I love this holiday. This, the one day of the year where we Americans are supposed to stop and smell the coffee, eat a wonderful meal with family and friends, and give thanks for all that is good and right in our world. I am thankful for so much, I could make a list as long as my arm, but here are just a few that come to mind:
• Stunning fall sunsets that make my heart swell with gladness
• My sweet husband, whom I love to the ends of the earth and back again
• My baby sister, whom I love to the stars and back again
• My mama, who loves me like no one else can
• Emily, who believes in me always
• Shannon, who gives me new opportunities to grow
• Amy, who has been a tried-and-true friend for 20+ years
• The openness, honesty, and support of the nonprofit community in this city
• Birds singing at the feeders in the backyard
• The new friends I've made at networking events and informational interviews in the last few months
• The support of friends and family as I find my way in a brave new world
I am grateful.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Thursday, November 8, 2007
The Devil Came on Horseback
I watched the documentary The Devil Came on Horseback this week. Wow. It's about the ongoing genocide happening right now in Darfur, which is in western Sudan. After I got over the first wave of shock, my first thought was, "How could I not know this?"
I explained the whole thing to Gary, and he said, "How could I not know this?" I said, "Because Americans have a short little span of attention."
It did make it into the media, complete with horrible, gruesome photos. And a description of the intentional burning of entire villages hut by hut, brutal murders of hundreds of thousands of people at the hands of the Arab government and their flunkies, and the use of rape as a tool of war because it breaks up families. People were outraged for a while (a few days? a few weeks?). Then we moved on to other news. Wow.
The matter was referred to the United Nations, who referred the matter to the International Criminal Court. The Sudanese ambassador to the UN actually smiled when asked if he would turn over those people the ICC determined were most responsible for the crimes. Wow.
So I went to the website http://www.savedarfur.orgto see what I could do. "I'll write letters to my Congresspeople," I thought, until I couldn't figure out what I would say. "Kill those evil people," was the first thing that came to mind. But then I wondered, "What next?" How can we build an infrastructure in the entire continent? That's what would be necessary to give them the economic self-sufficiency they need to recover from the fragmentation and devastating effects of slavery and destruction of their society wrought by British and French colonization.
I'm not sure what I can ask my Congresspeople to do. Murder the bad guys and leave a country with no government and no militia to protect its people? Right, so they can be prey for the next armed group who wants their piece of land? But how can we just stand by while they continue to rape, murder, and pillage?
I explained the whole thing to Gary, and he said, "How could I not know this?" I said, "Because Americans have a short little span of attention."
It did make it into the media, complete with horrible, gruesome photos. And a description of the intentional burning of entire villages hut by hut, brutal murders of hundreds of thousands of people at the hands of the Arab government and their flunkies, and the use of rape as a tool of war because it breaks up families. People were outraged for a while (a few days? a few weeks?). Then we moved on to other news. Wow.
The matter was referred to the United Nations, who referred the matter to the International Criminal Court. The Sudanese ambassador to the UN actually smiled when asked if he would turn over those people the ICC determined were most responsible for the crimes. Wow.
So I went to the website http://www.savedarfur.orgto see what I could do. "I'll write letters to my Congresspeople," I thought, until I couldn't figure out what I would say. "Kill those evil people," was the first thing that came to mind. But then I wondered, "What next?" How can we build an infrastructure in the entire continent? That's what would be necessary to give them the economic self-sufficiency they need to recover from the fragmentation and devastating effects of slavery and destruction of their society wrought by British and French colonization.
I'm not sure what I can ask my Congresspeople to do. Murder the bad guys and leave a country with no government and no militia to protect its people? Right, so they can be prey for the next armed group who wants their piece of land? But how can we just stand by while they continue to rape, murder, and pillage?
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
How Perfect Are You?
"About-Face's mission is to equip women and girls with tools to understand and resist the harmful stereotypes of women the media disseminates." OK, now THAT's what I'm talking about!
