Are they kidding? South Los Angeles thinks allowing fewer fast food chains will shrink waistlines? Something isn't adding up in this article...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25896233

An "impoverished" community is getting so overweight L.A. wants to start adding laws to help them be healthier?

Wait. If they are so impoverished, how do they afford so much fast food? Has anyone bothered to consider that? Eating enough fast food to gain that much weight would put a crimp in my budget (not to mention that ... uh, I don't want to gain that much weight so I don't eat that much fast food). Where is the money for all that coming from? And after eating that much fast food to result in obesity, how are they paying for the extra health care?

Impoverished. Obese. Victims. Really?

Elected officials are basically calling these people victims because they don't have better options available. Ever hear of free market? Supply and demand? If they wanted fresh produce stores available, if they actually bothered to go to the fresh produce stores and spent the time to actually cook their own food at home ... you know, salads, veggies, fruits, whole grains, fish, chicken (without deep fried skin covering it) ... the stores would be there quite willing to sell to them. Healthier options aren't "available" because they don't want them. They want easy and fast. Well...

We make our own choices. Our governments (state or federal) should have better things to do than govern how much fat we eat. Really. Is there seriously no availability of fresh produce in Los Angeles? I find that hard to believe. Those people are not victims. They are perpetrators. When I gain weight, I yell at myself and start eating better and exercise. It's much cheaper to eat better, to fix your own food than to stop at McDs for every meal. It's cheaper to get daily exercise (walking is free) than to pay big medical bills. A large percentage of people (those in countries of opportunity and freedom) are "impoverished" because of their own choices. There are exceptions. But not a lot.

McDs and Popeyes are not to blame. We don't have to go there.
 

Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson?

I finished it last night and have been pondering the last line all day. I even did research to see what it is that I'm missing because there has to be some significance in the name of the building he mentioned to end the story. I would love ideas and thoughts!

related links I found:
http://www.hbosplc.com/abouthbos/History/BoS_Tree/British_Linen_Bank.asp
http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides4/kidnapped.html

The review will be added to my Reading Notes link above ... after my hand heals; I injured it gardening yesterday and typing it slow. *sigh*
 

After finishing a short story, I set down my notebook and pencil and looked over to see one of my cardinals stopping by to eat. I had been sitting there writing for over an hour with no sign of him, but with my camera by my side just in case. As the courteous little things they are, he waited until I was finished instead of interrupting.

Good for President Bush for putting sanctions on Zimbabwe's illegitimate "leaders"! They cannot come to the US and their assets here will be frozen. I'm glad to know we will not be helping to support the corruption.

~~
Yes, copying music and giving it to others is illegal. Don't do it. I wouldn't want anyone making copies of my books to give away to friends so they could make copies and give them to friends. Why bother putting them out there if they no longer belong to me and I'm getting nothing for it? There are libraries for free reads. There are radio stations for free music. Use them instead. They both take requests. (Of course, once music is out of circulation and can't be found anywhere to purchase from the artist, that's a different story.)

~~
Anger is a two-way street. Just like sound (if a tree falls in the forest...), it takes perceiving to actually be anger. No one can make you angry if you don't allow it. It's your choice, and it generally only hurts you. Same with most other emotions.

~~
Take a lesson from the birds. Some species get along naturally and others don't. It's nature. Blue Jays and Cardinals don't bother each other. They live easily side by side. However, Blue Jays will chase away starlings and crows and anything that threatens their territory. Cardinals don't chase away anything; they avoid what they don't what to mingle with. They seem content beside the Blue Jays who do chase off intruders. I've been watching this with interest.

~~
Presidential candidates have no business making speeches in foreign countries. If we want them to have that authority, we will elect them first.

~~
Celebs from other countries have no business making public statements about our politics in our country. Hello, you're foreigners. Go spout political in your own country. Why are you backing anyone for our president? You wouldn't want me to go rant about your government in your country, would you? I wouldn't dare presume. Elton and George ... pay attention. I don't even want our own celebs acting like they have authority to tell us who we should support. They don't know more about it than I do, and they likely know less.

