Week 1

I know I just blogged on Saturday about all this but last Monday is when I started the changes in my life.

\A 5 pound weight loss this week.  Considering it was a holiday week, I feel pretty good about the loss.  Yesterday was the only day that I ate/drank cooked food before lunch.  Kev brought me a chai when he came over yesterday for stockings in the morning.  Steamed milk is not a raw food but hey, the chai was good and it was xmas. :)

I feel better although some of the things this body is doing while it releases toxins makes me very unhappy.  We'll just leave it at that.

I'm drinking my last soda today.  After this it's milk, freshly squeezed fruit juices, vegetable juices, and wonderful fabulous water.  

Yesterday was a great day.  Family, friends, food, and presents.  I enjoyed spending time with my dad and alternomomma.  At one point I looked around and took a few minutes to remember Christmases past.  Good times then and now.

This coming week is a big one for me.  I tend to jump off track the second week but with no counting, no writing, and one simple rule; I should be fine.

Thanks for listening to me.

That is all.

A Necessary Humiliation

Then and Now

The now, as of Monday, is  pounds at the doctor's office.  With clothes and shoes.  They get weird when you strip down apparently.

Why am I telling you this?  It's because the time for action has come, gone, and come around again.  I have been considering surgery.  I have found a co-signer for a medical loan to get a lap-sleeve.  With this surgery, I can save my life.  All I have to do is chop up my body.  From the very first time this was brought up, I have shied away from it.  Say it out loud and hear how it sounds to you, "All I have to do, is chop up my body".  Pretty scary, isn't it?

I have done this to myself.  I have done everything with food but kill myself and hey, if I keep this up, I'll do that too.  I will die if I do not heal myself.  Another scary thing that I have a hard time saying out loud.  This is not news to me.  However, this is the first time I've felt it to the very core of my being.  Blood Pressure: perfectly fine, a little low even.  Cholesterol:  perfectly fine, better than my doctor's.  Diabetes: nope.  I am disgustingly healthy for someone "my size".  Goddess how I hate those two words, "my size".  Like everything that is said has to add those two little words.  

I watched Food Matters on Monday, right after the scale at the doctor's office showed me that I had reached that forbidden, disgusting, and humiliating number.  I cried.  I cried for my mother, who didn't have to die.  I cried for my daughter, who doesn't have to be on medication.  I cried for me.  I cried because I don't have to die.  I cried because I might be able to keep my daughter from going through losing her mother way too early.  Like I did.  

Tuesday morning I began a transition that is already giving me new life. That I know will save my life.  I am slowly transitioning to a mostly raw food diet.  I've been having coconut milk and fruit smoothies for breakfast.  If I get hungry before lunch, I snack on fresh fruits, vegetables, raw nuts, or raw sunflower seeds.  Lunch and dinner are not raw foods exclusively but do include fresh fruits and vegetables.  Snacks are nuts, seeds, fruits or vegetables (raw of course) or an organic Clif bar if I feel the need for something cooked. 

This is my fifth day of a raw breakfast.  My energy is already increasing by leaps and bounds.  I'm already having a better quality of sleep, which is something I thought I would never have again.  I know I've lost weight and I feel amazing.  If I'm hungry, I eat something raw.  I don't deny myself eating because I know that what I'm eating is making me a better, healthier, and happier human being.

I will probably never stop eating cooked food entirely but I can tell you that I will eat a lot less of it in the future.  There are side effects as my body detoxes from the cooked food.  They'll go away eventually.  I can deal with the break outs because I know it's the toxins leaving my body.  I can feel the health that is rushing to replace those toxins and it feels amazing.

I have to blog about this.  I have to be honest with myself and the only way I can do that right now is to get it all out here.  I've lied to myself for far too long.  Here's hoping that you will help me with this journey and help me move towards a healthy me.

That is all.

Trimming The Trees

I get the pleasure of not only decorating our family tree every year, but getting to help decorate Becca's family tree.  So here is a mish mash of the decorating that occurred on Sunday and Monday.  All pictures of B's family tree were taken by the amazing Becca.  All pictures of my family tree are taken by my cell phone, I'm sure you'll notice the quality difference. 

