Yes, I know, I know. There are more pressing issues out there than some British report on recreational drugs. Like the eight fired US Attorneys (so do they have to relinguish their monkey status, as well?), and John Edwards' wife's cancer has returned (note to Edwards' family: life is short, enjoy it now!), and the tainted pet food (aw rats, I can't believe it's poisoned).
However, in my unconscious ploy to uncover news stories that affect the most people, I think this one takes the keg, er cake. Let's get a show of hands here... how many of you have indulged in alcohol in the past month? The past week? The past day? Okay. You get the point. Most people do enjoy alcohol once in a while.
What if I said that alcohol is more harmful than LSD? Worse than Ecstasy? More horrible than marijuanna? Yup. And so is tobacco. At least according to some British scientists hoping to better classify these recreational drugs according to the harm they cause.
This is just a bit disappointing for me. (Reflects a moment...starts sobbing...) This is impossible. Why would alcohol and tobacco be legal if our government really wants to protect us from such evils? Why didn't they rate them with the other illicit drugs during the "Just Say No" campaign when I was in high school?
Alcohol is bad... no it can't be all that bad. Those experts also say wine and beer are good for my heart. Damn! What's it going to be?? I mean, we can't go around touting everything is harmful, can we?
And what's next? Fast food? Heck, let's just rank legal pharmaceuticals, including vaccines, and see how they fair against the bad boys of the drug world--who's more harmful now? Yeah, I can see it now: Heroine is for wimps, Asprin will eat your insides alive, until you're dead.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Monday, March 12, 2007
When the Laughter Dies...
Jokes are no laughing matter to the brain. They are a type of release valve that enables us to think the unthinkable, accept the unacceptable, discover new relationships, adjust better and maintain our mental health. They are also funny. Without them we probably would be a dull, dimwitted society, trapped in a harsh world too serious to bear.
I instantly thought of Comedy Central when I read this quote. Especially The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. When our crazy world becomes too overwhelming, laughter is our release and allows us to overcome our crazy world.
It is a crazy world, indeed, when the laughter dies. I remember when I heard Phil Hartman died. It was if a part of the world had died. Yes, we have healed and we move on, with humor at our side. Again, today I read that Richard Jeni passed away. And another rift in the world laughter continuum has formed. And again, we will heal.
We are blessed to be able to rekindle the laughter from Hartman and Jeni, and all the past comedians like John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Richard Pryor, with their recorded performances. Those performances that helped us heal in times of stress and trial. In a way, comedy has saved us from (and in spite of) ourselves.
To those comedians, all I can say is: Thanks for the memories!
I instantly thought of Comedy Central when I read this quote. Especially The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. When our crazy world becomes too overwhelming, laughter is our release and allows us to overcome our crazy world.
It is a crazy world, indeed, when the laughter dies. I remember when I heard Phil Hartman died. It was if a part of the world had died. Yes, we have healed and we move on, with humor at our side. Again, today I read that Richard Jeni passed away. And another rift in the world laughter continuum has formed. And again, we will heal.
We are blessed to be able to rekindle the laughter from Hartman and Jeni, and all the past comedians like John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Richard Pryor, with their recorded performances. Those performances that helped us heal in times of stress and trial. In a way, comedy has saved us from (and in spite of) ourselves.
To those comedians, all I can say is: Thanks for the memories!
Just a Little Bit of Understanding...
You don't have to walk in my shoes to understand me. You don't have to shadow me to see the light in my eyes. Sometimes you just need to know that I am not you. And know that is okay. We can see and enjoy each other's strengths together. We can bounce off of our weaknesses together and become stronger. Just know that I see our existence from different eyes than you. It's just a perspective.
I spent much of yesterday covering the Shamrock pageants, and I began to fully realize my own "Aspie-ness" as I watched the young girls performing their talents on stage. In previous years, I always wondered why I didn't do pageants. I am beautiful. I am talented. What I lacked was confidence to do it. Years of being told I am stupid and ugly have an impact on one's psyche. Sure, if I had been in the "in" crowd and had a shred of dignity I could have been a great pageant queen. That's what I used to think.
Yes, that was part of it, but only the tip of the iceberg. The more I read about Aspergers, the more I am reading about me.
I was the one in school that did want friends. I wanted to be liked. I wanted to enjoy friendship. Friends came, and friends left. There were few close friends. Sometimes it tears me out from the inside that I was never close to anyone. Other times I am thankful that I didn't have friends. I was bullied intensely in a small school. In some ways, it is hard to be friends with someone who called you retarded the day before. I wanted to be liked by others, but it was always an uphill battle. That was my aspie-ness creating that need.
