Is she for real?!

I am sorry to bring something so negative to my blog- but this has got to get out there. I know most people probably won't even believe that an elected official could be this ignorant. I know the majority of people who might even read my blog are more intelligent and compassionate and sensitive than this. But we all need to know what's happening out there in politics land. This was in my email today from the Victory Fund. Please check out the links. Thanks! "A state rep says GLBT Americans are more dangerous than terrorists." Watch the Victory Fund's video and take action! Dear Michelle, "I honestly think it's the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam." That's from an Oklahoma lawmaker's speech about gay people. You heard right. A secret recording has just emerged of State Rep. Sally Kern speaking to a Republican group in January, where she equates both sexual orientation and religion with terrorism. She thought no one was listening. Now hundreds of thousands are. And despite her refusal to apologize, we won't let her get away with this. Tell Oklahoma's governor and top legislators to publicly denounce Kern's remarks. This recording, first released in a video by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, is all the more troubling given the recent spate of hate violence against gay and transgender youth. Last month in California, a 15-year-old boy, Lawrence King, who suffered taunting and bullying by his classmates because of his sexual orientation, was killed by one of those classmates – a 14-year-old boy. The week after Lawrence King's death saw the murder of another teen, this time a 17-year-old transgender youth in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Words matter. Especially words from elected officials. Rep. Kern's private feelings towards homosexuality and Islam are one thing. But public statements that encourage disrespect or violence towards those with whom she disagrees are completely unacceptable. Write to Oklahoma's leaders immediately and tell them Kern's remarks must not be tolerated. Here are a few more completely unfounded claims from her speech: "The homosexual agenda is destroying this nation." "No society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted for more than, you know, a few decades." "What's happening now is they're going after, in schools, two-year-olds." Kern must be held responsible. Please send this message to your friends and ask them to join you in taking action. Thank you for speaking out at this critical time. And special thanks to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund for exposing this anti-gay bigot. To add your name to the Victory Fund's open letter to Rep. Sally Kern, click here: http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/ct/v1Xwe611hE30/. Warmly, Joe SolmonesePresident P.S. HRC's advocacy efforts on this issue are already garnering media coverage in Oklahoma. Stay tuned to http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/ct/fpXwe611hE3l/ as the story develops.

Yesterday was a great day. I started off with exercise and cut down the amount of coffee I drank. I felt much better than I did the day before. Now if I can just make this a pattern. That is always the tricky part. Keeping it up. So, I am limiting myself to just one hour on the computer in the morning. (I could sit here and drink coffee for hours at a time, and have.) That pushes me to do something else.

Today's task is to promote my jewelry business. I am going to check out a couple consignment shops here in town to see if it would be worthwile placing some items there. And I am telling you, dear reader, check out my Etsy shop. There's a link over there to your right... See it? Good.

Tomorrow I will go help with the babies for awhile and I work tomorrow night and Friday night. So that's how the rest of my week will shake out.

Off we go- exercise time.

Changes

It is morning. The toughest part of my day. Getting up and getting going takes me forever! I recently stopped taking anti-depressants after many years on them. My mornings are definitely tougher without them. But I decided it was time to give it a try. (I am not suggesting, mind you, that ANYONE on medication for anything go off their meds. This is partly my shrink's doing.) The most noticable effects of this are physical. I am dizzy, I wake up stiff and sore, I fatigue more easily. These symptoms scare me, they sound like MS and other nasty illnesses.

I have several reasons for trying this. First, I don't like the idea of taking ever increasing numbers of medications- which as we age, many of us have to do. I wish to save my liver and kidneys as long as possible. Second, I would like to save my health care dollars. Third, I have changed my diet, and want to see if that helps my depression. Fourth, I have never tried other strategies for dealing with depression without the medications.

Now, I must admit, that some symptoms of my depression have begun to reappear. So far, they are tolerable. And if they become unmanagable I will certainly go back to the meds. But, I think it is important to give other strategies a fighting chance. The things I am trying include: exercise, diet changes, journaling, therapy. These all take some time to manifest their effectiveness- just as the meds do when you first start taking them. The biggest problem I am having is consistency. But that has always been an issue with me. I just have to keep working at it.

Happy March!

On Friday, I took my darling 11 month old Lab pup (75 pounds and still growing), to the local bicycle/ walking trail for a good long walk, in an attempt to settle her large butt down :) It was a truly beautiful day- temp climbed into the uppr 40's, sun shining, very light breeze. (A fine February day for Nebraska) There were other walkers, joggers, and cyclists on the trail, which runs alongside a creek. Lucy was doing her level best to drag me across the sheets of ice under the bridges. Scared the bejeesus out of me! I have recently developed an unnatural dread of falling down (has something to do with turning 50, I think).

As we were walking along, a site caught my eye that made me leap for joy. ROBINS!! The first of the season: the perennial sign of hope that winter is truly coming to a close. Hallelujah!