Just Shy of Paradise

Just Shy of Paradise
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Friday, February 22, 2008

Sick is no fun!


I'm really not the kind of person who should be battling a bunch of sydromes which are identified with letters,FMS (fibromyalgia)CFS(chronic fatigue syndrome)sounds like the punchline of a joke, and IBS(irritable bowel syndrome). But none of these are funny. I started by saying I'm not the kind of person who should have these. I'm not sure what kind of person SHOULD have these, but it shouldn't be me. I know this by hints doctors give me, like are you stressed? If stressed means doing whatever I want, when I want and loving life, then Yeah--if it means the traditional idea of stress, like demanding job and children, then that would be a big NO. Another question doctors ask is,"are you depressed?" Well, only in the way that anyone would be who is excited about their plans, only to have them sidelined by debilitating sickness. Then there was the worst doctor I had, who told me point blank that I must be a type A personality, demanding of myself and others, a perfectionist, and critical. HMMMM, well needless to say, my unusually passive husband told the doctor I'm not. What a jerk--the doctor--not my husband. This all started in my 20's after a bout with mononucleosis. I never really recovered after that. Sure I've had periods of good health, and the symptoms of each illness waxes and wanes. In fact I really haven't had IBS since college, thirty years ago. But for some reason lately, everything has manifested itself again. I will get better. One of the treatments is to laugh everyday! Seriously this was listed on a website for treatments. Well I love funny things and find great pleasure in reading, and or watching funny television shows. One of my favorite joys is the award winning sitcom, Arrested Development, unfortunately the show wasn't enjoyed by enough people, but I own all the episodes and they are found on G4. I have a bunch of friends who forward me funny stories. They are great! Feel free to email me jokes anytime--nothing else--but jokes. It will lead me to good health.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Tagged by Jake

I'm lucky enough to have very interesting nieces and nephews on both my husband's family and on my own. Recently I found out through my son that one of my nephew's, Jake tagged me on his blog. When I teased him about the fact that I found out only because Trevor (my son) told me--this was his response. By the way Jake recently broke his ankle playing rugby.


Aunt Carole,

Shouldn't you pay more attention to your husband's-brother's-son's blog? Does the afore-mentioned Trevor or Ginger have blogs? I must also confess that your blog post on Obama did get me interested enough to delve into his stance on a few issues even more, and I do quite agree with the following:

1- His plan to equalize persons with disabilities; now that I fall into this category, I think its worth a shot.
2- His voice, always very positive and uplifting, bears striking resemblance to one of my favorite WWE wrestler's voice, The Rock, so therefore he can't be THAT BAD for an extreme leftist liberal.
3- I'm not going to vote for a wolf in sheep's clothing, i.e. John McCain, no matter how much the Phoenicians threaten me here, especially when he pulls Huckabee in as his veep.

So, obviously my options are few.

Good luck with the tagged post. I look forward to it.

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Worked at Marie Calendar's where I learned that pie is pretty good.
2. Taught school at Mountain View High School in Orem where I learned that teenagers are really cool.
3. Taught school at Pleasant Grove Jr. High where I learned that cool teenagers are above the age of fourteen.
4. Taught school in Grouse Creek K-10 (24 kids total) where I learned that the coolest kids of all live in the middle of nowhere.


Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Big Business
2. Bandits
3. Arsenic and Old Lace
4. While you were Sleeping


Four places you have lived:
1. Orem
2. Highland
3. Grouse Creek
4. Paradise



Four TV Shows that I watch:
1. Chuck
2. Pushing Daisies
3. Arrested Development
4. Desperate Housewives


Four places you have been:
1. Lots of places in Europe
2. Washington D.C.
3. Ketchikan, Alaska
4. Vail, Colorado


People who email me (regularly):
1. Ginger (my daughter)
2. Emily (my niece)
3. A bunch of friends from LDStorymakers
4. my friend Karen


Four of my favorite foods:
1. Thai food
2. Salmon
3. Costa Vita chicken mango salad
4. Chinese food


Four places I would rather be right now:
1. eating Thai food
2. Visiting Ginger in Argentina
3. At a book signing for my own book!
4. Anywhere without three feet of snow.


Things you are looking forward to this year:
1. Finishing our house in Avon
2. Selling this house
3. Moving into new house
4. Seeing more of Pi


I would like to tag my niece Emily and Megan Roe and hmmm most of my other blogging friends have already done this or similar tags so I'll have to think about it.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Obama--"Yes We Can"



Our nation is in great need of hope, healing, and unity. While we have candidates on both sides of the political divide who have talent and intelligence, I feel strongly that Barak Obama is the man who can restore hope in the hearts of Americans. I was only in first grade when JFK was killed, but I do remember where I was standing in our kitchen in Orem Utah, my mother on the telephone, and my brother whispering that the president was dead. I have since watched documentaries, and read books, inspired by the words of Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy, and John Kennedy. I've watched several times the speech that Robert Kennedy was giving when he was interrupted with the message that Martin Luther King Jr. had been shot and had subsequently died. He paused and then spoke from his heart about the great man. His words inspired and healed in tumultuous times. The Sixties were difficult. Change was in the hearts of Americans. Hope was on the horizon. No matter what a person felt politically they felt despair to see first JFK shot and killed, then Martin, and then Robert. Hope was lost.
It's been forty years since that time. On 9-11 our dreams were dashed once more. Since 9-11, we have begun to rebuild, only to be divided again. I feel strongly that the man who can bring us together is Barak Obama. Caroline Kennedy, along with uncle Ted have endorsed Barak. They recognize something familiar in him, and so do I. He combines the charisma of Robert, the hope of Martin Luther King, and the wholesomeness that perhaps both men lacked. I see in him greatness, and greatness is what we need. This Tuesday Vote! He said, in the "unlikely story that is America there is nothing false about hope." Check out this inspiring music video using Barak's own words. http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=27458246