Ok--what is it about turning 30 that makes me suddenly feel, act, and sound so old?? For example, the Christmas present I was most excited about was the bagless vacuum my stepdad bought for me. I tell you, it's like the greatest thing ever. I was so anxious to get home and vacuum. In fact, I have vacuumed every night since Christmas. Does anyone else see something wrong with this???
Then today, I went to the eye dr because I thought I had an infection in my left eye. Turns out it's just a severe case of dry eye (thank goodness). But, after the tech did the first part of my exam, the doctor comes into the room and says, "my, my, you just aren't seeing very well these days, are you?" I took it as a stab at my age though the rational side of me says that is NOT what he was implying. So yes, I have to get new lenses because my eyes have changed YET again. No wonder I've had trouble seeing at night. They did the whole dilate-the-eyes thing which I hate. Instead of those huge wrap around sunglasses you now get these roll up sunglasses that go behind your glasses. I looked like Granny Geek. But, I decided what the heck, I don't care and I'm going shopping. I ran to the mall and lo and behold ran into one of the doctor's I work with. She thought my Granny shades were amusing. Sigh........
That's life. I'm ok with it. I guess I have to be grateful I'm here at all.
Friday, December 31, 2004
Saturday, December 25, 2004
My Christmas Wish List
Merry Christmas everyone! And a big happy holidays to the non-Christmas celebrators....
I figure that you're never too old for a Christmas list for here's mine!
1. Whirled Peas. oh, that was supposed to be "world peace."
2. A new vacuum. Come on, a girl has to be practical.
3. A Sheds-No-More pill for my cat. No explanation needed.
4. No more war. And we're in Iraq why?????
5. No more Republicans winning elections.
6. A decent score on the GRE. I really, really hate math.
7. Someone to trim my hedges and landscape my yard. Preferably for free, but i'm willing to pay.
8. A baby/child. Once I hit 30 I started having baby fever. Ughhhh.
9. DSL that actually works.
10. A guitar. I really want to learn to play.
Best present I gave this year: A Jesus bobble-head doll that went to my friends Cindi and Dorothy. It rocks.
Peace on earth, goodwill to all.
rachel
I figure that you're never too old for a Christmas list for here's mine!
1. Whirled Peas. oh, that was supposed to be "world peace."
2. A new vacuum. Come on, a girl has to be practical.
3. A Sheds-No-More pill for my cat. No explanation needed.
4. No more war. And we're in Iraq why?????
5. No more Republicans winning elections.
6. A decent score on the GRE. I really, really hate math.
7. Someone to trim my hedges and landscape my yard. Preferably for free, but i'm willing to pay.
8. A baby/child. Once I hit 30 I started having baby fever. Ughhhh.
9. DSL that actually works.
10. A guitar. I really want to learn to play.
Best present I gave this year: A Jesus bobble-head doll that went to my friends Cindi and Dorothy. It rocks.
Peace on earth, goodwill to all.
rachel
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Grace happens
what a week this has been! i worked a lot of late hours this week, which sometimes happens in the life of a social worker. in case someone reading this doesn't know, i am an hiv/aids case manager/social worker/mother hen. i've been doing it for quite a while and as with any job, it has its ups and downs. i am often an advocate for those who can't speak for themselves or just need help manuvering the system. thursday's adventure was with a gentleman who needed both. now, before i launch into the post, let me first say that i'm pretty into the holiday season this year and am feeling all sentimental and thoughtful and pondering the whole "reason for the season."
so, earlier in the week my office is notified of a gentleman who has aids, is homeless, and is very ill. for some crazy reason, case workers in another city thought we could work magic here in oklahoma city. so, the guy was sent to us with nothing--no clothes, money, identification, anything. he could barely walk, talk, hadn't eaten, and looked awful. my agency and other hiv agency jumped into action and several of us spent hours trying to figure out what to do. it was obvious he needed medical care. i ended up escorting him to a local hospital er where we camped out for approximately 8 hours. the er doc was fabulous and after taking one look at him, the dr asked to see me in the hall. we talked through what i knew of his medical history and current ailments and how we had been getting the runaround everywhere. the doctor shook his head and commented, "this guy is as close to one of God's children as anyone else." i almost cried because finally, someone was listening and someone was acting. i spent the next few hours sitting in the exam room while my client dozed and nurses and dr's would come poke and prod him. i did a lot of contemplating and praying during that time. i kept thinking about what that dr said, about this man being a child of God. i'm not too into the evangelical christian usage of the phrase "what would Jesus do" but that's exactly what popped into my head. Jesus would be sitting in an emergency room with a grungy, sick, incoherent man with AIDS. i'm NOT saying i'm Jesus but the experience of grace and humbleness i had by being an advocate for this gentleman has been quite overwhelming. i suppose it's because of my faith in forgiveness and redemption that i know this man, though he may be experiencing a not so pleasant existence now, is being watched over with care and love.
