Stuff I'm Pondering

Andrew Morton has written an unauthorized biography about Tom Cruise this time. Since many of his assertions (not all) about Princess Diana, in the unauthorized biography he wrote about her, turned out to be true it does have one wondering about those he's made about Tom. As a Catholic I've had plenty of opportunity to see zealotry and reactions to religion that border, in my opinion, on idolatry rather than faith. There's some weird voo-doo done in the name of God/faith. Scary stuff.

Do you believe Dr. Phil is an opportunist in the Britney Spears situation? Was he really called in by the family or did HE call them and offer to help thereby garnering attention for himself? What a sad and sorry situation. I agree with the consensus that Britney has to decide to get herself well at this point. No intervention, celebrity therapist, or family member can help or save her if she doesn't want to be helped or saved. The TMZ article I've linked to speculates she may be bi-polar. That makes as much sense as anything at this point.

Benazir Bhutto was assassinated a week and a half ago and there are really no signs of things settling down in Pakistan any time soon. I was sort of astonished and impressed that President Mussaref called in Scotland Yard to help with the investigation. After doing a bit of research and reading I'm more startled by the courage and grit of this woman. Her father was assassinated. She'd been exiled for close to 8 years in London. Her entire life was filled with unrest and violence in her country yet she was able to articulate change, moderation and speak out against Islamic extremist violence.

How does one wake up in the morning go about in an open air car and bravely speak out against known violent enemies? I'd be cringing under my blankets. I'm in awe. Truly.

I rarely dabble in politics because everybody has an opinion and we are all about peace, love and joy here at NOBODY ASKED ME. Yeah, you didn't ask but I've been doing a lot of pondering about Barack Obama. Is it too soon to be hopeful? Oprah's endorsement aside, and it was HUGE, can such a voice of reason be heard over the mud slinging and be elected president? After reading about the hope and resistance of Benazir Bhutto, I have to be hopeful about Obama. Bill Bradley, former Rhodes scholar and NBA star, now a Senator, as of today endorses Obama. GG, a devout republican, is a Bradley fan because Bill Bradley has so much integrity. So this was big news, at least in our household.

I'm finished with SHADES OF TWILIGHT by Linda Howard. I never tire of that book. It's been a few years since I've read it and there are certainly some things that aren't politically correct in it. Didn't stop me an iota from enjoying the heck out of the reading experience though. I'm sort of stymied what to read next because I'm on my SOT high. I bought the Joanna Bourne book SPYMASTER'S LADY based on a few reviews I've read about it. I also picked up MOVING TARGET by Cheyenne McCray. Don't ask. Ms. McCray is hit or miss with me and I browsed and picked this up.

Inquiring minds want to know...

Well, that's not completely true. Not that many people have asked, but a few people HAVE wondered what the kanji writing on my page means. Or, more correctly, if I knew what it meant. Puh-leeze! Like I'd put something on my page and NOT know what it was? C'mon now...really.

GemmaK, the oh so awesome page designer, sent me stuff to look at for ideas for the page. I fell in love with the symbol as soon as I saw the meaning. The mouse click and choice was a total impulse, but the look and the words just grabbed me. Know what I mean?


SPIRIT, MIND, FORCE

I was watching a late night re-run of a recent interview of Kristen Armstrong, Lance Armstrong's ex, on Oprah just a while ago. She spoke about losing herself in her marriage.

It made me think of my blog page and my reading. Things I do just for myself. My spirit, my mind, my force. There have been times I've felt lost to myself. Where I felt like a stranger in my own body. It still happens sometimes.

One true thing...women have to fight much harder than men do to be themselves and not lose themselves to their jobs, their marriage and their children. We willingly give so much of ourselves away that we frequently have little of the person that we truly are or wish to be left.

What is one thing you want to do or love to do that is just for you?

TGIF!!

If I've ever been happier to see a Friday than this one...I don't know when it was. Of course, it was rent week at work, my first full week back after I almost quit and the dramatic and distressing news about events in the south. It has been exhausting. I don't believe I've wept as much since 9/11.

While, I've tried not to obsess over Katrina events, it is so huge it seems to have taken up residence as a niggling worry in the back of my mind. However, the last two days I've made a concerted effort not to get sucked into surfing the web reading news. I've been trying to get some perspective and resume my normal life...whatever that is.

So while trying to think about other things I decided to I'd do a the week in review and think about things that are great in my life. Like Oprah did a few years ago with the Gratitude Attitude diaries. My list became THIS WEEK WASN'T THAT BAD BECAUSE...

1. I was caught up on laundry for almost an entire 24 hour period!

2. By the end of the week I was current on all deposits and postings at work.

3. I didn't have to get up at 5 a.m. to drive my son to school even one day.

4. I wasn't late picking my son up from school not even one day because I didn't have to pick him up this week either!

5. I worked just as hard as I always do but was making alot more money doing it this week.

6. My new car rocks! I love driving it.

7. I have a new car.

8. No arguments or groundings with either of the male child units.

9. My wonderful husband who didn't say "I told you so" once during the hell we call rent week.

10. My sister signed her first teaching contract and is over the moon about it.

11 . My brother Chris turned 38 this week.

12. My nieces Jessyka and Elizabeth got parts in the play they tried out for.

13. My Dad's former security company (MONITRONICS THE BIG FAT F***ING LOSERS) quit calling me in the middle of the night for alarms in a house my father no longer owns.

14. All those nearest and dearest are safe sound and loved.

Not bad, huh? Everything is about perspective. How we view things like the old adage...when you get lemons you make lemonade. So while my heart and my spirit are in sorrow for all that has been lost in the South. I'm going to keep my eyes and energy focused on hope.