Starting top left, going clockwise.  Shan won rock paper scissors and got to hang the first ornament (B's tree); My sister, Kim's friend Abby, Kim, and Kev posing in front of the decorated tree (S's tree); Getting the trees at Tom's U-Cut with Papa, Nana and Dave; the gang playing "the game" in front of the tree (yes, I encourage this horrible behavior);  Sean and Seth getting ornaments to hang; the Susan family tree; the Becca family tree from outside (looks wicked cool); Kim being held up by Abby to put the angel on our tree; Kim and Sarah picking ornaments to hang. 

These were two fabulous days with lots of fabulous people.

Happy Holidays everyone.  Whether you celebrate Yule, Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, nothing, or something I haven't heard of; have a safe and wonderful week.  May you be blessed with Peace and Love.

That is all.

Blog Awards

I was pretty excited when Cyn over at Misadventures of a Chunky Goddess gave me a shout out with the One Lovely Blog Award and the Tell Me About Yourself Award.  Both awards ask that you thank the person who gave you the award and pass it along to 15 other bloggers.  The Tell Me About Yourself Award also asks that I tell you 7 things that you might not know about me.

1. I have 2 tattoos.  One of Marvin the Martian as a tribute to a dead friend and a flower with my mothers initials in a runic alphabet above it.  My dad has the same tattoo on his arm.

2. I have a passion for 80's music.  A deep passion.  We're talking hair bands, pop, metal, all of it.

3. I was/am a Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel fan.  Yep.  It's true.  I harbor a previously secret crush on Anthony Stewart Head.

4. I kick ass on Wii's Michael Jackson Experience.  My Thriller score is 5 stars with a score of 11,315.  I'm so damn competitive that when anyone in the family or my best friends family beats my Thriller score, I work until I'm on top again.  

5. I was probably 14 before I realized that cranberry sauce didn't always come out of a can and that you probably shouldn't eat anything shaped like that.  Unfortunately I still prefer the canned junk but at least I eat the organic now...that makes it better, right?

6.  I'm scared of opossums.  Guhross!  Yucky.  I love hedgehogs though!  Yay hedgehogs.  Boo opossums.

Cute:

No possible way to make cute:  

I just want us all to be clear where I stand on the opossum issue.  

7.  Wow.  This is harder than it looks.  I love mint.  Mint Tea, Minty (inside joke), Grasshopper cookies, York peppermint patties, candy canes, Junior Mints, peppermint mochas or lattes, all of it.  The smell of mint makes me smile.  

Now that you know way more than you possibly wanted to know about me, here are the people that I am passing these awards on to.  Drop by their blogs and give them some love!

 Mommy Bags

If WTF Friday does not make you pee yourself laughing while making you mad, you're not reading it correctly!

Good Girl Gone Green

Steph rocks my world with her passion for this planet!

Crunchy Betty

Bought the book, think she's fab, and so inspiring!

Not Winning Mom of the Year

Well hell, neither am I!

I am baker

One word: NOM!

Letters to Mo

This is such a great idea and I love knowing that her son will read these some day.

A Day In The Wife

I just found this blog today.  I cannot stop laughing/commiserating with Julie, the wife.

Life With Four Crazy Kids

Great stories and adorable kids.

From Flab to Fab

and Ellen is fab!

I have to get some sleep.  Long weekend ahead!  Blessings and Peace,

That is all.

December

I love the holidays and I dislike the holidays.  I think that is pretty common for most people. 

I love the holidays because for many people, this is when they are thinking of others.  They go out of their way to be kind, to help others, and to give generously of their excess to those without.  I dislike the holidays because that should be a year round feeling.  You shouldn't wait until December to think of your fellow man.  Even if all you do is smile at five people a day, you have done something positive to help others.  December is a great time to give to Food Banks, but have you thought of July?  It's hot out and the kids are out of school.  There's not a lot of extra time.  So many people feel that way that Food Banks get desperate come summer time.  The good feelings of December are so far away so who really worries about it?  Homeless shelters serve people year round but they don't get a lot of attention in April.  By April you've transitioned to your spring clothes, shoved most of the winter clothes away until it gets cold again.  You're heaters are already off or about to be turned off.  You're starting to look at refreshing dinners instead of hearty dinners.  The people sleeping outside or in a shelter are still cold.  They are still hungry.