it was powerful. maybe you just had to be there....regardless, it was life affirming.
peace.
so, earlier in the week my office is notified of a gentleman who has aids, is homeless, and is very ill. for some crazy reason, case workers in another city thought we could work magic here in oklahoma city. so, the guy was sent to us with nothing--no clothes, money, identification, anything. he could barely walk, talk, hadn't eaten, and looked awful. my agency and other hiv agency jumped into action and several of us spent hours trying to figure out what to do. it was obvious he needed medical care. i ended up escorting him to a local hospital er where we camped out for approximately 8 hours. the er doc was fabulous and after taking one look at him, the dr asked to see me in the hall. we talked through what i knew of his medical history and current ailments and how we had been getting the runaround everywhere. the doctor shook his head and commented, "this guy is as close to one of God's children as anyone else." i almost cried because finally, someone was listening and someone was acting. i spent the next few hours sitting in the exam room while my client dozed and nurses and dr's would come poke and prod him. i did a lot of contemplating and praying during that time. i kept thinking about what that dr said, about this man being a child of God. i'm not too into the evangelical christian usage of the phrase "what would Jesus do" but that's exactly what popped into my head. Jesus would be sitting in an emergency room with a grungy, sick, incoherent man with AIDS. i'm NOT saying i'm Jesus but the experience of grace and humbleness i had by being an advocate for this gentleman has been quite overwhelming. i suppose it's because of my faith in forgiveness and redemption that i know this man, though he may be experiencing a not so pleasant existence now, is being watched over with care and love.
it was powerful. maybe you just had to be there....regardless, it was life affirming.
peace.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Book Review: George Carlin
I'm a big fan of George Carlin. He's been around for a long time but he tends to focus much of his comedy on everyday, real life observations. Granted, some of them are not part of my reality, but they still make me laugh. His newest book is When Will Jesus Bring The Pork Chops and it's at the top of my current recommend list. I laughed and laughed and just when I thought I was done laughing I laughed some more. I'm reading it through again, to pick up on things I missed the first time. He has observations and ramblings on such subjects as:
Tips for Serial Killers: a general how-to chapter.
Euphemisms: how America has softened language to be more politically correct but basically have succeeded in avoiding reality.
Schmuck School: be a CPS, a certified public schmuck.
True Fact(s): A guy somewhere in the Midwest was sued for having too many Christmas lights on his house. Happy holidays.
My favorite line from the book:
(page 261). "When it comes to God's existence, I'm not an atheist and I'm not an agnostic. I'm an acrostic. The whole thing puzzles me."
Buy it, read it, share it with friends. Anyone local to OKC is welcome to borrow mine.
Tips for Serial Killers: a general how-to chapter.
Euphemisms: how America has softened language to be more politically correct but basically have succeeded in avoiding reality.
Schmuck School: be a CPS, a certified public schmuck.
True Fact(s): A guy somewhere in the Midwest was sued for having too many Christmas lights on his house. Happy holidays.
My favorite line from the book:
(page 261). "When it comes to God's existence, I'm not an atheist and I'm not an agnostic. I'm an acrostic. The whole thing puzzles me."
Buy it, read it, share it with friends. Anyone local to OKC is welcome to borrow mine.
When in Rome
I recently spent 10 days in Rome, Italy attending a political conference (of all things). It was hosted by a group called Lymec (www.lymec.org) and it's basically an organization of young, radical European youth. How cool is that?? As I am a part of the Young Democrats of America, Lymec invited two YD's to come consult with them on the issue of transatlantic relations, recent US and European political trends, and getting young adults involved in politics. I really didn't know what to expect when I went to Rome but I decided hey, you only live once....I went early to be a tourist and see all the sights. If I figure out how to load pictures onto this blog I'll post some. My favorite thing was St. Peter's Basilica. I was able to be in St. Peter's Square on Sunday when the Pope comes out and does a blessing. I could only see the top of his hat but still--what a thrill! St. Peter's is absolutely breath-taking, with all the art and statues and wonder. I celebrated Mass there and while I am not a Catholic I have been a frequenter of Mass for several years.
