Unbelievable

As I have already confessed, I get much of my news from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I appreciate that they report the news in a way that doesn't make me want to kill myself..and that is with sarcasm and parody, which you have to admit helps you choke down the ridiculous pill that is the news. But just because they present news stories in a way that makes you laugh, doesn't mean they aren't true. I give you this story that was on last week:

There was a Congresswomen, Kathy Dahlkemper, who was trying to take a bill that she wrote and get it turned into a law. The bill gave discounts on health insurance premiums to people who exercise. Now that makes sense, yes? The Democrats liked it because it was preventative care. The Republicans liked it because of it's low cost. So why didn't the bill ever get made into a law? Who would try to squash this great idea? You might think that big tobacco or the fast food industry, right? Nope. It was the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association and the American Diabetes Association. That's right. Take a minute to think about that. And not only did they each try hard to kill the bill, but they cooperated with each other to put pressure on the House to kill it.

Now, I ask you this question again (I asked it last October during breast cancer awareness month.) Do these public health charities really want to help us all be healthier or do they want to continue to rake in billions of dollars under the guise of teaching us how to make healthier lifestyle choices? What possible explanation is there for not wanting us to have monetary incentives to exercise? The truth is, of course, that they want us to be unhealthy. That way they can not only continue to collect money after a person dies when their families take "contributions to the American Diabetes Association in lieu of flowers." Or on education of us complete morons on how we can "prevent this disease." Or on "raising awareness" walks or campaigns where you pay them to walk "for the cause" and get some stupid color-coded ribbon to show how much you care. These organizations explained their position in this way; that some of the people they represent cannot make these lifestyle changes and they are simply sticking up for those folks. Are you kidding me? Everyone can do some kind of exercise. Even fully disabled quadriplegics could have help doing passive exercise with a physical or massage therapist. Everyone else can do something.

Now this Congresswoman no longer holds a seat. I don't know why, but I wonder. She said on the show that the charities mentioned contacted her when they discovered she was going to be on the show. But since she doesn't hold a seat anymore, they didn't have a way to threaten her I suppose, so she went ahead with it.

If you think that the public health charities give a rip about public health, then by all means, give them all your money. I am not going to give them one red cent.

I have some more information about some other folks that care not about our nation's health. I'll write about that later. I need to go take a walk!

Things I don't get

If you start saying things like, "that's what's wrong with this country!" or, "I just don't understand the young people of today," does that mean you are officially old? I think I know your answer, "YES!" And I am prepared to admit it openly. I am old. Because I find myself saying those two things a lot. The last time I said, " that's what's wrong with this country," was with my insurance lady and a gentleman of about 85. We were having a heated discussion about the unfair practices of insurance companies. I suggested that people should be allowed to purchase an accident policy.....meaning that if they get into an accident they are covered, but that's it. But, see, that'll never work because then the doctors won't have insurance money to give you all the tests they say you need so they can find something wrong with you! I also found out that a 16 year old girl who is going to high school is paying a much, much higher rate for her auto insurance than that same girl who has had a baby and dropped out of school. What?

Another time I said "that's what's wrong with this country" was the other day at part-time massage job (Yes, I work for myself..but I also work for a franchise to make ends meet.) I like this job...they get tons of clients and they mostly just let us do our jobs and then go home. It's close to perfect. But lately they have been trying to give us incentives. So, up on the board in the break room are some stats that represent how often a client re books with the therapist they just got a massage from. Yours truly was the top performer...by kind of a lot. But that's not the contest of course. The contest is who can raise that percentage of re bookings by 10%. (The prize is a free massage....a pretty good prize!) But how is that a good contest? It's a lot easier for the person who has like 2% to get up to 12% which won't even be close to half of what I am doing just because I do my best without any incentives! I mean, seriously.....that is what is wrong with our country! The folks who do a good job because they take pride in their work get nothing. The slackers wait for some carrot to be dangled in their face to get motivated. Ugh! It's everywhere and I am sick of it.

Forever I have held to the mantra that if you work hard and treat people right you will succeed in life. I have to admit that I think this view may be at the very least, naive and at the most outdated. Outdated....like me. Oh well...I'm probably too old to change.

"Fall is in the air"

Doesn't it feel like change is in the air? Although I always think I want it to be summer forever, I have to admit I like the feeling of the air in fall the best. It can be warm outside, but it will still have that feeling that no one ever seems to be able to describe beyond "fall is in the air." What is that feeling? It feels a little crisp and the light is a little clearer. Hmmmm, maybe the feeling is change. This time of year is always kind of exciting. Maybe that is a carry over from the days of returning to school. You were a little scared, but excited too...for whatever opportunities the new year was going to bring you. Maybe the excitement was over your new clothes and shoes...I don't know. But change is definitely in the air now.

