I would make a really bad Amish person

Exactly 4 days ago my hometown, Richmond, VA, got hit with the remnants of Hurricane Irene in the form of a Tropical Storm. I have experienced the aftemath of a hurricane before when Isabel blew through, and my girls (very young then) and I sat in the candlelight and listened as tree after tree snapped and then crashed hoping the next would not come through the house. We finally got to sleep. The next morning was the calm after the storm. It was beautiful and sunny and QUIET. We went outside, and I couldn't believe all the trees that were down all around us. We were without power for about 4 days then, but it didn't seem that bad. We cooked food on the grill, cleaned the house and played games. That was 8 years ago. We just got power back today after losing it around 6:30 on Saturday evening. Barely 3 days, and it seemed like forever. What was the big difference between now and then? A huge difference has to be our immense dependence on technology. We have become "connected" 24/7 to news, internet, bank accounts and friends with the tap of a finger on a touchscreen or a couple of keystrokes on a computer. We have the choice of hundreds of television stations and movies as close as the remote. When that power source leaves, so does that connection, and we are all at a loss. Another big difference for me was that I didn't have to be anywhere in 2008 when Isabel hit. I had a job with the school system, and we were closed. The girls were young, and it was somewhat of an adventure. The girls are now in their teens, and 24 hours was enough! We were all thrilled when we got "THE CALL" today that power had been restored. I was actually excited to wash my dishes today. That feeling won't last, and tonight it was business as usual.
When you get used to something, you take it for granted, but when it's gone, you realize just how blessed you are to be able to have all those things mentioned above. So many people are upset with Dominion Virginia Power as if somehow it is their fault that power was lost. The storm was the thief. The power company is the hero working tirelessly to restore electricity to over 1 million customers. Think about that. We are very fortunate that it has only been 3 days. I am so thankful for all the workers who have been out there dealing with very dangerous stuff so I can update my status on Facebook! So when you drive by a crew working in the next couple of days, wave, smile and give them a thumbs up. They deserve at least that and so much more!

We're Off to See the Wizard!

Today is the anniversary of a very important event, well important to me anyway. On this date back in 1939, The Wizard of Oz premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, CA. It is no secret that I absolutely adore The Wizard of Oz. In fact my first blog post was about a Wizard of Oz snuggie that I had received as a Christmas present. I can't ever remember not watching the movie. It has always been in my life. Of course, when I was growing up, back in the mid 1960's and early 70's, there were no VCR's or DVD's or Cable television for that matter. There were 4 stations. ABC, NBC, CBS, and Public Broadcasting. Therefore, The Wizard of Oz was broadcast once a year, and I never missed it until my senior year in high school when a Forensics competition prevented me from my yearly viewing. I was extremely distraught! With the invention of video and now DVD and Bluray, one can watch this amazing movie whenever the urge strikes, and as odd as this may sound, that makes me a little sad because the yearly viewing was an event, something to look forward to, like a holiday. I am, however, very grateful that I have the movie preserved and in my possession to watch in case television ever decides to stop airing it. As much as I love it, I have only seen it on the big screen twice and that was as an adult, although you wouldn't know it by my excited behavior! The Wizard of Oz is  one of those movies you either love or hate. I have met some haters in my day, but regardless of what you feel about the the film and its story, I defy anyone to watch it for its production value and not be amazed at the final product and just how well the movie is filmed! Now remember, this was filmed in 1938 when there were no computers, so no CGI (Computer Generated Imagery). Every special effect had to be designed with something tangible and filmed to make the desired effect. The "twister" scene in this film is so realistic, that if I had been on set, I may have pushed  Auntie Em out of the way to get to the storm cellar. The  idea to film the farm scenes in Sepia tone and the over the rainbow scenes in brilliant color was ingenious, and forget about the Wicked Witch of the West being scary (in fact I know some adults to this day who are afraid of her). It's the Flying Monkeys that are the creepiest! I can't believe they are people in costume. Add to all that a magnificent cast, Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton and Frank Morgan and you had an awesome film! It has become an icon of the 20th century, and it has been delighting audiences, young and old alike, since it's debut. Whether your child watches it over and over again on DVD or you catch it on TBS when they run it back to back on a weekend ( and don't pretend that when your channel surfing if you see it, that you don't stop. I know I do) it will always be with us as part of our history and part of our hearts.

