G'day, the eve of 2008!

Greeting the new year is a very special time for me. The sense of renewal is a great part of my life nearly every morning, but an "official" renewal day shared with most of the world is totally inspirational in this humble home.

An American friend of mine, a published writer, posts at the end of her emails: "There are only two types of pain you can control: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. Choose."

Um, I'll take column D - discipline.

American poet laureate Maya Angelou says we must always choose courage; that we are left to live with regret when we become timid, afraid to speak up or speak out or take action to protect our souls, believing incorrectly we have something to lose.

When push comes to shove, that is what I have to ask myself: what, in reality, do I have to lose by being honest, standing up for and taking care of myself? Not to the exclusion of someone else's feelings, but to be fair to me.

If someone is not a genuine friend, the loss of that person from my inner circle, someone who does not in the end understand, respect or really care for or about me is not a loss, but the gain of more self-respect and inner strength. The outcome, no matter how uncomfortable the temporary upheaval, is always the appearance of someone new who is a genuine friend - or a turnaround of a relationship that results in greater understanding, closeness, fun and happiness.

I've quit jobs for reasons of maintaining professional integrity - and was fired once for the same reason. I was news director/morning anchor for two radio stations simultaneously - one FM rock, the other AM jazz.

The program manager - who got her job by cruelly sabotaging the previous program manager (pm) - sent me a memo literally telling me not to report on my newscasts the most serious stories of the day. She actually listed the subject matters (environment, "feminist" issues, politics) - I refused. And was fired.

Interestingly, a news staff member read the memo as well, and refused to say he saw it or provide me a copy after I was fired because he was afraid she would fire him from his new job replacing me as well. I'm sure he regrets this decision.

Because guess what? He soon got the boot as well.

It is to laugh - the reason the FM pm told the media I was fired was because my newscasts were "too liberal." This was during the Reagan administration when the Teflon president got away with declaring ketchup a vegetable in kids' school lunches (tomato is a fruit, btw); when media drank his Kool-Aid and media managers didn't want him to be the subject of "fair and balanced" reporting.

I joked with my friends at parties that she must know about my new book, "Commie Dearest." (At the time the best seller, "Mommie Dearest" was out - a tell all [and I mean every detail] book about Joan Crawford by her abused daughter.)

It's an old trick. Try to discredit the person who is well considered, so if she or he discloses what *really* happened, no one will believe you. As it was, I pretty much said nothing because I knew that folks in the industry would find out the truth about her sooner or later. I'm way into karma on these things.

Word on the street was she fired me because she was jealous of the positive attention I received everywhere I went at Public Appearances when we were together and she was basically ignored. At least that is what the station manager said at the new best-ever radio job I landed just three days after she let me go.

I said I thought it was because I was just about the only person at both stations who didn't smoke, drink or do drugs and they were all afraid I would "narc" on them. Nope, I've waiting 20 years to do that.

I'll never forget her counterpart AM pm telling me he wanted to meet with me. He took me for a drive, parked in an open area and lit up a big ol' blunt as he rolled down the window to blow his murky smoke out on that chilly day and then held his "meeting" with me.

I watched him get high as he *thought* he was giving me profound insights about how I could do my job better. I told him I had to get back to the station - it was, after all, right in the middle of my workday. I smelled like his smoke when I returned to work, so avoided standing next to people.

Later that day, I quizzed him on the points he made at our meeting in his car to make sure I understood him, thanking him for his input. Actually, I fabricated statements he did not actually make, because I knew he wouldn't remember what he really said. Sure enough, he agreed with all the stuff I made up. Thanks again. Very insightful. Think Jim in The Office. That was fun.

The scene of the firing was particularly special: I was in bed with a large cast on my leg. I had just broken my ankle bike riding and needed surgery to put it back together. My parents stood outside the door as AM and FM pm's split the sheets with me. They gave me a one-week severence check. My dad and mom regretted being so nice to them. You know, offering them a cuppa tea and all, the way you would any visitor to their daughter's home.

Listeners actually revolted when I got the axe. That was special.

The station's programming ultimately became predictably anemic; the FM program manager, no stranger to sicker living through chemistry herself, moved to other FM pm jobs and became universally detested in the industry where ever she worked.

