Even when the medications and pain clouded your mind, your words somehow came out clearly on the phone line from California to South Korea. "Go and live. Don't put off living your life, to watch me sit around here."
Grandma,
you gave us each wings
and told us to fly.
Your tender hands
quilted love into blankets
to keep the adventurers warm.
Your big heart
stored all of the silly stories
and logged each of our accomplishments.
Your eager ears
waited for our "little" footsteps
to return once more.
Your searching eyes
found ours... hoping
to see happiness,
contentment,
and joy.
Your loving soul,
it birthed us,
nurtured us,
and made us each whole.
What I'll miss...
Your smile
Your sweet tooth
Your pure joy in the presence of children... your longing to be with babies wherever they were.
Your nose in a book.
Your "friends"=the quail, the cows, and hummingbirds in the backyard.
The way your voice went low when you'd say "Honey" and lean in, because you wanted me to really 'hear' this part.
The way you "washed" the dishes in hot, soapy water before letting the dishwasher even get a chance to try.
Your lovely red locks... I always envied your hair.
How I always got choked up when we left your house and that desperate desire I'd feel to hold onto the last moments with you, after the car was packed but before we had climbed in. The longing to sit with you... to touch you again.
The tenderness you had with your children. I'll especially miss the way you loved my Daddy and the way that he loved how you loved him.
Grandma, I miss you already... and selfishly so.
I wish that my children could have known you and that my future husband could have met you...
BUT they will know you through me.
My love of reading came from a red-headed grandma who always had her nose in a book and a list of book recommendations as soon as I walked through the door.
My love of children came from the single mother of seven who raised a clan of Gaares and not only lived to tell about it, but seems to have loved every minute of it.
My love of adventure came from a strong woman who listened to my stories and sent me off to record more.
My sense of humor came from the woman who wore the "little old lady shoes" and loved to tell and re-tell the funny things her children and grandchildren once did.
You live on in my tender moments with my family... the family you started and that I am blessed to continue in.
I know that once I make it to Heaven finding you will be a cinch, I'll listen for babies laughing and hummingbird wings.
21 December 2008
19 December 2008
A Christmas Story
**A jewel of a story that I stole from my Great Aunt & Uncle.**
When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the Pre-Christmas pressure.
Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more.
When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where.
Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.
Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When we went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drank all the cider and hidden the liquor. In his fustration he accidentally dropped the cider jug and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.
Just then the doorbell rang and irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.
The angel said very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas Santa. Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?"
And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.
05 December 2008
Underwear Police
A coworker sent this to me today... and well I had to share, once again.
My sharing has already inspired a few Halloween costumes for next year! That's what I like to see.
Inspiration... is why I am here; to inspire the masses.
My sharing has already inspired a few Halloween costumes for next year! That's what I like to see.
Inspiration... is why I am here; to inspire the masses.
02 December 2008
01 December 2008
26 November 2008
My Little Grandma
Grandmothers are just antique little girls. ~Author Unknown
The story goes that when I was young, I walked up to my paternal grandmother and said with much pride "Grandma, look at my new little girl shoes." She responded, without skipping a beat, "Look at my little old lady shoes." Little Old Lady became Little Grandma and we have tenderly referred to her as such ever since.
This morning, my Little Grandma passed away.
She was adored by each of us and we were adored by her. The hole that she leaves is immeasurable, but the space that she fills in our hearts and memories is infinitely larger.
The story goes that when I was young, I walked up to my paternal grandmother and said with much pride "Grandma, look at my new little girl shoes." She responded, without skipping a beat, "Look at my little old lady shoes." Little Old Lady became Little Grandma and we have tenderly referred to her as such ever since.
This morning, my Little Grandma passed away.
She was adored by each of us and we were adored by her. The hole that she leaves is immeasurable, but the space that she fills in our hearts and memories is infinitely larger.
25 November 2008
Manager's Award
Today I was awarded the Manager's Award at work.
I'm not going to lie, I am pretty excited about it!
I recently added some new responsibilities and have apparently done a great job. :-) It certainly feels nice to be appreciated!
Now... what to do with my new gift card? So many difficult decisions...
I'm not going to lie, I am pretty excited about it!
I recently added some new responsibilities and have apparently done a great job. :-) It certainly feels nice to be appreciated!
Now... what to do with my new gift card? So many difficult decisions...
24 November 2008
Love it!
I needed to google "high five images" today for work. (I'm creating an award to be used in the office.) In the process, I ran into this. Google Images is the best resource ever!
Bonus points if you can tell me where this picture was taken!
Bonus points if you can tell me where this picture was taken!
11 November 2008
True Confession
I JUST figured out the Kay Jewelers song!!!!"Every kiss begins with Kay"
As in, every kiss begins with "k"
Man oh man... sometimes I scare myself.
04 November 2008
02 November 2008
Why Obama? (Dedicated to Chris)
This is Chris' response to my Palin blog:
Shoot Meli, if I had read this article earlier, I would have loved to have a political conversation with you yesterday when you are down here. Even beyond Palin, I am really curious to why people support Obama. Why are you supporting him? Issue, policy, attitude, slogan, what is it about him?
Friendly conversation here, I promise :-)
- chris
So because I love Chris, I am going to answer. :-) Sorry that it has taken awhile... it was a LONG week for me. (See Tuesday's blog.)
