tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19002934454747899452024-03-13T09:15:11.925-07:00The Good TwinWhat one half of the GeneSplice has to say...The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-18526570193380895072012-07-28T23:08:00.005-07:002012-07-28T23:08:59.062-07:00Hello Again!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well, it's been quite some time since I have ventured here to write a bit. The past year has been busy with all sorts of adventure. We have bulldozed our yards, adopted a new dog, and traveled on our first cruise. We have had some ups and downs and all arounds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I'm hoping to write more regularly...not that many people even read this. But it's a good way to get out what I want to say. No matter how random.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Stay tuned. :-)</span>The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-21639664466133372222011-05-02T11:02:00.000-07:002011-05-02T11:02:37.889-07:00Conflicting Thoughts, Closure & The High Road<div style="text-align: left;">As the news has come out about the death of Osama Bin Laden, I am equally fascinated and scared of the barrage of comments I have seen on facebook. facebook is where I first heard the news and it was blowing up as people rejoiced in this death, hailed the troops and alternately applauded or criticized President Obama.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">My first reaction was interest and a thought of "Finally, they found him. He is dead. What will come of this?" But, I didn't have that rush of joy and celebration that so many seem to be having. Perhaps it is not part of my make up to celebrate death and murder. Any death or murder. We all see news stories and video clips of terrorists celebrating the deaths of American soldiers, celebrating when America has experienced great loss - for example the Katrina disaster. Video of them burning our flag and such hatred in the celebration.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Do we want to look like that?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I have seen comments of outrage that we treated his body according to Islamic Law. Cries of protest that we didn't drag his body through the streets as a show our victory. This is the exact way terrorists have treated the bodies of our soldiers, of UN workers, of reporters. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Do we want to act like that?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">By honoring Islamic Law, I think we took the high road. And, lest you think me naive, I'm sure it was also a political decision to ward off the predicted threats of retaliation to come from killing Bin Laden. These events are sure to happen and if we stave off the intensity or amount by treating his body with respect, I can live with that.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Closure is a concept that I don't believe in. I don't think that a traumatic event in a persons life can just magically be "closed", put to rest, or wholly make sense as a result of another action. As we grow and learn and change, these events mean different things to us. As we go through the grieving process and acceptance, these events effect us in different ways. Closure just doesn't happen.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I speak from experience. A dear friend of mine was murdered several years ago. I have gone from shock to anger to grief to just plain missing my friend everyday. If they find the murderer will I feel differently - I don't think so. I wouldn't be consumed by a sense of peace. My friend is still gone. Would I feel like some justice has been served? Yes - I think I would.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I hope the families effected by the tragedy on September 11th find peace throughout their whole lives. Perhaps this event helps them. I don't begrudge them that.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">A post I saw on facebook reminded people that this event means different things to different people and that we need to respect each persons response. I can get with that. Why? Because we live in a country where we can all have our emotions, opinions and thoughts. Without the fear of punishment. That is America. That is freedom.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-37061204381971287122011-04-04T22:04:00.000-07:002011-04-04T23:15:50.012-07:00Take THAT, Anxiety!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VY_ygErsf3Q/TZqaazwOJDI/AAAAAAAAAdw/CLM0FS1PBEM/s1600/social+anxiety.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VY_ygErsf3Q/TZqaazwOJDI/AAAAAAAAAdw/CLM0FS1PBEM/s1600/social+anxiety.jpg" /></a></div>That's right - I am an anxious person. There, I've said it, it's out there and I can't get it back. Not that I want to. I have learned that I am better off just admitting that I experience anxiety. Hiding it just makes it worse. <br />
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I have spent a lot of time working on this particular aspect of my personality. Sometimes I think I should be a lot farther along than I am, and then I remember that I could be stuck in my house and too afraid to leave. That is sooooo not an option, even though it seemed like a good one for awhile. At times, it still does.<br />
