How far would you go?

To get what you want?

Maybe I am naive. Maybe I have seen enough 80's movies to think that this is an antiquated idea. But how many hoops unrelated to merit and achievement would you jump through to get ahead?

Situations where stubborn streaks are bad:
Hostage situations
Fights with a spouse
REFUSAL TO DO SOMETHING TO GET AHEAD AT WORK BECAUSE IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH JOB PERFORMANCE

(Note to reader: while this seems to be a morality issue, and in a way it is, this does not have to do with anything inappropriate or unethical. Amen to that.)

So now I get to sit around and contemplate whether I am being unreasonable or if it is worth it to give into something I feel is wrong to (maybe, maybe not) get a shot at the advancement I want.

People who have made a stubborn refusal to compromise look noble:
Jesus
Fathers of the Constitution
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Abraham Lincoln
Rosa Parks
Woman's Suffrage-ettes


Have you ever heard praise of a leader in the vein of, "that so-and-so is such an amazing conformist."

I didn't think so. How about the terms, "independent, advocate, empowers self and others, thinks outside the box?"

loooost

jake jumped up on the coffee table to get a candy wrapper and spilled a glass of water on my laptop. it no longer works. i am without my pics and blog brainstorms.

hoping my dad will buy me a new one when i am at home next month.

going in a different direction with this one.

do you think that the members of congress could earn even close to what they earn on the hill in the private sector? if they had to go out and work like the rest of us do (minus the government employees) would they have the skills to earn a position paying what they make?

they want a plexi-glass shield put up around the floor of the house?!? are you kidding me? are there not inherant risks with every job? i drive an average of 1,000 miles a week. is the possibility of a car accident not a given? when you run for president do you not realize that the risk of assasination exists? it's sad, but it is a truth. that is, as i see it, what is wrong with our country today. everyone is built up to the point that his or her ego takes over; remember when we were children and there were actual disappointments? i am sure it was difficult for our parents to watch but it humbled us and taught us to work hard, that nothing is a given and nothing is free. i was held personally accountable for my actions and taught to take responsibility for my actions and so now, placing blame and making excuses don't register with me. admit you triumphed or faulted, take your reward or punishment and move on to the next. do the egos of ANY of these politicians allow this? don't think so.

look members of congress; get your asses off that hill and find out what your constituants want. and sometimes it might happen that what the people you represent want may differ from your agenda, your alliances and your "earmarks" but man up! grow a pair, do your job! your ego will survive. but how would they even know what we want? my rep, the honorable tom graves, currently has no upcoming events on his website. no community outreach scheduled? nothing schedule to actually get in touch with the people whom he has represented for less than 8 months? niiiice. how quickly you forget what your job is.

this isn't just a rant. i am urging everyone to empower themselves. write your rep and express your concerns, hold him or her accountable for your district. if you are a parent, teach your children the value of hard work and let them feel the sting of disappointment. you can let them feel it and then build them back up and i know they will recover and in the end they will all feel the triumph of success and strive to repeat it over and over again.

it sure as hell can't hurt. i spend a lot of time wondering where the line between progress and destruction lies. can a back-to-basics approach hurt?

(i will elaborate on this whole progress/destruction topic in future posts. putting it down here helps me to process my thoughts. thanks.)

if

If I was a season, I’d be spring.
If I was a piece of furniture, I'd be a chaise lounge by the pool.
If I was a country, I'd be Italy.
If I was a food, I'd be Caprese Salad.
If I was a flower, I'd be a clean white calla lilly.
If I was a song, I'd be Hands Down by Dashboard Confessional.
If I was an instrument, I'd be a piano.
If I was a color, I'd be red.
If I was a book, I'd be Pride and Prejudice.
If I was a time of day, I'd be twilight.
If I was a drink, I'd be a 007 :)

I AM a holiday, and I am Valentines Day.

If I was a word, I'd be passion.
If I was a person, I’d be me.
If I could see the future, I wouldn't look.

merry christmas!

the holidays have me feeling uninspired. so do a ton of failures in the kitchen lately. it seems like every recipe i try either falls short or flat on it's ass. with another long weekend here i am going to try a few other things:

monkey bread (if i screw this up i am officially never baking again)
meatload (pioneer woman)
fried chicken (paula deen)

as you can see, resolutions start monday :)

are you making black eyed peas and collard greens this weekend? i think i might pick some up...my horoscope promised wealth would be coming my way and so a little extra help couldn't hurt, could it?

say hi to my tree, decorated by my husband who is good with these things.


say hi to my puppies.



i'll be back tomorrow with (hopefully) a very inspired and inspiring post to kick off 2011.

hmmmm

what does it mean when the tought running through your head is, "i want to go home" but you are already at home?

i don't know either.

my favorite things part 1

So in the spirit of the season, here are some gifts to anyone reading. you are welcome!


GROUPON

"If you don't know, now you know." This site is VITAL. Today I got Billy a stock car driving experience usually $369 for $165, myself a $105 spa experience for $39 and had to log off before I could spend anymore money. It is ah.maz.ing.


SKIP TO MY LOU


I just found this but the handmade gift ideas section has me foaming at the mouth to make gifts.


LOLALINDA



I am in love here. Every time I read it it inspires me and really does remind me that I have a sweet life :)


MY CAMERA.

She's not new, she's not fancy, but with the help of many, many blogs/websites/conversations with others/and a few lens purchases, she has made me very happy!

THIS PHOTO
I can't remember where I snagged this image but I am looking and will hopefully have a link to that photog's site ASAP. If it is the last.thing.I.do. I will have a picture of Billy and I like this.

MY WEDDING SHOES

And anything else L.A.M.B.


VEUVE

Thank you Meredith and Eileen :)