I have no idea where she is now or what she's doing - and often wonder if she ever found her soul, got clean, and regrets the decisions she made in the name of clawing her way to the middle.
At any road. I'm where I am today, because of or in spite of people like her, and that's just fine with me.

I've been asked to write my autobiography, and think I'll start making notes "next year" (hours away!), and write it in 2009 or 2010.

My major new year's resolution: Keep Active!

I continue to lose weight and become more fit; I'm healthier and stronger now than I have been probably in my entire life. Being physically active is the key for me, along with a terrific nutrition program. I start working out five days a week in the early morning with a boot camp buddy Jan 3 at a nearby gym under the keen supervision of my booty camp coach.

I look forward to it - and all 2008 has to offer!

Enjoy greeting the new year!

....a day at The Office

Multi-tasking, I played seasons one and two - 5 full DVD's - of the NBC-TV show The Office for many *hours* today. Time very well spent

I also watch the program live on thei air, but play DVD's or captured programs off the air to enjoy a marathon. I don't play any shows online to support the writer's strike; writers are trying to get paid for their work that plays on the internet. David Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants, signed a new contract with the striking WGA (Writer's Guild of America) because he negotiated with the writer's union separately.

Hopefully other major production companies will also negotiate separately. WWP signed the contract that calls for exactly the same thing WGA leaders wanted to offer the studio Producers who refuse to talk with them.

Back to The Office - this program, IMO, is spectacularly written and performed. The casting is perfect, and every performer scores a *10* each time he or she appears.


Lead Steve Carell. playing boss Michael Scott, is a brilliant actor; Melora Hardin (along with her two outstanding, well-rounded, air-brushed co-stars) is spot on as his foil - playing his sometime squeeze Jan Levenson.


Jenna Fischer is a deceptively fine actor - I can see her star rising because of her excellent, nuanced performance here as receptionist Pam Beesly. The key to a long career for her is to do drama and comedy - and smart comedy at that. She can do it all - and should.

John Krasinski stars as affable Jim Halpert. Also a fine performer, he must be careful of being in low comedy duds like License to Wed. Just because a film features Robin Williams does not a quality project make. Much better to take roles that challenge him so he can show casting agents the full range of what he's capable of doing than doing roles he can simply call in.

The phenomenal, scene-stealing Rainn Wilson is hysterical as the dysfunctional control freak Dwight Schrute. Wilson's career is going the distance because he has chosen such an array of roles, indie and studio, over the past few years, to complement his great work in The Office. This highly disciplined actor can do *anything.*

As I say, each actor on the show deserves an individual mention here - but space must be considered. But on the show, in fact, each performer's talent and skill are so impacting that each of them is isolated with a close up for their scenes, thanks to the "documentary camera" production technique established by the genius of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant for the original BBC series.

The Office was developed for American television by Greg Daniels. Daniels did a profound job; being an ardent fan of the original British series, I was not sure the show could be properly translated for American audiences. In fact, in its own way, the American series has turned out to be a cut above the original.

As the sun sets, with several tasks accomplished along with sharing a day full of humor, social commentary and characters of The Office? I'm ready to do it all over again the next chance I get!

A fantastic day

I was a wandering minstrel.

More wandering than minstrel, really, but it was a pretty special day.

I shopped. Which I ordinarily dislike. But today for some reason, was different.

Perhaps it's because I was in such a good mood because my puppy doesn't need *quite* so much supervision and isn't able to chew through the new metal fence I just built for him.

Perhaps it's because my Christmas tree - a beautiful noble fir I got and decorated the day before Thanksgiving - is as fresh today as it was when I brought it home, still drinking 2 cups of water a day. Even with the lights on most of the day, there are no dry limbs, no needles dropping. I decided I won't take it down until its days are numbered, so it just might be around awhile.

Perhaps it's because I got an armload of terrific books with my new BN gift card because everything was half off; perhaps it's because I bought some unmentionable attire I haven't shopped for in quite awhile and desperately need; perhaps because the items I ordered from REI came in for me to pick up, so now I've got the gear to do some winter hiking, snow shoeing and x-country skiing.

Or perhaps it's because I took a calorie splurge at the nearby Red Robin for dinner.

