Status Change

If you have insurance through your job, this is called a qualifying event. For me, its a monumentus event. As of Monday, December 1, 2008 at approximately 10 am, I became....once again....single. Yep, that's right. The divorce has been finalized. It's been two years in the making...that's longer than my ex and I dated before we were married. It's a year and 3 months less than it takes to bake a baby....well, not actually BAKE it. Thank goodness we didn't have any of those either.

Here are some events of the world the last time I was single:

• Al Gore had just finished inventing the Internet


• Angelina Jolie had only 1 tattoo (I really don't know)


• Jenny Jones' talk show was still on the air


• Tejano singer Selena and Christopher Reeve was still alive and he was walking


• the Unabomber was still terrorizing the US
  
• OJ Simpson was on trial....hmmm


• E-bay did not exist!


• A little child named Elian Gonzales was in the news


• No one knew who the six Friends were


• Actress Dakota Fanning had not been born


• Neither had Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten, known as the twins on Everybody Loves Raymond


• The Federal maximum highway speed was 55mph, which was ended by President Bill Clinton in Nov. 1995


• Julia Roberts was still married to Lyle Lovett


• The Bridges of Madison County was just a book


• MacDonald Carey was still living--if you watch Days of Our Lives you should know who he is, Dr. Tom Horton


• Everyone was talking about Forest Gump

Dating sounds a little scary, as you can see it's been a while since I dated. I guess I can get back into the swing of things. I'm not really a "single" type of person. I liked being married. I enjoyed being a part of something and knowing that someone will be there for me. Hopefully I can find that again, and maybe it will even last this next time.

I've already moved on with my life, as most of you know. I live in a different city, I have a good job and I've been dating. When I got married I thought divorce was not an option but now I'm glad for the past few years. I'm happy with the way things are.

Until next time.

Overdo Update

Hello everyone. I have been very busy this past month. So that means two things, I haven’t had time to blog about it and this one blog will be quite lengthy. I will split it up into the events I experienced.

Minneapolis in the autumn

King Tut
At the beginning of the October, my roommate and I attended the King Tut exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art. It was interesting to see items which archeologists claim to be 10,000 years old or more. However old these items were, the technology the Egyptian people used was amazing. In college I learned they were a very advanced civilization, but I think they may have been more educated and talented than we give them credit. The fee for the exhibit was a bit pricey….$30 and because it was Monday….a day the DMA is normally closed, we didn’t get to see the rest of their collection. Also, no pictures were allowed. I was a bit upset because there is no damage if you turn the flash off. They just didn’t want people using images of the exhibit for profit.

Meet Me In Minneapolis
Later in the month I met my best friend (my bff), Teri, in Minneapolis. About a year ago her family moved to Hankinson, North Dakota. They live about 45 minutes from the famous town of Fargo. I had not seen her since six months before she moved. We’ve been friends for 31 years, there’s no way that a thousand miles and a few months separation will come between us. Besides, with modern technology, we are in touch almost daily. After that long, you are not friends, you are family. She’s my sister-at-heart.
So, Teri, her daughter Rachel and Alyssa, a friend of Rachel’s, all met me at the Minneapolis airport, which is actually in Bloomington. We checked into our hotel then had lunch. We had to kill time while waiting for the hotel shuttle to take us to the largest mall in the US, if not the world….the famous Mall of America. We spent 9 hours in the mall….a whole day at work….and only saw approximately 1/3 of the mall. The two girls, 13 and 14, went to the amusement park and spent most of their time there. Anyone who purchased admission to the amusement park received an arm band which was valid during that business day. The girls came and went out of the park as they pleased. We did not please because every time they left the park, they got lost inside the mall and couldn’t figure out where they were to tell us so we could come and get them! It was a little frustrating.
The next day, we uhh, well, we got a late start. I’ll just say the two girls slept in really late. I guess they were worn out from the amusement park! After we all got dressed and ready to go, we headed into St. Paul, on the other side of Minneapolis. We heard about a pizza parlor that is famous for their pies. The four of us shared one and had some left over. Before leaving, we went to the little girl’s room and encountered some weird activity. We saw two people in a stall and some strange sounds. We just left because we were not sure what happened. On the way out, a very young girl started into the bathroom alone and I stopped her. Although I wasn’t sure what was happening, I didn’t want her going in there alone if it was some deviant activity. Teri told a waitress that something was happening and the management might want to check on it. I will spare you the details but it was NOT deviant activity.
We went to the zoo and conservatory from there. We got there about 5pm and unfortunately, they closed at 3pm. We walked through a nice little walking trail back to the vehicle and took pictures. Not much else happened after that. I went there to spend time with Teri, not to go sight-seeing. We both had a good time but didn’t get to spend enough time together.

Airport Anxiety
I got to the airport at 10am Sunday to fly home. I was bumped to the 3:15 flight, which had mechanical problems. After many hours and many times of getting my hopes up, I finally boarded a plane at 12:15am….14 hours later. I didn’t want to get too far away from the gate in case there was a chance I could get on another flight. By the time I realized I had time to go sit down and eat a hot meal, all of the restaurants in the airport were closed. I wasn’t alone. I met a very nice lady who was travelling by herself. Miss Irene, from San Diego, CA, goes on riverboat cruises and loves to meet new people….at the very young at heart age of 90. I only hope I am as active as she is, if I live as long as she has. She did tell me with a heavy sigh that one of the sad things about living so long is she has outlived her family, husband and friends. She is a fantastic lady and we had a very nice visit. If anyone reading this knew Mama Clara, this lady reminded me very much of her….sharp wit and a keen mind.

Exercise
I decided that Miss Irene had a great key to living so long. She said when she was younger she didn’t take care of herself but when she was in her 40s she started taking better care of her health. I thought since I’m not quite 40, I might have a chance at living to be 90….or at least being healthy. I incorporated exercise. Most everyone knows that I’ve lost quite a bit of weight over the last 12-18 months. To this point, I’ve avoided exercise. My doctor told me just walking 10-15 minutes a day would be a good start. So, I decided to walk on my breaks at work, short walks on the lighted sidewalk. On Thursdays, I started out walking with a special friend at a park in Irving. Since this decision was made, he purchased a bicycle. Since I don’t have a bike, I borrowed one from my Aunt Dorothy, and the two of us ride our bikes together.

