Where's My Damn Answer?

Coming out of your closet

By lindaloohoo | January 6, 2009

So, I was happy to learn that Obama is a closet smoker. Not because I smoke or because I think smoking is cool or am in any way espousing that you should begin smoking today.

But it does make him seem more human to me. That’s something I can picture him doing when things get tense in the Oval office. Sneaking over to his private bathroom and lighting one up. Kinda like Eddie Murphy in Trading Places. Except that Eddie lit up a doobie. But hey, maybe Obama is a closet slacker too.

Being a pantry Tequila nipper, I wonder what other things Obama does in the privacy of his own closet. No, not that kind of stuff, but little vices. Like, does he swear when he gets cut off on the freeway and then immediately look at his kids and say ‘Bad word.’ Cause I do that.

Or, does he wear silk panties under those incredibly well cut suits? Cause I used to do that.

Does he go to parties and drink alot and then think he can sing and dance and converse intelligently with the opposite sex? Cause well, you know . . . Or is he a party napper like hubunit? About two thirds of the way thru any party at our house, should you wonder where hubunit is, you can just follow the trail of clothes that lead to our bedroom and discover that hubunit has had enough fun and has now gone to bed.

I’m thinking that the parties at Barak and Michelle’s house are a tad more sophisticated than the hoe-downs at Casa Lindaloohoo, but just the thought that you might round a corner and catch the Big O firing up a Marlboro, makes me happy.

So I say, PUFF AWAY, Obama. I’ll sleep safer at night knowing there are smart people in the White House once again. Cause all I can think of is, why can’t I win at computer solitaire? Why? OK, obviously it’s time for me to nip into the pantry . . .

Posted in Grateful "is not" Dead | Tagged barak obama, daily life, humor, politics, smoking | Leave a comment

The difference between Pride and Prejudice

By jodycakes | January 6, 2009

This weekend I caught a movie I have been wanting to see since it’s release last year and somehow, as life happens, time got away.

If you get a chance to pick up a copy of Towelhead - directed by Alan Ball of American Beauty as well as Six Feet Under (one of my favorite drama series of all time). Adapted from the book written by Alicia Erian by the same name.

Set during the Gulf War - Ball sets the tone in a very direct way, with Jasira, 13, sent to live with her Lebanese father in Houston, TX. She experiences ALL the trials and tribulations (and then some) that go along with being a teenager…and being raised by your father…and being raised by someone who may OR may not be considered a racist, despite his own ethnicity. It is extremely poignant on many different levels.

The ENTIRE film was thought provoking…making me a little too uneasy in parts, but that’s also what kept me sitting on the edge of my chair wondering how it would end.

I guess, for me, it may be a little too close to home in the respect that one of my best friends from Louisiana was married to an Iranian, and subsequently had two children. My friend is blonde haired, blue eyed but both of her girls have that beautiful Persian look with dark skin, thick dark, shiny hair and almond shaped brown eyes.

Life is a little easier these days, but I remember both of the girls being called names in school by ignorant classmates, using xenophobic comments in reference to their race (or supposed race).

How it would make them cry, leading them to say things like “My Daddy is Iranian- American. How can they say those things…?”

I would tell them that they needed to stay proud of their heritage and culture - that people don’t always understand the color of skin. People have prejudices because they are uneducated.

Hell, my ex-husband had never seen an African-American before he joined the service…so you can imagine the slanderous talk that I had to listen to sometimes. Heartbreaking, really. I will keep my soapbox to the left for today, kiddies, that is a WHOLE other topic…

The movie has an absolute stellar cast with the likes of Toni Collette, Aaron Eckhart and a few others…and Jasira herself, played by newcomer, Summer Bishil is AMAZING…keep your eyes on this bright star.

Do yourself a favor and check this out soon…I smell Oscar.

Posted in No clue where this fits | Tagged Aaron Eckhart, Alan Ball, Alicia Erian, Houston, ignorance, Oscar talk, Racism, single father, Summer Bishil, Toni Collette, Towelhead, TX, xenophobes | 1 Comment

2009 What is Not On Your To Do List

By Cathy | January 6, 2009

When the new year rolls around everyone is always talking about what they want to do or accomplish in the new year I saw this question in Real Simple Magazine and I must say it struck me to the core. So here ya go:

MY DAMN QUESTION for you is what are some of the things you are NOT going to do in 2009….

