Got the Word

from the Center Board. Looks like they are gonna pass this time, but never fear. I will apply again. It didn't help that two of the members on the selection committee are two women who are in my email group - and who I've had very heated debates over the Center with. I am sure that didn't help my chances.

Like I told my friend Steph, they simply aren't ready for ME!

After my letter was published yesterday, I've received many great responses. It is so nice to hear that kind of support. In my email group, someone posted this: "Connie, very articulate. That's the kind of editorial that makes me proud to be a member of this group of intelligent, pro-active women."

Even Lindi's Uncle called me to say, "I couldn't have said it better myself." He made me cry.

Yesterday, Lindi and I had the day off together so we spent it going out to breakfast and to a matinee of Brokeback Mountain. Yes, I cried. It was a wonderful movie.

Anyway, as we were sitting down, the crowd trickled in, and it was mostly 50 something and up - 90% women. Soon, it felt like we were sitting with the Relief Society! I was a little surprised, given the content of the movie.

So, the movie ended and we were gathering up our things. Through my obvious tears (I hate emotional movies) I hear a 70-something grandmotherly type say, "Why, it was just a love story. I don't know what the fuss is about."

I thought to myself, "Thank you." Just by her simple words I am reminded that even the older generations can be open to the fact that all of us - we are all Love Stories. And it really is as simple as that.

Courtesy of SILM (a friend)

Five tips for a woman....

1. It is important that a man helps you around the house and has a job.

2. It is important that a man makes you laugh.

3. It is important to find a man you can count on and doesn't lie to you.

4. It is important that a man loves you and spoils you.

5. It is important that these four men don't know each other.

The Letter in the Tribune

made it - with a little editing.

On Sunday, I got a call from the editor of the editorial desk to verify my identity. He told me he wished I would have sent the letter on Thursday - he would have loved to have made it the Letter of the Week. I was so proud.

Letter Sent to the Salt Lake Tribune

Let’s see if they print it!

 

I am in shock – in awe – of the article touting Senator Buttars as a “Morals Crusader” on the front page of your Sunday edition. Indeed, I have never witnessed such a misnomer in all my young life.

Sen. Buttars does not stand for morals – he stands for religion – which is an entirely different subject. He does not respect, support or befriend his neighbors, as his religion admonishes him to do. Indeed, he does not do what his Savior instructs him to – to Love One Another.

This is the man who claims that all homosexuals are immoral, when I highly doubt that this man has ever really listened to a homosexual in his life. His views are archaic and infantile, much like the bully on the playground who only likes those who are exactly as he is.

I am deeply offended that Sen. Buttars truly believes that I, and others in the LGBT community, have no morals. We most certainly do. We have families, successful children, pay taxes, sit on juries, buy houses, go to PTA and Neighborhood Watch meetings, donate time and money to charity and even go to church. A great many of us have found spirituality and faith in God, Sen. Buttars, and live our lives in a very moral fashion. You, on the other hand, do not simply by refusing to live your religion and saving judgment for your Maker.

Sen. Buttars is not a Senator to be proud of. Collectively, as Utahns, we should be embarrassed that this man passed muster and was elected to office. He is not a Conservative – he is against anyone who does not share his LDS views. It is as simple as that.

Shame on the Salt Lake Tribune for classifying this man as someone who is doing this out of “moral conviction.” He is a bigot, and there is no skirting the truth behind his so-called conviction. He doesn’t stand for moral values. He stands for hate.

Funny From My Sis...

Dear Kotex,
I recently noticed that the peel-off strip of my panty liner had a bunch of "Kotex Tips for Life" on it. Annoying advice such as:
-Staying active during your period can relieve cramps.
-Avoiding caffeine may help reduce cramps and headaches.
-Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to keep you hydrated and feeling fresh.
-Try Kotex blah blah blah other products
Obviously the person behind this was someone who has never possessed a functioning set of ovaries. Go ahead and tell a menstruating woman TO HER FACE that drinking 6-8 glasses of water will help keep her feeling fresh. See what happens and report back. I'll wait. While you're at it, dump out the coffee at work and remove the chocolate from the vending machine. I guarandamntee that the first responders will be females who just ovulated.
Look, females don't need or want tips for living on feminine hygiene products. Younger girls are already hearing "helpful" crap like that from their elderly relatives. Veteran females have already concocted their own recipes for survival, many of which contain alcohol.
Printing out shit advice while sneaking in ads for the brand THAT WAS ALREADY PURCHASED is just plain annoying, not to mention rude and enough to send a girl running to the Always brand.
Mostly we'd like to forget that we even need these products. It's not a fun time, but DO NOT try to cheer us up by adding smiley faces or bunnies or flowery cutesy crap to your products or the packaging. Put the shit in a plain brown wrapper so we can throw it in our carts discreetly and have it blend in among the wine and beer!! There is nothing more annoying than having a blinding pink package announcing your uterine state to everyone in the store. The ultimate goal of your product should be functional invisibility at every stage, including at the point of purchase. So take your tips for living and shove them right up your a - - . (Try drinking six to eight glasses of water to make you feel fresher while you're doing it!)