Southern Tradition
Since the re-invention of Lisa….starting my life over….I’ve experienced a few firsts. November 1 was another first. I went to a NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway. I am still a bit in awe over the entire thing. Right now, all I can say is wow, and boy it’s loud, and HOT. I’m sunburned on my face…in November.

So Long
Well, that’s all for now. We will see what Firsts the near future holds for me. Who knows what will happen. I do have a birthday coming up. Until next time.

Class of 88 Reunion

Hi all!

I've been really busy this week. I got all of my pictures ready and finally put together in a movie. Unfortunately, I can't get the movie to upload here. I wish I'd taken more pictures and visited with more people. It took me a while to come out of my shell....so to speak!

I introduced Charles as 'My Escort', and somebody thought that sounded bad. I was just trying to be funny! If it weren't for his encouragement, I wouldn't have gone. I am very glad he was there.

I think the general concensus is that we all want to get together again.....but not waiting 10 years for the next time. Actually, I got an e-mail that there will be a gathering in Longview soon that will include other classes, not just the class of '88.

Tina LaBarbara, one of my good friends from school. She has a great sense of humor.

I just want to say I am glad I got to visit with Kirk and Robert, I wish I'd had more time to really chat with Brad. I am also very glad I got to see some of the ladies from school.....really great to see Tina again.

I really want to get together with my close friends, like Pam and Chrissie. Guess I will have to travel to Colorado and Indiana.

Kirk Hill, a really great guy from school. I actually got to know him better after school. We shared some mutual friends, through my ex.

OOOOOHHH. Update, speaking of travel. I am going to visit my bestest friend in the whole world. She is my sister at heart, Teri. We met in school, but we ended up at different high schools. We managed to stay in contact throughout elementary, middle school, junior high and high school, then the school of life. Anyway, I am going for a very short weekend in October to visit her and her daughter, Rachel. I cannot wait! Its been over a year since we've seen each other. So, I am really excited about that.

Robert Parrymore, a very long-time friend. We've been friends since about 5th grade. Our father's worked together and.....he knows Teri's family.

Until next time.

My Portfolio Sampler

Portfolio Contents

I am working on my web site. No, really I am.

It's difficult balancing work, school, health issues and life in general. Sometimes I think I've bitten off more than I can chew. Other times I think, swallow it and get it over with.

Until I get my website working, here are some of my samples. I know that some of them you've seen, others you haven't. I am trying to get my work out there. Surprisingly, of all the types of things I've done, my favorite is family photos. I really liked it and would like to do some more of that.

I've designed some t-shirts for girls, hoping to promote girl power. I am not knockin' guys around because...well, let's face, we need them around. But girls need some positive reinforcement. A co-worker was designing t-shirt logos for college kids. I approached him with my ideas but he wants only 1 or 2 color simple designs. Mine are too complex for him.

I really liked designing these for girls, inspiring them that you can do whatever you want. I remember when I was a kid, there were such things as male jobs and female jobs. If I had a daughter I would want her to know she is empowered to do anything. I want young girls and women to know its okay to be a girl and silly, liking shiny, frilly things. But I want them to also know its important to be strong, to be real and not fall into what society or their so-called friends think they should be.

(This design is based on a photograph my best friend, Teri, took of her daughter and friends. Her daughter is in the middle, but I've altered the image so much you can't tell who is who. I just wanted everyone to know that Rachel is in this picture.)

Until next time.

Wonder WHO?

The company I work for offers the employees two get-togethers a year. One is held in the summer and the other is the annual Christmas party.

This year, the summer outing was held at a place in Dallas called Speed Zone. For those who are not familiar with this place, it is a playground of sorts. There are multiple mini-golf courses, several race tracks with different cars, there is an indoor arcade....and yes, there is a bar. What's more fun than downing a few beers and driving around a circle really fast? I don't know, I didn't try either one.

The company paid for a round of golf and $18 for spending however we wanted. I spent mine in the arcade. The games spit out tickets which are worth points. For those with kids, its like Chuck E. Cheese's for all ages. You don't have to have a kid to go enjoy the arcade. Chuck E. Cheeses frowns upon you going in without small ones in tow.

Very few people showed up for this event. So few in fact that each of us received another $18 card to spend however we wanted. Again, I spent mine in the arcade. I racked up some 1200 points. You then take your points and trade them for souvenir type gifts. I needed 1400 points for the Mrs. Potatohead set. Since I was a few points shy, I had to settle for a Barrel of Monkeys and, as you can see in the picture, a very manly looking Wonder Woman doll. She comes complete with red gogo boots and silver bracelets. I don't know where her magic lasso is.

Until next time.

Back To OKC

As promised, here are some more pictures from Oklahoma City trip. These are actually of a small area near Turner Falls, just north of the border from Texas. There is a wildlife drive through with exotic animals and you can stop and feed them....if you buy their food. I couldn't figure out what their food is but it looked like guinnea pig or rabbit feed or something like that.

First we saw the Emu. Well, they saw us first. They were waiting on the side of the road, kind of like they were at a bus stop. We pulled up, rolled the window down and before I could get the cup of food outside of the car they were eating away. I was traumatized because these birds were pecking at 0r near me. Chaz, my traveling companion had the presence of mind to tell me to hold the food outside of the window....it was his car afterall that was being bathed with food remnants covered with Emu slobber. Unfortunately we neglected to get a picture of them.

My favorite were the giraffes. They are such large animals with awkward body shapes but they seem so graceful. I got lots of pictures of them. They were actually quite far away but due to their long necks, one was able to reach the car and more importantly, the food. His (or her) long black tongue unfolded from its mouth to reach the morsels inside the cup. The poor thing was struggling so hard I just let it take the cup. I wonder how much Pepsi would like to have this picture?

They had zebras, antelopes, all types of deer. There were these miniature Italian donkeys that were so cute. I fed them for a while and turned to say something to Chaz when I realized we were being watched. I could not speak, all I could do was point and say 'auurrgh' or something to that effect. When he turned to look out his window, this guy was patiently waiting for food. He let us know of his displeasement of having to wait. He put his snout mark on the window. Really, I think he was trying to get the food as the window was going down. He was very gentle and seemed sweet.

