In It 2 Win It!

Just when Barack Obama thought he was sailing on through to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, he is dogged by a former pastor who just doesn't get it.

The current drama playing out between Obama and Jeremiah Wright, Jr. is exactly the reason why no one drops out of the campaign till it is ABSOLUTELY CLEAR they have no chance.

Such is the reason why Hillary is still in it. She's been around politics long enough to know the trail to the White House is long and arduous with many pitfalls and potholes along the way.

Campaign 2008 is turning out to be better than the best suspense thriller. Who will win?

Stay tuned!

No-Brainer

So, "W" has me actually thinking about using my economic stimulus check to go shopping! Even though my intuition tells me it's best to $ave it "for a rainy day" or pay down debt$.

Hhhmmm...What a dilemma!

Never before have we had such an open invitation to $pend frivolou$ly.

Tis not of my nature but I must admit, once I start dreaming about what nicety to buy, c'est tres facile (for the non-francs among us, that's: 'very easy') to think of a dozen things I'd like! With a little prodding from our government and a few extra bucks, I just might follow our Chief's command:

"Thou shalt shop to stimulate the economic engine that drives our country."

There's a pair of clogs I've had my eye on for some time. Infinitely cheaper than designer Mahlano Blahniks, I think I'll (let myself!) buy them.

When I consider the countle$$ hundred$ (er, thou$and$?) of "disposable income" that's been $quandered in ca$ino$ (and el$ewhere), this shoe purchase is pure "no brainer"...

...kinda like our "Gee, Whiz, Prez".

Hey, Thanks, "W" ;~ )

Big Deal? NOT!

How sad and pathetic!

When so many people are atwitter over the photograph of a 15-year old celebrity, Disney's money machine, Miley Cyrus, whose upcoming feature in Vanity Fair is deemed too sexy, there is something seriously wrong!

For God's sake, the girl's back is showing! This uproar, over such a tame photo validates, once again, America's reputation for being prudish!

Old School

I'm one of a rare few who don't own a cell phone. Why? By design. Do you know how liberating it is to be unavailable?

For those who really need to get a hold of me, there's a land line at home. Caller I.D.? Not me! An answering machine takes care of that!

Being 'unplugged' makes life a whole lot simpler!

Sure, there are times when having a cell phone would be convenient like when one is detained or running late for a meeting. Or when one gets separated from their party in a large crowd.

This is just what happened to me recently. Suddenly, I felt so disconnected! No one could ring me up to ask where I was. It was up to me to find them.

So, I asked around for the closest public phone. The looks I got were ones of utter speechlessness and confusion. One young woman looked like she'd never heard of such a thing!

But alas, I managed to find one. Fortunately, public phones do still exist.

At least for the time being!

Neighbor Lady

My neighbor is O.C. about her lawn. Obsessive/Compulsive.

It's actually become a source of great amusement for me. She barely lets a few days goes by without firing up her mower again.

I could probably use a little of her compulsiveness when it comes to lawn care. So over-grown is ours, that she--and all the neighbors--probably have a pool going as to when our lawn will get its first 'haircut'.

Twas supposed to be yesterday but instead I weeded, pruned and hacked in preparation for mowing. You see, we have more plants and shrubs than actual grass, so it seems more important to improve the landscape than the lawn.

Does that make sense? The neighbors may not think so either. At any rate, the lawn will get cut; the bamboo will get thinned; the roses will bloom. And the world will keep turning...

...while Neighbor Lady keeps mowing...

and mowing...

and mowing.

Perhaps it is Lawn Therapy.

Full Circle

"It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference." -Tom Brokaw
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"No one will ask on your death bed, how many hours you spent at the office but rather what kind of mark you made, what legacy you left behind."

This got me thinking about mine.

People who create, raise or nurture something, human or inanimate, have tangible evidence for their efforts. Work that is fulfilling has one common thread: as you clean up or close down, at the end of the day you leave with a smile inside. An honest day's work feels good.

But that should not be the only defining factor or criteria which constitutes a legacy.

Career alone does not a legacy make!

The physical remnants we leave behind for others to examine will speak volumes about the contribution we made but they are just that: things!

The truth of one's value lies not in things left to sift through. It is in the quiet everyday courtesies extended to others along the way, including to oneself. A life serving others may be noble but it serves no one if the individual burns out.

