Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Got Me A Mac

My new iMac arrived today. I haven't owned an Apple computer since the early 90's... when I was just starting college. Lawdie it seems like yesterday. The coolest thing I've found, so far, is that there is no CPU. You just plug this bad boy in and you're ready to go. The monitor IS the CPU. I bought me a lil iPod Shuffle to go with it. I will probably use the iPod only at the gym.

I don't really know what some of the GREATEST features are with this computer. I have only heard good things about an iMac. So I'm wondering -- what are your opinions about the iMac? I'm anxious to find out what this computer has the capacity to do.

I've been adjusting to how you navigate on this computer. I had the toughest time trying to find the internet. Goodness gracious, while the PC "surfs", iMac goes on a "safari". Interesting. I understand what Apple is trying to do. They're trying to revamp and redefine language, so as to create NEW colloquial terms. I get it. That's a subtle marketing tool.

I'm impressed with how clear the graphics are. However, I miss my "right click" abilities. The apple mouse DOES NOT right click.... or does it come with an enhanced version of "right click"? For me, I save a lot of images from the internet. The loss of the "right click" function almost brings my saving pictures to a stand still. **sigh** Maybe I just have to change how I do it.

I'm digging the built-in cam. I've already been playing with my photo booth. It's really fun. The built-in speakers puts out really nice sound. And just the look is so modern... so very classy! I love it. I just have to get used to doing things a different way.

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Funny Girl

I watched Funny Girl starring Barbra Streisand, the other day. I ABSOLUTELY loved it! It was kinda long and certain scenes dragged on but for the most part I thoroughly enjoyed it. Barbra ALWAYS selects roles that portray her as ALL BRAINS, LITTLE BEAUTY. I think it's endearing and my mind works much the same way. When you get a free minute, you should go watch it.

When I was growing up, I didn't feel like a beautiful child. Everyone ooh'd and ahhh'd at my cute, fat cheeks and my curly hair and that was the extent of that. Sure, I was a pretty smart girl with an extremely quick temper and I was quite athletic... could play the piano and still do so on occasion. The funny thing is that I'm truly grateful for all the talents I have and the wonderful brain that sits between my ears. I'm even grateful for the great, big, compassionate heart that beats in my chest HOWEVER I just want to be the girl that turns heads when I walk into a room. And they look and stare because of my beauty.

In high school, I was a popular girl because I was all those things above... and I was a sweetheart and was a star athlete. That's all fine and dandy. Really! But I want folks to look at me and think -- "Wow! She's gorgeous!" And then when they get to know me, they'd whisper how graceful I am. I'm tired of being fat, FUNNY GIRL.

My mother has said some VERY hurtful things to me and continues to do so now. The one thing that she's always told me is, "You would be so pretty if you weren't so fat." The phrase haunts me. Here I am, halfway through my Thirty-First year and I'm still plagued by those hurtful words. My fathers brother had all the fat jokes in the world for me. Both grandmothers used to quip at how big I am. It seems that even with all the brains in the world and all the talents and the pleasant personality I possessed; with all my sports achievement, ultimately, the only thing anyone ever noticed was how fat I was.

I've learned to dodge the fat jokes, laugh at them and even throw in a few of my own. As I write this, I realize more and more that I don't have to accept and adopt everyone's perception of me. Really, I should define myself and tell everyone who I am! However, I still revert back to that wounded fat child. I look in the mirror and wonder why everyone decided that I should be the nice, fat, FUNNY GIRL. I've allowed them to define me for wayyy too long. Who I am should be a reflection of what I see in the mirror and how I feel about myself. I DECIDE!

I've been better in the last couple of years. I've really learned to LOVE the woman I've become. I am really comfortable in my own skin. I am a very eloquent, loving, old school kinda woman. The kinda woman that my husband couldn't wait to take home to his mama. I cherish that! I LOVE being the kind of woman that my husband can COMPLETELY rely on. I love being me -- with all my flaws and all my talents and am worthy of all the gifts I receive from the Creator. He made me in his own image. I should be so lucky!

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Attitude of Gratitude

Time just flies by.

I've been writing more and more in my journal rather than on this blog. There's something about handwriting something that makes my creative juices really flow. I know I've read or heard somewhere about the connection between the two.

Most of my entries have been about how grateful I am for the life I have, for the husband that shares my universe, for the WONDERFUL family I have. I just can't see my life without any of it. I've been voicing my aspirations as a form of "pre-writing" my history. I decide! As I said in a previous post -- MY UNIVERSE IS DELIBERATE!

So... what's the world been like for you?

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Hooray For Watada


Photo Courtesy of Ted S. Warren/AP File

The Hawai'i Boy Lt. Ehren Watada is outta the woods for now. HOOOOORAY!!! I love that he challenges the status quo. Guess what folks? Know the law and be well disposed to use it. That's really ALL that it takes. If you know ALL of your rights, no one can "jerk" you around. Seriously, that's what Huey and Bobby was preachin' back in the day. They knew the weapons laws on the books in California and were able to gague their approach on social change.