Why I am voting for Barack Obama:
Issue(s):
The Economy. I would prefer that the man in charge desire to come at the budget with a scalpel rather than to offer an across the board freeze. Obama's phrasing here demonstrates once again that he is evenhanded and levelheaded. We are much better served to move forward (with programs and services still working) with our eye toward the future, than to ask the country to come to a screeching stop while McCain takes lessons in economics. An across the board spending freeze at a time when our economy is limping along would only magnify the problems. A delicate hand to direct the spending cuts where they can be most effective will allow healing and even growth over time. I don't think that I need to belabor the economy issue, since McCain's campaign itself, says that Obama is better prepared in this area.
Community Service. His emphasis on community service (Peace Corps, Americorps, etc) is exactly what we need. Why not support the brightest minds of the current generation to be a part of building solutions for the future? His own experience in community organizing prepares him for leading a country down what could be a difficult road as we climb out of the current economic situation and start to pull out of and recover from the war in Iraq. He has experience in working with people of varied life experiences and heritages. He is ready to lead the "World's Leaders" in a way that a military commander might not be. Military experience values giving and following orders. A man with Obama's experience is better prepared to lead as a peer in the international community, than to lead as a commander of other nations.
The Supreme Court (and the Constitution in general). Obama is a former professor of Constitutional Law. I believe that he will use his knowledge and experience to nominate wise members to the Supreme Court. Even more importantly, I trust that he will keep the Constitution as a clear guideline while he serves as President. Our Founding Fathers spent years thinking about what it meant to lead and what would be necessary not just in the role of the President and the Executive Branch, but also in how each of the branches of government should work together and serve as checks and balances. In recent history that balance has been ignored. I feel that Barack's thoughtful nature and respect for the document that was left behind as our guide, will lead him to serve as a part of the system set in place and not with the thought that he is the "whole."
Policy:
Foreign Policy. Obama's life experience has given him a rare ability to have experienced the United States not only as a citizen but also as someone who has lived outside of its borders and felt its influence. We are the greatest nation on earth. We are powerful and influential. With that comes much responsibility. "To whom much is given, much is required." Obama feels that weight perhaps more than any presidential candidate in recent history. I believe that you can see the results of that when you look at his foreign policy. He is willing to meet with leaders and start a dialogue with our neighbors around the globe. I know that some have called this naive, BUT I think the reality is that we can no longer sit, as if on a throne, and dictate the types of political leaders that we are willing to make time for in the international community. After the Bush years, the rest of the world will be looking closely to see if the next president sees himself as the boss or as a participant on the world stage. I think that we need to engage with the rest of the world and quit thinking that we are right about everything all of the time. Even if we are right, no one wants it shoved down their throat. I feel that Senator Obama will come as a co-laborer with the rest of the world's leaders and lead in his actions, not in his demands on the actions of others. Better to lead by example than to tell others what to do and not to do.
Health Care. We all must know that our current system needs reform. Obama's proposed health care reforms demonstrates a clear understanding of the problems that everyday Americans face and offers real solutions to solve them in a relatively short amount of time. What he is offering is NOT socialized health care and will cost LESS money over the next ten years and cover MORE people than John McCain's. (I will note here that I AM a proponent of universal health care and universal education up through university, BUT even if you're not, Obama's health care policy will cost less money, which should please any fiscal conservative.)
Attitude:
I want a thoughtful and intelligent president... someone who doesn't jump to decisions and someone who encourages conversations rather than dictations. I think that the smartest and brightest should be our leaders and I think that Barack Obama fits that bill.
Slogan:
"Yes we can!" - It's catchy and empowering, but it's not why I'm voting for him.
I think that Barack Obama has shown his ability to lead and inspire during his campaign over the last two years. It is incredible by anyone's standards that HE is the Democratic nominee this year. He did not get there just because of his charisma (don't get me wrong, he certainly is charismatic.). He is where he is because he surrounded himself with bright people and led them to lead others. That is what a President is after all, a leader. He will lead our country not just in policy, but in character and in attitude. The President should inspire us to action. People have moved for this man in epic ways. I donated money for the first time to a national political campaign and I even ordered a sticker for my car. I DON'T put things on my car, but this year I felt a real desire to let those around me know whom I supported. He has drawn record crowds and inspired millions. More importantly to this blogger, he has inspired me.
Why I will not be voting for John McCain:
This list is shorter, but I wanted to explain a few things.
The flip and the flop.
The "candidate" John McCain looks nothing like the "man" John McCain that many of us thought we knew. How am I to know which one would end up being "president" John McCain? His change over the past nine months has been drastic and, to be honest, kind of frightening. A year ago, I thought I might vote for him, if he made it through the primaries, but now I don't even know where he really stands on anything.
His choice in a running mate.
I'm sorry, but of all of the options in this country, it was Sarah Palin who he thought would "complete" his ticket?!!? There are many other social conservatives who could have come with more experience in diplomacy and just general knowledge about the international stage. I think in four or eight years she could be a real contender... but I think his choice was rash and it certainly caused me to question his judgement.
His tendency to jump before thinking.
As demonstrated in his decision to "cancel" the presidential debate to "help" fix the economy. One more time that I had to ask myself, "what is this man thinking?" At a time when he should have had his pulse on both Washington, DC and the American people, he acted in a way that demonstrated he had his hand on the pulse of neither. He offered what appeared to be no effective "help" to anyone.
All of this to say:
I am a registered Non-Partisan who has decided on her candidate and is hopeful that Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States of America.
Shoot Meli, if I had read this article earlier, I would have loved to have a political conversation with you yesterday when you are down here. Even beyond Palin, I am really curious to why people support Obama. Why are you supporting him? Issue, policy, attitude, slogan, what is it about him?
Friendly conversation here, I promise :-)
- chris
So because I love Chris, I am going to answer. :-) Sorry that it has taken awhile... it was a LONG week for me. (See Tuesday's blog.)
