It Ain't Easy Being Green, But Apparently It's VERY Stimulating! - March 17, 2009

Once again with the turn of the calendar, it’s the day to celebrate all things Irish and in the process, all things green. Why Crayola alone makes 20 different green crayons in varying hues, so there must be something to all this green fever!

Our language is liberally seasoned with metaphors, idioms and phrases all revolving around our obsession with the color of money and luck.

We are taught that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, but the green green grass of home is a good thing.

You can turn green with envy when the green eyed monster rears it’s ugly head.

Dr. Seuss pointed out that despite Sam I Am’s obsession with Green eggs and ham, that it’s probably not going to be a hot seller on the menu at IHOP or Waffle House anytime soon.

We wax poetic about the green green grass of home and how green the valley and play on fields of green while wearing green for luck.

We don’t know for sure, but it’s entirely possible that the GreenEyed Lady of Sugarloaf song fame…”Green eyed lady, ocean lady…Soothing every wave that comes” might have been Green around the gills if she was prone to seasickness by that ocean.

You can be a greenhorn, have a green thumb, or wait in the green room if you are a celebrity. You can get a green light to proceed in life or traffic. We love to have plenty of greenbacks in our pocket, especially in this economy.

According to Celtic myths, the Green Man was the God of Fertility.

Green has long been considered a metaphor and symbol for fertility and this was evident in the fifteenth (15th) century as Green was the preferred color for wedding attire.

The symbolism attached to the color Green continues to this day even though it has now taken on more modern meanings.

For instance, did you know that green M&M’s have long been the subject of myth as they are considered, by some, to have magical aphrodisiac powers? As to whether or not this is true is, of course, subject to interpretation, but I for one, always save the green M&M’s to eat last, just for luck. Apparently others must do the same thing because in 1996, a commercial was released that asked “Is it true what they say about green ones?” Hey, can’t hurt to try and M&M’s are MUCH cheaper than oysters or that famed little blue pill (not to mention a lot less slimy!).

Perhaps that why Kermit was always lamenting that “It ain’t easy being green” and explains why Ms. Piggy was always in hot pursuit of his cute little green tooshie. He is, after all, the very essence and symbol of fertility and the perfect aphrodisiac personified in amphibian form. I ask you, how could a mere female pig be expected to resist that??

Green occupies more space in the spectrum visible to the human eye than most colors, and is second only to blue as a favorite color. Green is the pervasive color in the natural world, making it an ideal backdrop in interior design because we are so used to seeing it everywhere.

A few fun facts all surrounding the color green that you might not know…

Interesting information about green:

Green was the favorite color of George Washington, the first President of the United States.

The color green signifies mystical or magical properties in the stories of King Arthur.

Green is one color that means “low” or “guarded” in the color-coded threat system established by presidential order in March 2002. This system quickly informs law enforcement agencies when intelligence indicates a change in the terrorist threat facing the United States.

Green is the color used for night-vision goggles because the human eye is most sensitive to and able to discern the most shades of that color.

Bright green is the color of the astrological sign “Cancer.”

Green ribbons have been used by a range of environmental groups to symbolize organ donation and transplant, awareness of Bipolar Disorder, solidarity with Chechnya, and support of farmers in America.

NASCAR racers have shared a bias against the color green for decades. Reportedly, it began after a 1920 accident in Beverly Hills, California, that killed defending Indianapolis 500 champion Gaston Chevrolet. It was the first known racing accident in the United States to kill two drivers, and Chevrolet reportedly was driving a green car. Tim Richmond once refused to drive a car sponsored by Folger’s decaffeinated coffee because the primary color was green. He wound up in the Folger’s regular coffee car - and its red scheme. But the fear of green cars is fading, primarily because sponsors are willing to pay $15 million to splash their colors on a race car. Green is now the primary color of cars driven by Mayfield, Marlin, and J.J. Yeley.

Green in athletics and sports:

In auto racing, a green flag signals the start or resumption of a race.

The green belt in Judo symbolizes green trees. Just as a green tree is the tallest living thing, so should our own pursuit of knowledge be, aiming high and keeping the goal of our achievement (top of the trees) in high esteem.

Green as a Signature Color:

Kermit the Frog

Companies or brands identified primarily with green:

H&R Block

BP

Heineken

Starbucks

The Masters Golf Tournament

Rolling Rock

Garnier Fructis

John Deere

What it says about you when you buy a green vehicle…

There is no question that the vehicle you drive is an extension of your personality — an unspoken, but clear message to the rest of the world.

The message you send by driving a vehicle that is Dark Green: Traditional, trustworthy, well-balanced.

If, however, your vehicle is a Bright Yellow-Green, you give a different impression: Trendy, whimsical, lively.

The color green is said to affect us physically as well in these ways:

Soothes

Relaxes mentally, as well as physically

Helps alleviate depression, nervousness, and anxiety

Offers a sense of renewal, self-control, and harmony

Green is the color of the Heart Chakra, also known as Anahata.

This chakra is located at the center of the chest area and is linked to the heart, lungs, circulatory system, cardiac plexus, and the complete chest area.

The Heart Chakra bridges the gap between the physical and spiritual worlds. Opening the Heart Chakra allows a person to love more, empathize, and feel compassion.

Gemstones that will aid the Heart Chakra include jade and malachite.

And finally, just so we don’t leave anyone out…

Green around the globe:

Green is used worldwide to represent safety.

In several religions, green is the color associated with resurrection and regeneration.

In Ghardaia and other parts of M’zab, houses painted in green indicate that the inhabitants have made a pilgrimage to Mecca.

Green, blue-green, and blue are sacred colors in Iran, where they symbolize paradise.

As the emblematic color of Ireland, green represents the vast green hillsides, as well as Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick.

In Japan, green is regarded as the color of eternal life.

In Aztec culture, green was considered to be royal because it was the color of the quetzal plumes used by the Aztec chieftains.

The solid green flag of Libya is currently the only national flag of a single color.

In China, jade stones represent virtue and beauty.

In Portugal, green is the color of hope because of its associations with spring.