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Every couple of years I do something that completely challenges my anxiety and throws me for an utter looper. It makes my anxiety shoot through the roof and feels horrid while I'm doing it. My goal: to get out on the other side, still alive, proud that I didn't let my anxiety stop me. <br />
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A couple of years ago my big challenge was a two month long improve comedy class at Comedy Sportz. This was done after a therapist asked me to come up with two of the scariest scenarios I could think of. I came up with sky diving and improve comedy. Then she told me to pick one and do it. I picked the improve comedy because I really do think falling out of a plane might give me a heart attack. Peeing my pants on stage, while embarrassing, wouldn't kill me. I made it through the class without any serious melt downs (there were some serious headaches), didn't die and was really proud of myself. <br />
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I should note that we built up to this activity. I literally had to start with simple tasks. Like the time my home work was to make 2 phone calls before my next session. Sounds simple - for those with out anxiety - it isn't always easy for me.<br />
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This past December I challenged my anxiety again. I decided to try a new kind of interpreting: video relay. I had successfully avoided VRS interpreting for years. Dedicated to my decision, I let everyone know that there was no way in HELL, I would EVER do VRS. Ever. Did I say ever? Why you might ask? I tried to convince myself that I just wasn't interested. It wasn't my thing. Blah blah blah. A smidge true, yes. But mostly: I was freaked the heck out! Due to FCC rules, I had no mental image of the environment due to never seeing the environment/call center(ya, that doesn't help the girl who wants to know what everything is like before she goes/does it.). Oh, and I heard all sorts of horror stories. Again: not helping.<br />
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So, last December a couple of friends told me they were going to do the training and hey, wouldn't it be cool if I joined the group? Crap. Double crap. TRIPLE crap. I decided to check it out, and promptly regretting making that decision. Long story short: I didn't pull the plug on my decision. I didn't want to be a quitter and I have to say through the years, the feeling of "I am not a quitter" has kept me going when my anxiety wanted me curled up in the fetal position crying. <br />
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Of course getting through the training was one of the most stressful things I have ever done. I know the others in the group knew that I was freaked, but there is no way they knew the extent of my anxiety. They had no idea when I was light headed, sick to my stomach, dizzy, experiencing an anxiety head ache. They didn't know that I could barely sleep the week of the training. Or the amount of deep breathing I was doing. OK, they did have an idea with I was close to tears - can't really hide that. But, they encouraged me and had my back. I almost emailed them and explained why I was acting a bit odd, but never did. <br />
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I feel good that I made it through. If I hadn't I wouldn't be having the fun I am having now. I wouldn't be working with some really great people. Best of all, I don't have the regret of not doing it. Taking on this challenge ended up being a great decision. New people, new skills, and a new notch on my "screw you, anxiety" belt.<br />
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Anxiety is still a part of my life every day. That is just a fact. But, I try to not let it stop me. The therapist who helped me with my anxiety asked me one session, "What do you do to combat your anxiety?" My response: "I get up and go to work. I keep interpreting. I book jobs even though almost every time I do - I have an immediate impulse to cancel. I didn't quit the interpreting program back when I was in school and my anxiety was through the roof along with a digestive disorder that was made worse by the anxiety. I take jobs that challenge me. I stand in front of people and do my job. That's how I deal with my anxiety." It's true. <br />
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So, I have a couple of years to ponder what my next anxiety challenge will be. Hhhmmmm........I have no idea at this point. But, I'm sure I will figure it out. In the mean time, I will continue to feel anxious. I will continue to fight it. I will continue.The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-64328104877605011042011-04-03T19:59:00.000-07:002011-04-03T19:59:40.108-07:00Me? Slacker? Maybe Not.<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FwR7ayWG6j0/TZkvbzUMWxI/AAAAAAAAAds/R_pqRYhoIQw/s1600/PV+Church.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FwR7ayWG6j0/TZkvbzUMWxI/AAAAAAAAAds/R_pqRYhoIQw/s320/PV+Church.bmp" width="240" /></a></div>Ok, so I started out the Lenton season with high hopes of giving something up. I was going to give up Facebook and then a friend of mine texted me with a plea: "Please don't give up Facebook for Lent. I need you in my virtual life." Well, crap. Ok, since this is one of the very few people I have known since first grade, and she lives out of town and we don't get to chat, I decided to find something else to give up.<br />