The whole drive took about an hour or a little more. There was a gift shop but it was a long hike from the parking lot to the shop. The airconditioning was not working well. But they had a snack bar, souvenirs and two large snakes inside. There was a petting zoo on site also but we were hot tired and I was ready to go home.

One of the strangest things at this place were the turtles and aquatic birds. When you stopped your car, the animals were conditioned to come to the car for food. Well, we stopped to look at a couple of turtles sunning themselves and I realized they were coming toward the car. Chaz pulled up to another pond to test my theory and certainly I was right. The turtles, cranes and ducks were making their way toward the vehicle. Crazy animals.

Sorry these pictures were so late in getting here. Life's been hectic. I took a web development class that nearly ate my lunch. It was quite difficult for me. Then, I was sick. I had strep throat over the 4th of July holiday weekend. So, again, I am sorry for the delay.

Until next time.

Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence….it declares our Country’s independence from Great Britain and other countries that may oppress our citizens.

Have you ever thought about the men who signed the Declaration? Who were they? What kind of lives did they lead? What did they face for committing high treason?

According to http://www.joyfulministry.com/, 24 were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners: men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. The web site does state they cannot vouch for the validity of this statement but it certainly rings true.

Why did these men decided to break apart from their country, to commit such a heinous crime, what were their lives like? What condition was the country in? Following are excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, with translation into today’s American English. This is a beautifully written document, “people don’t talk like that anymore”…a quote from Nicholas Cage’s character Ben Gates in the movie National Treasure.

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Well, that’s pretty self explanatory to me, but let’s breaks it down. When in the course of human events it becomes necessary….when a group of people believes it essential…for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another….for that group of people to break free from its oppressors….and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them….and to claim man’s God-given rights as human beings,…. a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them separation…requires validation of these God-given rights to all men, even though it means breaking the law and separating from your government.

These men and their families lived lives of severe oppression. They outline some of the atrocities created by the British government under the name of the King within the Declaration. So tired of power-hungry politicians, these men were brilliant enough to create a government system that cannot (should not) allow one branch to become more powerful than another branch. Today’s political system is not what our forefathers envisioned. They didn’t, they couldn’t have imagined that large corporations with bottomless bank accounts could pay off government officials for favors.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

The people of our country during that time lived life under a King who committed terrible crimes against his people. To read the entire Declaration of Independence, go to http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/. The signers of the Declaration faced certain death for the crimes they committed by breaking away from the crown and forming an independent government. By doing so, today we all have freedoms we take for granted. We believe these freedoms are rights, but they aren't rights, they are privileges. They paid a large price for freedom and we should all remember that Freedom Is Never Free.

Until next time.

Oklahoma City--The Return

Last year, I went to Oklahoma City and saw an exhibit in the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. I was so impressed with this permanent exhibit and the artist that I went again this year. Dale Chihuly works with glass, different sizes, shapes, colors and textures. He blows the glass by hand into a pre-determined size, shape, color, etc.

Chihuly himself worked with the OKCMOA in setting up this permanent display. The key to the beauty of this particular exhibit is the lighting. Strategically placed lights permeate the exhibit, flooding the rooms with multi-colored lights as they streak through the glass. In one particular part of this exhibit, the glass is placed above the viewer on a plexiglass plate (or several plates) along a narrow walkway. Lights beam down through the pieces of glass giving the viewer an underwater effect. It was very nice and as I mentioned, worth seeing more than once.

Many of his pieces are visible in the most obscure places. One night, after viewing the exhibit for the first time, I was watching the TV show “Frasier”. One of my favorite shows; first because it’s set in Seattle and secondly because it’s smart comedy….not the usual mundane sitcom stuff that plagues TV. Anyway, as I watched Frasier interact with others inside his apartment, in the background on a pedestal is a familiar sight. I spotted a Chihuly vase, a green one flecked with various colors on the outside and lined with red inside. Suddenly, I began to notice Chihuly-like pieces everywhere.

This year’s trip to Oklahoma City focused a little more on the area known as Bricktown. Most towns have an industrial area that’s been abandoned. Many cities have tried some type of revitalization efforts to bring extra revenue but OKC has succeeded in this attempt. Bricktown is the run-down abandoned warehouse or industrial area turned tourist trap; and quite successful at that. I went with my friend Charles this year and we saw people from all over. There were even a lot of people from OKC in Bricktown.

Almost immediately upon arrival we ran into a group of young girls who were trying to get his attention. I kept hearing them say, “Sir,….Sir…..Sir.” Finally, I said, “I think they are talking to you.” So we stopped and acknowledged them. This group of girls was from a local church and they were on a treasure hunt. One of the items they had to get was a digital picture of at least one of them rubbing a bald man’s head and they asked Charles if he would indulge. Being a good sport, he laughed and said yes…he even knelt for them to get easier access since he’s about six and a half feet tall.

Until next time, I’ll tell you why I’m now traumatized by emu.

Photographs are copyright 2008 Lisa Jackson Duke

Web Design Class

Here is the latest project for my current class, web design. The assignment was to create a fictitious restaurant with a menu or cuisine of my choice. I had to make the six tabs for the menu bar and the name of the restaurant. I chose a textured background and my instructor said it looked old and out of style. I searched in Google for Mexican restaurant and the first three I selected all had textured backgrounds....but I'm not saying he's wrong, he is the instructor. I still made an A for the project.

During the five weeks for this course, the web site will evolve from the bare bones of what you see here to a fully working site. You can watch my progress at the following web location: http://www.jaxonworks.com/. After this class session, the web site will be a vehicle to showcase my own art, photography and writing.

I am working on a project now, a group of short stories all featuring one main character (a man with a wife and one or two kids ... I haven't decided yet). Anyway, this fella gets into all sort of funny situation...some family members may recognize the situations but I promise all names will be changed in order to protect myself!

Until next time.

The New Me

I know, its seems one blog stays on here for months at a time...growing, uh "moldy" as my friend Chaz says. Then one day I change it and just a few days later I change it again. I know y'all are thinking I must be crazy. Well, that's beside the point. I'd change it more often if more exciting things happen to me. But then again I'm glad I am not a drama magnet like my friend Teri. I guess I could tell y'all about her dramas!

A couple of weeks ago I got a new look. I wanted to share it here with everyone then but I had some mechanical problems with my digital camera so the picture of the new me was a bit delayed. Anyway, I got my hair highlighted, now I look like my mother's daughter.

