A Political Side Bar

George Bush, Queen Elizabeth, and Vladimir Putin all die and go to hell. While there, they spy a red phone and ask what the phone is for. The devil tells them it is for calling back home.

Putin asks to call Russia and talks for 5 minutes. When he is finished the devil informs him that the cost is a million dollars, so Putin writes him a check.

Next Queen Elizabeth calls England and talks for 30 minutes. When she is finished the devil informs her that the cost is 6 million dollars, so she writes him a check.

Finally George Bush gets his turn and talks for 4 hours. When he is finished the devil informs him that the cost is $5.00.

When Putin hears this he goes ballistic and asks the devil why Bush got to call the USA so cheaply.

The devil smiles and replies: "While Bush was in office, the country went to hell, so it's a local call." 

Tour De Korea

My nephew is currently competing in his first international bike race.  This takes his bike riding to a whole different level and from his email, sounds like he is having the time of his life!

The real gift in this is getting to live large vicariously through a stronger and much younger individual that is in your same gene pool.  This past weekend was highlighted by a few firsts by several girlfriends children.  One "child" was presenting a paper to a group at Princeton.  Another had won a student body election...a different girlfriend's child was part of the Summit High Band and they took first place at a competition.  Someone else's got married the week before...and the educational GI benefits were approved for another.  We celebrated in the joy of these moments while the parent were able to live vicariously in the glow of accomplishment.

So, back to my nephew...It is a 10 stage race with racers from around the world.  The first day he crashed but was able to jump back on his bike and still catch up to the Peloton and the leader.  He said it took a lot...heck 75 miles...well, that is half way to Portland!

I have my own "living large" goals but I have to say that it is nice occasionally doing it from an armchair with someone younger putting out the physical effort.

If you are interested in seeing the route and where the different stages are...or look at the other photos, you can check out the website.  It is textwise all in Korean.  The guy on the end of this photo is my nephew...oh yeah!  He was the one who was interviewed by the Today show when they came to San Francisco last month to tape a segment on the accurancy of calorie counts on excercise machines.

http://www.tourdekorea.or.kr/

My ABs Hurt

My girlfriend "well" is filled and I will carry their support with me as life starts getting busy...as if it isn't busy all the time.  I laughed so much that my abs hurt.  I woke up that first morning and I thought I had pulled a muscle! 

I think it is unfathomable to the outside world of non-girlfriends and non-quilters to visualize what occurs on our quilt retreats.  8 girlsfriends, sitting at a group of tables set up into a giant square, with 8 sewing machines in front of them.  Sewing from morning till night.  Without exaggeration sewing 10 + hours.  Taking an occasional break for some sustenance and consuming large amounts of caffiene.  A daily break for some excersise and stretching but other than that living in PJ's cranking out quilting energy and taking pieces of fabric and creating art.

It is a time to pick each other's brains, problem solving...not only quilting issues, but life.  It is reveling in each other's joys and empathizing in each others sorrows.  It is reminiscing about the past, talking about the present and hopes for the furture. 

But most of all it is laughing until your abs hurt, knowing how amazing this group of women are and how blessed I am too have them as friends.

Quilt Retreat!

I know I am totally insane at this juncture to take off for a quilt retreat.  I should be pouring over wedding plans making sure I didn't forget anything. Oh...I just remember something!  What I do know is that being with my best friends fills my emotional well...and what better way then to stay in my PJ's 24-7 quilting, laughing, crying...and sewing as much as I can in one 3+day period.

We are only going down to Sunriver...which is only...like...2 miles from the wedding venue!  Hey If I think of something I can pop right over!  But it is the separation from everyday life that is a gift.  I have been trying to sew for weeks and yet the day to day demands have interrupted this goal.  But now...I can't scrub the toilets, work on the yard, pay bills, go to work, go to the grocery store...I will sew...eat...talk...laugh...sew...eat...talk...laugh...sew

And come Sunday...I will be happy to come home...I will have finished several projects including a ring bearer pillow...and I will be ready to go to work on Monday at 0530.

My moto this weekend...JUST SEW IT!

I Give...Uncle, Uncle

Last night we had an unexpected visit from an Uncle.  It was an Uncle and Aunt who through some previous experiences we had made the connection a year Christmas card only relationship.

But last night, we emotionally cried uncle...and opened the door.  Sometimes you have to leave the past behind, as painful as it is and decide that keeping people at a distance may protect you but you also miss out on something.

And so the door was opened and our hearts gave way to an elderly couple who just wanted to see us.  They brought along pictures of their children and grandchildren and we could see how much time has passed.  They handed us their lives and watched to see how we would react...and we poured over each photo, remembers the past.  Then the really old photos came out, those several generations back and they were amazing.  Uncle handed us the typed family tree and it will prove to be fascinating reading...2 Indian Chief and a Indian Princess...hummm  They not only handed us their hearts but a thread of connection, reminding us that they are here and want to be a part of our lives.

Sometimes you have to grab ahold of the extended hand...no matter the history or the pain and feel the love.

Capitalism, A Love Story

Last night Greg and I watch Michael Moore's latest documentary.  I wish we could have been video taped watching...because we ran the full range of emotions, from shock,  smiling...#$%!...depression...saddness...crying...and ultimately anger.  We tend to view life in small segments, trying to pay bills, save for the future, raise our children and when you are getting up at 4 am in the morning going to work, coming home, fixing something to eat, trying to relax and head to bed...to begin it all again...you have little time or energy to really keep up on who is screwing you and why.

It is a must see.  Sure it is one sided  but even so if you only take in a small percentage you will be pained.

