We went to see the movie Clerks II tonight. The first Clerks was a blast. The dialog was superb. The actors new and fresh. When a sequel comes out, I assume it will bomb as the ride-the-coat-tails of its successful predecessor movie it is supposed to be. I understand the movie making business' need to capitalize on what works so they can make more money. But of course, the first Clerks movie was a surprise cult film and it's been more than 10 years since its presentation to the world. So I wondered how will this classic be ruined with a follow-up film? How can Kevin Smith even come close to the genius that is Clerks?
The movies that followed were surprisingly just as great as Clerks. The trilogy is completed with Mall Rats and Chasing Amy. Although the home-grown feeling is gone and the Kevin goes to Hollywood sense is present, he still comes through smashingly. How can things get any better than that? Then along comes Clerks II.
Clerks II is the story of Dante and Randal 10 years later. They show up at the Quickstop to find it burning to the ground. Randal is so into his routine that he walks into the burning store and doesn't even notice it's on fire until a firefighter escorts him out by the arm. So from the very beginning you get the feeling of how instilled their routine had become. So they take jobs at Mooby's, a fictional fast food joint where they meet Elias, a young virgin boy who becomes the brunt of all their frustrations. This kid is great. I am certain we will see him in more movies.
The movie takes place in a single day as Dante is preparing to depart his Jersey life to be leashed around by his gorgeous and overbearing fiancée, soon-to-be wife. She has a new life all prepared and paid for by her parents that includes a new home and a new job for Dante working for her father at a car wash. They leave for Florida in the morning. The dialog between the characters is as good as it gets. Randal's usual misguided judgment makes for fun scenes and conflict between the characters. Jay and Silent Bob complete the film with their usual dope peddling antics and ability to prove how truly uninformed they are. Although Randal's half-truths and ability to mix facts and twist them into strange tales like mixing up Helen Keller and Anne Frank puts him at the top of the idiot pile in the most delightful and entertaining way. Of course he comes through with words of wisdom and his character is solid in his commitment as a loyal friend. In the end all is worked out in the most pleasant turn of events. I was prepared for an ending that says, I don’t care what you think of this movie, instead I got a well-thought out, well written ending that rounds out the these boys characters in the most interesting way. Yes, it is a happy ending for all, but it wasn’t the kind of ending that I would call typical.
I loved the movie and will be happy to add it to my collection when it comes out on DVD. Hopefully that won’t be for a while, Kevin Smith deserves to capitalize on this one.
I wrote this article for the Milwaukee HOG Chapter newsletter to help promote the JDRF 2006 Zoo Walk. The HOG chapter rides from the House of Harley to the Zoo then does the walk....
JDRF and the ride to the Zoo
Two years ago, our chapter director, Mike Casper learned of our daughter Bailee’s struggle with Type 1 diabetes. We explained to him that although she is now 25 years old, we’ve struggled as a family to cope with her disease since she was diagnosed at age 9. The struggle doesn’t only come from dealing with checking blood sugar 5 to 6 times a day (the infamous finger pokes), 4 insulin shots per day, and monitoring what she eats, but there are other factors to consider such as how the insulin reacts when she exercises too much or what happens when she is ill. Her last real bout of trouble came when new, more powerful forms of insulin were introduced and the struggle with having to learn how to adjust the dosage necessary to keep her healthy with these better drugs. Once we had that down through doctor consultations and nutritional counseling sessions, she was well on her way to successfully managing her disease. The part people don’t talk much about is the expense. Between endocrinologist visits, lab work, dieticians, blood glucose monitoring devices, chemstrips, lancets, syringes, and insulin, the out of pocket costs even when you have great health insurance can be high. We also have an on-going relationship with our local paramedics for the 911 calls we’ve had to make when her blood sugar get so low we’ve lost control of the disease. Low blood sugar causes a comatose-like condition and the paramedics would come and insert an IV of glucose to bring her back. It always makes me wonder if she would ever be able to live on her own, I hope that day never comes because as a mother, I would worry too much to ever get any sleep. After telling Mike how passionate we were about finding a cure for this disease (as he politely listened to our long drawn out story about Bailee) and how interested I was in the hopes that stem cell research could provide for people like her, he explained the chapter’s dedication to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). My husband, Jeff and I told Mike we would be happy to help. Mike had this wonderfully nice idea to make Bailee the honorary lead in the bike ride to the zoo during the chapter’s first year of involvement in the JDRF cause. So Jeff and Bailee rode up front as the lead with the other 13 bikes following behind. When they got to the zoo they were greeted by the rest of our family, who planned on being there for Bailee all along. The bike ride really made our whole family feel special.
That was two years ago. Last year things were a little different. Mike asked Bailee to come back as the honorary lead in the parade, but this time there were more bikes! A lot more bikes! And the HOG chapter paid for a space in the zoo and gave out motorcycle stickers and stamped the hands and arms of the kids with motorcycle-related images. It was a funny contrast between the cute little kids in strollers and wagons and the HOG chapter members in black leather jackets. The HOG table was definitely a popular stop for the kids – it was a real hit! 
Bailee & Mike at the Zoo
If you did the JDRF event last year, you already know how satisfying it is to donate to such a great cause and enjoy the day at the zoo. If you didn’t I would like to personally invite and encourage you to join in the fun. The zoo is gorgeous in fall. The date is Sunday, September 24th. Meet at the House of Harley at 8:30 am for registration. The minimum tax-deductible donation of $25 is appreciated but for $150 or more, you will be entered in a drawing for a Midwest Airlines vacation for 4. It would be really cool to see the number of bikes grow even larger than last year. Trust me; you won’t regret it and families like mine appreciate it more than you will ever know.