"Our ultimate goal, the About-Face vision, is to imbue girls and women with the power to free themselves from body-related oppression, so they will be capable of fulfilling their potential." Amen, sisters!
This website features a photo on the opening page of a woman with her two girls, holding a sign that says, "I don't need plastic surgery because I want my daughters to look like ME!" One page lists 10 things you can do to help achieve their mission, and here are a few points I found particularly compelling. Think about it.
-Girls listen to what women say about themselves and learn the language of womanhood.
-You can stop perpetuating the quest for perfection by NOT talking about how imperfect you are.
-You're the boss of you--wear what you want, say what you want, do what you want.
-Ladies, make a short list of women you admire. How often does what you admire about those women have to do with their looks?
I'm pretty sure Hillary doesn't wear a size 4 and model in her free time. And if you watch C-SPAN, you KNOW those congresswomen don't give a rip about what they look like. Maybe they're actually busy paying attention to things like, oh, I don't know, the war in Iraq, global warming, genocide in Africa, and the poverty level of U.S. senior citizens.
Visit the About-Face blog for a little wake-up call about what's going on in the fashion industry and what advertisers (of yogurt, alcohol, and all sorts of things) are saying about women. And watch this YouTube video for a different perspective.
"Our ultimate goal, the About-Face vision, is to imbue girls and women with the power to free themselves from body-related oppression, so they will be capable of fulfilling their potential." Amen, sisters!
This website features a photo on the opening page of a woman with her two girls, holding a sign that says, "I don't need plastic surgery because I want my daughters to look like ME!" One page lists 10 things you can do to help achieve their mission, and here are a few points I found particularly compelling. Think about it.
-Girls listen to what women say about themselves and learn the language of womanhood.
-You can stop perpetuating the quest for perfection by NOT talking about how imperfect you are.
-You're the boss of you--wear what you want, say what you want, do what you want.
-Ladies, make a short list of women you admire. How often does what you admire about those women have to do with their looks?
I'm pretty sure Hillary doesn't wear a size 4 and model in her free time. And if you watch C-SPAN, you KNOW those congresswomen don't give a rip about what they look like. Maybe they're actually busy paying attention to things like, oh, I don't know, the war in Iraq, global warming, genocide in Africa, and the poverty level of U.S. senior citizens.
Visit the About-Face blog for a little wake-up call about what's going on in the fashion industry and what advertisers (of yogurt, alcohol, and all sorts of things) are saying about women. And watch this YouTube video for a different perspective.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
The Real Issues
Forgive me, fellow bloggers, for I have sinned. It's been 10 days since my last post. I've eaten ice cream quite a few times (have you TRIED those Starbucks mud pies you can buy at the grocery store?), had a lustful thought about Brad Pitt, didn't recycle a glass jar I couldn't stand the thought of washing out, and let my mail pile get so high it's precariously balanced and just daring me to add one more piece of paper. What is my penance?
One fellow blogger recently asked the question, "Is anyone talking about the real issues?" I've been thinking about that a lot for the last few weeks. Asking myself if I'm guilty of not talking about things that matter to me because I don't want to appear rabid or overemotional. Do I not take risks because I'm afraid I'll offend someone? I've gotten a lot of gender training, intentional and unintentional, from media, family, and well-meaning friends alike, that points to silence as the answer to conflict.
But I attended a small discussion group last week that consisted of intelligent, caring, outspoken women, and I remembered who I was again. The topic was conserving our earth, women's purchasing power, and how our voices can make a difference. I don't think it was the subject or even the open George-bashing that inspired me. It was seeing these women, who were all total strangers to me and mostly to each other, bond over a glass of wine and a common interest.
They talked without fear of reprisal or judgment. They talked like they knew they would be heard. They talked about the difficult decisions we have to make that have to do with how we spend our time and our money. They talked about choosing between corporate values and the good those corporations do for the economy. So yes, there are people talking about real issues. And I'm one of them.