I love the holidays because they are full of people giving.  I dislike the holidays because they are full of greed.  Including mine.  Who doesn't like new shiny pretty stuff?  I sure do.  If it's got buttons and knobs and looks gadgety (totally a word people!) then I'm all for it.  I try not to get caught up in the wanting and the shopping but I can't help myself.  Then January comes around and we've got all this extra stuff that we don't need and really didn't want as badly as we thought we did.  Every year, I tell myself that we don't need to do this and every year, guilty.  As my daughter is getting older, I'm thinking of putting a one gift limit on the grandparents and then asking them to contribute to one of the shelters in the area in the spirit of life.  I'd like to turn to homemade gifts for the family and spend the rest of the money that I would have spent on useless stuff, on things that could help other human beings.

Am I the only one disgusted with our consumerism?  Our greed?  Our need of excess?

I know, enough preachy.  Who wants to be brought down, it's December.

On a good note, my daughter bought her best friend a holiday present that she knew she would love.  Today, in the car, she said "Mom, I'm so excited for Yuleakamas (Yule/Chanukah/Christmas; being in my family is confusing)."  I was scared to ask why, but I did.  "I can't wait to see Sarah's face when she opens her gift because she is going to be so happy".

These are the moments people.  The ones that make us proud.  The ones that bring a tear to the eye and joy to our hearts.  Knowing that we've done something right to bring these amazing people into the world.  Knowing that they will better the things that we have screwed up.

I think I love December after all.

That is all.

Irresponsibility

I'm sure I've blogged about it before and I know I'll blog about it again at some point.  I may at times ramble and be a bit off track, you should be used to that if you've read my blog before.

 

Irresponsibility pisses me off.  YOU are in charge of your life.  YOU make choices and those choices have consequences, good or bad.  Yes, occasionally things happen that are out of your control.  Do we need a definition of the word occasionally?  It is an adverb that means at infrequent or irregular intervals.  Not all the time.  Your action, or inaction, is almost always what causes things to happen, or not happen, in your life.  The world does not happen to you, you are responsible for what happens in your life.  Do you have to like it?  No, but you need to take responsibility for it.

 

I'm fat.  Do you know how I got fat?  God did it.  Just kidding!  I made bad choices and now I am physically paying that price.  

 

Look at that.  Responsibility accepted.  Now, I've accepted passive responsibility.  I need to do something about it.

The world is full of people either not taking responsibility or taking passive responsibility.  It needs people who take active responsibility.  What does that mean, active responsibility?  It means acknowledging your responsibility and doing something to fix the situation, make sure the situation doesn't happen again, or at the very least, doing something to make up for your part of the clusterfuck you have created.  Why do I assume that the situation isn't positive?  Do you really need to ask?  If the situation is a positive one, you rarely find people not accepting responsibility.

Let's look at the fat situation shall we?  Why did I gain weight?  I have a slow metabolism.  I'm inundated with pictures of food, usually not good for me, all the time through the media.  I didn't know that double double at In N Out was bad for me.  Fast forward two years and I've lost the equivalent of an average adult non-American male.  Look at what I did!  I worked hard and I lost all the weight.  It was all me.  I am amazing because I have triumphed over this horrible affliction.

I hope at this point somebody has slapped the snot out of me.  What a hypocrite!  Would I be awesome for losing that weight?  HELL YEAH!  What would be even better?   If I acknowledged why I was fat in the first place.  Bad choices=bad results.  Occasionally, bad choices=good results.  Hey, check out that word again.  Pretty cool how I did that.  *Please tell me you just rolled your eyes*

People love to point fingers at why things in this country and/or world are the way that they are.  It boils down to responsibility.  We expect people to fix the problems that exist but we won't even accept active responsibility for our own actions.  Saying that you accept responsibility and then doing the same thing again is not accepting responsibility.  It's telling people what they want to hear so they will shut up.  It's doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.  It's insanity. 

 

I don't care what you did or why.  I just want you to suck it up, acknowledge that for one shining moment you fucked up, and fix it.  That goes for me too!  Did you forget to tell your wife you were out of coffee filters and it's time for bed?  Here's what I want to hear. "I screwed up and forgot to tell you that we're out of coffee filters.  Here's how I'm going to fix it.  *insert appropriate way to deal with situation*.  Did you lose your license because you committed a misdemeanor hit and run?  Here's what I want to hear. "I made a bad choice.  I will take the bus/walk/ride a bike and not tell you how unfair it is that you can still drive".  Did you get fat because you ate shit that you knew was bad for you?  "I made myself fat.  It is not your fault and I will work to make myself healthier".  Did you promise to lower taxes than screw everyone who voted for you?  "I lied to you.  You have no reason to believe me again.  I will work to regain your trust and do what is right".  Did the person you voted for lie?  Do you not like what is going on in our political world?  Did you not vote?  "I will vote.  I will run for office.  I will find someone to run for office that I trust.  I will work to get the people elected that I think will make a difference.  I will protest the injustice of our economy".  