As I entered, the seven-foot Red Robin mascot approached a table of youngsters and their dad with a young waitress. The kids' eyes popped as he bobbed back and forth, wondering who the heck he was, so I burst into song next to him, explaining:
(as he broke into some nice dance moves)

He rocks in the tree tops
All the day long
Huffin' and a-puffin'
And a-singing his song

All the little birds
On Jay Bird Street
Love to hear that birdie
Go tweet tweet tweet

Rockin' Robin ...
Yep, yep
Rock-rockin' Robin

Go Rockin' Robin
'cause we're really
Gonna rock tonight!

As much fun as my audience seemed to have - I had way more. All the looks on their faces were priceless - including the Robin's, which I could see inside his open beak.

They couldn't believe I just started singing in a crowded restaurant, full voice, snapping my fingers and grooving out as the Big Robin started to move with the beat. Then they all relaxed and enjoyed the song, expressing their appreciation and thanks as I left to devour my last caloric dinner for *quite* awhile.

More, I got a message today that made my year. That good news was news I wondered if I might ever receive. It started my day, in fact.

The pups and kitty were beside themselves with glee when I came home - I ordinarily am not gone for such a long time. I wish human beings would greet us like our pets do. Without wagging my tail, I certainly try to greet my coachees appreciatively.

Yep.

All in all, all good day. A very good day, indeed. And another is on the way tomorrow.

What a great way to end a terrific year.

A world mourns

Benazir Bhutto
1953-2007
Assassinated December 27 in Pakistan

Her loss to Pakistan and other Middle Eastern nations is akin to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy November 22, 1963

She and her family worked tirelessly for Democracy in Pakistan for decades. Her father, also a former Prime Minister, was assassinated, as were two of her brothers. Tyrants and terrorists hated and feared her because of her innate popularity and adoration by the people of Pakistan.

If you are too young or haven't studied the assassination of President Kennedy, I can tell you that only those responsible for killing him did not suffer a broken heart, a broken spirit, on the day he died.

It will shock many people who know me to hear that I worked for President Kennedy because I almost never talk about my experiences when I was in the Air Force and particularly about my experiences surrounding the assassination.





I worked in his public relations office at Otis Air Force Base (Cape Cod, Massachusetts) as a photographer, reporter and PR rep. I was 18 years old and learned my trade by fire; in the military you're expected to do the job, they don't care how old - or young - you are.

Because I was 18, a "girl," and an Airman Third Class (one stripe), I didn't exist in the minds of people around me (sort of like people don't realize that servants, janitors, and food servers are real people with eyes, ears and minds), so I was witness to a number of things over the months I was assigned there that definitely influenced my knowledge and opinions of how government and the military work at the top levels.

The assassination was not only a horrific, traumatic experience for the nation, but those of us who believed he was a leader who could give us a nation of which to be proud, who could make the US live up to its image and promise. We had no idea of his extra marital activities - if we did, our hearts would have broken all over again. We believed he had integrity in every aspect of his life.

Bhutto left an email to be opened in the event she was murdered by CNN News anchor Wolf Blitzer. In it she directly blamed Pakistani "President" Pervez Musharraf She noted that the security she was provided by Musharraf, when she needed more, in fact decreased. She noted that as she requested more - she was given less, listing chapter and verse of how the security ought to have been organized - as she requested - and what had actually been provided.

Musharraf is holding a three day mourning period for Bhutto. While he says elections will go on as planned in a few days, it is doubtful if they can be carried out in light of Pakistanis being in such a state of grief and upheaval.

Here's something to consider: President Bush and Secretary of State Rice ignored direct threats of al qeda befroe 9-11. It's not *all* their fault, but had they heeded the warnings, there's a decent chance it could have been prevented.

The so-called hawks - kill all terrorists, detain all potential terrorists, pro-war US leaders somehow didn't understand one was coming our way.

The most troubling, threatening nation in the world right now is: Pakistan. Musharraf is a dictator, considered a tyrant by any civil thinker. It is a muslim nation with active nuclear weapons which can be fired (thanks to the US).

Pakistan is next to Afghanistan. It's where bin Laden is hiding - has been hiding for 7 years.

