State of MY Union

The State of the Union is an annual address presented by the President of the United States to the United States Congress. The address not only reports on the condition of the nation but also allows the president to outline his agenda and national priorities to Congress.^[1]

As I look at the State of MY OWN Union, I realize THERE ISN'T ONE. I have been on the same merry go round for about 3 years. Like Obama, there are obstacles to overcome, but when I took this on, I was at a deficit. I had been running the streets like a mad woman doing everything I was big enough and bad enough to do. So I can relate to the leader of the Free World when he points out that this has been a BUZZSAW month.

I am a happy and proud DEMOCRAT who supports our President and First Lady. I love what they represent as a strong family unit. They look so IN LOVE and it is apparent that they have a strong PARTNERSHIP. Today, a friend and I talked about how awesome it must be to have a partner to walk down the road with in the sunshine and the rain.

Our President then went on to say that ALL Parties involved were gonna have to start getting along and working together. I don't know how this applies to my love life and my dating scenario other than, I have to really and consciously make a point to make time and energy for dating and all it entails.

I really feel like an Obama Groupie because I was hanging on his every word. What was better that the things he said were the things he didn't say. He had this stalwart and firm stance. His tone of voice was so no nonsense that I felt like he was reprimanding ME.....and I kinda liked it.

The most powerful part of the State of the Union (#SOTU) was the end when he said "We're not quitting and I'm not quitting" I guess if I am on board with the Administration, then I am all the way and I am not quitting either. I am in this for the long haul. I am not going to stop trying and I am not going to stop doing my best (the Fourth Agreement)

As I head into the next arena, I am going to be more proactive. I am not going to waste my time, or anybody else's. I am going to be about ACTION. That's what Obama asked us to do a year ago, and that's what he asked for lastnight.

Ice Is SLIPPERY

This weekend I participated in a past time that made me nostalgic for my childhood. Every year, my younger brother and I would watch TEAM USA Figureskating championships. My brother would lose major cool points if anyone knew how we loved it. In his defense, the one thing he wanted to see more than anything was someone fall. Back in the 80s it was quite the rage with Katarina Witt and Debbie Thomas and who could ever forget the tabloid ending of Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. Don't act like you don't remember!!!!

At any rate, figureskating, it seems, has it's own Drama filled process and there is (surprisingly) a lot of internal conflict. Personally, I'd have issues getting into that tiny little piece of fabric they call a "costume", but I digress.

Sasha Cohen returned to the ice rink this weekend to try and make the National Team after a 4 year hiatus. At the ripe old age of 25, she was the elder stateswoman and as such received a lot of press when her first day of competition had her in the top tier. On the second and final day, she was poised for the comeback story of a lifetime [as if sports needed anymore of em]. She was asked about how realistic her perception of her chances really was by a reporter to which she replied: " Ice is still SLIPPERY." I fell in love with her dry tone and the delivery. Her point was not missed on my on again off again attempts at dating and pursuing the ONE [if he really exists]. She went on to say that she had prepared (me too) she had practiced (me too!) she had experience (me too!!) and so did the other girls, but that the only thing that she could count on is if somebody made a mistake which would improve her chances of winning IF and ONLY IF, she had the performance of a lifetime (sigh). I was amazed at how she had just come to the resolution that MY BEST IS ALL I CAN DO, and maybe one of these other chicks will fall. Maybe, just maybe, I will catch the luckiest of breaks.

GUESS WHAT HAPPENED??? SASHA FELL!!!! That's right. The one thing she had anticipated actually happened to her. In a word, KARMA. She went home out of contention [for now]. She was predictably upbeat afterward, and despite there was plenty of space for a pity party, the blame game and excuse making, she carried herself with grace. I felt her pain and am an overnight Sasha Fan. There is only one thing I must add to her quote: Ice is SLIPPERY and COLD!!!

GAMES

These Foolish Games

are tearing me apart

and your thoughtless ways

are breaking my heart~Jewel

Who remembers the childhood game "REDLIGHT GREEN LIGHT?" This is the game where one person stands back turned to the crowd and at their whim yelled GREEN LIGHT! The crowd would run as quickly as possible to touch the ONE first. If that person yells RED LIGHT all motion has to cease. Anyone who doesn't stop immediately gets sent back to the starting point and are at a permanent disadvantage because the crowd is ahead of them. The only real way to win is to proceed slowly and wait for others to mess up leaving one person to get to the top spot. Although it seems the name of the game is to get to the destination first, SPEED KILLS. Which begs the question: Why didn't they make up a game called "YELLOW LIGHT?" That is more logical. Running a red light can be deadly [in dating and real life]. Going too slowly through a green light, one could lose the opportunity. The best bet is to just inch along.