 

It's all about choices.

Own. Your. Shit.

The world will be a better place.

That is all.

The Second Coming of Socks

I rarely participate in Black Friday.  Once in a while, I will venture forth into the time between light and dark when the forces of evil have overtaken the whole consumerist world.  This was such a year.  The battle was epic and long, but I fought off my pillows and blanket to shut off my alarm clock.  I staggered out of bed and wondered, not for the first time, just when I had lost my damn mind.  Clothes, food, and most important of all at 4am, a cigarette.  Beth looking refreshed because for her, this is sleeping in.  (I know, right?)  I stumbled to the outside stairs to await Becca and inhale my blessed nicotine.  Off we go, the Dynamic Duo with our trusty sidekick, Tonto.  We arrive at Fred Meyer and inhale yet another courage lifter.  

We, being of slightly more sound mind than the rest of the shoppers, waited until the store opened and the surge of chaos had passed (or so I thought) to go inside.  I needed a few things to round out my holiday shopping.  With the exception of 3 small gifts and stocking stuffers, I'm done.  Yes,  you may hate me.  

I was amazed at the Super Shoppers leaving the store at 5:07am with a cart full of items.  7 minutes.  I almost bowed to them because that is incredible.  However, the logistics involved....well, let's move on shall we?  I'm smiling and taking deep breaths while trying to control my anxiety at going into a store for only the second time in three months.  As I rounded the corner, I saw him.  He was beautiful.  He took up a huge part of the apparel entrance to Fred's.  I couldn't believe his magnificence....I couldn't believe that he looked like 10 bins and 6 racks of socks.  I pictured him taller somehow.  More human-like but who am I to question the will of Him.  The people were worshiping at his altar.  Although, worshiping looked a lot like shoving, grabbing, and I'm pretty sure I saw hair-pulling.  I let everyone worship in their own way.  I don't judge.

Oh hell.  Now you know I'm lying.  I judge frequently.  Everyone does.  If you say you don't, now you're sitting in judgement and you're a freakin' liar to boot!  These people were I N S A N E!  I've never seen anything like it and I've watched Platoon, people!  They were socks.  I repeat, socks!  Not the second coming of Christ, an appearance by Barbara, or the Sea Hawks making the Super Bowl.  SOCKS!!!!!!!!!

Resume your normal life and check your socks carefully for any indication of holiness. 

That is all.

I Deserve

 

I deserve to be treated with respect.
I deserve to be acknowledged when I speak.
I deserve to be treated better than I have been.
I deserve to be loved.
I deserve to be trusted.
I deserve honesty.
I deserve truth.
I deserve a good life.
I deserve to be cherished.
I deserve to be appreciated.

 

I wrote this in August of 2008.  It's still true today.

Germs

Tis the season to be....no, not jolly, paranoid!  Yep, that's right, I'm a freak about germs.  If someone is coughing, my daughter and I are walking the other way and if they are sneezing, forget about it.  Yes, it could just be allergies.  If that's the case, I'll apologize from across the room.  

 

Why am I a bit obsessive and freaky about germs?  It all boils down to immune systems.  Some people have great ones and some people just don't.  My daughter had a great immune system until about 4 years ago.  

 

If the average person gets the common cold, it sucks.  They feel like crap, they're tired, and they have some mucus issues.  My daughter doesn't get the common cold.  She gets a cold which 90% of the time ends up with her having bronchitis.   She has to do nebulizer treatments and a lot of the times, ends up on steroids.  We spend a lot of time with B and her family.  Her oldest daughter has a worse immune system than Kim.  If she gets sick, it's always nebs, sinus rinses, hoping she doesn't need steroids but knowing she probably will, and usually antibiotics.  It's every 2 hours day and night, doing a 20 minute nebulizer.  It's listening to her lungs and deciding if they are getting better or worse, and occasionally, it's the hospital.  Fortunately, Becca has been trained to deal with almost everything that needs to be done so the hospital is rarely necessary anymore.

