turkey in it.

So this is the weekend that I've got mapped out; not too busy compared to how it was - which I'm really thankful for in retrospect. Somewhere in the middle there will be relaxing, and a little bit of store design going on as well.

*YAWN*
Did I mention I was "super excited" that it's Friday....???
4:00 simply cannot get here quick enough.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Good things come to those who wait....

I always say "everything happens for a reason".
I firmly believe that. Sometimes we don't always see it in the immediate, but in retrospect it often tends to pull together and make sense.

In the past two years, I've had some really close moments with business ventures. Opportunities that were THIS close to coming to fruition, and then for whatever reason -- fall through at the last minute. The last one I was working on, was possible - albeit a ton of work - but plausible for immediate takeover. But it didn't feel right; it was rushed and forced - and when someone does that to me, I pull back. I won't be forced into making a decision that isn't well thought out. A risk I'm all game for - but it must be a calculated one.

As a result of that not happening - the very morning that the decision was made to opt out -- another one landed in my lap. Literally....

The ball is now rolling, and for the first time -- there is no real uphill battle to fight.

Almost.
This is a previously dry community, that is now - accepting liquor license applications. So there is competition for the first one. That is an obstacle without doubt. However...

The space is retail ready. The landlord wants us, so negotiations are under way. The community has expressed wanting a business such as what we presently have and the model we want to expand to. It's seeming as if we are lined up for success.....

Everything isn't always as they seem though. And that is a thought that I will carry with me until I have better information.

But....it's encouraging.
And allowing for optimism.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Thoughts for Tuesday....

1. ARod is in ALot of trouble. I wish I could hear his press conference in work. He really didn't think this PR spin through last week, and gave such weak and wishy washy answers - it's going to be an absolute feeding frenzy when he meets the media. I hate to say it - but I can't wait. It's not that I want to see him squirm.....okay, so maybe I do....but it's more about how the situation gets handled in general. Interesting psychological warfare indeed.

2. I am so irritated that I've got this cold. Everyone you talk to is sick, with some sort of malaise. And I've tried to so hard to stay healthy, and avoid running ragged so that I could hopefully go the winter without an instance of not feeling well. So much for that! I definitely think not eating right has something to do with it, because since my surgery - I haven't been eating right at all. I've been over indulgent in sodium and I do think that has something to do with it. Oh - and wine too. I think I've had more wine in the last three weeks than in the last three years; Saturday night when I was really teetering on the edge with this cold, I had a glass of delicious wine with my sushi - and I think that was it. My resistance was lowered to begin with, and the alcohol pushed me to the edge.

3. Physical therapy is progressing nicely. So nicely that I'm debating trying to do yoga in the next two weeks. That in of itself would make me feel better! I have much better mobility these days...going up stairs is becoming more of a normal gait -- downstairs, well that will take some time. But I'm allowed to use the bike for 5-7 minutes each day now, so that's encouraging!

4. I'm not over the top with weight gain. So, I cautiously stepped on the scale and was happy to see I'm only 5lbs heavier than I was in October when I hurt my knee to begin with. Considering I've been overly indulgent and less than mobile - that is good to see. Sure my shape isn't the same, but with minimal additional weight, once I am able to get exercising again, I should be back to my normal self in no time.

5. My new stove is coming tomorrow and I can not be more excited. I haven't been able to cook, and while I've been creative with grilling -- you certainly can't grill chocolate chip cookies for the kids, or monkey bread! I really wanted to make a turkey this weekend, and I was so disappointed that I couldn't. You know, that's always the way - when you've got the oven - you do nothing with it. Well, not nothing - I cook all the time, but once it's gone.....a cooking extravaganza is just burning inside of you to take place. Sour grapes at it's finest.

6. Facebook rocks. I love it. And I just got an email saying I was tagged in an elementary school photo, which I'm so disappointed I can't see while in work! I can only imagine.....

Monday, February 16, 2009

There's never a wish, better than this...when you've only got 100 years to live

I am tired today.
And sore.

The cold I've been fighting is closer to winning it's battle; I've been able to keep it at bay, but today I'm tired, and really sore all over. I'm hoping it's the beginning of the end and maybe it's turning a corner. Needless to say, as a result - I'm perfectly content being Domestic Supergoddess and just hang out with the kiddies until I have to go to PT.

I did get a new oven yesterday, though not the double oven I'd hoped for. It's nice, high efficiency and stainless - and truthfully, though I'd love, love, love the double oven - why bother for now. I will have the kitchen of my dreams at some point and the oven isn't very different from the one I just bought - so it won't increase the kitchen value that much. Why spend what I don't need to at the moment. (Being insightful of the economy, check, Not being overly indulgent unnecessarily, check.)

