Suddenly life just got a little cheerier. I didn’t think this would be published for the general public’s enjoyment. I didn’t take into consideration the practice of opportunism. Let’s face it, money talks. But who’s complaining? This is excellent news! And if you really feel like splurging, there’s the Collector’s edition for only $100! (I will be purchasing the $12.99 standard edition.) Available on amazon.com December 4th. And by the way, the new HBP trailer is excellent!
I am inspired by this woman. Dara Torres, 41-year-old Olympian and mother.
My issue of Time came today and imagine the rush of adrenaline I felt as I looked at the cover. Dara Torres, nine-time Olympic medalist. Her chiseled body may seem too masculine to most and may even cry out ‘roid usage (I don’t believe it) but above all, it screams “Beautiful” and “Inspiration” to me.
The drive this woman has is amazing. In regards to doping allegations, Torres says, “So many middle-aged women look up to me. I want them to feel proud, like they can do what they set out to do. I would never do anything to disappoint these women.” (Time volume 172 number 5, 48) I am in awe and above all, inspired.
Her photograph of pure power, beauty, fitness and success now hangs on my vanity. I started today and will keep posting how the journey goes. I even had Matt take “before” shots, reminiscent of our Body For Life days, ten years ago. It’s not a pretty sight, but before long, I’ll be a “new” me. I look forward to the challenge.
by Heath Ledger’s performance in The Dark Knight.
His ferocity, feral and maniacal twistedness, everything about his performance screams Oscar and deservedly so. This is one of the most frightening villains I’ve ever seen, ranking up there with Hannibal Lecter.
I drove home thinking, this is one of the best movies I’ve seen. I applaud indie auteur Chistopher Nolan for crafting an “action” film that makes you ponder and think, long after the credits have rolled. It’s a bit too long, but you don’t really mind. The complex layering, the range from disturbed darkness and despair to the poignant and beautiful ending, all culminated by brilliant writing, acting and directing.
The material is extremely dark. I felt as eerily disturbed viewing some scenes with the Joker as I did watching Nolan’s film Memento. Definitely not for the faint of heart, and not for children. Which leads me to a suggestion to the MPAA. Perhaps a rating between PG-13 and R? Despite a lack of obscene violence, gore, blood or language, it probably leaned closer to an R rating. Not only for Two-Face’s scenes, but for the disturbing dementedness that is the Joker. Evil is an understatement.
And in anticipation to my sisters’ questions: yes, my favorite scene was the Joker, dressed as a nurse. And yes, that really was the coolest truck stunt I’ve ever seen. And yes, Christian Bale is hot.
If you want a Chinese wife, here’s what you’d probably have to put up with:
Incessant worrying- Really great cooking
- Lots of smiles
- Sometimes frowns
- Respectful/deferential
- Courteous and dutiful
- Hopefully wise.
Matt can attest to this… and my type A personality. I should’ve been a lawyer…
Many are familiar with Randy Pausch’s video on Youtube. However, I highly recommend reading his book, The Last Lecture. It’s a quick and easy read. Yet, there is so much truth and poignancy to be found within its pages. (It’s also more comprehensive than the Carnegie Mellon video.)
His story is life altering, giving us perspective on what’s actually important in this life. At times it’s quite difficult to get through, knowing that this is a man who will die within a few months, still attempting to leave a legacy for his children, to find a way to teach them, to be with them and love them, when he’s no longer with them. He’s defied death so far, but according to his blog, his cancer has metastasized. 
He is a complete stranger, and yet I feel such compassion, sorrow, joy, hope and love for him and his family. What a courageous example to us all. Tomorrow I am going to paint one of his mottoes on my wall: Don’t complain; just work harder.
As we approach presidential elections, I question the honesty, integrity and moral compass of both candidates. In fact, in this day and age, I question the moral compass of all politicians. It saddens me that we’ve deteriorated as a society. Our children are no longer taught to discern right from wrong, good from bad. We are consumed by things that are irrelevant in this life. It no longer matters if we work hard to live a good life, try to be a good person or hope to help others. We’ve been sold on an idea that there is no God or Higher Power and therefore there are no repercussions to our actions or consequences to carry over when we die. We’ve been sold that there is no such thing as evil; there is no right or wrong. We’ve been sold that it only matters in this life if we are rich, cool or famous, or PC. (No thanks to Al Gore, whom I personally believe is evil, selling his “green” wares to make himself millions at our expense.)
Yesterday we celebrated Independence Day. As I thought about our founding forefathers, I knew, without a doubt, the greatness of these men and their strong moral compass. It is incredibly apparent to me when I read the preamble to the Declaration of Indepence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
It is my hope and prayer that we will strive as a nation to be worthy of the work and sacrifice these great men endured, to provide our freedoms and give us rights as a people and a nation. Let us not forget their greatness, nor their goodness.
WE DID IT! We are credit card debt free! It took ten months and let’s just say it was enough consumer debt that could have afforded us any of the following:
- Go to New Zealand (my dream!!) for our 11th wedding anniversary.
- See the Sistine Chapel in Italy, 4 times.
- Walk along the Great Wall of China, 2 times.
- Take the kids to Hawaii, 3 times.
- Take the family on an Alaskan cruise, 4 times.
- Pay for more than half the cost of a new minivan, to haul the kids around town in luxury.
- Take the kids to Disney World for a week or two, 3 times.
- Buy a couple of extra large flat panel LCD TVs.
- Install travertine floors, new vanities and redo the kitchen cabinetry.
- Pay for 3/4 of the cost of finishing our basement.
- Set aside partial college tuition for my children.
- Buy the diamond ring I promised my mother, when I was 5.
Three months ago I wrote the following:
“As I read this list, I see that I’ve sacrificed my dreams (New Zealand,) and the worst is knowing that there is still debt to pay. It makes me want to vomit. We are paying dearly for the foolish mistakes and impulse buys we made over the last ten years. Yes, hindsight is 20/20 and the shoulda-coulda-woulda monster is not helpful in moving forward. But I mention this experience in the hopes that if my children read this someday, I want to teach them that there is absolutely nothing, NOTHING, worth purchasing on credit. You want some airline mileage, or some rewards incentives? Save your money and buy it with cash. Nothing is free in this world. Even if you’re disciplined enough to actually pay off your credit card (I only know 3 people who are disciplined enough to do it; my mom, my sister, and my friend Michelle,) think of the time you’ve spent budgeting to make sure it all comes out even. My sister and I determined long ago that our time is worth too much to sacrifice.”
As I read this, I sense the anger, frustration and despair in my tone. However, after following Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover plan, we are no longer slaves to credit card bondage. It has taken great courage at times, to stand resolutely in a crowd of neighbors who say, “Looks like it’s time for you to get a minivan; you should get one like ours…blah blah blah.” and I unashamedly respond, “yes, when it’s within my budget.” (Although on the inside I think, that’s really none of your damn business, you jackass who put your van on a home equity loan.) And it has taken a tremendous amount of discipline. Discipline to say no when friends urge me to go out, to not buy when I really want to, to pay off debt instead of spending it on something. But ten months ago we set a goal and we accomplished it. I’m proud of our commitment, discipline, and strength of character.
Now on to the next monkey… that horrible clutter…