Why I am voting for Barack Obama:
Issue(s):
The Economy. I would prefer that the man in charge desire to come at the budget with a scalpel rather than to offer an across the board freeze. Obama's phrasing here demonstrates once again that he is evenhanded and levelheaded. We are much better served to move forward (with programs and services still working) with our eye toward the future, than to ask the country to come to a screeching stop while McCain takes lessons in economics. An across the board spending freeze at a time when our economy is limping along would only magnify the problems. A delicate hand to direct the spending cuts where they can be most effective will allow healing and even growth over time. I don't think that I need to belabor the economy issue, since McCain's campaign itself, says that Obama is better prepared in this area.
Community Service. His emphasis on community service (Peace Corps, Americorps, etc) is exactly what we need. Why not support the brightest minds of the current generation to be a part of building solutions for the future? His own experience in community organizing prepares him for leading a country down what could be a difficult road as we climb out of the current economic situation and start to pull out of and recover from the war in Iraq. He has experience in working with people of varied life experiences and heritages. He is ready to lead the "World's Leaders" in a way that a military commander might not be. Military experience values giving and following orders. A man with Obama's experience is better prepared to lead as a peer in the international community, than to lead as a commander of other nations.
The Supreme Court (and the Constitution in general). Obama is a former professor of Constitutional Law. I believe that he will use his knowledge and experience to nominate wise members to the Supreme Court. Even more importantly, I trust that he will keep the Constitution as a clear guideline while he serves as President. Our Founding Fathers spent years thinking about what it meant to lead and what would be necessary not just in the role of the President and the Executive Branch, but also in how each of the branches of government should work together and serve as checks and balances. In recent history that balance has been ignored. I feel that Barack's thoughtful nature and respect for the document that was left behind as our guide, will lead him to serve as a part of the system set in place and not with the thought that he is the "whole."
Policy:
Foreign Policy. Obama's life experience has given him a rare ability to have experienced the United States not only as a citizen but also as someone who has lived outside of its borders and felt its influence. We are the greatest nation on earth. We are powerful and influential. With that comes much responsibility. "To whom much is given, much is required." Obama feels that weight perhaps more than any presidential candidate in recent history. I believe that you can see the results of that when you look at his foreign policy. He is willing to meet with leaders and start a dialogue with our neighbors around the globe. I know that some have called this naive, BUT I think the reality is that we can no longer sit, as if on a throne, and dictate the types of political leaders that we are willing to make time for in the international community. After the Bush years, the rest of the world will be looking closely to see if the next president sees himself as the boss or as a participant on the world stage. I think that we need to engage with the rest of the world and quit thinking that we are right about everything all of the time. Even if we are right, no one wants it shoved down their throat. I feel that Senator Obama will come as a co-laborer with the rest of the world's leaders and lead in his actions, not in his demands on the actions of others. Better to lead by example than to tell others what to do and not to do.
Health Care. We all must know that our current system needs reform. Obama's proposed health care reforms demonstrates a clear understanding of the problems that everyday Americans face and offers real solutions to solve them in a relatively short amount of time. What he is offering is NOT socialized health care and will cost LESS money over the next ten years and cover MORE people than John McCain's. (I will note here that I AM a proponent of universal health care and universal education up through university, BUT even if you're not, Obama's health care policy will cost less money, which should please any fiscal conservative.)
Attitude:
I want a thoughtful and intelligent president... someone who doesn't jump to decisions and someone who encourages conversations rather than dictations. I think that the smartest and brightest should be our leaders and I think that Barack Obama fits that bill.
Slogan:
"Yes we can!" - It's catchy and empowering, but it's not why I'm voting for him.
I think that Barack Obama has shown his ability to lead and inspire during his campaign over the last two years. It is incredible by anyone's standards that HE is the Democratic nominee this year. He did not get there just because of his charisma (don't get me wrong, he certainly is charismatic.). He is where he is because he surrounded himself with bright people and led them to lead others. That is what a President is after all, a leader. He will lead our country not just in policy, but in character and in attitude. The President should inspire us to action. People have moved for this man in epic ways. I donated money for the first time to a national political campaign and I even ordered a sticker for my car. I DON'T put things on my car, but this year I felt a real desire to let those around me know whom I supported. He has drawn record crowds and inspired millions. More importantly to this blogger, he has inspired me.
Why I will not be voting for John McCain:
This list is shorter, but I wanted to explain a few things.
The flip and the flop.
The "candidate" John McCain looks nothing like the "man" John McCain that many of us thought we knew. How am I to know which one would end up being "president" John McCain? His change over the past nine months has been drastic and, to be honest, kind of frightening. A year ago, I thought I might vote for him, if he made it through the primaries, but now I don't even know where he really stands on anything.
His choice in a running mate.
I'm sorry, but of all of the options in this country, it was Sarah Palin who he thought would "complete" his ticket?!!? There are many other social conservatives who could have come with more experience in diplomacy and just general knowledge about the international stage. I think in four or eight years she could be a real contender... but I think his choice was rash and it certainly caused me to question his judgement.
His tendency to jump before thinking.
As demonstrated in his decision to "cancel" the presidential debate to "help" fix the economy. One more time that I had to ask myself, "what is this man thinking?" At a time when he should have had his pulse on both Washington, DC and the American people, he acted in a way that demonstrated he had his hand on the pulse of neither. He offered what appeared to be no effective "help" to anyone.
All of this to say:
I am a registered Non-Partisan who has decided on her candidate and is hopeful that Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States of America.
31 October 2008
Happy Halloween!
This is the costume I have planned for the year I reach my life goal: being a grandma.