This isn't the best picture I've taken and Photoshop can only do so much. I may want to rethink wearing that color in the future, it looked OK when my hair was dark but not now.

Until next time.

Pain At The Pump--How Do You Spell Relief?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last year (I think some politicians have), you know that the economy is very shaky and quite fragile right now. Oil prices have increased approximately 1300 percent since President Bush took office. I heard a report on the radio that when he was inaugurated, oil prices were about $27 per barrel, now they are the highest ever topping out at nearly $128 per barrel. All of you who know me know that I am terrible at math, so I am not sure how the radio reporter came to the increase of 1300 percent, I just know that is what they said and it sure seems like a lot when you consider that oil prices have not increased that much EVER. When I researched the current cost of oil prices I put in the search bar “crude prices” and thought to myself, “How appropriate!” because it really is crude and obscene just how much the prices have increased.

When my parents were teenagers, the cost of gas was chronicled in a song lyric at a nickel a gallon. I don’t know how accurate that is, like I said, my parents were teenagers at the time. When I was a teenager, I believe gas was still under a $1 per gallon and I remember very well when it increased to more than a dollar a gallon. We were completely incensed and all said, “That is the highest gas will ever go because we live in one of the richest countries in the world.” Now, 20 years later, all suffer pain at the pump.

All of this talk of gas prices coupled with other economic verbiage has me considering other means of transportation. I currently drive a small SUV. I really like driving it. There is plenty of room for me, I can carry just about anything I need, and I don’t feel like a gnat in a Eagle’s world on Hwy 360. But, I’ve considered another means of transportation due to the cost of filling up my small SUV. When my mom drove this very same Jeep a couple of years ago, it cost her about $40 to fill up this chariot. Now, with the extreme increase in gas prices, that cost has doubled. Plus, the gas mileage on a 12 year old 4-wheel drive SUV isn’t all that attractive. So I’ve considered a Hyundai….yes, that’s right. I did some research and the Hyundai has a 10 year/100K mile warranty plus the Accent model gets about 37 miles per gallon highway and 33 or so in the city. Right now, my Jeep gets about 17 per gallon in the city and maybe 23 on the highway. So the Accent was looking really nice. Then there are other economic problems.

Being in the print industry, I’ve known for some time that the Internet media would overwhelm some advertisers and become more appealing. This results in a loss of advertising revenue for my company. Over the last year I’ve watched the numbers decrease in advertisers. That can only mean one thing. The company has to cut back somewhere. Well, last week we got the news that one of our facilities would be shutting down and their work split between the three remaining production facilities. Thank goodness the Dallas plant is still up and running. But, now the bigwigs know how much money can be saved by one plant closing, they could realistically shut down another production facility to save money. Luckily, because Texas’ economy is better than Ohio and Florida, I don’t think they will shut down the Dallas plant. It is still a possibility.

I am in a quandary. Should I buy another car to save money? Is that logical? Can you buy a car with better gas mileage and save money even with a monthly payment? How much longer should I hold onto this chariot? Yes, its old and has problems, but I know the history of this car, I know the mechanics who have worked on it…at least since its been in the family. At some point I am going to have to get another vehicle, but is the Hyundai Accent the one for me and when should I consider buying another one?

Until next time.

Pretty Pictures

Most of you reading this already know one of my life’s passions is to take photographs. They may never be printed, they may never be seen by another human being, but I love to take pictures. I feel honored when asked to take a photograph. How hard can it be, point and shoot—right? Well, there is something to it, balance, focus, lighting, harmony, texture—oh yes and there’s more.


(LtoR: Wes, Jess, Connor, Jack & Patty)

Recently, I took family pictures for my aunt, uncle, cousin, his wife and their son. I enjoyed the day, got to spend time with them and take pictures at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. It was a great day. The weather was a bit chilly and windy but other than that it was a beautiful day. I think I took around 90 photographs.



The photography bug hit me early in life and I’ve been hooked ever since. I took classes in high school and college for photography but the best way to improve is take more photos. I try to go once a month and take more shots, but life doesn’t always work out that way.


(Connor wanted to try his own pose, this is what he came up with!)

My mom bought a 35mm SLR camera when I was about 12 and the bug bit me hard. In high school, I entered a state-wide contest open to high school and college students. I won first place in architecture. In college, I took classes from a man who had studied under Ansel Adams. While I was working at a retail store in Longview, a local “prominent” photographer came in, said he’d seen my work from his colleague (the Ansel Adams intern) and told me to quit wasting my talent in that retail establishment and go back to photography. I was touched that he took the time to say that, come to think of it, that was his sole reason for entering that store. Well, I had to make a living, so I stayed put for the time being.



(The men of the family. Handsome, aren't they.)


I know that I will probably never make a living at taking pictures, but its a nice hobby and maybe one day I'll be able to have a nice side job taking pictures....mugshots at the PD?





Until next time.

Class of 88--20 years later

I mentioned here before that I‘m not good in math beyond 2+2. I do know that 1988 plus 20 years equals a high school reunion. I have anticipated this for a while. I remember my mom’s 20 year mark. I don’t think she went to her reunion but I remember sitting at my aunt’s dining room table, mom and her sister discussing it and I was making fun of them for being so old. Now I’m in their seat—a whole 38 years old.

Me wearing my aunt's fall (type of wig) at 18 mos.

As I said, I’ve anticipated this reunion for a while. I imagined how I’d show up with my husband, beautiful kids and stories of our success—wowing all the people from my younger years. Reality is a cruel joke sometimes. I’m going through a divorce, no kids, and my job is near minimum wage. I drive a hand-me down car that went from mom, to dad, to me and if it were not for their help, I would be on foot. I can’t even say at least I have my health. All is not lost—I don’t think.

I still plan on going to the 20 year reunion. I skipped out on the 10 year mark because life was really bad at that point. My ex and I just found out he had cancer and had to have surgery, be off work for a couple of months and I was working really hard trying to bring in some money. I was in no mood to hear about all the brats I went to school with and how they were still living the party life-style when my life was so dramatic. At least that is what went through my mind.

Me sometime my senior year, man was my hair big!