~~
I don't believe our government should be helping anyone with funds to upgrade their television sets just because the industry is switching from analog to digital. No one bought me a CD player when my cassettes started to become obsolete. TVs aren't necessities. They aren't rights. They are privileges. Pay for it if you want one. Don't if you don't. It's that simple. Read a book instead. Libraries have them for free.

~~
The war in Iraq is actually one of the most successful wars in history. Check the facts instead of the propaganda. Even the liberals talking against it know our troops cannot be pulled out until the stability continues further, and it is growing constantly more stable. If they were so against it, why are they now saying it's important to leave the troops there until it is? What does it matter if we shouldn't have gone in at all? If we pull out, it goes back to the way it was. Was it okay the way it was, or wasn't it? The Iraqis thanking us and now turning sides to stand with us against the terrorists would likely say it wasn't okay the way it was. I wouldn't want to live that way. Would you?

~~
It does take a village to raise a child. We're all responsible for the welfare of our country's children. If you let your kid be a bully and he beats up my kid, it affects me. It is my business. Nothing we do affects only us. We need to remember that. However, BE a parent if you are one. You are the main say in how your children turn out. They learn from you, for good and bad.

~~
Narrow-mindedness is very harmful to all of us. Each side always has a point, whether you agree with it or not. Listen. Think. Consider. Then by all means, disagree. But do it politely. You don't need to be rude to state your point and your point is less likely to be considered if it's rude.

~~
Spread optimism. It's contagious.

Have a good day!


 

If I ever become famous, I'll be at the top of the "worst dressed celebs" list.

Just saying. What's wrong with a baggy T-shirt and jeans? I'm covered. I'm decent. So I'm not a fashion model and won't start anything trendy. *shrug*

Ever think about that while you're walking up to the road in your old sweats and your hair in a ponytail (okay, some of you guys must have a ponytail at times, also, right?) and a car goes by you realize is likely a neighbor? I do. Does that make me vain or arrogant? Well, vain is pretty unlikely, since I do tend to run around town in my baggy T-shirt boasting a band or such I like, along with jeans and tennies. If I go out to intentionally market, I try to do better than that. But then, this is a small town. People will eventually know me for who I am, so it's not gonna matter much if I dress better to market, is it? *shrug* Yeah, well .. I am as I am. I like comfort. I don't like pretensions.

Is it arrogant to consider the possibility that anyone would even care to notice what I'm wearing? To think becoming that known might even be an issue at any point? Probably. Or maybe it's just that touch of hopefulness that's still there inside somewhere, even if most of me has given up on the idea of becoming "known" as a writer.

I know I've been away for some time. Even returning from vacation and seeing visitors go home again and having time to be here ... I haven't wanted to be. I don't mean here on the site; I mean here on the computer. I didn't want to be. I still only somewhat want to be. And I'm sure it's a phase. The Highlands of Scotland are on my mind -- that gorgeous, open, quiet, peaceful place where I felt at home keeps lingering. I didn't want to leave. I miss it.

So, I've been sitting on my front porch proofing my newest novel, some of which is based in Edinburgh, and watching my Cardinals and Blue Jays enjoy the sunflower seeds and the light rain fall through the leaves of my trees and feeling the cool breeze wash over me. And I still want to be back in the Highlands.

I'm grabbing 5 minutes of computer time, so here's another photo:

Just a quick entry.. got back last night from a whirlwind tour of Scotland, Ireland, and England, with a virus but had an incredible 12 days!

I took over 1300 photos so an album of the best will be coming. Here's one of me with a bagpiper in the Highlands of Scotland. I'll just say this for now: Scotland has now become my all-time favorite place to be other than home.

