Morbid 3.333333/Century-Day Ramblings

I've always said I wanted to have a modest memorial/burial once my time on Earth has come to an end. After all, it isn't like I'm going to know what type of coffin I'm buried in or what my spray looked like.
But after some careful consideration, I've decided otherwise.
Here's the updated version:

If a 1985 Chevy complete with ginormous headshot is good enough for Kim Jong, I figure it's good enough for me.

[Massive Procession Optional]

Disclaimer for crudely satirizing upon another human's death: According to a 2004 Human Rights Watch report, the North Korean government under Kim was "among the world's most repressive governments", having up to 200,000 political prisoners according to U.S. and South Korean officials,[51] and no freedom of the press or religion, political opposition or equal education:[52] "Virtually every aspect of political, social, and economic life is controlled by the government."

Rounding third...sans the mistletoe

If there is any better way to round out the long weekend than with Buble on the iPod, a glass of pinot grigio and pecan delight at ur side while lying in a hot bubble bath jet tub, someone please tell me where I may find it. Right now I feel heavenly (although have no fear-I will certainly pay for mine (and others') playtime tomorrow.) :)

Ahhh, what a wonderful weekend...

I hope you each were equally as blessed.
(++)

Christmas Came Early for Us

A bit of good...nay, GREAT news this week:

Jana's tests have come back and she is currently CANCER FREE!
[happy, happy, joy, joy]

Thanks to her 2nd stem cell transplant, she is showing no signs of cancer whatsoever.
Of course, there is no cure for MM (yet!) so it will inevitably show its ugly face again (there are some cancer cells in her body, but they are so few that the tests aren't even reading them), but-overall-the transplant was a success. This is especially wonderful news, considering the first transplant was not successful.

So: What's next...
Well, Jana's going to continue with a less aggressive chemo and she'll be tested every few months (more bone marrow biopsies, such fun) for the return. In the meantime, her hair is growing back and I assured her she'll be flipping it over her shoulders (and having it blow in the wind) in no time. :)

I can't tell you how excited Kiera and I are for this blessing. We are beyond ourselves in joy and thanks...for now, please join us as we continue to support the powerful thinking that advances the cure!

Celebrating Jana's wonderful news today (oh, and that little thing known as Christmas)

As this will be my last post before Christmas, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope the holidays bring you peace and joy. In the hustle and bustle of the season, remember to take the time to enjoy the people you love and the blessings in your life.

"Tis the Season...to Judge. Judge. Judge.

I woke up to about a dozen FB posts similar to these:

and, quite frankly, it's a rantful day. This only encourages my madness.

We get it. It's Christmas.
But guess what, people: It's also Kwanzaa and Hanukkah. And, even if you are a "Christian," Happy Holidays does NOT mean people are taking the "Christ" out of Christmas. What it does mean is that you're being wished Happy Holidays. This includes Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Hence the use of the word "holidays" to encompass all the holidays. It's so absurd to assume saying anything less than "Merry Christmas" is offensive.

It makes me think of the prayer in public schools issue. To talk to a proponent of prayer in schools, you would think that Christians are no longer allowed to pray in school. Not True. What you are not allowed to do is force the children to pray in school. You are the one trying to press your religious expectations on someone else, NOT the other way around. Likewise, expecting someone to say "Merry Christmas" makes you the aggressor. In my thirty-three years, I have never ONCE had someone tell me not to say Merry Christmas. Where does this idea even come from? Am I in my own little world and others are being scorned for it on a daily basis? No. It's a bandwagon issue that has never really even been an issue. Ask yourself the same thing: Has someone asked you not to say Merry Christmas? My guess is no. In fact, I'm certain the answer is no. So then: what is the issue? That someone else would chose to say something other that what you prefer? You tell me who is stifling the other's freedom.