I’ve been viewing a message board and reading posts about all the fun things that were going on during high school. I don’t remember much of the things they are talking about. My friends were either older or went to different schools. I did have a couple of friends from school but we didn’t have a lot to do with our classmates. We didn’t exactly fit in with them. Still, some of the memories are funny and I’m learning a lot about the people I went to school with—their past and present.

I am excited about going to this reunion. I’ve said before my life has started over and I want to share it with these people, whether I know them or not. I just hope I can find a suitable escort. I’ve got a couple of candidates in mind—maybe I should have a contest and the winner gets me! No, nobody would want to play that game.

Me and Wendy Cook, sometime in early 90s in Florida.

Until next time with more memories.

Teacher Comments

You know the spot at the bottom of report cards for the teacher to leave a special message about you to your folks? Well, just imagine if your child brought home one of the comments these teachers in New York made.

These are supposed to be true, but I doubt the validity of that statement. Anyway, they are funny whether they are true or not. Aren't you glad none of these appeared on your child's report card. And, on the off chance that they did, you have my deepest sympathies.

These are actual comments made on students' report cards by teachers in the New York City public school system. All teachers were reprimanded but, boy, are these funny!

1. Since my last report, your child has reached rock bottom and has started to dig.
2. I would not allow this student to breed.
3. Your child has delusions of adequacy
4. Your son is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.
5. Your son sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them.
6. The student has a 'full six-pack' but lacks the plastic thing to hold it all together.
7. This child has been working with glue too much.
8. When your daughter's IQ reaches 50, she should sell.
9. The gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming.
10. If this student were any stupider he'd have to be watered twice a week.
11. It's impossible to believe the sperm that created this child beat out 1,000,000 others.
12. The wheel is turning but the hamster is definitely dead.

Illustrative Concepts

A few weeks ago I told everyone how excited I was to begin an Illustration class in school. I no sooner got my first assignment completed and posted the joyful news on my blog than I was yanked from this class for academic reasons and placed me in a treacherous Algebra class.

After tedious work completing the Algebra requirement, I am happy to announce that I’m back in the warm, safe environment of an art class. Luckily, I had my assignment from the first time I was in this class and recycled it…the instructor never saw my work from the first class so I turned it in this second time.


I just checked the grade book and I proudly received an A. Here is my work for the first assignment. The class assignment was to create a book cover for a hand book entitled “New Horizons for the Novice Illustrator” and we were supposed to have a road going off in the distance to a vanishing point.


The second assignment was to take the same book and create an inside page (with a margin). We were to use a clock face and, without text, convey the sense of motion. Here is the second assignment. Hopefully I’ve done just that. I asked some of my co-workers and friends to look at the artwork and offer a critique. Most liked the artwork as is, no changes. Others said they would get back to me later.

Still waiting CHAZ :-P.

Hopefully I will make an A on this assignment as well.

I need someone to take my picture so I can update it on the blog, any volunteers?. I don’t look like this anymore.


Until next time.

Weird, Strange, Useless....My World to You

I've been recently accused of allowing my blog to become moldy. Great things become even better with age, however I'm sure you are all tired of seeing my hockey story. Since not much is happening in my life currently, I've scoured the Internet for lame, pointless fluff with which to fill my blog.

I’ve always heard that the criminal element is not always the smartest demographic, these stories prove this to be very true.

Dumb Criminals
Kansas- A man was charged with holding up a shoe store. He stole about $70 in shoes. At his trial the man showed up wearing the boots he stole, with the tags still on. He was found guilty and the shoes were returned to the store.
Scarborough, England- A totaled Ford was found at the bottom of a 100-foot cliff in 1996. No sign of the driver was found, just a pile of human feces on the driver’s seat. (OK, no dumb criminal but funny!)
During their lunch hour, several employees of a large aerospace company decide to rob a bank. The group figured the police would never look for them at the plant. Of course, being dumb criminals, they forgot to remove their ID badges during the robbery.
A would-be robber carefully entered a bank. He tripped on the step, causing his mask to fall off. His foot got caught under the doormat, causing him to slide across the floor to the counter. Staggering to his feet, the dazed and confused man waved his fake gun and said “This is a stuff-up!"

Here are a few laws the dumb criminals need to be aware of.
Strange Laws
Minnesota- It is illegal to mock skunks—how do you even begin to mock a skunk?
Ohio- It is illegal to sell beer while wearing a Santa Claus suit, even if you are a dog.
Seattle - It is illegal to sell lollipops. Suckers are fine—well, now we know!
Virginia- All bathtubs must be outside, not in the house.
Toronto - It is illegal to ride a streetcar on Sunday after eating garlic.
Cleveland - It is illegal to capture mice without a hunting license.
Arizona- It is illegal to hunt camels—oh snap!
Kentucky- It is illegal to carry an ice cream cone in your pocket—what about your purse?
Louisana- It is illegal to rob a bank, and then shoot the teller with a water pistol.
Indiana- It is prohibited to bathe in the winter.
Kentucky- You must take a bath at least once a year.
Alaska- It is illegal to look at a moose from a flying vehicle.
Atlanta-it’s illegal to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole or street lamp.
Idaho- It is forbidden by law for one citizen to give another citizen a box of candy that weighs more than 50 pounds—that should be illegal everywhere!
Miami- It is illegal for a man to wear a strapless gown—again, that should be illegal everywhere!
Connecticut- It is illegal to walk across the street on your hands—let me try!
Avignon, France- It is illegal for a flying saucer to land in the city—you gotta park it outside the limits.
Maryland - It's illegal to play Randy Newman's "Short People" on the radio—again, should be illegal everywhere!
Texas - It is illegal to milk another person's cow—that’s just common courtesy, right?

My dad always said he knows nearly everything. Here are a few things even Dad didn’t know.
Useless Trivia
The felt tip pen was invented by the American C.I.A. in an attempt to make a poison pen. The poison would not flow through a fountain pen.
The television series Bonanza was created specifically to provide a product for RCA's new color TV sets.
The Mac-Restaurant’s term secret sauce was created during the Cold War , in order to help discontinue the use of the term "Russian" dressing.
Audie Murphy, the most decorated veteran of WWII and Texas native was 5'5" tall 110 pounds
Heinz Catsup leaving the bottle travels at 25 miles PER YEAR
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair
The parachute was invented by Leonardo da Vinci in 1515
Of the six men who made up the Three Stooges, three of them were real brothers (Moe, Curly and Shemp.)
A donkey will sink in quicksand but a mule won't
Hugh "Ward Cleaver" Beaumont was an ordained minister.
Certain frogs can be frozen solid then thawed, and continue living—so can Catawba worms
A cow produces 200 times more gas than a human (per day)
The only planet without a ring is earth

I will remind you that I've asked for suggestions for my blog....I prefer the ideas be stories that Mamma can read and be proud of. Just remember, while I wasted my time compiling this, you are wasting yours reading it. Happy wasting! :P 2 U chaz!