Kathy
“Never be afraid to do something new. Remember, amateurs built the Ark; professionals built the Titanic.”
This morning we decided to join the Lombardi Ride from the House of Harley to Lambeau Field. For a $50 donation per person, you got a tour of Lambeau, lunch, and a little party in the Lambeau parking lot. Not to mention the pin and bandanna that is standard at most motorcycle events. So we packed our jackets, sunscreen, rainsuits (just for good measure) and a few bottles of water and headed out.
As we waited for the ride to begin, we chatted with fellow Milwaukee HOG chapter members. I was surprised that almost none were going on this ride. With more than 250 bikes lined up, almost all were not part of our chapter. Most chapter members were part of the volunteer troupe, taking in the paperwork and donations in order to attend and some were already in Green Bay to prepare for the lunch and attend to parking all the bikes in an orderly fashion as we arrive in the parking lot.
As we waited for the ride to begin, we saw Gilbert Brown chatting with John Schaller, the owner of House of Harley. As they finished their conversation and got ready to speak to the group we took the opportunity to ask to meet Mr. Brown. He allowed us to take a picture. He was soft-spoken and not as large as I had imagined he would be in person.
As we waited for the ride to begin, we chatted with fellow Milwaukee HOG chapter members. I was surprised that almost none were going on this ride. With more than 250 bikes lined up, almost all were not part of our chapter. Most chapter members were part of the volunteer troupe, taking in the paperwork and donations in order to attend and some were already in Green Bay to prepare for the lunch and attend to parking all the bikes in an orderly fashion as we arrive in the parking lot.
As we waited for the ride to begin, we saw Gilbert Brown chatting with John Schaller, the owner of House of Harley. As they finished their conversation and got ready to speak to the group we took the opportunity to ask to meet Mr. Brown. He allowed us to take a picture. He was soft-spoken and not as large as I had imagined he would be in person.
Surprisingly this was not the highlight of our day. The tour of Lambeau was wonderful. We got to see Paul Hornung's Heisman Trophy and touch the grass on the field. Walking through the tunnel where the players come onto the field was also a thrill. I wasn't all that impressed with the luxury boxes though, sitting in the stands seems like a better option to me. Not that I will ever get the opportunity to compare.
We ended our short stay in Green Bay with dinner at Curly's on the second floor of the stadium and rode back home by taking Highway 32 & 57. It was a gorgeous ride on a beautiful day.
George Bush used his veto power the first time since he took office. It's a sad day. Will these people ever get their facts right? "This bill would support the taking of innocent human life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others," Bush said Wednesday afternoon. When will someone tell him that embryonic stem cells come from the same frozen embryoes that get thrown away. Duh. What does he thinks happens to unused frozen embryoes? Does he think they stay stored forever? Maybe he should start prosecuting women who let their embryoes go without fertilization when they get their period too. What a moron. And such a loss to science where progress is being made everyday to help cure diabetes, MS, heart disease, and so much more. I am so disgusted.
As Bushyfest weekend approaches I’m reminded of many past festivals I’ve attended with my girlfriends. We’ve had many good times together. Between Bushyfest, Mattyfest, various church festivals and events like Lionsfest, we’ve danced and partied our way following the popular local bands in the area.
The group usually includes Carol, Jeannette, Stephanie, Cindy, and I. Others who join us on occasion include Stacey, Cheryl, and some of Carol’s friends from Muskego, most whose names have escaped me except for Therese. The only thing about this group is that I’m the odd man out. All are single. Most due to divorce except Stacey and Cheryl. Those two fall into the never been married single category. By powers of deduction, I’m obviously the only married one in the group. It took me a long time to realize that I shouldn’t have been there even though I thought I belonged.
I didn’t recognize it at the time, I never saw the signs. We would go out dancing and drinking. I loved getting together with the girls. I even liked the flirtation with strange men and the idea that I was attractive enough to gain their attention, although it was all superficial and non-threatening. A boost to the ego is a good thing every once in a while. And what’s the big deal about a little dancing to wear off the beer? It was all harmless fun. At least it was harmless to me.
Apparently the single girls didn’t think of it the way I did. They appeared dressed in their best ass-fitting jeans. Make-up was a little heavier than most days and tops were a little tighter/shorter/low-cut /skimpy/see-through (mix and/or match any). They also enjoyed the attention of our male counterparts but apparently they understood the little game we played differently than I did.
Sometimes they actually took offense when I got attention. I didn’t understand why, it was all harmless fun. Lord knows, I certainly wasn’t interested in anything but the dancing and drinking.
The last time we all went out I was horrified. It hit me like a ton of bricks. They all looked alike. I swear they all had on blue jeans, black boots, black top, and black belt. Every single one of them! And it was as if it’s tattooed on their foreheads in size 32 font……DESPERATE. It was like a divorcee uniform.
All I could think of is how ashamed I was to feel this way. And at the same time it really did make sense. They were all alone, some raising children by themselves. They were wishing they had what I had. And I didn’t really understand what they thought I had that was so important until that moment; the companionship, comfort, and reliability of a man in my life that would be there forever. I know love, passion, sex, and money are important but I didn’t see the whole picture. I was going home to a place where I am never lonely, someone is always there waiting, and I never have to feel alone.
