Musings

This week is Chuck’s second vacation for the year and we are going to spend it camping in the Sierra’s with his parents.  Having gotten a small taste of the beauty of this place, I have been very excited about going back for a longer trip.  It should be a good time, and I will try to  have pics to post when I return on Wednesday (I got chidded last time for not posting pics).   

I just saw the most refreshing show on TV.  It’s called “Shaq’s Big Challenge”.  Yes, that is Shaq, as in Shaquille O’Neal (Zuni for “very tall one”… ok, not really).  Anyway, have you all seen it?  Well, you definately should if you have not.  He takes six overweight middleschool kids and gives them personal training, oversight of a physician specializing in childhood obesity, and nutrition advise for six months in an effort to not only help these kids loose weight, but save their lives.  Now, I have to admit, I was skeptical at first.  I was afraid this would be a show where the celebrity gets to appear to be the big hero while exploiting the trials of these kids, and for the extreme cynics, I’m sure you can make a case for that.  But in my opinion, this show is done very well and if anything is an encouragement for all of us to pursue a healthier lifestyle.  At one point during the show, the kids were put through a physical fitness test.  Most of them failed the test and their embarrassment was obvious.  But, instead of allowing them to wallow in that, Shaq built them all up, encouraged each member of the “team” to rally around each other in support and gave kids who had no self confidence a reason to hold their heads up high. 

 I have to admit, I was surprised to see this soft side of Mr. O’Neal, but aparently there is much more to this man than slam dunks.  Did you know that he has six kids of his own?  Did you know that he donates generously to Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the Make a Wish Foundation and many other organizations?  Did you know that he is passionate about children and making the world a better place for them?  With all of the publicity lately about celebrities who seem to abuse the position they hold in society, I wanted to take a few minutes to recognize one celebrity who is worthy of the spotlight he holds.   

For more about “Shaq’s Big Challenge” visit the website: www.shaqsfamilychallenge.com/

 **Note: The following is not any kind of political statement about current events (I mean really, it’s me we’re talking about here), it is simply the musings of someone who watches a lot of action movies as a result of being surrounded by a lot of boys…men… whatever (When they get out their remote controlled airplanes and start playing it’s hard to tell the difference). 

What ever happened to good old fashioned war strategies?  We are so advanced these days with our super-high-tech-this and our state-of-the-art-that.  What ever happened to the days when men lined up with their weapons and attacked each other like civilized human beings (Reference the movies Troy and The Patriot)?  I realize this is supposed to be a primitave type of warfare, but it just seems much more cut and dried to me.  How about this example:  In 591 BC, the Lydians and the Medes began a war over some property and gold.  They fought for five years when one day, the sky grew dark as a result of a solar eclipse.  Lacking their high tech This and That, these brave men believed the darkened sky was a sign of the god’s displeasure in their fighting and laid down their weapons and walked away.  What a way to end a war! 

Now, I’m not knocking technology or the US military (Go Troops!), but it just seems that sometimes we are just too dang fancy for our own good.  Just a thought.  Or maybe I have watched one too many war movies (“Honey, I thought you would like ‘We Were Soldiers’… it’s a great movie”). I think it may be time to round up the boys for a nice chick flick night… “Oh boys… let’s all hold hands and watch ‘Love Comes Softly’”… hehe 

Today was a good day.  Nothing special happened, it was just good.  I had a good workout, followed by a good lunch made by a good man…     ,watched a good movie and then had a good, relaxing afternoon in the park with a good book, good music and a good time flying remote controlled airplanes.  Now I’m off to give myself a good pedicure. 

Why does blaring the David Crowder Band in my car always make me smile?

The lack of appreciation of American traditions (or anything American, for that matter) by other cultures surrounding me that I used to chalk up to “cultural differences” and be facinated by, has now become another pet pieve of mine, to say the least and is now a new topic for my much beloved Soap Box.

I miss thunderstorms… or rain for that matter!

What is it about seeing older Mexican men wearing cowboy hats that amuses me so?

Why do the strawberries taste SO good here in California??  Really, every strawberry tastes like the best one you have ever eaten!!

I miss playing tennis with Aubrey, hanging out with my friends, and being pounded by questions that I don’t understand from my brother.  I miss “chick flick nights” with my mom.

**Disclaimer:  This message represents the official view of the voices in my head.  This message is intended for the use of  the  individuals specificaly named  and  may  contain information that is confidential,  privileged  or  unsuitable  for  overly  sensitive persons  with  low  self-esteem, no sense of humour or irrational religious beliefs. If you are not  the  intended  recipient,  any dissemination,  distribution  or  copying  of  this  message is not authorised (either explicitly or implicitly) and  constitutes  an irritating  social  faux  pas. Unless the word absquatulation has been used in its correct context somewhere  other  than  in  this warning, it does not have any legal or grammatical use and may be ignored. No animals were  harmed  in  the  transmission  of  this message,  although  the  yorkshire  terrier  next door is living on borrowed time, let me tell you. Those of you with an overwhelming fear  of  the unknown will be gratified to learn that there is no
hidden message revealed by reading  this  warning  backwards,  so just ignore that Alert Notice from Microsoft: However, by pouring a complete circle of salt around yourself and your  computer  you can  ensure  that  no harm befalls you and your pets. If you have read this message in error, please  add  some  nutmeg  and  egg whites  and place it in a warm oven for 40 minutes. Whisk briefly and   let    it    stand    for    2    hours    before    icing.