In the highlands of Scotland, people used to wear green as a mark of honor.

There is a superstition that sewing with green thread on the eve of a fashion show brings bad luck to the design house.

Personally given the whole aphrodisiac thingy, I’m thinking we should all dye ourselves green for the day. Hey, if it works for Kermit, who are we to argue with success?? *wink*

Wishing you a rainbow

For sunlight after showers—

Miles and miles of Irish smiles

For golden happy hours—

Shamrocks at your doorway

For luck and laughter too,

And a host of friends that never ends

Each day your whole life through!

Take a Chance On Life..Make it Count

Take chances…
Tell the truth…
Date someone totally wrong for you…Twice…
Say no…
Spend all your cash…
Fall in love…
Get to know someone random…
BE RANDOM…
Say “I love you”…
Trust even when it scares you…
Sing out loud…
Let someone know how much they mean to you…
Laugh at a stupid joke…
Cry…
Get revenge now and then…
Apologize…
Tell a jerk what you think of them…
Let someone know what they are missing…
Share your inner thoughts…
Occasionally give in to your secret urges…
Take a chance on someone…
Try new looks…
Take the road less traveled…
Don’t take yourself so seriously all the time…
Tell someone you miss them…
Be mysterious…
NEVER settle for less than you deserve or want…
And always,

LIVE LIFE!!

The ability or will to live outside our natural comfort zone is something that most people will never think of doing, much less attempt. I’m not talking about abandoning all sense of responsibility or duty in day to day life. Unfortunately, that does seem to be a growing trait more and more people seem to be taking on in our society today. Not accepting responsibility for their actions or not being prepared for consequences is something that a lot of my generation seems to be embracing themselves and then passing on to our children. It’s much easier to shift blame or just ignore the facts of what our actions or words can cause.

Is everyone this way? No, thank goodness…there are still a majority of people that realize you have to be accountable and take a stand for what you truly believe in and let your life reflect those beliefs…and if things don’t work out the way you thought they would or should, take the consequences with grace and style…and move on.

HOWEVER, I have come to realize over time that there also has to be a balance, or rather there SHOULD be a balance in your life, that enables you to fulfill the duties and tasks you need to accomplish while at the same time always you not neglect the needs of your soul or the things that can make you happy. The things that might take you outside that comfort zone a lot of us seem to fall into and never leave.

Is finding that balance an easy thing to do? NO…it’s something that can and probably will cause that butterflies in your stomach feeling, sweaty palms and it’s pretty much guaranteed you will miss sleep while trying to find yourself. Is it something necessary to live life to it’s fullest so that you can one day look back at your life and truly have no regrets? No regrets for always having done what was always expected of you rather than what would have made you happy (even now and then)?

ABSOLUTELY!!!

I see examples of so many bitter unhappy people merely walking through their lives these days.
There are those that are dissatisfied with their lives or standing in society. The ones that are unhappy with their own choices and instead want to blame others rather than themselves when life doesn’t work out the way they planned. They end up feeling alone or stupid because of decisions they have freely made. It almost seems they take comfort in their misery and are almost anxious to wallow in their discomfort rather than take steps to improve the things making them miserable.

Next there are those that believe by taking care of everyone around them at the expense of themselves or their own happiness, that they somehow are doing the right thing. Instead, they end up cheating everyone around them, including themselves. They are robbing those they love of ever knowing the true person living within. The people that will freely take from them without interest or care for the sacrifices being made are being done no favors. The person that lives their life through the happiness of others is in essence wasting a huge part of themselves and their potential, often without anyone even noticing or caring.

Then there some, and in my opinion, the worst…those that are intent on thinking themselves above it all and better than their fellow man, even though a lot of their own actions are purely hypocritical and the same or worse than those they try to belittle. In the end, they only end up making themselves look foolish in the process and rarely see it. I have found that I have no patience or sympathy for anyone that makes the choice to be vindictive, mean spirited or judgemental toward others instead of putting responsibility on themselves or living their own lives. I do however, pity those stuck in that rut of unhappiness or deceit, and for the people that have to live with or interact with them over and over again. The masks they think they wear so carefully are often instead transparent to everyone around them.

I know I can’t change all of the wrongs in the world by myself or always worry about what I cannot change in others. I don’t plan to look back on my life one day and lament the fact that I missed out on things I should have taken a chance on. The things that at the time might have seemed crazy or scary or stupid…something not in my “comfort zone”.

Over the last few years I have embraced this philosophy. In doing so, at times the decisions I’ve made have turned out to be terrific ones where I’ve grown, learned and purely enjoyed. At times, as will happen, some choices were ones in the end I’d have rather not made, but I still learned from those choices as well. It turns out even tough lessons are valuable ones if you let them be.

I plan to keep living life and taking chances outside what is merely expected of me. In the process I will try to never purposely do harm to others or shirk responsibilities that are all important in life. By the same token however, I also never plan to quit growing or experiencing the flavors and colors of life, or for that matter shrink away from confrontations if they are warranted. I will not sacrifice my full potential or happiness out of fear or by trying to take care of everyone else but myself in a misguided attempt to be selfless or a martyr.

I will try to always take chances when I can, even when I’m uncertain of the outcome. This is what keeps us vital and young and moving ahead. It keeps us from becoming stagnant, unhappy or bitter because of missed opportunities or from blaming others for what we decide to do or not do with our lives. It keeps us from having disappointment in how our lives turn out.

So I’m living my life as I started this post, continuing to move forward with my eyes wide open, head held high and my mind open to what is to come, even in these uncertain times.

Living your life well IS truly the best “revenge” against disappointment or being stuck in a rut with no chance of escape. It’s not comfortable at times to believe in yourself, but life will certainly never be dull!

~Live well, laugh often, love passionately~

The Best and The Worst of Times

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.

It was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity...

It was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness.

It was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,

We had everything before us, we had nothing before us.

We were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way . . ."

