Shut up and Save a Life

Today I came across an article that was posted in The Seattle Times about drivers ignoring a law for hands-free cell phone devices.

The article struck my heart for many reasons and got me thinking. The first reason is that Seattle Pacific University and one of its many brilliant professors is mentioned. Another is that Ravensdale, a place very close to where I live, is mentioned too. But, perhaps one of the bigger reasons this article resonated with me, is that many people I know are constantly distracted by their cell phones while driving.

I have one friend in particular, who consistantly multi-tasks while on her cell phone.

When she calls me, I hear her distributing fast food she's just purchased for her children in the back seat, as she switches on the DVD player so her kids have something to watch while they eat, while also reading to me the latest text message she just received - ALL WHILE DRIVING HER CAR!

I can't tell you how many times I've suggested we continue chatting later so that she can focus on the road. There have been countless breathless moments when our conversation has been suddenly cut short and my mind's eye imagines that she's crashed into someone or something and caused a horrific accident. (Fortunately it's usually a crappy service connection, but still.)

I'm a human being, I've certainly been tempted to review a text when I'm going too fast on the freeway. Or if I'm bored in traffic I often think of tweeting that I'm bored in traffic. But the bottom line is, there are other people on the road with me. Those people are someone's sister, wife, mother, husband, child or friend. As that human being, who is frought with imperfections and yet strives to be a good Christian, I work to try and do things I would want others to do to me - one of which involves shutting up and shutting down my cell phone. Instead I try to listen to the radio, watch for a yellow slugbug or even roll down the window to feel the breeze on my face and by doing so, maybe, just maybe I can save a life.

Moving Forward

In the next few months I'll be working towards re-entering the employment realm. The idea of this is both exciting and terrifying.

On the one hand, I'll be making money again. In fact, I'll be making more money than I ever have before. At my last job, my income was below poverty level - after six years with the company. Now, armed with the proper education, I can apply for jobs previously unavailable to me. Also, I've got all my years of experience in the workforce, which gives me more options for advancement sooner, rather than later.

However, all those years in survival employment scarred me. I remember countless hours of overtime, Saturday's sacrificed to achieve goals, lunches worked through to make sure the job was done. I remember working with people who refused to adhere to corporate policies and procedures and made life for the rest of us a living hell. I remember the animosity people aimed towards me as I received promotions and accolades. I remember the lack of resources to stop people from creating negative space in the work place. These environments often times created a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. The idea of returning to work brings that feeling back in a flood of emotion.

Fortunately, God blessed me with a very wise and very blunt husband. He continuously reminds me that I'm not going back to those environments and to stop being a baby. I'm in possession of a different skill set that has opened up new doors, new possibilities, and new environments for me.

I'm trying to branch out more, to be a little more positive. I've even applied for jobs in South Carolina recently, hoping to achieve a literal fresh start. But this is going to be a process. I've got to change my thinking - a hard thing to do at 34 years of age. Perhaps the hardest thing about changing my life at a later stage in the game, is getting my head back into it. But hey, at least I'm willing to try.

Because I'm not gushing enough...

Here's my second fan-girl post for Jen Lancaster. She recently released her new book trailer video. I found it so awesome I had to share it with all of you! So here you are people...Jen Lancaster in the flesh:




If you'd like to see Jen's take on the video go here .

So tell me, after seeing the trailer, will you be buying the book?

Holla back Chicago!

Just wanted to give a shout out to a great author (and dreamy would-be-BFF), Jen Lancaster. She has recently added to her list of accomplishments by becoming Chicago's newest syndicated columnist. Click here for the goods. Her first official column was released this week, and if you ain't reading it you're missing out! Click here for "Don't blame Mii, Japan" and prepare to laugh your ass off! If you'd like to learn more about Jen or her books you can find her listed under "links I frequent".
Ciao for now!

Just call me DESPERATE

Has it been too long since last I wrote? Yes. Am I feeling the economic crunch as all others are? Yes. How am I coping? Desperately.

