Leaving On a Jet Plane

So, I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again. Except, I had better be back by August 25th. It has finally come, my vacation. I only started planning it in February, because the flights are cheap. When you are going "North to Alaska", it is a different kind of travel experience. You have to buy your tickets months in advance, find places to stay--pay usually 50% of the cost in advance to hold the cabin or reservation, because everyone and their brother all want to go to Alaska in the summer. Of course, it makes sense--you don't want to go there in the winter unless you love cold weather and snow. My husband does, but I definitely am a warmer weather kind of woman. So, the day has finally come, and what happens--some crazies in England or somewhere decide they want to start creating chaos in a world already full of chaos. Give me a break. Can you pick some other time to do this stuff? Do you have to pull this stuff right before I plan to take a vacation. Really---what's your problem? Are you bored? Don't you have anything better to do than plan your own death? I believe there is life after death, but only for those that deserve it--and killing innocent people doesn't make you worthy, it makes you stupid--especially if you are listening to some radical crazy person that doesn't seem to be blowing himself up--just asking the young, the bored, the restless to do it in the name of something.

A long time ago, when I was in graduate school we talked about revolution as a necessary part of system change--I believed it then, but it wasn't revolution of killing people, it was revolution of ideas, and working within people's frame of reference.

I want my vacation, and I want it without the chaos of people trying to hurt others. I want to go softly into the vacation without having to deal with stress and strife. So, do you guys think you can lay off for a couple of weeks? I would greatly appreciate it.

So, for the next couple of weeks, unless I find an internet cafe that I can get to, or want to get to, I will be incognito-lost in the world of mountains, glaciers, fish, (and for my husband's sake--more fish), and I will see you back in the real world in late August.

Until then, peace, and may the world come to its senses and realize if we aren't all in this together, we are all doomed.

Not so hot in Atlanta,

Nancy

So You've Got to Have Friends

I couldn't remember the name of the song, but it goes something like, "And You've got to have friends...." I can hear the tune in my head, but I can't seem to remember the words enough to find it online. Previously, I have talked about "Beautiful Enemies", those friends who aren't just there to pat us on the back, but to pick us up off our butts when we get slapped down and to remind us to pay attention to what's going on around us. Those friends who don't always agree with us, and help us see the other side. Well, I talked about my husband being my "beautiful enemy", but I missed saying something about someone who has been my friend for a long time, in a very different way, my daughter. I was really young when she was born, never had been around babies before, but I was certainly awe struck with her, and very possessive. As she grew up, we didn't always have the best of relationships--I guess I thought she was a Daddy's girl, and figured that since I had three boys after her, I could let her go bond with him. It wasn't until she was an adult, with kids of her own, and she moved to Hotlanta too, that I really had the opportunity to get to know her as a friend. Now, it isn't always smooth sailing between us, because we are very different in some ways, but I can say that she has been that female friend that I never really had a chance to have. With 4 kids and a very demanding job, I was lucky to have time for my family. But, my daughter has been there for me, when I'm down, or lonely, or mad. She has taken a load of burden off me with my sons when they get rowdy and crazy. She listens to then for me and counsels them, when she knows I will just be mad about the chaos they have created. (I must say my oldest son no longer falls in this category. He has been a champ and I count him as another friend). But, back to my daughter. We've had some wild experiences together. One time, when I was stationed out on Saipan, she went with me to Tinian and we sang karaoke until the wee hours at a little bar on the island. I have gotten to be with her in the delivery room for the birth of her oldest son and the twins. We cook dinner together quite often (she cooks , I clean). We argue about why Zyira on Rock Star Supernova should be gone.(She likes her, I like Delana) We watch America's Next Top Model, but she refuses to watch Survivor--the folks are too dirty.
As a friend and not the parent, I've had to learn how to hold my tongue sometimes and so has she. I know I can never make up for not being the kind of mother she needed when she was young, but I hope that I'm getting better at being the kind of friend she would like me to be.

So, since this seems to be my day of tributes--here is to my daughter!!!.