 

So yeah, I'm paranoid.  We're paranoid.  We can't put them in a bubble and we have to let them live their lives.  We can't make them so afraid of germs that they won't walk out the door.  (Although sometimes I wish we could).  What we can do is make them aware, ask people who are sick to go away, and keep the massive germophobe inside from sanitizing every single surface that another human being touches.  

 

You would not believe the rude and nasty things people have said to me.  So before judging me and calling me an overprotective, anally retentive, obsessive-compulsive freak; look at it from my point of view.    Just look at it from over there if you're sick please!

Happy Birthday Baby!

You take my breath away with the beauty of your soul

American Idiot

I do the pick up for my daughter and her two best friends for dance, which works because I can spend time with them on the drive home and find out how they are doing.  Last night, I pulled in to the parking lot, parked, and turned off my car.  It was 5:10pm and getting dark.  There were about 15 other people in their cars waiting for their kids.  I turned on my overhead light, pulled out my Kindle, and started reading.  After about 5 minutes, I turned off my Kindle and light.  I started to look around.  I started to listen.  I started to get mad which did have the bonus of keeping me warmer than I was.  15 other cars sitting and waiting for their young occupants.  13 of them with engines running, headlights on, and (I'm sure) heaters running.  What the fuck?  We're not talking about 2 minutes and the kids are running out to jump in either (although, they shouldn't even be idling that long).  We are talking about 10 to 20 minutes of idling.  10 to 20 minutes of wasting fuel.  Fuel made of oil.  Oil that keeps us in the middle of a selfish war.  10 to 20 minutes of heating the earth up just that much more.  10 to 20 minutes of pointless consumption for the sake of convenience.  Goddess forbid we should put on a fucking jacket and gloves to stay warm.  I'm not sure what stopped me from getting out of my car, knocking on each window, and explaining to these disgusting and lazy people just what the consequences of their actions are.  I think it was the fact that they probably don't care.  I'd say they probably didn't know, but unless you are a complete idiot, you have heard about the evils of idling.  Unless you're a completely self centered, clueless......oh wait!  I have a song for you!

 

I Miss You George Carlin

Warning:  Some may consider some of the language "foul".  So, if you're easily offended, what the hell are you doing here?

This is from George Carlin's last HBO special in 2008, four months before he died.

I miss his wit, his insight, and his ability to tell people the truth.

*All rights to this video belong to HBO*

Wahoo!

I won an awesome free soap at a giveaway over at Allyson's site My Wild and Crazy Life.  The pictures here don't do the products justice.  Please excuse the horrible cell phone pictures.  I really need to get a camera!

The soap, hand lotion, and candle are all made by Holly Benton over at The Bougie Bourgeoisie .  Her stuff is FANTASTIC!

Thanks Allyson and Holly!  I love love love my winnings!  They are absolutely awesome! :)

Peace and Love!

Teach Your Children Well

Teach your children well.

Beg them to be kind.

They'll be running shit,

When you're old, deaf, dumb, and blind.

It won't be long at all.

No, it won't be long at all.

~Everlast~

Friday

Are you ever just so damn glad it's Friday?  This week has felt absolutely mind bogglingly (yes, it's totally a word) long.  As I was finishing the first sentence, my best friend Susy just texted me that she was glad it was Friday.  Good to know it's not just me.  Tomorrow me other bestie, Becca, and I are off to watch Paranormal Activity 3.  YAY!  Sunday is picking pumpkins at Boxx Berry Farms and costumes at good old Value Village.  

Do you have your decorations up?   When are you getting your pumpkins?  Costumes?  

What are you doing for Halloween or Samhain?  Anything, nothing, something?

Have a good weekend all and start thinking spooky!

Peace and Love!

It's Complicated

No it's not.  It just isn't complicated.  You either are or are not.  I am so tired of this bullshit politically correct crap.  Man (or woman) up and be fucking honest with yourself.

In case you haven't figured it out yet, I'm talking about Facebook and relationship statuses.  Did you know that FB gives you 10 other options besides "It's complicated"?  I was astounded.  You have 10 options that describe just about every kind of place you can be in a relationship and you pick "It's complicated".  Still married but not living together?  It's called "Separated".  Are you living with someone and you're committed to each other but not married?  Hey!  Look! "In a domestic partnership".  Hell, they even have an option for "In an open relationship", which I think rocks out loud.

