RE-TREAT

I will be off-line for the next four days re-treating and re-laxing with hubby...thanks to our generous Swiss Benefactors.

Yoga will be involved, no doubt. Spa cuisine and various forms of exfoliation.

We plan to shed some dead skin cells and gain some new perspectives...oh, and SLEEP!

Heavenly sleep.

We will re-turn re-newed.

Until Sunday...Adieu.

Ash Wednesday Observations

So today is the day Christians mark the beginning of Lent. Ash Wednesday is meant to remind of our mortality of the dust of our beginning and our end...and perhaps the debris that often collects along the way.

Above all, today is a day to be reminded of our finite creatureliness.

Which, believe it or not, brings me to Governor Jindal's Republican Rebuttal last night. Aside from sounding like a kindergarten teacher talking to kiddies during circle time, I was struck by the theme of his "talk": Americans Can Do Anything.

Or so his father told him.

It has been bothering me for almost 24 hours now. Now, I am all for having a positive attitude, but the belief that WE CAN DO ANYTHING, ANYTHING is what got us into trouble in the first place. It is also what will stop us from getting out as well.

We are finite creatures, after all. Our forgetfulness of this fact can and does lead to an over-reach with the "I can do anything attitude". It can lead to a sense of entitlement as in I can do what I want, I have the right, I deserve it. How much of that bravado caused the credit mess/housing mess/financial run-a-muckness we're in right now?

Something I read last week has been stuck with me, the author wrote:

"I worry that the consequence free, debt fueled capitalism we let grow this past decade requires a nastier payback than we think we deserve"

Indeed, the depth of the problem we're in right now, made clear once again by our President last night, means that we might be facing several years of payback that won't be pretty. It won't seem "fair" as my children like to say.

But there it will be. Kicking and screaming will be one option...but if you're in my house, it won't get you what you want.

Instead, we may need a time out...a chance to reflect on what we think we DESERVE and why. What we need to live and feel satisfied with that life, and why.

This day marks the beginning of a symbolic time of wandering in the desert. 40 years, 40 days, a long, long time. The wilderness wasn't all that pleasant...but it certainly did provide time for fruitful reflection and powerful, lasting growth.

In My Humble MomOpinion

Here are a few of my reactions from last night:

1. Ruth Bader Ginsberg is a hero for showing up, but she does not look well.
2. Michelle Obama should consider covering her arms on occasions such as this. My mother always taught me the importance of dressing for the occasion. Her dress was nice, but she was the only one in the room with bare arms. Not appropriate. What would Jackie O have worn?
3. Both sides of the aisle gave The President the warmest welcome I've seen in a long, long time.
4. The President spoke to us like we were adults, not children.
5. The bit with the little girl from South Carolina was powerful...and genuine.
6. Nearly the best line of the night: IT IS NOT AMERICAN TO TORTURE. Praise God for that!
7. I have felt sobered and inspired at the same time.
8. Bobby Jindal has a long, long, long way to go. His rebuttal, the hope of the GOP, had a very weak beginning. He was almost clown like.
9. He is not attractive enough to make a move in 2012. He is not attractive enough, period.
10. I agreed with some of what Jindal said toward the end. But as an "average American", he had already lost me on the gut reaction front.

Bonus reaction: I feel like going out and spending some money today! At least 50 bucks or so. Let the consumer spending begin.

Two Faces of Tonight - And The Future

,
Bobby Jindal will give the Republican Response to Obama's speech tonight.

Who said it is too early to begin campaigning for 2012?

But these are the faces of our politics now. They are decidedly young, exciting and hopefully forward thinking.

I'll be listening with open ears to both of them.

In Business As In Life?

Seth Godin is a marketing Guru...he has a popular blog and website and has written 9 best-selling books on marketing.

He has a very tempered and realistic opinion of the usefulness of the Internet and networking sites as business tools. In commenting on this topic recently, he said this gathering names on Facebook and Twitter is about as useful as going to cocktail parties and giving out your business card.

In sum: not so useful.

What is useful in business networking according to Godin: Helping people achieve their goals. Helping them not for what they can do for you in the future...but simply helping for the intrinsic value of helping.

Connecting people with others, referring, supporting...all of this goes into helping people to achieve their goals. The key is that you will have a stake in them and they in you. You have built a relationship...a real one, not a superficial one. A relationship that will be there in the future when you might need help.

Sound advice, it seems to me, in business and in life.