Everyday the paper is filled with property defaults and deeds where people have bought from the bank because the original homeowner lost their home.  Sure, we have to take some responsibility for our choices and monetary decisions but we as a nation were primed to believe we deserved a good life.  We had been sold a dream of nice home, cars, vacations and children who will get and deserve a good education...all on credit.  No longer.  My generation is the first that has not done better than their parents.  It looks like we have done better but, as you see the repo guy collecting cars and the banks defaulting on homes you realize that it is all an optical illusion...we just look like we have done better.  Our children will have to work harder and be financially smarter...but we raised them in the optical illusion of the good life.  They are going to face an even harder reality.

Now our children have to have a "come to Jesus" moment...if you need a credit card to purchase something...you can't afford it.  If you use your savings to go on a vacation...you can't afford it.  If you can't pay for car insurance...you can't afford the car.  And pretty much guaranteed there won't be social security in your retirement time...so you had better start saving for your retirement now...in your 20's and 30's. 

Our marriage is solidly in the middle class.  We have to work, we want to work, we do not use our money on vacations other than to visit family, we pay our bills, we use the library, we take care of our cars because we will have them a long time.  We get our joy from the happiness of our children. For our part...we are going to work longer to try and not burden our children. 

Capitalism, A Love Story....a must see...if you care about your life.

Oh, You So Lucky...You Have A Job...

Every day in the newspaper or the TV news they are talking about employment.  Currently the state of employment is bitter sweet.  If you loved your job before...now with the chaos going on at the upper levels of orgainzaitons you have to work harder at loving it.

This past weekend was my weekend to work.  It is a love hate relationship.  On my weekend there are only 2 of us working...it reminded why during parts of my children's growing up years I worked every weekend.  Although it was a challenge for the family...as in no family time on the weekends...it was a peaceful time to work and you always had either mom or dad watching your children in the safety of their own home.  It is you and the job. Period.  No one dogging your heels, you actually get to be a responsible adult.  You know you have a job to accomplish and you do it.  Just because there is no boss around doesn't mean you suddenly turn into a slacker...who you are, is who you are.

It was also a time to see what all these cost cutting measures result in...looking for toliet seat covers and replacing them yourself...cause the housekeeping staff is running their @#$% off.  It is realizing that your area didn't get cleaned the day before because the garbage you left yesterday is still in the cans.  Feeling totally sore because there is no transport tech on the weekends and so you have to go upstairs and haul patients down on their beds or guerneys.  Looking for O2 tanks to transport, but the person on the floor doesn't know where they are stored because she has never worked this floor until today.  The list was endless...

But, as I reflect today with my sore neck, wrists, back and feet...we made it.  We as an entire team made it.  We pitched in and gave care...at the same time trying to fathom how we will keep doing it with more cost saving measures to come...well it make the thought of hanging in another 8 years daunting.

Mr. Roger's Neighborhood

Yesterday evening Greg and I were invited to a neighbor's for dinner.  She and her husband had invited several other neighbors and it was wonderful.  I always new I lived in a little secret place in Bend, tucked in the middle but with a feel of the forest...and yet I am reminded again what a sepcial place it is.  My neighbors are all friendly, dog lovers and live full lives.  Conversation was interesting and filled with laughter.

It is a throw back to my childhood...when we knew our neighbors and actually shared meals, stories and help.  I realized last night that I actually live in Mr. Roger's neighborhood.  We had a wonderful meal of BBQ pork rub and when I told them that we were serving that at the rehearsal dinner we were presented with a brand new container of "Rubbed With Love" pork rub...how wonderfully appropriate for a rehearsal dinner...and how sweet of our neighbors...

Two Funerals And A Wedding

There is nothing like weddings or funerals to bring out the emotions.  I have been smoothly sailing along enjoying every aspect of the impending nuputials but it is not without it's emotional side.  They didn't make the movie "Two Wedding and a Funeral" for no reason.

The last family funeral resulted in so much fall out that it took me back to the previous funeral which was my dad's in 1978. The fall out from that one has been life long.  I was barely married less than a year when dad died and I not only lost him but I also lost others in my family, I lost them emotionally.  The second funeral has created a saddness in the family that goes beyond the loss of the one member.  We are still struggling with who we are as a family and how we can continue without this one person. 

And so a wedding.  The most anticipated wedding in our family.  Then a friend emails me a photo that says..."Do not waste yourself in rejection, nor bark against the bad, but chant the beauty of the good."

I am Chanting!!!!!!!!!!!!

These Shoes Are Made For Walking...

You can tell a lot about a person by their shoes.  These are Frank's shoes...or rather Monica's, as he likes to be called now.  I have been amazed by his shoes for weeks.  He has got to be a size 15 shoe...where did he find these clogs that could fit him???  He has 3 pairs, my favorite are the ones he has embellished with jewels. 

I could have taken a photo of his entire ensemble and he wanted me too but really...a 6'5" guy with black nylons that said "bitch" all over them, a flapper's fringed dress and a grey jewel incrusted sweater that he had to cut the sleeves to fit over his arms, braclets, necklaces, anklets and that bright blue eye shadow...well it would have taken away from my blog about shoes and who wears what kind....Focus people...get the picture I have discribed out of your head and get back to the shoes.

Frank/Monica told me he always dressed like this but it was underneath the baggy pants and clothes that he used to wear...he has always been a man/woman.  He spends a lot of time working on his shoes and he walks better in them than some women.

I also saw a handsome 30 something guy dressed in slacks, jacket...and bright orange Crocs...did his wife not see him before he left the house?!

There is a young woman at work...she looks very young but has an important job...she always wears high heels...the 3 inch kind.  Does it make her seem older???  What is she trying to say???with her shoes.  They look horribly uncomfortable and she has to walk a fair distance at lunch.

I have several pairs of shoes...and when I am trying to figure out which ones I want to wear today I take into account what I am doing...and more importanty how I am feeling...cause shoes say so much about who you are going to be today.