Chicks Rule

I've been loving the Dixie Chicks this summer... they're talented, their new album is fantastic, and they're fearless, smart, and fun. And because they introduce me to keychains like this one. Their new "Accidents and Accusations" Tour kicked off last weekend and they were here in Columbus on Sunday. I wasn't able to go, but the review in today's paper is raving and apparently the stadium was full of screaming/singing fans. Please, oh please... will someone buy me this t-shirt? Or any Chicks shirt??

You mean there are other people out there?

So, I'm trying to get more involved in my community and more importantly, meet new people...

My neighbor/friend convinved me to join the neighborhood association board and so 5 minutes later, I was Secretary. Now she's moving away and I'm interim President. great. I get to hang with a bunch of older ladies every 6 weeks and discuss whether the flowers in the entrance are the right color. *sigh* But I will try to make some "changes" and create more little events for neighbors to get to know eachother. Otherwise, what the hell is the point??

I've joined a Book Club, with a group of "relatively newly-weds" here in the Columbus area. It's been good so far and I've met a couple of women that I can imagine becoming friends with. Plus I'm reading, which is always a good thing. So far, we've read: "My Sister's Keeper", by Jodi Picoult and Lance Armstrong's "It's Not About the Bike". (Sure Lance, that's because it's all about YOU... You know, I hugely respect his talent and what he overcame. It's a miracle and a testament to willpower, blah blah blah... but I just don't LIKE the guy very much, especially after reading his book. Ah well.).

Next, we're reading "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" (can I just listen to the Broadway Cast recording??), and then in Sept, Those Who Love, by Irving Stone, which I'm really excited about.

And since I'm President of my neighborhood association, I've also launched a neighborhood book club... and will host our first meeting in Sept. First book will be: The Tenth Circle, by Jodi Picoult.

What else... things I want to do, but keep putting off because "I don't have time" or "I'm tired"...
-- Volunteer again at the local Humane Society (where Sammi came from)
-- Volunteer at Ohio Citizen Action (I've done letter-writing campaigns for them so far)
-- Take Sammi on walks in more public places
-- Go to the Gallery Hops downtown
-- Go to Columbus Clippers baseball games

... and more... ?!?!?

See this film

We saw it on July 4th, instead of our city's big fireworks display. I felt it was an appropriate choice.

An Inconvenient Truth
It IS backed up by scientists, 100%.
It is NOT a boring film... it's fascinating and it's OUR REALITY.
Yes, there are some long lingering shots on Gore that get annoying, but you know what, he's out there and he's telling this story and he's been trying to get people to listen for over TWENTY YEARS... and in that time we've already caused so much damage, it's insane.

• I don't care what your politics are, SEE THE FILM or buy the book. See the trailer...
• Drive a hybrid.
• Recycle.
• Donate to organizations that are helping supply water to countries who are running out.
• Beg your gov't leaders to force the auto industry to increase efficiency standards.

Because it's not just your grandchildren's future we're talking about...
it's YOUR lifetime too.

More info at: www.climatecrisis.net

Soccer, Prejudice, and Naked People

Not much new to report... just a few random things...

I've been watching all the WORLD CUP SOCCER 2006 games and it's been fun, especially when I record the games on Univision, the Spanish channel. There's nothing like the excitement of the announcers on Univision! Watching these games always reminds me of when I was a kid and I'd watch them all summer with my Dad. We'd get so into it and everytime the Spanish announcer would shout " Goooooooooooooooooooool...! ", we'd turn the volume up REALLY high... It's not the same watching most of the games alone, but it's still one of my favorite sports to watch. It always amuses me how much most Americans hate the game. In the U.S., sport is all about scoring and points and goals... but that's not what athleticism is really about. Whatever. I can enjoy it along with 4 billion other people in the world.

I've mentioned before how I'm a "closet Democrat" at work, right? Well, two weeks ago, it got really bad again. Certain conversations were happening IN MY OFFICE that I seriously cannot even repeat here. It made me feel physically sick to my stomach -- the hatred and prejudice that some of these religious-far-right crazies feel for other human beings. It just doesn't jive with what Jesus was all about. But I guess that's no longer what they base their thoughts on. And then just this morning, one of my coworkers walked into my office holding the new book by that Ann Coulter-witch. Bleh. How can anyone read something so filled with hatred and think it's "so right"!?!? It blows my mind.

And now for what you've been waiting for... Naked People. This morning two of my female colleagues... young, innocent, midwestern farm girls who've never been anywhere except Ohio, Indiana and Florida... came in all excitedly to tell me a story that happened over the weekend. One of the girls was driving with her husband, and all of a sudden, there was a naked man running across the grassy area on the side of the highway. He ran up to the edge of the road and then got on all fours and proudly displayed his ass for world to see. She then got all quiet and mentioned something about there being a "toy" of some sort visible as well... hmmm... they were so disgusted they don't think they can eat today. I sympathized and agreed with the horror of it all, and then they left, and I'll I could think was.... *sigh* That's nothin'! I miss New York!

Alright, I tried for 20 minutes to upload a photo of the Naked Cowboy in Times Square, but something's wrong with Blogger today... You'll just have to imagine him... ; )