Day 134

Tree-lighting.

"My cousins used to have a crazy cocker spaniel but it didn't turn me off to men."
-Cindi Verbelun (discussing the sex drives of animals and their effects on the humans they encounter,or her post-graduate bestiality phase...one or the other).

Day 133

Bills.





How do you make it through the holidays when unemployment strikes?

I realize I am not the first person finding themselves without work at the start of December, but where are the self-help books to guide your path and keep you smiling and sane by January 1st of the new year?

I suppose I could cut coupons.
Make my Christmas gifts instead of buying them.
Ride my bike and walk wherever possible.

Maybe even find a job.

Day 132

Red Robin.

When you misplace your alarm clock and awake an hour behind schedule, is your day wasted?

Do you curse your luck and not bother trying to make up the lost time?
Do you run around like mad until you feel you have earned the missing hour back?
Or do you go back to sleep, because you can't remember why you set your alarm clock so early in the first place?

Day 131

All Souls Day.

When did 30 get to be the new 40?
While growing up there were no end of "Over the Hill" parties for my parent's friends and older relatives.

It always seemed appropriate.
40 is a milestone to be proud of. To celebrate.
Halfway to 80.
On your way to OLD.

When did we start putting as much emphasis on 30?

Some say Hallmark and the greeting card industry.
Some say American retailers trying to cash in on anything possible.

I say it was episode 160 of "Friends" in 2001 where Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) turned 30 and had a breakdown and each other cast member reminisced about their own 30th. The show was so enormously popular and thus began the trend of creating a big deal out of the 30th birthday. Or so I like to think!

And as I stare at all the wonderful gifts I received and look at the pictures from the best birthday party I ever had (without a Whopper Hopper), I am definitely NOT complaining!

Day 130

Dreams.

I have this reoccurring dream of running towards the stage to make an entrance but never getting my legs to move fast enough to make it on time.

According to a dream interpretation website it signifies my lack of self-esteem and self-confidence.

Interesting?
Or crap?

Anyone who knows me knows I lack not in self-confidence or self-esteeem.
But if the dream is always heading towards a stage does it have something to do with the fact that my stage manager Forbidden Broadway is always scrutinizing my every move and constantly treating me as if I am an undergrad? Or maybe I don't trust myself onstage as much as I'd like to believe I do? Or maybe my fear of the show closing early?

Fine.
Feel better?
Maybe.

But nothing explains why I was wearing the Santa Suit.

Day 129

Diane Reame.

It has been said:
Publishing Poetry is like tossing a rose petal off of the top of the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo.

Day 128

Doomsday.





We hear so many stories of 2.8 earthquakes and tropical depressions that might turn into the next big hurricane, its enough to make the strongest cynic at least ponder the end of the world.

Is it really upon us, or is the world's media in need of ways to get better ratings?

And somewhat related (although possibly only in this brain) does no one die of natural causes anymore?

Must we need an answer for everything? Can't that 106 year-old man just die of old age instead of complications from acute cardiac long latency deficiency disease?

In our quest to always know more and "be in the know" we forget that people have lived on this earth for thousands of years, quite happily I might add, without an answer to everything.

Of course, leukemia might have been one of those natural causes.
Did I just destroy my own argument!

Day 127

Fat Tax.

Should obese people be forced to pay more for travel?


Somewhere in the United States there is a bill posed before congress right now asking this very question.

When NPR began its half-hour long coverage and debate this morning on the topic there was no doubt in my mind that this policy would be squashed like a bug on the windshield.

I was wrong.
Dead wrong.

Folks from all over called in to relate their airplane horror stories of being stuck next to a large person for a 6 hour flight. Or in between two.
Or on the train. And subway. Or cruise ship dining room (not sure how that applied, though).

No one called to defend those who are overweight and share their side of travel nightmares. It can't be any easier for them.
Honestly I am sure they are just as uncomfortable if not more so than fellow "average" size travelers.

The arguments were there.
More weight = More fuel for the airplane.
Unhappy passengers = Less likely to rebook.


But aren't they burdened enough?
They are already forced to pay extra for their plus size clothing (which I will defend based solely on the 'more material needed' clause) and insurances are higher and harder to come by.

We need to figure out better ways to help Each Other thrive and enjoy life in our society and not make it harder to be who we are and what we are given to work with.

Right?

Day 126

Ruth Fogg.
January 11, 1929-November 6, 2007.

At a family funeral this morning an arrangement of flowers caught my eye.
A beautiful vase of all white carnations and lilies sat atop the urn.
Attached to the top was a plain card, which read:
"Ruth, I've been waiting for you. Wilma."

Who is/was Wilma?
A sister? Mother? Best friend?

And who leaves money behind to place such notes at others funerals?

Will you?
Will I?

Most assuredly!

Day 125

Daylight Savings Time.

Humans have no problem adjusting to an extra hour of sleep.
Why can't cats?

You can explain and explain to them that they have to wait one more hour before breakfast but will they listen?

No.

Me. Me. Me.
Now. Now. Now.

On second thought, they aren't that much different after all.

Day 124

Ratatouille.

I hate false modesty.
Its just another way of lying.

Day 123

30 Days of Night.


Christmas in October?

Is it just me or is anyone else slightly disturbed that its not yet Halloween and the big stores (Walmart, Target) have already set up their Christmas and Holiday displays?

Something is not quite right about this.

Day 121

The flu.




I know God won't give me anything I can't handle...
I just wish he didn't trust me so much.

Mother Teresa