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Monday, February 19, 2007

5 Things You Might Not Know

I received this as an email and thought it would make a good post. Here are 5 Things You Might Not Know About Me...

1. I have numerous physical "quirks." Most of them have a tendancy to make me pass out if I don't control them. Needless to say, I control them (although I've been told it's amusing when I don't.) My ears are screwed up. I have frighteningly low blood pressure (thanks, Tai!) that I control with a high-salt diet (yes, many, many doctors have endorsed this.) I have a heart arrhythmia caused by a magnesium deficiency. My knees don't self-lubricate (flax seed oil supplements are great ~ and it is also high in omega-3s so that's good.) And I've got something called "vagal" that isn't the full name and probably isn't spelled correctly but it means I pass out if the air gets too still. Pharmyard is the only other person I've met who has this. A tip ~ if a doctor ever suggests you get a tilt-table test in order to test for this condition, simply say "Oh, I've had that. I already know I have vagal." Trust me.

2. I am painfully shy. Seriously. Walking into a group of people I don't know well causes physical pain. Talking to new people, sending emails, whatever ~ painful. I get over it. I suck it up and do it. And it's still painful. Mind you, once I'm comfortable, you can't shut me up or keep me away. Until then, though...painful.


3. I have never changed a diaper. Never. Not once. When the Lovely Cats fell and broke her foot years ago, I stayed in town until her mother could get there. The agreement was I would do everything but the dishes and changing the Princess Kitten's diaper. Not even for her and a broken foot.

4. I'm not really an animal person. Don't get me wrong ~ I don't dislike animals at all. And Lionel and Daisy are my babies. When Katrina struck, I had no money. I still managed to donate five bucks and I donated it to animal rescue organizations. Yet, if I never have another pet, that will be okay. All those pictures of baby creatures that make most people coo and ahh and say things "oh, it's So Cute!" make me smile, sure. But then I'm done and ready to move on to something else.

5. I'm inherently lazy. Looking at my schedule and my life, you wouldn't think so. But I am. Hm...there's really not that much more to say about that one. It's pretty self-explanatory.

So what about you? What are five things we might not know about you?

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

The Toothless Wonder


Gotta love the tongue.













Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Friday, February 16, 2007

And Maybe We're Not Getting It At All...

Former Miami Heat guard Tim Hardaway said on a radio show Wednesday afternoon that he would not want a gay player on his team. Hardaway was a guest of Miami Herald columnist Dan Le Batard on Miami sports radio station WAXY-AM and was asked how he would deal with a gay teammate. When asked if he would accept an active player's coming out, such as that of retired NBA center John Amaechi, Hardaway replied: "First of all, I wouldn't want him on my team." As we all know, it got *ahem* better from there. But apparently, he's sorry. He's so sorry, he apologized.

"Yes, I regret it. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said I hate gay people or anything like that," he said. "That was my mistake." So...um... you should have just kept your mouth shut and gone on hating without mentioning it?

While I cannot at this moment find the quote I'm looking for, Amaechi made a great comment about how men who stand up for women's rights are seen as being supportive, white men who stand up for black rights are seen as heros ~ and straight men who stand up for homosexual rights are seen as being wimps and are probably really gay themselves. I wish it wasn't so true. And I wish that more straight men wouldn't give a damn if they were seen as being wimps and probably gay for supporting homosexual rights.

Here's another quote from the whole situation from Pat Riley: "But I do know that Tim's a good spirit, and I'm sure now he wished he could take all of that back," Riley added, the newspaper reported. "And I hope he's not severely judged by his spewing of some of those words. That kind of thinking can't be tolerated. It just can't." Um...he's not supposed to be severely judged and yet that kind of thinking can't be tolerated. So...hmmm... I got nothing here.

But how is this for grace? Amaechi also said: "Finally, someone who is honest," he said. "It is ridiculous, absurd, petty, bigoted and shows a lack of empathy that is gargantuan and unfathomable. But it is honest. And it illustrates the problem better than any of the fuzzy language other people have used so far."

He's a better person than I will ever be.