One change for me is that the salon where I work out of is moving. Miranda bought a building in a really good location. And it is close to my house, so I am excited about that. I think once we get in there and settled it will be really good for business. I hope so. We all need some positive change...and that positive change needs to include the economy. I have grown tired of watching people struggle. It's taking it's toll on everyone.

What's the solution for this? I'm not sure. We can appreciate and focus on what we do have...not what we don't have. And notice the simple beauty that surrounds us...like the subtle change in the air. And notice all the funny things you see during a day that make you smile...like watching my dog slide down a grassy hill on his back.

Happy autumn everyone. Let us focus on the change and will it to be a good one!

Whiskey Tango

You know who we should thank for keeping our environment beautiful? Our white trash brothers and sisters, that's who. I'm not talking about the tweekers and the meth makers kind of white trash, they are certainly not good for our environment seeing as how they leave a very toxic footprint indeed. I'm talking about the regular ol' working people, who around here, happen to be white. We affectionately call them white trash, or, if you prefer the code is "Whiskey Tango." This group just doesn't get proper credit for their contribution...and that contribution being that they don't overuse. Let me illustrate: They conserve water by having only one shower head in the shower (rich people have like 4), they don't have swimming pools that take thousands of gallons of water; they use a little plastic pool to stick their feet in and this usually pulls double duty 'cause the dog drinks out of it too. They don't water their lawns very much, and, if they are really hot they go to the lake. They don't use much electricity either. They don't have air conditioners, they have ceiling fans and in the evening when it cools off they sit outside. They don't have garage door openers, they park on the lawn. They don't put their beer in the fridge, they put it in a cooler with ice and set it next to them. And they certainly do not under any circumstances have a hybrid that they have to plug in! As for fuel? Well, who do you think goes up to the woods and picks up all the fallen trees for firewood, thus decreasing our fuels for forest fires? During the winter they are not heating their homes to 80 degrees...they are sitting on their couches in a Snuggy (a true value in itself!) In all probability, they probably aren't using up much gas since they can't afford to fill their tanks. And who do you think is responsible for taking back all the beer and pop cans for 5 cents a can? Or if they aren't doing it themselves they are selflessly leaving them where the homeless can find them. WT's have a way of re-using lots of items...which is a less fancy way of recycling. The best part is that they are not doing these things so they can be in the exclusive club of "friends of the earth" or "enviros"...they are doing it to save money. Oh, and because they have common sense.

Now before you get all uppity that I have used this label, please understand that I am including myself in this category. I suppose white trash used to refer to a certain unsavory element....but nowadays...it's just a phrase for the working class....again the light colored ones. There are other groups of folks that contribute just as much, but I'm not talking about them today. So next time you are enjoying the beautiful outdoors, thank a Whiskey Tango....because their thrift is helping us all. Sadly, however, they will never be recognized for it 'cause we ain't cool. Well, I'm recognizing you today, you unsung heroes!

Keep on keppin' on!

Remember that old saying? That was from the 60's or 70's....a long, long time ago. It's a good reminder to us all to not get stuck where we are...you gots to keep goin'! Of course, a lot of what I do everyday is helping people release the little places in their bodies that are stuck due to adhesions and scar tissue and also helping bodies move their stagnant energy. It's easy enough to go to a massage therapist or an acupuncturist, or whoever, to have them unstick your stuck places..but the hardest thing to do is move out of our emotional ruts.

Much like my computer this morning that informed me it was still "shutting down" from when I turned it off last night. Taking 8 hours to shut down is definitely a problem. (Note to computer: and if you don't shape up you will find yourself sailing out the back door in a very not gentle manner. I've done it before. Fair warning.) Or like our government's fight over this debt ceiling thing....enough already. MOVE ON. We have all been in a place that seems impossible to move from. We keep putting off that first step. It's scary. But taking that first step away from whatever is threatening to hold us down forever can be the best thing for our physical health. I have had many clients who will report that as soon as they made a decision to change something in their life, their physical pains went away.

To me, the most courageous people are those that do the hard thing. The ones who don't let anything keep them down for long. Of course, when something tragic happens there is that instinct to hunker down and lay low. You need to protect yourself for a while and that nurtures you in a way. The most basic thing we humans need it to feel safe. But the brave ones know that they have to move from that safety, even if it scares them. And they do.