"All going direct the other way." Somehow with the news of AIG's latest and greatest claim to fame this morning of it's plan to give out 165 Million dollars, the "other way" that Dickens speaks of seems to indicate the other way we are all going directly to is in fact, hell in a hand basket. Do not pass go, do not collect $200 (of course, unless you're entitled to a bailout), do NOT go directly to jail, even if you are well deserving of doing so, it seems.

I don' t know about you, but I'm one of the so called "little people" or middle class or what is quickly becoming the group falling through the cracks. I'm not entitled enough to skate through on my "last" couple of million bucks or downtrodden enough to qualify for free handouts from the government (yet). I'm simply in the group of trying to be responsible and pay our bills the best way we can amongst growing unemployment or shrinking salaries. The ones making do with what we have, rather than trying to find ways to work the system or have someone swoop in and rescue us or pay our way.

Granted, day to day living is not always a bunch of laughs. I seem to have missed the memo where I was promised that life would always be fun or easy. Silly me, I was raised to find ways to take care of things that were my responsibility. While I'd love to live high on the hog all the time with penthouses, expensive vacations and lots of "toys", I was taught that I was old enough for my wants not to hurt me. I learned that if I can't afford something, then I have to wait until I can and make do with dreams until I find a way to make it happen. In doing so, I learned to appreciate the good things even more when they arrived or were earned. I learned pride and perseverance. Qualities all that need we are going to have to find again and learn to teach those survival skills to our children..many of whom have never heard the word no or had to do without.

So news this morning of yet more stupidity on MY hard earned dime is purely starting to piss me off. It turns out the division that is receiving the "gift" of our tax payer money in the form of bonuses, is the division whose risky contracts caused massive losses to the insurer in the first place. Has the world lost all sense of reason? Am I the ONLY one that sees the irony and idiocy in all of this? The taxpayer funded bailout (I refuse to call it the Recovery and Reinvestment Act, what a load of manure...playing with semantics won't make it more palatable) is in effect being used to REWARD those that cause it to be needed in the first place. The vivid image of a cat chasing it's tail comes to mind.

I personally don't give a flying flip that AIG is "contractually" obligated to pay these bonuses...the game and world has changed and along with it the rules. The excuse that they would be sued if they didn't fork over the money doesn't hold water with me. Let the people that helped cause this mess sue to get their blood money, I double dog dare them. If they have the kahonas to file a public lawsuit and face the public outrage, I say, let them go for it...but do NOT just meekly hand them the money. Make them actually do some work for it. Lord knows, they didn't do work or practice due diligence to earn it in the first place. When are we going to start putting our collective feet down and say we're mad as hell and NOT going to take it anymore??

The government and our illustrious administration is all over the place on every single issue put in front of it. They manage to come down on both sides of every issue, sometimes within the confines of a single speech. First we're in a catastrophic crisis that is going to get hellaciously worse. Then as of last week, all of the sudden, maybe it's NOT as bad as we thought? HUH?? Excuse me??? It just all leaves you scratching your head and saying what in heavens are they all thinking? ARE they thinking at ALL or is everyone just throwing a dart at a big board of possible outcomes and using it as the message of the day? No wonder the stock market and consumers are totally devoid of direction or confidence. I have said many times in the past 4 to 5 months, that my head is going to literally explode one of these days as I listen to yet one more speech or lecture from our leaders. Maybe that's the grand master plan...To have as many of us stroke out from frustration over the mixed messages, ineptitude and confusion being spread by those we elected to higher power.

I'm here to say, just as many others more learned than I am..that life is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. You can bet your bottom dollar on it or take it to the bank (just make sure it's a solvent one). We have all enjoyed the decades of excesses and must now fall back to earth and our roots. Many of us in our 40's or 50's remember our parents teaching us right from wrong. Somehow that message got lost or ignored along the way in the name of profit or greed or keeping up with the neighbor next door. We allowed ourselves to make excuses or allowances for why we deserved to have more than we had actually earned. It's now costing us all.

It's going to be painful, but not fatal. We are capable of fixing this mess and finding a sensible middle ground on which to now live. Will our world ever be the same again? No, I personally don't think so. This is not just a localized problem in our nation, it's a worldwide meltdown. The world and all our ways of living are now changed. Given the scope of the mess we're fighting our way through, we never should have been living life the way we were in the first place. Moderation and common sense are going to have to prevail.

It's not as bad as it sounds to find new ways of doing things. There will be positives amongst the icky stuff to come. We'll find who we can depend on and rediscover or find in the first place ways to enjoy ourselves and families without the distraction of so much "stuff" getting in the way. We will learn if we're smart enough to pay attention, that there are more things important than getting a new car every year or going on several fancy vacations a year so we can compare pictures with our friends and have a contest to determine who had the best time or spent the most money. Who knows? Simple pleasures just may be rediscovered along with the joy they can bring. To learn appreciation for living life without so much pressure to always have more and the finding that even the more is never enough.

We have to stop the stupidity of letting the inmates rule the asylum. To continue to let executives or those so used to "playing the game" keep sliding things past us on the rails of excuses or reasons why things CAN'T be changed, has to stop. The government has to develop a backbone, stop trying to please everyone and start handing out consequences for bad behavior. Let the big boys fail...nothing is TOO big or TOO important to fail. Someone or a better organization will rise to take their place.

It's the American way. Now we all just need to remember what that way is and work to build a better more stable foundation that has some common sense...and learn to savor the good things before always needing more.

The lyrics of a Styx song, "The Best of Times" come to mind...

Tonight's the night well make history honey, you and I..
And I'll take any risk to tie back the hands of time
And stay with you here tonight.

I know you feel these are the worst of times..
I do believe its true
When people lock their doors and hide inside.

Rumor has it its the end of paradise
But I know, if the world just passed us by
Baby I know, you wouldn't have to cry.

The best of times are when I'm alone with you
Some rain, some shine, we'll make this a world for two..
Our memories of yesterday will last a lifetime.

We'll take the best, forget the rest
And someday well find these are the best of times
These are the best of times

The headlines read these are the worst of times,
I do believe its true.
I feel so helpless like a boat against the tide.