When our military was hot on his trail in the mountains bordering Pakistan, Bush and Cheney redeployed the American military from Afghanistan into Iraq - a nation that did not have weapons of mass destruction (just as the UN reported it did not), a nation with a tyrannical, sadistic leader - Saddam Hussein - who kept terrorists and Islamic extremists out of his country because they would try to form a theocratic government. Christians were free to practice their religion in that Iraq - they are not today because Islamic terrorists rushed into Iraq when the US invaded.

Meanwhile, whom did Bush befriend? Musharraf in Pakistan. Supposedly to help us find and erradicate terrorists along the Afghanistan border. Didn't happen. Terrorists have camps set up in Pakistan now. Bush calls Musharraf a friend of the US.

No, Bhutto was the real friend of the US. At least of its principals and desire for democracy and defender of the promise of being a land of laws and a Constitution.

Here's a reasonable statement: The hawks who are so pro-war, who have a kill all the terrorists mentality, are on the job NOW. And have been.

Watch for those who try to tap into your fears and make you feel like we are next - who will try to get you to vote for them next year. Understand that more of the same will. not. work.

Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

But get this: because they are not only on duty now and have been before 9-11 (which, by the way was the *second* attack on New York's twin towers by al qeda and our national security folks didn't take that as a crucial warning), we must understand their efforts, their tactics and their mentality have failed. Failed.

Unless and until we understand how to interact with people around the world in a way that will inspire people within the nations that house terrorists to stop and flay them where they stand? We're in for more of these international horrific incidents.

Unless and until we find a leader who has this understanding and knowledge of how to deal directly with the people who can make the difference within their own nations?

Again, we're in for more of these international horrific incidents. The only people who benefit from these calamities are the multinational corporations, as eloquently described in Naomi Klein's book, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism.

Unless and until we start listening to people who *predicted* this incident for the very reasons listed here - namely Senator Joe Biden - who actually spoke to Bhutto the night before she was assassinated and in fact asked Musharraf to increase her security - we're in for more of these international horrific incidents, and ultimately the US being a target once again.

I repeat: this will happen while the current shoot 'em up, try to manipulate the rest of the world mentality is allowed to rule the US diplomacy and military.

Meanwhile, in death - as with the deaths of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Ghandi, Benazir Bhutto has found immortality.

A spiritual woman, her last word: "Allah"

Honest answers..

I'm filling out an application with the question:

"Have you ever been convicted of a felony or misdomeaner? Yes___ No___ Why?____"

So I wrote:

"Yes___ No_X_ Why?___Why? Because I try to be a law-abiding citizen? Because I don't hang out with the likes of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan?"___

Hopefully they're not humor challenged...

Gearing up: a challenging year's ahead

My life is (finally) moving in the direction of "balance" - between personal and professional. It feels incredible.

Workaholism has been such a big part of my life - because I love what I do so much, and I think because my creative work is such a safe haven for me.

But over the past year I've pushed myself to find other ways to share that love among other healthy activities and people.

And I know it takes effort to maintain that harmonic flow.

Passion flows in both directions when there's balance - the passion for work flows into the passion for one's personal life (and back again).

It's in the awareness. I'm always talking to my coachees about awareness - doing things awarely is a great way to empower ourselves. Buddhists say that whatever we do awarely generally leaves us free from regret.

Having four pets helps a lot - three Pomeranians and an Allie Cat remind me there's much more to life than work 24/7, as much as I adore my work. A session of frolicking, playing fetch, taking a walk, snuggling and napping wrapped in my arms is a perfect play date for them, just as it is with kids.

Spending many hours of quality time with friends over the holidays has been incredibly reinforcing to my new balancing act.

At this point, work-wise, I've committed myself to writing six feature scripts next year (including my first animated feature), producing and directing an actor's reading for the feature I wrote with executive producer Chris Koruga, The Herbalist (Got Chi?), at a Seattle theater next month; I've limited my coaching practice to 10 people; singing and other projects are in the works, but as the old saying goes, I'll have to take it one day at a time - taking care of myself and my relationships with equal zeal and zest!

So .. what and whom do you love?

You know how I write out everything for which I am grateful?

Everything from being able to breathe freely to enjoying the use of all my fingers and toes? From being able to walk to being cancer-free to appreciating everything I do, have and the people in my life?

Last night (Chrismas eve) I began to think of all the things I love and decided to write them down.