Still, they looked so silly, all dressed exactly alike. I found myself embarrassed. I was wearing a mini skirt and pink top so I didn’t look like them but all of a sudden I did feel uncomfortable and out of place. I didn’t want the label of desperately seeking a man, all I wanted was the attention that allowed me to feel like I still had something to offer. My ridiculous need for self-affirmation through others all of a sudden felt as empty and hollow as it truly is. But I did enjoy being out with my girlfriends and that was the truth no matter what.
Note: I’ve never been back to those fests since. My feelings have been affirmed as some of my girlfriends enter into relationships and stop going to the fests with the group. But every time I see a group of women out together I count the divorcee uniforms in the group and I assure you they are always there. And I will throw away the postcard I got in the mail inviting me to this year’s Bushyfest since I won't be attending.
The group usually includes Carol, Jeannette, Stephanie, Cindy, and I. Others who join us on occasion include Stacey, Cheryl, and some of Carol’s friends from Muskego, most whose names have escaped me except for Therese. The only thing about this group is that I’m the odd man out. All are single. Most due to divorce except Stacey and Cheryl. Those two fall into the never been married single category. By powers of deduction, I’m obviously the only married one in the group. It took me a long time to realize that I shouldn’t have been there even though I thought I belonged.
I didn’t recognize it at the time, I never saw the signs. We would go out dancing and drinking. I loved getting together with the girls. I even liked the flirtation with strange men and the idea that I was attractive enough to gain their attention, although it was all superficial and non-threatening. A boost to the ego is a good thing every once in a while. And what’s the big deal about a little dancing to wear off the beer? It was all harmless fun. At least it was harmless to me.
Apparently the single girls didn’t think of it the way I did. They appeared dressed in their best ass-fitting jeans. Make-up was a little heavier than most days and tops were a little tighter/shorter/low-cut /skimpy/see-through (mix and/or match any). They also enjoyed the attention of our male counterparts but apparently they understood the little game we played differently than I did.
Sometimes they actually took offense when I got attention. I didn’t understand why, it was all harmless fun. Lord knows, I certainly wasn’t interested in anything but the dancing and drinking.
The last time we all went out I was horrified. It hit me like a ton of bricks. They all looked alike. I swear they all had on blue jeans, black boots, black top, and black belt. Every single one of them! And it was as if it’s tattooed on their foreheads in size 32 font……DESPERATE. It was like a divorcee uniform.
All I could think of is how ashamed I was to feel this way. And at the same time it really did make sense. They were all alone, some raising children by themselves. They were wishing they had what I had. And I didn’t really understand what they thought I had that was so important until that moment; the companionship, comfort, and reliability of a man in my life that would be there forever. I know love, passion, sex, and money are important but I didn’t see the whole picture. I was going home to a place where I am never lonely, someone is always there waiting, and I never have to feel alone.
Still, they looked so silly, all dressed exactly alike. I found myself embarrassed. I was wearing a mini skirt and pink top so I didn’t look like them but all of a sudden I did feel uncomfortable and out of place. I didn’t want the label of desperately seeking a man, all I wanted was the attention that allowed me to feel like I still had something to offer. My ridiculous need for self-affirmation through others all of a sudden felt as empty and hollow as it truly is. But I did enjoy being out with my girlfriends and that was the truth no matter what.
Note: I’ve never been back to those fests since. My feelings have been affirmed as some of my girlfriends enter into relationships and stop going to the fests with the group. But every time I see a group of women out together I count the divorcee uniforms in the group and I assure you they are always there. And I will throw away the postcard I got in the mail inviting me to this year’s Bushyfest since I won't be attending.
I wrote this in May, 2003. It was a narrative essay for an English Composition class. Every once in a while I have to remind myself of my journey. By the way, I got an A on the paper...
I woke up one morning with a sense of dread that I had never felt before. Usually I was eager to get my day going. I loved my job, the people I worked with were also my close friends, my home life was complete, with all my children grown, happy, and successful, so why was I so miserable? The company I worked for announced that we would be out of a job within a year, but I thought of that as a blessing, a passage in life, and a reason to develop and be challenged after my comfort level from 20 years at the same place. I was looking forward to extended time off with severance pay, lots of free time, and many ideas on how to fill it. I loved everything about my life except one thing; I was overweight.
With this mood wearing me down, I decided to get a physical. Hoping for a miracle cure, my doctor tells me that I an anemic and prescribes iron and a healthier diet, protein and green vegetables being the key to making me feel better. He also tells me that I have high blood pressure and considering that my mother had a stroke, I should exercise to help lower my blood pressure. So now instead of looking forward to my new future, I feel out of control. With my kids not needing me, my impending job loss, and my poor health, I was feeling hopeless. After a week of self-loathing for not taking better care of myself, I decided that if I couldn’t control the changing world around me, I could control my own body, my little internal world. So after much research, I decided to take on the Atkins diet. It had everything I needed, high protein for the anemia and quick results for someone as overweight as I was. I bought the Dr Atkins Diet Revolution book and all the required vitamins, following the advice of my doctor along the way.
The Atkins diet is a low-carbohydrate diet, high in protein. The theory is that sugars created by carbohydrates in your body produce energy that you need during the day. If you do not use them up they turn into fat stores in your body. If you stop the intake of carbohydrates, you will use up the fat stores for the energy that you need. The protein you eat is used for energy also as it replenishes your muscles for maximum benefits. Even though it seemed weird to be eating only meats, green vegetables, eggs and cheese, the diet made sense to me and with some creative cooking skill and the short list of foods that were allowed, I could make it work.