So, today since I'm a little under the weather I figured a survey would be fun.
***********************************

1. What’s something in your life that’s pretty much been used up and needs replacing?
My shower head apparantly. It broke off before I was able to get into the shower this morning -- what a pain it was showering in the kid's bathroom.

2. What is older than you? Many things and many people. That's a silly question.

3. Where do you belong? I am where I belong.

4. Who is no longer a stranger to you? Hmm. I have no idea??

5. What's your favorite accent? I love all foreign accents. They sound beautiful to me.

6. Do you like apples? I do - Gala's and Granny Smiths are my most favorite.

7. Do you play baseball? No, but I'm one heck of an armchair manager and GM.

8. Do you enjoy starting drama? Ugh. Absolutely not.

9. Can you run fast? Yes -- when I can run. :)

10. Do you believe in magic? I believe in magic and miracles - and everything in between.

11. What was the first conscious thought you had this morning? What time is it?

12. When you get online, what do you do first? I check my email.

13. What is the slowest realization you've ever come to? That I have to accept the things I can not change.

14. What name would you want have if you were the opposite sex? Hmm. Maybe Dave. Dave's a nice guy, and he's friends with everyone. Dave's reliable and dependable.

15. What is a song that you love to hate? "Walking on Sunshine". I hate that song and yet I know every flipping lyric to it.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Cupid, please hear my cry and let your arrow fly ...


And clearly, he did.

Jason Varitek on NESN all day long today? Does it get any better?
This girl, thinks not.


A little coffee....a little candy....a little baseball.
Happy Valentine's Day to Me!
(By the way - if you didn't see his press conference -- you don't know what you missed.
He's in great shape; and he confirmed what I already knew: he's dedicated to this organization, relieved to be in a Sox uniform - and committed to retiring as a Boston Red Sox and helping this team achieve all that it's capable of doing.
Like I said - Happy Valentine's Day to Me!)

Friday, February 13, 2009

Hey, good lookin....whatcha got cookin...?

Not much around here, unfortunately.

Seems my oven died the other night. I've never in my life heard of such a thing, and yet - it's happened to me. It's the oven that came with the house - so it's 10 years old....though I've only lived here for 5.

I was making dinner the other night - and was grilling my steak tips, but roasting my carrots and red peppers. I wondered why I wasn't really smelling them, but didn't give it much thought. So, about 10 minutes before dinner should've been ready, I open the oven - and surprise! It's cold. The lights on the stove itself showed it was on, and the digital readout said "475". Yet, if it was room temperature - I'd have been surprised.

So, I tested it to see if it was just a component of the oven - or the whole thing; I placed it on "broil". Sure enough...no flame. Dead as a doornail. It worked perfectly fine the night before? I'm not sure what would cause it to suddenly not work - but that's irrelevant now I suppose.

This is the only appliance in my kitchen I didn't upgrade - therefore it's the only one that isn't stainless. I didn't upgrade it because, well - it worked - and was a high power oven, so I had no reason to replace it. But now.....

Mama can get a new double oven stove.
Such as this one....



(Caveat: this is just a graphical example...not the exact one I want.)

I'd love, love, love a double wall oven - but I don't have the room for one, not without completely overhauling my kitchen, And the truth of the matter is, why bother? Once I move - the next house will have everything I want anyway, so....a new oven with a second oven will work for me.

Because if you know anything about me...you know, that this girl is all about the food.

The downside to all this, is that I won't be getting a new stove in the immediate future. Just because this is the busy month of bills for the business, so... we have to wait a bit. Grilling and cooktop it will have to be.

But what I'm most disappointed about, is that the soiree I had planned for next Saturday has to be postponed. What's a girl to do?

Thursday, February 12, 2009

I just called, to say....I love you.

So this girl is making a switch soon from the traditional cellphone, to a Blackberry.

I know, I know -- everyone and their Mother says the IPhone rocks, but here's my dilemma: I love, love, love Verizon. I'm a VIP since we've been with them since the beginning, my plan is great - and you can't beat the service. I never lose calls or have bad spots. So, I'm exceptionally hesitant to change providers. This being said....