I wish the summer winds could bring back paradise
But I know, if the world turned upside down
Baby, I know you'd always be around.

The best of times are when I'm alone with you
Some rain, some shine, we'll make this a world for two..
Our memories of yesterday will last a lifetime.

We'll take the best, forget the rest
And someday we'll find these are the best of times..
These are the best of times.

And
So my friends we'll say goodnight..for time has claimed its prize.
But tonight will always last
As long as we keep alive memories of paradise...

Superstition Is To Blame

Forget for a minute that we’re in the middle of the most troubling frightening worldwide economic downturn of our times. Totally disregard the fact that there are people in the world with no respect for human life and are instead full of hate and determined to do harm to others. Never mind that we have an as yet untested (thank God) inexperienced new administration in our country that has stumbled badly coming out of the gate. It all pales in comparison to this…

Today is Friday the 13th. Not just any Friday the 13th mind you. It’s one of a trio we will have in 2009. The first was in February, this one in March, and then the last will come in November. To have three Friday the 13ths in a single year is not a common occurrence. Statistically, it’s only possible to have the 13th fall on three Fridays in a single year every eleven years. Lucky us. With all that is going on around us, it almost seems to be poetic justice that we have this occur this year too. Heck, at this point, why not?

Even the most non-superstitious among us will take pause and notice a Friday the 13th. We make movies around it, architecture is changed to avoid the number 13 and some will even alter their plans in order to “be on the safe side” on this day…just in case. It’s folklore of the most persuasive kind. The type that feeds upon itself and permeates our consciousness almost against our will.

Where does all this superstition come from? Nobody knows for sure. Some theories believe that it may date back to Biblical times (the 13th guest at the Last Supper betrayed Jesus). By the Middle Ages, both Friday and 13 were considered bearers of bad fortune.

Meanwhile the belief that numbers are connected to life and physical things, called numerology, also has a long history. People are subconsciously drawn towards specific numbers because they know that they need the experiences, attributes or lessons, associated with them, that are contained within their potential. Some believe that Numerology can ‘make sense’ of an individuals life (health, career, relationships, situations and issues) by recognizing which number cycle they are in, and by giving them clarity.

Here are 13 more facts about the infamous day, just for fun. At the very least it will add to your Trivial Pursuit scores. At most, it will give you a little more insight into human behavior and perhaps the origins of your own beliefs.

1. The British Navy is said to have built a ship named Friday the 13th, or the HMS Friday, which on its maiden voyage left dock on a Friday the 13th, and was never heard from again. This story seems to be a legend. The Royal Navy Museum states on its web site that this story, which has been told before, is a hoax. “There has never been a Royal Navy ship named HMS Friday – or after any other day of the week for that matter,” the museum states.

2. The ill-fated Apollo 13 launched at 13:13 CST on Apr. 11, 1970. The sum of the date’s digits (4-11-70) is 13 (as in 4+1+1+7+0 = 13). And the explosion that crippled the spacecraft occurred on April 13 (not a Friday). The crew did make it back to Earth safely, however.

3. Many hospitals have no room 13, while some tall buildings skip the 13th floor.

4. Fear of Friday the 13th, one of the most popular myths in science, is called paraskavedekatriaphobia as well as friggatriskaidekaphobia. Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13.

5.Quarterback Dan Marino wore No. 13 throughout his career with the Miami Dolphins. Despite being a superb quarterback (some call him one of the best ever), he got to the Super Bowl just once, in 1985, and was trounced 38-16 by the San Francisco 49ers and Joe Montana (who wore No. 16 and won all four Super Bowls he played in).

6.Butch Cassidy, notorious American train and bank robber, was born on Friday, April 13, 1866.

7. Fidel Castro was born on Friday, Aug. 13, 1926.

8. President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month and would never host 13 guests at a meal. Napoleon and Herbert Hoover were also triskaidekaphobic, with an abnormal fear of the number 13.

9.Superstitious diners in Paris can hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest.

10. Mark Twain once was the 13th guest at a dinner party. A friend warned him not to go. “It was bad luck,” Twain later told the friend. “They only had food for 12.”

11. Woodrow Wilson considered 13 his lucky number, though his experience didn’t support such faith. He arrived in Normandy, France on Friday, Dec. 13, 1918, for peace talks, only to return with a treaty he couldn’t get Congress to sign. (The ship’s crew wanted to dock the next day due to superstitions.) He toured the United States to rally support for the treaty, and while traveling, suffered a near-fatal stroke.

12. The number 13 suffers from its position after 12, according to numerologists who consider the latter to be a complete number — 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles of Jesus, 12 days of Christmas and 12 eggs in a dozen.

13. The seals on the back of a dollar bill include 13 steps on the pyramid, 13 stars above the eagle’s head, 13 war arrows in the eagle’s claw and 13 leaves on the olive branch. So far there’s been no evidence tying these long-ago design decisions to the present economic situation.

So, there you go..take it as you will or with a grain of salt. Don’t forget if you spill that salt, to toss some over your right shoulder though, can’t be too careful! Don’t walk under ladders, be careful not to break any mirrors, open an umbrella in the house or let a black cat cross your path today.

Lord knows, with the world in the shape it’s in, do you REALLY want to tempt fate?? See a penny, pick it up. With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to carry around those 4 leaf clovers a few days early. Better safe than sorry.
Just a thought. (Knock on wood *wink*)

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Superstition

Stevie Wonder

Very superstitious, writing’s on the wall,

Very superstitious, ladder’s ’bout to fall,

Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin’ glass

Seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past.

When you believe in things that you don’t understand,

Then you suffer,

Superstition ain’t the way

Very superstitious, wash your face and hands,

Rid me of the problem, do all that you can,

Keep me in a daydream, keep me goin’ strong,

You don’t wanna save me, sad is my song.

When you believe in things that you don’t understand,

Then you suffer,

Superstition ain’t the way.

Very superstitious, nothin’ more to say,

Very superstitious, the devil’s on his way,

Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin’ glass,S

even years of bad luck, good things in your past.