My niche came in high school, as I submerged myself in drawing, and people accepted me and my talent. The great thing about drawing is that I didn't have to face the people who called me stupid, but I could exhibit my talent for them in a relatively safe environment. I could shelter myself in my room drawing for hours on end. That was my aspie-ness fulfilling my need.
As I watched the girls walking down from the stage onto the runway, deep inside I wanted to do that, too. Then, I thought, sure I could do that, but my nerves would have been so intense at that age, and even today. I would have been so worried how others would see me, that I would work myself up and in the end would not be able to focus on my stance and projected confidence to look good. My focus is precious and it is delicate, and can get distracted easily if I don't ignore the distractions around me. That is my aspie-ness creating a need.
I guess that is why I enjoy radio broadcasting. Nice, short blips of focused performance with my voice. I don't have to look 100% completely stunning all day long. I can work by myself and I don't have to deal with the distraction caused by others. That is my aspie-ness fulfilling my need.
I realize that there are things I would love to do. And I realize there's a time and a place for everything. I know that I am different than others, and some things are more difficult for me, while others come easily for me. The more I understand myself, the more courage I begin to develop to do the things I enjoy doing.
I love to cantor at church. I enjoy singing and enjoy sharing my God-given talent to God and my church. I see it as a self-sacrificing gift, instead of a self-serving gift. I cantor because I want to help others sing, too. I look at the crowd in front of me, and I smile at the faces as I sing to God's glory, to encourage those faces to sing with me. We have been blessed way too much to sit in church like a bump on a log. There is not a week that goes by that I don't hear someone tell me how much they enjoy my singing at church, and many times they comment how easy it is for them to sing along with me. That is my aspie-ness fulfilling many needs for me and others.
Yes, I am different than the norm. There's no changing it. I've tried. Acceptance, understanding, and creative thinking goes a long way to utilizing my strengths.
I see it like a box in front of me. I see others walking through the box with ease. I try to walk through the box, but I am blocked. I can't walk through it, no matter how I try to mimic others' pursuit through the box. But, I can walk around it, under it, over it. The goal is to get to the other side of the box, not in the box. Sure, I see others inside the box, but they can get out of the box. At one point, I thought the goal was the inside of the box and I tried to get in. Bad idea. As I can't get through the box, if I got into the box I would be trapped. And I don't like feeling trapped. So, it is sometimes best to avoid the box. The goal, the focus is the other side of the box. And, along the way I meet people who avoid the box, as well. We see those in the box can't see the goal, and aimlessly do their deeds. And that's okay. (I'm sure I will carry this analogy on later...)
So, this is a bit of an epiphany for me. Realizing why I am good at the things I enjoy, and why I would not be good at other things. And realizing that I am not alone.
I had some great aspirations, and I still have aspirations. They've just changed a little.
I spent much of yesterday covering the Shamrock pageants, and I began to fully realize my own "Aspie-ness" as I watched the young girls performing their talents on stage. In previous years, I always wondered why I didn't do pageants. I am beautiful. I am talented. What I lacked was confidence to do it. Years of being told I am stupid and ugly have an impact on one's psyche. Sure, if I had been in the "in" crowd and had a shred of dignity I could have been a great pageant queen. That's what I used to think.
Yes, that was part of it, but only the tip of the iceberg. The more I read about Aspergers, the more I am reading about me.
I was the one in school that did want friends. I wanted to be liked. I wanted to enjoy friendship. Friends came, and friends left. There were few close friends. Sometimes it tears me out from the inside that I was never close to anyone. Other times I am thankful that I didn't have friends. I was bullied intensely in a small school. In some ways, it is hard to be friends with someone who called you retarded the day before. I wanted to be liked by others, but it was always an uphill battle. That was my aspie-ness creating that need.
My niche came in high school, as I submerged myself in drawing, and people accepted me and my talent. The great thing about drawing is that I didn't have to face the people who called me stupid, but I could exhibit my talent for them in a relatively safe environment. I could shelter myself in my room drawing for hours on end. That was my aspie-ness fulfilling my need.
As I watched the girls walking down from the stage onto the runway, deep inside I wanted to do that, too. Then, I thought, sure I could do that, but my nerves would have been so intense at that age, and even today. I would have been so worried how others would see me, that I would work myself up and in the end would not be able to focus on my stance and projected confidence to look good. My focus is precious and it is delicate, and can get distracted easily if I don't ignore the distractions around me. That is my aspie-ness creating a need.