IMAGINE! Imagine what kinda country we'd live in if EVERYONE actually sat down and studied the laws that govern them. Ignorance of the law is DEFINITELY NOT adequate defense in the judicial system. It would actually be in your favor to study it.

Everyone has an opinion on the Watada situation. I admire him for the undertaking. Simply put -- BRILLIANT.... and I support him. He's a TRUE PATRIOT.

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Why I Want A Green Thumb


I started a garden today. I didn't just buy some potted plants and put it out in the yard. I actually bought some seeds and started some seedlings.

I am so fortunate to be the daughter of "green thumb" parents. Both moms and pops have extensive experience in raising and maintaining plants.

I want to grow my own food! Why, you might ask, am I attempting to grow my own food? There are several reasons that I'd like to list for you that will hopefully spur you into action as well.
Reason #1: GROWING my own veggies is cheaper.I was walking through the produce section of the local grocery store and read quite an interesting sign. It said that produce will be very, very expensive in the coming months due to the unexpected frozen conditions in California. Nuff said.

Reason #2: I'm going ORGANIC... I'm attempting to turn some of my eating habits organic. GROWING my own veggies is safer for consumption. The bottom line is that commercialy grown produce is fraught with dangerous pesticides that ARE NOT safe for pregnant women and children to consume... or any mammal with a pulse. That's right! The fruit is good for you but the pesticides used in raising the fruit is not. Hmmm... does that sound right to you? Pesticides probably leads to cancer as well.

Reason #3: I will MAKE my family self reliant. As a nation, we are so addicted to oil. Commercial farming is reliant on oil to produce food. The heavy equipment used to plant and harvest requires oil. The machinery used to sort and clean fresh produce requires oil. The vehicles used to move the fresh produce from factory to distributor uses oil/fuel. You get where I'm going with this? With rising fuel costs, I'm not gonna wait around for the produce departments to go bare. I'm making my family self reliant. We will NOT starve!

Reason #4: Connecting with MOTHER EARTH! I relish the thought of being so close to earth and reaping the benefits of growing my own food. It is the ultimate science experiment to actually watch Mother Nature "do her thang".

I have a general understanding of how it all works. Seed to plant to fruit to harvest. Well, at least I think I do. However, I don't think ONE can get a complete picture of the process without actually doing it.

I listened to my father lecture husband and I on how it all works and pops was just so poetic about it. I was amazed. It was a beautiful thing! I mean he broke it down on how the seed INHERENTLY searches for light and how starting seedlings in the dark is best because of that reason. He talked about the full moon and how it controls the rise and fall of the water on the planet and why it's best to plan during a full moon... because a plants roots will NOT have to reach deep down in the earth to get water -- the water is already waiting. You don't get that wise WITHOUT actually experimenting on the "word"!

I started a garden today. Cabbage. Brussel Sprouts. Bush Beans. Once I get that started and in the earth, I'm tackling an herb garden replete with garlic, scallions, rosemary, basil and cilantro. I'm so excited.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

2006 Memorable Moments

I borrowed this from The Stiltwalkers Guide. Thought it was cute... so here is my version. (I changed a few questions.)

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Went to Europe and was UTTERLY homesick.

2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions?
I don't even remember what they were... SERIOUS!

3. Did anyone you know give birth?
Yes. Baby Boy is so big. So cute.... and he so looks like his oldest sister.

4. Did anyone you know die?
Yes.

5. What countries did you visit?
England, Italy, Malta

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
More creative energy

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory?
February 11th

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I settled down

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not quite reaching my earning goals.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I am so blessed to have only suffered but ONE cold.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
my king size bed.... oooh la la

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
HUSBAND! He is sooooo awesome.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
All of the AMERICAN people... your apathy kills me!!!

14. Where did most of your money go?
Education!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My husbands EXTREME growth in all things spiritual.

16. What song/album will always remind you of 2006?
I don't even know... probably Beyonce's, "Irreplaceable".

17. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Read & Write

18. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Less TV. Less internet.

19. Did you fall in love in 2006?
I fall in love with my husband every other week... maybe more frequent than that. LOL... I get all flustered when I think about him. mmm mmm good!!!

20. Favorite book of 2006
Angels & Demons was pretty good.

21. What was your favourite TV program?
Man vs. Wild on Discovery...
House Hunters on HGTV

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I try not to harbor any animosity but there's this one lady...

23. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A deep tissue massage! My Aunt is a masseuse -- she lives outside of Dallas and she's come to Hawai'i a few times and I STILL haven't gotten my massage. LOL...

24. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
Trust in HIM!

25. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
Tim McGraw... Live Like You Were Dying... I listen to this song when I need an infusion of ENERGY and love for life.
"I went skydiving. I went rocky mountain climbing. I went two-point-seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu. And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter and I gave forgiveness I've been denying. And he said, Someday I hope you get the chance to Live Like You Were Dying."