 

All right, they don't cover a few things.  Married but cheating?  Hmmm...  If you're doing it on FB you're probably not that bright anyway so why do you need an option?  (I'm not judging you if you're cheating, I'm just saying, if you're doing it on FB you won't be cheating long.  You'll be able to choose single, separated, or divorced soon.)

If you are in a relationship with a Yeti, I think you get to choose "It's complicated".  Yep, Yeti's are in now I hear.  I'm just going to assume if I see "It's complicated", that there is some big foot hairy love going on. 

I get it!  Life is fucking complicated.  Unless you live in a vacuum, it's complicated.  Very few things are straight forward but that's just the way it is.

 

Don't ask me why it bothers me but for some reason, it put a bug up my ass today.  I don't pretend to understand why something makes me happy or pisses me off, but hey, maybe it's just complicated. 

Saturday

For the last 2 1/2 years, Saturday has meant school work.  I start out making sure I have everything done and then inevitably realize that I did not do enough during the week.  Then, I panic and think "How on earth am I going to get all of this done?  I don't want to ignore my kid, I'm a bad mom".  Next, I realize that Saturday is Dave's day off.  "Dave, It's Saturday and I have homework.  You need to spend the day with Kimmie.  It's your only real time with her so find something to do with her that doesn't involve sitting 50 feet away from me doing homework and watching TV or arguing".  For the next 3 to 9 hours, I grump at everyone in that 50 foot range (please remember that in Step 3, I have asked them to find something to do outside of that range) and feel like the world is going to end if I don't finish whatever it is that I have to do.  Step 5 usually involves a cigarette and wondering why I don't drink more.  Step 6 is finishing all my work and feeling massively accomplished, while still feeling guilt about waiting until Saturday.  Step 7?  Vow to do more during the week.  

The next 12 Saturdays are going to be strange until I start school again.  I'll learn to adjust.  It's a rough job, but somebody has to take a break from school.

Congratulations Chris M!

Entry #7, Chris M. was the winner of the $5 Amazon.com Gift Card!

Congratulations and let us know what you use it for if you want Chris!

We'll be doing another giveaway in a few weeks!

HAPPY 1st ANNIVERSARY HAPPY HIPPIE HEART!

This is the wind turbine that started it all!

Today is the first anniversary of Happy Hippie Heart!

This year has brought us love and joy, heartache and pain, but most of all Peace.  

We are better people for taking time every day to find what makes us happy.

Happy Anniversary HHH!

Please take time every day to love your life!

New Peeve

Most people look at a cow and they think "Hamburgers, Steaks, and Jackets, Oh My"!  I look at a cow and think "Awww...s/he is so cute!".  This is something I've become used to.  I used to think of cows in terms of food and clothing as well.  I try not to judge people because I don't want people judging me.  

I read this blog that I've enjoyed in the past despite the Go God message and the meat filled recipes.  I just ignore those.  It works for me.  Today she was posting all about the animal rights groups she supports like the Humane Society, ASPCA, and the Animal Rescue Site; there were more but you get my drift.  She "loves" animals.  She was very proud of herself and her "bleeding heart liberal" attitude.  Her words, not mine.  One could go so far as to say she was self-righteous about the whole thing.  It kind of pissed me off to be honest with you.  

Guess what!  

Ground beef and steak come from a cow.  Cow=animal.

Chicken products all come from chicken.  Chicken=animal.

Pork steak, sausage, bacon, pork chops all comes from pigs.  Pigs=animal.

Shall I go on?  Just because the "norm" isn't domesticating cows, chickens, pigs, ducks, geese, pheasant, and all those other animals that don't cavort in your front yard, doesn't mean that they aren't animals.

If you eat meat, that's your choice.  I'm not going to give you the lecture about environmental destruction due to factory farming, the cruelty that is perpetrated on these animals, or the health issues that arise from eating meat.  You're a big boy/girl and you can make that decision for yourself.  But let's be honest here.  If you eat meat, can you really say that you are an animal lover?  Perhaps you are a domesticated animal lover, or merely a dog and a cat lover, or even a ferret lover; but here's some news: You are not an animal lover.  You are a selective animal lover.  