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The point of Lent is to focus on your faith. Taking time to sacrifice in order to better understand your relationship with God. So, while I have yet to figure out what I am giving up - I have taken time to ponder. <br />
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Candy? Sugar? Eating out? I feel like I have done these things before and I don't actually learn much from them. So, I kept thinking and thinking and thinking.<br />
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I have yet to come up with anything.<br />
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But perhaps I am not a slacker after all. This season I have been more aware of spiritual issues. Without going into too much detail, I will tell that that I was raised in a church, still feel connected to that church but also have serious SERIOUS issues with my home denomination and with most churches in general. <br />
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Over the years I have come to learn that many people I know who are strongly into their faith are also some of the most close minded, judgemental people I know. I find that very sad, as I don't equate religion/God with hate but with love. <br />
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Anyway - I wrestle with religion daily. I believe, yet I believe in my own way. I did catch a lot of flack from "friends" about giving something up for Lent. Some friends I can joke about with this and others I know are not really joking but like to lump people who believe (whether it be a little or a lot) in with the morons of the world. Now, that's not really fair either. I don't judge you for not believing anything. Really I don't care what other people do or do not believe. Oh, and I am not a moron.<br />
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Recently a book has come out from a well known pastor. The premise of the book is basically the discussion that perhaps we all end up in heaven. Really, this is controversial? He asks in the book, "Is Gandhi in heaven?" I'm amazed at how many people, who call themselves Christians, answered no to that question. "Well certainly he isn't, he wasn't Christian." Oy, people, get a grip. I plan to read this book, but at this point I am hold #57 out of 80 hold at the library, so it will be awhile. I don't typically read this type of book, but this one is calling to me.<br />
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So, maybe I am not a slacker. Who knew?<br />
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Oh, and the photo? It is beautiful metal work above the doorway into a Catholic cathedral in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-11639271821283203922010-11-01T21:21:00.000-07:002010-11-01T21:21:59.060-07:00Ok, Already! I know! :-)<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I know I have been seriously lacking in the blog posting department. But, having my DAD say "You haven't posted anything in a while" seriously drives the point home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ok, Dad and everyone, I will get on the ball. Ideas anyone? I need a theme I think to get myself in gear! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I am now open for suggestions.</span>The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-7052502006686234592010-10-10T20:44:00.000-07:002010-10-10T20:44:59.926-07:00Madison, You're Pretty Dang Cool!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/TLKGRtyT2pI/AAAAAAAAAdY/94u_lhaNiIw/s1600/livable_cities_madison_wisconsin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="224" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/TLKGRtyT2pI/AAAAAAAAAdY/94u_lhaNiIw/s320/livable_cities_madison_wisconsin.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We have been in Madison, Wisconsin the past 5 days and WOW, I must say - I could easily live here. Of course that's being said without experiencing the Wisconsin winter. This place is beautiful. Trees are changing color everywhere.With the absence of pine trees, the color is even more concentrated. Add in the fact that Madison is situated on an isthmus between two lakes, and I love it even more. I could never be land locked, and while the lakes are not the ocean - it's still a body of water.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Another upside - this is a college town! University of Wisconsin is here and gives it a great vibe. Fun, funky, intelligent, and open minded. There is a lot of cyclists, restaurants, and space to stretch out and be active.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The past few days have been a blur of wedding activity as we celebrated and prepared for Leah and Marks wedding. We've all been busy, but having fun. And food has been a prime activity. Their wedding went off without a hitch and a good time was had. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Tomorrow we head back to Milwaukee to catch our flight and return home. Getting back to the grind will be ok, but I have to say I will miss this place and look forward to coming back.</span></div>The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-34135730075954217962010-09-12T00:20:00.000-07:002010-09-12T00:20:16.553-07:00Busy as a ...