And, thanks to one of my other friends, I have the words to the song!
Bette Midler - Friends -Alternate Lyrics:
the feeling''s oh so strong.
You got to have friendsto make that day last long.
Had some friends, but they''re gone,somethin'' came and took them away
,and from the dusk ''til the dawnhere''s where I will stay
.Standing at the end of the road, boys,waitin''
for my new friends to come.
I don''t care if I''m hungry or cold, freezing.I got to get me some.''
Cause you got to have friends.
Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba.Friends.
"Oh, that''s the favorite part of my voice, you know.I really like to get up.
Hm."Oh, friends."Thank you."Oh, friends, friends, friends, friends.I had some friends, oh, but they’re all gone, gone.Somethin'' took ''em away,and from the dusk ''til the dawnhere is where I''m gonna stay, you know, oh.Standing at the end of a real long road, Jack,and I''m waitin'' for my new friends to come,and I don''t care if I''m hungry or freezing, freezing cold.You gotta, you gotta get me some.''Cause you gotta have,"you gotta have friends. I''m telling you. I am speaking ''cause I know. It’s going too fast. We’re all going too fast! I''m trying to tell you to slow down! They’re hard to come by! Those friends are hard to come by! I didn’t have many friends, you know. But, things are getting better now. And I think it’s gonna be okay, ''cause I have a couple now."Friends,you gotta, you gotta, you gotta have friends, friends.You gotta, you gotta, you gotta have friends, friends.

It's a Beautiful Day

I was thinking this morning as I was driving to work. I really do have a great job. Not because I make a bunch of money(cause I don't), not because I get fame and recognition(definitely don't), not because I'm the "boss"(I'm just a worker bee), but because of the great people I get to work with all across the country. This is a tribute to them.

The people I work with out there in the "real world" are amazing. They are there for the right reasons. They care about the people in their communities and want them to have the opportunity to lead healthy, happy lives. This isn't just something they say, this is something they honestly believe and work for every day. My job is to try to help them in any way I can to get there. These folks are creative, collaborative, dedicated, and honestly some of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. They were there for me when my Dad died, and even though I am a consultant, they were more like my extended family, grieving with me. When I get the priviledge of going out to meet with them, they have always been more than gracious, taking time away from their incredibly busy schedules to take me to see the great programs they have been able to implement in their communities, the hard work in making policy changes, the incredible tedious work of compiling data to report to me so that I can advocate for them. They make my job so rewarding. Through them, I feel that I too can be a part of the difference that they are making. I am so proud and honored to call them my friends. One of my partners said yesterday that I was her mentor. Well I can tell you, I have learned more from all of them than I could ever give back.

An incredibly big "Thank-You" to all my buds out there. (You know who you are). You guys are the center of my Universe.




Nancy

What's Love Got to Do With It?

I have been amazed at the rate of divorce in this country. I wonder if this happens in other countries at such a rate. Guess I will need to research it, but I was thinking about Love and marriage, partners, children and how different it often is. We are supposed to have unconditional love for our children. I was raised that your parents loved you, they might not always like you or your behavior, but they always loved you. I kind of thought that marriage was supposed to be that way. That you unconditionally loved your spouse, but there were times when you didn't necessarily like them. Well, I learned the hard way that unconditional love doesn't necessarily come with marriage. Guess that's why I have an ex. I have recently been taking an online class on the psychology of leadership. It talks about unconditional acceptance and the permission to be human. Our friends should be our "beautiful enemies", not just agreeing with everything we say, but they should give us permission to be human. I know that is one thing I can say about my present husband. He has given me unconditional acceptance since the day I met him, and 12 years later, that definitely hasn't changed. I have tried hard to follow his example, and for the most part, other than him leaving his dirty socks on the floor, it is pretty easy to do. I can burp, or fart around him(when it gets away from you) and know that he won't tease me, or berate me for doing it. I can get angry, or cry at a movie, or yell at the crazy drivers on the road, and he understands and allows me to be me--the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I have learned so much from him over the years--stuff I thought I knew, but obviously didn't practice. I have learned how to be a better leader by watching him. I have learned to be more giving, more understanding, and less judgmental. So, I think Love and being loving gives us the safety to be who we are, and I'm thankful every day.

Monday Morning Humor

Thanks to Tomas for this joke:
An old country preacher had a teenage son, and it was getting time the boy should give some thought to choosing a profession. Like many young men, the boy didn't really know what he wanted to do, and he didn't seem too concerned about it.