While it's true: "In giving, we receive", we must take care of ourselves in order to take care of others. Like good karma, it goes around and comes back full circle. Meditation, music or whatever brings a sense of calm and serenity is not only a nicety, it's a necessity in order to be healthy, to do our work.

A legacy amounts to more than a body of completed projects or doing a good job raising another human being. It is a culmination of many things, among them (yes!) good work and deeds but most importantly, having compassion and a good heart.

If, in the end, that's my legacy, my life will be complete.

Pure Bliss

La Nina. El Nino. Global warming. Whatever you want to call it, our weather sucks.

By now, Oregon is usually basking in the glow of warm, sunshine but NOT this year! It's been unseasonably cold and wet. I can take the damp, cool weather for most of the winter, but come Spring, I need the sun on my face to get rid of that deep chill in my bones.

Today we are blessed with beautiful weather, but it will likely be short-lived. Earlier, predictions were for two nice days in a row (Imagine!) but now the next 6 show more precipitation. Ach!

At least I understand, this is not the norm. But those who just moved to Oregon are the ones for whom I feel the most empathy. What they've no doubt heard so often about Oregon is proving true. Incessant rain!

But what they may not get yet, is that once the sun and warm weather do arrive, it will be pure bliss. No humidity. No mosquitoes. No matter how high the mercury rises, there will always be a cool breeze! Ahhhh...

That's what makes it worth hangin' in there for we who have lived here long enough know, "This, too, shall pass".

Lost Art

Okay, first off, I'll admit that I'm a stickler for good grammar and sentence structure but I recognize most people are not! It's almost a lost art!

Even though I may be in the minority and some of my favorite people are guilty of my pet peeve, I'm going to say it anyway.

People, People!! Please put some white space in your emails. They're called paragraphs! When beginning a new thought or idea, skip a line. It's not only correct, it is also gives the recipient a place to rest the eye.

As editor of a monthly health newsletter, my sister told me that nowadays she is working with people who use text messaging instead of full sentences. Forget correct spelling. With "text-ing", there's no more need.

Well, now. Looks like I am becoming more obsolete with each passing day.

Sigh!

The Long and Short of it

Ah, Hair! From the beginning of time, it's been the subject of so much angst and ink.

In the grand scheme of life, we know it's a small matter. After all, except for the follically-challenged, it just keeps growing. But in a smaller scope, it is our "crowning glory", our "freak flag", a signature of sorts. Whether it's long or short or in-between, it's the first thing others see.

Wanting what we don't have is only human nature. The curly-headed among us long for pin straight hair while those who have it wish theirs could be full of va-va-voom and volume.

Like many others, I used to want what I didn't have: curls. Back in the 80's, I suffered through countless perms--with bad pictures as proof--only to come to the eventual (rightful!) conclusion that I should wear my hair the way it was meant to be: the way it is, straight with a slight wave.

That's not to say I've always enjoyed it. Au contraire.

Long hair doesn't favor everyone but that was 'the look' for so long, I never stopped to think if it suited me. It didn't so I realized it had to go.

My new shoulder-length cut was a great adjustment but reactions were so favorable, I shoulda done it sooner. Ever since I made peace with my natural color and style, my hair is a mere afterthought. Wash and wear. No fuss, no muss.

So, how do you like your hair?

One To Watch

Even before I heard it confirmed in the news, it was easy to figure out that Hillary Clinton took Pennsylvania yesterday.

I didn't hear any "Rah-Rah! Oh-Ba-Ma!" in the house this morn. You see, my mate is not only an Obama $upporter, he's in with the masses who've become mesmerized by this man.

I like Obama just fine but I haven't given up on Our Girl yet. Hillary's guts and determination are just what is needed to lead during these very precarious times.

Even if you don't particularly care for the sound of her voice, ya' gotta love Clinton's perseverance and dedication.

Both candidates come from Illinois; Hillary, born there; Barack, arrived later. In spite of being called an elitist recently, Obama chose Chicago to practice law where he thought he could make a difference. Both possess good Midwest work ethics.

Clinton may be down (in delegate numbers) but she's definitely not OUT yet!

Let the contest continue!

Imagine!