30 October 2008
Thanksgiving Adventures.... four weeks and counting
Most years my family goes camping over the Thanksgiving weekend. It is a great tradition that we have with some dear friends of ours. I love getting away and just enjoying each other's company. We get ridiculously competitive about board games (okay maybe Tim and I get ridiculously competitive), we go hiking/adventuring and we eat tons of yummy food.
We have done beach camping, mountain camping (We froze our tushes off at Lake Isabella!), house camping (We rented a house in the desert and slept indoors!), and last year it was fire camping.... ummm fire camping? you ask. I will fill you in on that later.
As you can imagine cooking a turkey while camping is not ideal... so we precook and heat at the campsite.
Here we are preparing with a Target Shopping Extravaganza.
This is our Thanksgiving Feast.
Hiking with Joel and Todd can be quite the adventure....
Our fun was cut short at around 3:30 am.... with the sound of helicopters flying overhead to drop water on the Malibu Creek Fire.
This last picture was our view as we drove home... BUT we are gamblers by nature... so we are trying Malibu again this year! Hopefully we'll make it the whole weekend without any evacuations.
We have done beach camping, mountain camping (We froze our tushes off at Lake Isabella!), house camping (We rented a house in the desert and slept indoors!), and last year it was fire camping.... ummm fire camping? you ask. I will fill you in on that later.
As you can imagine cooking a turkey while camping is not ideal... so we precook and heat at the campsite.
Here we are preparing with a Target Shopping Extravaganza.
This is our Thanksgiving Feast.
Hiking with Joel and Todd can be quite the adventure....
Our fun was cut short at around 3:30 am.... with the sound of helicopters flying overhead to drop water on the Malibu Creek Fire.
This last picture was our view as we drove home... BUT we are gamblers by nature... so we are trying Malibu again this year! Hopefully we'll make it the whole weekend without any evacuations.
29 October 2008
Grandmotherhood = Life Goal?
Today I met my hero...
Ever since I was a child, I have held a secret desire. My life goal is to be a grandmother... yep, you read that right. I have always wanted to be a cute little old lady who has a wraparound porch, a bench swing, and a faithful old dog that sits at my feet as I crochet, or maybe crosstich. I want to make lemonade, bake cookies, and sew Halloween costumes. The idea of Thanksgiving dinner for dozens being cooked in my kitchen, thrills me! I love the idea of being a grandmother, I always have. I assume that that must mean I have fantastic grandmothers who have inspired me (I have at least one!).
The one problem with my life goal has been that I'm not as excited to be a mother. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE CHILDREN. I just don't have the same passion for motherhood that I have for grandmotherhood. (I know I'm a little weird.)
Today I met my hero. Today I met someone who married into grandmotherhood. It's brilliant! She didn't have to raise anyone, AND she gets to love on grandkids and spoil them rotten. She married a grandfather and inherited a complete family.
So it's official I am in the market for a grandfather.
... or I will be in about thirty years. So keep your eyes peeled!
28 October 2008
Why today just might have sucked...
1. I rear ended a car on my way to work... don't worry I'm fine. We were at a red light. He started to move. I started to move. The car in front of him stalled. He stopped. I stopped... just not fast enough.
2. I came into the office and found five voicemail messages that consisted of clicking.... alternating silence and clicking. Turns out our phone system has crashed. That's good news. Right?
3. The phone tech comes to check on the phone system (stored in our server room)... and says "Melissa, I think you have a bigger problem." Bigger than a broken phone system?!?!
The air conditioner that is supposed to keep our server/phone equipment safe from overheating has a leak.... there is a freakin' flood in the server room!!!
4. I go to tell the office manager about our new Server Sea and find a small flood in the kitchen as well. mmm... sweet!
5. Now the Internet is coming and going.... so we can't communicate with phones or email!
HOW are we supposed to call for help, when we start drowning?
6. The pizza that I ordered for the teleconference (that is now being held via two cell phones on speakerphone) comes burnt!
7. I twisted my ankle thanks to the wet kitchen floor...
8. I blame part of my lack of grace on my impending period. I am (on top of everything else) suffering from stomach cramps and a mild case of PMS. (I know. I can't believe I just blogged about PMS either!)
9. Because of our phone situation, the alarm system that lives on the wall next to my desk spends the ENTIRE day beeping to let me know that it can't connect to the phone.
10. Oh yeah and yesterday we laid off seven people at the office so basically today would have sucked without #'s 1-9.
So yeah... I think it might be official that today sucked. :)
2. I came into the office and found five voicemail messages that consisted of clicking.... alternating silence and clicking. Turns out our phone system has crashed. That's good news. Right?
3. The phone tech comes to check on the phone system (stored in our server room)... and says "Melissa, I think you have a bigger problem." Bigger than a broken phone system?!?!
The air conditioner that is supposed to keep our server/phone equipment safe from overheating has a leak.... there is a freakin' flood in the server room!!!
4. I go to tell the office manager about our new Server Sea and find a small flood in the kitchen as well. mmm... sweet!
5. Now the Internet is coming and going.... so we can't communicate with phones or email!
HOW are we supposed to call for help, when we start drowning?
6. The pizza that I ordered for the teleconference (that is now being held via two cell phones on speakerphone) comes burnt!
7. I twisted my ankle thanks to the wet kitchen floor...
8. I blame part of my lack of grace on my impending period. I am (on top of everything else) suffering from stomach cramps and a mild case of PMS. (I know. I can't believe I just blogged about PMS either!)
9. Because of our phone situation, the alarm system that lives on the wall next to my desk spends the ENTIRE day beeping to let me know that it can't connect to the phone.
