Giving Thanks

In this past year, much has changed and today is a perfect day to reflect. Unfortunately, I must admit regret first. This month flew by and I did not make time to donate a turkey dinner to a food bank. I can only hope that some local companies stepped in to fill any voids at this time of year.

Now, for the gifts I have been given and am thankful for: yesterday was my 'engagement anniversary' - 7 years ago, my boyfriend, now husband, proposed to me. Betty was a concept - we did the math: born in February, mom was inseminated in December, breeders made agreement in November. Sad what you think of when you've been drinking wine. Yesterday was also Cena & Williams 4th anniversary. I'm thankful for some amazing friends that, regardless of how long it has been since I've seen them, we pick up where we've left off. They are open minded, loving people. I have my health, although I've gone through some things and have an upcoming surgery, things are excellent. My families health, physically and mentally. A strong sense of community, a new neighborhood, a good job, etc. My life has a solid foundation.

Now, the broader matters that I am thankful for, well, there are a lot of soldiers that are risking their lives for this bullshit war. They deserve a big thanks. They are doing what the country has asked them to do and they are doing it. They are away from their families and friends and I could not imagine how lonely that must feel - for both the soldiers and the families. These are times that they will never forget. This is their Vietnam. There are soldiers from other countries that have promised to support us, and they are risking their lives. That is huge.

There is a nun in Philly that has devoted her life to eliminating homelessness in the city. She has devoted her entire life to providing rooms, respect and education to those that have none of those things. There are groups of people that drive the streets at night, looking for homeless people and gives them a meal and a bed. The city's homelessness has dropped by more than half. I am thankful that there are a lot of people in this world that live with open hearts.

Thanks for reading my journal! I hope you have a happy and safe Thanksgiving. If you haven't all ready, take the time to reflect on things other than turkey and football and let me know what YOU are thankful for!
XOXO
Kelli

What makes a man?

After I posted about meditation the other day, it occurred to me that some men don't meditate or dare to try yoga because they could be construed as girly men. So, what is the true definition of a man and who is the judge? Me, of course! The extreme manly man is the Brawny Man - rugged on the outside (lumberman, drives a truck, builds things) who comes home and is able to have a glass of wine with his wife (before doing the deed, of course). He certainly isn't Prince Charles who probably can't sleep on anything other than a feather bed.

One brisk fall day while my husband and I were in SoHo walking around there was a guy in his early 30s that told his girlfriend "I could really go for a bowl of zesty soup". Paul and I looked at each other - this 'guy' is not a man. Spicy - yes; Zesty - no. It's funny that Sting (don't laugh) and Richard Gere are 2 celebrities that are definitely manly men but they are both very spiritually centered men and aren't afraid to let the world know. Being in the medias eye, they're going to be ripped apart faster than anyone else. The thing is, they are similar way to a lot of the men I know - and have little tolerance for people that aren't this way: they are comfortable with themselves. Not only that, but they do what is best for them and know the importance of being well rounded individuals in body, mind and spirit. They are really just good old fashioned gentlemen. Men have integrity, are modest, are kind to strangers including opening doors and giving up their seats on the train, and don't choose superficial lifestyles that are so typical in the western world. They listen to punk music but can describe and fully appreciate the sensuality of a good glass of wine or even a good beer. I'm reminded of one of my favorite movies, Bull Durham although Paul might say this reminds him of Fight Club.

Either way, the men are out there they just are too modest to point themselves out. So, if I hear another woman say there are no good men in this world, I'm going to slap her upside the head. In a loving, sisterly way of course. xoxo. k.

Engineers give the bird to the laws of physics - out of respect for nature

If you are a lover of the outdoors or architecture, you may have read about the walkway that is being built at the Grand Canyon in Arizona or rather, OVER the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

Scheduled to open this coming New Years Day 2006, a clear glass walkway will be built 70 feet over and 4000 feet above the colorado river. The walkway will comfortably hold 120 people as they crawl their way through the semi-circular walk. It is made entirely of glass and steel - lots of steel - and can withstand winds of 100 miles per hour and an 8.0 magnitude earthquake (although the closest fault in this part of Arizona is either Yellowstone or San Andres). Despite the safety features, I think I would feel more comfortable in a helicopter or better yet, a boat in the Colorado River.