For some, to walk out the door creates panic. For others panic doesn't come until they are jumping off a cliff with a parachute strapped to their back. It doesn't matter what scares you, it's that you do it anyway. It is a fact that when you do anything that scares you, even a little, it makes you happier. There's a reason for that. It all has to do with vibration. Everything is energy, right? Some things lower your vibration and some things raise your vibration. We have to do something everyday to raise our vibration. It can be as simple as going for a walk, or petting a dog, or riding a motorcycle or laughing. The vibration will unstick where we are stuck...that is a fact.

To feel scared is normal. To do it anyway is brave. But my advice is don't start base-jumping....'cause that's just stupid!

Dogs

There are two kinds of people in the world; dog people and non dog people. Almost everyone in my life is a dog person. Dog people understand that to not have a dog by your side when you take a walk or laying around the house is just not right. To come home and not have a dog to greet you is just empty. So, we have dogs. Sometimes just one, sometimes a couple. At one time when our family got together we had 7 dogs all running around. It was crazy...but sorta normal. I remember when Dakota used to get the stick and then all the dogs would chase him around trying to get it from him. It was like he was their personal trainer...and Alf would bark at him non stop until someone got the stick from him and gave it to Alf. Ahhhh quiet. And there was Budget...Amy's dog that was big and fluffy and mostly blind. And Emmet, a lab with no brain whatsoever. And Aspen....a sweet dog with a bitchy side. And dog people understand that as much as dogs enrich our lives..there is going to come the day when you have to make that terrible decision to let them go. Thank god we can have control over that so that your best friend doesn't have to suffer.

And that leads me to my mom's dog, Kal....who had to be put down yesterday. Kal was an excellent dog. I mean really excellent. He was a husky mix and the smartest dog I know. Seriously, you could watch that dog think. Kal was rescued from a neighbor who thought it was mean to have him tied up all the time. They trained this dog and then gave it to my parents after my dad answered an ad in the paper. And what a life Kal had with them! Forty acres of forest to call his own......well stocked with chipmunks to chase! And he was just happy to take himself on a walk or go with you when you took one. You could always tell where he was by the white tip of his tail above the sage brush. And I am telling you he put his tail up there so you could see where he was....he was that smart and considerate. And he had a long life.....more than 14 years. So, Kal's ok...maybe he's even re-connecting with my dad who just yelled to Kal across heaven... (Oh, my dad can yell loud!) But my mom is sad...and we are all sad to have to bury another friend in the pet cemetery on the property. But we will move on and get another dog who needs a great home...knowing full well that this could happen again. But it doesn't matter...the joy far outweighs the pain.
To Kal....goodbye sweet boy. You were a good dog. Monkey and I will miss you.

Solution sunglasses

You know how Memorial Day weekend is; everyone is just amped from being stuck indoors all winter. And for us, this year...it has been a looooooong winter that really isn't over yet. Sigh. But, dammit, it's Memorial Day weekend and we are going camping!! So everyone is like a kid whose been fed 3 cupcakes in school and is finally released out into the playground....running, head down, arms flailing screaming at the top of their lungs. I was around many such people this weekend, some kids, mostly adults...and machinery.Uh oh. That's right, all terrain vehicles. And these people were completely fearless in their quest to see just how well these vehicles could perform under adverse conditions. There was rain, sure. There was runoff from a heavy snow year, there were swamps, there was blow down and sometimes there were even actual trails to follow. I was along for the ride...and it was all fun and games and excitement until I broke my face on the roll cage on one of them. So my solution all week is to wear sunglasses to hide the two really nice black eyes that I got as a result.

It's funny how people wanna know what happened when they see a ruined face like mine. They just cannot help themselves. I get it...I would do the same thing. But the truth is usually not as exciting a story as they hoped for. So I came up with a couple options: One is that I am dating again. (Hahahaha...now that is funny, I don't care who you are!) Another is that I wrestled a bear or maybe a badger. (People usually don't go for this one) and of course I can always just say two words that get people nodding their heads like they've been there and those two words are "bar fight." But honestly, the truth was plenty exciting enough.

The company that I was in this weekend was superb. Absolutely the nicest people I have met in a long time. I mean really nice. Not fake nice, not sugar sweet nice where your afraid to turn your back. I mean generous and genuinely happy to meet you and would do anything for you without batting an eye. People who understand the cycle of life and who can just chalk everything up to a shrug and a "shit happens." And fearless. They know they can fix anything. And if for some reason they can't fix it, then oh well. I know a lot of people like this, I really do. But I met some new ones this weekend and it always makes me feel better about the world when I do. It re-affirms what I believe about America. Rough, tough, hard work, ingenuity, fearlessness and courage.......and bullshitting around the fire! That's what makes the world go 'round.