Saturday, July 25, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
So, I never told you but...
I'm Getting Married!!!
Yes, I meant to write this beautiful, detailed post of our trip to Canada, the Proposal and and everything but time and procrastination has got the better of me and I haven't been able to.
But I will, just not right now. I have a ton of cleaning to get to but I thought it was about time I at least put something about it here.
So there, I'm getting married!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Speechless....
..oddly, Speechless is a song I love by Michael Jackson.
How can you measure this man? I don't think you can. Millions and millions of people are mourning the loss of a man who broke barriers, entertained and will live forever through an amazing musical talent that will never be duplicated.
Also, passing after a long battle with anal cancer, Farrah Fawcett. I wasn't a Charlie's Angel person, nor was I around when she first became famous, but many people are also mourning her passing.
This week also claimed the life of Ed McMahon. He was always the Star Search guy to me but to many, he was so much more, including the voice behind Johnny Carson and the Tonight Show.
Too often we take for granted life and all it has to offer. While we've experienced great losses, all of us, we sometimes forget how precious life is. Hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Eh....
I really don't have much to say, honestly, my life is quite boring.
I am taking a quick trip to Canada with the boyfriend in, uh, three weeks. Hopefully, he will come up with something quite nice for me since I went and planned this nice trip for us.
I attended the calling hours/funeral of my cousin's grandmother yesterday. I hadn't seen Marylene Thompson since one day back at a Chinese restaurant in 2002 or 2003 maybe. I'm not sure exactly, but far too long. Anyway, I saw people who no longer remembered who I was and it was awful. When my mother got with Rodney, we drifted from everyone except his friends. And when my Uncle J left his wife, my cousins also drifted away. I try to send emails, Facebook and MySpace with them, but it's not the same. I miss them, I wish they were still a part of my daily life. I wish we could be family again but I'm not sure that will ever come true.
I also listened to many of the memories people had about Marylene and I started to feel guilty, slightly. We women, most of us, aren't the women our grandmothers were. Especially black women, 44% of us will never get married. We aren't the wives our grandmothers were, we aren't the God-fearing women our grandmothers were, we aren't the mothers our grandmothers were. In some ways, we have become a bit stronger, mostly in the workplace, but our households are broken. As much as we have progressed, I'm not sure how much of it really has been in our best interest.
When it comes to God, I'm on the fence. I've lost faith, thought I regained it, only to realize it's just not there. Sometimes, I think there is a guy up there who has control of all these people walking around here. Other days, I don't believe he exists. I've tried to study "His" word and it's not yet found meaning to me. So, I'm a heathen, eh, okay. And when I attend the funerals of women who breathed God, who lived God and who have died God, I can't help but wonder why they do and I don't. Would I be a better woman and have a better life if I could find a way to believe? Why don't I believe?
Eh, I got sick yesterday after the funeral and have spent the entire day lying around and doing nothing. Missed two parties and got a few texts about how disappointing Cleveland sports teams are. I'm heading back to bed. I'll be back another day.
I am taking a quick trip to Canada with the boyfriend in, uh, three weeks. Hopefully, he will come up with something quite nice for me since I went and planned this nice trip for us.
I attended the calling hours/funeral of my cousin's grandmother yesterday. I hadn't seen Marylene Thompson since one day back at a Chinese restaurant in 2002 or 2003 maybe. I'm not sure exactly, but far too long. Anyway, I saw people who no longer remembered who I was and it was awful. When my mother got with Rodney, we drifted from everyone except his friends. And when my Uncle J left his wife, my cousins also drifted away. I try to send emails, Facebook and MySpace with them, but it's not the same. I miss them, I wish they were still a part of my daily life. I wish we could be family again but I'm not sure that will ever come true.
I also listened to many of the memories people had about Marylene and I started to feel guilty, slightly. We women, most of us, aren't the women our grandmothers were. Especially black women, 44% of us will never get married. We aren't the wives our grandmothers were, we aren't the God-fearing women our grandmothers were, we aren't the mothers our grandmothers were. In some ways, we have become a bit stronger, mostly in the workplace, but our households are broken. As much as we have progressed, I'm not sure how much of it really has been in our best interest.