I guess that is why I enjoy radio broadcasting. Nice, short blips of focused performance with my voice. I don't have to look 100% completely stunning all day long. I can work by myself and I don't have to deal with the distraction caused by others. That is my aspie-ness fulfilling my need.
I realize that there are things I would love to do. And I realize there's a time and a place for everything. I know that I am different than others, and some things are more difficult for me, while others come easily for me. The more I understand myself, the more courage I begin to develop to do the things I enjoy doing.
I love to cantor at church. I enjoy singing and enjoy sharing my God-given talent to God and my church. I see it as a self-sacrificing gift, instead of a self-serving gift. I cantor because I want to help others sing, too. I look at the crowd in front of me, and I smile at the faces as I sing to God's glory, to encourage those faces to sing with me. We have been blessed way too much to sit in church like a bump on a log. There is not a week that goes by that I don't hear someone tell me how much they enjoy my singing at church, and many times they comment how easy it is for them to sing along with me. That is my aspie-ness fulfilling many needs for me and others.
Yes, I am different than the norm. There's no changing it. I've tried. Acceptance, understanding, and creative thinking goes a long way to utilizing my strengths.
I see it like a box in front of me. I see others walking through the box with ease. I try to walk through the box, but I am blocked. I can't walk through it, no matter how I try to mimic others' pursuit through the box. But, I can walk around it, under it, over it. The goal is to get to the other side of the box, not in the box. Sure, I see others inside the box, but they can get out of the box. At one point, I thought the goal was the inside of the box and I tried to get in. Bad idea. As I can't get through the box, if I got into the box I would be trapped. And I don't like feeling trapped. So, it is sometimes best to avoid the box. The goal, the focus is the other side of the box. And, along the way I meet people who avoid the box, as well. We see those in the box can't see the goal, and aimlessly do their deeds. And that's okay. (I'm sure I will carry this analogy on later...)
So, this is a bit of an epiphany for me. Realizing why I am good at the things I enjoy, and why I would not be good at other things. And realizing that I am not alone.
I had some great aspirations, and I still have aspirations. They've just changed a little.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Headlines: Pardon Me!
Pardon Me! We pardon scooters all the time as they zoom by us on the sidewalks of life. Why not this scooter? I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was found guilty on Tuesday by a reportedly saddened grand jury on four of the five charges for lying to investigators during the Plame leak case. It would be a political move of varied motives for the President to pardon Libby, but wouldn't it be nice for the fall guy to get some justice, too?
Success in Iraq is counted sweetest by those who ne'er succeed. General David Petraeus, US Army commander in Iraq commented recently that it will take more than military might to end the violence in that war-torn country. Gen. Petraeus hinted that resolution in Iraq would need political negotiations to create peace. Political negotiations, eh? I think it's time for the US President to pardon Iraq.
"I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden." would likely be a hummed tune for the fired Maj. Gen. George Weightman and Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley were singing before the bad press came out for the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Sure, military service is tough. However, we are talking about our injured soldiers here. I think we can lay off the tough guy act in a hospital, can't we? Just think what these vets will say to their grandkids: Yeah, it was difficult fighting off those rats and cockroaches, but the moldy stench was the worst. I survived Iraq because they gave me a gun and ammo, but surviving Walter Reed was the biggest battle I faced. No guns, no ammo. Not even rodent bombs or roach motels. Conditions were deplorable. I needed to raise the black flag, but the Army didn't supply us with any. So, we had to use our crutches and wheelchairs to squish the enemy! No pardons likely here. No matter how hard they beg.
"Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again!" I don't know if Pierce Brosnan will need a pardon after this one, but he is slated to sing, yes I said SING... ::LOL:: Sing ABBA tunes... ::ROFL:: With, get this... Meryl Streep! ::LMAO:: Okay, okay, Brosnan is a handsome actor, a remarkable artist, but I don't recall any singing scenes in the Bond movies. The big question now is, will I be walking out of the theater singing S.O.S. out of desperation or under a euphoric state of enjoyment? By the way, Pierce, I'll pardon you in advance on this one.
No Pardons for Captain America! I was completely saddened by the news that our superhero, Captain America, ::sob:: is dead. Captain America is dead apparently due to his resistance to register with the federal Super Hero Registration Act? Is this a sobering reflection of the state of affairs in our country? What will our country do without Captain America? Is this the end? Will Tek Jansen be able to fill such big shoes?