"Before we all suffered from a triple threat – al-Qaida, the militias, and sectarian kidnappings," said Alladin Hussein, a former major in Saddam’s Army, who I met in the market. "Now we are living in stability and security. It’s like a precious gem, something very fragile that you have to take care of."

http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/11/1129504.aspx

Of course, one commenter just had to say that we were the ones who brought all the misery on them in the first place. What? Hm, I think that commenter should try going over there and talking to those who would tell her otherwise.

Like some other commenters, I don't appreciate the ending unnecessary negativism at the end of a positive story, which we barely hear, anyway, although there is much positivism in the whole story, but it goes to prove a point. Anyone who would rather see the negative aspects will, no matter what is actually happening.

Does anyone think WE put the al-Qaida there?? Does anyone think the general Iraqi public WANTED them there or ever felt safe before we were there? Please. They are learning to govern and protect themselves. They are beginning to feel safe. That means, yes, we are winning this thing. Our leaders have to let us this time.


 

The hardest and most interesting thing about judging a contest is seeing things from different POVs. If you haven't read the entries from my blog post two days ago, check them out. It was fascinating to get such different feels from the same basic story. I added my own at the end.

Thank you again to all who entered!

This month I'll be a bit scarce around here. I had minor surgery on my arm yesterday that was a bit less minor than I expected and typing is uncomfortable. Later today I pick up Mom from the airport and in a couple of weeks I'm off for vacation! Lots of photos and stories upon my return, but likely after a visit from in-laws the day after Mom leaves. Do I have that kind of energy??? Hm... back to the workouts in a couple of days.

 

You spend SO much time trying to figure out how to do something just the way you need it done, FINALLY get it right, and then...

When you go back to do it again at a later time, you've completely forgotten how you figured it out the first time??

Does anyone else do this or is it just me? Sometimes I truly drive myself crazy.

Well, anyway, after a ton of struggling, frustration, giving up for a while to work out that frustration, and (you know, exercise IS good for the brain) returning to try again to figure out how I made it work the first time, my Newsletter is finally out. Now that I remember how easy it actually is once you use the right program , maybe they'll come out more often than once every six months.

If anyone wants to see how it turned out, here's the web version:
http://hosted.verticalresponse.com:80/267005/54f62ca2bb/1240000230/945d7b4d72/

Doesn't look that difficult, does it? *sigh* It's not. Well.. anyway, there is a subscribe link there for those who want to find out whether or not I figure it out again in a month or so. I think maybe I'll write myself a note.

Anyone else have Microsoft OneNote? Wow, is that a great program! I'm wondering if it's available separately for those who don't want the Office program but haven't bothered to check yet. It has to be Microsoft's gift to the ADD strugglers. Maybe not a gift since I paid for it, but it still feels like a gift. Okay, Mr. Gates, you can send my referral checks to....

Yeah, I stayed up entirely too late last night for as much as I have to do today, and tomorrow, and I'm quite sure that's apparent by now (along with still being buzzed by a new reader off-site who read my excerpt and said "You are a wonderful writer." ), so I'm off to write myself a OneNote and get busy.

Thank you for the entries so far for yesterday's little contest of sort (entry below). I'll award the winner tonight, which is already gonna be a challenge, so feel free to add to it before I get that far.

** #1295757 Not An Image ** Oh... check out the most recent Blogville Newsletter if you haven't yet, AND the Bloggsville Nomadic Tome! (Both under 'highlighted links' above.)

** #946247 Not An Image **

Images from Emoticonpedia - also linked above
 

Just a note about yesterday's entry: I do realize there are many shades in between 'sides' and labels are stifling and paint only a small part of the picture. I'm a middle person, also. I'm just so very tired of everywhere I turn having sleeziness and vulgarity thrown in my face: sexual innuendos everywhere including nearly every commercial, 'reality' TV that is absolutely disgusting and without morals, romance books that don't sell unless they are erotically graphic, 'games' for kids that don't sell unless they're full of violence and sex, leaders who are called stupid or moronic because of a speech pattern, fakers who are put on a pedestal only because they are smooth-talkers or charming or of the "right" race or sex or age of the moment (all politicians lie, they are all fake, they all say what they think we want to hear, they're all liable to be found contradicting themselves, they all have hidden agendas... ALL of them), celebs being worshipped for their looks and nasty attitudes when they have no real talent, people buying Hummers and SUVs and then blaming the government for gas prices, hearing all kinds of BS about the war from people who don't know what's actually going on, being unable to find actual loyalty or personal responsibility or a willingness to sacrifice and save and do without luxuries while complaining about credit card bills and housing prices and...