I really want to get the Blackberry Storm. Not only is it touch screen -- but what I love best, is the capability to turn the phone sideways and have my keyboard be horizontal as well. (My current Samsung cell phone is fabulous because it's thin, doesn't slide up - and has the sideways keyboard. It's a must have. But I digress...) The Storm seems to be using the same technology my handy dandy new Nikon camera is using. And I've got to be honest...love it!

However...it's gotten mixed reviews. Most of the complaints have been about the keyboard and not accessing the keys correctly. But I'm wondering if my having nails helps this any? I've got to be honest, I have no problems with my camera. It seems though, most Storm naysayers opt for the Bold.

And the time has come on for me to move to a more powerful tool, if you will. I want calendaring, scheduling and phone. I've got to be honest - Facebook 24/7 isn't going to hurt me either. But that's not the driving force....my life is. I'm far too busy to be winging it any longer, and I just forget things sometimes.

So I'm asking you, out there in the blogosphere for some insight.

Storm vs. Bold
What are your experiences?
What do you like and don't like about each.
Thanks!

(Oh, and "Happy Pitchers & Catchers Reporting" Day!)

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Just an observation....

So, I'm at work - and on crutches. I have to use them for this week and all of next as I'm recovering from my knee surgery. Truthfully, I do still need them -- and I'm still quite swollen and sore. Anyway...the building I work at, is not handicap accessible. At all. And I work on the second floor. At the very end of the hallway. Oh -- and we are on a hill - and the entrance to the building is a mini-hill as well.

Which would be okay -- not a big deal, I can trudge up to the building, and climb the flights of stairs with the crutches -- but opening doors, and/or carrying things -- well that's a challenge.

It's even more challenging when there's people walking in the hall ahead of you, see you coming and they say "hey, how you feeling?" and you say "good, thanks!" -- and then they shut the door behind them, leaving you to fend for yourself. Instead of waiting the extra 15 seconds or so for you to make it through the door as well. Because everyone can't wait to get to their job?

Right.....

I have one co worker in my office, who has graciously offered to get me coffee -- or help me carry in my things if need be. Yes, this is the same co-worker who was nice enough to offer to have me make tea in his teapot with spring water, rather than the chemically altered and tainted water in my building.

Did I mention that I work with probably about 60 people here?

Clearly, there's a shortage of kindness in this building.
Or maybe, it's just ignorance.

Just sayin'......

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Don't get me wrong....I love her.


Okay, so I've been on Team Aniston long before Brad Pitt dumped our girl.

I love Jennifer Aniston - and everything about her. Even when I was madly in lust with her ex-husband, I liked her so much that I wasn't even disappointed when they got engaged. I wanted to see the Golden Couple of Hollywood ride into the sunset together, happily ever after.

Here's what I don't get though.
What is the big deal about her turning 40? Isn't that a milestone that we will all hit in life, eventually?

I know she's beautiful and in great shape...but, so what?
She's a freaking celebrity. It's her job to be like that. Her life consists of jet setting around the country to work a few hours a month on a movie set. She's primped, dressed, tanned, hair done and fawned over during the time. Her off time, is spent vacationing and jetsetting with celebrity friends and living la vida loca. Where's the shock at her looking fabulous at 40?

Here's a concept...
Let's have the media go ballroom blitz over an average woman, who's 40 and fabulous. A woman who works, is a mom -- doesnt' have time to have botox, spray tan, take yoga 2 hours a day/7 days a week. Someone who doesn't have a personal chef, or celebrity friends, or money to burn. How about taking a moment to celebrate women who are beautiful, and real examples of what a woman who is 40 lives life in today's society.

I mean, seriously - someone who's biggest problem isn't their who they are dating. Real women, real lives - real problems: mortgages, bills, children, and little to no time for her self. Why doesn't every search engine, Facebook ad, MySpace pop up and news channel focus on a different woman turning 40, every day?

What are the chances of that happening, I wonder?
(And not in that fake, condesecending Oprah "once a year episode" kind of way. I mean real sincerity.)

It's amazing how skewed the perception of reality is nowadays.

Monday, February 09, 2009

Case in point....

As I went on in my last post about Michael Phelps and how he has been treated unfairly in the media as a result of his extracurricular activity on Superbowl Sunday.....news was breaking about Alex Rodriguez and his involvement in using performance enhancing drugs.

These are drugs that are not used socially, nor for the purpose of "feeling good", or any other type of descriptor that a person who uses recreational drugs might suggest.

These are drugs that are used specifically for the purpose of becoming better than what they are genetically capable of being. To cheat not only the fans of any given sport of their ability, but to cheat the sport itself.

