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It will come as no surprise that U.S. corporations donate a lot of money to the Republican party. However, there are quite a few companies that gave the majority of their campaign contributions to the Democratic Party. So why are you spending your money at companies that support the Republicans? Check out Choose the Blue to find out who's blue and deserves our cash. Hello Arby's and Barnes and Noble.
So, do you have all your shopping done? Only 4 more days until Christmas. Good grief, they aren't kidding when they say time flies as you get older. It was June yesterday. Ok, maybe not, especially considering it was 3 degrees yesterday. Brrrr. Today, it's 40. What's up with that? I went up north last weekend for my niece's birthday. She's 12! Going on 30. She likes to call herself a tween and told me, very seriously, that she is ready to be an adult. Yeah, that's all it's cracked up to be. Now, I'm getting ready to head up north again for the holidays. I hauled all my gifts up with this last trip but I still have to wrap them and, to tell you the truth, I'm not really even sure I've got everyone covered. I'm having trouble remembering who I bought what for but, oh well, there's always cash. I might be turning into my Mom. Every single year, a day or two after Christmas, my Mom will find gifts that she'd put away and forgot about. We always tease her about it - because it isn't an occasional thing - it's every year. I'm pretty sure that this year she's hidden and forgotten about that gift of a trip to Hawaii. Right, Mom? I forget I bought people stuff and end up with more than I planned or not enough. It's even sadder considering I make a list. Anyway, finish up that shopping, sit back, relax, and don't forget the grasshoppers*!
*Our traditional Christmas drink made of Creme de Menthe, vanilla ice cream and some other alcohol, all mixed up in a blender. They come out green, which is why they're called grasshoppers, grasshopper.
As we come upon the close of the year, it looks like I'm not going to meet my goal of a book a week. As of today the number stands at 40 and it looks like I'm going to get one, possibly two, books in by the end of the year. I'm ok with it though. I read some really excellent books this year and it's going to be a tough choice for my favorite of the year. As it stands, the contenders are:
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
I, Fatty by Jerry Stahl
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Green Age of Asher Witherow by M. Allen Cunningham
Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Pompeii: A Novel by Robert Harris
I'll let you know at the beginning of January what one of these I loved the most - I'm thinking about it but can't make up my mind, so maybe there will be more than one. I think I've mentioned them before but, if not, my favorite book last year was The Curious Incident of the Dog in Nighttime by Mark Haddon and the year before, The Impressionist by Hari Kunzru.
Yesterday it was Cotton Candy and today it's National Brownie Day. I don't think it's a coincidence that these days fall between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It might explain alot about holiday weight gain. We don't have enough food this time of year that we have to add cotton candy and brownies to the mix. The fact that I'm dieting goes a long way to explain why I'm drawn to days that celebrate food. I made it through turkey day without gaining any weight and I'm determined to stay that way through the rest of the year. I've been doing the new Denise Austin workout - Personal Training System. I'm not a big fan of Denise's, I think she comes across as kind of fake but I'm really liking this workout. You can mix and match cardio, arms, legs, abs, and stretching and change the intensity levels. I've been doing low intensity cardio, arms, legs, and stretch (I hate ab workouts) and it's been kicking my butt - especially the legs part. Whew - it's tough but I can already see results and I've only done the workout 3 times. Weight loss so far (since September 6th) is 18lbs, where I've been since early November and is why I need Denise to kick my butt over the plateau. My main goal is to do the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Bank half marathon in October 2005 and I need to lose some more weight before I begin training in the spring. My mantra for the next year is "I can do this". Yes, I can!
Today is National Cotton Candy Day. Mmmmm, doesn't that sound tasty right about now - it's 10am, I'm tired, and a nice sugar buzz would hit the spot. That is, until the big crash a couple of hours after eating all that sugar. Not good. I would like it to be August and I am getting some cotton candy at the State Fair. But, alas, it's dreary, rainy, December. The good news is that it's going to be 55 degrees today. What's up with that? Hey Mother Nature - quit taunting us!
Jane sent the Gangsta Knitter video my way. It's so funny. Check out the KNIT on the guy's knuckles.
Looking for gift ideas for the well-mannered person in your life? How about a gift that helps other people in the process? I mentioned gifts that help AIDS projects last week and in addition to those, there are many others. Some of my favorites - Target's gift cards that benefit St. Jude's and highlight artwork done by kid's at St. Jude's. For a $25 card, $5 goes to St. Jude's and Target matches the amount for a total of $10. Heifer International (also a favorite of Jane and Melanie) - you give money to Heifer in your recipients name and a family gets a gift of an animal. Price depends on the animal -$30 gives the gift of bees or my favorite - the Knitting Basket which gives the gift of 2 Llamas and 2 Sheep for $500 or you can purchase a share for $50. Very cool! This year instead of sending Holiday cards, I'm sending e-mail greetings and buying a gift from Heifer instead. Save a tree, give a family an animal and it's all good. Finally, Bath and Body Works is selling candles that benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation. If you have an organization that you want to support, check out their website for gifts, cards, wrapping paper, etc. and get all you need for the holidays and help them in the process.
How can it be December 5th already? Last night Mary, Stefan, and I went to Noel Night in Detroit's Cultural Center and it was a nice way to kick off the holiday season. Noel Night is held every year and the various museums, Wayne State University and the Main Library of the Detroit Public Library have entertainment, free admission, and other fun events, with the whole thing ending in a Christmas carol sing-a-long. Lots of fun and the all the people are in a good mood and treat each other nicely and have manners - something that the people out at the malls have left at home. What has happened to thank you, please, and excuse me? I know that my Mom wasn't the only Mother who said "What do you say?" repeatedly and for years. I am so sick of people without manners and I'm really sick of people and their damn cell phones! I went to the grocery store today and it seemed like every one was talking on their cell phone. I have a cell phone but amazingly enough, I can do my grocery shopping without having to hold a conversation with someone. Of course, it's too hard to say excuse me when your on the phone. I saw a segment on 60 Minutes tonight that said more and more adults are being diagnosed with Adult Attention Deficit (ADD) and that they are going on drugs by the millions. No wonder - how can people concentrate while having a phone glued to their ear. Here's a thought - hang up the f**king phone and savor the few moments of relative peace and quiet and take some time to relax. I personally enjoy some quiet time - it helps me recoup and deal with the daily stressors of life. That along with knitting and reading keeps me sane, focused, and off drugs.
Today is World AIDS Day. 2004 saw 1 million more people become infected with AIDS. That's 1, ooo,ooo more people than in 2003 and a majority of them are women and a vast number are living in Sub-Saharan Africa where superstition and mis-information plays a big part in keeping men and women from protecting themselves. It is a very sad situation and one of the reasons I think education is so important - there are people out there who truly do not know how to protect themselves and if you think that the AIDS epidemic does not affect all of us, you are sadly mistaken. Someone has to pay for the health care, support services, orphaned and sick children, and all the other associated costs. How can you help - check out the above website and the next time you need a new lipstick, consider buying one of MAC Cosmetics Viva Glam lipsticks. All the money from the purchase of Viva Glam products goes to support AIDS projects.
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