Well, if there are pardons to make, lent is a good time to make them, as we forgive others and forgive ourselves for all the blunders and ignorantly foolish things we do and forget to do. I hope you have it in your heart to pardon me, as well. I promise I will pardon you, too.
Success in Iraq is counted sweetest by those who ne'er succeed. General David Petraeus, US Army commander in Iraq commented recently that it will take more than military might to end the violence in that war-torn country. Gen. Petraeus hinted that resolution in Iraq would need political negotiations to create peace. Political negotiations, eh? I think it's time for the US President to pardon Iraq.
"I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden." would likely be a hummed tune for the fired Maj. Gen. George Weightman and Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley were singing before the bad press came out for the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Sure, military service is tough. However, we are talking about our injured soldiers here. I think we can lay off the tough guy act in a hospital, can't we? Just think what these vets will say to their grandkids: Yeah, it was difficult fighting off those rats and cockroaches, but the moldy stench was the worst. I survived Iraq because they gave me a gun and ammo, but surviving Walter Reed was the biggest battle I faced. No guns, no ammo. Not even rodent bombs or roach motels. Conditions were deplorable. I needed to raise the black flag, but the Army didn't supply us with any. So, we had to use our crutches and wheelchairs to squish the enemy! No pardons likely here. No matter how hard they beg.
"Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again!" I don't know if Pierce Brosnan will need a pardon after this one, but he is slated to sing, yes I said SING... ::LOL:: Sing ABBA tunes... ::ROFL:: With, get this... Meryl Streep! ::LMAO:: Okay, okay, Brosnan is a handsome actor, a remarkable artist, but I don't recall any singing scenes in the Bond movies. The big question now is, will I be walking out of the theater singing S.O.S. out of desperation or under a euphoric state of enjoyment? By the way, Pierce, I'll pardon you in advance on this one.
No Pardons for Captain America! I was completely saddened by the news that our superhero, Captain America, ::sob:: is dead. Captain America is dead apparently due to his resistance to register with the federal Super Hero Registration Act? Is this a sobering reflection of the state of affairs in our country? What will our country do without Captain America? Is this the end? Will Tek Jansen be able to fill such big shoes?
Well, if there are pardons to make, lent is a good time to make them, as we forgive others and forgive ourselves for all the blunders and ignorantly foolish things we do and forget to do. I hope you have it in your heart to pardon me, as well. I promise I will pardon you, too.
Daylight Savings for St. Pat's
This will be the first time since daylight savings came into existence that both my birthday and Saint Patrick's Day will enjoy a later evening. And an early morning.
For those of you just joining me, I discussed some of the ramifications of this change of daylight savings last year...
However, I failed to realize how this would affect my birthday this year. Sure, it is nice to enjoy daylight savings when the spring sunrise is tapping at your window, but it's not going to do that this early. Heck, we still have snow on the ground! If anything, the snow is just going to reflect the streetlights into my window on Monday morning, March 12th.
How could my birthday be any more special this year? Getting daylight saving on my birthday is spectacular. A kind and wonderful present from our President. When my internal alarm clock goes off at 6 a.m. Monday morning, it isn't really 6 a.m. It'll be 7. I'll be down one whole hour on my birthday?! What kind of present is this??
Let alone the implications of partying for St. Patrick's Day. I'd better hope this year's Irish dignitary likes to get his shut-eye early. But, of course, I won't hope that. A girl needs a little fun every now and then. I think I will boycott this early daylight savings this year. I'm sure no one at work will mind. And anyway, I don't believe in time.
For those of you just joining me, I discussed some of the ramifications of this change of daylight savings last year...
However, I failed to realize how this would affect my birthday this year. Sure, it is nice to enjoy daylight savings when the spring sunrise is tapping at your window, but it's not going to do that this early. Heck, we still have snow on the ground! If anything, the snow is just going to reflect the streetlights into my window on Monday morning, March 12th.
How could my birthday be any more special this year? Getting daylight saving on my birthday is spectacular. A kind and wonderful present from our President. When my internal alarm clock goes off at 6 a.m. Monday morning, it isn't really 6 a.m. It'll be 7. I'll be down one whole hour on my birthday?! What kind of present is this??
Let alone the implications of partying for St. Patrick's Day. I'd better hope this year's Irish dignitary likes to get his shut-eye early. But, of course, I won't hope that. A girl needs a little fun every now and then. I think I will boycott this early daylight savings this year. I'm sure no one at work will mind. And anyway, I don't believe in time.
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