<div align="center"><strong><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life feels frantic these days. Mid August was the beginning of the "mad dash to October 11th" That is the day we fly back from my being in and interpreting my friends wedding in Wisconsin. I'm very excited for the trip, but also excited that as of that day - my life will calm down. The whole wedding thing is actually no biggie, it's the rest of my life that is nuts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Weddings, employee retreats, planning meetings, coordinating workshops, out of town trips, everyday work....all of this has been at mach speed lately. I have one weekend free until I fly out for my friends wedding. ONE! Granted some of what I have been doing is fun, but at this point a little sitting on my back end would feel great. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I miss my friends. I really want to meet up with two friends for a long talked about, but not accomplished dinner together. I want to clean my office, get organized, and get ducks in rows. I want to ride my bike. I would like to chat on the phone. I would like to respond to a text with "hey lets meet up" not " on my way to/I'm just walking into/am in a meeting/job/workshop".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I need to ssslllllooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwww ddddddoooooowwwwwwnnnnnnnnn!!!</span>The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-160026043329609542010-08-13T09:12:00.000-07:002010-08-13T09:12:37.266-07:00Thank God it Wasn't an Owl!Early this morning, around 4am, I was having some serious restless legs and couldn't sleep. In order to not annoy my slumbering hubby with my "flopping like a fish out of water" routine, I grabbed a blanket and headed down to the living room couch. The couch is actually comfy, three of the windows were open and a nice breeze was coming in.<br />
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Just as finished settling and closed my eyes...a cell phone went off outside the window. A little soft trilly song. And, it only went off once...like someone caught it. It literally sounded like it was in my living room.<br />
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There are no words to explain how fast my eyes flew open and how motionless and quiet I became as I was listening, trying to figure out if I could hear someone standing outside of my house. Was it the neighbor? It really didn't sound like there were walls and windows between the sound and me. My neighbors girlfriend is often outside (facing my window) sitting on the stoop talking on her phone. But, it's 4 am. She is not out there. And I have never heard her phone make that noise.<br />
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Needless to say, I looked around (stuffing down that fear I have that I will look out the window and see a face looking in) and saw nothing. Heard nothing more. I settled back down and finally fell asleep. I must have been REALLY tired to actually rest after that.<br />
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All I can say is: Shannon - thank GOD it wasn't an owl!! LOL ...um inside joke there. The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-69221269096955612862010-07-27T23:56:00.000-07:002010-07-27T23:56:00.635-07:00My Brain is Weird.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When I am procrastinating, I get the word stuck in my head to the tune of Carly Simon's "Anticipation". I have no idea why.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When I am sitting some place waiting for a job to start, or waiting for someone to show up, or the class is taking a test and I forgot to bring a book that day, and time is creeping, I get the Steve Miller Song "Fly Like an Eagle" Stuck in my head. Specifically the "time keeps on slippen' slippen' slippen' into the future..." part. It doesn't really help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Does YOUR brain work in mysterious ways? Do tell....I can't be the only one.</span>The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-50495069313057735772010-07-20T23:38:00.000-07:002010-07-21T00:27:31.516-07:00Stop the Ride, I'm Getting Off<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/TEaT0SgxCnI/AAAAAAAAAc8/L9kR0Qiojmw/s1600/green+ribbon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/TEaT0SgxCnI/AAAAAAAAAc8/L9kR0Qiojmw/s200/green+ribbon.png" width="123" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/TEaUHRXOxoI/AAAAAAAAAdE/5x54ChDgPI8/s1600/addiction+ribbon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" hw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/TEaUHRXOxoI/AAAAAAAAAdE/5x54ChDgPI8/s200/addiction+ribbon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Its been a while since I wrote this<span style="color: red;"> </span><a href="http://tinathegoodtwin.blogspot.com/2009/07/hope-hope-hope.html"><span style="color: red;">post</span></a>. I still stand behind every word I wrote. I still believe in having hope and patience with those who suffer from mental illness. Everyday I remind myself how hard it must be to live that way every day. Stuck on the roller coaster while that damn carnie just won't stop the ride and let you off.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I rode the downward slope with a friend a couple days ago. She went screaming down, down, down, and I was belted in next to her scared, sad, mad, and damn tired to be there...again. Sunday was far from the first time we have made a trip to the hospital and unfortunately, unless something drastic changes, she is well on her way to a million frequent flyer miles. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Like I said, I still stand behind my earlier post. But, those with mental illness and addiction have to take some control and help themselves. We can't do it all for them. We can lead them to services, addiction recovery, doctors and safety. Getting them to realize they need these services is a whole other problem. Even worse is when they know they need the services but choose their addiction over family and friends and life. Repeatedly.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The loved ones of those suffering from addiction take a beating. We love, hope, get crushed, love some more, hope, get crushed again, love and love some more. And if we have the strength, we know when to step back and distance our selves from the situation. I am having to find that strength. There is nothing I can do. I have done it all. I am stepping away. While my heart hurts, my head is telling me I'm doing the right thing. I don't expect her to understand. She may never understand. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So, I still have hope for her. I will always have hope that she will seek help and her life will become the one she is meant to have. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-9426765035155847112010-07-18T12:20:00.000-07:002010-07-18T12:20:07.339-07:00Where Did the Hours Go?I started this weekend Thursday afternoon. I had a meeting with some great people and I convinced them to have it at our beach house. Heh Heh Heh!! I drove down to the coast with a friend and since no one else took me up on the "hey come the night before instead of driving down at the crack of dawn", we spend the evening chatting, enjoying pizza and a couple of beers. Perfection.<br />
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Friday was our retreat and then Friday night, a little shin dig for a fabulous friend. Saturday, I awoke with the motivation to spend all day working in my office and finally getting it cleaned up, organized and ready to actually use. Alas, I was derailed by Rex, who decided we should work in the yard. Hmmm...its not a gazillion degrees outside...ok fine. <br />
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Saturday ended with Sushi and the FREAKIEST MOVIE I HAVE EVER WATCHED! Which of course my dear friend told me TO NOT WATCH. I will from now on head the advice of said dear friend. I may be scarred for life.<br />
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As for today, I have businessy stuff to catch up on and a party at my sis-in-laws house tonight. <br />
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All very fun stuff, but I still need more hours and my darn office to be cleaned. Ah well..I figure having "She had a clean office" on my headstone would suck. I'd rather it say "we tried to find that piece of paper in her office that said what she wanted on her head stone, but she was out having fun so much that her office was a wreck and it was impossible to find that paper and thus, THIS is the what we put on it instead"<br />
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I hope everyone had some fun this weekend. :-)The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-68858532805655394362010-07-13T08:22:00.000-07:002010-07-13T08:25:13.016-07:00I'm a Teeeny Bit Freaked Out...<span style="font-family:arial;">I have this really important meeting today in Salem. We are trying to convince the state to change <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">their</span> minds on a really poor decision that was made. With cuts being made everywhere, this is going to be hard to do. But, with facts and common sense, perhaps we can at lease make them think or get an extension.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I have a HUGE fear that no one will show up. The group will be small and less <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">impactful</span>. We really need people to show. I guess at the end of the day, I will know I tried to make something happen.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Wish us luck!</span>The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-21270725292278918782010-07-12T23:25:00.000-07:002010-07-12T23:26:32.333-07:00New Look!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, I went overboard and played with the new designs Blogger has available. I picked this picture because if I could be there right now, I would be. </span>The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-16279488074531256652010-07-12T23:01:00.000-07:002010-07-12T23:03:27.284-07:00Ok, Ok, I know, I know!I received some fabulous Reiki tonight by a wonderful friend. It was fantastic! While we chatted, she told me I had to PLEASE post something new on my blog. So true my friend! I promise I will catch up and post some new stuff pronto.The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-75080541637057415762010-05-29T12:50:00.000-07:002010-05-29T12:52:35.682-07:00Cracktacular!