As I passed #100 with ease, I felt the true spirit of the season and decided to keep a running what I love list throughout the year to rekindle the spirit of Christmas every day.

Just a few items I wrote:

I love sunrises and sunsets
I love a great conversation
I love writing
I love singing
I love playing music on guitar and piano
I love rain
I love hiking
I love playing with my pups and kitty
I love playing with babies (well, the one baby in my life)
I love my Christmas tree (there's a fabulous new tree raised by Christmas tree farms in Oregon -#1 Christmas tree provider state for the US - that's very sturdy and good for the ecosystem.)
I love the spirit, lights and songs of Christmas
I love sleeping soundly on a form-fitting mattress
I love the outdoors
I love music
I love great films like The Conformist
I love 30 Rock
I love Tina Fey
I love Alec Baldwin
I love learning
I love reading
I love Mo's cooking
I love home made banana cream pie
I love celebrating the New Year
I love ferry boat rides
I love perfectly fitting cross=trainer shoes

-- you get the idea. It was nothing to whip off my first 100, and needless to say, I loved the process! I bet you will, too.

Jeux Noel.

Edited to add this ps.. the impetus for writing this blog was meeting someone whose conversation was filled with what she hated. "I hate it when .." "I just hate.. (whatever)"

I realized I literally never talk about what or whom I don't like, and almost never use the word "hate." So had to write my list to gain a little balance.

A life of changes, wonderment and gratitude

I don't know about you, but my past several years have been fraught with changes, wonderment and gratitude.

Changes in every aspect of my life except my home and writing.

Wonderment at the horrific, dysfunctional and callous state of our federal government with its heartless president and vice-president calling the shots - shots that have killed 4,000 loyal American soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen -wounding 35,000 more only to have too many of them return to detestable health care conditions - for which many have to copay.

For myself, the wonderment of all I have learned last year and over my lifetime. I live to learn!

Gratitude for all I have learned, where all the hard work I have done has landed me today, with the future looking especially bright - good health, cozy home, a terrific Christmas season filled with all that is special -including a beautiful Christmas tree - and genuine personal gifts that aren't purchased.

Then there's the Barnes and Noble gift card I received that had accidentally been used - several times - by my thoughtful BN giftcard-giving friends.

I definitely felt punk'ed when I went to the cash register with half an armload of books and was told the expensive gift card had only $2.13 left on it. Fortunately, I had another credit card with me, so the clerk wasn't really peeved as I paid her off.

We were both in shock, however, as was the friend who went shopping with me! It is only to laugh, however, since the *mortified* gift giver explained it was confused with the "real" gift card and has since replaced it with approximately 1,897 apologies.

"Oh, well," she said at the end. "Look at the bright side. Now you have something to write about in your blog.."

Indeed.

Meanwhile, I leave 2007 with no regrets or wishing I had done it any other way.

I certainly could not have done it alone, however!

So more thanks are due to my good friends, family, co-workers, my wacky Heinz commercial cohorts (I just received an award for it), pets, coachees, booty camp coach and our booty camp rock star, my vocal coach, baby Brockarmadingdong, my writer's group, my movieScope magazine editor Eric, my magazine column and blog readers, and a better than I could have imagined business partner.

This leaves me a full week to distill my resolutions and goals for 2008 - which will be few but compelling, including more ways to have fun away from work!

Have the Merriest of Christmases, if you celebrate it, or the most rewarding holiday season if you don't.

My wish for you: that you enjoy your finest, happiest, full of love and joy year ever in 2008 (and all that follow), rife with all the great things you wish for manifesting and mushrooming before your eyes! You deserve it!

Who I'm for in the nominee process:

I've been glued to political coverage for Democrat and Republican nominees more hours than I ought to be over the past year.

TV, radio, newspaper, books, individual websites, whatever reliable sources I could find, and I've decided who gets my vote - if we could vote on the nominee in other than caucus settings.

I know it doesn't (or shouldn't) mean anything to you whom I choose, I just wanted to tell you where I'm at relating to the issues and the candidate I selected; I have contributed (well under the maximum amount) to this person's campaign.

Feel free to leave a message about whom you are for and why - keep it positive, try to change my mind (and therefore other folks who agree with me).

