new blog

just a heads up to let y'all know that i've started another blog. it chronicles my low carb lifestyle.

i'd love it if you'd check it out:

carbinator

thanks!

i'll still be posting here, so stay tuned.

how far have we come?

more than thirty years ago, the summer before i graduated from high school, i served as a youth representative to my church denomination's state assembly. it took place at the penn state (johnstown) campus. it would have been mostly memorable for the time i spent on the handball courts and at the pong machine but for one notable exception: the rev. martin luther king, sr. was the keynote speaker.

i don't remember much about rev. king, but i do have a few clear memories: i shook his hand and thanked him for being there. he smiled and sincerely thanked me for having him (as if a mere teenager wielded that sort of power or influence). he struck me as a quietly proud, dignified gentleman, not unlike my grandfather.

i was old enough to be keenly aware of the impact rev. king and his family had on the civil rights movement; i had vivid memories of martin luther king, jr.'s assassination. i knew rev. king had to be an extraordinary man to influence and inspire his son. i was amazed that he could speak to us about him (among other things) so recently after his wife's tragic murder. the pain and grief had to be immense.

today, as barack obama becomes the 44th president of the united states, i am thinking about rev. king and the personal sacrifices he (and so many others) made so that we could reach a point in our history where a man -- finally -- wasn't judged by the color of his skin but by the content of his character. when i see racists, pessimists, neocons (who are mostly racists and pessimists in denial), historical revisionists, et al. trying to cast a pall over this remarkable achievement, i am saddened and troubled.

as we bask in this shining moment in our nation's history, let's take time to consider the road that has taken us this far -- and acknowledge that we still have quite a distance to go.

hello family, friends, and assorted ne'er-do-wells. i realize i have some catching up to do so off we go...

re: nanowrimo -- epic fail. i got sick, thought i could catch up, started dealing with several family health issues, still thought i could catch up, then had a death in the family (second one in a little more than a month). i threw my hands up and accepted defeat. although i didn't reach the nanowrimo finish line i've pretty much convinced myself that i can get something done given the time and effort. i've done long pieces before, but over much extended periods of time. i kind of like the fast, concentrated pace and have every intention of doing it again soon. i'll keep you posted.

this is the third year i'll be taking a holiday break. it begins this evening. since my work life revolves around the 'net and computer stuff, my self-imposed exile mostly consists of me turning off the computer and leaving it off for about three weeks while i do fun things like sleep and catch up on my reading. i also intend to do more painting and make a few more trips to the casino.

yeah, i know how to live it up.

anyway, i may be using my laptop to occasionally check twitter, and perhaps facebook and this blog. i'm still undecided on it. definitely no email or web surfing, though.

if i don't type at you before then, i hope you and yours have a very merry christmas and a terrific new year.

pax out.

tag, not meta

my sweet friend, the lovely lisa reid, has tagged me (make sure you subscribe to her blog, put it on the list). lisa's celebrating her one year blogivesary. congrats, girlfriend! anyway, i guess this makes me the "it" girl. har. i'm supposed to tell you six things that no one knows about me and tag six other people so they can tell you about themselves, and so on and so forth. if you decide to play along, please comment so other folks will know to read your blog (i've included the links 'cause you're all so great i want folks to check out your blogs regardless of whether you play or not).

and...we're off...

1. i drove a tow truck once. yes, there was a car attached to it. no, it wasn't mine (neither the car nor the truck). i managed to safely reach my destination.

2. in the early '80s i volunteered for our local ambulance service as an ambulance driver. i'm not into first aid at all, but i do like flashing lights, sirens, and driving really, really fast -- especially the driving really, really fast part.

3. i worry, therefore, i am.

4. most kids have dogs, cats, or other domesticated animals for pets. i had a raccoon. i hand raised him from a baby (bottle feedings, the whole nine yards) and eventually released him.

5. my dream home is an early, authentic craftsman.

6. if i'm going to be late to an event, i'd rather not go at all.

now, for my six tags:

• mindless ramblings and trivial things: c'mon girl. you need to blog more. you know you wanna.
• twdq: not entirely on topic for dave's blog, but he's so awesome that i want to know more about him.
• raw faith...real world: linda b! you just know she's cool by her rapperesque name.
• bernieville: i'm pretty sure bernie's reading this. shout out to bernie! now, get to blogging!!
• the note head: i've known chris since we were kids. tell us more about yourself, chris! :)

i'm gonna cheat a little here...we did this on our myspace blogs awhile back. i've included one extra link. if any of y'all want to post new lists, please do so. i'll just link to your current myspace blogs:

• thought bubble: laura makes me laugh and cry -- sometimes at the same time. brilliant, witty, and introspective without losing perspective. great stuff.
• carolyn arends: she's cool, even with her veggie aversion! this link will take you to carolyn's wrestling with angels blog, where she parks her various columns.

ok, more bloggy goodness soon. ciao!