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I broke <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">down</span> at about 11:45 last night. Grabbed the keys, walked through the rain, got in my car, grabbed my book, started reading. I did manage to have some self control and only ready about 20 pages then crashed. See, I'm improving. </span>The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-55802742055829661012010-05-28T13:32:00.000-07:002010-05-28T13:34:19.673-07:00Will Power<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So I have managed to keep the crack in my car. I'm currently reading a book that I need to finish first....Wow, if I could use this will power for other aspects of my life, things would be different.</span>The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-36275688116193950992010-05-27T01:00:00.000-07:002010-05-27T01:04:26.759-07:00I Couldn't Take It!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Try as I might, I couldn't stop myself from driving to an out of the way library for the next installment of literary crack!</span>The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-65611418502986487792010-05-25T17:57:00.000-07:002010-05-25T17:59:29.947-07:00I can't focus...I have a new addiction.The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-51157937761572407682010-05-10T18:17:00.000-07:002010-05-10T18:26:44.139-07:00Where Am I?<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/S-iwdXvGFKI/AAAAAAAAAcc/_IjJVPxbYrM/s1600/fog.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469815766075708578" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/S-iwdXvGFKI/AAAAAAAAAcc/_IjJVPxbYrM/s320/fog.jpg" /></a> I'm feeling lost and not exactly sure of where I am. Or where I am suppose to be. Do you ever feel that way? Like you don't exactly fit anywhere. Like the odd piece of the puzzle that just doesn't match up. That's what I feel like.<br /><br />Like you are not the version of you that everyone else sees and you just want to scream, "DAMN IT, that's not the real me! You don't know who I REALLY am. Why doesn't anyone see me..." Why can't I connect with what they see?<br /><br />I need a road map. I need the fog to clear.The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-79549664575311696802010-04-27T10:53:00.001-07:002010-04-27T11:30:56.348-07:00I'm Heading to Tower...Want to Come?<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/S9cktlGDLoI/AAAAAAAAAcU/ofq1Q86NnOA/s1600/vinyl%2520record.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464877038307585666" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/S9cktlGDLoI/AAAAAAAAAcU/ofq1Q86NnOA/s320/vinyl%2520record.jpg" /></a> I picked up Rex's iPod today and stared at it...and stared...and realized I have no idea what to do with it. I assume it's "user friendly" and that I will get the hang of it, but at this point I need lessons.<br /><br />Last week I asked Rex to bring his iPod home from the office, as it seemed he wasn't really using it much. I though, cool, I can load it full of my music! And by "my music" I mean downloading the music from my stacks of CD's in my office (you can do that, right?) not "my music" in the same way as Ross Geller means "my music".<br /><br />Last night I plugged the iPod into the computer for a good charge and this morning I disconnected it. Then, I stared. I don't know the first thing about iTunes and downloading or uploading music or whatever I need to do. Just to prove I'm not a complete and utter tech idiot - I then texted a good friend to tell her I need an iPod tutor.<br /><br />What I really need is Tower Records. Remember the days when you went to the record store? Vinyl was to be played, not melted into bowls or formed into jewelry. (although, both look cool)Flipping through the stacks of albums until you found what you wanted. Waiting to see the sneak peak of the cover art for your favorite bands next album. I like the whole vinyl process. I like the sounds of the music with the distinctive pops and cracks as the needle moved across the ridges. Hey, and just how is one suppose to hear the devil on a CD? Those can't be played backwards.<br /><br /> Tapes were cool. Especially with a walkman. I have vivid memories of being in the car driving to the beach, headphones on listening to Culture Club and The Alarm. I do like CD's...although I don't understand why they price hasn't dropped after all these years. Smaller, shiny, me likey. But I still miss going to the store...the record store.<br /><br /> Maybe my background is the problem, you see I was raised for a while in a record store. My Grandpa and Grandma Baughman owned Town Record Shop in Portland. Located at what is now the Zuppans on Burnside and 23rd. Each time we visited them at the store we were given a Disney Long Playing Record. You know, the kind with the book and it chimed to turn the page and told you when to flip the 45. I still have them. The two things that did freak me out at the store were the life size cut outs. Two of them loomed in the front and scared the bejesus out of me: Elvis and Barbra Streisand. I don't know why they scared me, but I think it was a chunkier Elvis and it was during the time Babs had an afro and knee socks...perhaps justified fear. After my Gramps was too sick to keep the shop open, Elvis and Barbra came to my Grandparents home...the back bedroom to be specific. I SWEAR people used to send me in there to fetch things on purpose, just to scare me.<br /><br />I can't tell you how many times my brother, sister and I jumped in the car and headed to Tower. It was always exciting. The idea of new music, the latest release, and the fact that they stayed open late made it into an adventure. Square yellow bags with the red block lettering....