In Search Of A Summer Afternoon

This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! Psalm 119

"Each moment of the year has
its own beauty."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Summer afternoon . . . summer afternoon - the two most beautiful
words in the English language.
- Henry James

We have been cooped up for a week trying to recover from various ills. Trying to get outside to enjoy the fresh air has been no easy task. It does not help that it is still quite cold.

I'm prone to thinking Emerson is right to find beauty in each season, today it seems that James holds the truth.

Stay present and enjoy...will try. But I'm dreaming of lemonade on the front porch.

Michelle Watch

Huffington Post had a great little piece on Michelle Fashion for the first 30 days of First Ladyhood.

I can't say I've loved EVERYTHING...but I sure have loved a lot of it. And I have noticed that in addition to giving a boost to little known American designers, Michelle is giving a huge boost to J. Crew and White House/Black Market. (see cute dress in photo above).

I, for one HAD to have this little black and white number when I saw it...and did purchase it while out in Denver. So adorable!

And, I'm looking more closely at J.Crew these days as well. Spending is now our patriotic duty. So let's get out and shop friends....the spring collections are in the stores as we speak.

Country First! Shop NOW.

Okay, If She Isn't Honest...

Then I'll eat my hat...or something worse. Which coming off of a stomach flu is a huge concession.

I've always like Governor Kathleen Sebelius and if she doesn't have an honest looking face, who does? I ask you.

So, I was very happy to read in today's NYTimes that she is being considered, vetted whatever, to be the new, not scandalous head of Health and Human Services.

Apparently she is not willing to say it will be her just yet. Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen is also being considered. Never even heard of him...sorry.

Let's just hope vetting now includes a trip to the IRS for a little research!

I for one just LOVE Kathleen (may I call you Kathleen?). I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some good news soon.

Back From The Fog

I was side-swiped by my children's stomach virus yesterday. Whoa, not fun!

I missed out on a lot of news...but at least the Republicans still think Obama and his administration have caused the sickening debt. They must think Obama is God, to have wracked up all that debt in the mere 3 weeks he has been commander-in-chief!

Enlightening.

Very Rich, Indeed

In case you missed it, Frank Rich's op-ed piece in yesterday's NY Times was also very helpful in explaining what the heck is going on in Washington.

Money quote via David Axelrod:

The stimulus battle was more of the same. “This town talks to itself and whips itself into a frenzy with its own theories that are completely at odds with what the rest of America is thinking,” he says. Once the frenzy got going, it didn’t matter that most polls showed support for Obama and his economic package: “If you watched cable TV, you’d see our support was plummeting, we were in trouble. It was almost like living in a parallel universe.”

History will be the judge, won't it?

Thems Fightin' Words

All week long I have been shaking my green, naive head about what is going on in Washington. Why aren't they treating the economy like 9/11 and coming together for the sake of these United States.

Critics would say I'm just expecting Kum-bay-ya around the campfire and I'm not going to get it.
But really, I was just hoping for civility.

As usual, Andrew Sullivan helped me put the whole mess into perspective with his piece today in the Sunday Times.

As usual, I highly recommend it.

Moving Forward = Progress

PROGRESS: the development of an individual or society in a direction considered more beneficial than and superior to the previous level.

Exactly.

Lest We Forget

Or should I say lest I forget...and fret...reading this today reminded me that Obama clearly knows what he has gotten into. And he is dealing. In the end, he is obviously well aware that history will judge him, and that the political process will allow the country to decide its fate again in 2012.

I suppose I just need to remind myself that this is what it is like to have an intelligent, emotionally mature President. Note to self: whatever happens, this has got to be better than it was before.

The money quote was:

After the trials and triumphs of his tumultuous first weeks, President Obama appears increasingly focused on ends, not means. In a conversation early Friday evening with a small group of columnists, Obama was flexible about tactics and unwavering in his goals. He signaled that he's open to consultation, compromise and readjusting his course to build inclusive coalitions, but fixed on the results he intends to produce. "My bottom line is not how pretty the process was," he said, looking back at the congressional fight over his economic recovery package. "My bottom line was: Am I getting help to people who need it?"

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Hubby and I were all set to take a couple's yoga class today. A perfect Valentine's treat.

The instructor called to cancel. She injured her back.

And so the real yoga lesson begins...(see above quotation).

Have a beautiful day, whatever it holds for you -- may you feel love and peace and connection.

Having One's Eyes Opened

I have been rather quiet on the political front -- nearly since January 20th. In large measure it is due to my innate desire to avoid conflict. I'm a peace monger and I don't take that term lightly, nor is it a compliment.