When you believe in things that you don’t understand,

Then you suffer,

Superstition ain’t the way.

Just Another Day in Paradise!

I was born and raised in Georgia. I’m the proud product of the many varied colorful influences that one can only benefit from if they were immersed in our unique and at times ludicrous way of life here in the South. As most will say of the place they call home, I will admit that I have always felt very fortunate to have had my personality formed with a mixture of family, friends, God and country..with a dash of bizarre thrown in for good measure.

One thing that Southerners are never accused of, is being boring. We tend to have an unique way of looking at life. I will also readily admit that you also have to have a healthy sense of humor and not take yourself too seriously to grow up in the South in order to be able to fully appreciate all it has to offer..from the subtle nuances and tempo of the culture to the in your face eccentricities.

I’m a true Southern Belle raised with cotillions and crazy relatives that in many cases, had colorful pasts..bless their hearts. We had dinner on the grounds once a month after Church on Sunday with some of the best cooking on God’s green earth. We eat supper during the week at night instead of having dinner..BUT the meal in the middle of the day on Sunday was always called dinner. I know the difference in pitching a fit or having a conniption. We worship at the altar of our SEC football teams and life stops on Saturday as we follow what is happening to our beloved Alma maters (in my case, UGA..GO DAWGS!). We eat grits and drink sweet tea. We mind our manners and still say “Yes Ma’am” and “No Sir”. We cannot drive in snow or ice…or are smart enough to pretend not to know how to do it, so that we can have snow days or weeks off now and then. We can literally talk the ears off a June bug.

This week a National Survey was released and conducted by Gallup in partnership with Healthways and America’s Health Insurance Plans that ranked the top areas of the country in terms of residents overall well-being. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the rest of the country will see what I have always known, the county I grew up in and still live in, is ranked second in the nation in the survey.

The survey questioned residents across the country about physical health, life evaluation, emotional health and basic access. Here in Cobb, we scored first in the physical health category, second in life evaluation, fourth in emotional health, and 10th in basic access.

Move over Disney World, there’s a new sheriff in town. Who knew we were already living day to day in the new “Happiest Place on Earth”?? All this time we’ve been spending our vacation money (mortgaging our firstborn in some cases) and risking our sanity to go visit the Big Mouse so that we could immerse ourselves in happiness on the E-ticket rides. If we had ONLY realized we could have stayed home and avoided the crowds!!

So, the message for today is…don’t worry, be HAPPY!!

It appears I’m in better shape than I thought given the changes in the world and economic climate and all the accompanying challenges.

Who knew? (besides us, of course)

Bad Moon Rising

On the way home tonight, the feeling in the air was unmistakable.

The breeze was warm and the sky was filled with a bright full moon speckled with spotty clouds drifting over it..almost obscuring it from view for a few minutes before it would once again illuminate the night sky.

I’m a totally rational female (telling the CT Yankee to shush, we can’t all be as stoic as you are..and the term “rational female” is NOT an oxymoron!) most of the time, almost too much so on some occasions..to the point of being too serious. Yet, as the years are passing by, I find that I have opened my mind to more possibilities than those that are easily proven by science or logic. I’ve come to the conclusion that there are so many things in heaven and earth we will never fully understand the purpose of, but instead we will just have to feel or take on faith as valid life lessons when events happen…with no rhyme or reason or proof provided.

I was brought up with a deep seated faith that to this day is a basic part of who I am. I have an abiding confidence and take comfort in the knowledge each and every day that a greater power created us all and watches over us..guides us. Those feelings, that absolute certainty, serves me well as I navigate through any uncertain times in my life or when the world becomes a scary place.

That said, my mind has also expanded to include the possibilities of things…influences in our environment, that affect our lives. Things that can’t be proven or touched, but are there nonetheless. Do I live my life based on what my horoscope tells me? Of course not. Do I have a healthy curiosity and allow for the possibility that there are many things we do not know or understand the mechanics behind it all in this world that will influence our lives and the events in our lives? Do I choose to investigate all the different nuances that might affect our time on this earth? Yes I do.

A man that I respect and adore…and who tends to be more stoically rational than anyone in Connecticut is (which is saying a lot since they don’t tend to be quite as ummmm..animated..as we are down South)…believes in ghosts. I figure if he can believe in ghosts, then I can allow for the premise that the moon and stars affect our moods and at times the events that occur due to those changes.

So, with that in mind..tonight’s full moon stuck with me. The song “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revivial immediately came to mind in conjunction with the current mood in the nation and the events of the past few months. As a teacher and flight attendant, I will swear..even though there is absolutely no scientific evidence to prove it that I’m aware of..that behavior changes during the time around a full moon. At school you can feel the extra energy of the kids and the almost manic need to be moving all the time…a lack of concentration occurs. In the air, the planes and airports are filled with impatient people. Passengers are more on edge and more likely to be aggressive in both anger and in the way they will pursue the opposite sex.

I’ve been observing the behavior of myself and others around full moons all my life. I’m pretty sure I was born on a full moon. I am convinced that people go a little crazy around those times. The week or so leading up to the full moon feels literally like a rising tide of emotion…people get a bit jumpy, things seem more dramatic. I drink more caffeine, sleep less, talk faster and dream more. I’ve even been known to go shopping, to a movie or sit at the edge of the water at midnight on the evening of a full moon.

Since the full moon shining down on me this particular evening seemed to somehow make me a little more anxious and a little more reflective..I decided to do a little research (yes, I was geeky before geeky was cool) and see what I could come up with. What I discovered was very interesting given the world events of the past year. The moon is in my sign (Virgo) tonight and here’s what I uncovered…

The Full Moon in Virgo on March 10, 2009 clashes with Saturn in Virgo and Uranus in Pisces, prompting a battle between security and change. Throughout the week, this unsettling influence will reignite the stressful Saturn-Uranus opposition that took place in February 2009 and November 2008 (and will occur again in September).

