1. Barack Obama
2. regular Mojitos
3. Coconut Mojitos at “Milk & Honey”
4. remembering Long Island Iced Tea nights
5. “Santa Cristina” Sangiovese
Monthly Archives: March 2009
Donkeys
Times are tough these days. Every day we are getting flooded with news that would make my grandparents who lived in Germany through two world wars turn over in their graves. At this point I do not know of anyone who has not been effected by the economic disaster facing this great nation of ours, a country that the last administration left in mere ruins. I am amazed they did not burn the White House down before leaving D.C.
Greed and self indulgence has led us into a deficit so deep it will take decades to dig ourselves out, and we only have spoons to do it with.
Our last administration, the one that stole the election in 2000 and then proceeded to rule for long painful eight years has left our new President with challenges greater than any of us layman can imagine. We think we know, but honestly, I don’t believe we really do. Yet, when you spend some time online to check political blogs and news sites you could come to the conclusion that everyone and anyone has the answer, the ideas to “fix” what has gone wrong. And what is even more disturbing is the amount of anger from right wing radicals that is being posted on discussion forums and various social networking sites. Bitterness is a determining factor, no doubt, and it seems that those who voted for the Republican ticket have the hardest time getting used to the fact that they were unable to steal the election again and that voters came out in vast numbers and actually did the right thing last November. Now, I understand where they are coming from. After all, I ran in their shoes for the previous eight years so I can certainly appreciate their pain, but never, even in the most sorrowful hours would I have let myself sink to the bottom of the curse word barrel when voicing my disgust with the Bush-Cheney Dictatorship. After the 2004 election it became clear to me that the majority of this country preferred to live under the rule of those who stole it in 2000 for another four years and since I chose to live in this country I just had to accept that. I did not like it, but that’s democracy as I understand it. I was not very engaged in the political process back then as I naively believed the voters in this country knew better than to vote in George W. for a second term. I learned my lesson the hard way and four years later, gearing up for the 2008 election, I used all the power available to me to get the right man elected. I am proud to say we succeeded and all efforts paid of. And I want to say to the right wing nuts that don’t seem to have anything else to do all day than to hang out online and promote hate: “Deal with it!”
The other side wants us to believe that Barack HUSSEIN (for some bizarre reason the HUSSEIN is always capitalized… as if to highlight the gravity of the threat) Obama “barely” won the Presidency, which is laughable at best given the fact that the man received more popular votes than any other President in the history of this nation, a man whose popular vote margin of approximately 9.5 million was the largest ever for a non-incumbent presidential candidate, a candidate that won every single 2004 swing state by a margin of 9% (except for Ohio’s 4.5%). But somehow these numbers apparently prove that he really should not be President. How short their memories are as they clearly cannot even think back to the debacle of the 2000 election and the theft that occurred! Of course I only have to watch Glenn Beck’s new show to know that all hope is lost of talking some sense into his followers, people who seem to have no common sense and decency. They rant and rave and their complete lack of basic grammar and punctuation skills only proves how badly the country needs to reform its education system. They throw around profanities and are more concerned about Michelle Obama’s short sleeve dresses than helping their fellow citizens stay above water and this country get back on track. But I guess it is hard to follow someone of intelligence who speaks in complete sentences when you yourself can barely form a coherent thought. That’s why it was so easy for you to understand the previous President. He was just like you!
On November 4th, 2008 we had a historic election. An election with an outcome that would not have been possible in the times of our founding fathers. And the founding fathers come up a lot, in fact they have been mentioned in every single discussion I have had since last summer. Only about three weeks ago a good friend of mine sent me an article that claimed that James Madison would have wanted our new administration to fail. It was one of the most ridiculous articles I have ever read. In fact the article and most of its right wing comments were so disturbingly laughable I did not feel it warranted my writing back a response. The same Madison that supposedly would want President Obama to fail once said: “If men were angels, government would not be necessary.” Given his safeguard for individual freedom I bet that Madison would have been more concerned about monopolies, concentration of wealth and Republican desires for a 21st century plutocracy.
Many years ago I made the conscious decision to live in this country, a country I had come to love, a country of great opportunity and possibilities. Over the last decade I have been saddened by the fact that this nation no longer holds all the promise that it once did. It has become a nation of have and have-nots, with a Middle Class that is more or less wiped out if no steps are taken to prevent this tragedy. We now live in a land that seems to care so little about its fellow citizens that almost 50 million cannot get adequate health care. Health care! Something that is a basic human right, not the privilege of those who can afford it.