I'm just sick of it. And then, it becomes the "in" thing to make fun of and put down conservatives who do believe in personal responsibility and paying their own way and doing without what they don't earn and not letting the government do everything for us. Criticizing a man because he's white and over 50 is all fair game. Supporting someone only because he's not white and over 50 is all fair game. Giving certain groups more opportunity than other groups is all fine and dandy. We're not going forward here. We're going backwards. Vulgarity and nastiness are not funny. Promiscuous sex is not healthy for our kids or for us.

The T-shirt I saw the other day that said, "The Hippies Were Right" truly ticked me off. No, they weren't. They still aren't. Who was paying the bills when they were preaching free love and marijuana for all? Their hard-working conservative parents and the hard-working conservative tax payers. The hippies weren't working enough to pay taxes. Who were they helping or supporting? No one. But they sure did a heck of a lot of damage. The hippies told us not to discipline our children. They told us we should be with whomever we want whenever we want and live exactly as we wanted. Now, there is no discipline. There is no respect. There are no morals. Young people are more stressed and more afraid than ever. Schools aren't safe. Shopping centers aren't safe. Our homes and churches aren't safe. Why? The hippies said we should all go our own way and do our own thing. Great idea, I suppose, on the surface, but that caused such a horrid disconnection that led to all of this instability.

When slamming your own government becomes the cool thing to do, we're all dooming ourselves. When we vote for those who want the government to control every aspect of our lives, we're dooming ourselves. When we make it okay for our teens to have children they can't support, and when we let our ten year olds play games where they take a machine gun to everyone around them, we're dooming ourselves. So we're allowing this sex and violence for our children and voting to allow abortions for all as a birth control method and to ban gun sales so the innocent among us can't protect ourselves from intruders and telling our government to pull our soldiers home so the terrorists can thrive and see our weakness...

Where has our value for life gone? Our human respect and decency? We can't all just live the way we want to live because we're all in this together. The hippies didn't quite get that. They were doing the opposite of what they were preaching.

So tell me again: what is the big crime against conservativism?

 

"You're so easily amused."

I hear this a lot. I can't argue. I am easily amused, although I'm not easily impressed. I think that's really a state of mind that says someone is willing to see humor and beauty. It's everywhere. Really. You have to be willing to see it. For instance, at the moment, I'm having a hard time trying to write this because there is a pair of cardinals playing in my front yard and I'm really quite amused just sitting and watching them.

Cardinals remind me of my grandma. She loved them and always made a big deal about seeing one. Her mom apparently did, as well, since she was amused by one of their sounds that sounds like "pretty bird." She would say, "Oh, what a vain little bird you are." I have had thoughts that my grandparents led me to this place somehow, and that is strengthened the more I see cardinals playing in my yard. Yes, I'm amused by cardinals.

I'm amused by my dogs playing, also, and giving each other doggy kisses. I've never before seen that. I'm amused by the little hummingbirds that come to my feeder. I'm especially amused by the reactions I get just by smiling at someone.

Is it that extraordinary for someone to smile at you? And I don't mean the forced "how do you do" smile when you're trying to be social. I mean, when the mailman delivers a package to your door, do you thank him with a genuine smile? Mine always seems so surprised when I do; well, at this point, he's smiling as I open the door. I am thankful for him bringing the mail to my door so I don't have to go to town to get it. Yes, it's his job, but he does it as it should be done and is polite and friendly. To me, that deserves a nice thank you. Do you realize that so many more in the customer service professions would be so much more friendly if we were friendly to them and thanked them with a smile?