 

Resume your normal life.  Thanks for letting me bitch.

 

Be sure to check out my first giveaway  here!

 

 

 

Local Food In Action Photo Contest

These are one of my best friend's kids!  

Cute, aren't they?

They are eating local, fabulous Mallard's ice cream that is sooooo

Tasty!

Please vote for them by going here and clicking like on their picture!

Then, please share it with all your friends!

My First Giveaway!

You can win $5 for Amazon.com towards your holiday shopping. I hate to be the one to tell you that it's on the way, but there it is!

Happy Birthday Becca!

Today is the day we celebrate the birth of Becca.

First of all, it's super hard to find pictures of the woman who takes all the pictures so this collage took me a while. :)

There is no way to explain Becca.  She is funny, beautiful, warm, compassionate, sarcastic, smart, strong, loyal, and fun; but all those words don't even come close to describing her.

She is an amazing mother, wife, friend, teacher, chef (yes chef Becca, you are so far beyond a cook so quit grumbling.  This is my post!), photographer, hippie, and human being.

I thank the universe every day for bringing her into my life.  

Happy Birthday baby!  Please know how much you are loved and valued. 

Click right here to go to My First Giveaway!

What You Get From Me

Click right here to go to My First Giveaway!

Eckeltricity!!

I bet Mr. Weasley would have been excited too!

Click right here to go to My First Giveaway!

The First Giveaway!

I'm going to do my first giveaway.  Have fun, tell people about 75% Hippie, and hopefully you'll win a $5 Amazon.com gift card!

Please pass this along in your social media, through email, or however you would like!

Tune In Tomorrow

Tune in tomorrow for my first giveaway!

The Weekend

It's the weekend.  Two more weeks of school left.  It's been a long long haul but I'm almost there.  I have no idea what I'm going to do without Saturday School Work Day.  Okay, I'll clean my house, let's be real.  My daughter will be much happier without the dreaded Mommy Homework.

I'm going to take my well deserved six months off, during which time I'm going to have my weight loss surgery.  I've reached the point where physically, I cannot take this anymore.  It's drastic but necessary, unfortunately.

  Things have been stressful for the past few weeks here in the house.  There are days when I feel like just moving out with my daughter and being done with all this.  I am so sick of drama.  Can't people just chain up their drama llamas and live a normal life?  I understand that shit happens but must we wallow in it?  I just put on my hip waders and work around it.  I can't let it affect me or the kiddo anymore than it already does.  At the end of it all, it's us and that is a great combination. 

Thank the Goddess for my amazing, smart, beautiful, funny, sarcastic, and witty child.

JABBERWOCKY

Lewis Carroll

(from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872)   
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
  Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
  And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
  The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
  The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
  Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
  And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
  The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
  And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
  The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
  He went galumphing back.

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
  Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
  He chortled in his joy.


`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
  Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
  And the mome raths outgrabe. 

 

Maybe it's weird to be inspired by somebody so clearly on drugs but hey, that works for me.  This poem moves me for some reason.  I've always loved it, then after seeing Tim Burton's version of Alice In Wonderland, I loved it even more.  Tim Burton is amazing and the masterpieces he creates really speak to the depths of my soul.  They are haunting.  I dig that.

Peace is Patriotic

The most patriotic thing you can do is to speak out for peace.

We have a responsibility to the people in this world to be an example.

Let Peace Reign!

Happy Peace Day!

Circle the World What if we could circle the world Flying peace doves beneath the sun Giant twenty foot wings of fabric That are hand made by everyone Once a year we circle the world Saying ain’t it time to bury the guns Our time has come and we have begun To Circle the World It’s a dream and it’s a vision It’s a prayer that we may see When every person, every creature Will be treated with dignity When every war will be a memory We shall never shall repeat Our time has come and we have begun To Circle the World ~Dana Lyons~ Circle the World by Dana Lyons Copyright 2004 Lyons Brothers Music BMI www.cowswithguns.com

http://www.cowswithguns.com/lyrics2/lyrics_for_public/circle.html

f5b3a292-26e6-453c-bc0f-815e813b6bd7

Dory's Philosophy

Gotta love Dory.

Just keep swimming!