So, to those “on the other side”, who believe that the new administration should fail, that the new President should be impeached on the basis that he won and your guy lost, who bring out the founding fathers and the constitution when it deems convenient for their argument, but don’t even know the basics of their country’s history, I have news for you: we are entering a new era in politics and your ideas are outdated as they have been proven wrong. We are in the dire state we find ourselves in because of the G(reat) O(bstructionist) P(arty) ideals but at least the majority in this country realized it and made their choice for a better tomorrow.
Today’s Running Tip: Need to blow off steam! Go for a run!
Find yourself in a pickle? Arguing with someone who does not share your beliefs? Go for a run. It will clear your mind and calm you down. Everything that bothered you will be put in perspective on a run and you will return refreshed!
Grace in Small Things – 20
1. Barack Obama
2. running into friends unexpectedly
3. only having to run 6 miles late this afternoon as I already ran 14 early this morning
4. vodka sauce
5. my surviving basil plant
Ten Things I Wanted to Be
A while back Schmutzie asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. It was actually harder to remember than I thought, but here is a glimpse into the dreams of Little Me:
1. Veterinarian (still do)
2. Nurse
3. Social Worker
4. not a mother
5. anyone but a German…
6. Elementary School Teacher
7. Coffee Shop Owner
8. not a wife
9. Flight Attendant
10. Ambassador to the UN
Today’s Running Tip: Volunteer!
Since not everyone is lucky enough to make a career out of running, or work in the athletic field in general, go out an volunteer at local races or with your local running club. It will get you involved in the local running community, not to mention that it will answer our President’s call for service.
Running Buddy
Have I mentioned that I am owned by a creature so lovely it will turn even the most hardened anti pet person into a puddle of cooing excitement? A creature that on a regular basis stops traffic and no, I don’t mean Hubby (although he is amazing as well!), I mean this guy:
If you are asking yourself now what kind of dog this is you are not alone. I have been asked this question every time I have taken Nelson out in public for the last nine years. Nelson is an Old English Sheepdog! And if you react by shouting “Really?” or “Are you sure?” let me assure you that, yes, I am absolutely, 100%, without a shadow of a doubt, positive!!!
Growing up my family had a menagerie of dogs that ranged from German Shepherds over Field Spaniels to Dachshunds, and as much as I loved every single one I had always wanted an Old English Sheepdog. I begged my parents endlessly but my mother was not to be convinced of the enrichment such a creature would bring to our lives. She was very concerned about long shaggy hair covering every surface of her immaculate household (and I wonder where I get my OCD tendencies from…). In the end I moved on and out, life took over, but in the back of my mind a Bobtail never stopped occupying a space.
Imagine my delight when I found out that Hubby had also always dreamed of owning an Old English Sheepdog!!! He might or might not have gotten lucky that day and/or night…
As we settled into married life and created a home for ourselves the thought of owning a big, fuzzy dog was never far from our thoughts. And one balmy October night in 1999 Nelson finally came into our life. It had taken me almost a year of research and countless contacts across the country to find him at a highly reputable breeder in Santa Rosa, but the wait was well worth it. He brought us instant joy as he grew from a “tiny” bear like creature that cried every.single.night. for three weeks and pulled everyone’s socks off
After his first birthday Nelson became my true companion on daily runs. For all those years we lived on the coast and woke up early most days to fog so thick you could cut it, you could find Nelson close by my side or right at my heels as we ran up and down the empty damp streets or along the waterfront. Most people knew his name even if they did not know the name of the person at the other end of the leash. When I trained for my marathons Nelson would go out with me for part of the long runs, then I’d take him home and go back out to finish my miles. I always tried to limit his miles to 5-6 even though he would have run with me forever.
This was our daily routine until we moved to the desert a couple of years ago. With temperatures that don’t fall much below 100 degrees (no matter what time of day it is) from early May until late September I usually run on the treadmill now and Nelson prefers swimming in our pool. During the cooler winter months we still go out together but it is not a daily occurrence anymore and if there is one thing I miss most about living on the coast it is my daily early morning run with one of the most loving creatures you could meet. The extra benefit was that Nelson truly lived up to his breed’s calling and mostly ran a leash length behind me to observe his “flock” and guard her from predators on bicycles. Try running while pulling a tire and then see how easy the run gets once the tire is released. These days I am getting my strength workouts in Erin’s and Rose’s exercise classes but those years of running with Nelson will always remain one of my fondest memories.
For those of you who have always wondered what hides underneath all the shagginess you only find on Old English Sheepdogs, here is a little taste:
Today’s Running Tip: Running with Men’s Best Friend!
Most dogs can easily run for several miles, but consider your own training when running with your dog. Start slow and short and build mileage over time.