10. Oh yeah and yesterday we laid off seven people at the office so basically today would have sucked without #'s 1-9.
So yeah... I think it might be official that today sucked. :)
27 October 2008
My Favorite Family
Okay so this blog may have become a total love-fest.... but let's be real, it's me... I LOVE a good love-fest.One of my favorite blogs to read is my dear friend Kacy's. I love her honesty and her tender heart. She has always been one of those friends who speaks directly to your soul, with truth and love. NOW she speaks straight to my heart and soul via the world wide web. As Kacy grows as a mother and wife, I feel like I get the benefit of growing a little with her.
This picture is of Halee (Kacy's oldest daughter) and I... speaking of tender, Halee is most certainly a sweet reflection of her mother.
Don't worry. I'll write an angry blog really soon!
26 October 2008
The Men I Love...
One of my favorite faces on the news is Anderson Cooper. I try to watch his podcast everyday... The podcast is better than the show, because it is much shorter and therefore less repetitive. I can't wait to spend election night this year with my dear friend Anderson.
Mo Rocca 180 "Only half as tediuos as the regular news" is a favorite blog of mine and he is tied (with Paula Poundstone) as my favorite panel member on Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me. He makes me laugh really hard. I know that he can be a little crazy and little bit crude... but when I see him on Best of the 80s or watch him perform one of his useless surveys (like: Would you vote for a president with a lisp?) I can't help but wish that we hung out in real life.
David Pogue of the New York Times is most probably the nerd to end all nerds. He is everything I could hope for in a friend and journalist. He spends his days reviewing techy geeky things and putting it all into terms that I can understand. PLUS he makes really cheesy video blogs... yep! He is the complete package. He has a blog but normally I watch his video podcasts and you can catch him on CNBC as well.
25 October 2008
Chicken Run
My father and nephew are visiting my grandmother up in Northern California this week... so I have become the Mother Hen around this homestead. I've been up early feeding chickens and gathering eggs. The picture I'm posting is of our newest additions to the family. They are already bigger than this picture... by quite a bit! I am not going to lie, I'm getting emotionally attached. I dare you to hold one of them and not love them.... I double-dog dare you!Look out... I'm becoming a chicken lady. I'm never going to get married at this rate. ;)
24 October 2008
Happy United Nations Day!
The UN officially came into existence on the 24th of October, 1945 (63 years ago today!) upon ratification of the Charter of the United Nations by the five permanent members of the Security Council — France, the Republic of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States — and by a majority of the other 46 signatories. The first meetings of the General Assembly, with 51 nations represented, and the Security Council, took place in London in January 1946.
A thought to ponder on this day of reflection...
Humor has a way of bringing people together. It unites people. In fact, I'm rather serious when I suggest that someone should plant a few whoopee cushions in the United Nations.
-Ron Dentinger
So pull out those whoopee cushions and start celebrating!
A thought to ponder on this day of reflection...
Humor has a way of bringing people together. It unites people. In fact, I'm rather serious when I suggest that someone should plant a few whoopee cushions in the United Nations.
-Ron Dentinger
So pull out those whoopee cushions and start celebrating!
23 October 2008
Homesick
***This is a refurbished blog from when I was in South Korea. I started it quite a few times, but didn't ever get it to the point of postworthiness. (You like that? I make up my own words, because I can! English is an "open lexicon." I can do what I want, and if enough people start doing it too, then it becomes a recognized word. Take that!)***
Back to the blog...
I was getting homesick while being abroad and it was being triggered by the oddest things. I started collecting some pictures of the things that made me miss home.
Some things were obvious triggers. The local Starbucks...
For those of you that don't know, I worked at Starbucks for two years. Being in a Starbucks made me think of dear friends and great coffee dates. It brought back memories of Starbucks runs on road trips, working the morning rush, watching the sunrise over the Ross store in Solana Beach (We used to pretend that the Ross was really a majestic mountain... at 4am you'll believe almost anything.), and sharing illegal Frappuccino remnants with Erika and Jayma. I thought of my father's love of espresso and my mother's lack of love for whipped cream on her Frappuccino. (A note for all Starbucks employees: Don't even think about whipping my mom's frap!) While I hate to admit it, I love Starbucks. It has really become that "third place" in my life.... I fell for all of their marketing. I'm hooked. I drank the Kool-Aid... well I guess I drank the latte.
Shopping in Seoul, I ran into a HUGE home sickness trigger. Alisa and I saw our childhood heroes, the Blues Brothers. Growing up we used to watch the Blues Brothers every year for my sister Petra's birthday... starting at a very young age. We didn't find out until all of us girls were adults that the Blues Brothers is rated R! My parents had no idea. We had been unwittingly watching a rated R movie as a family for a decade! So seeing the boys I knew and loved in Seoul, brought a little bit of home back to me. [Here is Alisa showing off her dance moves. Don't judge. She has mad dancing skills!]
Even the subway terminals caused me to long for family... or, at the very least, Family Game Night! We have traditionally played Trivial Pursuit as a family since the days when Disney Trivial Pursuit was as cool as cool could be. Please try and tell me that this subway tile was NOT inspired by the fabulous Parker Brothers game!
I know! Right? Thanks to my detective work, you, dear reader, now know that the same architect designed the Seoul subway system AND the Trivial Pursuit cheese wheel.
You're welcome!
Now that I've been "home" for over a year and a half, there are some things that I miss about being in South Korea... but, those are for another blog.
Back to the blog...
I was getting homesick while being abroad and it was being triggered by the oddest things. I started collecting some pictures of the things that made me miss home.
Some things were obvious triggers. The local Starbucks...
