I am sitting here on the early morning of New Year’s Eve (thanks hon) and as I watch the morning news I can’t help but reminisce about the last decade. A decade that started out so carefree.

I remember spending New Years Eve in the Coca Cola IS operations room performing the year end duties and hoping that the computers were not going to blow up due to Y2K. I remember watching Utah gear up to host the 2002 Olympics.

It also started with an unprecedented close election that separated this country. I still remember waking up in Dallas the day after the election and finding that there was no President elect because it was too close to call; a first in the history of this Country.

I remember the failed tries at pregnancy. I remember waking up and watching the Today Show and seeing a plane hit the Towers. Our Country was under attack I remember a unity in this country like none I had ever seen before. I remember a world that supported us. I remember the pride as we decided to fight back. I remember being told by our President to go out and shop and not let the enemy win. There was no talk of sacrifice except for those who were sending their loved ones off to war.

I remember suddenly being told we had to invade Iraq. I remember questioning that decision and being accused of being a trader because I didn’t support the Iraq war. I remember the Dixie Chicks were villainized for speaking out against a sitting President (something that now is apparently okay). I remember Mission Accomplished as if the war had been won. I remember Katrina and watching fellow Americans and thinking I was watching a third world country.

I remember those in the stock market raking in the dough. I remember the iPod and Google. I remember the Wii and xBox. I remember mySpace, Facebook and YouTube.


I remember deciding to change my career and go into a field that was so outside my comfort zone. I remember going to New York and then taking my husband there as well. I remember suddenly gas prices rising so high that many began to go broke just to get to work. I remember Wall Street crashing and crashing again. I remember suddenly those who were once so rich suddenly were left with nothing. I remember for the first time being insecure with our future.

I remember a moment in history when an African American become President and changing this Country, for the better I believe. I remember hope.

I also remember death panels, tea parties and fear mongering and infidelities. I remember a news media that turned from journalism to tabloid.

But still with all those memories I feel like 2010 is going to be a great year and a start to a great decade. I remember believing and I believe that there will be a change for the better. I know it. I know that we all make resolutions and mine are simple. I love my husband but I have told him that 2010 is going to be all about me. I realize that there are things that I need to accomplish and 2010 is going to be the year that it happens. This means at times I may have to neglect him and focus on me. I am not going to list all my resolutions but I have written them down and now they have officially become goals.

I encourage anyone who stumbles on this blog to do the same. I also encourage anyone to remember the good and help spread it around. Lets make a better decade in this 21st century than the one that it started out with.

Here are some photos of the last decade that MSNBC has put together. Click to take a moment to look and remember.

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Wow, December and 2009 are almost over and I have not made an entry in my blog all month.  So I had better quickly make an entry and say Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Winter Solstice and a Festivus for the rest of us.  

             So much is made of Christmas and the war of Christmas: Non Christian vs. Christian.   Although I may not be a religious person I still love this time of year.  I love the idea of giving, of eating and yes of family.  What is so funny about Peace, Love and Understanding?  In my home it is just Steve and I, we have no children nestled all snug in their bed.  But I have found such peace in that.  For me the peace that should be this time of the year is the thing that I love the most. 

So much is going on in our political climate right now that peace is hard to come by.   Atheist are putting up billboard that read “ Heathens Greetings” and Christians are acting as if their heads will explode from this.  But both sides need to realize that the celebration of Winter Solstice was around long before ‘Christmas’.  And many of the traditions are similar other than the manger and the ‘Savior’.  So I say stop fighting Christmas and enjoy the season whatever your reason.

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Rachel Maddow finally hits it on the nose about Fox News.  Any news outlet that supports anti government behavior is not only un-American but it is also not reporting the news it is actually opinion/editorial.  This ia a must see.

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I have to say this: I support David Letterman. He wasn’t married when he slept with woman on his staff. He is an entertainer. He is human and made a mistake. The media, for some reason, wants to make this about sex or sexual harassment. But HELLO – THE REAL STORY SHOULD BE NEWS PRODUCES USES EXTORTION TO BURY A TORY. I cannot believe that we are such a sexually repressed nation that we would rather focus on the sexlife of a late night comedian instead of focusing on the on CRIMINAL act of extortion.