You'll often hear saying you shouldn't be celebrating if you aren't celebrating Jesus's birth. But guess what, folks--you don't get to determine what everyone in the world celebrates, whether they subscribe to your beliefs or not. I've never heard of the pagan religion campaign against the celebrations of "Fall Festivals" and "Trunk or Treats" for those "opposed" to the Pagan Halloween holiday. In a parallel world, they would require you to subscribe to the "true purpose" of Halloween, otherwise you would be excluded from participating. And, of course, this isn't the case. Each and every holiday is what you make of it. Period. No matter how many Merry Christmases you proclaim, if you are not religious (or don't celebrate the "meaning" of Christmas in true form), you are simply a subject of a very expensive marketing campaign. And I venture to say that is the case for most.

[Don't agree with me? Try Walmart on Black Friday and PLEASE show me the joy of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.]

As for me:
Well, I fully support your right to say Merry Christmas. Or Happy Hanukkah. Or Happy Kwanzaa. Or whatever it is you may be celebrating. I believe that the purpose of the season is to bring peace and joy and love to those you hold dear (and to others whom you may have never even met). I believe that whatever religion you subscribe to, accomplishing this is a wonderful and amazing thing.

And, if you pass me on the street and wish me Happy Holiday, I will smile, thank you for the well-wishes and return the favor.

On a side note, I googled the subject after composing this post and came to realize this is a much hotter topic than I'd realized. Here is a related story from USA Today.

[smh]...Ah GWB, you never cease to disappoint me.

Is there anyone left in the country who is still unconvinced that the "W" in George W stands for Worst? As in worst. president. ever? Ahhh...yes.

For a moment I forgot how ignorant a good majority of people are.

Check this.

I followed this sometime during the immigration reform talks, but I have to admit--once the deals were done, I didn't follow it anymore. I let it fall by the wayside (this happens more frequently than I'd like to admit), but now I am shocked at how the "fence" project has unfolded and am, admittedly, more than a little sympathetic to those in the "limbo" zone.

Didn't see that one coming...

No, I don't plan on it's being placed in The Louvre, but I still found it interesting and quirky.

And here's the article.

Hello...

Smith & Nephew!
So good to see you.
Again.
& Again.
& Again.

Yowza.

Want to see the Prince Mongo of San Juan? Enjoy!

T.Mae Turns One

No, it isn't awe-inspiring, but I am excited.
Taylor celebrated her first birthday on Saturday (her actual bday) at my home. Rather than bore you with the details, here are some pics to satisfy your curiosity:

Best expression ever!
Taylor opening her first gift from me (the bday girl shirt and crown shown in below pics).



Party!




The La la la la song is stuck in my head.



Adorable Elmo (cup)cake(s)



Party Guests



Wearing Tina's beads and lovin' it.



Gifts galore!



Taylor's first baby (was creepy); She loved her.

Unlike most 1 yr olds, Taylor could open her own gifts!

T.Mae was very lady like about "digging into" her cake. There was no digging.



She was exhausted after the party.
My mom made the blanket; there is a plush Elmo sewn on and it's precious.



Doing her best Flava Flav impersonation
(She stayed the night with Kiera and me and we had a blast!)

Hail to the Chief (of inconsistency)

It really puts a damper on my day when the first story I open my Internet browser to is one like this.
If you don't understand why, revisit my November blog here.

You, Mr. President, have finally lost me.
I sat by while you made fiscal decisions that I found appalling.
I didn't moan when you stumbled on keeping your promises.
I've defended you, citing that you had come into an economy (and war) that you did not create and were destined for perceived failure from the start.

But now, you've done it.
I vote with my conscious over my pocket book, which generally leans me towards the democratic party (personal rights being more important to me than fiscal policy) and now my conscious is telling me to walk away.

Don't get me wrong: I don't want my daughter to be put in a position where she would find herself at Walmart buying Plan B (although let's be honest: Walmart is the right-wing's mecca--and they would never carry this OTC anyway*), BUT I would much prefer that over her having a child she isn't ready for.

Supposedly the ban is intended to prevent 10 and 11 year old girls from harming themselves with an OTC drug they cannot understand, but having a child is much more life-threatening for an 11 year old than taking a Plan B pill. And truly, even an 11 year old could master taking the pill--it's ONE pill. How difficult could that be? What they want to say (but never would) is that an 11 year old isn't ready to master her sexual choices (and rightfully so), but at the point the same child is buying Plan B, she has already made that decision, right or wrong. Implying that Plan B could encourage girls to become sexually active is as absurd as saying the HPV vaccine will do the same. It's absolutely ridiculous. Good planning and smart decision-making begin at home with real, honest conversations and involved parenting, not through legislation that attempts to punish girls (and let's be honest, it only affects girls) for those decisions.