Until next time when I will hopefully have more cerebral information to share, or at least some new pictures for showcasing.

FACE OFF

I had the opportunity to go to my very first Dallas Stars game recently. I had a great time. I took my friend Charles, as a thank you for his help in my college algebra class. I paid a bit more for the tickets but we were seated on center ice. I wish I had been able to afford better seats than the nose bleed section, but I don’t make much money right now…wait till I’m finished with my education then I’ll make more money and can afford to sit on the bench with the team. Doubt that, back to the game. I managed to take a couple of pictures…the far away shots are obviously mine and the up-close of Mike Modano is an AP photo.

You know the old saying, “I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out,” it’s true. I knew that hockey was brutal but I didn’t realize the amount of fighting because you don’t always see it on TV or maybe I just tuned it out. It’s different when you are there in person, your senses are heightened and you are aware of everything. It was a fantastic experience and I plan on making the trip to more games next season.

During this particular game, the Stars played the Colorado Avalanche. The teams had played the night before in Denver and the Stars lost. There was a lot of left-over frustration between the teams resulting in the fights. The Stars won 3-0 and Mike Modano achieved his 751st assist.

The following is part of the newspaper story the next morning about the game:
Marty Turco had 19 saves to record his third shutout of the season, and 33rd of his career, Brad Richards added a goal and assist, and Stu Barnes and Stephane Robidas each contributed a goal as the Stars avenged Saturday's loss to Colorado with an impressive 3-0 win over the Avalanche at American Airlines Center.With the win, the Stars leapfrogged San Jose and back into first place in the division after the Sharks had taken a brief one-point lead with a 3-2 shootout win over Minnesota earlier in the day. San Jose, which has won nine straight, has three games in hand.
--Modano had two assists, giving him 751 career NHL helpers.

--Turco reached 30 wins for the fifth straight time.

--Richards is now two points shy of 500 for his NHL career.

--Robidas set a new career high in goals, eclipsing the six he scored with Montreal in 2000-01.

--Theodore dropped to 0-6 with a tie in seven career starts at Dallas.

--The Stars killed off all four Colorado power plays.

--The Stars had never shut out the Avalanche since moving to Dallas in 1993.

Until next time.

UPDATE: Algebra

Just wanted to tell everyone that my one-time failing grade in Algebra has been improved from a C to a B. I've been told that I can't pull off an A....and since I can't figure out for myself I'll have to trust the source.

Still, I am happy that I'm passing and everyone knows I wouldn't be passing this class without Charles helping me. I cannot wait until my next class...Illustration. Finally, something I can shine in. After this week I shouldn't need anymore assistance in my education...sorry Charlie. I will have to take a Biology class at some point, but I think I can manage that on my own (we'll see).

A+ In Friendship

I never got along with Algebra. Plain old 2+2 is just fine for me and probably millions of other Americans. For some sick and twisted people out there, math is—shall we say—cool? I disagree with this immensely, but I looked up several math terms (all clean) on the Internet. I came across fun math, A+ Math, cool math, enchanted math (what were they smoking’?), new math (it’s what they used to teach but is now obsolete) and of course, good old ‘cipherin’.

I am taking an on-line college algebra course this term and I am on my knees thanking God that the course is only five weeks long. The down side to that is if you make one failing grade (which I unfortunately did) your chances of passing decrease (see how I worked that math into my blog?). People say everything is numbers but I am a word person. I admire the fella who wrote the alphabet, he wrote everything!

While my words are plentiful, my math is severely suffering. I needed someone who understood and could teach me one on one. Most of the people I know are fellow wordsmiths and lack the same finesse where arithmetic is concerned. I do have one friend who was able to help. This is the same friend who convinced me to return to school and to attend the on-line learning institution of American Intercontinental University. My friend, Charles, has become a mentor and tutor.

I looked up mentor in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary and the term originated in the times of the Trojan War. Mentor was actually a friend of Odysseus who was entrusted with the education of Telemachus, Odysseus’ son. Synonyms for mentor include tutor and role model. Charles is both of these to me and without him I would be failing my math class. However, my second class assignment resulted in an A…due to the mentorship of a good friend.

Thank you Charles, I really needed help and you were there.

Until next time.

What Is Love

With the observance of that recent wonderful day of love (I’ve been advised by my lawyers not to show bias toward one side over the other), I thought I’d discuss what love is and how to tell if you are lucky enough to fall into that category. A status held only by a few Americans since more than 50 percent of marriages end in divorce. I should note at this point that since I myself am divorced that I am in no way claiming to be an expert on amorous affairs. Also, I should say that the Internet is full of what many claim to be love, however we will discover as we delve into this topic that love and lust are two different things.

Lust is based on physical attraction and, while that is a factor in love, it does not constitute love. (Most of the articles I researched were geared toward teenagers.) Love should be based on friendship, trust, commitment and caring. Love is shared by two people, not something one may feel and the other doesn’t. In true love, there is no room for jealousy, contempt, insecurity, hate, pride or other evil deeds. Love is a positive feeling with a positive outcome.

According to Mike Hardcastle, Teen Advisor at About.com, love is the total surrender of your heart to another person with the security of knowing they will treat it better than you will. If you wanted to borrow your best friend’s car and they trusted you with it, you would take care of it better than it was your own. You would make sure you returned their car washed, filled with fuel and clean…in better condition than when you borrowed it. Why, because this is your friend and they trusted you to use their vehicle. You wanted to prove you would do a good job. Well, it should be an even bigger deal when someone gives us their heart. If you don’t feel compelled to treat their heart and feelings better than your own, then you are not in love.

Hardcastle composed a list of things you should know about love. I realize most adults think they should already know these things, and let’s face it…we should have learned lots of things in Kindergarten but they didn’t teach us this.

