A little bit of sugar

If you read my blogs then you know for certain one thing about me. I HATE the news. I HATE the fear-mongering over inflated and frankly stupid FOX news and other "news" channels. They are not news. News would be reporting what is actually going on, you know "facts". Not the opinions of a biased and frankly ignorant group of people who talk before they think.

So how do I keep up with what's going on in the world? Sometimes I read the Huffington Post. Sometimes I read what comes up on Latest Headlines or what is posted in the local news. But my favorite is Satirical news. Its news with a dose of sugar in the form of humor to make it go down a little better. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart or The Colbert Report, make news fun and you still get some facts mixed in. Frankly, it makes me not want to go jump off a bridge. I recently came across a great blog, One Nation Under Mom that really had me rolling and I highly recommend. Yes, it's satire and opinion but it's funny. Best of both worlds. Check it out, and enjoy it. Life is too damn short for anything else.

I was Sucker Punched..

So, went to see the movie Sucker Punch last night with my BFF. It looked cool. I mean, come on, girls in cool and sexy costumes fighting and kicking ass. Well, it's now been 12 hours since I saw it and I still don't get it. I have no idea what the movie was trying to say. Maybe, I just expect movies to have a point of or even a plot. But this movie, well, I must be missing something. The costumes WERE awesome. The violence was abundant. The music rocked. (going to get the soundtrack for the gym) But the story line was so damn confusing. I can't wrap my head around what was real and wasn't. Perhaps, I'm not supposed to. Perhaps they wanted to make it so people who don't really get it will say it was artistic and you have to be of a certain kind of person to understand the subtle (or not so subtle) nuance of this movie. To sum it up, Baby Doll the blonde is sent to a mental institution where her dirty stepfather pays secretly to have her lobotomized. She goes from a dreary institution to suddenly a club of "dancers". She discovers that when she dances she can enter another fantasy completely where she has a sword and is fighting to survive. The people around her are almost hypnotized by the fantasy. Soon, the other girls become part of it and they are trying to find items in order to escape. Basically its a fantasy on top of another fantasy and you're not really sure who is in on it and who isn't. The ending, well I won't spoil it but did not bring it all together like I was hoping.

Perhaps, I'm just too old to understand it.

Ask, question and evolve.

Believe nothing on the faith of traditions,
even though they have been held in honor
for many generations and in diverse places.
Do not believe a thing because many people speak of it.
Do not believe on the faith of the sages of the past.
Do not believe what you yourself have imagined,
persuading yourself that a God inspires you.
Believe nothing on the sole authority of your masters and priests.
After examination, believe what you yourself have tested
and found to be reasonable, and conform your conduct thereto.
~Buddha

News as you should hear it!

I don't watch the news anymore. In fact, it's been almost a year since I actually sat and watched the news. It didn't matter what station I watched. To me it was all depressing, overly inflated, politicized fear mongering and rhetoric that made me feel like strangling someone or throwing a brick through a window. It may be that I am just overly empathetic to feelings but trust me, it was not a good combination for me. The only news I do watch anymore is The Daily Show with Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert. It's news in small pieces and mix of humor and opinion that doesn't leave me feeling like killing someone. (I do read the news but typically the Huffington post.)

So in true Jon Stewart Style, Here is your moment of Zen...

The Daily Show
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

On you next walk, watch out for giant reptiles!

Imagine taking fluffy out for a walk and passing a 5 foot monitor lizard. Or better yet, your neighbors escaped pet tiger. I'm starting to wonder if maybe the US needs to rethink the whole "what is a pet" policy. (before my kids get eaten) I suppose I could always use it as a threat... "Clean your room or I will feed you to the smiths pet monitor lizard!"

Godzilla in the Burbs!

A book review of sorts...

I just finished the Hunger Games trilogy, and all I can say is... WOW. No series has had such a profound effect on how I feel and how I view my day to day life. I had no idea why. For some reason I identified so strongly with the main character Katniss. No, I've never had to live in such a state or had to kill others in a game of sport for the wealthy elite, but in my own personal way, I lived my own hunger games. My childhood was anything but nice and cozy. In fact I can honestly say that everyday was a fight for me and younger siblings. From the time we woke up to the time we went to bed it was a fight to survive.

It would be a really long blog if I went into the specifics of the series and no one wants to here me drone on in book report fashion. But I do highly recommend these books. From the moment I picked it up I could not put them down. They put you into a world of fear and abuse by a government on it's people that can only be challenged by extreme change and rebellion of the people. Triggered by a 16 year old girl (Katniss) simply trying to stay alive, the rebellion takes off and leaves a wake of pain and tragedy for everyone involved but especially for Katniss. The choices she has to make in order to survive kept me at the edge of my seat.

The Hunger Games

Peace to everyone and I hope the winter is treating you all kindly.

Who is that Incredibly hot, calm and sophisticated woman???

This year, I'm copying a friend who wrote a list of the person she would be if she could create herself with Simms. (Video game for those who are not familiar) So here goes....

If I could recreate Chandra she would be...

• Calm even in the most stressful times. (never raises her voice to her kids)
• Strong, graceful and in kick butt shape.
• Always perfectly dressed even when lounging at home

She could..

• Bake 
• Sew awesome and beautiful things
• Be a better mother. Maybe even close to the PERFECT mother.
• Make friends with everyone
• Speak fluent Spanish

She would..

• Do Yoga on top of a mountain
• Travel to Europe
• Visit Hawaii again with her husband
• Finally take riding lessons and someday, own a horse
• Have a farm with goats, ponies, chickens and cows. 
• Study Greek and Roman Mythology

But you know when I look at who I am now, the list isn't important.  I like myself despite not being the ideal person I have in my mind. I am sarcastic, smart, funny and different. I am not the ideal mom but I adore my kids and they are my world. I still might travel or own farm animals. I can do Yoga on a mountain if so inclined. I am a jeans and t-shirt sort of gal. (sometimes even a big sweater or flannel shirt) I don't have a big circle of friends. Only one or two very good friends but for the most part, I am a loner. All in all, I'm pretty damn awesome. And who needs to bake? I mean the grocery stores do a pretty damn good job at it and no clean up for me!

I am what I am. Now pass me some spinach!

I am a vegetarian. GASP! I don't eat meat for my own personal reasons and beliefs. I don't preach or judge others. I don't belong to PETA and I don't glare at you as you chomp on your hamburger. (unless you are a noisy and messy eater) I never insist you make me something without meat, I just eat sides or politely pass and eat later. If you invite me to dinner at your house, I will tell you so that there is no embarrassment later. I just don't eat meat. So why on earth am I not able to eat in peace? Why am I being judged, looked down on and questioned every time I say, "No thanks, I'm a vegetarian." ? Why? I understand curiosity. I will gladly answer your questions. But if I already have answered them many times then your questions become simple harassment. Especially if you are a family member who insists on questioning me loudly every single time we sit down to eat. Frankly, it's rude. I know you don't care or you would have heard and accepted my answer the last twenty times you asked me.

I am not an alien so please don't look at me like I have 3 eyes or antenna growing from my head. I am not a zealot who is trying to convert you. I am not a snob who thinks I am better than you. (unless I am) So please, just let me eat my tofu and veggies in peace.