Before and after, well at least 5 months after

To look at me now, one wouldn't think that I had the nickname "Skinny Minnie" growing up, but I did. Up until the age of 10 I could eat anything, and I never gained an ounce. I was literally skin and bones. Then nature played a cruel trick on me. My metabolism changed, and I started to gain weight. From then on it was up and down all through my middle and high school years. Now, I must say that with all the hype of media about body issues for girls, you would think it was something new. It's not. I went through High School thinking I was fat. Looking at pictures now, I can't imagine what I was thinking. I might not have been tiny, but I was in no way "FAT" I've spent pretty much of my adult life going on this diet or that to get into a dress or please someone else or look good for this or that event. I'm sure you can guess where this is leading. It never worked. Oh, sure, I would lose the weight, get to a point where I was starting to look good to myself, and then tire of the deprivation of those wonderful foods that I loved so much. And then, pack on the pounds as I indulged. Last February I went to the doctor for a check-up to renew my blood pressure medication. They did lab work, and I got a call at the end of February from the nurse. She asked me if I had a minute. Now, let me pause here to say that I have always been pretty healthy all through my life, even though I have spent a lot of it overweight. So imagine my shock when I heard what the nurse said. She told me that my lab work had come back, and that my blood sugar numbers registered as Pre-diabetic. I was told to go on a low carb, low sugar diet. WOW! Talk about a wake-up call. At this point, you may be thinking, "Didn't she know she was overweight?" Of course I did, but I had a mental attitude of "I like who I am inside, so screw the world, and their definition of beauty." There's nothing wrong with that attitude. It is important to love ourselves no matter what package we are wrapped in, but I kept "feeding" (no pun intended) that attitude as I ballooned higher and higher up the scale. When I got the call from the doctor's office, my weight was at an all time high, and 18 lbs. over the mental limit I had told myself I would never cross. The words I heard on the phone that day made me stop and re-examine my "attitude" I'm not stupid I knew that the weight I was at was unhealthy, but it took someone to tell me what I was risking to make me do something. I found out on a Friday, and that Monday I started my new life. I choose not to use the word diet. I have been on many "diets", and they have never held long term results. There's no magic formula,  no matter how many commercials you see or ads you hear that claim that there is. What has really made things successful for me this time, I think, is that I'm not on a diet, I'm not in a hurry, and I haven't set some unrealistic goal. I'm living a new way to preserve my health. Weight loss is just a perk. I'm not preaching, and I hope it doesn't come off that way.  Losing weight is not a race to the finish line, it's a journey to a better, healthier way of life. I'm still on my journey, and I just want people to know that it's not easy, but it's worth it! 40 lbs. so far, and I feel so much better, and so glad I started this voyage.

Why can't life be like the movies?

I love movies! I don't see as many as I would like to anymore as I rarely see one in the theatre, TOO EXPENSIVE! But...there was a time when I saw movies on a regular basis, and then the ones I really liked in theatre, I purchased on video (that word right there dates me) for my own collection. My collection is filled with movies I adore, some old , The Wizard of Oz, Hitchcock's Notorious, Arsenic and Old Lace with Cary Grant and many others, some new-er like Pleasantville, Rain Man and Victor, Victoria. There is one film in my collection that I have been thinking a lot about lately given the government's current financial stand-off. It is a movie called Dave starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver that was released in 1993, almost 20 years ago. If you've seen it, indulge me while I give a brief synopsis. If you haven't rent it and watch it!
 Bill Mitchell is the philandering and distant President of the United States. Dave Kovic is a sweet-natured and caring Temp Agency operator, who by a staggering coincidence looks exactly like the President. As such, when Mitchell wants to escape an official luncheon, the Secret Service hires Dave to stand in for him. Unfortunately, Mitchell suffers a severe stroke whilst having sex with one of his aides, and Dave finds himself stuck in the role indefinitely. The corrupt and manipulative Chief of Staff, Bob Alexander, plans to use Dave to elevate himself to the White House - but unfortunately, he doesn't count on Dave enjoying himself in office, using his luck to make the country a better place, and falling in love with the beautiful First Lady. ~ from IMDB

Why do I love this movie so much? Well first of all, I love anything Kevin Kline touches and secondly, it's one of those great, feel good, do the right thing, hope for the future movies that I am drawn to. With recent news depressing us all, I couldn't help but think of this film, and how "seemingly" simple things could be. I long for the day, when it's not about winning and control and argument for argument's sake but about running this country in a manner that is best for its people and being fair and working together. A pipe dream? Maybe, but this film gives me a glimmer of hope. Maybe life needs to take a lesson from the movies, well...at least this one.