I am NOT a Republican...

... and I do NOT share these beliefs. I did want to post this, however, regardless of my negative reaction. :/

(And to think that some of my friends / acquaintances / maybe even family members, are conservative Republicans, and very well may believe and support some of these things. *shaking head*)


Things you have to believe to be a Republican today:

Jesus loves you but shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary.

Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him, and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.

Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China, South Korea and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.

The United States should get out of the United Nations, and our highest national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq.

A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation.

The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches, while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.

If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.

A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our longtime allies, then demand their cooperation and money.

Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy, but providing health care to all Americans is socialism.

HMOs and insurance companies have the best interests of the public at heart.

Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.

A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense, but a president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.

Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet.

The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George Bush's driving record is none of our business.

Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery.

What Bill Clinton did in the 1960s is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the '80s is irrelevant.

Bolder Boulder Pics

Held Captive by the Bolder Boulder

I was awakened this morning at 5am to the loud sound of a hovering helicopter.

Today is the annual Bolder Boulder 10K (6.2 miles) run here in Boulder, in its 28th year. The "Largest Race in the World." The starting line is about 2 blocks from my condo, there will be 78 waves (starts), and the course runs right past where I live, so... the streets are blocked off here for all the participants, all 47,000 of them, from about 5:30am until about 10am.

I just got back from watching several waves of people for about an hour and a half and was feeling motivated to go grocery shopping... that will have to wait.

I've never seen so many people in one place at one time to run / walk a 10K... and they're all so HAPPY about it. (Everyone is here to take part... young and old, all races / nationalities, all capabilities.) Some people take it seriously, and some just find it fun... and even dress up in silly costumes. I saw: A unicorn lady, the Jamba Juice bananas, Uncle Sam, a group of men dressed in women's running clothes... sports bras and all, two men bouncing a basketball back and forth as they ran, lots of super heros, a few men dressed as nuns, high school girls with "Pigs are Friends not Food, eat Corn Instead" on their tank tops, a bumble bee lady, a cow man, several grass skirt wearing folks (men and women), and wheelchairs among the walkers / runners. And I cannot forget the Professional Wheelchair race... the first wave to go... inspiring and amazing. The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines also are showing their presence and running... in camoflage, chanting, with their corresponding branch's flag. What is the most fresh in my mind is the motivational, brought-tears-to-my-eyes, blind man jogging with his service dog as his guide... and the man was smiling ear to ear.

Along the route there's bands, loud music blasting from speakers, cheerleaders from local schools, belly dancers, doughnuts, champagne, and of course water stations too.

Being Productive... who knew?

I took Friday off of work so I could have a 4-day weekend, rather than 3. I've had a very productive two days so far. So productive, I have sore muscles. How out of shape am I... if I sand, paint, and clear-coat my dresser and its drawers, and my leg muscles are so sore I'm walking funny? I imagine this is how I'd feel if I did 50 walking lunges, or squats... and that will NEVER happen.

I did take a break today though and go to "the lake" for my Step-Cousin's high school graduation party. Wow, was it HOT out today... 90-something, and no shade to be found out there. Wading in the water was great... the cold water was perfect. And cruising around in the Pontoon boat was nice as well... getting some sun, socializing, and a nice breeze too. (I even cast out a fishing line several times, but had no luck in catching anything. Catch and release of course.)

Then, off to *gasp* Starbucks to get an iced, decaf drink with my Sis and Bro-in-Law. Just what I needed at the time... ahhhhhhhh. And when I drove home in Barney (my hot ass car with no A/C), I was determined to get my newly painted dresser back into my condo, BY MYSELF, since I'm impatient and didn't want to wait for help. Well, I succeeded, but it wasn't easy... at all.

I love how it turned out... it was worth all the work. Now, do I do the same thing to the shelves in my living room tomorrow, or, do I just relax??? Decisions, decisions.

"Until the pants are off..."

Lightning Bug's Butt said something perfectly in his "Blackjack, bitch" blog for the weekend. I HAD to steal this quote from him and post it here. Thank you for summing it up, LBB!

"I've never thought of it before, but dating for women must be like that game show, Deal or No Deal. You just don't know until they open the package."

Perhaps this is one of the many reasons why I don't like dating? Hmmmm

A little something I read

Isn't man an amazing animal? He kills wildlife -all kinds- by the millions
in order to protect his domestic animals and their feed. Then he kills
domestic animals by the billion and eats them. This in turn kills man by
the millions, because eating all those animals leads to degenerative/fatal
health conditions like heart disease / kidney disease /cancer. So then man
tortures and kills billions more animals to look for cures for these diseases.
Elsewhere, millions of other human beings are being killed by hunger and
malnutrition because food they could eat is being used to fatten domestic
animals. Meanwhile, some people are dying of sad laughter at the absurdity
of man, who kills so easily and so violently, and once a year sends out cards
praying for "Peace on Earth."

C. David Coats (Old MacDonald's Factory Farm)

(I ponder...)

My Song of the Day

"Life Ain't Always Beautiful" by Gary Allan

Life ain't always beautiful
Sometimes it's just plain hard
Life can knock you down, it can break your heart

Life ain't always beautiful
You think you're on your way
And it's just a dead end road at the end of the day

But the struggle makes you stronger
And the changes make you wise
And happiness has it's own way of takin' it sweet time

[chorus]
No, life aint always beautiful
Tears will fall sometimes
Life aint always beautiful
But it's a beautiful ride

Life aint always beautiful
Some days I miss your smile
I get tired of walkin' all these lonely miles
And I wish for just one minute
I could see your pretty face
Guess I can dream, but life don't work that way

But the struggles makes me stronger
And the changes make me wise
And happiness has it's own way of takin' its sweet time

No, life aint always beautiful
But I know I'll be just fine
Hey, life aint always beautiful
But its a beautiful ride
What a beautiful ride

Box-Full-o-Ratties!