Anyone can take a drug and become an exaggeration of who they are and the capabilities they may possess naturally; but to not take anything to enhance and exaggerate -- despite the availability to do so, and still succeed -- in my mind, is a true athlete.

Let's use the ultimate vanity sport of bodybuilding, for an example. There are body builders who are natural. Then there are those who aren't. I have far more admiration and respect for a person who can sculpt their body to a maximum muscular potential and shape by hard work, exercise and nutrition. That is a beautiful thing to see. Once they start using any type of performance enhancement drug (and yes, though body building isn't a true athletic skill - it is a performance enhancer that they use, as much of an oxymoron that might seem...) I lose the respect I had previously. To use them, is to cheat; it is to chemically enhance and re-engineer their bodies into becoming something that they aren't naturally capable of being, putting them at an unfair advantage against those who do not choose to take these kinds of enhancements.

There are many athletes in the sport of baseball who have been "caught" taken anabolic steroids and HGH - and have owned the mistake. Listen, good people make bad choices. That's a part of life. But when you have athletes that not only didn't necessarily need to use them, and then either categorically deny or choose not to address the issue when caught - leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of their fans. As well as amongst their peers, I'm sure.

Alex Rodriguez, in my personal opinion - is of poor character, period. This latest release of information does not come as a surprise to me. It isn't even a disappointment any longer. He cheated on his wife numerous times. He cheated this last time very publicly with a woman who was married at the time. (This doesn’t make Madonna any better, but truly - we expect that of her anyway.) He attempted to cheat in baseball during a crucial game. He has made Bush League attempts in thwarting other teams from winning. We are not talking about a "good person who made a bad choice". We are talking about someone with little integrity, and no respect for boundaries or rules.

The unfortunate part of it all, is that he a naturally gifted person. He didn't need to have to use these drugs. There are some players who truly have shortcomings and may have felt the need to use in an effort to stay on their game. This does not ring true for one of the most talented baseball players in recent years. And to me, if he was to come forward and even try to use that as an excuse as to why he used - to this girl, it would fall on deaf ears. It sounds like an excuse, not an apology.

Most importantly, and I think this is a piece of the puzzle that quite often gets overlooked - these players are cheating themselves and their families - of their lives. These athletes will bald faster, age quicker, develop potential kidney and or heart disease - or even worse, potentially induce a cancerous growth. It is not healthy to consume chemicals to modify DNA, or products created for animals into the human body for no reason other than to accentuate and accelerate muscular potential and strength.

It is a shame that this is what athletes feel they need to do to their bodies in order to be competitive -- and the message that it is sending to children who look up to these players is just all wrong.

But that's just this girl's opinion.
*****
Edited, 2:44pm:
Alex Rodriguez has confirmed during an interview this afternoon with ESPN's Peter Gammons that he used performance-enhancing drugs from 2001-03 while a member of the Texas Rangers.

"I was young, I was stupid, I was naive, and I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth . . . being one of the greatest players of all time," Rodriguez told Gammons in an interview recorded this afternoon. "I did take a banned substance and for that I am very sorry and deeply regretful."


As I said....I'm throwing the BS card on that.
Excuses, PR spin and saving face.
A cheat is a cheat is a cheat.

Friday, February 06, 2009

Success is the best revenge....

I am thoroughly dissapointed in the way Michael Phelps is being torn apart in the public eye.
Here's yet another example of a person being built up and placed upon a pedestal, and adored by all - just to have the masses frenzy, watching that very same person being torn down.

Here's a 23 year old kid, whom was thrust on to the throne of expectations and celebrity because of his dedication and athletic ability in a sport. Not because he is a humanitarian....not because he is a world leader; but because he is an athlete. And while he is able to carry himself publicly with humility and grace (unlike a few other Olympic athletes I can think of, whom I will allow to remain un-named...) this does not mean that he is the pinnacle of perfection as a human being. He may have achieved a seemingly super human feat; however, he is not a super human. He is nothing more than a 23 year old young adult.

I get that he's a role model, and that a photograph of him "hitting the bong" does not bode well. However, we are not talking about him being snapped booting heroin. All the hypocrits that are out there, professing that his medals should be taken away from him because of his drug use -- I would venture to guess that each and every one of them has smoked marijuana at some point in their lives. Maybe even as young 20-something adults; or maybe some as recently as last night. Who are they really trying to protect with this witch hunt? Doth protest too loudly, is what this girl thinks.