The first month was great. I lost 9 pounds the first week and at the end of the first month, I was 23 pounds lighter. My pants were loose, but so was my skin. I could see those gelatinous skin folds forming under my arms, like a turkey’s waddle when they turn their heads. It felt wonderful to be lighter but I didn’t like the way my skin was fitting. I joined a gym called Curves for Women. Their gimmick is a 30-minute workout for women on the go. I liked it because the routine was something that you didn’t have to figure out, you just went around all the pieces of equipment in 90-second increments, like playing musical chairs and landing on the spot next to you. It was enjoyable, in a non-intimidating atmosphere, no body-builders, no gym experts, just novices like me which was comfortable and fun.
The second and third months went by quickly. I was in a routine where I was eating eggs for breakfast, a chef’s salad for lunch, and meat and a green vegetable for supper every day. The diet did not allow sugar, which I didn’t mind because a special treat for me was coffee with cream. And cream is ok because there are no carbs in it but coffee was limited because of the caffeine. So I treated myself to a Starbucks during break time once in a while. It was a real treat for me. By the end of that third month I had lost another 35 pounds. I was still wearing my size 18 jeans, which were falling off. I altered them twice around the waist, but it was time to go buy a different pair.
Going to the store for new jeans was terrifying for me. I wanted to be thin but I felt like my new smaller body was just a dream and if I shopped for new jeans I would find out I really wasn’t any better off after all. So I grabbed a pair of size 14’s and 12’s then at the very last moment I went back and grabbed the size 10’s too. I was cautiously optimistic but reality told me to start with the 14’s. I should be happy if I can wear a size 14. Once inside the dressing room, I decided to throw caution to the wind. I picked up the size 10’s first. I compromised in my mind that it’s ok if they don’t fit now, they will someday. After I firmly planted that thought in my head I slipped them on. They slid up without a struggle. Without a wiggle or a jerk or having to jump up and down to pry my way into them, up they went! Like a skilled musician, I buttoned and zipped them without missing a beat. As I stepped out of the dressing room sobbing, my husband and daughter were standing there smiling, happy for my accomplishment while everyone else probably thought I was crazy.
By the fourth and fifth months, I was becoming something of a celebrity at Curves. I offered advice to anyone who would listen and my picture was posted with my weight loss stats boldly displayed. With 14 more pounds gone, my 5 month total was 72 pounds. Christmas was coming and I started looking at clothing in a different way. The things I used to buy were meant to cover and conceal; now I was thinking that I could try something a little more exciting and I always dreamed of wearing leather jeans. As a not-so-subtle hint, I posted a photo from a catalog of a model in leather jeans and I wrote across the picture, Size 6 please. Was I dreaming? Could I really wear anything in a size 6 let alone something as hot and sexy as leather pants?
Christmas came and the leather pants were a gift from my husband. I decided not to try them on but to leave them in the box until I was sure they would fit. January marked the sixth month of the diet; I went to the gym 6 days a week and I always had the things on hand that I could eat so I was never deprived. I kept a positive attitude although this month marked the most difficult time for me because the last 10 pounds wasn’t coming off as easily as the rest. Had my body adjusted to this new way of eating so well that it wasn’t going to work anymore?
I went back to the doctor for a check up. He could not believe the results. My blood pressure was normal and the anemia was gone. At the same time, I knew that I couldn’t live on the Atkins diet forever. If you aren’t careful you lose muscle mass and it can be hard on the kidneys so I decided to switch to the heart healthy way of eating. Considering that removing carbohydrates from my diet made me lose so much weight, I was now afraid that if I ate them I would gain weight back. So I made sure I was careful to watch calories and fat content. It felt good to eat cereals, fruit, and yogurt again. The amazing thing is that I not only lost the last 10 pounds, but my body started to feel firmer. Now that I was burning carbs for energy, my muscles were beginning to develop giving my body a tighter more refined feel.
From this experience I now know that the diet was responsible for my weight loss and exercise for my clothing size. I now understand the true meaning of discipline. I have changed physically and mentally and I realize that I needed to do this to help me adjust to everything else going on in my life. If I couldn’t control what was going on around me, I could control my body. It was therapy. I’ve kept the weight off for over 3 years now and I don’t want it to ever come back. New challenges in my career and a new body make me feel like I can do anything even at the age of 45.
The last thing I wanted to mention is that I did have to take the leather jeans back. They didn’t fit. I needed to get them in a size 2!
I woke up one morning with a sense of dread that I had never felt before. Usually I was eager to get my day going. I loved my job, the people I worked with were also my close friends, my home life was complete, with all my children grown, happy, and successful, so why was I so miserable? The company I worked for announced that we would be out of a job within a year, but I thought of that as a blessing, a passage in life, and a reason to develop and be challenged after my comfort level from 20 years at the same place. I was looking forward to extended time off with severance pay, lots of free time, and many ideas on how to fill it. I loved everything about my life except one thing; I was overweight.
With this mood wearing me down, I decided to get a physical. Hoping for a miracle cure, my doctor tells me that I an anemic and prescribes iron and a healthier diet, protein and green vegetables being the key to making me feel better. He also tells me that I have high blood pressure and considering that my mother had a stroke, I should exercise to help lower my blood pressure. So now instead of looking forward to my new future, I feel out of control. With my kids not needing me, my impending job loss, and my poor health, I was feeling hopeless. After a week of self-loathing for not taking better care of myself, I decided that if I couldn’t control the changing world around me, I could control my own body, my little internal world. So after much research, I decided to take on the Atkins diet. It had everything I needed, high protein for the anemia and quick results for someone as overweight as I was. I bought the Dr Atkins Diet Revolution book and all the required vitamins, following the advice of my doctor along the way.