I received a review the other day for "Dear World"  with a story about a truck driver smiling at her for no particular reason and how it lit up an otherwise dreary long drive. [Thank you, vw53 again for the review, the story, and the inspiration for today's entry.] It reminded me of a similar story of my own.

Back in my teen days ... you know, those days when we're all awkward and uncomfortable with ourselves and every little social gaff seems like it will mark us forever as uncool and unlikeable and ... *sigh* well... I remember vividly walking out of a parking garage with Mom and at least one of my sisters and stumbling over something unexpected on the sidewalk. As though that's not mortifying enough to a teen, there happened to be a really cute older guy noticing. My face turned all kinds of warm [yes, it was really that big a deal *sigh*] ... until I actually looked at his face and he was smiling. He wasn't laughing or rolling his eyes. His smile was one of those genuine "yes, we've all done that, kinda embarrassing, huh?" smiles that was so friendly and so understanding that it has been ingrained in my mind ever since. It made a huge difference to a teenage girl who often felt like just crawling into the shadows so she wouldn't be seen.

That moment did worlds of good; it showed me in an instant how I was making a big deal out of nothing, as we often do, and that even when I stumble, I'm not uncool or unlikeable. It happens. So what? Pick your feet up and keep walking.

And smile now and then, genuinely. Life really is all about your attitude.

 

You know WHY they say writing a book is like having a baby? You think when you come to that point where it's time to release it into the world, you're gonna be ecstatic and celebratory ... and when reality sets in, you find you're really just exhausted and nervous. Okay, maybe the excitement is there, also, but it's well overshadowed for a while by reality.

I won't admit how long I spent just trying to write and rewrite and edit and rewrite and re-edit, etc. the blurb and bio for the thing. Yesterday was the labor after the 2 years of growth. Darn good thing baby labor doesn't last that long! It was the day to put it all together onto CD while wondering if it's good enough to put on CD and send in. It was blurb and bio day, and I still say writing those is harder than writing the actual novel. It was "well, let's just do this thing, then, and get it out there.. okay now, one last PUSH..."

I will say the 5th rewrite/edit took about 3 weeks but in tightening and changing sentence structures, I actually got rid of about 10,000 words that were unnecessary! I'm hoping this one does show my growth as a writer/editor. The extra time did push my finish date later than I wanted, and I won't have copies to take with me next month like I hoped, but I'm glad I did it. I'm still not sure I like the blurb, but at some point, you just have to let it go and move forward. I'm also stuck with using the photo I posted here because the retakes were completely unusable, except I forgot to put it on the disc with everything else, so I hope emailing it to them will work. *sigh*

The big difference between a new book and a new baby is ... last night after having this one DONE (other than checking the proof book when it comes), what did I want to do? Start on the next. I sure didn't have any craving to do that either night after having my kids.

Okay, I didn't really start on the next Rehearsal book. I think I'll just stick with notes for it for now and use it for Nano in November. The plan is to have it ready by June 2010, since I'm on a roll ... the first was put out in June 2006, 10 years after I started writing the series. With 4 in the series, coming out every 2 years, and the sequel already started maybe 2 years after the last, as well as a prequel I have a thought about in another 2 years... that's an even 20 years of work on the thing ending in June 2016. Heck, I've been married that long. If I can do that, I can manage 20 years of work on the same story. Right? Kinda the same thing.

What I did do last night after celebrating with grilled chicken salad and iced tea (hey, gotta get in shape for vacation next month!) was to start editing my Nano novel from Nov and March, with plans to have that one out next year. One book a year? Maybe doable, if they aren't all 280,000 pages.

After vacation, I'll be pushing the anthology. Fair warning.

 

Can anyone tell me what this is? It's barely bigger than a mouse and our puppy has it so frightened, it won't move.



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[Thank you to those who replied about my photo.. still considering and may try again!]