When it comes to God, I'm on the fence. I've lost faith, thought I regained it, only to realize it's just not there. Sometimes, I think there is a guy up there who has control of all these people walking around here. Other days, I don't believe he exists. I've tried to study "His" word and it's not yet found meaning to me. So, I'm a heathen, eh, okay. And when I attend the funerals of women who breathed God, who lived God and who have died God, I can't help but wonder why they do and I don't. Would I be a better woman and have a better life if I could find a way to believe? Why don't I believe?
Eh, I got sick yesterday after the funeral and have spent the entire day lying around and doing nothing. Missed two parties and got a few texts about how disappointing Cleveland sports teams are. I'm heading back to bed. I'll be back another day.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
What Would Jesus Say About Miss California?
What Would Jesus Say About Miss California?
by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach
Miss California, Carrie Prejean, has vented her righteous indignation. She should not be penalized for her public opposition to gay marriage. America is a place for freedom of speech. There should be no politically correct litmus test to be a beauty queen. Indeed, she is right. Big Brother is not our leader; we do not live in a 1984 America.
But what puzzled me was how adamant Ms. Prejean was that her Christianity prevented her from supporting gay marriage but did not prevent her from posing topless for men or having the Miss Universe pageant pay for her breast implants. It seems that some of our Christian brothers and sisters have arrived at the curious conclusion that the only qualification for being religious these days is battling gays. Similarly, well-meaning Christians like Ms. Prejean hold gays accountable for undermining the institution of marriage when, in truth, we straight people have done a fine job destroying it ourselves. (Indeed, gays seem to be the only men in this country who still want to get married. While the straight guys are dating their girlfriends for a millennium and hyperventilate whenever she brings up the subject of marriage, the gay guys are petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court for the right to get hitched.)
Time for a reality check. Whether one opposes or supports gay marriage, one thing is certain: The heterosexual divorce rate is more than 50 percent, and it has been so well before gay rights ever came to the fore in this country. Sure, we can search for scapegoats to blame for the loss of love in our time. But we heterosexuals have seen the enemy and it is us.
The greatest danger to marriage in our time stems from the wholesale degradation of women in the popular culture. In magazines, on television, and especially on Internet porn, women are continually portrayed as the libidinous man’s plaything, not an equal to be taken seriously but a subordinate who is a means to salacious male ends. On college campuses rampant male womanizing is an expected right of passage. On ridiculous shows like “The Bachelor,” men start to believe that it’s the woman who has to impress the guy and get his attention. Women who engage in pornographic offerings, like Miss California, become complicit in their own degradation and further the male view that a woman exists for the satiation of their erotic needs.
Miss California also reportedly accepted breast implants from the Miss Universe pageant. Now, aside from the fact that beauty pageants are an asinine and primitive relic that is out of place in a post-feminist age where men are rightly expected to appreciate a woman for her mind and not just her legs, surely modeling dissatisfaction with one’s body and implanting foreign objects to enhance one’s perceived physical shortcomings totally negates the Christian spiritual message that beauty is something more than skin deep. Surely, if asked, Jesus would have said that a woman is more than male eye-candy. Is Miss Prejean really saving marriages by doing topless photo spreads that married men drool over in neglect of their wives? Is Miss California being a proper role model for young girls who are already riddled with perilously low body image by being exploited in a bikini on Donald Trump’s Miss Universe contest? And how is any of this congruent with Christian values?
Look, I’m not here to condemn this young woman when I can at times be just as religiously inconsistent. But crying out against gays when there are bigger and more toxic fish to fry is what makes religion ineffective and irrelevant.