The Atkins diet is a low-carbohydrate diet, high in protein. The theory is that sugars created by carbohydrates in your body produce energy that you need during the day. If you do not use them up they turn into fat stores in your body. If you stop the intake of carbohydrates, you will use up the fat stores for the energy that you need. The protein you eat is used for energy also as it replenishes your muscles for maximum benefits. Even though it seemed weird to be eating only meats, green vegetables, eggs and cheese, the diet made sense to me and with some creative cooking skill and the short list of foods that were allowed, I could make it work.
The first month was great. I lost 9 pounds the first week and at the end of the first month, I was 23 pounds lighter. My pants were loose, but so was my skin. I could see those gelatinous skin folds forming under my arms, like a turkey’s waddle when they turn their heads. It felt wonderful to be lighter but I didn’t like the way my skin was fitting. I joined a gym called Curves for Women. Their gimmick is a 30-minute workout for women on the go. I liked it because the routine was something that you didn’t have to figure out, you just went around all the pieces of equipment in 90-second increments, like playing musical chairs and landing on the spot next to you. It was enjoyable, in a non-intimidating atmosphere, no body-builders, no gym experts, just novices like me which was comfortable and fun.
The second and third months went by quickly. I was in a routine where I was eating eggs for breakfast, a chef’s salad for lunch, and meat and a green vegetable for supper every day. The diet did not allow sugar, which I didn’t mind because a special treat for me was coffee with cream. And cream is ok because there are no carbs in it but coffee was limited because of the caffeine. So I treated myself to a Starbucks during break time once in a while. It was a real treat for me. By the end of that third month I had lost another 35 pounds. I was still wearing my size 18 jeans, which were falling off. I altered them twice around the waist, but it was time to go buy a different pair.
Going to the store for new jeans was terrifying for me. I wanted to be thin but I felt like my new smaller body was just a dream and if I shopped for new jeans I would find out I really wasn’t any better off after all. So I grabbed a pair of size 14’s and 12’s then at the very last moment I went back and grabbed the size 10’s too. I was cautiously optimistic but reality told me to start with the 14’s. I should be happy if I can wear a size 14. Once inside the dressing room, I decided to throw caution to the wind. I picked up the size 10’s first. I compromised in my mind that it’s ok if they don’t fit now, they will someday. After I firmly planted that thought in my head I slipped them on. They slid up without a struggle. Without a wiggle or a jerk or having to jump up and down to pry my way into them, up they went! Like a skilled musician, I buttoned and zipped them without missing a beat. As I stepped out of the dressing room sobbing, my husband and daughter were standing there smiling, happy for my accomplishment while everyone else probably thought I was crazy.
By the fourth and fifth months, I was becoming something of a celebrity at Curves. I offered advice to anyone who would listen and my picture was posted with my weight loss stats boldly displayed. With 14 more pounds gone, my 5 month total was 72 pounds. Christmas was coming and I started looking at clothing in a different way. The things I used to buy were meant to cover and conceal; now I was thinking that I could try something a little more exciting and I always dreamed of wearing leather jeans. As a not-so-subtle hint, I posted a photo from a catalog of a model in leather jeans and I wrote across the picture, Size 6 please. Was I dreaming? Could I really wear anything in a size 6 let alone something as hot and sexy as leather pants?
Christmas came and the leather pants were a gift from my husband. I decided not to try them on but to leave them in the box until I was sure they would fit. January marked the sixth month of the diet; I went to the gym 6 days a week and I always had the things on hand that I could eat so I was never deprived. I kept a positive attitude although this month marked the most difficult time for me because the last 10 pounds wasn’t coming off as easily as the rest. Had my body adjusted to this new way of eating so well that it wasn’t going to work anymore?
I went back to the doctor for a check up. He could not believe the results. My blood pressure was normal and the anemia was gone. At the same time, I knew that I couldn’t live on the Atkins diet forever. If you aren’t careful you lose muscle mass and it can be hard on the kidneys so I decided to switch to the heart healthy way of eating. Considering that removing carbohydrates from my diet made me lose so much weight, I was now afraid that if I ate them I would gain weight back. So I made sure I was careful to watch calories and fat content. It felt good to eat cereals, fruit, and yogurt again. The amazing thing is that I not only lost the last 10 pounds, but my body started to feel firmer. Now that I was burning carbs for energy, my muscles were beginning to develop giving my body a tighter more refined feel.
From this experience I now know that the diet was responsible for my weight loss and exercise for my clothing size. I now understand the true meaning of discipline. I have changed physically and mentally and I realize that I needed to do this to help me adjust to everything else going on in my life. If I couldn’t control what was going on around me, I could control my body. It was therapy. I’ve kept the weight off for over 3 years now and I don’t want it to ever come back. New challenges in my career and a new body make me feel like I can do anything even at the age of 45.
The last thing I wanted to mention is that I did have to take the leather jeans back. They didn’t fit. I needed to get them in a size 2!
The meme of the day is to name your top ten movie characters.
It was harder than I thought. Even though I knew exactly who would be on the list I didn't always remember their entire name in the movie.