I did give this one a lot of thought and will continue to “chew on this one” but here are some that came to mind right off the bat. I have decided that I am NOT going to get caught up in the doom and gloom of the economy. I am not going to stop “dating” and “romancing” my husband. I am NOT going to gain the weight back that I lost at the end of 2008. I am going to wake up everyday and be grateful for the incredible blessings and gifts in my life and most important I am NOT going to stop searching for the answer!!

Posted in Dream a Little Dream, The Damn Question | Tagged goals, Real Simple Magazine, To do lists | 4 Comments

Reflections and Projections

By Cathy | January 5, 2009

As I sit here and reflect on last year I think for the most part it was a great year. I am married to the man of my dreams, my business doubled, our WMDA website has grown, evolved and has been very therapeutic, I have incredible friends, my family (especially my Dad) has remained healthy and I was (and am) surrounded by amazing blessings everyday. Not a bad year I would say. As I continue to reflect on last year I also see some areas that need to be addressed and worked on. I did not professionally achieve what I wanted to which was a career change. I find myself stuck in my comfort career and need to get off my *ss and move on…. to what I am not sure but it is out there :) . Kristy has decided that I am a “facilitator” of what you might ask?? Well of Everything ! The other biggie is that we did not make that all important baby decision.

While I cannot change last year and to be honest I had a great 2008 I can look forward and make some projections for 2009…. I try not to make resolutions but prefer to set goals. Some personal projections and goals for 2009 include: Decision on whether or not to have a family, continue on my quest for personal clarity and work towards a career change. I am going to leave this a little loose as If not a total change at least begin the process. Taking the first of many steps. We also need to decide where or whether or not to move into a new home that will one day accommodate my parents. (that is a whole other post). Like I said 2008 was a good year and I am pleased to announce that losing weight in 2009 is NOT on my goal list!!! GOAL ACHIEVED

Posted in No clue where this fits | Tagged Career, New Years Goals, Profession, Weight Loss | 5 Comments

Fun With Bread

By Cathy | January 3, 2009

I was cruising along in my google reader when I was stopped dead in my tracks by this fun and playful post by http://onceinabluemooniris.blogspot.com/. She had made this incredible grape cluster out of bread and it was wonderful. When the holidays rolled around I decided to try to duplicate her as well as a new twist. Warning my feeble attempt does not compare with what she created but it was fun trying and the family loved it.

This was very simple all I did was get basic rolls from the fridge section of the grocery store and played with them until I got the shape I wanted.

Here is the Thanksgiving version:

Here is the Christmas dinner version

Posted in Feeding A Food Obsession | Tagged Bread, christmas, Grape Cluster, http://onceinabluemooniris.blogspot.com/, thanksgiving | 9 Comments

Imagine using your cell phone to light the way?

By jodycakes | January 2, 2009

And I’m not talking about using them to find keys in your purse at the front door!!!

On my way to the office, I heard a broadcast on BBC World Service last week, found it so interesting, I thought I would share with you…

In Doerentrup, Germany - a small town in Northwest Germany is going green and saving money on electricity expenditures by shutting off their street lights at 9 PM. No worries, though, the residents of this village have the capability of phoning in the streets (I think by coordinates or numbers) before they head out and the lights will illuminate and stay on for 15 minutes, allowing safe passage. They interviewed an older woman who would walk home from a friends house late at night and a jogger who can call in her route and jog late into the night without concern.

I heard this original broadcast on the BBC World News last week - It is worth a listen. Or you can read more about it on The Huffington Post as well.

Posted in Check This Out | Tagged BBC World News, cell phones, Green, on-demand street lights, Technology, The Huffington Post | 1 Comment

EDAR - Thinking Outside the Box

By Kristy Nuttall | January 2, 2009

So the other night I was checking out the news and heard about something new that Los Angeles is implementing. It’s called EDAR - Everyone Deserves a Roof. It is a portable bed that allows the person to collect cans during the day and then it morphs into a bed for them too. Check it out …

I’m VERY intrigued by this project. I mean there are SO many homeless folks in Los Angeles and this could be something good to help the shelters have more beds. Apparently there are some shelters who are creating EDAR sections where people can roll in and set up for the night which will allow them to house even more people.

Peter Samuelson came up with this idea when he rode the streets of Los Angeles on his bicycle. He began counting the homeless people each ride and even took the time to interview all 62 of them that he passed on his route to find out what would truly help them.