Like many Baby Boomers, I grew up watching TV sitcoms during the 60's. A couple of my favorites were "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeanie".

It strikes me funny that both shows' lead characters had the ability to change their circumstances with the twitch of a nose or the nod of a head. These women had super-powers enabling them to magically "fix" whatever problems arose.

Imagine!

I suppose it's only human to want what we don't have: extra special abilities outside of our own natural instincts.

But what if we could "re-do", rewind, fix a mistake or otherwise change reality? No more guess work. No more ruminating on what the future holds. No more struggles or challenges. No more wanting or needing.

With the point of a finger or the touch of a hand, we'd have whatever we wanted.

But then (sigh!) that'd no longer be called Life as we know it. Instead, that'd be some strange, sci-fi, other-worldly existence where nothing is real.

If we got or took all that we wanted, there would be no more need to strive or achieve. No more dreams or goals.

What then? Imagine!

Coming Soon!

Hooray! Another feather in Portland's green cap! Coming soon to all residents: new roll-out recycling carts!

No more schlepping heavy bins; no more extra containers to separate items.

With these carts, a new program also begins: co-mingling paper, plastic and metal. In turn, this will require less sorting, which hopefully will compel more people to send their refuse to the curb than to the landfill.

Ever since Portland included scrap paper into its recycling program, our house generates so little actual garbage that we require only once-a-month service.

By recycling glass, tin cans, newspapers, magazines and scrap paper like junk mail and by composting food scraps, at the end of the day, there is very little garbage left.

Still, even though our neighbors use recycle bins, all have weekly garbage service. No surprise: we are not the norm.
But I always wonder, "what else is there to throw away?"

Okay: Disposable diapers, kitty litter, tissue and paper towels. What else?

At any rate, the old bumper sticker says it best: "If you're not recycling, you're throwing it all away!"

Amen!

How does your garden grow?

Gardening--one of life's greatest stress relievers! There's nothing quite like putting your hands in the soil to feel closer to the Earth, to let your cares melt away.

I read something amusing recently by a garden journalist who said, "You can tell a lot about people by the gardens they keep. In other words, a tight-ass person is going to have a tight-ass garden."

Ha! I couldn't believe it! There it was, in black and white: what I always believed, although I came by my philosophy differently. One look at my jungle, er, I mean, garden, one might surmise I am a tad untidy.

And perhaps one might be right. You know what they say about creative minds.

Soooo, I keep my garden as I do my hair: a bit unkempt and sometimes tangled but, like my plants, it flies free in the wind when I wear it loose. Yeah, kinda like me.

One thing's for sure: judging by my jungle, it's easy to see: I am not a tight ass!

And I wouldn't have it any other way!

R U Green?

It's all the buzz! Going green.

Fortunately, in general, Americans are becoming more aware of the facts: we comprise a very small percent of the Earth's population yet we consume 25% of its resources. Oh, the waste generated in one single day in America! Incomprehensible!

There is a whole lexicon of green terminology nowadays. Used to express treading on the landscape, 'carbon footprint' is the new yardstick.

I was amused when recently Hillary Clinton, while in town campaigning, used those words to describe Oregonians. She declared Oregon 'the leader in sustainability with the lightest carbon footprint'. I have to give her credit for doing her homework!

Now comes word about BPA, a toxic chemical added to plastics. The Canadian government wasted no time banning its use, citing the evidence was strong enough to support such a move. Will ours follow suit?

I'm not holding my breath, but I am checking the plastics I use now. Just to be safe, I am switching to a glass water bottle. Why take a chance ANY chemicals may leach from a plastic bottle!?

It seems every other day, a new report is issued to warn consumers about another dangerous chemical deemed carcinogenic. Since the FDA is slow to mandate change, it is incumbent upon us to choose all that we ingest, carefully.

Let us no longer wonder why cancer is so prevalent. We may be making great medical strides in research, but industry and the economic engine driving our country continue to poison us.

Rarely do I watch Oprah but one day recently, I tuned in. There was a typical American family of four who enjoyed all the niceties our modern world has to offer.

Suddenly, the matriarch had a paradigm shift. Noting her family's grotesque over-consumption and waste, she decided "Enough is enough!".