We should be really worried about our media as a nation when they would rather have on the friends of the defendant in hopes of getting sorted details about Dave Lettermans sex life. What has become of the first ammendment when Faux News can call themselves, fair and balanced and when all network news is focusing on sexual harassment instead of a NEW organization using bribery in order to hide a story. Long live the BBC.

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I am sitting here in Fargo and it is rainy and cold. It is very similar to my past weekend up at Snowbird.

 As we drove up the canyon over the weekend to enjoy the second to last weekend of the Oktoberfest celebration, we were a little excited with the anticipation of hiking back into Cecret Lake up at the Albion Base in Alta. We both had not been there before and heard the scenery is spectacular, especially during the fall.

Well when we arrived to the end of the road (or should I say road closure) we realized we were not prepared to take the hike. The road was closed due to the snow. The wind was blowing quite hard and it was extremely cold. We had no hats, no gloves and we also had no snow shoes. That is right. There was around ½ foot of snow and would require snow shoes or at the least a good pair of snow boots: neither were on our possession. So we headed back down the mountain to Snowbird and we were luckily able to check in early.

We spent the day listening to polkas, doing the chicken dance (or our own version of it), browsing through vendors and trying to get some good shots when we could. However, with the cloud coverage, there weren’t that many. The one thing we did manage was to reconnect after not seeing each other for 4 days. We enjoyed each others company and were reminded of our time spent at Oktoberfest for our honeymoon. It was fun to see how far we have come. The first year our expensive dinner was a huge dent in our budget and now we are finally to a point where we could cover it (but we still used our Happenings coupon.)

It was a nice weekend but I am not ready for winter and I hope there is a little Indian summer around the corner.

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I went to dinner last Saturday with an old classmate/roommate that I hadn’t seen for over 20 years. It was interesting catching up and seeing how different we both turned out and how much of our old selves are still there as well. Becky looks the same but has changed and, well, basically grown up.

I really struggled with myself on so many levels from 18 to well I am embarrassed to admit 27. I was a wild young adult and made some stupid choices that I still kick myself for. In talking with Becky I realized that I am the only one obsessing on my stupid choices. She was much like my husband in that she could talk about the things that happened in our past and laugh. I on the other would cringe with the ‘Do you remember…stories’ Becky and I go way back to junior high, high school, a half year of college and she even let me move in with her after a divorce in my early 20s. So we shared many memories.

The thing that I walked away from after our dinner was that I have huge regrets but those choices have brought me to where I am today. Steve often says that had I made different choices we would not be together. I guess I need to stop regretting my choices from the past and be grateful for my choices from the present. I guess talking with Becky helped confirm that. It made me realize that I like where I am today. I am okay and I am the only one beating myself up. So I am officially going to stop beating myself up and stop being embarrassed to be around people from may past. So I will now tell myself : I’m Good Enough, I’m Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!

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I had mentioned in my previous post that on 9/11/01 this Country truly came together.  Many may condemn Democrats but if 9/11 happened under Obama’s watch, I can’t help but wonder: would Republicans and those on the extreme right rally around the President they did not agree with the way that Democrats and Liberals did in 2001.  

 This Country has displayed such an embarrassing example of incivility.  As I searched trying to find a fitting  photo to represent CIVILITY I came across an awesome website: Speak Your Peace – The Civility Project

 Civility is not weakness and it does not mean that there is no room for disagreement.

The best way to determine what a community wants is to listen to what its people have to say. This is a fundamental principle of democracy. Disagreements can lead to healthy debate, which brings new information and ideas to light.

When a particular issue strikes at the fundamental beliefs of a group or individual, the debate can be especially fierce. In these situations, it becomes more important than ever to practice civility/

 

Our key message is to promote nine simple tools for practicing civility with one another:

1. Pay Attention Be aware and attend to the world and the people around you.
2. Listen Focus on others in order to better understand their points of view.
3. Be Inclusive Welcome all groups of citizens working for the greater good of the community.
4. Don’t Gossip And don’t accept when others choose to do so.
5. Show Respect Honor other people and their opinions, especially in the midst of a disagreement.
6. Seek Common Ground Look for opportunities to agree; don’t contradict just to do so.
7. Repair Damaged Relationships Be sincere; apologize and forgive.
8. Use Constructive Language Be mindful of the words you choose.
9. Take Responsibility Practice accountability in language and actions. </blockquote>

 We must rise above the discourse and act civilized; otherwise everything that generations before us have worked to achieve could fall.  Just ask the ancient Romans.