One fellow blogger recently asked the question, "Is anyone talking about the real issues?" I've been thinking about that a lot for the last few weeks. Asking myself if I'm guilty of not talking about things that matter to me because I don't want to appear rabid or overemotional. Do I not take risks because I'm afraid I'll offend someone? I've gotten a lot of gender training, intentional and unintentional, from media, family, and well-meaning friends alike, that points to silence as the answer to conflict.
But I attended a small discussion group last week that consisted of intelligent, caring, outspoken women, and I remembered who I was again. The topic was conserving our earth, women's purchasing power, and how our voices can make a difference. I don't think it was the subject or even the open George-bashing that inspired me. It was seeing these women, who were all total strangers to me and mostly to each other, bond over a glass of wine and a common interest.
They talked without fear of reprisal or judgment. They talked like they knew they would be heard. They talked about the difficult decisions we have to make that have to do with how we spend our time and our money. They talked about choosing between corporate values and the good those corporations do for the economy. So yes, there are people talking about real issues. And I'm one of them.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
On the Vertical Axis
A work of "flash fiction":
She started spinning and couldn’t stop. Not one to question things really, she never asked why it happened or why it happened to her. She did wonder how she was going to get to work, though.
Occasionally, someone was nice to her and spent a little time with her, but they all got a bit seasick watching her spin, so it never lasted very long.
Spinning, spinning, spinning.
A few weeks after her 75th birthday, she died in her sleep of a massive heart attack. When they found her, she was lying in her bed, still spinning, but, oddly enough, she was spinning as if she were a Frisbee rather than a top. “I never knew she could do that,” said her son.
She started spinning and couldn’t stop. Not one to question things really, she never asked why it happened or why it happened to her. She did wonder how she was going to get to work, though.
Occasionally, someone was nice to her and spent a little time with her, but they all got a bit seasick watching her spin, so it never lasted very long.
Spinning, spinning, spinning.
A few weeks after her 75th birthday, she died in her sleep of a massive heart attack. When they found her, she was lying in her bed, still spinning, but, oddly enough, she was spinning as if she were a Frisbee rather than a top. “I never knew she could do that,” said her son.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Are You Courageous?
My core values are fairness, creativity, fun, intelligence, continuous improvement, collaboration, courage, and leadership. Here's a quote from Maya Angelou to put courage in perspective:
One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.
One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
The Many Faces of Dan
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I have six friends named Dan. It's a common name, apparently, but my Dans are anything but common. Whether they know it or not, each of them has had a significant impact on my life. Lessons learned from the Dans:
Dan C.
Laugh often. Love much. Live life with gusto.
Danny H.
Do everything you do with passion.
Dan O.
Reading the paper and watching the sun rise in Deck World is proof that life is sweet.
Dan P.
Superman is real.
May you be lucky enough to have even one Dan in your life.
Dan C.
Laugh often. Love much. Live life with gusto.
Danny H.
Do everything you do with passion.
Dan O.
Reading the paper and watching the sun rise in Deck World is proof that life is sweet.
Dan P.
Superman is real.
Dan S.
Even in a war zone, it's possible to be kind to animals and children.
Dan T.
Treat every friend as a best friend.
Dan T.
Treat every friend as a best friend.
May you be lucky enough to have even one Dan in your life.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
The Joy of Cooking
One of my great joys in life is cooking. I've thought about training to be a chef, and I'm not ruling out the possibility completely, but I'm not sure my body could endure the long, grueling hours of standing and bending. For sure, I'd have to practice yoga every single day (which isn't a bad thing).
In the meantime, I'm happy to be an at-home chef, experimenting and playing and creating. My favorite pastime is "make something delicious with whatever you have in the frig and pantry." I also have a penchant for making one-dish meals during the week that also give me leftovers the next day. If you want to play this game, too, the easiest things to use as a base are pasta, eggs, or potatoes. This time of year, pasta is my fave.