Ovarily Yours
Miss PMS**

**This letter was actually authored by Susie Sunshine, the author of a wonderful blog over here. Go there. Read her. She's a funny lady!

I Have an Interview Today...

for the Board of Trustees for the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah.

Wish me luck!

Toni.... aka Quasimodo

Only Toni would blow out her calf muscle while walking across the street to go to the Autoshow. My love and thoughts are with you - and you better go to physical therapy unless you all want us to call you Quasi from now on.

As for me and mine, Sunday after work, we headed to the Auto Show (and took lots of pictures, just for you, Toni). Of course, wherever there was a convertible, there was Sarah. But now she knows just how expensive cars are. I may end up getting my PT Cruiser that I've always wanted, they aren't nearly as expensive as I thought! We then went over to Lindi parent's for dinner and home for the L word. MMMmmmmmm... lovely evening.

I felt the headaches coming on Sunday night and pushed them back.

Monday, Lindi and her mother and I went to Harmons case lot sale and stocked our pantry with mac n cheese, spaghettios, pasta, canned and frozen veggies, bottled water, canned fruit - you name it, we got it. Lindi and I then cleaned out our fridge, freezer and pantry to fit it all in our little house. Out with the old, in with the new!

The headaches started again, and I pushed them back even more.

Tuesday morning, I woke up with a raging migraine. I started throwing up at 7 am and didn't stop. Nothing would calm the headache or the nausea, and I still had to deliver dinner (homemade ham and lima beans) to my parents and Lindi's parents and go to the bank. I pushed the headache back and did the banking and running around I needed to do, and the only thing that stopped the nausea was a dollar fry and diet coke from McD's. It was the only thing that would stay down.

I got home, took a nausea pill and laid down while Sarah and Lindi got ready to go to the Jazz game. I stayed in my dark, cool and quiet room until about 7 pm and the migraine finally broke enough for me to eat some funeral potatoes and watch American Idol. I took another nausea pill and went to sleep about 10pm, woke up this morning with little red blotches all over my face from the violence of throwing up and feeling completely drained. Migraines always do that to me.

I need to go to the doctor and get back on my medication for migraines. I know it's because I am drinking more water than usual and it's not draining from my spinal chord and it's pushing on my optic nerve, so I will need to get on a water pill again. Yay. Peeing every hour is soooo fun. But if I want to keep working out, I have to.

I walked a lot this weekend, so I am going to take it really easy and stop the workouts until I talk to my dr. It's the sensible thing to do.

Hope all is well in your world!

OH! My Back!

Now I know why you should only work out every other day. I walked 20 minutes on the treadmill Wednesday Lunch and After work and then yesterday Lunch and after work. Yesterdays workout was great - I walked .75 miles in 20 minutes compared to .50 miles on Wednesday - I really pushed it and I felt wonderful.

When I walked into the gym at lunch today, I started my routine and the pain started shooting down both legs. My sciatic nerves were TICKED OFF at me! I ended up with 11 minutes of a workout and I really don't think I am going to try again until Sunday - my coach/co-worker John told me to take a couple days off, but since I have Monday/Tuesdays off, that would mean 4 days of inactivity. I can't do that. So, Sunday it is... then I will work out Wed/Fri/Sunday as my schedule.

I am also going to the back doctor so I CAN work out better. Maybe get some exercises from him. This is the doctor who did Lindi's father's back surgery (which he is recovering from quite well...).

I tried the elliptical today. I hate it. It makes my legs move in a way they shouldn't ever move. Ouch, ouch, ouch.

Any suggestions?

Ugh...

Today was the first day back at work after taking the last four days to get myself well. The cold came back, in all it’s glory, on Thursday, My lungs felt heavy and they hurt when I would breathe. I just wanted to die. I toughed it out on Friday and luckily had Saturday off because I had traded a shift earlier in the week. After calling in Sunday, I had Monday and Tuesday off to fully recover.

So, here I am, not feeling 100%, but alive.

Well, they finally finished the gym here and it’s really nice. I’ve started my daily work outs. Now, I know what everyone is going to say – you should only exercise three times a week. Since I have been so inactive for so long, I have decided to work out at lunch and after work everyday. For me – 20 minutes on the treadmill is a workout. When I went in at lunch and started walking for the first time, my body wasn’t really sure about it, so I only went slow – but I still walked a quarter of a mile – and it felt good! I am going to start out with the treadmill and one of the guys at work is going to show me how to use the free weights for my upper body. I hope to try the elliptical soon.

And I’ve begun to “diet” without the diet. Just paying more attention to what I eat and how much water I drink. I have three half liter bottles of water on my desk and my goal is to drink all of them by the time I leave for work. This is in addition to any coffee, milk or soda I drink. Lindi is getting me a case of Dasani from her work to keep at the house.

Me – workin’ out. Whodathunkit?