While I definitely do not agree with all his positions on all the issues - because of his motivation, his experience, his tenacity, his organizational and leadership skills, his passion, his goals, his background, his energy, his strength of character, his wife's contribution to the nation and his campaign. for their spiritual base that doesn't discriminate against those with other religions or none at all...

Because of his promise to get a minimum of 40-50,000 troops out of Iraq within a year - ending the occupation of Iraq entirely without endangering our troops, (ending Blackwater's billions of dollars no-bid contract with the US along with its footloose, unconscionable and unaccountable shoot first attitude), ending Halliburton's and other multinational corporations no-bid contracts with the US (reclaiming the proper bidding process for all government contracts), for his understanding of how to deal firmly and successfully with congress, for his understanding of how to deal firmly and successfully with multinational corporations whose transparent goals have nothing to do with serving or protecting consumers?

For these and many more reasons, I'm for John Edwards.

Fa la la la la

I'm singing tonight at Nedra Gaskill's annual Christmas Recital.

The three songs: "Consider Yourself" (from Oliver!), "Hard Candy Christmas" (sob! Made famous by Dolly Parton), and "Christmas Tree" - a fun party song that everyone in the audience sings as well, which will close the show.

Its chorus goes: "Oh ..... What a happy Christmas party, what a merry Christmas tree!"

The other singers tend to be more formal and serious, wearing black and all. I tend to bring ham.. um, I mean cheese .. I mean colorful interpretpation to the evening.

I enjoy singing and entertaining audiences so much. My little heart skips a beat when I see them laugh, cry or just stay awake as I perform...

Supporting striking writers

Seattle WGA (Writer's Guild of America) members and their friends from AFTRA, SAG, the Northwest Screenwriter's Guild and Teamster union joined in to hold an informational picket in front of downtown Seattle's popular Westlake Mall yesterday (Friday, December 14).

When the photos are ready to display, I'll show some.

Basically, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers at this point refuses to negotiate; the WGA wants to get back to the table and talk. Producers do not want the WGA to consider unionizing folks who write reality programs - a very poor paying job now.

So I joined the supporters of the WGA strike for two and a half hours - wearing a big sandwich board and handing out fliers with the facts of the negotiations (from the WGA's point of view).

Interestingly, many people were aware of the strike, wanted to know how they could support writers, and were none too sympathetic to the producers. I had no expectations about my experience, I just wanted to support WGA writers and inform people what was going on and encourage the public to get involved to get the producers back to the table.

There's talk of us getting a plane load of writers and our supporters to fly down as reinforcements for the picket line walkers in LA next year.

We're very aware that writers aren't getting a paycheck during the strike, and the holidays are not a good time to be without a job. If you think that the majority of WGA members are BMW-driving, sunglasses wearing folks who sit around their pools sipping mint juleps, you are very wrong.

Writing is hard work and it never gets easier - either doing the work or being assured of selling another script or landing another TV writing gig. Most writers are supported by their partners until they get a foothold in their trade - whether it's playwrighting, screenwriting, writing books, or any sort of work affixing pen to paper (or clacking computer keys to the empty screen). And most are solid family people.

Meanwhile, get ready for reruns - it feels like the strike could go on for awhile.

Preparing for next year

I've decided to "go for it," to pursue the opportunity I mentioned a couple days ago.

And right along with stepping off that cliff, believing I'll be caught, I'm pursuing a few more opportunities that will significantly impact my life next year.

The Christmas tree is up and decorated beautifully, the menorah is up as well with candles nearby (I cover all the bases!); it's time to forge my goals for 2008.

Personal, physical, creative, financial, spiritual and relationship goals.

One thing about making goals - so many I've made in the past have come to fruition, it's always exciting to write them down and watch them manifest!

In so many ways, 2007 was a terrific year - and it was also a groundwork, a foundation year. All the hard work of the past several years is paying off - blossoming into dream-come-true fruition.

As Dennis Hopper puts it, "It's not what you dream, it's what you do with your dreams!"

I wish you the most wonderful dreams - and that they come true for you next year!

Buzz, buzz, buzz

So much "good medicine" is happening in the development of my new feature film project, "The Herbalist!"

Alas, all I am legally free to say is:

Got Chi?