I wonder if a homeless person gets one of these if they would feel some sense of ownership from it even though it’s meant to be a temporary fix?

These EDAR units can be built for $500. That amount is nothing in comparison to the money the city of Los Angeles would spend on building and maintaining another shelter.

Of course there is the other side of the coin … will homeless people give up trying to get back on their feet if they have something like this? I’m sure that could happen, but really what it comes down to for me is that Peter Samuelson has come up with something that could help a little with a big problem that LA has. Will it fix everything … no way … but at least it’s a step that will possibly cost less than the alternative.

So here’s my question to you:

What do you think about this idea? Do you think it’s a good temporary fix? Or do you think it will institutionalize homelessness in Los Angeles?

Posted in Check This Out, Grateful "is not" Dead, The Damn Question | Tagged EDAR, homeles, homeless in Los Angeles, homeless shelter, peter samuelson, thinking outside the box | 11 Comments

Happy New Years to you and yours !!

By Kristy Nuttall | January 1, 2009

Happy New Year everyone.

I seriously doubt we’ll have much traffic today as most people “I” know will be hung over - haha.

Our New Years Eve is usually the MOST low key evening of the year. Since Ron works with the tournament band for the Rose Parade each year, he’s DOG tired by the time today arrives. He’s been working very long hours trying to get the kids ready to march in the parade and having to leave our house before 4 am on New Years Day doesn’t make him much of a party animal on NYE. I don’t blame him and seriously don’t mind that we have a low key evening at all.

Zac and I will gladly bundle up on the couch this morning and watch the parade on tv … hoping to spot him during the 1-2 minutes of time that the tv cameras will be pointed at his band. The past two years they caught him waving to the crowd and smiling … and one of those years was the year it POURED. Yeah we were there in person that year … very very wet but TONS of fun and hardly crowded at all - imagine that ;).

Have you ever seen a wet parade before? I felt SO bad for all the people wearing white pants because seriously … you could see their panties.

Anyhow … the REAL reason for this post is to say THANK YOU to the loyal readers/friends and family that have supported us during our virgin year of blogging on this site. We’ve not even been here a year yet and it feels like we’ve known a lot of you forever. I am really looking forward to what 2009 has to offer ALL of us and I hope you are too

Posted in Grateful "is not" Dead | Tagged Happy New Year, New Years Eve, Rose Parade | 1 Comment

Starting anew…Happy 2009 to all my friends!

By jodycakes | January 1, 2009

Happy New Year - Auld Lang Syne and all that jazz…

By the time you’re reading this, I will be sawing logs…deep in a food coma from our dinner at Textile. Cannot WAIT! Full report soon, I promise.

For some reason, I feel a bit low again - this strain of cold will not seem to go away…I have been feeling icky (proper medical term, you know), off and on for two months. Just when I think I shake it, it sneaks back up. Ugh. Oh well…loads of Vitamin C for me! I know that when I do my cleanse I’m going to suffer from SERIOUS withdrawls for the first few days…my body is full of toxins and crap it doesn’t need. Caffeine, sugars, so forth and so on…wish me luck - I will keep you posted.

Okay folks, pull up a seat - I just wanted to jot down a few notes on my feelings today and what I will work on in 2009…besides the 20 lbs I need to lose before my 20 year class reunion.

I am blessed to have the people that surround me, in my life today. I will continue to cherish these relationships…

My new husband, my family, my coworkers/colleagues and my friends.

I know that I’m not the easiest person to deal with - not high maintenance, just high strung - and I have decided that if you can’t handle that, then you can’t handle me. This is who I am. I will trim the proverbial fat by releasing those that do not reciprocate or reflect the love that I have for them, or for those who simply do not ’get’ me.

Life is too short.

Now, on the flip side…I have not always been the greatest friend…in all my outgoingness, I sometimes shut down. When this occurs, I disappear. When one disappears, things continue…life goes on…and then I resurface and wonder when this happened and that happened and want to know why someone didn’t drag me out of my cage. Hrumph. Do you see how one sided this is??? :) Well, I want to apologize for not being able to ante up at the table and be there!

One of my goals for 2009 is to practice what I preach, as in love and reflection and reciprocation.

So with that said, I am BEAMING MY LOVE out to all of you!!! Looking forward to the best year yet - health, prosperity, business and love!!!

Woo whooooooo!!!!

See ya on the flip side!