Valentine's Day and all that coming soon. I had to say this first.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Monday, February 12, 2007

We Might Be Getting It

The Academy Awards are soon upon us. I admit, there are some awards shows that matter to me: the Tonys, the Obies, SAG Awards and yes, the Academy Awards.

This year is one of the most culturally diverse years ever. In the Best Actress category, there is only one white, American woman. (It is, of course, Meryl Streep, as it should be if only one white, American actress is going to be nominated.) Three women from Britain, a woman from Spain, and a woman from America, ranging in age from early-30s to early-70s. And this is the least diversely nominated category in the major ones.

I'm not saying anything is fixed or perfect. Far from it. And no awards have been given out yet. Still...I think we might be getting it. Great actors are great actors. Not great black actors. Not great Spanish actors. Not great British or American actors. Just...great actors. I'm hopeful. At least I'm more hopeful than I've been in a while.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Why Is It That...

...I own the only coffee maker in the country for which there is no replacement carafe?
...my camera is at hand when Lionel and Daisy are sleeping but not when they are doing something cute?
...the men who make the biggest deal about not wanting to be in my life are the ones who don't stay gone?
...blogger lets me leave comments on some blogs but not others?
...I can go weeks, months, even sometimes years without wanting something and then end up on a kick where I want to do it, eat it, or see it every day for weeks?
...at 7:30 p.m. I am falling asleep at my desk but at midnight I'm wide awake?
...I am willing to spend money on coffee and half and half but not vegetables?
...it takes me so long to return phone messages but I respond to emails quickly?
...I can think of clever, witty posts when I am in the shower or on the road but not when I am somewhere I can write them?

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Friday, February 09, 2007

Updates and Other Ramblings

* The flu is over! TTG. I'll spare you those details. ;)

* Graziella and her family had services for her niece yesterday. I have passed along everyone's good wishes. As she puts it, "The prayers must be working because I'm feeling better." So thank you. The service was a beautiful celebration of a too short life.

* Lionel is now The Toothless Wonder. We have been fighting his dental disease since he came to me but it has just been too much. Dr. Jonathan had to pull the last ones yesterday. Now, Lionel's tongue sticks out. It's kinda cute. Expect pictures. He, of course, still thinks he is a three year old great dane with a full set of choppers. That's my boy.

* Graziella's dogs have been fostered out so she is set to leave on Sunday! Whoo-hoo for her!

* In two weeks, I will be heading back to the Basement. With Lithus. Yep. He is meeting the Divine M and the Grill Master. There will be more on this, I have no doubt. (I know, Cats, I know. I promise you're next so find a good pie recipe and air out the sofa bed.)

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Originally from Nemeria (with edits for privacy)

  • A Hoops and Yoyo E-Card
  • Click on that. Yeah, I felt better than I had in days.

    Those are Nemeria's thoughts ~ 'cause mine are still a little cloudy.

    Tuesday, February 06, 2007

    The Flu

    'Nuff said.

    Those are Pobble Thoughts. You know the rest.

    Saturday, February 03, 2007

    Women's Work

    Generally speaking, I am not very sexist. I can take out trash, kill bugs and change a tire with the best of 'em. A man who can cook, sew and/or read a bedtime story to a sleepy child is all man in my book.

    There are, as there almost always are, exceptions, however. Like birth. And death. Those tend to be women's work. I am, of course, painting with a broad brush here. I have known men who are amazing in both situations. I know women who are not. Hell, when it comes to the birth part, I'm the last person you want in a birthing room. Let me pace and smoke outside with the guys and I'm at my best. Generally, though...well, there's a reason we're known as steel magnolias down south where I come from. It takes a different kind of strength to deal with birth. And death.

    And when they happen almost simultaneously... I have asked my grandmothers, all three of them and the epitome of the steel magnolia, to wrap her up, to be part of the host that welcomes her home. I will do what I can to be a friend to her aunt. To see her aunt through the grief. To assure her aunt the love is not ever something that will be "gotten over." Because there is nothing else I can do. And sometimes nothing is women's work, too.

    Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.