For those of you that don't know, I worked at Starbucks for two years. Being in a Starbucks made me think of dear friends and great coffee dates. It brought back memories of Starbucks runs on road trips, working the morning rush, watching the sunrise over the Ross store in Solana Beach (We used to pretend that the Ross was really a majestic mountain... at 4am you'll believe almost anything.), and sharing illegal Frappuccino remnants with Erika and Jayma. I thought of my father's love of espresso and my mother's lack of love for whipped cream on her Frappuccino. (A note for all Starbucks employees: Don't even think about whipping my mom's frap!) While I hate to admit it, I love Starbucks. It has really become that "third place" in my life.... I fell for all of their marketing. I'm hooked. I drank the Kool-Aid... well I guess I drank the latte.
Shopping in Seoul, I ran into a HUGE home sickness trigger. Alisa and I saw our childhood heroes, the Blues Brothers. Growing up we used to watch the Blues Brothers every year for my sister Petra's birthday... starting at a very young age. We didn't find out until all of us girls were adults that the Blues Brothers is rated R! My parents had no idea. We had been unwittingly watching a rated R movie as a family for a decade! So seeing the boys I knew and loved in Seoul, brought a little bit of home back to me. [Here is Alisa showing off her dance moves. Don't judge. She has mad dancing skills!] 
Even the subway terminals caused me to long for family... or, at the very least, Family Game Night! We have traditionally played Trivial Pursuit as a family since the days when Disney Trivial Pursuit was as cool as cool could be. Please try and tell me that this subway tile was NOT inspired by the fabulous Parker Brothers game!
I know! Right? Thanks to my detective work, you, dear reader, now know that the same architect designed the Seoul subway system AND the Trivial Pursuit cheese wheel.You're welcome!
Now that I've been "home" for over a year and a half, there are some things that I miss about being in South Korea... but, those are for another blog.
22 October 2008
Palin...
I read an interesting op-ed by Peggy Noonan in last Friday's Wall Street Journal about Sarah Palin. I know that many of my dear readers (I think there are three people reading this blog.) don't share my political views, but I found that this article summarized my concerns pretty well. Please read it and feel free to start a political conversation with me or in the break room at work.
21 October 2008
She's My Person
I love Grey's Anatomy.... but why?
I love the show because I see myself in the characters. I see myself especially in Meredith and Cristina. I'm not sure that that's a sign of emotional health... it may, in fact, be a sign of the opposite, but nonetheless I love to watch. I love the rollercoaster, the tears, the laughter, the lust. I love the drama.
So I was recently catching up on my Grey's Anatomy...
and WOW!!!!
there was a three part "arc" (their wording, not mine) in the last season that is so intense. At one point the character Cristina is engaged and she can't believe it's real until she tells her friend Meredith. In fact, she gets all bent out of shape when her fiance tells other people about their engagement before she can tell Meredith... She tries to explain it to him:
"It's just that she's my person.....If I murdered someone, she's the person I'd call to help me drag the corpse across the living room floor...she's my person"
I totally get that. That scene spoke volumes to me, because I have my person. She is the one I call when I can't stop crying. She is the one I text when I can't stop laughing.
She's my wedding date. I know she's high class, right?
She the one I have the most serious conversations with.... this one was about the importance of having windshield wipers on your eyeglasses. If you don't have them, you are living dangerously!
She's my fellow iPhone addict! It's nice to have a girl to geek out with. We waited in line for hours for our phones... and were told that some guy would be lucky to have such a geeky wife. Of course, those were geeks telling us that. Hmmm, perhaps we were being proposed to...
She is the person who makes everything real as soon as I've shared it with her. So Lauren, know that you are loved... and if I murder someone expect a phone call on your fancy pants phone.
I love the show because I see myself in the characters. I see myself especially in Meredith and Cristina. I'm not sure that that's a sign of emotional health... it may, in fact, be a sign of the opposite, but nonetheless I love to watch. I love the rollercoaster, the tears, the laughter, the lust. I love the drama.
So I was recently catching up on my Grey's Anatomy...
and WOW!!!!
there was a three part "arc" (their wording, not mine) in the last season that is so intense. At one point the character Cristina is engaged and she can't believe it's real until she tells her friend Meredith. In fact, she gets all bent out of shape when her fiance tells other people about their engagement before she can tell Meredith... She tries to explain it to him:
"It's just that she's my person.....If I murdered someone, she's the person I'd call to help me drag the corpse across the living room floor...she's my person"
I totally get that. That scene spoke volumes to me, because I have my person. She is the one I call when I can't stop crying. She is the one I text when I can't stop laughing.
She's my wedding date. I know she's high class, right?
She the one I have the most serious conversations with.... this one was about the importance of having windshield wipers on your eyeglasses. If you don't have them, you are living dangerously!
She's my fellow iPhone addict! It's nice to have a girl to geek out with. We waited in line for hours for our phones... and were told that some guy would be lucky to have such a geeky wife. Of course, those were geeks telling us that. Hmmm, perhaps we were being proposed to...
She is the person who makes everything real as soon as I've shared it with her. So Lauren, know that you are loved... and if I murder someone expect a phone call on your fancy pants phone.
19 October 2008
My Biggest Fear
"A poll of 3,000 Americans found that for forty-one percent, the thing they're most afraid of is speaking before a group of people. Thirty-two percent stated they were most afraid of heights."
So the two biggest fears in America are public speaking and heights.
Weird... I'm not afraid of either of those things. I would gladly speak in front of people all day long... I love it actually. If I could find people to pay me for it, that would be my ideal profession. Melissa, professional public speaker... OR Melissa, professional heights experiencer. I enjoy the thrill of being up high. The higher the height, the better the view. ... in fact, if I could have a superpower it would totally be flying. Then I could get up really high and not have an airplane wing in the way of my view.
