Friends.....

( I see myself as Elphaba..... opinionated and marching to the beat of my own drummer or flying around on my broomstick....whatever!)

When I first saw WICKED in New York in April 2006, I was blown away by the actors, story ( read the book) and music....especially this song.....I love the words and sentiment. 
I believe that people DO come into my life for a reason. I believe I am meant to learn something from each person and to help each person.
So to my friends: past and present, THANK YOU! I have been changed "For Good."

Music from "WICKED"

For Good

(Elphaba):


I'm limited


Just look at me - I'm limited


And just look at you


You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda


So now it's up to you


For both of us - now it's up to you.
 
(Glinda):



I've heard it said


That people come into our lives for a reason


Bringing something we must learn


And we are led


To those who help us most to grow


If we let them


And we help them in return


Well, I don't know if I believe that's true


But I know I'm who I am today


Because I knew you...


Like a comet pulled from orbit



As it passes a sun


Like a stream that meets a boulder


Halfway through the wood


Who can say if I've been changed for the better?


But because I knew you


I have been changed for good



(Elphaba):


It well may be


That we will never meet again


In this lifetime


So let me say before we part


So much of me


Is made from what I learned from you


You'll be with me


Like a handprint on my heart


And now whatever way our stories end


I know you have re-written mine


By being my friend...






Like a ship blown from its mooring


By a wind off the sea


Like a seed dropped by a skybird


In a distant wood


Who can say if I've been changed for the better?


But because I knew you



(Elphaba):

And just to clear the air


I ask forgiveness


For the things I've done you blame me for

(Glinda):

But then, I guess we know


There's blame to share

(Both):

And none of it seems to matter anymore


Who can say if I've been



Changed for the better?


I do believe I have been


Changed for the better


(Glinda):

And because I knew you...


(Elphaba):

Because I knew you...

(Both)

Because I knew you...



I have been changed for good...

My Wake Up Call !!!

I can no longer pretend I'm not overweight. Oh believe me, I've tried! Wearing black...wearing my exercise pants with a long sweater....trying to use make-up to hide my double chin....And somehow wearing blinders when I look in the mirror. But yesterday, after my future daught-in-law's shower, I saw a picture of myself. (Ok, the 3 people I was standing next to were very thin.) But I could have fit 2 of them behind me ....easily! Maybe all 3!
That does it! I can no longer ignore my distinctive waddle, nor the flab around not only my middle, but also the flab swinging back and forth on my upper arms. Not to mention my legs, hips and butt!
This "blindness" of mine ends now. Blinders Off! Take a good hard look! How did I let it get this far?
How will I do this? Especially with only 68 days to go until my son David's wedding!!!!
I won't take diet pills. I won't starve myself. I don't have hours/ day to exercise.
Here's what I will do.....
Take it one day at a time. Monitor my portions and my fat intake.(and carbs,too.) I will increase my exercise daily. Be inventive...walk in the morning before work...walk after work. Today, I closed the door to my office and exercised by dancing and doing squats. Then I walked up and down a flight of stairs 3x. I kept monitoring my heart rate and my breathing. I'm going to try to do that daily.
I'll let you know how it goes....Onward and pounds downward!

NFL Player Association vs NFL owners:The war between "Little Millionaires" and "Big Millionaires/Billionaires."

I don't know about you, but I don't get it..... the NFL players vs NFL owners. I'm not skilled in the intricacies of multimillion dollar contracts and payments or even earnings, but I am skilled in empathy and understanding. Both fail me now. All I see are cry baby athletes who are out of touch with the reality of what is really happening in the world we all live in! Those poor guys aren't getting a big enough piece of the pie! ( oh, the pain of it all!) And oh my, the big bad owners won't open their financial books to them. Since when does a privately held company/team have to open their books? In my world publicly held company's report earnings because they have stockholders....Are the players stockholders? Are they business partners?

And while I'm on the subject, Mr. Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings tweeted: "It's modern day slavery, you know?" Then Mr. Rashard Mendenhall backed Peterson by posting: "Anyone with knowledge of the slave trade and the NFL could say these two parallel each other." REALLY???
Sure, I know when the union decertified the owners said we won't cover your healthcare. Oh poor players, try being out of work, struggling to put food on the table, and no healthcare.  I absolutely have no sympathy for you. I doubt many folks do.

Heaven help me, I am a Chicago Bears fan. Usually by October, I decide not not get myself crazy over their record. But in 2010, they pulled me back in. (Godfather Quote) I would have loved to see them play come September 2011. But I don't care now. Wake Up! Grown Up! Quit Crying! If you don't like the job or pay, then quit! I'm sure there are plenty of college football players ready to step in!



And read this!

Tell yourself that you have a good life, count your blessings, and learn to stay positive no matter what.