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8 years ago today – the unthinkable happened. Where were you when the world stopped turning

I remember watching the today show while I was getting ready for work.  Steve and I watched the video of the first plane.  I remember saying, ‘No we are not being attacked’ when the second plane hit.  I remember gathering in the gym at my workplace and watching as the Towers crashed to the ground.  I remember the Red Cross being flooded with volunteers.  I remember we are too a sense of pride and we wanted to help in any way we could.  We were afraid but through that fear we somehow became united.

I remember going to my doctor a couple of days later to see if the latest round of medication worked and we might be pregnant and I remember feeling relief when it was negative once again.  I wasn’t sure if I was ready to bring a life into this suddenly scary world.  I remember feeling more love for my fellow country men and I remember even supporting President Bush at that time.  I remember United We Stand pins.  I remember thinking that this horrible tragedy had brought this country together like nothing I had ever seen before in my lifetime.  I do not want to take this post to blame the previous administration for distracting this country in Iraq and dividing this country more than it ever has been in my lifetime.

I want to remind us all as Americans of that horrible day.  I have 2 nephews and 2 great nephews that were not around yet when the world changed.  This Country came together like it had never done before.  Why can’t this Country come together without a horrible tragedy? Why does it take something bad to make us appreciate what we have?

I also remember Alan Jackson wrote one of his best songs ever: Read the words and remember – don’t forget we are the United States Of America.

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Out in the yard with your wife and children
Working on some stage in LA
Did you stand there in shock at the site of
That black smoke rising against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger
In fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry

Did you weep for the children
Who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don’t know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below

Did you burst out in pride
For the red white and blue
The heroes who died just doing what they do
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself to what really matters

I’m just a singer of simple songs
I’m not a real political man
I watch CNN but I’m not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Teaching a class full of innocent children
Driving down some cold interstate
Did you feel guilty cause you’re a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone
Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her
Did you dust off that bible at home
Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Speak with some stranger on the street
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun
Did you turn off that violent old movie you’re watching
And turn on “I Love Lucy” reruns
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some stranger
Stand in line and give your own blood
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love

I’m just a singer of simple songs
I’m not a real political man
I watch CNN but I’m not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

I’m just a singer of simple songs
I’m not a real political man
I watch CNN but I’m not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

The greatest is love
The greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day

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Steve and I just celebrated our 16 year anniversary. Considering our past, this is a great accomplishment. I think it is really a great feat because we have no children. Often children help you stay together through the rough patches but we managed to make it through the rough patches on our own and we are still standing.

I think when you don’t have children you lose track of time. Sometimes it can seem like we are standing still and nothing has really changed and then we look back over 16 years and we realize how much we really have changed. In some ways we have become more patient and wise. We have become a little more financially stable than we were 16 years ago. We have also become a lot more understanding with one another. Those little quirky things that can drive us nuts about each other seem to not be there as much. We still have our moments but we have learned to control our buttons and we are so much more comfortable in our own skin. Yes growing old can suck but I don’t think I would go back for anything.

I say this because over Labor Day weekend we went sightseeing in Southeastern Utah. We drove down to Moab on Friday night and had a nice anniversary dinner. We woke up early and went to the Needles, Newspaper Rock, 4 Corners, Valley of the Gods and stayed in Mexican Hat. All along the way taking photos with our new lenses that we declared ‘anniversary gifts’ a month ago. On Saturday we woke and went to Monument Valley and then up to Natural Bridges and caught the northern end of Lake Powell. Snapping shots along the way: which will be posted to ourPhote Galleryafter post-processing. We finished Sunday with a drive and a hike in Capital Reef and then headed home. 16 years ago the trip would have been the bore and the cause of our divorce. But now it seems that we enjoy seeing things together. It is great taking in the sights and the experiences of things that we have not seen before.

This trip helped me to get over my desire for a boat because I want to travel more than I want to go to the lake every other week so I am both thankful and blessed to have a partner to travel with me, even if it is in our own backyard.

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