Thank you. To all who have fought and are still fighting for our freedom. Thank you.
Happy Memorial Day
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May31st
Thank you. To all who have fought and are still fighting for our freedom. Thank you.
Happy Memorial Day
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March8th
Often we get so caught up in daily routines that we forget the excitement and possible serendipity which can occur from saying the word “Yes” when we would often have replied “No.”
The usual excuses come into play – I’m tired. I have to work tomorrow. I have to do laundry / clean house / catch up on sleep / etc. etc. I know this, because I’m very guilty of doing it more often than not. I forgot how fun saying Yes can be when saying No seems so much more convenient at the time. But…….life doesn’t happen quite as easily when you say No and let those excuses hold you back.
So this week (and hopefully a lot more often)…..
Ignore any reason you may try to come up with and just say YES! Some of the best times of your life will come from saying Yes, so why not start now? Go have those drinks. Take that afternoon off and get a mani / pedi. Call that boy you met the other night for a dinner. Go see that movie you were invited to at the last minute. I think you might be surprised what happens when you say Yes a little more…
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*Note: as I’m typing this it’s 11:32 on a ‘school night’ – aka I have to work tomorrow – and I just got back from going out to a semi-last minute dinner and drinks with friends and having a great time. See…..saying Yes when you’d normally would say No can be a truly great thing sometimes ;)
January5th
Being the first of the year and everyone still a buzz about resolutions and such, I thought it perfect to re-introduce a cause that I strongly believe in – one that will truly be a fundamental in change, if we allow it to happen.
My theory is — How can we expect to help another if we can not accept another? This is why I want to make sure the everyone, EVERYONE is aware of:
I first wrote about me taking The Pledge back in early September of 2009. (click here for previous post) It is a movement started by the USA Network encouraging the
• combating prejudice, intolerance, discrimination and hate
• promoting greater acceptance, understanding and mutual respect of ALL people
The goal is simple. I’m a Character. You’re a Character. We are all Characters in some form or fashion. So it is time for Characters to Unite and make the USA – created by and made up of Characters – a better place.
In the past two months I’ve traveled quite a bit over the USA. From Northern New York to Southern Texas, from the East Coast to the Mighty Mississippi River and passed a million different people on the way. I stopped and talked to airline passengers from California, a couple from Portland, a kid who was coming back from Kansas, and the list goes on. All great conversations that make me very thankful that I was always encouraged to open the book before judging it by the cover. (although I do still struggle with it at times, the fundamentals were instilled long ago)
And so I ask you, dear reader, to take a look at the commercial clip below. You may have seen it already on the USA Network, or you may have seen the new one they’ve recently put out, but please take a two minutes and watch it again. Then if you feel inclined, go the the Characters Unit web site and Take the Pledge! Either way, it’s a great site to check out. You can read other people’s pledges, get involved in the discussions, or take a look at the 50 Things You Can do To Unite the USA.
If everyone tries a little more, our united bond (and country) will grow stronger and stronger each day.
September7th
On an ever so un-eventful Saturday night I found myself watching Never Been Kissed on E!, when I was struck with immediate inspiration for a blog. A scene in Mr. Coulson’s English Class is what triggered my pondering nature. The lines “when we´re in disguise, we feel freer. We do things we wouldn’t do in ordinary life.” are the ones that stood out to me.
How so very true indeed, Mr. Coulson. Is there something about a disguise or a mask that just exudes freedom? What is it about “hiding” behind something that allows us to show a completely different side that normally stays hidden in itself?
You don’t always have to go into full-on disguise to get that feeling. Have you ever noticed that sometimes all you need is a little push..
Think about that one shirt, pair of shoes, or the style of your hair, or maybe even that certain cologne that helps you tap into a part of you that may not show as often as others? The “never-fails” thing that gives you that little bit of courage, sex appeal, gusto, charisma, confidance, whatever..that just helps things swing in your favor? You know what I’m talking about. I know you do.
Back in highschool my trigger item used to be black eyeliner. Thick, bold, black eyeliner. I tell you…it was something about it…when I put it on top and bottom lids…it was innevitably going to be a ca-razy night. My SS and I referred to it as me puttin on my bitch eyes. haha Oh Heavens, those were the days! Now I couldn’t tell you what exactly it was about it, but I did indeed feel different when I lined my eyes in thick black, full top and full bottom. It was rather out of my character at that stage in life, now it seems like eyeliner is a regular thing, but rarely..rarely..do I go for the full top and bottom lines. (I’ll admit, when I do, I still get that spark inside..)

Maybe I was secretly trying to channel my inner-Edie with my black eyeliner.
Why must we put on a disguise or a mask to get that little spark inside? To make it okay to let it out and show another side. Have societal norms left us so entangled that a disguise is really the only way so as to not feel persecuted or judged for thinking outside our normal boxes? I get so caught up just thinking about it, I find my mind racing around in circles trying to figure out the answers. But then again, that could be it as well….there is no one answer to all of these questions I’ve posed to you, reader. And to be honest, that’s another added appeal of a disguise. Another hitch in the mystery of it all.
And so, Mr. Coulson and your Shakespearean English Class, I guess Life really is a Stage. Good thing I’ve got a closet full of masks and a disguise or two to go with it all. And of course, there’s always my black eyeliner.
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth. – Oscar Wilde
August25th
Now a title like that coming from me could mean a hundred different things. I’m sure a few of you are like wooah Jennie Boo, where you headin with this one? Well for the purposes of this blog post I am referring to a lyric from a song I posted a long time ago by Natasha Beddingfield, Unwritten. (I’ll pause for a momentary sigh of relief from some of you..)
When I first posted the song it was about having a theme song. I have a ton of theme songs, but Unwritten is always right up there close to the top of the list every time. If you aren’t familiar with the song, it’s time you get familiar with it. The reason I have chosen to mention it again is because these past couple of weeks I’ve been doing a lot of thinking..about tubing.
Not the kind of tubing where you sit on an intertube with a big group of your friends and coolers and float down a river. I’m talking about real tubing, being pulled by a boat and praying that you don’t loose your bottoms if you let go.
Yea..that kind. I remember when I was little, even 7 years ago compared to 5 years ago, I wasn’t afraid to get on the tube with friends or by myself (although it was a well known fact I couldn’t hold the thing down solo) and get out there to take a ride. Of course I wanted the biggest waves and bumps and would scream and laugh till I lost my voice from flying 5 feet up in the air and getting pumbled in the water.
But that’s just it – I wasn’t scared. I didn’t stop to think, oh no I could break my arm or what if I swallow too much water or even what in the world am I going to do if I loose my bottoms?! The only thing I was concerned with is that one moment, my love of life..and releasing any and all inhibitions and just ……….just living.
I miss those days. I truly do miss those days sometimes. Yes it is good to have a few apprehensions here and there but there is a big difference in being sensible and responsible as opposed to being out-right paranoid and over-analyzing a situation.
When I catch myself in those times, making excuses because of too many “what if’s,” I try to remember back to my tubing days and just go for it, release my fears and inhibitions and just go.
Besides – it’s good to get a mouth full of lake / river water every now and then, and we’ve all lost our bottoms at some point..right?!