Namaste

My husband and I were talking about meditation while discussing someone we know. This person is very outgoing and all outward focused - what is happening around him is all he knows. This guy is someone who is floating through life without meaning or substance. It's frustrating to be around someone that isn't OK with just being quiet - he always has to be talking because, I'm assuming here, that if there's silence, his mind spins out of control. The reason he came up in our converstation is because we were discussing the benefits of meditation. It's something so many people poo-poo because it is not a manly or cool thing to do. But if you have ever meditated, you understand the whole premise is about turning everything - EVERYTHING off and just being where you are. The sounds aren't horns honking, dogs barking or heaters turning on, they are just sounds and they float through you without names or reasons, they just are.

But meditation doesn't have to happen while in lotus position. Meditation, when approached correctly, can happen anywhere. I know of people that meditate while they travel on a subway or airplane, I prefer to sit in lotus position but my husband, without realizing it, meditates while on his motorcycle. This sounds dangerous but stay with me: Meditation is about being in the moment and processing information that is coming at you and instantly releasing it. While on his motorcycle he is constantly surveying the road, the weather conditions, the traffic, flying debris - all of it at once. He is pulling in everything happening to him as he drives by and just as quickly, releases it and moves on to the next image. He cannot be thinking about what happened at work today or about where he wants to go on vacation. He's thinking about the road. The road is his breath and he is following it with each inhalation and exhalation. The person that leaves for an evening ride is not the person that comes back - he's calm, centered, quieted and content.

Yeah Mmmmmuslims!

Another busy week at work and nights filled with nightmares... I think partly due to my friend who I wrote about in my previous post. Calls are going unreturned to my friend and there is nothing but radio silence. Sometimes I feel like there's a lot of bad shit happening in the world, and then I heard about the rallys and marches in Jordan. The true, pure gatherings of Jordanians, mostly Muslims that want peace and seem to be rising above the situation to solve the larger problem. This is beauty emerging from tragedy. I look forward to seeing how this unfolds for the people of Jordan and for the rest of the world. For those that lost loved ones and had to witness the event(s), my thoughts and prayers are with you.

You're a turkey butt!

So, this is the first year ever, I'm going to attempt to make a turkey. Do I dare deep fry it? If you've ever had deep fried turkey, you know how incredibly good it is. I never knew turkey could taste good! It has always been what I consider a piece of protein, with little else. But oooohhh, deep fry that bird and you'll go back for seconds and thirds. So, my question is, can I use an oil other than peanut oil to fry her? I'm allergic to nuts, soy, etc. so I would like to use corn oil if possible but I have a feeling there's something to do with the smoking point that only peanut oil works. hmmm...I could take a benedryl and just go for it.

For Richer and Poorer

How do you help a friend break a poverty cycle? For years, my lifetime, I have known someone that although he made and makes a reasonable living, lives his life with the capacity to only have the next three months in mind. He has never been able to save money and has spent thousands on bounced checks and fees and has even had to declare bankruptcy at one point. He doesn't get it. I think it is the result of being the child of alcoholic parents (they passed within 10 years of each other of alcohol related deaths when my friend was in his 20s). My friend dreams of travel yet never saves a dime and now he seems to be spiralling further by not taking care of himself and as age often does, making his world close in on him. Yet everything remains 'great' in conversation. It is frustrating and no matter how many conversations we have had, nothing has changed.

A large frustrating event is now unfolding because of his lifestyle. A beautiful little beach style house that he purchased for a bargain (at a high interest, adjustable rate with no down payment) is now in foreclosure. 4 months behind in payments and the taxes haven't been paid in equally as long. $8k due. What can be done? My friend tells me everything is fine and others are making things up, yet then tells others that he is a couple months behind but no big deal. The frustrating part is that while saying this, he is eating expensive meals and buying gifts for friends and his grandkids. He never wants to give up his lifestyle. So, I wonder what the heck can be done. The answer is frustratingly, little. I can provide information on alanon or... I don't know. I feel like I've been socked in the stomache. People have the capacity to change yet so few do. What does it take for someone to change?

My house in the middle of the street:


Link to my drive home... music by the one and only, Besotted.

The Annual Swiss Army sale begins tomorrow, Friday, Nov 4th at Trumbull High School. Below are the dates/times they are holding it. It's awesome and if you like Swiss Army stuff, your in luck: Womens & Mens watches run from $30-$100! They have swiss army clothing, knives, flashlights, gloves, hats. Great holiday gifts for significant others, friends & family.
Get there as early as possible though (Fri or Sat) -- lines can get out of hand, and don't wait til Sunday at 1PM...there's slim pickens.

Friday, November 4 3:30 p.m. - 9:00 pmSaturday, November 5 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 pmSunday, November 6 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 pm
Trumbull High School 72 Strobel RoadTrumbull, CT 06611 Tel: (203) 452-4555Fax: (203) 452-4593