I had the sense from the outset that things were not going to be easy for Obama, and that he would enjoy no honeymoon period. No problem there. I shrugged it off when Rush Limbaugh said he hoped Obama would fail. Okay, whatever.

But I now see that each time Obama does anything that is even remotely iffy, he is doomed. There are some in the Republican Party -- aside from Rush Limbaugh -- who really want to see the whole administration go down in flames so they can say, "Told you so".

Weird.

The best hope I have is the knowledge that when people come in as change agents, there are always those who go kicking and screaming..."CHANGE BACK! We liked it the way it was before...it sucked but at least it was familiar."

That happens in families, in institutions, and it is happening here and now.

But in the end, if the change works...if the change agent turns out to be right (if the stimulus plan actually stimulates something)...there will be a love fest.

We'll just have to wait and see.

In the meantime, I have no illusions and sometimes Reality Bites.

Celebration

I have been off line these past several days getting ready for my folks 50th wedding anniversary luncheon.

The details of such events often become so consuming that we forget the reason we're doing this in the first place.

TO CELEBRATE! To observe a day with ceremonies of respect, festivities and rejoicing!

In a time when many marriages don't make it to the 10th anniversary...it is important to mark those rare and Golden Anniversaries. Such events do not require that we toast to perfection, or to sheer continued unmarred bliss. Only that we recognize the sacred value of time together, of shared history and most importantly, of commitment.

There is a benediction I sometimes use at the end of a wedding ceremony that goes something like this:

"And long, long years from now may you look at one another and be able to say, 'because of you, I have become the person I longed to be, because of you I have lived the life I always wanted to live.'"

Looking ahead, it may seem like a tall order, but it is possible and it is certainly reason to CELEBRATE!

Creativity Has The Final Say

I found this beautiful piece of artwork and opinion on the NYTimes Blog...

Well worth a look see and is much better news than some of the slime we were hearing today.

Know Hope.

Well...Nevermind Then

It seems Mr. D. has "decided" to step down.

Good.

Several I've spoken with in the course of the day were quite concerned about this whole mess and it was causing not a few of us to become demoralized about our political system...once again!

Crisis averted, for now.

We hope.

Oh, For Pete's Sake!

Just as I posted the new "poll" this popped up on my screen. Read it and weep. Will it be the case that everyone who has ever "sinned" will now drop out.

There will be no one left. Anywhere. On either side of the aisle.

Good grief, Charlie Brown.

Good grief.

My First Blog Poll

I have been a bit heart sick over the whole Daschle Debacle. No, not because it sullies Obama, though it might. And, no not because I thought Obama was "above" this kind of thing. For it seems that no politician is. I will say that the more I read of Daschle, the less I like him.

The LOT less I like him.

I am sickened by the fact that politics seems to go hand in hand with grime, and back slapping, and favors, and misdemeanors, and even major illegalities. And, after all of the AIR TIME that Obama gave to a NEW KIND OF POLITICS...

It appears business as usual. Gee, that didn't take too long, did it?

In my mind this newest "gate" might end up hurting Obama's new kind of politics more than it is worth. But I'm not certain. I am hoping our new President is just sitting tight and figuring out the next move...or a replacement choice.

SO: I've posted a little Poll (look to the right).

Vote and let me know what you think.

Michael Phelps-Gate

No doubt you've read about the whole Phelps smoked pot debacle. Uh-oh.

Ministermom should not admit this but who cares? Give the guy a break, really!

Then I read this and realized that I wasn't the only one that thought the whole thing was a bit blown out of proportion. This just strikes me as a time when we, as a culture, just need to grow up and start focusing on more important things.

In just 30 seconds, I'm certain you can decide what those "things more important" are.

Go...

Smitten Kitchenette, con't

I should add that our little creator ALSO took the photographs below in addition to plating her creation.

That makes it doubly MAGNIFIQUE, N'est-ce pas?

Smitten Kitchenette

There is a famous saying, a poem actually that claims Children Learn What They Live.

When our oldest prepared this dessert tonight...by herself...and offered it as a happy treat for a fun weekend, I now have now doubt.

Children's learning is so fully existential. They learn what relates to their lives and the lives of those around them.

Now sometimes they learn things we hoped they would not. That is hard and is often cause for great parental self-doubt and accusation. (don't I know it)

Other times, they inspire with their acute observations, impeccable nuance of life and fresh creativity.

And so we have the latest creation from her "Just Desserts" cooking file: Mini Chocolate Fondue a la Liliane.

Magnifique!