Two requests and a statement

The First Request

Hello my dear blogreaders....I have a small request of you. Please read the following, visit the website mentioned, and at least look at the pictures. Doing more than that is your own decision - I can't ask you to do anything more....but I really hope you at least spread the message, if not go a few steps further. Thanks. Oh, and look for my photos - there's two of them....let me know if you find them!


Where’s the Cure?
Submit your photo. Add your voice. Demand the research to find the cure. “Where’s the Cure?” is an online photo contest sponsored by amfAR (The American Foundation on AIDS Research). It’s designed to send a real, tangible message to the world, and directly to the President. Browse the galleries, and submit your photo for a chance to be included in the “Where’s the Cure?” print-on-demand book.
Find out more at: http://wheresthecure.amfar.org

The Second Request

I am an avid reader, and wish for all children to learn the wonders and fun of reading. To help this along, I present this url. My company is sponsoring a page here - please read the page and go with your heart. Thanks!

The Statement

I still really like my job - today we did a turkey run! What this means is, 4 of us went to the grocery store and bought 11 frozen turkeys (filming the whole picking-out-the turkeys, loading them into the cart, then loading them into the car) then we went to the DC Central Kitchen and delivered the turkeys (filmed that too!). It felt really good.

Then tonight we had the company meeting - at a bar with spouses/significant others, and these people were super cool to hang out with.

I am beginning to know what it's like to work with REAL human beings, for a company that really seems to care for its employees, doing work that I didn't know I'd be this excited about. This is so amazing.

a seldom seen creature

Self confidence. It's a strange and elusive thing at times. Just like a very rare creature, it only shows up once in a while, peeking its little nose above the bushes to investigate the surroundings, sussing out the environment, getting comfortable with its territory.

Then, once it's all settled in, it still doesn't show itself all the time. Once in a while something will startle it - making it dart back into its burrow to quiver and wonder about the cosmos. But most often it's out there - all proud and strong. That's when it accomplishes a LOT - making new friends, impressing its bosses, coworkers, and self.

Yet...Other times it seems like it went away on vacation.

Didn't you know? Self confidence is completely schizophrenic.

The new job

So - my new office has many perks!! Not only a ping pong table, but a dart board, a very well stocked kitchen (free soda - even my diet Mt. Dew - plates, silverware, glasses, toaster, microwave, snacks, juices, and a dishwasher!), and a Wii!!!

There's also a great view both to the North West and the South West - I can see the Washington Monument from my desk! (we're on the 12th floor) The people seem very nice and welcoming, and the work (yes, they put me right to work today!!) is both interesting and challenging.

I think I'm going to like this place.

WOO HOO!!!

I GOT A NEW JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!

I START ON THE 17TH!!!!!!!

LIFE IS LOOKING UP!!!!!!!

A trip to the country

Fall is in the air - and the mountains - and in my blood. So off I went to the mountains to say hello and commune for a bit.



The weather was perfect, the crowds weren't too large. I drove Skyline Drive for about 10-12 miles, all the way up to just over 3600 feet.



I sat on a rock, watched the almost-full moon rise, and grounded. It was a good trip. But I still had to come back....I missed my hubby and dog.

On the same wavelength...

I've often seen couples who seem happily married, yet have a variety of opposing views. And, while I figure "to each their own" it makes me wonder just HOW happy and together they really are.

As for me and Mr. Intangiblearts (my wonderful hubby) - I think we see eye-to-eye on probably 90% of things. And the other 10% almost never gets in the way. (I say "almost never" not because we argue about it, but to acknowledge that it's even there....gotta be honest, ya know?)

One thing we're both on the same page about these days is politics. We (this country) are in dire straits right now, and I don't know if enough people realize it. Yes, America is a good place to be - if you're lucky enough to be making enough money to be relatively debt-free, if you're employed in a job that isn't facing potential melt-down, if your ENTIRE extended family is also in the same position...which means MOST of the "middle class" are NOT the lucky ones right now. Our political relations with the rest of the world are suffering - we're either looked upon as war-mongering bullies, or ignorant bullies, or potentially catastrophic idiots, all due to the past number of presidencies which have NOT built up good relations but have continued to reinforce the "we are always right" attitude which has brought us into many wars and conflicts and kept us there far past our effectiveness.

I fear this nation is past its Golden Age, but we're unwilling to move into the next stage with dignity, intelligence, and a forward thinking plan. We seem to be clinging to the glory days of yesteryear with our fingernails, determined to maintain our standing even though it's painfully obvious that it has drastically changed.

Take for instance the presidential race....my hubby says it well here. All I can add is that I really hope, pray, cross-my-fingers that somehow America can pull out of this severe downward spiral before too many more people get hurt/loose their job-house-family. But hope is a very fragile thing.

ARGH!!

The gods-be-damned dining room ceiling fell down!!! Now we have to have the whole thing replaced, and the walls painted as well (the plaster damaged the walls as it fell).

ARGH!!!!

We're not going to be able to fix the back yard. We can't afford to have the house painted (exterior). We can't get the lower bathroom done (so we'll have to shut the water off again this winter). We can't get the front hall wall fixed. We can't repair the cement steps next to the garage. We can't do anything with the front yard (no $$ and no energy at the moment). The back door is beginning to not work well. The ceiling in the upstairs bathroom isn't looking all that good....and we have mice. Oh, and the basement is a storage disaster.

ARGH!!!!