My least favorite Rome site was the Colleseum (I don't think I spelled that right). You can't go in so basically all we could do was drive around it. Boring. I mean, a few jumbotrons with lions eating some unsuspecting soul would have been something to entice visitors. Maybe this is why I am not in advertising.
But, the conference was the main purpose of my trip. The students were terrific hosts and thankfully the official language of the group is English. I was able to visit one on one with most everyone there and learn more about what inspires them, how their government works, and what they really think of Americans. Believe it or not, Europeans don't hate all Americans. They did question HOW George W. Bush won again, but it wasn't like they were trying to blame us or anything. Several were amazed at the un-democratic process of the Electoral College and I tend to agree with them. Whatever happened to one person, one vote?? Sigh.
I did not like the Roman bus transit system--it's basically throw everyone onto a bus like sardines and drive like a madman. I'm not quite sure, but I think I may have gotten pregnant on the bus, I was so squished up against some guy. I guess I'll find out...(to my family, that's a joke).
All in all it was a great time and despite my anxiety about traveling all that way it was an easy trip. I hope the Lymec folks will come to San Francisco for our Young Democrats of America convention this summer as it is a taste of American politics at work.
And as the old saying goes, "when in Rome do as the Romans..." I'm also going to apply the adage of "what happens in (insert city) stays in (insert city)." There are some things you just don't need to know!!
Peace
My least favorite Rome site was the Colleseum (I don't think I spelled that right). You can't go in so basically all we could do was drive around it. Boring. I mean, a few jumbotrons with lions eating some unsuspecting soul would have been something to entice visitors. Maybe this is why I am not in advertising.
But, the conference was the main purpose of my trip. The students were terrific hosts and thankfully the official language of the group is English. I was able to visit one on one with most everyone there and learn more about what inspires them, how their government works, and what they really think of Americans. Believe it or not, Europeans don't hate all Americans. They did question HOW George W. Bush won again, but it wasn't like they were trying to blame us or anything. Several were amazed at the un-democratic process of the Electoral College and I tend to agree with them. Whatever happened to one person, one vote?? Sigh.
I did not like the Roman bus transit system--it's basically throw everyone onto a bus like sardines and drive like a madman. I'm not quite sure, but I think I may have gotten pregnant on the bus, I was so squished up against some guy. I guess I'll find out...(to my family, that's a joke).
All in all it was a great time and despite my anxiety about traveling all that way it was an easy trip. I hope the Lymec folks will come to San Francisco for our Young Democrats of America convention this summer as it is a taste of American politics at work.
And as the old saying goes, "when in Rome do as the Romans..." I'm also going to apply the adage of "what happens in (insert city) stays in (insert city)." There are some things you just don't need to know!!
Peace
Friday, December 10, 2004
Prom flashback
I was watching an episode of The Simpson's tonight, as I tried to relax from a most stressful week at work. In the cartoon, the teacher's went on strike and Marge became Bart's teacher. He was thoroughly embarrased at having his mom around, who doted on him and did the whole lick-the-thumb-wipe-his-face thing. I started to laugh then I suddenly had this flashback to 11th grade. See, I went to a very small high school and for our junior-senior prom all the faculty and school board members were invited. My stepdad was on school board so he and my mom were at my prom! My prom! Of course, I didn't ride with them to the prom or anything horrifying like that; but, he did make me dance with him. Don't get me wrong--my stepdad's a good guy and all but who wants to dance with their dad at the prom?! I felt a lot of sympathy for Bart Simpson and silently prayed for Marge and her big blue hair to just go home and let the kid be a kid.
Yeah, it's a Friday and my brain is fried.
Yeah, it's a Friday and my brain is fried.
Newbie post!!
Ok folks, I decided to switch from LiveJournal and try this whole blogger.com thing. I must admit, I'm not sure why anyone would read a blog of mine because even I admit it's pretty boring. But, what the hell....I figured it was time for me to catch up with the internet age and share my stuff online. So, feedback is welcome but if I don't like what you have to say I might never speak to you again (and NOOOO, that is not a prize).
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