This Is For You

I am me

I am me.
In all the world, there is no one exactly like me.
There are persons who have some parts like me,
but no one adds up exactly like me.

Therefore, everything that comes out of me
is authentically mine because I alone choose it.

I own everything about me
my body including everything it does;
my mind including all its thoughts and ideas;
my eyes including the images all they behold;
my feelings whatever they may be ...
anger, joy, frustration, love, disappointment, excitement

my mouth and all the words that come out it
polite, sweet or rough,
correct or incorrect;
my voice loud or soft.
And all my actions, whether they be to others or to myself.

I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears.
I own all my triumphs and successes,
all my failures and mistakes.
Because I own all of me I can become intimately acquainted with me.
By doing so I can love me and be friendly with me in all parts.
I can then make it possible for all of me to work in my best interests.

I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me,
and other aspects that I do not know.
But as long as I am friendly and loving to myself,
I can courageously and hopefully, look for solutions to the puzzles
and for ways to find out more about me.

However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think
and feel at a given moment in time is me.
This is authentic and represents where I am in that moment in time.
When I review later how I looked and sounded, what I said and did, and how I
thought and felt, some parts may turn out to be unfitting.
I can discard that which is unfitting, and keep that which proved fitting,
And invent something new for that which I discarded.

I can see, hear, feel, think, say and do.
I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive,
and to make sense and order out of the world of people
and things outside of me.
I own me, and therefore I can engineer me.

I am me and I am ok.

~Virginia Satir

Fat or Beautiful?

I'd like to be situated about fourth from the left. Scootch over, girls!

I hope Glamour does more of these. Mmmmm hmmm.

I'm So Much Better Than You Are

I don't know what has changed about me in the last year, but people who put down other people really annoy me. I mean REALLY annoy me. The whole, "I drive a Mercedes", "She's gained weight" or "I make six figures" turns me off.

Maybe I've surrounded myself with too many GOOD people and now the crappy ones stand out like sore thumbs.

I don't care if someone has gained weight in the last year. I don't care if you can afford summer homes in the Caribbean. I just don't care. If you have to tell me, it doesn't matter. Show me.

Pass something to someone who doesn't have what you have, expecting nothing in return. Spend your time with your old relatives instead of your friends. Give of yourself.

Do something that's hard on the inside.

Sunday Morning Singin'

This morning, I was at my neighbor's house watering his flowers. The neighbor that's turned into one of my best friends in this world. It was early and two guys next door were bricking the house that's going up.

Suddenly, one man started singing. Beautiful. Chilling. No music. Just song. I wish I could have brought you all to that moment.

I looked for the lyrics, but I can't find them. Maybe it was his song? While looking, I found this. You can't deny the genius that is Stevie Wonder and Riff.

Cancer. And a request for prayers....

My love is leaving on Saturday to be with her mother. Her mother is having her entire breast removed tomorrow. It's cancerous. We are hoping for the best. Thinking happy thoughts, but honestly, that's hard to do when it's your mother.

If your Mom's alive, go hug her. Matter of fact, go hug everyone you love right now. You never know which hug will be the last one.

And send up a happy thought or prayer for my Love and her family, too. I'd be forever grateful.

Because I Know You Will Laugh

I stole it from Vodka Mom. I couldn't help it!

For more On The Rocks, go here.

Can You Do The Can-Can?

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Another guest post by Dana


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You know what the problem is with sandwiches? They're too hard to transport. What they need to do is invent specially-sized bags to tote them around in. Oh they've got those? Then maybe a hard plastic, airtight container shaped like a sandwich that will keep them fresh and squish-proof! No way! They've got those too?? Where the hell have I been??

Well, we all know that everything is better if it’s made with bacon, is bite-sized or is put in a can, right? I know! Let's put a sandwich in a can! That way that can of Rock-Star won't flatten your sandwich when you put it in your Bobby Sherman lunchbox!


That's right! It's better than Vienna Sausages! It's a Candwich! You can choose between PBJ Strawberry, PBJ Grape and - if you are really adventurous - BBQ Chicken Candwiches.

Unfortunately, A lawsuit by the federal Securities and Exchange Commission says that Travis L. Wrightt promised returns of up to 24 percent on real estate investments, but put the money instead into Candwich development and other equally untried ideas.

The good news? According to the New York Times, the Candwich concept perseveres. "The president of Mark One Foods, Mark Kirkland, who said he patented the idea of putting solid food in a beverage container with the slogan, “Quick & Tasty, Ready to Eat,” said Mr. Wright promised full financial backing for Candwich production that never really materialized even as investors did. He said he believed that canned sandwiches would ultimately sell, and hoped to go into production later this year."

Okay, full disclosure: I actually, probably, most likely would definitely buy these. Not to actually eat, but to stock my bomb shelter shelves. Really!

What about you? Can you see a place for the Candwich in your life??

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Laura Calder's Breasts Challenge Giada's

Perhaps I've grown bored of Giada's breasts? They've been in my face for years and though I rarely tire of boobs, new boobs have swayed my attention.