(speaking of bags, after my Gparent's store closed we some how came into possession of a stack of bags with KISS on the side. We used KISS plastic bags, gloriously sporting the four faces, as Halloween treat bags for years. They were AWESOME!)<br /><br />No doubt I will figure out the iPod. When we first got it, Rex had his sister load her songs onto it, so now I will be in the process of deleting some of those and clearing space for our/my stuff. This will be easy, right? I hate feeling like I need a class for the not really latest technology. Well, new to me technology. Where's my turntable? Walkman? Boom box?The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-86500508280929411772010-04-16T08:52:00.000-07:002010-04-16T08:59:19.687-07:00Tonigh: John Prine<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When John <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Prine</span> comes to town it's family event for us. My Dad raised us on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Prine</span>, Cash, Nelson, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Presely</span>. I have distinct memories of us riding along in the 1978 black Ford Pickup, heading to the coast and always stopping to check out the elk in the meadows or fish in the Wilson River.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tonight we head to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Schnitz</span> for great music, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Prine</span> telling fun stories and bonding with my Pops and siblings. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I was going to add a video, but alas it didn't work. I'll see what I can do about that.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span>The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-74487789452010640262010-04-15T07:38:00.000-07:002010-04-15T07:45:30.149-07:00If I Had My Druthers....<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/S8cljZGHnNI/AAAAAAAAAcM/bg4O7WI879I/s1600/DSCN0749.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460374363172216018" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/S8cljZGHnNI/AAAAAAAAAcM/bg4O7WI879I/s320/DSCN0749.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/S8cli5rMAWI/AAAAAAAAAcE/NsnKRN02Chw/s1600/DSCN0814.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460374354737758562" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/S8cli5rMAWI/AAAAAAAAAcE/NsnKRN02Chw/s320/DSCN0814.JPG" /></a><br />... i would be here today.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Here being the trail that leads to Romona Falls and back.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>I suppose I should have added a picture of the actual falls...</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/S8cliu5vOAI/AAAAAAAAAb8/8lvVtCkyA9I/s1600/DSCN0815.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 332px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460374351845996546" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/S8cliu5vOAI/AAAAAAAAAb8/8lvVtCkyA9I/s320/DSCN0815.JPG" /></a>Point being - in nature and not at work.</div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-55125208407523006272010-04-13T00:25:00.000-07:002010-04-13T00:30:48.994-07:00Orange = Happy<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/S8QdFMcWCaI/AAAAAAAAAb0/UqZM_dmsEmo/s1600/orange+flower.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459520623356545442" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/S8QdFMcWCaI/AAAAAAAAAb0/UqZM_dmsEmo/s320/orange+flower.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Rex gave me this flower.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The color orange makes me happy. That's all I have for today. :-)<br /></div></span>The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-11697517699252654282010-04-02T18:51:00.000-07:002010-04-02T19:24:56.500-07:00It's ALIVE!!...The Roof I Mean...<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">This picture taken from the Ecoroof Blog at the City of Portland Ecoroof Program </span><a href="http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=44422"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Website</span></a><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 235px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455726677203966962" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/S7aigdpdW_I/AAAAAAAAAbs/le6UOuZTd7Q/s320/ecoroof.jpg" /> <div> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Rex and I went to the most AMAZING lecture this week about living roofs. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The </span><a href="http://www.oregonzoo.org/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Oregon Zoo</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, in coordination with </span><a href="http://audubonportland.org/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Audubon Society of Portland</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and a few other people, hosted a lecture with Dusty Gedge and "urban ecologist, performer, and public speaker". He was amazing. It was amazing. Dusty was full of information, science, humor, energy and passion for covering our roofs with life. Not only plant life, but the bugs and bees and such that come to live in the plantings placed on roofs.