Now I've always made it abundantly clear that I'm not an advocate of marijuana use -- for me. I don't begrudge anyone else who chooses to use it, so long as it doesn't impact my life. I know plenty of people who smoke the herb, and if it works for them - that's fine. It's just not a choice for me. That being said....this is a drug that is considered legal in most countries around the world, as well as at an increasingly rapid rate within states in our own country. While I personally think it's not a smart choice for a young person to make -- who the heck hasn't experimented, and why should he be any different? We all make choices in life, some are inherently made by what we think and feel about a subject; others, by a more textile learning experience.

I think it's a horrible mistake for Kellogs to be so "holier than thou" and remove him from their portfolio of athletes. I think it's deplorable for one to suggest his medals get taken away. Marijuana is not a performance enhancing drug; if anything, it debilitates performance. And while there is no evidence to prove he was smoking during the competition, his mere performance should be proof enough that he did not smoke during the games. What a person does after the fact, is irrelevant.

The bottom line is that we live in a society that feeds upon seeing people fail. We want to see someone who we think is perfect, make a mistake so that we can destroy them. It's unfortunate, yet true. We are always ready with the stone in hand...just waiting to cast it.

In my opinion, the only person who should be criticized and lashed against - is the person who leaked that photo to the media. Unfortunately enough for young Michael Phelps, it probably was one of his "friends". He may never find this information out, as a result of the media's ability to protect those who seek to destroy others. Sometimes those amendment rights work to our favor; other times, not so much.

In many ways, and on many levels -- this country still has so much growing to do...

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

"I thought I heard your voice yesterday..."

I don't think I've ever taken this much time off of writing here. Unless I was on vacation - then I may have taken a week. But to be home and not write? That my friends, is unheard of.

However, I am working at home this week and that is something that as a result of my being on crutches and being unable to just run and do things that I need to around the house, it's much more time consuming than I had anticipated. See, my work laptop is not wireless; the office I work for doesn't approve of them so I have to have it plugged into my router - which is on the second floor. Now if I go downstairs to make a cup of coffee, and start carrying it upstairs (which is quite the chore with crutches might I add...) and realize that I forgot a napkin to bring with me (one never has a cup of coffee without a napkin. What if it spills..?) it's a relatively big ordeal. Because I can't just turn around and go get it. No, I have to finish my walk to my desk and put the coffee down, and then venture back to go downstairs to get it.

However, this does make for a very active day. I am by no means just sitting around all day. I am still keeping up with the house and laundry, albeit at a slower pace. Truthfully, it really hasn't afforded me many topics to blog about. But today, I may have enough to share outside of the vague ramblings that I have hopefully just entertained you (someone, anyone?) with.

1. The Dodgers say they will continue their pursuit of Manny. Well isn't he the stud playing hard to get. You have got to be kidding me.

2. Kelly Ripa is my new body idol. Okay, I know that sounds crazy - we all see her in the magazines and she's obscenely thin. But today for the first time in about a year, I actually caught a glimpse of her onscreen doing the "Regis & Kelly" show, and she looked amazing. Her arms were jacked. Not skinny, but ripped and strong - and her face did not look gaunt. She looked fabulous. Once I'm cleared to work out again, this girl is going to have that girls' upper body in mind. Her legs, well - I have decent legs of my own, I'll keep them. My arms are okay too - but the goal is to try to acquire a look similar to her guns.

3. Over the weekend, I actually had to sit still and not move which allowed me to watch some shows I'd never seen before and now love. HGTV is my new best friend. So now, when annoying Rachel Ray comes on Food TV, I can just watch House Hunters or Design by Color - or maybe just rewatch over and over again the dream home in Sonoma that I've been trying to win. Good stuff...

4. Not only have I not blogged - but I have not read blogs either. One would think that with all that time over the weekend and working at home that I would; but truthfully, I had wonderful friends visit me over the weekend incase I needed help (or company to watch tv with); and as I mentioned, working from home I'm busier and doing more than if I was working at work so social interaction doesn't come into play, except for the occasional Facebook posting. So, after I post this I am off to read some of my very favorites. I feel so out of the loop.

5. I haven't been all that hungry since the surgery. I know that has nothing to do with anything outside of coincidence. However when I do eat - it's been in complete indulgence -- things that I haven't eaten in years - or try not to eat in general. (Um, note to self: smoked cheddar popcorn is a bad, bad thing. I'm almost ashamed of myself, eating the whole oversized bag. Yes, that is one move I will definitely regret in the morning.....). I did just mention the whole Kelly Ripa body idol thing, right? Right....

Hope to have far more exciting and interesting thoughts for tomorrow.
Until next time....