If you’ll remember, last February and November is when the U.S. financial markets tanked to new lows. And of course, February marked the launch of the gargantuan United States stimulus bill. Change was in the air (and still is), along with a widespread escalation of fear about the economy. Fortunately, Uranus, the planet of upheaval, and Saturn, the planet of materialism, have moved apart somewhat, but this month’s Full Moon will draw them together energetically to challenge our comfort zones again.

Full Moons are notorious for heightening emotionalism, and this one may be particularly rocky, especially for Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. So try not to overreact to whatever situations you find yourself in, and take some quiet time to get centered if you feel overwhelmed. Think before you speak or react to situations.

Most importantly, this is a wake-up call. Change (Uranus) opposing the status quo (Saturn) is a necessary step in freeing ourselves of restrictions and outmoded ways of doing things. You may want to ask yourself how this cosmic “battle” mirrors your own fears about change, and then work through whatever feelings come up for you.

It’s all about freedom - and intent. Uranus in Pisces illuminates the spiritual principals of attracting what you focus on. It’s not about denying what you’re feeling, but if you can also visualize (vividly!) a better tomorrow for yourself, your community, your country and the world, it will come to pass, step by step…if you work to make it happen.

I found all of this to be very interesting, especially given the circumstances we all find surrounding us in society today. Do I plan to change the way I live my life because of the information I discovered? Of course not. When the course of my life changes, it happens because I make informed decisions and at times simply have to operate and react on faith and intuition…so far that way of living and reacting has served me well over the years. It’s also true though, that it’s part of my general personality to always want to have all the information I can gather to make the best decisions I can. I’m a “thinker” by nature. I enjoy the exercise of stretching my brain and have been known to frequently tell my students that I want to learn something new each and every day of my life. Knowledge is indeed power.

In a time where there is so much world uncertainty about the economy, our jobs, the direction of our country and our very future..I believe it’s a good thing to allow for the things we can’t see or touch or explain away with logic. The planetary pull does affect our world, that is a scientfic fact. The tides rise and fall due to gravity. The sighting of a probable comet as a star guiding the Three Wise Men was written to herald the birth of Jesus in the Bible. Asteriods have been assumed to have caused havoc with our world’s development and climate when they crashed to earth over our history. The night sky has long been a source of mystery and literally a provider of guidance to destinations as travelers and explorers from Magellan forward looked to the heavens to find their course.

Given all of this..who am I to dismiss what might be?

~”There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your
philosophy. “- Shakespeare (Hamlet)~

Why Waste a Good Crisis...

...when you can create widespread comic relief and chaos instead??







Let's put aside for the moment the pure idiocy and symbolism of giving a button to push, much less a RED button to the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as her opening salvo into discussions of US-Russian relations. Ummmm..HELLO?? How in heaven's name do translators get the intended word "Reset" somehow confused with "Overcharge"??? Where were the proofreading skills that I make even my kindergarten students practice? Perhaps a Freudian slip.


Let's totally disregard the fact that just last week it was leaked, rumored, whatever..that President Obama sent a letter a few weeks ago offering to put the brakes on or totally abandon the missile shield program overseas if Russia would "help" us in persuading Iran to play nice and give up their dangerous toys (can't have them putting anyone's eye out, now can we??)


Then our illustrious Hope and Change administration also managed to alienate British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and in the process look cartoonish, when in an epic (can't do anything small, now can we?) thoughtless gesture, gave him plastic gift shop helicopters and a DVD collection of American movies in exchange for a few priceless "trinkets" that he and his country bestowed on our new best hope. I guess Walmart didn't have any of the "As Seen on TV" products in stock to sweeten the gift pot.


I know what you're thinking...obviously DVDs and plastic helicopters stack up SO well with an ornamental desk pen-holder made from the oak timbers of the Victorian anti-slaver HMS Gannet, once named HMS President for the Resolute desk in the Oval office...the framed commission for HMS Resolute, a vessel that came to symbolise Anglo-US peace when it was saved from ice packs by Americans and given to Queen Victoria...and a first edition set of the seven-volume classic biography of Churchill by Sir Martin Gilbert. They also brought thoughtful handpicked gifts for the first girls.


The Obamas in turn, managed to treat the Gordons like the relative you see once a year at Christmas and use the last pennies of your gift budget to grab something on clearance...and in the process snub one of our staunchest allies. Mission Accomplished, Mr. President!! Please keep making us proud! Why not just give them a gift card while you're at it. At least that might have stimulated the economy in some way if they redeemed it.


When the Obama administration touted the fact that they were going to boost our reputation on the world stage again, I didn't think they meant the comedy stage. The world is starting to snicker at the United States and beginning to fall off the adoration bandwagon. The pedestals are being put away in favor of feet of clay.


The resounding chorus coming from the top...starting with Rahm Emanuel and echoed by Hillary Clinton this week...

~“Never waste a good crisis,” Clinton told a hearing at the European Parliament.
“And when it comes to the economic crisis, don’t waste it when it can have a
very positive impact on climate change and energy security.” … “This is a
propitious time … we can actually begin to demonstrate our willingness to
confront this. We are making up the best we can for lost time,” she
added.~

...when in the middle of a worldwide economic meltdown is chilling if you pay attention. Focus is being absolutely lost on the important immediate economic domestic issues in favor of cramming every single piece of expensive pet agendas through on the coattails of each piece of legislation being considered. Heck, ignore the fact that we are hemorrhaging money, let's revamp health care and give everyone a pig in a poke while we're at it!! Oh wait, those pigs probably cause global warming and might be construed as pork or need lipstick...better make it tainted peanut butter instead!!! Yeah, that's the ticket! That will build respect for us around the world!


Hold on to your goodie bags, it appears to be Howdie Doodie Time again!


Bless their hearts.

"Obama inherited a disaster and has created a catastrophe." Ann Coulter

I'm Not Worried...

I’m not worried about what President Obama is going to do “for” me..I’m worried about what the current administration is going to do “TO” me..”TO” our country and “TO” our freedoms. I realize that my way of thinking is a big difference from the people waiting in line for all the ways that the country can relieve them of all personal responsibility and save them. I realize, to my dismay, that I’m fast becoming the minority in our country.

