We just all need a little love

You see it again and again.  All last night and especially this morning the airwaves were flooded with pictures of the destruction in Oklahoma.  Miles of lives in ruin, people suffering the loss of life, and the loss of everything that they own.

Though, in among the loss, there are brief miracles.  This woman lost her dog, and found it, live on TV.  And I know, it's not a person, but as a pet owner I'd be devastated if our pets were lost in the storm.

(That reminds me... I need to microchip the puppy.... lest she get lost!)

My attention was drawn to Dearborn, Michigan this morning.  Dearborn has A LOT of Islamic people.  It has MANY MANY people of Arab descent there.  So, of course, it's a popular place for protesters.   So popular, in fact, that they had to cancel their yearly festival, because security was a problem.  Because the actions of the few are reflecting badly on the lives of the many.

There are some truths that need to be spoken about this.

• When you get down to it, Fundamentalist Christianity and Fundamentalist Islam are more alike than different.  
• American was not founded as a Christian Nation.
• Muslims in the US aren't looking to establish Shi'ra law.  So stop trying to establish Christian Law.. or Jewish law...
• The percentage of extremist Christians and extremist Muslims are small, when compared to the whole.  We need to stop letting the actions of a few color our perceptions of the many.

I know I've said this again and again... if we come to people with open minds and understanding, many of these tensions will naturally ease.

If we all share a little love, this country will be a more tolerant place.

And I for one, plan to share some love.

Mother's Day, Spring Cleaning and Sad Goodbyes

Well, I'm on day 3 of my vacation.  What have I done?  Spring Cleaning!

On that topic.... I had a subscription to the Honest Company for a bit.  I like environmentally friendly safe for kids and pets cleaning products...

But man... the price was killing me!  $35 a month plus shipping.  I mean, yes, you get 5 products a month, but was it worth it?



Then I remembered... I have a bottle of all purpose cleaner concentrate from Ms. Meyer's Clean Day.  The bottle was about $12 and might last me the rest of my life.  So I cancelled my Honest Company subscription, and decided that when those products run out, I'm switching companies.


The reason for my vacation, was that A.) My office manager is back and B.) Commencement is over.  Sunday was commencement, which is the busiest time of the academic year (Besides Graduate Application time).  Sunday was also Mother's Day.

Mother's day has to be hard on some women.  Me?  I'm not a mom, and may never be one.  But some women aren't moms.  I think The Bloggess put it the best:

But you know who else deserves it?  The women who have struggled to be, or are still struggling to be moms.  The women who want children but just aren’t in a safe place in life to have them.  The women who don’t want kids and have to listen to a bunch of bullshit about how you’re only worthwhile if you’ve pushed a human out of your vagina.  The women who miss the children they once had.  The women who miss the children they lost before they ever met them.  The women who gave up their children so their child could have a better life than they could provide.  The women who were raised motherless, or with shitty mothers, or who have lost their mothers and are reminded of how alone they feel.  Mother’s Day is a confusing, weird, very-seldom-wrapped-up-with-a-nice-commercial-bow sort of day, and as for me, I salute you all – mothers or not…you’re here.  You’re alive.  You continue to survive.  You are worthwhile and wonderful.  Never forget that.

Today also marks the possible last time that I'll see my good friend before she moves away.  I'll miss her desperately.  She's my kindred spirit.

And this is what I wanted to tell her... but didn't... because I'd cry.

The Home Stretch!

Two more days.  Two more days until Commencement.

And commencement is the only thing that between me and a week's vacation!

The cookies are bought, the lemonade is purchased.  I have the paper products.  I just need to print lists, and make reserved signs.

Then it's 5 hours of really hard work.

And then vacation!

And by vacation..... I mean staying home for a week and catching up on the spring cleaning.

I know, it's not a true vacation.  There's no palm trees or cabana boys or theme parks (though I now have a Busch Gardens pass).. but it's necessary.

I'm almost there... just a little bit longer....

Lazy Saturday

First, let me get this out of the way:

Now that I've done that...  (I went to Hot Topic to see if I liked any of the Star Wars gear.... and there was a pretty poor selection!)

It's Saturday.  This week was very long.  But filled with good news.  My co-worker is coming back on Monday.  For good this time.  I won't be alone anymore.  I won't be responsible for everything anymore.

Seriously, I'm beyond stressed.  After commencement, I'm taking a week off.  A staycation, if you will.  maybe I'll see if I can find a good groupon for a massage.

This week I've been re-reading (and listening to the audiobook of) Divergent and Insurgent.  I loved the books, and can't wait for the movie.  But this afternoon, I think I'm going to nap, and watch Defiance (which I now own on Amazon Instant Video).

Tonight I'm going to a party.  Perhaps I'll even have a cocktail!

The good, the bad and the awesome!

First, the awesome:

Wil Wheaton speaking about why it's great to be a nerd!

And since I am a nerd I can say:  Right on!

Now the good... and the bad...

The good:  I'm working out 6 days a week
The bad:  Have you seen my motivation?  Because I havne't.

I make it a point to do at least 10 minute.  I shoot for 20... but it's been hard.  I try to vary what I do.  But I try to have plenty of Leslie Sansone on my HuluPlus queue.  if all else fails, I can force myself to do that.  Mainly because it requires less thinking.

This week my goal is to NOT do her work outs.  I need to sit down with my Hulu queue and find some interesting work outs and do them!

My other goal is to not have another panic attack today.

Because it just sucks

Of course, Jon Stewart tells it like it is

It bothers me how many people really don't know the constitution.  Or will interpretate it for their own gains.

Now, I'm not going anywhere NEAR the 2nd amendment.

But the 1st amendment.  It's so simple. (Notice I'm just going to talk about the Religion aspect of this... for now)

• The government will not subscribe to one religion over another.  That means that you are free to be whatever religion you want.  Even Muslim.  (Muslim =/= terrorist)
• England, and many of the colonies, required people to belong to the Church of England.  That's why the 1st amendment is there!
• Saying this nation was founded on Christian values is crap.  Many of the colonies were founded so people that weren't Anglican could practice their religion.  Other colonies were founded purely for money.

Between this, and the head-deskingly bad phone calls I've had.... 

GleeCap: Lights Out

I'm not going to recap the entire episode.. just a few parts.

First, Becky told Figgins the truth.  Good on her!

And now what's really got me unsettled.  Ryder.

The character disclosed that he was abused by a babysitter.  A teenage female babysitter.

What do the other boys say?  That's not abuse!  It's you getting lucky!

(Cue so much facepalming)

Ryder finally stopped arguing  and mocking proclaimed that he was a stud, and the thing was dropped.  The girls tried to come to his defense, but no one would hear them.  Shue only said that he has to report it.

I don't know where they are going with this.

• Is the jackass reaction to highlight victim blaming?
• Will Shue and Emma step in and set those boys straight?
• Will Bieste slap some sense into them?

I have a feeling that this isn't the last we're seeing of this.  The reactions were a bit too ridiculousness   They were over blown.  Meant for the audience to see how stupid it all sounded.

I pray he comes back to this.  it's too big an issue not to.