Big decisions, stepping up

I've *pretty much* made a decision that should have a profound impact on my life next year if it comes to fruition. I've confided my thoughts about it to a few trusted friends, and they're astonishingly supportive.

I'm thinking about it over the weekend and will make a final decision Monday.

Like all matters that affect us substantially, it's scary and exciting and sort of takes my breath away.

Part of me wonders if I'm up to the challenge; if I'm really ready to make it happen, if I'm strong enough to see it through.

I'm more inclined than not to do it. But I'm giving it very careful and complete thought before I sign on the dotted line.

Stay tuned.

Heartless words for American lives sacrificed

A new quote from Republican minority leader Senator Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) on the loss of nearly 4,000 American military lives in the needless Iraq war that he has supported since there was the whisper of invading that sovereign nation:

"Nobody's happy about losing lives. But remember that these are not draftees, these are full time professionals." (Source: MSNBC NEWS)

So, apparently, if your loved one has been killed in this war, his or her loss is not as significant as people who were "forced" to go to war on behalf of the USA. I can't imagine what McConnell would say about the nearly 30,000 soldiers wounded in Iraq, most catastrophically.

Here Senator McConnell meets with Kentucky National Guard soldiers serving in Iraq - a photo from his own website. I wonder if they'll be as hospitable if he returns.















Can you tell the difference?

Draftees or full time professional soldiers?

Wanna meet a family of champions?

Meet Team Taylor.

Jojo, 4 years old and one of the stars in my Heinz ketchup commercial, is in the opening rounds of fighting a winning battle with leukemia.

His family has pulled together and put up one of the best blogs ever about his heroic efforts and work to get well - to get away from hospitals and transfusions and all those tests!

All the Taylors are heroes in my book. Jojo's brother even waited to open his *birthday presents* until Jojo could be with him to see him rip off the wrapping paper and all the great stuff inside the boxes!

Check it out - all the prayers, good wishes, good will and healthy thoughts going his way through this blog are definitely making a difference in Jojo's treatment and recovery.

Feel free to leave a message for this incredible family and their son, the star!!

Bush credibility crushed on Iran WMD scare

So the update on the intelligence from and about Iran flies completely in the face of the threat that the Bush administration has painted for us. Remember him talking about Iran possibly starting "the Third World war" only a few weeks ago because they were a kiss away from building a nuclear bomb.

Just as he did with his push to invade Iraq, Bush told us and the Congress that we have to get going now because they're creating weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Now. And we can't wait to act. After all, to quote US Secretary of State Condi Rice, we don't want that "smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud."

Right.

Well, the bungling Bush administration has done it again.

The US intelligence report (they work for the US and therefore Bush) just released says nope, Iran stopped working toward building a nuclear warhead in 2003.

2003.

Hmm. That's nearly four years ago.

Yep, there he is, our president. Right on top of what's really going on.

Sadly, although the military surge has worked in some areas of Iraq, stabilizing those places, the only way to achieve peace and to support them enough to bring them home is through political negotiations among the warring factions in Iraq.

And nothing is happening there politically. As in there is no movement toward a negotiated peace by the Iraqi government. Why should they try when they haven't been able to get along for centuries and the Americans are there to at least temporarily keep the peace.

Unfortunately, the only reason there needs to be a stabilization by US forces is because the US military was ordered to step into a wasp nest - invading the sovereign nation to begin with, which put our military men and women in harm's way. For no factual reason - but Halliburton and other multinational corporations with no-bid contracts have been paid billions of our tax dollars and borrowed money to "rebuild" the nation that we are responsible for destroying.

And it seems every time they've rebuilt something - it's destroyed. Heck, that's OK, because they're just paid more money to re-re-re-re-rebuild whatever needs it.

Meanwhile, US military men and women continue to be killed there, despite the surge "working," at least temporarily.

At least this time, with Bush's declaration that we need to take action against Iran immediately, decision-makers didn't take Bush's word, they actually read the intelligence report.

When the US intelligence report released before the decision to go to war with Iraq stated that there was no reason to go to war there, that invading the nation would only open a can of horrific quicksand from which we would never escape, apparently too few people read it to make a difference. Certainly it made no difference to George Bush.

This time, more people refuse to drink the kool-aid and are working to cover your backs, troops.

Merry Christmas.