So if I'm not afraid of what normal people are afraid of, what makes me quake in my flip-flops? (I live in Southern California, so we don't wear boots enough to quake in them.)
Well dear reader, it's time for a true confession:
My biggest fear in life is mayonnaise. Yep... whipped egg yolks and vegetable oil. That's what haunts my dreams at night. I just think the stuff is creepy on like 100 different levels. The consistency.... the way it kind of clings to your throat. What if it slides into my throat and never leaves!?! That is possible! I could suffocate on mayonnaise! What a horrible way to die, with that nasty yellowish/whitish/colorless mixture blocking my access to life-giving oxygen. The taste is gross too. It makes me gag just thinking about it... give me a minute. Breathe in. Breathe out. hee hee whoo. Um... yeah I'm sweating at the thought.
So you can imagine how much more difficult life is as a leukolactocitriviniovacondimentophobian... I mean every potluck lunch has a potato salad, and when sandwiches are served at work the caterer brings a tub of mayonnaise to set next them... for nasty people to coat their poor defenseless breads and meats in. I have to face my fear at the very least three times a day! I don't live alone... I can't stop the rest of the world from storing that jar of death goob in their fridges. Don't even get me started on you freaks who eat it on french fries! Why would you ruin such a lovely food with the nastiest concoction on earth!??!?! WHY!?!? Oh, it makes me angry! My life is difficult, and I am tired of suffering in silence.
A side note:
-I have been advised to seek help at the Mayo Clinic... not funny and not helpful.
So the two biggest fears in America are public speaking and heights.
Weird... I'm not afraid of either of those things. I would gladly speak in front of people all day long... I love it actually. If I could find people to pay me for it, that would be my ideal profession. Melissa, professional public speaker... OR Melissa, professional heights experiencer. I enjoy the thrill of being up high. The higher the height, the better the view. ... in fact, if I could have a superpower it would totally be flying. Then I could get up really high and not have an airplane wing in the way of my view.
So if I'm not afraid of what normal people are afraid of, what makes me quake in my flip-flops? (I live in Southern California, so we don't wear boots enough to quake in them.)
Well dear reader, it's time for a true confession:
My biggest fear in life is mayonnaise. Yep... whipped egg yolks and vegetable oil. That's what haunts my dreams at night. I just think the stuff is creepy on like 100 different levels. The consistency.... the way it kind of clings to your throat. What if it slides into my throat and never leaves!?! That is possible! I could suffocate on mayonnaise! What a horrible way to die, with that nasty yellowish/whitish/colorless mixture blocking my access to life-giving oxygen. The taste is gross too. It makes me gag just thinking about it... give me a minute. Breathe in. Breathe out. hee hee whoo. Um... yeah I'm sweating at the thought.
So you can imagine how much more difficult life is as a leukolactocitriviniovacondimentophobian... I mean every potluck lunch has a potato salad, and when sandwiches are served at work the caterer brings a tub of mayonnaise to set next them... for nasty people to coat their poor defenseless breads and meats in. I have to face my fear at the very least three times a day! I don't live alone... I can't stop the rest of the world from storing that jar of death goob in their fridges. Don't even get me started on you freaks who eat it on french fries! Why would you ruin such a lovely food with the nastiest concoction on earth!??!?! WHY!?!? Oh, it makes me angry! My life is difficult, and I am tired of suffering in silence.
A side note:
-I have been advised to seek help at the Mayo Clinic... not funny and not helpful.
15 October 2008
Another one...
There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread. ~Mahatma Gandhi
I will write more about this one later...
It has me thinking!
I will write more about this one later...
It has me thinking!
Blog Action Day... my timing is impeccable
Ironically the day I choose to return to blogging is Blog Action Day! What are the odds? Now the pressure is on for me to write a blog about poverty (the theme for this year's blog action day).
I thought this was an interesting quote:
"You can't get rid of poverty by giving people money." ~P.J. O'Rourke, A Parliament of Whores
I would love to hear what people think.
I thought this was an interesting quote:
"You can't get rid of poverty by giving people money." ~P.J. O'Rourke, A Parliament of Whores
I would love to hear what people think.
Thankful
I know that it's a little early for a Thanksgiving blog, but since it's been ten months since I've posted I am hoping my "public" will offer me a little bit of grace. :)
This week I have been a little bit bored at work. The old Melissa would have planned another adventure and hightailed it out of this town to India, Costa Rica, etc. to numb the boredom, but today's Melissa has decided to just sit tight and be thankful for where I am and what I am doing. Our current economic state is not great. Many people are without jobs or a little nervous about how much longer their employer will be able to cover payroll. I am thankful to work for a company that has cash reserves to last quite awhile. I am thankful to sit at the best desk in the office and have a view of the golf course and, on the right day, of the ocean. I am thankful to look at the ocean and not a cubicle wall. I am thankful for the visitors outside of my window. Today it was a hummingbird, tomorrow who knows? I am thankful to have parents who support and love me. I am thankful for sisters who are freakin' fun! I am thankful that I have too many social events to keep straight. I will not complain about being busy, but be thankful that I have so many people to spend time with and love on.
I am thankful that a baby visited the office today, and that tonight I get to hang out with Jack Crash. Two babies in one day!?!??! My life is good!