Favorite Movie Characters
1. Carl Spackler (Bill Murray-Caddyshack)
2. Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson-Clerks)
3. Adrian Cronauer (Robin Williams-Good Morning, Vietnam)
4. Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick-Ferris Bueller's Day Off)
5. Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks-Forrest Gump)
6. Ouiser Boudreaux (Shirley MacLaine-Steel Magnolias)
7. Shreck (Mike Myers-Shreck)
8. Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin-Princess Bride)
9. Todd Wilkinson a.k.a. Vinnie Antonelli (Steve Martin-My Blue Heaven)
10. Trinity (Carrie Ann Moss-Matrix)
It was harder than I thought. Even though I knew exactly who would be on the list I didn't always remember their entire name in the movie.
Favorite Movie Characters
1. Carl Spackler (Bill Murray-Caddyshack)
2. Randal Graves (Jeff Anderson-Clerks)
3. Adrian Cronauer (Robin Williams-Good Morning, Vietnam)
4. Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick-Ferris Bueller's Day Off)
5. Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks-Forrest Gump)
6. Ouiser Boudreaux (Shirley MacLaine-Steel Magnolias)
7. Shreck (Mike Myers-Shreck)
8. Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin-Princess Bride)
9. Todd Wilkinson a.k.a. Vinnie Antonelli (Steve Martin-My Blue Heaven)
10. Trinity (Carrie Ann Moss-Matrix)
Another meme, another day with nothin' much to say....not that that's always a bad thing. These memes make me think about who I am sometimes. Not this time though.
The subject of this five for Friday is the local band scene. Since it is Friday a.k.a. date night, it's time to think about going out to one of the summer festivals and see your favorite local band. Name your five local faves.
1. The Chadwicks
2. The Barbees
3. Mt. Olive
4. Exhibit A
5. Boxkar
The subject of this five for Friday is the local band scene. Since it is Friday a.k.a. date night, it's time to think about going out to one of the summer festivals and see your favorite local band. Name your five local faves.
1. The Chadwicks
2. The Barbees
3. Mt. Olive
4. Exhibit A
5. Boxkar
Ken Lay died today and all I can think of is that after death I wish he could come back. I wish he could come back so he can tell everyone what hell is really like. And he has to be in hell because I cannot think of anyone anymore deserving. One might argue that the likes of Jeffrey Dahmer might be more deserving but I beg to differ. Ken Lay had no reason but greed for his actions. Not that I am making excuses for a mass murderer but I think they are equally deserving of eternity in hell.
Here he was, after his conviction, living it up on a ski vacation. This is after he robbed investors and employees of everything they put into the company and after he lied and cheated his way through a trial where the jurors saw through the fake veneer. Lay defended his personal spending, including a $200,000 yacht for Linda Lay's birthday party in early 2001, despite $100 million in personal debt. He told jurors it was "difficult to turn off that lifestyle like a spigot." When I read that quote in the newspaper all I could think of was what about the lifestyle of all the lives this man destroyed? Did he even care? So many people had their lives taken from them. So it was hard to tell by his arrogant and irresponsible actions that he gave a shit about anyone but himself.
Skilling is next. Hopefully he won’t die too soon. A life of rotting in jail before he meets his eternity in hell is the kind of suffering both deserved. But one of them ending up in the slammer is still justice.
Here he was, after his conviction, living it up on a ski vacation. This is after he robbed investors and employees of everything they put into the company and after he lied and cheated his way through a trial where the jurors saw through the fake veneer. Lay defended his personal spending, including a $200,000 yacht for Linda Lay's birthday party in early 2001, despite $100 million in personal debt. He told jurors it was "difficult to turn off that lifestyle like a spigot." When I read that quote in the newspaper all I could think of was what about the lifestyle of all the lives this man destroyed? Did he even care? So many people had their lives taken from them. So it was hard to tell by his arrogant and irresponsible actions that he gave a shit about anyone but himself.
Skilling is next. Hopefully he won’t die too soon. A life of rotting in jail before he meets his eternity in hell is the kind of suffering both deserved. But one of them ending up in the slammer is still justice.
Today was the first day of my new job. Somehow I had visions of new beginnings, hoopla, pomp and circumstance. The reality was a half-staffed office, absences due to yesterday being Independence Day, with those of us remaining still recovering from too much sunshine, alcoholic beverages, and lack of sleep from hearing firecrackers go off late into the night.
I don't know why I thought things would be different, that I would be different. There I was, muddling through some new information but feeling like nothing had really changed from the week before. Some moments I feel lost and afraid I won't be good enough at others I feel like this is going to be a piece of cake. I know I need to relax and give it time but I'm wondering if I made the right decision. I hate self-doubt. It's so repressing and counter-productive. Arrrgh!
I don't know why I thought things would be different, that I would be different. There I was, muddling through some new information but feeling like nothing had really changed from the week before. Some moments I feel lost and afraid I won't be good enough at others I feel like this is going to be a piece of cake. I know I need to relax and give it time but I'm wondering if I made the right decision. I hate self-doubt. It's so repressing and counter-productive. Arrrgh!
The mornings of patriotic holidays, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veteran’s Day have been consumed by a new routine – the Parade. We used to start every holiday morning whether it was Memorial Day or New Year’s Day with a special breakfast that consisted of Blintzes and Orange Julius. Since the kids got older we’ve pared that down to a few less holiday mornings. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day have even gone by the wayside with a preferred Sunday morning brunch at the Packing House instead of spending the entire morning cooking blintzes.