Recently I treated myself to a new Dark Cherry mocha at Starbuck’s. I loved every last drip of it! However, now I found myself in a dilemma: how the hell was I going to afford this new addiction every damn day?
I like to consider myself a pretty clever woman, so I wandered through my kitchen and pantry waiting for inspiration to strike. And ya know what? It did!
A few Christmases ago I purchased a Moka pot for my husband. It’s a small European style percolator that brews delicious espresso on your stove top. I also enrolled us in “the program” so that we receive two containers of ground Italian espresso every few months. It’s a great way to start the day and we have used these products so much that they have more than paid for themselves. That meant I had the coffee portion of my experiment down. Now I had to think flavoring.
I didn’t own a bottle of chocolate or fudge sauce. I had no powdered cocoa that’s less than five years old. I did have a container of International coffee Suisse Mocha, but that would be sinful to use with the tasty Italian espresso. In my pantry was my special box that I keep for baking goods, such as butterscotch chips and marshmallows. I foraged that and found (to my ultimate delight) a very small amount of Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips. HOORAH!!
Finally, I pillaged the back of my spice cabinet and found a bottle of Cherry extract. Yes! All the pieces were in place.
I made sure to add boiling water to my coffee mug so that it would be nice and hot for the coffee concoction it would be receiving. Once the mug was too hot too hold (Hey, my microwave is currently out of commission, gimme a break.) I dropped in seven chocolate chips and poured the espresso over them, stirring to blend. Once the chocolate was all gooey, I added about two teaspoons of the Cherry extract. To top it off I added a smidge of half and half.
A little ingenuity and I was looking at a Cherry Mocha (sort of), and thus,
V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!!

“Was it worth it”, you ask.
“Did it taste amazing”, you ask.
“Honestly?” I say.


“Hell to the N – O.”

Y’all, life is a bitch, and her name is Cherry Mocha.

"Friends" Taught Me True Selflessness

Recently I was watching the TV show "Friends". The episode was entitled, "The One where Phoebe hates PBS". The story that struck me was the one between Phoebe and Joey, where he told her that there was no such thing as a selfless good deed. Joey believed that by doing something for someone else, one is essentially doing something for themselves. You help out a friend and feel good about it, so everybody wins. Phoebe spent the entire episode trying to find a deed that proved Joey wrong. She believed that there can be a deed done where only the receiving party benefits. By the episode's end Phoebe is never any closer to finding one.
The first time I watched this episode I thought long and hard, and, finally had to agree with Joey. If I help out a neighbor, I feel good and they do too. If I send someone a card to tell them their in my thoughts, they feel better and so do I. Even bringing in the garbage can from the curb (something I loathe doing) lets my husband know I'm trying to do something nice for him, and I end up feeling dirty, but satisfied.
But recently life has taught me lesson: there can be something as profound as a selfless good deed. One of my bulldogs, who turned 12-years-old in April, got extremely ill this spring. In years past, she's often battled illness and, being the fighter that she is, always won. Then one day, shortly after her birthday, she lost a lot of weight, started having difficulty eating and breathing, and the next thing we knew, she was on dialysis for doggies. Her condition improved for a little while, and we were naively hopeful. My bullies are my babies - we have no people-kids of our own. As we prayed for her recovery every free moment I had I spent nursing one dog, and trying to appease the other with what little energy I had left. School work, house work, and just plain work went to the wayside as we sought solutions. We made homemade "super"-food, administered intravenous fluids, and gave "lovies" every chance we got. Unfortunately, it seems our hopeful hearts and persist ant hard work was all for naught. Two weeks ago it became desperately evident that she was at the end. She wouldn't even lift her head to eat her favorite candy: a Dot. I made the call and the vet was gracious enough to come out to the house to take down this piece of our heart. I read to my little love from "Anne of Green Gables" while we counted down to the minute the last bits of time we'd ever have with our girl. We went through the motions of being gracious hosts when the vet arrived, we made small talk as the instruments were made ready, and we fought to control our emotions so we could succinctly say our very final good-bye.
Even now the tears are fresh, and the pain may never subside. But as we laid our girl to rest and placed a beautiful butterfly bush in her memory, we have the gift of knowing we performed a selfless good deed. It hurts like hell, and I'd give anything in the world to have it reversed, but it was what was best for her, not us. After all the love, loyalty, and joy she gave us, and the way she made our little family complete, it certainly was the last gift we could give her - peace.
Our hearts will miss you forever and always Dixie Girl...
We wuf u,
"Mama" & "Papa"

Privacy? We don't need no stinkin' privacy!

Just finished reading an interesting book called
"The Future of Reputation: Gossip, Rumor, and Privacy on the Internet". I think this is a great book for anyone who has a blog. It really opened my eyes to what is protected, what should be protected, and where you can really get caught with your pants around your ankles!
Even if you don't have a blog, the "dog poop girl" story is well worth the cost of the book.
Daniel J. Solove explores the realm of privacy and how little we have left in the age of the internet. Solove is considered an "expert in privacy law" and it shows in his writing. There were so many things I hadn't thought about until he addressed them in this book. It's a quick but informative read, and one that all of us should remember the next time we're posting last Saturday's party pix online.
Enjoy!