I was raised to believe that life isn’t meant to be a cakewalk and always easy. We seem to be quickly becoming a nation of those that expect no consequences for poor personal decisions. We are becoming a nation of people that don’t know how to fail and then pick themselves up and find ways to be better than before. We are quickly becoming a nation of people that expect something for nothing in a bottomless all-you-can eat buffet of handouts and bailouts.

Where does it all stop? I used to think that things would hit bottom and we’d recover and be stronger than ever. It’s always been the American way..the dogged determination to find ways to succeed. It’s what has made our country unique over the decades. Our country was founded by those that left a hard life with little to no possibility for personal freedoms or growth and left all that they knew for an uncertain future where they could be in control of their own destiny.

I’m now not so sure there is a bottom to find. I get up each morning and check the headlines. It’s like we are in some bizarre loop as was portrayed in “Groundhog Day” and events just keep repeating over and over again..with more and more desperate flailing to try and stop the freefall.

Here’s a concept. Just stop.

Breathe.

Slow down and think first before simply reacting blindly without a clear direction.

Know that we are all going to hurt and not live charmed lives for a while. Let the American spirit that I still believe to be present in a lot of the population, albeit undrawn upon in recent years..to rekindle and resurface. Realize that life has changed, deal with it, and find ways to make it better. Will it be easy? Of course not! So many have forgotten or never learned in the first place that easy things are seldom as precious as those we fight or work for.

We need to not be ruled by fear and desperation that would lead to making hasty ill-advised decisions without thinking first. We need to learn to once again stand up on our own two feet and improvise when things get tough. While thankfully it’s not the case right now…I have known personally and lived through the uncertainty and fear of being without a job and wondering how you will provide for a family and pay bills and at times even meet the basic needs of food or health care. It purely sucks. I have always known how to “make do” with what is available and when the times aren’t as good, how to find ways to survive.

It’s a lost art that is going to have to be relearned by some and learned for the first time by many others. So many need to learn to not count on the government to bail them out or rescue them..to instead learn again how to depend on themselves.

The times and era of overindulgence and excess are over..perhaps for good. The world has changed in fundamental ways which will effect our way of life in this country as well. We all profited and benefited in ways large and small during the bountiful years and we are all going to hurt to some degree in the years to come.

Life has changed as we know it. It’s up to all of us to find ways to make it an adventure and to succeed. It will be difficult and at times purely terrifying. That is part of living..as uncomfortable and unwanted as some parts of that life can be, there are always bright spots to be found and cherished if you take the time to look for them. If you stop expecting rescue and readjust your thinking to realize each day is a new opportunity. Every day is different. The next day may be just as lousy as the one before, but it will be different with different opportunities to make a change or a difference. The next day is rarely always just as bad. Sometimes the good might be minuscule in it’s scope, but it’s there if you look for it.

We are Americans. We are NOT due or promised a charmed life. We ARE promised our freedoms and the ability to make our own decisions as to what is best for our own families.

We need to remember that..find our courage and our bootstraps..and start pulling OURSELVES up.

I for one, don’t want to have to depend on the kindness of others for my day to day existence. While I’m not above asking for help if it’s a matter of survival or life and death, I’m also not afraid of struggle and hardship. It makes the good times sweeter when they come..and they will come eventually. Those good times may not be exactly as we envisioned…but savor them anyway.

Learn how to be proud Americans again and not a wimpy nation of those waiting and expecting to be taken care of by others. Learn to deal with hardship and be innovative and inventive. It’s the American way that has been lost.

Fight to get it back. Don’t wait for others to do the work and think that you can’t possibly make a difference. Learn to be the ONE person you can always count on. Trust yourself and realize that this too will all pass. The better times may not arrive on our schedule or be exactly what we imagined, but...

There ARE better days ahead for us all.

Getting To Know ME

I know, the illustrious title of the blog suggests that I might be about to write yet another one of the totally boring, completely predictable blogs found everywhere online these days. You know the ones, they are designed to explore inner angst and share every minute detail of a person's life with any total stranger that stumbles across their humble little area of cyberspace. While it's true that somewhere along the line throughout anything I might chose to write on this site, a reader might glean a smidgen of a peek into what makes me tick or into my day to day life, I see no reason to "introduce" myself in great detail here. Where's the fun in that?

In this fast paced, hurry up and wait world we live in, there is no sense of mystery or anticipation anymore. It's an all out, instant gratification, short attention spanned existence developing around us. I, for one..don't buy into it. I know I'm no spring chicken anymore, but I'm not a dinosaur either. There have to be other so-called "adults" that feel the same way.
I do see glimmers here and there that indicate there are still non-sheep amongst us. Granted, given an article I saw the other day that quoted statistics about the number of Facebook and MySpace users vs. those that see no need to have said pages is dramatically tilted in favor of those that have joined the growing throngs of those that participate, I do admit I'm now in the official minority. I just don't feel the need to have 4000 of my closest friends be people I've never met in real life..or to have the people I DO know in person, become a blip on a computer screen or an instant message rather than spend actual face time with them. So much is lost in translation.

It's not that I'm not a geek or even remotely un-hip. I was a computer science major in the dark ages before it was cool to like computers (even BEFORE PC's were a glimmer in Bill Gates eye). I have always been able to program my own VCR (yes, I know they are obsolete now, but I COULD program one if I had to!). I have a smart phone that I can operate with ease. I know my way inside and out of programming and creating websites, I even used to be a web mistress and site designer. I fully appreciate the role that computers and the Internet allow us. I have 3 children in their teens and twenties that I have to keep up with. I teach school and am constantly exposed to the current trends, good and ridiculous. I am a flight attendant and run across people from every walk of life and get to interact with them. Did I mention that as a Southern female, I'm also a teensy bit outgoing and will talk your ear off given the chance?