My friend Patti Stanger, of Bravo’s “Millionaire Matchmaker,” whom I recently debated in Los Angeles in front of 1,100 young people, believes that women should marry a guy who is bursting with cash. But how could someone as authentically kindhearted, compassionate and brilliant as Patti be guilty of perpetuating the stereotype of women as greedy gold diggers and parasitical prostitutes who are prepared to exchange their beauty as a commodity to snare a rich man? Does she not realize that this caters to the most misogynistic stereotypes that men have of women? And the less men respect women, the worse they will treat them. And the worse they treat them, the more women will simply abandon empty and loveless marriages, or choose not to marry in the first place. Therein lies the real reason that marriage is dying in our time.
Right now in the United States, three-quarters of all divorces are initiated by women. Many of these wives are prepared to jettison a marriage where they feel neglected even though divorce will often leave them in dire financial straits, or, as studies show, alone for the rest of their lives. But it’s a heck of a lot better than picking up after a guy who doesn’t give you the time of day. The most influential television show over the past decade was “Sex and the City,” where four female friends are, in essence, married to each other and have nearly given up on men. As for married women in America, approximately 30 percent are on an anti-depressant and no less an authority than Maureen Dowd of The New York Times published a book just a few years back essentially arguing that men are superfluous in a woman’s life.
All this has resulted from a culture that has reduced women, through nude photo spreads and childish beauty contests, into male masturbatory material. And Miss California should use her crown to condemn these assaults on spirituality and marriage even more loudly than she did gay marriage.
by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach
Miss California, Carrie Prejean, has vented her righteous indignation. She should not be penalized for her public opposition to gay marriage. America is a place for freedom of speech. There should be no politically correct litmus test to be a beauty queen. Indeed, she is right. Big Brother is not our leader; we do not live in a 1984 America.
But what puzzled me was how adamant Ms. Prejean was that her Christianity prevented her from supporting gay marriage but did not prevent her from posing topless for men or having the Miss Universe pageant pay for her breast implants. It seems that some of our Christian brothers and sisters have arrived at the curious conclusion that the only qualification for being religious these days is battling gays. Similarly, well-meaning Christians like Ms. Prejean hold gays accountable for undermining the institution of marriage when, in truth, we straight people have done a fine job destroying it ourselves. (Indeed, gays seem to be the only men in this country who still want to get married. While the straight guys are dating their girlfriends for a millennium and hyperventilate whenever she brings up the subject of marriage, the gay guys are petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court for the right to get hitched.)
Time for a reality check. Whether one opposes or supports gay marriage, one thing is certain: The heterosexual divorce rate is more than 50 percent, and it has been so well before gay rights ever came to the fore in this country. Sure, we can search for scapegoats to blame for the loss of love in our time. But we heterosexuals have seen the enemy and it is us.
The greatest danger to marriage in our time stems from the wholesale degradation of women in the popular culture. In magazines, on television, and especially on Internet porn, women are continually portrayed as the libidinous man’s plaything, not an equal to be taken seriously but a subordinate who is a means to salacious male ends. On college campuses rampant male womanizing is an expected right of passage. On ridiculous shows like “The Bachelor,” men start to believe that it’s the woman who has to impress the guy and get his attention. Women who engage in pornographic offerings, like Miss California, become complicit in their own degradation and further the male view that a woman exists for the satiation of their erotic needs.
Miss California also reportedly accepted breast implants from the Miss Universe pageant. Now, aside from the fact that beauty pageants are an asinine and primitive relic that is out of place in a post-feminist age where men are rightly expected to appreciate a woman for her mind and not just her legs, surely modeling dissatisfaction with one’s body and implanting foreign objects to enhance one’s perceived physical shortcomings totally negates the Christian spiritual message that beauty is something more than skin deep. Surely, if asked, Jesus would have said that a woman is more than male eye-candy. Is Miss Prejean really saving marriages by doing topless photo spreads that married men drool over in neglect of their wives? Is Miss California being a proper role model for young girls who are already riddled with perilously low body image by being exploited in a bikini on Donald Trump’s Miss Universe contest? And how is any of this congruent with Christian values?
Look, I’m not here to condemn this young woman when I can at times be just as religiously inconsistent. But crying out against gays when there are bigger and more toxic fish to fry is what makes religion ineffective and irrelevant.