Much to their disdain, the family became a 'green experiment'. For one week, they curtailed all TV and computer use, did not dine out, ate left-overs and turned off all unnecessary electrical equipment including most lights in the house.

No surprise, the first day was the worst. The kids whined heavily, slammed doors and refused to participate. But by day #3, something happened. All began to embrace the experiment. Instead of watching TV, they started reading together. The father admitted he needed to change his automatic electronic ways.

By week's end, the result was a complete make-over in consumerism. No longer are all the TV's running incessantly. No more paper towels or plates when cloth and dishes are within reach. Now they use a Brita water filter.

The green experiment this family took on proved, once again, what we already know: we are all creatures of habit. By repeating the same practices, eventually they become habits.

If we take a personal pledge to reduce waste, the list of green options is endless. All it takes is awareness, commitment and a little imagination.

Happy Earth Day!

Type "A"?

One of my favorite books that I return to from time to time as a reminder of life's greatest riches is "Simple Abundance" by Sarah Ban Breathnach.

It is a datebook of sorts written in 365 daily passages about how to live an authentic life being true to Your Self. One recurring theme in particular has stuck to me like glue:

"Make Peace With Imperfection."

It's also a philosophy I like to pass on to my adult-ed students who come to class to exercise their creative muscles. In one disclaimer, I say half-jokingly, "If you are type-A, you may have a hard time with mosaics."

Some laugh; others look mortified because they know: many a truth is said in jest. To those who strive to achieve perfection, I feel sorry, for perfection is a fool's goal.

One of the greatest compliments I received at the end of a workshop, came from a self-avowed type-A student who thanked me for helping her to "loosen up".

Ha! Little did I know when I was a kid that I'd grow up to be someone who teaches others how to "loosen up".

Cool, huh?

Different like me.

Growing up in the middle of five siblings and having an old-fashioned name set me up for a lifetime of struggle.

Struggling for attention. Struggling for a place to fit in. Struggling to accept that I'd always have to spell my name for others because it is different.

No, it's not Paula; No, not Colleen.

But that was then. Nowadays (with all due respect) I am grateful for not having been named Debbie or Mary or Sue. Those names just wouldn't do.

I am also grateful for being different.

Living in the flat lands of the Midwest, was not a good fit for me. As soon as I figured out there were places with mountains and beaches, I began plotting my escape by visualizing my new environment--and working two jobs to make it happen.

So, in 1980, with camping gear, skis and bicycle, I loaded up my car and headed west--the place for me to be.

Looking back on those earliest years in the Midwest, I can see clearly now. Being different was my place in the birth order. Not the oldest child, not the first daughter, not the black sheep (sorry Dan!) and not the baby, I was born to be The Different One.

A good fit and it's made all the difference!

How sweet it is!

By now I think we've all heard what the food police consider to be the "enemy": white flour, white sugar, white bread and white rice.

For years we've been told it is healthier to convert to multi-grain or whole wheat. Like a good soldier, I have tried to comply...only to fall short.

You see, I am a sweet-freak!

I love chocolate! Cake, Candy, Pastries; especially pastries! If it's sweet, I probably love it. But that's not to say, I don't discern. If it's not appealing, I won't eat it.

But for the most part, I can't say I've ever met a dessert I didn't like. Especially cake: devil's food, carrot, coconut, vanilla, butter yellow. And now--Yay!--cupcakes are all the rage.

I heart cupcakes.

Fortunately, there's good news. With one of the highest levels of anti-oxidants-- working hard to chase away nasty free radicals--chocolate is now deemed beneficial!

It was a GR8 day at the T8 EST8 when that report came out! Guilt-free chocolate! Hooray! Oh, I know: must be 70% dark cocoa. No problem!

Now comes other recent reports that indicate some red wine, some coffee and some beer is also beneficial.

Wow! All my favorite 'foods'. Looks like I may be on the right track, after all!

Nature's Way

Ah, early mornings!

Except for chirping birds, it's quiet and peaceful, especially during the week.

Nothing compares!

Okay, perhaps a few other natural wonders like the roar of the ocean or the crackling of a fire also rank highly on the list of free things in life worth enjoying as often as possible.

The scent of salty air, the smell of a wood-burning bonfire or a freshly-mown lawn--all evoke true aromatherapy.