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The almost 2 hour lecture went fast as we saw slide after slide of living roofs in his native England and neighbor Sweden. Beautiful roofs that made the city look alive and provided much needed space for rare and amazing species of invertebrates that have had their habitat destroyed by high rises and roads. Dusty and his comrades have been working for the past few decades on programs and education and projects that just keep expanding the number of roofs that are now alive.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, why was he here in our neck of the woods? Because Portland is putting a lot of energy into eco roofs. Sam Adams has started a program at the city called </span><a href="http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=44422"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Portland Ecoroof Program</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. Mayor Adams wants to see 49 acres of roofs converted to living roofs! NICE! And, they are giving away grants to those who are interested in participating. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I have to say, my eyes have been opened to the benefit of these types of roofs. I always thought they were cool, but now I know they are sorely needed in our urban areas. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If you would like to learn more about Dusty Gedge, check out his website, </span><a href="http://www.dustygedge.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">www.dustygedge.com</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. From there you can take a gander at his blog.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">For more WONDERFUL information about living roofs, check out his other website, </span><a href="http://www.livingroofs.org/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">www.livingroofs.org</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. Here you can find information regarding roofs, how can you do a roof, plants, get access to all sorts of blogs, and see some beautiful roofs in the UK.</span></div>The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900293445474789945.post-9982882135699159152010-03-24T07:20:00.000-07:002010-03-24T17:20:55.984-07:00No Plaid to be Had?<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/S6of4pzRgrI/AAAAAAAAAbc/mga5NLoouJg/s1600/BuchananTartan.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 181px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 181px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452205357039452850" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IKMaCqA6S1M/S6of4pzRgrI/AAAAAAAAAbc/mga5NLoouJg/s320/BuchananTartan.png" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I was at </span><a href="http://www.fabricdepot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Fabric Depot </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">last week looking for some baby fabric to make a gift for a friend. While I was getting the cute green polka dot fabric cut, I mentioned being partial to plaid while chatting with the woman at the counter. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This is what I hear in response: "We just don't carry plaid here. I think we have 2 types in wool."</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Say what? HUH? I'm sorry I must have misunderstood. Did you say you DON'T carry plaid?</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">For those of you who are not familiar with Fabric Depot - it's a HUGE building on 122nd and Stark. Over an acre of fabric. For me, it's the fabric version of </span><a href="http://www.powells.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Powells</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. I get equally as mind boggled and overwhelmed in Fabric Depot as I do in Powells. Which of course leaves me two options: buy everything I see OR walk around in utter amazement and buy nothing...typically I do the latter.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">There are fabrics with cowboys, cars, shoes, cupcakes, and for Pete's sake - green beans and carrots! How can you not have a classic plaid?</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Would Powells ever say: "I'm sorry... Fiction...geez...we just don't carry that. We may have 2 books in the mystery section." It think not.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Fabric Depot needs to take a lesson from Powells. Searching their website for "plaid" actually returns 50 hits. 10 of which are specifically about plaids and tartans....and a few that look suspiciously like cheesy Scottish themed romance novels. The most interesting hit was the first: </span><a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9780847829828-0"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tartan: Romancing the Plaid</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ok, rant over. I need a customer comment card, I guess. "Please carry more plaid. Thanks" Signed - The Buchanan.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And by the way - that little picture there is the Buchanan Plaid.</span></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>The Good Twinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13477753802196041919noreply@blogger.com1