One day, while the boy was away at school, his father decided to try an experiment. He went into the boy's room and placed on his study table three objects:

* a Bible,
* a silver dollar, and
* a bottle of whiskey.

"I'll just hide behind the door," the old preacher said to himself, "and when he comes home from school this afternoon, I'll see which object he picks up. If it's the Bible, he's going to be a preacher like me, and what a blessing that would be! If he picks up the dollar, he's going to be a businessman, and that would be okay, too . But if he picks up the bottle, he's going to be a no-good drunkard, and, Lord, what a shame that would be."

The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's footsteps as he entered the house whistling and headed for his ro om. He tossed his books on the bed, and as he turned to leave the room he spotted the objects on the table. With curiosity in his eye, he walked over to inspect them.

Finally, he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm. He picked up the silver dollar and dropped it into his pocket. He uncorked the bottle and took a big drink.

"Lord have mercy," the old man whispered, "he's gonna be a Congressman!"

and one from my Mom

MY PHILOSOPHY OF HOUSECLEANING!

I don't do windows because ...
I love birds
and don't want one to run into a clean window
and get hurt.

I don't wax floors because ...
I am terrified a guest will slip and get hurt
then I'll feel terrible( plus they may sue me.)

I don't mind the dust bunnies because ...
They are very good company, I have named most of them,
and they agree with everything I say.

I don't disturb cobwebs because .
I want every creature to have a home of their own.

I don't Spring Clean because .
I love all the seasons and don't want the others
to get jealous

I don't pull weeds
in the garden because ..
I don't want to get in God's way,
HE is an excellent designer!

I don't put things away because ...
My husband will never be able to find them again.

I don't do gourmet meals
when I entertain because I don't want my guests
to stress out over what to make when they invite me
over for dinner.

I don't iron because ...
I choose to believe them
when they say "Permanent Press".

I don't stress much on anything because .
"A Type" personalities die young
and I want to stick around
and become a wrinkled up crusty ol' woman!!!!

Also from Tomas: Why Dogs Bite People:

I Can't Get No.... Satisfaction

It is so hard to buy anything these days. You can go online and research the product, but everywhere you go, there are reviews, most of which are terrible. Is it that all products produced these days are defective or are only the folks that are disgruntled are writing reviews. I had been looking for a new refrigerator for the house. My daughter lives with me with her four kids, so we have a world of juice boxes, applesauces, yoguarts, etc--and no place to put the pop, water, or even to fit all of the veggies--plus my frig had not crispers--it was one of my first purchases with my new husband 12 years ago.

So, we had been looking, thinking about a bottom-freezer type in stainless (for our redone kitchen that we have been planning for the last 7 years--and still planning). It was hard to find one that was going to be big enough, or didn't cost over 2000 dollars. So, after looking at several places, we went to Home Depot and got sucked in on the 10% off if you signed up for a credit card, and no tax--(tax free holiday in Georgia for appliances if they were energy star compliant). So, we found one, and it will be delivered on Friday. I had heard that LG was pretty good but, then I read the reviews, they were bad--I guess I can hope for the best, prepare for the worst. But, what is it these days, is construction so bad--does no one care about the job they do? Are things made in "America" worse than things made overseas with "slave labor" or "foreign labor"?

What ever happened to pride in one's work? Is the almighty dollar the only incentive, and even if you make it, it doesn't mean you have to care? It amazes me to live in Atlanta, and see all of these people living in very expensive houses, driving very expensive cars, eating out all the time and wonder--what are they doing differently to be able to afford all of this stuff? How could this many people be making so much more money than me? What kind of jobs do they have? How could employers afford to pay so many people so much money?

Well, for those of us who have to work for a living, and don't make gobs of money, we should at least be able to buy something and have it work the first time, not after three replacements. We should be able to buy stuff that will last 10 years without feeling we need to buy an extended warranty, because you never know what you are going to get, you should be confident that what you spend your hard earned money on will be worth the price you pay.

We will see on this new refrigerator. If it doesn't work out, believe me, I am the first to write, complain, pitch a fit, you name it. But I hate having to do that, and we shouldn't have to. For anyone who reads this (no one does other than some family and a couple of folks at work that I've sent the link too)---let's all put our pride, our skills, and our word into the jobs we do. At least if a few of us make the commitment, we can be an example for the rest.

Another hot humid Sunday in Atlanta

Nancy