Now, more than ever, the need to breathe fresh air outside of urban areas is critical. Smog is not as big an issue in Portland, but still, like any large city, there are emissions and pollution.

Fortunately, with strict land-use laws and strong urban boundaries keeping sprawl in check, we city folk can escape the urban core in less than 20-30 minutes in any direction here.

Happy to be a stone's throw away, I go to the sea to breathe...

fresh air... Ahhhhh!!!!

When is your birthday?

First off, I should admit, I am one of those people who has the uncanny ability to remember birthdates. Names, too.

Recently, a friend who can't even remember her family members' birthdays, told me she thinks more people are like her than me.

Okay. Fair enough!

But when someone who's known you for over 20 years has to ask every year, "When is your birthday?", that gets tiresome.

It also speaks volumes.

If a close friend cannot remember one's birth date, perhaps it is not significant enough to recall. Or maybe a little self-examination is in order.

At any rate, I do not expect to be lavished with gifts or cards on my special day of the year but the least I do expect from someone who considers herself to be my friend, is to spare me the indignity of asking, year after year, the same old question.

So, how to deal with those who just don't get it?

Not. At. All.

Military Madness

It is a widely held belief that if we fail to learn from past mistakes, we are doomed to repeat them. Unfortunately, the Bush administration didn't study Vietnam. As loathe as many are to draw parallels between the two conflicts, there is no getting around the comparison.

Five years later, the Iraq war rages on while the Taliban in Afghanistan regains ground and poppy fields abound. Now we are caught between a rock and a very, hard place.

Cool heads and clear thinkers believe we are fighting a losing battle in Iraq. But the more compassionate, who may also agree with that sentiment, are saying we simply cannot leave Iraq to fend for itself when we are responsible for this debacle. True enough!

Lady Liberty's motto, "Give us your tired, muddled masses..." is a testament to our history of generosity. Do we still stand by that statement? Should we open our arms and our borders to Iraqis we displaced who want to start over in a new place with a clean slate? Isn't that what America represents?

When the USA invaded Iraq, she opened a can of worms which has turned into a plague of snakes. Like a snake charmer, Bush is now trying to coax the slimy critters back into Pandora's box, but they are much bigger and stronger than Bush's war chest can contain.

If there are any battles to lose or wars to win, let's lose the battle in Iraq in order to put our military might and fund$ toward winning the war on terror which was our initial intent.

Remember?

DUIA

How's this for ignorant! A local radio anchor is pulled over and arrested for driving under the influence of AMBIEN!!

Huh?

His explanation is that since he had to be back at the station for an early morning shift the next day, he took his sleeping pill before he left work.

That's right: BEFORE HE DROVE HIS CAR HOME from Southwest Portland to Gresham!

That's not just bad judgment or reckless but borders on criminal. Fortunately, nowadays alert citizens are not afraid to report those who are weaving in traffic which is exactly what many did in this case leading to his arrest.

Many medications, especially sleeping pills specifically state: Do Not Operate a Motor Vehicle or Other Heavy Equipment when using this drug.

What part of Do Not Operate a Car did this DJ not get?

So, let's review: Not only do we have to watch out for drunks on the road and be careful not to be involved in a accident with an uninsured motorist--which we are surrounded by--nowadays it is necessary to be wary of ignorant drivers who insist they do not have to follow the instructions of the medications they take.

Nice!

My Shero!

Billie Burke. Name sound familiar? Not to me either...

...until one day I bought a greeting card of 'Glinda, the Good Witch of the North' from everyone's childhood favorite, "The Wizard of Oz." On the back is a short biography of she who played our beloved fairy godmother.

Real name: Billie Burke. Included in her history is the fact that Ms. Burke was fifty-three years old when she played the part.

Fifty-frickin'-three!!!

Seems to me that is a huge coup for a woman "of a certain age" at a time, in the 30's, when women's lib wasn't even a concept yet. Gloria Steinem was probably a toddler!

Was she an anomaly? I hope not. I like to believe that no matter what period of time in history, there were a lot more women like Billie Burke. They may not have played on the big screen, but like Burke, they defied their years.

As our modern world may afford us the best medicine, it is also poisoning us. Those who lived in an earlier time in a cleaner environment may not have enjoyed the conveniences of our day, they also didn't suffer the consequences of rampant cancer.