Jeff’s patriotism is commendable and I am as proud of his military service as he is. He sets a high standard when it comes to duty and country and his knowledge of proper military etiquette is vast. Since our HOG chapter is always invited to appear in parades, we gladly participate. Jeff prepped his Harley with special flagpole holders that are mounted on the bike. He can ride with 3’ x 5’ flags on each side and miniature versions mounted on the back. He makes sure we have enough hard, individually wrapped candy to throw to the kids in the crowd. The American flag will always fly in its proper position, on the right side of the bike; the real question is which one will get to appear to the left. He has a Navy flag and a POW flag. Since we did Rolling Thunder this year, the POW flag got the honors for the 4th of July parade today. I’m certain that as the years pass, his collection of flags will grow from the experiences that we have.
So Jeff polishes his bike the night before, preps his flags, and packs them in the bike for the morning’s events. We dress in our proper patriotic/Harley gear, pour our coffee in travel mugs and off we go. We meet as a group at the Harley dealership then head out to line up for the parade. We spend more time waiting for the parade to start than the actual ride from the beginning to the end. I try to make the candy hold out till the very end, but that’s difficult. No matter how much we have, there is never enough. When we hit the end of the parade route, we just take off for home. Some of the group meets for breakfast at their favorite group spot. We just prefer home.
After making our own homemade breakfast and a second pot of coffee, we spend the day enjoying all the amenities of our own backyard. Between the deck chairs, lounge chairs, pool, and hot tub, there is plenty to enjoy. And the view is fantastic. As the day moved along, we decided to barbecue at home. BJ and his girlfriend decided to hang out too. It was a nice afternoon without much hoopla. As day turned to night we decided to avoid the crowds of the fireworks. We had no need to leave home (since the parade) all day so why ruin it now. We could see some of the fireworks from the park by looking east anyway and that was enough for us.
Every holiday could be like today and that would be just fine with me.
Jeff’s patriotism is commendable and I am as proud of his military service as he is. He sets a high standard when it comes to duty and country and his knowledge of proper military etiquette is vast. Since our HOG chapter is always invited to appear in parades, we gladly participate. Jeff prepped his Harley with special flagpole holders that are mounted on the bike. He can ride with 3’ x 5’ flags on each side and miniature versions mounted on the back. He makes sure we have enough hard, individually wrapped candy to throw to the kids in the crowd. The American flag will always fly in its proper position, on the right side of the bike; the real question is which one will get to appear to the left. He has a Navy flag and a POW flag. Since we did Rolling Thunder this year, the POW flag got the honors for the 4th of July parade today. I’m certain that as the years pass, his collection of flags will grow from the experiences that we have.
So Jeff polishes his bike the night before, preps his flags, and packs them in the bike for the morning’s events. We dress in our proper patriotic/Harley gear, pour our coffee in travel mugs and off we go. We meet as a group at the Harley dealership then head out to line up for the parade. We spend more time waiting for the parade to start than the actual ride from the beginning to the end. I try to make the candy hold out till the very end, but that’s difficult. No matter how much we have, there is never enough. When we hit the end of the parade route, we just take off for home. Some of the group meets for breakfast at their favorite group spot. We just prefer home.
After making our own homemade breakfast and a second pot of coffee, we spend the day enjoying all the amenities of our own backyard. Between the deck chairs, lounge chairs, pool, and hot tub, there is plenty to enjoy. And the view is fantastic. As the day moved along, we decided to barbecue at home. BJ and his girlfriend decided to hang out too. It was a nice afternoon without much hoopla. As day turned to night we decided to avoid the crowds of the fireworks. We had no need to leave home (since the parade) all day so why ruin it now. We could see some of the fireworks from the park by looking east anyway and that was enough for us.
Every holiday could be like today and that would be just fine with me.
The night before last I had the strangest dream. It was really more like a nightmare. It took place in what I envisioned to be the worst section of Racine. Although I've never actually seen the bad part of the town, in my imagination it looked like a smaller version of Cabrini Green. One might wonder how a middle-class white girl knows of Cabrini Green and the explanation is that I followed half-assed directions to get to the museums of Chicago. Even that isn't the whole story. I knew long before that that we were on the wrong route but when traveling with men and since real men will not stop for directions, we were taken to Cabrini Green by the time he took the hint and turned around to go back in the opposite direction. This was before the days of GPS and Mapquest to help guide us on our trips so we listened to an untrustworthy source, a family member who never really gets things right, so it wasn't a smart move on our part.
This dream had some strange elements, there were teenagers walking in small groups of three and four through the courtyard of a burnt out tenement carrying and waving guns. They were as nonchalant as someone handling a cell phone. It was as if it was a natural accessory to their everyday life. Another element of the dream was that I had a co-worker with me. His name is Pat and he is a very large guy. So large that his knees are bad from carrying the extra weight on his frame. He never takes the stairs at work and if we go out for lunch or an after work party he drives there instead of walking like the rest of us.
So Pat and I were stuck in the middle of these kids in this bad neighborhood and we had to get out. The area was very dark where you could hardly see since most lights were blown out from vandalism or just lack of care. We knew we were in trouble and we had to run. Pat and I did run and Pat was keeping up. We could hear the gun-toting kids behind us but we felt like we were getting away. It was a good feeling, one of hope that we would survive without getting shot. Up ahead we could see street lights and we knew we would be much safer near a busy street so the light ahead was another sign of hope.
All of a sudden the roads turned into hills. It was as if everything was dug up and mounds of dirt and gravel were piled as it is wherever you see road construction. But unlike most roads where the mounds are just piled on the side of the road, this was like rows and rows of mounds so we had to run up one and down the other side, run up the next and back down until we cross them all. The problem was that there didn't seem to be an end to the many, many mounds. But we could see the light up ahead and the normal sounds of city traffic and people moving about. This was where Pat started to struggle; his legs couldn't bear the constant climb and descent over the mounds of unsettled dirt. The extra weight he carried made the gravel less stable causing him to often slip. And we could hear the kids gaining on us.