Love is an intense feeling of caring for another person. It can take many different forms (romantic, friendly, familial) but love is always about caring.

You should never be asked or feel like you have to prove your love for someone. When you love another person you don't ask them to sacrifice a part of themselves in the name of that love.

It is very easy to confuse lust for love. The true measure of romantic love is commitment and trust not physical attraction. Sex is NOT love. Love is NOT sex. Sex can be a part of romantic love but it is never mandatory.

Love should make you feel happy, secure and appreciated.

The best description of love can be found in the Bible. God created love and has a pretty good idea of what it is and isn’t, so why be surprised to find in His word what love is?

Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. -- 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

Another Disappointment

I was all ready to begin my illustration class at school. This is the class that works with PhotoShop, Illustrator and InDesign. I received the software for this class a couple of weeks ago and was so excited...finally, I begin to see something in my parent's investment!

Being the digital imaging nerd that I am, I installed the software right away and as soon as the classroom was open (about a week before classes begin) I looked at my assignments, set up my folders on my computer and got to work right away. I even finished the first assignment early. I realized how dull this makes my life sound, but hey, I'm the one who has to live it!

The day before the assignment was due, I logged into the on-line campus to read over the assignment again, making sure everything was good to go when to my horror I realized the school had switched classes on me. For family obligations and health reasons, I could not finish the last term's College Algebra class and I thought at some point later in my school career I would pick it back up. However, the university's policy is that you must complete the essential core classes before being admitted to the classes toward your degree (the fun stufff).

So, here I am with my completed assignment for artwork on a classroom book and nowhere to turn it in. Not to mention, I am a week behind on my College Algebra, which is how the problems with the first class started. Since I can't share my work with my instructor or my class, I will share it here with my friends, family and fans (yeah, right).

I better get back to studying algebraic equations, and if you know a fifth-grader, pass them my e-mail address because I need a tutor!

Until next time.

Lousy Love Holiday

Anti-Valentine's Day

It’s no mystery as to why I don’t celebrate the Holiday of Love. If you are like me and you hate all the hoopla surrounding Valentine's Day, then we are not alone. According to the History Channel, recent years have seen a boom in the anti-Valentine's Day card and merchandise market, and you can even buy t-shirts promoting February 14th as "Singles Awareness Day." Like me, if you should find yourself single on Valentine's Day, or if you're in a couple and still prefer to ignore the overzealous florists, jewelers, confectioners and card makers of the world, you can still make the most of the day--or at least get through it with minimal discomfort. I have become aware that many men believe this “holiday” is a scam from the florists, greeting card and candy companies just to generate money in the economy and profits in their pockets. Well, it couldn’t hurt to stimulate the economy could it? Nevertheless, couples can take the low-key approach (maybe a quiet dinner at home, a movie or a concert) while like-minded single friends can organize an anti-Valentine's Day party or outing--no red or pink or chocolate allowed. If you're single, don't hesitate to treat yourself to a great meal, a warm bath, a funny movie or something else equally comforting and indulgent. Above all, take comfort in the fact that February 14th is, in the end, just another day. This year, I may be dining alone, watching an appropriate movie like Fool’s Rush In…no, not really. I think Van Helsing or another vampire movie may be appropriate.

Valentine Veritas

Looking for Love
- 188 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine's Day the second-most popular greeting-card-giving occasion. (This total excludes packaged kids valentines for classroom exchanges.) (Source: Hallmark research)
- Over 50 percent of all Valentine's Day cards are purchased in the six days prior to the observance, making Valentine's Day a procrastinator's delight. (Source: Hallmark research)
- There are 119 single men (i.e., never married, widowed or divorced) who are in their 20s for every 100 single women of the same ages. I wonder what the numbers are for those around 40? And where do I meet them?
- There are 34 single men (i.e., never married, widowed or divorced) age 65 or older for every 100 single women of the same ages.
- 904: The number of dating service establishments nationwide as of 2002. These establishments, which include Internet dating services, employed nearly 4,300 people and pulled in $489 million in revenues. Maybe I should open a business. No, the last time I tried to set two people up I ended up married to the guy….still married to the guy. Lucky Jawana (not really, I am better off than she is).

Be Mine
- 2.2 million marriages take place in the United States annually. That breaks down to more than 6,000 a day. I must start making phone calls or set up a warning system.
- 147,300 marriages are performed in Nevada during 2005. So many couples "tie the knot" in the Silver State that it ranked fourth nationally in marriages, even though it's total population that year among states was 35th.
- The estimated U.S. median ages at first marriage for women and men are 25.3 and 27.1 respectively, in 2005. The age for women rose 4.2 years in the last three decades. The age for men at first marriage is up 3.6 years.
- 72%: The percentage of men and women ages 30 to 34 in 2005 who had been married at some point in their lives - either currently or formerly.
- 4.9 million opposite-sex cohabitating couples maintained households in 2005. These couples comprised 4.3 percent of all households.

Until Next Time.

New Year, New Me

Before the holidays I began an attempt to make myself healthier. I changed some eating habits, started drinking more water and less sodas...even the diet kind. I implemented some exercise and even lost a little bit of weight. I still had a long way to go. Then the holiday season began.

For most people the festive time of year begins at Thanksgiving. For me, it begins with Halloween. With the onset of October 31, a host of festivous days ensue. My brother Kevin's birthday on November 6, then my birthday 6 days later. My former wedding anniversary on November 18, which now I celebrate for another reason (ha ha), then Thanksgiving and the typical holiday season. Mine is sprinkled with an added day, my Mother's birthday on December 15.

As I began to say early on in this blog, my healthy lifestyle went right out the window with the holiday season. I was not a good girl. I took full advantage of the gastronimical delights that found their way to my plate. There was fudge, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, the family favorite of candy cane cookies, dressing, dressing and more dressing. I was sure that I gained many, many extra pounds.

Fearing the amount of added weight I actually gained I avoided the scales at all costs. I would scoot around them for fear they would jump under my feet without notice. Really, my scales see me coming and run the other way screaming in protest. One day last week I caught them and decided to bite the bullet...providing it wouldn't add extra pounds...and I got on them.

To my most pleasant surprise, I lost more weight. I had not gained any at all and in addition to that I lost more. I was very happy. Excited enough to jump on that ride and keep going. I was inspired to get back into my healthy lifestyle. I hope to inspire someone else to get into a healthy lifestyle.