My friend Patti Stanger, of Bravo’s “Millionaire Matchmaker,” whom I recently debated in Los Angeles in front of 1,100 young people, believes that women should marry a guy who is bursting with cash. But how could someone as authentically kindhearted, compassionate and brilliant as Patti be guilty of perpetuating the stereotype of women as greedy gold diggers and parasitical prostitutes who are prepared to exchange their beauty as a commodity to snare a rich man? Does she not realize that this caters to the most misogynistic stereotypes that men have of women? And the less men respect women, the worse they will treat them. And the worse they treat them, the more women will simply abandon empty and loveless marriages, or choose not to marry in the first place. Therein lies the real reason that marriage is dying in our time.
Right now in the United States, three-quarters of all divorces are initiated by women. Many of these wives are prepared to jettison a marriage where they feel neglected even though divorce will often leave them in dire financial straits, or, as studies show, alone for the rest of their lives. But it’s a heck of a lot better than picking up after a guy who doesn’t give you the time of day. The most influential television show over the past decade was “Sex and the City,” where four female friends are, in essence, married to each other and have nearly given up on men. As for married women in America, approximately 30 percent are on an anti-depressant and no less an authority than Maureen Dowd of The New York Times published a book just a few years back essentially arguing that men are superfluous in a woman’s life.
All this has resulted from a culture that has reduced women, through nude photo spreads and childish beauty contests, into male masturbatory material. And Miss California should use her crown to condemn these assaults on spirituality and marriage even more loudly than she did gay marriage.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Quickie....
Ah, another day in my life...what's new, nothing at all. I was able to squeeze out an A- in English class. I really have no idea how I did it. I must have done a spectacular job on my Portfolio cause I got B papers this semester. My last in class essay scored me a perfect 20/20. Whatever, I'm just happy. Now tonight, I have my Algebra exam and hopefully, I'll keep my A. I have a 96% in there right now. While I can't imagine I'll totally blow this exam, I do know stranger things have happened. I'll be studying today, just to be sure.
As for the rest of life, oh, it's going well. I can't complain, or rather I could but who wants to hear it. I've become a Facebook fanatic, I'm on there way too much. I signed up for Twitter but I don't know how to use that service yet. I just started reading Twilight but I'm not as in to it as some other folks I know. I bought a bunch of cool scrapbooking things cause I need to really do a good job on my books. I'm hoping to take a trip to Vegas next month but we haven't booked anything yet which reminds me that I need to look at deals and see what they are going for right now. I still have a job so I've got to be thankful for that. I just bought my Kia in February and I already want a Jeep Compass but I know it's not possible. I'm doing well with taking photos since that is one of my 30 things before 30. So long as I get that A in math, I'll be on Dean's list again and that's another one of my 30 things. My little sister will be starting school this fall for nursing. I'm excited for her, this will make her grow so much, just like it is doing for me. I very desperately want to move into a new apartment that has a utility room for a washer and a dryer and a dining room that I can still afford but it seems like I'm asking for way too much when I search apartments.
Okay, that's enough for now.
Peace out...
As for the rest of life, oh, it's going well. I can't complain, or rather I could but who wants to hear it. I've become a Facebook fanatic, I'm on there way too much. I signed up for Twitter but I don't know how to use that service yet. I just started reading Twilight but I'm not as in to it as some other folks I know. I bought a bunch of cool scrapbooking things cause I need to really do a good job on my books. I'm hoping to take a trip to Vegas next month but we haven't booked anything yet which reminds me that I need to look at deals and see what they are going for right now. I still have a job so I've got to be thankful for that. I just bought my Kia in February and I already want a Jeep Compass but I know it's not possible. I'm doing well with taking photos since that is one of my 30 things before 30. So long as I get that A in math, I'll be on Dean's list again and that's another one of my 30 things. My little sister will be starting school this fall for nursing. I'm excited for her, this will make her grow so much, just like it is doing for me. I very desperately want to move into a new apartment that has a utility room for a washer and a dryer and a dining room that I can still afford but it seems like I'm asking for way too much when I search apartments.
