Let's Move: FOR HEALTHIER KIDS

AMERICA’S MOVE to RAISE a HEALTHIER GENERATION of KIDS!

Children: To Have or Not To Have!

While I sit here pondering my role in this life, I am watching the old 1995 movie Nine Months which stars Julianne Moore and a very young Hugh Grant - whom is one of my favorite English actors. Anyway, the synopsis of the movie is a about a man not yet ready to venture into the yarns of fatherhood but whose girlfriend, after finding out she is pregnant, ends up really wanting to have the baby. The young Child Psychologist played by Grant is not at all in the same spiritual or mental place as his girlfriend is as the movie progresses and is scared stiff about becoming a father. The soon-to-be-mother character played by Moore is a dance instructor and she soon learns that her excitement about becoming a parent is not shared by her boyfriend and the fireworks begin.

I find myself being extremely compassionate towards the man because he was told by the girlfriend that not much would change by her pregnancy then wham, the man discovers so many changes around each corner of his life – too many changes. I also feel badly for the woman because she is understandably excited and overjoyed at bringing a baby into the world only to find her partner at odds with the idea. In the end everything is fine as is often the fairy-tale conclusion with Hollywood movies, but this person is left wondering ‘what if’?!!

Let me explain, I am in my early 40’s and never had a child. Those who know me know my story about the miscarriage I had over 21 years ago. Had the circumstances been different, I would now be Mom to a 20 year old boy. The pregnancy was a surprise and the person whom I was married to was like the Hugh Grant character in that he was rather immature and not very empathetic towards others feelings and a huge failure at putting others needs/wants ahead of his own.

Anyway, after the miscarriage, I decided I needed to do something different with my life and I left the marriage. Until this very day, my motherly instincts have never kicked in as is the case with so many women. My maternal clock was idle I suppose and I never went around paranoid that I would run out of time to have children. Now do not get me wrong, had the opportunity arisen, I would have stepped up to the plate, but it never did. I love children. I believe I would have made an excellent mother. I am attentive towards other people’s children and believe that they are just little adults and one needs to treat them with much respect. The love we give them should be a given, but so should respect. I have always had a great rapport with children and have been able to handle the most difficult ones when others failed.

I have always admitted that my selfishness was the main reason which kept me from having children or adopting them. I am not ashamed to say that because it is true and I firmly believe that most people feel that way but would be quick to deny it. In my admittance of such a thing, I am proud that I was able to acknowledge those feelings and instead focus on other important things in my life.

So what of my legacy - as many will probably question. Well, it may not be embedded in another human being who is of my own body, but it is derivative of everything I have done in this world. Those things may or may not include the many blogs I write, the content writing and stories which I post for other media avenues, the novel(s) I am currently focusing on. Those things may be simple and not so important to those who do have children, but those things are my children – my babies, and I am proud of them all. But let’s not forget other parts of my legacy for which I am certain many would agree are genuine and important, the philanthropy in which I have partaken of in the past and taking care of my family when they were in need or just because I wanted to do so. Then there are my own nieces and nephews whom are as close to my own children in how much I adore and love them. I believe I have been able to form good relationships with them – some more than others. I believe I have helped form positive impressions upon them to help them grow as adults, and into productive and influential members of society. That they all place importance on family no matter what and no matter what their definition of family might be.

Yes, indeed, my maternal clock may not have tick-tocked itself into the realms of motherhood as like with other women, but my life to-date is just fine. The ole proverbial clock was not broken either. Instead, my inner-workings lead me to a much different path and in the end; I believe it was just as gratifying for me. I love my family and I do place it high on my list of priorities, but there is always room for making sure one takes care of #1 and our own needs before we can do right by others. I was fortunate to be on this path and I do not question it and neither do I look back over my shoulders questioning it or second guessing it. I guess I am lucky like that.
So the 'what if' question which I was left querying about this a.m. as I watched Nine Months is...  just wondering what my son would have done with his life, what kind of person would he have been, things of that nature.  I am not regretful of never having had children - I only miss not having known my son.  No matter if I had had more kids, none would have replaced my first-born.  Therefore - I am okay not having any, and status quo is just fine for me...no regrets...none whatsoever!  Life is good "as is"!

The Freedom Riders: New Documentary Recounts Historic 1961 Effort to Challenge Segregated Bus System in the Deep South

The Freedom Riders: New Documentary Recounts Historic 1961 Effort to Challenge Segregated Bus System in the Deep South

Republicans Aren’t Sitting As Pretty As They Think | The New Republic

Republicans Aren’t Sitting As Pretty As They Think The New Republic

HAPPY 2010

The professionals at the American Literacy Council say it is to be pronounced 20-10 not two thousand and ten.  The latter form is supposedly illiterate.  I prefer the 20-10 one anyway because it sounds more sci-fi 'ish and more futuristic.  Whatever, right?!!! 

ANYHOW--- Here's wishing all a Happy 20-10!!!

May the recession end, the politicians figure out a way to reform health-care to benefit everyone, and may any/all catastrophes which occur world-wide this year (as they are certain to do) remind us ALL to be more compassionate - not tolerant, but accepting!!!

2010 BCS National Championship (my prediction and my theory)

I first posted the theory data on my Facebook wall yesterday and today, I predicted the outcome of tonight’s college championship game. I was merely testing a theory I heard during the "Mike and Mike in the Morning Show" on Monday morning at 5 AM. I awoke laughing my head off as usual at the comedic banter for which Greeny and Golic are known.