Until next time.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Recently, breast cancer reared its ugly head a little too close to home. Those closest to me know what I am referring to, other than that I am not going to discuss it here. I am, however, going to attempt to let everyone reading this understand how important early detection is. If you think it can’t happen to you or your family, think again.

The following is taken directly from the breast cancer awareness web site, http://www.breastcancer.org/. It is filled with lots of information about detection, prevention, treatment, risk factors and support.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer to affect women. Every woman is at SOME risk for breast cancer—this is merely the "risk" of living as a woman. But there are many risk factors that can make one woman's picture differ substantially from another's. When you understand your own particular risk profile, you are in a better position to manage it and don't have to fear the unknown.

Growing older is the biggest risk for breast cancer. The longer you live, the higher your risk:
From birth to age 39, 1 woman in 231 will get breast cancer (<0.5%>

Personal history of breast cancer is a risk factor for breast cancer recurrence or the formation of a new breast cancer. In other words, if you have already been diagnosed with breast cancer, your risk of developing it again is higher than if you had never had the disease. The risk is about 1% per year, so that over a 10-year period, your risk would be about 10%. However, there is medication available to help you reduce that risk.

Family history of breast cancer can have a significant impact on your risk, but don't automatically assume that any case of breast cancer in your family means you are a high-risk candidate. For example, if your grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 75, this does NOT mean your risk of the disease is increased. Your grandmother was most likely just one of the 1 in 15 women in that age bracket who gets breast cancer from the wear and tear of aging.

Other patterns of family history may strongly suggest an inherited gene abnormality that is independent of normal aging, and is associated with a relatively higher risk of breast cancer. The following signs suggest that there may be an inherited gene abnormality in your family (These apply to either your mother's OR your father's side of the family):

having a mother, sister, or daughter with breast cancer
having multiple generations of family members affected by breast or ovarian cancer
having relatives who were diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age (under 50 years old)
having relatives who had both breasts affected by cancer

You can inherit a breast cancer gene abnormality from your mother OR your father. If one of your parents has a gene abnormality, you have a 50% risk of inheriting the gene from him or her. If you do inherit a gene abnormality, your risk of developing the disease depends on the specific abnormality found, the pattern of its behavior in your family, plus the uniqueness of your own body. The risk of breast cancer in these families ranges greatly—from 40–80% over the course of a lifetime. Keep in mind that breast cancer caused by an inherited gene abnormality is not necessarily any more severe or less treatable than other types of breast cancer.

Certain types of breast cancer gene abnormalities are also associated with a higher risk of ovarian cancer (from 20–60%).

Prolonged, uninterrupted exposure to estrogen can increase breast cancer risk. Breast cell growth—both normal and abnormal—is stimulated by the presence of estrogen. This includes estrogen that your own body produces normally, as well as estrogen you might take as a pill (for example, menopause hormone therapy). The following risk factors for breast cancer are related to prolonged exposure to estrogen without any breaks or interruptions:

starting menstruation at a young age (more years of the body producing estrogen)
going through menopause at a late age (more years of the body producing estrogen)
taking menopause hormone replacement therapy for over five years with estrogen alone, or with estrogen and progesterone (risk increases by 5–40%, but most breast cancers that are diagnosed in women on hormone therapy tend to be very early stage and very treatable)

never having had a full-term pregnancy
having a first full-term pregnancy after age 30 (more years of the body producing estrogen without the break from regular cycles)
being overweight, which increases the production of estrogen outside the ovaries and adds to the overall level of estrogen in the body
exposure to estrogens in the environment (such as estrogen fed to fatten up beef cattle, or the breakdown products of the pesticide DDT, which mimic the effects of estrogen in the body)
having more than two alcoholic drinks per week, which can limit your liver's ability to regulate blood estrogen levels

Smoking is associated with a small increase in breast cancer risk.
Diet plays an important role in your level of risk for breast cancer. Some say that 30% of all cancers can be attributed to an inadequate or unhealthy diet. Many strong opinions have been expressed on this subject, and books claiming to have "the answer" have been on the bestseller list.
Being overweight IS a known factor for an increased risk of breast cancer.
Stress has not been clearly associated with increased breast cancer risk. But you can say with confidence that stress stinks. It's not good for your overall health and well-being.

Who Needs Resolutions

Every year at this time millions of Americans, as well as people in other countries, celebrate the beginning of a new year as a chance to begin their life anew. Starting over is appealing to many people, and after the things I’ve endured I can understand why people are drawn to fresh starts.

Resolutions, popular as they are, can become dreadful. People make the mistake of creating resolutions they cannot keep and when they fail at these resolutions, they become guilt stricken and usually increase the activities they were attempting to delete from their lives.

Here are some of the most popular resolutions, and why I won't make them.

Get fit, Eat right , Lose weight— These were three resolutions but I count them as one because one is about as likely to happen as another. I don’t want to waste money on new clothes, if I get fit and eat right then I will lose weight and have to buy new clothes. NO THANK YOU.

Pay off debt—why bother, it keeps accumulating. I think I will get a new credit card, maybe one with my real name on it. I will try to keep my current debt down but paying it off is useless.

Quit drinking—that’s no fun. Life is better with a clouded head and beer goggles.

Save money—this is contradictive to paying off debt unless I am saving money at a Half Off Sale, then I am saving at least 50 percent, right.

Get a better job—OK, this is pointless because in six months I will have formed the same opinion about a new job as the job I currently have. I think I’ll keep my vacation time, my insurance benefits and my crazy co-workers, not to mention my crazy work schedule.

Get a better education—I am already schooled in life, what could be a better education than that. I’m so smart I could be a Double Naught Spy.

Quit smoking—I’ve already accomplished this. I will say you’ve got to die of something, for me its apparently obesity, diabetes or heart disease but not from smoking.

Read more—Television is so much more entertaining, at least it will be when the writer’s strike is over. I’ve missed a lot already. Reading makes me think too much which leads to headaches.

Quit procrastinating—I’ll start this one tomorrow.

Become organized—If I clean up and put things away, IE organizing, I will not know where anything is. Right now, my life looks cluttered but I know how to find anything. I need. That’s my secret, I appear disorderly. I may give this a try, but not today (see Quit Procrastinating).

Until next time.