Left to right: Abby, Peanut, and Gwen

How cute! Three of my four girlies, all snuggled and sleeping in their new "toy" from the night before. What a cozy midday napping place.

Not long after I woke Abby while taking this picture yesterday, Care Bear (the 4th girlie) decided to come up and join the others. =D RAT PILE!

Right or Left?

Neither one it seems. :/ I just took a "test," and found out that I am not left-brained, nor right-brained, but... BALANCED-BRAINED. Hmm...

Amy, you are Balanced-Brained:

That means you are able to draw on the strengths of both the right and left hemispheres of your brain, depending upon a given situation. When you need to explain a complicated process to someone, or plan a detailed vacation, the left hemisphere of your brain, which is responsible for your ability to solve problems logically, might kick in. But if you were critiquing an art opening or coming up with an original way to file papers, the right side of your brain, which is responsible for noticing subtle details in things, might take over.

While many people have clearly dominant left- or right-brained tendencies, you are able to draw on skills from both hemispheres of your brain. This rare combination makes you a very creative and flexible thinker.

The down side to being balanced-brained is that you may sometimes feel paralyzed by indecision when the two hemispheres of your brain are competing to solve a problem in their own unique ways.

"Just a Rat"

A short poem by Chuck Beast, from one of "our" Rat Groups. LOVE IT!

JUST A RAT

It's just a vermin, just a rat
Just an animal, lazy and fat
Just get over it, just get another
It's not like it's your son or mother

Fools around me speak in shame
Never knowing my rats name(s)
They roll their eyes, they dub me weak
They treat me like my loss is cheap

Just someone standing by my side
When life brings on its bumpy side
Just someone with whom to chat
My love, my friend, my family, my rat

Retail Therapy

So I've been feeling a bit lonely and have had the "poor me's" lately, so Friday after work and Saturday I went out and spent money. What better way to make yourself feel better than to spend a bunch of money on... well... STUFF?! Stuff you don't really need... even better!(Shoes, two purses, T-shirts, a belt, etc.)

I think my favorite things were the biggest bargain... right outside my back door, literally. (A "sample sale" under tents.) I got these two rockin' pair of Merrill's for $30... for both that is! They are so FUNKY looking, I love them!

"Zen for the 21st Century" - for fun

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me,for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.
2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaky tire.
3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
5. Always remember that you're unique - just like everyone else.
6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you criticize him, you're a mile away and you have his shoes.
9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish,and he will s it in a boat and drink beer all day.
11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.
14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know him.
15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.
17. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
20. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
22. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

I HATE CANCER!!

I'm still mulling over this post in my head... stay tuned.

To have or not to have?

Casual sex... should I have it or should I not?

Since the ending of my last relationship, I haven't really done "the casual sex thing." It's just not right for me... basically leaves me feeling like shit afterwards, especially if there's no honest feelings of attachment, some level of love, trust, etc. behind it. At the same time, it's been offered to me during this "dry spell," and I've considered it a time or two (though only with a man that I have friendship-type relationships with). Thing is... I like this particular guy who's been my only "real" consideration, and I don't want to "get all girlie" on him (could happen ya know!), and start feeling attached and such, when I have no business doing so... if we were to have sex. (Yes, we've been intimate before, and nothing negative happened afterwards... other than not seeing him for the past several years... but, still!) Needless to say, this is what stops me from pursuing anything more than the flirtation and friendship we currently have.

Sometimes I wish I could be more "like a man," and detach enough to have casual sex, and feel fine about it... before, during, and after. That just wouldn't be me though. And, at the same time... we all know of the double-standard... men can sleep around, be as promiscuous as they want and they are called "studs." If / when women behave the same way, the word used is "slut." Hmmmm, go figure.

The lyrics to the following song sums up how I feel about the choice I've made and continue to stick to... no casual sex for me.

"The Only One" (Limp Bizkit)

Hold up you're movin' too fast
I'm up for something that lasts
I ain't looking to screw on the first night
Cause that's a no go

And if the vibe's good, go to first base
'cuz the first kiss could be your last taste
I ain't looking to screw 'till the vibe's right

[chorus]
See I'm the only one you know
That can put you on cruise control
Yeah I'm the only one you'll find
That won't waste all my time, on nothing

Nothing, on nothing, nothing

My will is stronger than most
I will not let you get close
Until I think that you deserve me
Cause that's a no go
I'm gonna hold out, so in the meantime
Don't expect much from a strong mind
Until I think that you deserve me

[chorus]

I'm holdin' out, I'm gonna wait
Wanna make it past the first date
A little time then we can do
All them nasty things you want to do
Don't get me wrong just take my hand
And I really hope you understand that
It's easier when every second counts
So we'll just have to wait

It's really no big deal [x2]

I'd hate to get you in bed
Find out your empty instead
No need to knock another home run out
Cause that's a no go

And I hate to be so filthy
If we were not meant to be
No need to knock another homerun out

[chorus]

Nothin', on nothin', nothin'On nothin', on nothin'