By the same token, I see bits of society slipping away...parts I view as vitally important to our humanity. I'm all for change (well, truthfully not as much as I used to be..I seem to be slowly turning into my parents). Let's compromise and say I'm totally in favor of progress..as long as it is indeed progress and not instead hiding behind a wall of technology and isolation rather than living life. It's exciting to meet people from distances that you would never have the opportunity otherwise to ever cross paths with via the Internet. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities and knowledge about those around us.

What we must not do is allow that to evolve into our new version of reality. Regardless of the fact if you know a person's bathroom schedule or their deepest darkest secrets..if you haven't met them face to face and looked in their eyes..had a chance to reach out and touch them or smile at them in person and not via webcam..you DO NOT really know a person. It's too easy to hide behind our masks online. It's very easy to only share what we want shared and hide the rest of what makes one an individual. It's too tempting to only share what makes us look good or to play a part and invent ourselves rather than do the heavy lifting of explanations for behaviors that best online "friend" might not approve of.

I know this was a long-winded way to get back around to the main title of this blog.."Getting To Know ME". I've been on a journey of discovery the past few months due to the twists and turns of everyday life that one simply cannot anticipate. Every time I think I'm done changing or growing or have finally settled into what will be the final copy of myself, I seem to find out I'm only still a rough draft. Truthfully, I'll share a secret with you (and this is just between us, so shhhhhhhhhh!!)...I wouldn't have it any other way. I think if we ever stop changing and evolving, we might as well hang it up. It's when old age sets in...it's when you become stagnant.

I may be a tiny bit opinionated. My views on some things shift as the world changes, while other deep rooted beliefs stay the same. I have so many thoughts rolling around in my head that need to be shared without censor, pure and unfettered from expectations of others.

So, I'M the one getting to know ME...again.

Wait Just a Pea Pickin' Minute!! - July 14th, 2008

Some of you are aware that I have a certain affection for a damned Yankee and regularly immerse myself in travels to the great north for an infusion of ummm..Northern hospitality (yeah, we'll go with that). Now while male/female interactions in and of themselves can be a bit of a challenge in the best of circumstances, throw in a few regional and cultural differences and at times, it's not only like we are from Mars and Venus..but from different galaxies altogether as well. (mine, of COURSE, being the totally normal, sane universe and his being full of nuts, but I digress)

Now, while I can be and often am, an intellectual snot most of the time in regard to grammar or in my manner of speech, there are times..albeit few and far between..when my Southern roots and upbringing take over. (I know, it's a great shock...stick with me on this) It seems that when I get excited, agitated or irritated, I can become a tiny bit regional in the way I express myself. Apparently during these times, I might have an itty bitty tendency to utter a phrase or two that those living above the Mason Dixon line do not employ in their day to day communications.
I know, I know!! It's hard to imagine, but amazingly true. Different areas of the country have trouble understanding the true meaning behind some of our more beloved phrases. Personally, I think we are simply a descriptive, imaginative group of people that just choose to use particularly apt colorful words to express ourselves. I just don't see where the confusion comes from. In my eyes, we're very easy to understand! Fiddle-dee-dee!

I always know that I've managed to befuddle the poor man and crossed the communication great divide when I hear a silence on the other end of the phone line, or when I've sent a text message and finally get a reply questioning my sanity. (of course, to be fair, he tends to question my sanity with frequent regularity even when I'm making perfect sense) If I'm being totally honest, I will admit that at times (not often, mind you), when I'm visiting New York and Connecticut..I "might" turn on my Southerness a bit more just for effect. I just can't help it. It becomes almost a challenge to take some of the stoic out of those that need a stick-ectomy (for those of you that can't figure that one out, taking the stick out of one's butt and learning to laugh at one's self rather than being so serious all the time) Besides, I'm constantly fielding requests to just "say something" so they can hear my "cute little accent" *rolling my eyes*. So, being the belle I am..I oblige them in my own sweet little innocent way!

So today, I send a perfectly innocent little text message..something along the lines of "I swanny (and yes that actual IS a word, albeit a Southern one, you Yankee smartass..she says with great affection) I am going to have to kill you yet..wink" Okay, that isn't along the lines of, that IS the actual text message. There is silence for about 5 minutes, then I get this in return from said Yankee.."What the HELL kind of word is that??" From there I sent the definition of the word "swanny" along with using it in what I thought was a great sentence that entailed describing a certain body part that can be truthfully declared as something I find VERY appealing. (for those of you that don't know, the definition of swanny is to declare or swear) I'll let y'all use your massive imaginations to fill in the blanks or construct your own sentences...I don't text and tell.

It must take very little to amuse me, because I was literally laughing out loud and not in a emoticon type of way, in a way that made everyone on the train from the airport look at me like I had lost my mind. I hate to tell them, but I misplaced any sanity I had a long, LONG time ago and have found I don't miss my mind at all anymore. I'm better off without it and fixin' to get even more outrageous with age. I want to be a "character" when I grow up. (i.e.-"She's a real character, isn't she?")

Now I ask you...if you hear these phrases, wouldn't they bring to mind a picture that is MUCH more descriptive and easy to understand than conventional speech?

"she was as ugly as the backside of a barn"... or

"you look like you've been ridden hard and put up wet"...

"It smells like something done crawled up here and died!" or

"that girl needs some meat on her bones, bless her heart"...

"we're smack dab in the middle of something good"

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I know, by now you're all fit to be tied and bless your hearts, probably in a tizzy..but butter my buns and call me a biscuit..I just don't think this is such a conundrum. Dang, most of you are as wild as all get out and this ain't your first rodeo..so go with the flow and get yourself all gussied up. Good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise, tomorrow is another day.

Don't go throwing a hissy fit, it's not worth getting in a pickle over! Daggumit, Lawd have mercy! Goodness gracious and shoot fire, it ain't nothing that can't be fixed with a glass of sweet tea...join me on the porch and we'll mull it over. Butter would melt in my mouth when I set my mind to somethin'!

Have a good 'un and y'all come on back by, you hear? *wink*

Now I ask you...HOW simple is that?? It's JUST simple english!

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(for the record, this particular bit of writing sent the spell check into a tizzy of it's own, apparently IT doesn't speak plain, simple English either!!)