How did I go from Glinda to cancer? Hers was a natural beauty. No botox or other chemical injections. Sure, there was make-up like any Hollywood production...but otherwise, natural.

Billie Burke: my Shero!!

Public vs. Private

Every time I read about the dismal state of public education across America, I revisit my parochial school days.

First off, let me be clear: I hated Catholic school! Being taught by nuns, was no fun. Mostly humorless, by-the-book disciplinarians, they never missed an opportunity to humiliate under the guise of teaching a lesson.

No student was allowed to slide by or fall through the cracks. After all, that is precisely why my parents "sacrificed so much" to send their children to private school.

They wanted accountability and they got it. I also get it now.

By the time I reached eleventh grade, I switched over to public school, a decision for which my parents were none too pleased. But I was a restless teenager, so I chose to move on.

In English class, my peers were (still!) being taught what I learned in third grade: the differences between there, their and they're, here and hear, your and you're, know and no.

You get the idea.

Since the material was not new or challenging, eventually the teacher sent me to the library for individual study. It was there that I really learned. After one year in public school, it became crystal clear: I did get a better education at parochial school.

Fast forward to 2008. How often do we see misspelled words or typos on public signage, in memos (by management!) or elsewhere in our daily dealings with the world? Too often!

This is when I remember how fortunate I am to have had a private school education, one where the teachers didn't give any breaks or slack.

I had no choice but to learn. And learn, I did!

"A" is for Accountability

Those who balk at having to pay extra taxes to fund schools want accountability.

Now comes a plea deal from former accounting director of Oregon Dept of Education, Brent Crosson of Salem who admitted $tealing almost a million dollar$ of federal fund$.

If we can't even trust the Director of Accounting to be accountable, let us not wonder why the public has become so skeptical [of any new taxes].

Many of us believe, nay, we know the funds are there but too often are mishandled, mismanaged or outright-$iphoned.

I understand that one bad apple does not a whole department make, but this is not an isolated incident. Far from it, we are hearing of more embezzlements in the news all the time.

"W"

Did you hear? I missed it on the national news which goes to show how truly insignificant "W" has become.

Were it not for my sports-absorbed spouse, I wouldn't have known that on M.L. Baseball's Opening Day in Washington, DC, Bush was there to throw out the first pitch and he got "BOOOOO-ed"!

Bush got BOOOO-ed.

Bravo to those Americans for using their voices to express disdain for our very lame duck president...and not a minute too soon!

Only wish I'd been there to add my voice to theirs!

America's Most Miserable City

Nothing pains me more than to agree with the conservative editor of The National Review, Rich Lowry, but today I must concede.

Lowry is spot on in his assessment of Detroit's numerous maladies, (The Oregonian, Apr. 2) not the least of which is having a lying, conniving mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick.

But I must take issue with one point. Lowry states that part of the problem with Detroit's decline is the "failure of urban liberalism." Huh?

Any chance to poke at being liberal, Lowry never misses but here it has nothing to do with Detroit. Forbes magazine recently declared Detroit, "America's Most Miserable City" and as a former resident, I can assure Lowry, liberalism is ha-ha-hardly Detroit's real problem.

His truest statement: "Downtown Detroit has been revitalized but all around it, THE CITY ROTS!"

IADOREGON!

A former Oregon tourism slogan stated: " Things look different here." I used to think that was too simplistic to describe such a splendid place as Oregon. Nowadays it's been replaced with: "We love Dreamers."

I dislike that one even more although it does speak to the fact that Oregon is known for nurturing the arts and creative people who are not afraid to follow their dreams.

Besides its temperate climate, that was one of Portland's most attractive features. Unlike any other place I visited on my excellent adventure out west, a creative awareness was palpable here. (Saturday Market, First Thursday, Last Thursday, et al)

But back to our former slogan, different hardly covers it! Not only do things look different here, the people are different!

the politics = Death with Dignity, medical marijuana...

the mindset = "Live and let live"

the enviro-consciousness = Green reigns! (#1 in bicycle commuting)

the current housing market = people continue moving here, so sales are stronger than the rest of the country. Hooray for Portland homeowners!

The list goes on. It's been twenty-seven years since I moved to Oregon...

...and the love affair continues!