They spoke about sport’s superstitions which often accompanies all players and fans. Apparently Greeny's dad did not want to change his vacation & flight plans to attend the next NY Jets game because in changing plans, he may jinx the team's ability to win another game versus the Cincy Bengals (this time a playoff game). Greeny had first brought up the idea for his dad to change his plans in order to help his dad save some time because his dad was going to have to make two separate trips on separate days almost half-way across the country to see the playoff game in person. Greeny then had second thoughts after his dad explained the jinx theory and changed his mind as well and agreed with his dad to leave vacation and flight plans “as is”.

The dos Mikes went on about other superstitions and it reminded me how I also have some pretty quirky ones of my own. For me though - in order to "meet my fears" and to spite my own idiosyncrasies which are my superstitions, I tend to do the complete opposite of what my superstition devils feed into my ears and into my thoughts. Most often I despite them and I end up on the short end of the stick, per se.

Here is some data about what I mean:

1) When I tell someone which team I am supporting, 2 out of 3 times they win...thus; I am 70-30 with voicing my beliefs even though I have promised myself I would not make any vocal predictions. Going forward I need to keep my opinions to myself and not tell anyone what I think. Except concerning Texas Tech…I am always on their side.

2) When I write down which team I am supporting, 1 out of 3 times they win...thus, I am 30-70 when I write down my predictions. I seriously need to stop writing down my predictions for the Karma Gods are out to spite me.

This time around I decided to try something new with a team whose results really do not concern me at all. I told everyone that the University of Texas Longhorns were going to beat the Alabama Crimson Tide and win the 2010 BCS National Championship. I wrote it down as well as a “fearless prediction”. I am actually more in favor of the Tide to win for obvious reasons surrounding the last time Texas played and almost lost to the Cornhuskers of Nebraska had it not been for that “one second incident”.

I am not buying into the idea that Texas is totally going to fall apart and not give ‘Bama a run for their money, but neither am I convinced that Texas can win this game - if they do it will be close. No matter which team wins, it will be close and low scoring. Colt McCoy, who had my support for Heisman, is not your ordinary player. He is clutch when the opportunity calls for it and when the situation demands it. His favorite target at WR is Jordan Shipley (6th year senior-ala red-shirt due to previous IR status); Jordan is not one to give up either. The UT kicker is definitely clutch to boot, pardon the pun. These UT guys will combine to give the Tide a good fight. However, there might be way too many weapons on the ‘Bama side, offense and defense, so I fear that the ‘Horns will be unable to keep their 17 game win steak alive after tonight’s game and will fall a bit short of winning the national championship.

After the game is over, I will post my real “fearless prediction” for this game as I did 4 weeks ago via ESPN when I entered their 2010 College Bowl Mania contest. I had the ability to change my prediction for this game up thru today, but I never once waivered. I kept the score as I chose it 4 weeks ago especially when I was not too impressed with UT’s Big 12 Championship last-second victory over the ‘Huskers. However, I also chose to keep the score close for a couple of reasons. I saw something in Coach Nick Saban as he downplayed having beaten Florida during their SEC Championship game. Nick seemed confused or maybe surprised at their win no matter how many points they won by, he seemed shocked. Nick himself appeared to not want to predict anything about the national championship game, and I don’t believe that he refrained from commenting too much about the game or their opponents even after they knew it would be Texas because he is a classy guy. Nick seemed plagued by the very superstitions which hinder all fans and he wanted to say as little as he could. There was something else I saw in Saban’s eyes a couple of days later after their SEC title game…a bit of fear…maybe the fear which reminded him of the fact that 32 days would lie in wait until the national championship would take place and it would be sufficient time for UT to fix their issues - enough time for UT to give ‘Bama a tough time and maybe even beat them. UT won’t go out so easily and lose as badly as sport’s pundits and 74% of the nation believes they will. UT may lose, but it won’t be by a landslide. At the end of the game, Alabama might win and if they do, they will -should- appreciate their victory even more.

Team Leach Rally Data

Alright guys, we want this rally to be MASSIVE, and in order to keep doing what we're doing, we have to keep spreading the word! Our new target is those who do not have facebook. Here's what you can do...

Go to: http://www.shinerbock.com/Team%20Leach%20Flyer.pdf

print off as many as you want or can.  Shove them in mailboxes in your neighborhood, put them on people's windshields, put them in magazines, newspapers, ANYTHING to get people to see it.  Put one in YOUR car for people to see.  Anyway you can to spread the word would be absolutely amazing!

TEAM LEACH!!

Note" A very special "thank-you" to Lauren Guerrero Gongora.  A fellow facebook friend and Texas Tech fan/alumnus.  Lauren first posted the above data via an FB evite today (01-06-10).  She was gracious enough to allow me to post the data on my blogs.

Fire Craig James and Aaron Taylor Petition

http://www.petitiononline.com/Firetrev/

To: ESPN/ABC

In light of ESPN's dismissal of Trev Alberts, we the people urge that the ABC/ESPN network "finish the job" and fire Craig James and Aaron Taylor.

Like Trev, Mr. James and Mr. Taylor have no redeeming value to justify their presence on television. We are so sickened by their "analysis" that we are taking this opportunity to demand their removal. Please restore the sanctity of college football and "finish the job".

(view the web site to see the many hundreds who have signed already)

ALABAMA : 2010 BCS National Champions!

Alabama Crismson Tide: 35
University of Texas Longhorns: 17
This was my true prediction from 12-05-09
I officially wrote it down on this blog on 01-04-10 at 6:00 AM
following the "Mike and Mike in the Morning" show!