Okay, that's enough for now.
Peace out...
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
I know, it's been a while. I get on here almost daily to check other Blogs but never have much to write myself.
Well, here I am. Almost done with my second semester of college and ready for the summer!! I'm glad I've started this endeavor and I'm lucky to have lots of people in my life who are so supportive of it. Next semester will be quite a challenge as I will be taking four classes for a total of 13 credit hours. It's a lot to take on, hopefully I'll be able to keep my grades up but if not, Spring 2010 will be less credits.
In other news, my mom has recovered completely from her hysterectomy in February. My sister will be starting school this fall at the U of A and my brother, well, he's just moving along just fine!
I've decided to become a Creative Memories consultant. I don't expect to get rich from this, I'm not going to be this super crazy sales girl. I really just think my mom and I will be able to save money. She is going to host my first party, unless I get another one booked in May so that gives me plenty of time to prepare an excellent showcase of the products. I've got a link on the sidebar to my product site, just click the square and it takes you directly there. Feel free to look around or order or pass on to someone you think might want to order or whatever!
There's a few other things I hope to be able to share with you in the near future so keep your fingers crossed.
Well, I'm going to get some work done, I'll be back...soon, I promise.
Well, here I am. Almost done with my second semester of college and ready for the summer!! I'm glad I've started this endeavor and I'm lucky to have lots of people in my life who are so supportive of it. Next semester will be quite a challenge as I will be taking four classes for a total of 13 credit hours. It's a lot to take on, hopefully I'll be able to keep my grades up but if not, Spring 2010 will be less credits.
In other news, my mom has recovered completely from her hysterectomy in February. My sister will be starting school this fall at the U of A and my brother, well, he's just moving along just fine!
I've decided to become a Creative Memories consultant. I don't expect to get rich from this, I'm not going to be this super crazy sales girl. I really just think my mom and I will be able to save money. She is going to host my first party, unless I get another one booked in May so that gives me plenty of time to prepare an excellent showcase of the products. I've got a link on the sidebar to my product site, just click the square and it takes you directly there. Feel free to look around or order or pass on to someone you think might want to order or whatever!
There's a few other things I hope to be able to share with you in the near future so keep your fingers crossed.
Well, I'm going to get some work done, I'll be back...soon, I promise.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Deadly Week
So, my great aunt was put into the hospital last week. I went and spent a little time with her on Saturday. She had pnuemonia and a kidney infection and passed away today. She was 94 years old.
I'm slighly addicted to reading the tragic stories on www.caringbridge.org and one of the pages I was following, a gentleman in Iowa, passed away on Tuesday (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/markcosens). A few weeks ago, another guy, Chris, passed away. He was more local and the reason I'm cyberstalking other people on Caring Bridge is because he was a friend of a friend.
My co-worker, Becky, her mom passed away on Tuesday also, after being ill for the last two weeks or so. She was 81.
My dance instructors mother, Martha Fritz of Akron, my gradfather, James Mitchell, and another close co-workers mom and a different coworkers aunt have all passed in the last 4 months.
Minus the Caring Bridge people, all of them have lived a nice long life, but still....
I've kinda had enough of the dying thing for right now.
I'm slighly addicted to reading the tragic stories on www.caringbridge.org and one of the pages I was following, a gentleman in Iowa, passed away on Tuesday (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/markcosens). A few weeks ago, another guy, Chris, passed away. He was more local and the reason I'm cyberstalking other people on Caring Bridge is because he was a friend of a friend.
My co-worker, Becky, her mom passed away on Tuesday also, after being ill for the last two weeks or so. She was 81.
My dance instructors mother, Martha Fritz of Akron, my gradfather, James Mitchell, and another close co-workers mom and a different coworkers aunt have all passed in the last 4 months.
Minus the Caring Bridge people, all of them have lived a nice long life, but still....
I've kinda had enough of the dying thing for right now.
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