Now I knew I had to make a tough decision. I could stay with Pat and try to get us both to safety or I could leave him behind and take off on my own, saving my own ass. This is the moment I woke up. I sat up remembering every element of the dream as if it were real. It left me feeing confused, wondering how the dream would have ended and what decision I would have made. It made me feel sad that I would have even considered leaving someone else, let alone someone who is a wonderful person behind to save myself.
The dream nagged at me all morning. During the course of the day I went about my usual business, did some laundry, picked up some groceries, prepared for a trip to Jeff's cousin's house for a visit. Jeff's cousin lives in West Bend so the ride was an hour long and we took the motorcycle so it was a relaxing and scenic. When I'm on the back of his bike I become a captive audience which is ok. I can either get lost in the scenery of the ride or get lost in my own thoughts, or sometimes both. On this ride I started thinking about my new job. After the long weekend, I would be starting in a new department with a new group of people and the more I considered the decision I had made the more terrified I became. I don't really know what I was afraid of, failure, lack of acceptance, not liking the work, there were so many considerations. At that moment I remembered the dream. And it was like an epiphany. I feared leaving my old job behind. I had made some wonderful relationships wit co-workers, many whom I would now call friends. There was a connection between leaving Pat behind in the dream and the real-life version of leaving him and all the others I worked with behind.
It was like I had solved some little portion of the mystery of life, and the correlation between the dream and my circumstances had become perfectly clear. The dream was clearly an analogy of the feelings I was having about changing jobs. Now the question has become would I really leave them all behind and move on with a new group of people as if I had never got to know and like them? Would they continue to include me in their social activities? Maybe they won't want to include me after a while, and maybe I won't want to attend and decide to put the last four years behind me. I doubt either of these things will occur and only time will tell how things will turn out. One thing I do know for sure, these were some of the nicest people I have ever had the privilege to work with and I will never forget the time I had spent with them.
This dream had some strange elements, there were teenagers walking in small groups of three and four through the courtyard of a burnt out tenement carrying and waving guns. They were as nonchalant as someone handling a cell phone. It was as if it was a natural accessory to their everyday life. Another element of the dream was that I had a co-worker with me. His name is Pat and he is a very large guy. So large that his knees are bad from carrying the extra weight on his frame. He never takes the stairs at work and if we go out for lunch or an after work party he drives there instead of walking like the rest of us.
So Pat and I were stuck in the middle of these kids in this bad neighborhood and we had to get out. The area was very dark where you could hardly see since most lights were blown out from vandalism or just lack of care. We knew we were in trouble and we had to run. Pat and I did run and Pat was keeping up. We could hear the gun-toting kids behind us but we felt like we were getting away. It was a good feeling, one of hope that we would survive without getting shot. Up ahead we could see street lights and we knew we would be much safer near a busy street so the light ahead was another sign of hope.
All of a sudden the roads turned into hills. It was as if everything was dug up and mounds of dirt and gravel were piled as it is wherever you see road construction. But unlike most roads where the mounds are just piled on the side of the road, this was like rows and rows of mounds so we had to run up one and down the other side, run up the next and back down until we cross them all. The problem was that there didn't seem to be an end to the many, many mounds. But we could see the light up ahead and the normal sounds of city traffic and people moving about. This was where Pat started to struggle; his legs couldn't bear the constant climb and descent over the mounds of unsettled dirt. The extra weight he carried made the gravel less stable causing him to often slip. And we could hear the kids gaining on us.
Now I knew I had to make a tough decision. I could stay with Pat and try to get us both to safety or I could leave him behind and take off on my own, saving my own ass. This is the moment I woke up. I sat up remembering every element of the dream as if it were real. It left me feeing confused, wondering how the dream would have ended and what decision I would have made. It made me feel sad that I would have even considered leaving someone else, let alone someone who is a wonderful person behind to save myself.
The dream nagged at me all morning. During the course of the day I went about my usual business, did some laundry, picked up some groceries, prepared for a trip to Jeff's cousin's house for a visit. Jeff's cousin lives in West Bend so the ride was an hour long and we took the motorcycle so it was a relaxing and scenic. When I'm on the back of his bike I become a captive audience which is ok. I can either get lost in the scenery of the ride or get lost in my own thoughts, or sometimes both. On this ride I started thinking about my new job. After the long weekend, I would be starting in a new department with a new group of people and the more I considered the decision I had made the more terrified I became. I don't really know what I was afraid of, failure, lack of acceptance, not liking the work, there were so many considerations. At that moment I remembered the dream. And it was like an epiphany. I feared leaving my old job behind. I had made some wonderful relationships wit co-workers, many whom I would now call friends. There was a connection between leaving Pat behind in the dream and the real-life version of leaving him and all the others I worked with behind.
It was like I had solved some little portion of the mystery of life, and the correlation between the dream and my circumstances had become perfectly clear. The dream was clearly an analogy of the feelings I was having about changing jobs. Now the question has become would I really leave them all behind and move on with a new group of people as if I had never got to know and like them? Would they continue to include me in their social activities? Maybe they won't want to include me after a while, and maybe I won't want to attend and decide to put the last four years behind me. I doubt either of these things will occur and only time will tell how things will turn out. One thing I do know for sure, these were some of the nicest people I have ever had the privilege to work with and I will never forget the time I had spent with them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
- Follow Us on Twitter!
- "Join Us on Facebook!
- RSS
Contact