This week I have been a little bit bored at work. The old Melissa would have planned another adventure and hightailed it out of this town to India, Costa Rica, etc. to numb the boredom, but today's Melissa has decided to just sit tight and be thankful for where I am and what I am doing. Our current economic state is not great. Many people are without jobs or a little nervous about how much longer their employer will be able to cover payroll. I am thankful to work for a company that has cash reserves to last quite awhile. I am thankful to sit at the best desk in the office and have a view of the golf course and, on the right day, of the ocean. I am thankful to look at the ocean and not a cubicle wall. I am thankful for the visitors outside of my window. Today it was a hummingbird, tomorrow who knows? I am thankful to have parents who support and love me. I am thankful for sisters who are freakin' fun! I am thankful that I have too many social events to keep straight. I will not complain about being busy, but be thankful that I have so many people to spend time with and love on.
I am thankful that a baby visited the office today, and that tonight I get to hang out with Jack Crash. Two babies in one day!?!??! My life is good!
25 January 2008
I've come to realize...
I've come to realize that, when I talk I sometimes forget which language I'm speaking... I also notice that I speak loudly, no way around it, it's who I am and what I do.
I've come to realize that, I love children and old people. I adore them both... I know it's kind of weird but. I love them. I love the way babies smell. I love how quickly toddlers learn. I love the kind eyes of older people. I love their stories and the particular way they like things... their eggs (poached), their hair (combover anyone?), etc.
I've come to realize that my true friends love to laugh. The best ones are the ones that laugh their heads off with you and cry their eyes out too.
I've come to realize that I've lost some of my sensitivity to lactose... ice cream anyone?
I've come to realize that I hate the television, it's stealing my soul... but really it's more of a love-hate relationship.
I've come to realize that marriage is an awful lot of hard work and something I better be damn sure about!!!
I've come to realize that I'll always be the proud owner of a ghetto-fabulous backside... Baby Got Back.
I've come to realize that the last time I truly cried was watching "PS I Love You"... in real life, when my aunt passed away... and any time I think about her.
I've come to realize that my cell phone is miraculously still working considering how many times I've dropped in on the ground (just today!) and how many times it's almost fallen out of the back pocket of my jeans and straight into the toilet bowl.
I've come to realize that when I wake up in the morning I IMMEDIATELY regret the hour I finally went to bed. Sleep is ALWAYS in the way of all the things I want to do.
I've come to realize that before I go to sleep at night I should lay out my clothes for the next day... I know it kills the spontineity, BUT it also allows for guaranteed clean socks and underwear.
I've come to realize that right now I am thinking about whether or not I remembered to lay out clean socks..
I've come to realize that today is only two hours old and that I could have spent those two hours sleeping, but then I would have missed out on a private concert and some good blogging time.
I've come to realize that tonight I will be a little groggy at our dinner party... but hey that's what caffeine is for. YEAH I'M AN ADDICT!!! Lay off me... I NEED IT!
I've come to realize that school is just around the corner... heeeellllloooooo graduate school!
I've come to realize that tomorrow has just begun!
I've come to realize that, I love children and old people. I adore them both... I know it's kind of weird but. I love them. I love the way babies smell. I love how quickly toddlers learn. I love the kind eyes of older people. I love their stories and the particular way they like things... their eggs (poached), their hair (combover anyone?), etc.
I've come to realize that my true friends love to laugh. The best ones are the ones that laugh their heads off with you and cry their eyes out too.
I've come to realize that I've lost some of my sensitivity to lactose... ice cream anyone?
I've come to realize that I hate the television, it's stealing my soul... but really it's more of a love-hate relationship.
I've come to realize that marriage is an awful lot of hard work and something I better be damn sure about!!!
I've come to realize that I'll always be the proud owner of a ghetto-fabulous backside... Baby Got Back.
I've come to realize that the last time I truly cried was watching "PS I Love You"... in real life, when my aunt passed away... and any time I think about her.
I've come to realize that my cell phone is miraculously still working considering how many times I've dropped in on the ground (just today!) and how many times it's almost fallen out of the back pocket of my jeans and straight into the toilet bowl.
I've come to realize that when I wake up in the morning I IMMEDIATELY regret the hour I finally went to bed. Sleep is ALWAYS in the way of all the things I want to do.
I've come to realize that before I go to sleep at night I should lay out my clothes for the next day... I know it kills the spontineity, BUT it also allows for guaranteed clean socks and underwear.
I've come to realize that right now I am thinking about whether or not I remembered to lay out clean socks..
I've come to realize that today is only two hours old and that I could have spent those two hours sleeping, but then I would have missed out on a private concert and some good blogging time.
I've come to realize that tonight I will be a little groggy at our dinner party... but hey that's what caffeine is for. YEAH I'M AN ADDICT!!! Lay off me... I NEED IT!
I've come to realize that school is just around the corner... heeeellllloooooo graduate school!
I've come to realize that tomorrow has just begun!
15 January 2008
Seattle with Robobin
I was able to spend this past weekend in Seattle with my precious friend Robin. I loved the city and, more importantly, I loved my time with her! Check out my photos and I will post video of Dance, Dance Revolution AND the deep-frying of Twinkies soon.
05 January 2008
Ecuador
Check this out!
So I have become obsessed with some Frontline videos that I have had on my computer for months and months... the latest one was about some doctors in Ecuador. They are doing incredible things... makes me want to go and help... I'm not sure my waitress training is in large demand in a health clinic though.
Here is the Foundation's website if anyone wants to learn more.
01 January 2008
The Play Pump - clean water and good clean fun!
This is one of the coolest things I've ever seen!!! Click here to read about it or watch the video.
I can't wait for World Cup 2010. I've already started my savings account. Everyone is invited to join my family and friends for MELISSA'S 30th BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA.
I can't wait for World Cup 2010. I've already started my savings account. Everyone is invited to join my family and friends for MELISSA'S 30th BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA.
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