A Time to Grieve

President Obama is now speaking in Tucson, at a memorial service to honor and remember the victims of Saturday's awful shooting.  My reaction: I am wanting him to be a leader, as he is our president and presidents serve as the one who can bring the country together at times of grew sorrow.  I want him to transcend the horrible politicalization of this, going beyond the blame that the far left has for the right. 

I will never forget President Reagan's speech, nearly a quarter of century ago, after the Challenger disaster, a tragedy that claimed seven victims and was the first real national tragedy I can recall.  His words was the first step in attempting to heal this nation, which so needed it. 

Obama is doing good in eulogizing these victims, who were young and old, workers and retired, Republicans, too.  But I hope he knows, he can do more good by transcending the bitterness of this, and heal.

Happy Things

So in a sad week, with darkness and snow and January and bad things happening, I want to name a few things that make me happy.

Little things. Like homemade garlic bread. Or girls weekends or nights out.  Or long weekends off. Or good books. Or good wine. Or playing scrabble with the husband. Or bacon. Love the bacon.

Value of Life

From Ross Douthat.

This is the paradox of America's unborn. No life is so desperately sought after, so hungrily desired, so carefully nurtured. And yet no life is so legally unprotected, and so frequently destroyed.

Awful

Horrible news from Arizona.  Prayers to Representative Giffords, who was shot in the head.  And so sad a judge, her staffer(s), and others were victims to this act. What a coward, the idiot who shot them. 

Trip One, 2011

Trip one is 2/3 done...just a pesky across country flight and breakfast ahead of me. And drive. Ugh.  Dinner here last night.

Much rather be with my family, and my brother and SIL. Much love on this sad day.

Republican Congress

Bye Nancy Pelosi!

Biggest Loser

I'm watching a few minutes of the Biggest Loser. Premiere episode. OMG are these people big.  Seriously. How do you let yourself weight nearly 400 pounds, or even more.

I know some criticize this show's extreme method.  But gosh, when you get that big, you need an extreme solution.  There is a woman talking about how she has miscarried because of her weight.  Is that the wake-up call you want? 

I do like how Ali Sweeney is not a twig. She is a reminder you don't have to be that tiny to  be healthy and strong. 

Anyway, I won't get too sucked in. But it is easy to...

Detroit in Ruins

These pictures are sad, but there is more to Detroit than this.

I feel like the Lions winning 4 in a row, going 6-10, is a sign that the city can turn around, too.  If a football team can go from winless to having hope, so can a city, right? Right?!!

The Originals

I was flipping through some of my old diaries from 6-7-8th grades. I guess New Year's Day always makes me feel a bit introspective.  I was so childish, so easy to crush on boys who never cared at all for me, and I was so lonely.  I wish someone had served as more of a mentor to me, at a time I was really struggling with grades and how to fit in.  I did not appreciate my family nearly enough, and  I was a typically teenager in so many respects.

That was already 20+ years ago, 2/3 of a lifetime ago.  Sometimes I still feel like that young girl. I never was secure enough to pick up the phone or confront friends who betrayed me, or to feel confident enough in myself to stand up for myself.  Those years are so damn formative.  They never stop affecting you, do they?

What I Will Remember: 2010

Our blizzards/snowpacalypse/snowmaggedon in February.  Being off of work of work for a week, almost.

And then our crazy hot summer.  Dave Matthews is 100 degree heat, ugh.

Finishing my half-marathon in under 2 hours.  Shaving 8 minutes off my ten miler time. 8:20 miles!

Celebrating the arrivals of many babies in our circle.

Toronto with two of my best girl friends. Miss those ladies terribly.  Louis. Awesome coffee and food and company.

"No-Snowed in at Christmas."

Thanksgiving at Cowboys stadium.  Runner up in the fantasy league.

The beauty of St. Lucia, the most anticipated vacation ever.  Good food and a great meal.  Lots of kayaking and time watching the World Cup at the Pub. Making friends with staff.

Checking out the Atlas Room and its seafood chowder. Lots of good stuff on H Street like the Biergarten and Liberty Tree. 

Having my brother and SIL visit.  So fun and miss them, too.

Julie's wedding.  Having mom and dad there and getting drinks at South Padre.

Mood swings.  Trouble sleeping.

Our new TV, sofa,, bar, dining room table, and coffee table.  Buying out Crate & Barrel.

The blue screen of death and my new laptop with this crappy keyboard.

50 degrees on NYE.

Lots of work travel.

Finding out I will have a niece, and she will be perfect, no matter what obstacles she will face.  And she will be so loved, as much as her big brother loves his ipad!