So I suppose it is time to begin following the candidates and determining where my support may go. I may follow Obama for another 4, although he certainly isn't getting that vote for free. Especially after this move.


*On a side note, I went into Walmart for chex seasoning mix last week and they had none. But on my way back from the photo dept, I couldn't help but notice they had no fewer than twenty different bibles available, which struck me as ironic because, after all, don't they say the same thing?

Looking for a Little Positive Mojo.

Got a couple of big things going on my way, but I'm posting this one in hopes of well-wishes, good vibes, prayers, voodoo powers, finger crossing--whatever you bring to the table.

My best friend Tina and her family have gone through quite an ordeal over the past several years. In Dec 2009, Tina's cousin Michael was killed by his wife. She claims it was in perceived self-defense, but the prosecution tells of a different story:

A story that involves Michael's wife, Pamela--a controlling and "evil" woman who was premeditated in the murder of her husband. The day before his death, Michael went to his HR department to have Pamela removed as his life insurance beneficiary and spoke with his mom about moving some of his things into her house and staying with her for a while; Michael's mom told him, at that time, that she was afraid Pamela would kill him. On the same day, Pamela went and bought a gun (having pawned several pieces of jewelry) and called 911, citing an altercation with Micheal. The 911 dispatcher has testified that the phone call was very strange as the only sound she heard from the home was that of Pam's voice, despite Pam's claim that Michael was there in a rage. The police who have arrived on the scene testified that the mess in the home looked staged, and there was no indication of any alteration (including anything broken in the house or any marks on Pam). A police report was not filed.
The next day, Michael went to the dentist for a routine check up; his dentist testified that he was in a good mood, typical for him. Michael returned home and less then ten minutes later was shot both in the chest and behind the ear by Pam, who is a nurse. Pam claims she had the gun hidden in the arm of her sweatshirt and when Michael began dragging her by her hair to the bathroom (in a steroid induced rage), the gun accidentally went off. Again: In the chest and behind the ear. (As an aside, I don't understand how it could "accidentally" hit him in two separate places). Although Michael was known to have used steroids in the past, the coroner's report states that Michael's levels were all within normal range. On the day of Michael's funeral, Pam called his HR dept to ask about his final check and his life insurance policy. Numerous witnesses, including Michael's ex wife (the mother of two of his daughters) have testified that Michael has never been a violent or abusive man and that he would always avoid confrontation at all costs.
While I wasn't there and therefore can only speculate, it seems to me that Pamela was very strategic in her murdering of Michael. She had means, motive and opportunity. All the previous day's efforts were meant to put her in a position of justifying her killing of him, and the entire thing was premeditated.

The trial is now over and the family is waiting on a verdict from the jury. The charge is 1st degree murder and the jury has been deliberating since yesterday. Understandably, Tina and her family are anxiety-ridden. They have each spent much of that last few weeks in the court room, hopeful that justice will be served.

I hope that it will for them, but I am also a little worried.
So please begin with the well-wishes, good vibes, prayers, voodoo powers and finger crossing . This is a very difficult time for them and I fear they may not have the closure they have long sought, even if she is found guilty.

I'll update with results as soon as they're known.
[For anyone wishing to read more, you may search the names "Michael Taylor" or "Pamela Taylor" on the Commercial Appeal site or any of the local news media sites.]
------------------------------------

Thursday: 11:18am
Tina is headed to the courthouse for the verdict. PLEASE let justice be served.
-----------------------------------

Second degree murder!
15 to 25 year with no parole.
Sentencing to be done on Jan 19th...hopefully the judge will agree with us that it should have been 1st degree murder and sentence her to the maximum of 25 years.
Tina said she and her family are VERY happy and that this was "the best Christmas gift" they could have received. This makes my heart smile.
Click here to read the Commercial Appeal's article.

Oh good...

Now we're slutifying Christmas too.