I couldn't even tell you what Laura Calder of French Food at Home made on the show I just watched. Because I am mesmerized by the perfection that peeks out of her ever so perfectly fitting dress. Thank you, Canada.

Here. You be the judge.

From China to My Wall

We were walking along the streets of Huangshan, the city at the base of the Yellow Mountains. My uncle, who doesn't have a shy bone in his body walked up to the lady tending this store and put on her hat.

It's hand woven and honestly, I didn't see another hat like it in China. I was green with envy when I saw him with it. But it was going to be his. I knew it. He always gets the cool stuff.

He talked with the lady for a moment and came back without it.

"You're not going to buy it?"

"She wants 50 yuan for it."

Turning to our local guide, "See what she'll take for it." (they always started out triple what they wanted for anything)

He comes back, "She wants 50 yuan. No bargaining."

"I'll take it."

I wore it through Huangshan Airport, through Shanghai airport, carried it on board and it had it's own bin inside the airplane. Through Newark airport, where everyone that I came into contact with commented on my fantastic hat! I even saw a handsome student in Newark, that I met on the same street that I bought the hat and he recognized me because of my hat!

Then, I was allowed to hold it like a baby on the plane in my lap on the way to Nashville. The stewardess winked as she said, "Everything that will not fit under your seat MUST be stowed in an overhead bin or be checked as luggage."

Now it hangs on my wall and is a miracle of Airport Security.

P.S. Fifty yuan is about $7.50.

The Yellow Mountains aka We Were CRAZY

Yes, I did. It looks more insane in that photo than it actually FELT walking up there amid the clouds. This is actually a pic of my uncle walking to our hotel.

Hanging off the side of that walkway was this bench. Um, no....I'm not putting my big ass out there so that I can crash to the bottom and make the papers. But I will try out a Chinese photo tip from our guide, Jean. "Point at your cheek! It will make the photo more intelesting!" Yeah, right.

And finally, sunset in the yellow mountains. Wow. Photo credit goes to my cousin and her crappy camera. I was so stunned that I wouldn't run back to the room for mine. I chose to experience the sunset. I didn't want to miss one moment!

Listen to the Mustn'ts

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Another guest post by Dana


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Back in January, I did a silly "Thursday 13" post where I listed Thirteen things I'd like to do but will likely let some irrational fear keep me from accomplishing. Some of the things on the list are long-term projects, but some of them required nothing more than a little belief in myself. And yesterday, I found that belief - I submitted a photograph for juried review and (hopefully) public display.

What surprised me was that accomplishing that goal didn't feel the way I expected it to. No, it felt even better! Why??

When I was living with husband we bought a really nice camera for a vacation we were taking. I was not allowed to take photos - husband reviewed my first attempts and decided I had no talent - I was just wasting space on the memory card.

Whenever we took the camera anywhere, he took the photos. He didn't even want me to take the camera if I was attending an event without him. I saved up my pennies and purchased my own camera. Sure, it was a $149 point-and-shoot model, but it was mine! And I started taking pictures, never sharing them with him.

Since leaving him, I started participating in Project 365 - a photo-blogging project where you post a photo each day for a year (if you are interested, you can find it [HERE]) One of the photos I took (the one below) was a perfect fit for the "Black & White" theme of this juried show. I took a deep breath, attached it to an email, and hit send.

Although I'd be thrilled if my photo made the cut for display, it really isn't about that - it's about surrounding myself with people who support my goals - people who give constructive criticism - people who know that if I believe in myself I will believe in them.

It's a good reminder that there will always be people who gain far more pleasure in telling us what we cannot be than they do seeing our joy in becoming what we were meant to be.

“Listen to the mustn'ts, child.
Listen to the don'ts.
Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts.
Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me...
Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”

~ Shel Silverstein

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Corn Ice Cream, Where Art Thou?

We tried and denied some crazy foods in China. But when I heard corn ice cream....I had to have one. I passed on the green bean ice cream after seeing my cousin's face. Looked just like the first time a baby tries green beans. Blech.

OOohhhh but the corn was creamy, sweet heavenly corny goodness! And the outside was cone. Brilliant!

Where in the World is Wonder Woman?

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Another guest post by Dana



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Is nothing safe?? Wonder Woman had remained pristine - relatively untouched - since 1941. I realize that many superheroes have seen their costumes go through changes during their history ... subtle changes — Captain America’s shield gets changed here, little sprucing up of the Batman logo there. But this??


Seriously? Is that a Spider man hand-me-down shirt she's wearing? And square-toed shoes? Didn't those go out of style a decade ago? And do tell, what superhero wears leggings?? And is that "V" style belt to emphasize her ... ummm ... vagina?? They even redesigned her bullet bouncing bracelets?? I mean, hello??


What was wrong with the patriotic undies and bullet bustier? Wonder Woman was a classic beauty - changing her costume is akin to making Marilyn Monroe a brunette!

Lynda Carter, in a story from Access Hollywood, said:

"I think Wonder Woman has a mind of her own. And I think she was just kind of ready for something new. She’s got an attitude and if this is the new thing that she wants to wear, well, by God, she’s going to wear it. And I like that."

Well Lynda, I don't!

What do you think?

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