Twinning

Becca and I take turns doing Happy Hippie Heart.  Yesterday was my turn and I posted a picture of three of our kids reading and a quote about reading and TV.  I get this phone call from Becca who is cracking up.  She just finished telling her husband and kids that when the movie was over, the TV was going off for the day and they could use their imaginations.  She sat down, checked to see if I had the blog done, and there we were, in each others heads again. 

I do this with my close friends, we can't help it.  We end up sharing brains.  Sometimes I feel bad for them, other times I think "Ha!  That's what you get for being friends with me!"

See, no good deed goes unpunished after all.  To see the amazing mind linked post you can click here. 

Have an awesome week!  Remember that you choose your path, you choose your reactions, and nobody can make you feel bad unless you let them!

Down

I just feel down today.

Stephen King Is Wise

I read Twilight.  I was excited to read Twilight.  The vampires sparkled.  Really?  Bella whined and bitched.  A lot.  It was like living at my house or something.  Did I momentarily enjoy them?  Yep.  Would I re-read them?  The answer to that question is a question:  Have all the other books been destroyed in some horrid accident?

Thanks Becca for sending me this.  You truly know how to make me smile.  I think I'm off to re-read the Harry Potter series now.

Have a great Saturday everyone!

Lightening It Up For Friday

It's amazing how we don't need alcohol to be this awesome.

Life Insurance

I always thought life insurance was for old people.  

I'm applying for a medical loan with a co-signer and to keep them as free from the responsibility of paying back that loan, I applied for life insurance.  Weird.  

Then I started thinking about how my family would pay expenses of my death if something unfortunate were to happen.  I mean, you'd think I'd be safe and all having already been hit by the bus that everyone seems to use as an example, but you never know.  Despite my weight, I'm in excellent health.  My blood pressure and cholesterol are great, etc. etc. etc.  I don't need life insurance.  Then I think of my mom dying.  I think of looking at the cost of everything and thinking "How in the hell are we going to pay for this"?  Then thinking "How can I think of that right now"?  I think of the payments that the funeral home let us make because Westford's is amazing.  

I don't want my family to ever go through that.  I don't want Kim to ever go through that.  So, I applied for life insurance.  

Let's hope I don't need it for about 65 years, okay?

Fear

I have social anxiety.  I don't normally tell people this and many people who know me would be surprised.  Especially those of you who knew me back in the day.  I didn't used to be like this.  I didn't used to dread going to the grocery store.  I'd say I didn't used to dread going to the mall, but once I hit about 25, disliking the mall had nothing to do with anxiety.  I didn't dread going to the fair, a parade, or even to a friends party. 

I don't know exactly when it started because it manifested physically.  I just thought I was getting sick a lot.  It took years to figure it out.  In fact, it wasn't until we had been in California for a year that a doctor thought to ask some questions about depression.  Another year and half of the same things going on and my fabulous doctor here in Bellingham figured it out and put me on an anti-anxiety drug.  Finally, some relief.  However, that relief came at a price.  I was a personality zombie.  Finally, after about six months, my friends and family came to me and said "We want you to be okay but you aren't you anymore at all".  My daughter felt like she didn't have a mother.  That broke my heart.  Goodbye pills, not so welcome back anxiety.

It's been three years since I stopped taking the zombification drugs.  My anxiety sucks but somehow, we make it work.  I push myself in some ways and have lost ground in other ways.  Every day is a battle and every day that I walk out my front door, I win. 

I win.

Still the Best Oscar Acceptance Speech Ever!

Michael Moore - oscar speech by Pzychofreak

Here is an excerpt from Michael Moore's new book that comes out today.  I know that I will be buying it and I encourage you to do the same.  You can read more at the World Peace Journal.

"Why was I still alive? For more than a year there had been threats, intimidation, harassment and even assaults in broad daylight. It was the first year of the Iraq war, and I was told by a top security expert (who is often used by the federal government for assassination prevention) that "there is no one in America other than President Bush who is in more danger than you".*

It makes me sad what we, as humans, do with the truth.  Most people run from it, bury it, or even destroy it but so few tell it.  Those brave few who tell it are usually ostracized, threatened, and yes even hurt or killed.  The truth is hard and sometimes ugly.  The truth is painful and can be something to fear.  It's also necessary and must be told!

"If we give in to the terrorists, the terrorists win."

~George W. Bush

Thank you Michael Moore for not letting the terrorists win! 

*Extracted from Here Comes Trouble: Stories From My Life by Michael Moore.