Other fun and foolish childhood games "FREEZE", "Red Rover", and "TAG". All these games have the most unattainable task of controlled motion. The one in pursuit is at the mercy of the one being pursued. Sound familiar??

What does it say about me [or anyone for that matter] for only wanting GREEN LIGHTS? Aren't RED LIGHTS a part of the whole process and isn't the purpose to control the flow of traffic to prevent accidents?? Having driven in Tijuana Mexico and visited European cities, I fully understand the need for our [albeit predictable] lights. If our love lives don't have some degree of warning systems, relationships would flow endlessly until someone got hurt and that hurt would come sooner than later. A YELLOW, or warning light, is a necessary evil in the process in that it could save a life. If I just slow down or occasionally STOP to see where I am before I get lost, or worse, have a collision. As I type about it, there are benefits to RED LIGHTS. You can change direction. Check your cell phone. Just catch your breath and get your bearings to know your surroundings. In a relationship and behind the wheel, a RED LIGHT can be an opportunity to PAUSE. It's not as permanent as a DEAD END sign. It's a light on a timer and you know what??? It eventually turns GREEN.

I admit I thought I was prepared for this marathon that is dating. Nobody mentioned that it was a marathon of red light green light. At least in marathons, the traffic signals are turned off.

Running with Scissors

When I was young, adults admonished me not to run with scissors. The fear was that I might stab or cut myself. Funny how I ran without that same fear. My theory is that I had a higher understanding of my pain threshold and would take myself to the limit. As we divide ourselves into tiny pieces to accommodate all our personal and professional obligations, we frequently cut ourselves too closely, because we overestimate our tolerance for pain.

As for me, I think I have cut myself too closely in my love life. I find it hard to nurture and sustain one. I am going to make the effort to cut less of my love life and more of my extraneous work related over achievement ways.

Pray for me....

FEAR .....

Fear of Heights is irrational

Fear of Falling is LOGICAL

....

Sheldon Cooper

Isn't Sheldon's quote so perfect?? Isn't that the true crux of this dating matter? Aren't we all just scared of falling? Wouldn't we all FLY HIGH as birds in the sky if we weren't so scared of falling. Wouldn't we date and mate and be happy? I guess that's what separates us from the primates. Don't they look so happy??

Fear is the most powerful emotion there is. It motivates us to take some kind of immediate action whether it is FIGHT or FLIGHT. Sometimes distractions make us turn a deaf ear to our internal voice (our intuition) and we walk blindly into situations that should scare the living daylights out of us. Love has that kind of affect. Innocently, we wander down the pretty little path skipping happily until we realize we are lost in a vast forest of unknown creatures [Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My] at which point we turn and run to safety. I've got that whole part figured out, what I don't know is how long does one stay "safe" before venturing out again? What's the statute of limitations on heartbreak and can we overcome our fears?

I am grown up enough to know that the only thing I have to fear is fear itself (jfk)..

Instruction Manual

If you find
you don't like my ways
you can send me back
in 30 days- Run DMC

This entry is inspired by the fact that this blog is actually an instruction manual. Insight into the twisted mind that is MINE. It would give anybody an unfair advantage or a head start in getting into my head. Even an Extra Terrestrial should be able to identify those characteristics and traits that are specific to me. So the next questions becomes: What does your INSTRUCTION MANUAL say? Handle with Care? Fragile? Proceed with Caution? I think mine says Open at your own risk...maybe it says irregular...I like both of these.
10 Days with The Grays was a test of the strength of my Thick Protective Coating. They are a well meaning bunch, but a tough and critical crew. Over the years, I have noticed a calmer, gentler GRAY, but they are still a tough bunch and this holiday season was no exception. My only reprieve was that their attention was divided among others. Actually, I kinda missed it. I have grown accustomed to the extreme scrutiny to the point I really don't know how to respond to compliments. There was genuine QUALITY in the family affair.
When I think about all the ways my family has contributed to who I am, I actually think it would be a good idea for them to select the next person I date. Kinda like that Mtv Show where the parents selected suitors. I mean, I think they have good taste and would select a potential candidate. So when I actually spoke to them about this, they laughed. I think they don't mind that I am SINGLE. Their perspective is that it's one less thing for them to worry about. See they listen to their co-workers and golf buddies complain about the woes of sons-in-law, grand children and the like. To add insult to injury, my father happens to be Muslim and I fear my headstrong ways would uh, complicate his life at the local mosque the second I failed to comply with traditional roles.
All of this leaves me to my own exploits and a new found inspiration that somewhere there MIGHT be someone who halfway understands and tolerates me on the days I DONT SHAVE MY LEGS.