So here's my concoction of the week. Feel free to copy, change, or just drool over the recipe. For those of you who need measurements, I've estimated them, but pretty much everything is "to taste." Veg people, this would work nicely without the bacon.
1 lb. fettuccine, cooked to the consistency you prefer
While pasta is cooking, make sauce as follows:
1 stick butter
8 T. extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Heat above ingredients until hot, then turn down heat to medium. Then add:
3 chopped jalapenos (too spicy for most of you, so try 1 to start)
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
2 T. minced garlic
Cook above ingredients for a few minutes. Turn down heat to lowest setting, then add:
1 c. big pieces of tomato
Salt and pepper to taste
When pasta is done, mix sauce and pasta together and add:
6 strips bacon, cooked until crispy, then crumbled
3/4 c. coarsely chopped toasted nuts (I used walnuts, but next time I'm going for pine nuts)
3/4 c. coarsely chopped Italian parsley
Serve in big pasta bowls and enjoy. Absolutely fabulous!
In the meantime, I'm happy to be an at-home chef, experimenting and playing and creating. My favorite pastime is "make something delicious with whatever you have in the frig and pantry." I also have a penchant for making one-dish meals during the week that also give me leftovers the next day. If you want to play this game, too, the easiest things to use as a base are pasta, eggs, or potatoes. This time of year, pasta is my fave.
So here's my concoction of the week. Feel free to copy, change, or just drool over the recipe. For those of you who need measurements, I've estimated them, but pretty much everything is "to taste." Veg people, this would work nicely without the bacon.
1 lb. fettuccine, cooked to the consistency you prefer
While pasta is cooking, make sauce as follows:
1 stick butter
8 T. extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Heat above ingredients until hot, then turn down heat to medium. Then add:
3 chopped jalapenos (too spicy for most of you, so try 1 to start)
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
2 T. minced garlic
Cook above ingredients for a few minutes. Turn down heat to lowest setting, then add:
1 c. big pieces of tomato
Salt and pepper to taste
When pasta is done, mix sauce and pasta together and add:
6 strips bacon, cooked until crispy, then crumbled
3/4 c. coarsely chopped toasted nuts (I used walnuts, but next time I'm going for pine nuts)
3/4 c. coarsely chopped Italian parsley
Serve in big pasta bowls and enjoy. Absolutely fabulous!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Happy Birthday to Me
It was my birthday over the weekend, along with the first day of fall. I have a touch of SAD (seasonal affective disorder), so when the days start getting shorter, I start feeling a little bit blue. And being in my "late 30s" now doesn't help, either.
Don't get me wrong: I love my birthday. Dozens of cards with warm words, calls from loved ones, presents... And really, I love all birthdays. A birthday is the one day where you can celebrate a person and no one bats an eye or feels strange about it. So I make it a point to send a card or make a phone call on birthdays, and I just revel in it when people recognize mine.
Still, with the fall weather and all, sometimes I just need a dose of happy, and all I have to do is remember birthdays past. Gary and I have made a tradition of trying all things new on our birthdays (new restaurants, new theaters, new experiences), which is definitely refreshing and rejuvenating. Many a joyful memory has come from the birthday celebrations that G has planned.
And the last few years at my former place of work, my team put together organization-wide birthday celebrations for me that involved food and gifts and cards and well wishes. Which I basked in, of course, and sorely missed this year.
But I have to admit, nothing will ever quite take the place of the complete, utter, enveloping ecstasy that was was my birthday when I lived at home. Ever since I was little and even through my rebellious teenage years, my mother made my birthday special. Mountains of beautifully wrapped presents on the table weeks beforehand. Letting me choose a restaurant for a fancy dinner. Parties and birthday cake and multiple renditions of the happy birthday song.
And oh, let's not forget, how could I ever forget, the Beatles singing "Birthday" at max volume in the morning as I woke up. I felt special and treasured and like the world existed just to make me feel like a million bucks. Thanks, Mom.
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