Overheard at Opry Mills

Teenager on Cellphone (loudly): We are at the mall walking around.
Duke Diva (just as loud): No. Really? Are you?

Eric Volz Story on Today Show

On Monday, March 26th at approximately 7:30 am, the Today Show on NBC will feature the story of Eric Volz. Please urge your friends and family to watch and become involved in his case. This is a great step forward in gaining national and international attention for Eric's story.

The role of the press in Eric's case is incredibly important. The more who learn about his case on a national and international scale, the more there will be to come together in the broader fight for justice in places where lines of right and wrong have become blurred.

Eric and his family are humbled by the letters, prayers, and donations given to his defense. Please continue to spread the word about Eric's case and demand that justice be served.

Cancel or Allow?

"the many benefits...?"

Does that involve cancel or allow? I guess so because it took me to a site where I could buy Vista and other quality Microsoft products, like add ons to IE.

Yes, I drank the kool-aid and now look at Windows with great derision.

Update on Eric Volz on the web

His story is on page 1 of WSJ.com

And he has a myspace page

And the full list of updates is on the official site.

pink kitty cupcakes

pink kitty cupcakes
Originally uploaded by secret agent josephine.

Hee

Looking for something to do this weekend?

You are invited to the
Grand Opening of
Aladdin’s

Hookah Lounge and Bar

This Friday and Saturday: March 16th & 17th

With DJ spinning the
Hottest New Mixes of International music
Belly Dance Shows at 11:30pm
Featuring Linda and Elina
With guest artists Jennifer and Ciona

2206 Elliston Place
Nashville, TN 37203
615-329-3558
Food, beer, and wine served all night, 7 days a week
Over 30 flavors of Hookah!
Must be 18 or older
Open ‘till 3am
Free wireless internet

Fashion Disaster of Epic, Cosmic Proportions

blog post title courtesy of Elena...

Dagnabit.... I swear... I hate ugly clothes. I was just walking back from another building, and the girl in front of me was wearing a grey jersey knit mini dress with a green (large, thick, ugly) belt hiked up to create an empire waist. But wait - it gets worse... the dress had a pilgrim style white collar thing.

And she was probably wearing flip-flops but I don't know. I was in shock—and still need therapy—after the pilgrim collar thing.

In the Springtime...

the only pretty ringtime, birds sing heyding... Sweet lovers love...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

pasty white legs
flip flops
manfeet

That's all I have to say about that.

Hello. My name is Pink Kitty, and I am a slacker.

OK. I admit it. I'm a slacker. I read the sparkpeople boards almost daily but don't post. Today is a day I am going to change that. Why?

Because I need to take a real active role in my own weight loss. When I started working with Allison (my dietitian) in November 2005, the weight came off like gang busters. Every week, I went in and lost at least 2 lbs. I know initially, alot of that was water weight. As March and April rolled around, it tapered off to about a pound a week.

I dropped 2 dress sizes in 6 months. I coasted. It wasn't hard work.

When I moved in July, I stopped paying attention to what I was eating. I stopped keeping my food records. I believe the only thing that kept me from ballooning back to my original size was the fact that I exercised alot. Dance classes several times a week. Walking 10,000+ steps per day.

I also toned up quite a bit too. So the time wasn't completely wasted.

This morning, however, I went into my closet and pulled out a pair of pants that I haven't worn since last summer (it's finally warm enough to wear them again). And I couldn't zip them.

I thought I would hyperventilate. I couldn't believe it. Actually... in truth... I can. I've been eating like crazy, especially when I get home from work.

I am still a stress eater. I eat when I don't feel well. I actually would rather exercise but I can't physically do as much as I would like (and my physical therapist wouldn't recommend too much activity anyway until my back and abdominal muscles are stronger). Since I can't exercise much, I eat. And when I've been to the store, I've been buying crap - chips, ice cream.

So, tonight, when I get home, I'm throwing whatever is left out of the chips and ice cream. I don't care if they are barely or un-opened bags or how much they cost. They are gone.

Today after physical therapy, I will be meeting with the coordinator of the fitness center at the rehab place. I can stay on and use their gym for up to 6 months after being released from therapy. It is right across the street from my office. That will make it super convenient to go right after work. You meet with a personal trainer twice at the beginning, again at 3 months and at 6 months (or whenever you would like to pay for their additional services). I know that will be a real benefit to me - to have access to a full range of equipment and expertise. You can only do it alone for so long, you know?

So, today, I'm getting started all over again. I don't know what my weight right now is... probably between [Hey - I'm not putting here for you people - sorry] given that I couldn't zip up my size 18 pants (I know - it does depend on the cut. I put on a size 16 pair this weekend and could almost get them zipped up.)

I am going to stick to under 1700 calories per day. I will actually use the meal tracker. I will start to use some of the recipes. With my therapist and trainer at the gym, I will come up with appropriate exercises. I will eventually get back into my regular dance classes (right now they aren't fun because I hurt! And that frustrates Todd, which frustrates me. We've been snipping at each other. It's just bad.)

I know I can lose the weight. Thanks for letting me rant but I just need to say it out loud (so to speak). Seeing it in print will make it more real. Knowing that other people have read it will make me accountable.

* originally posted on sparkpeople.com *

What I Heard

Last night was the first meeting of a new class at church - Conversations with the Women in my Head. The lady teaching it is a phenomenal teacher and speaker. She is very open, honest, and transparent about her life which helps to encourage other people to share what is going on. I’ve taken her classes for several years and was among the first to sign up for this one.

So, knowing that there are people in there who would put her on a pedestal because she’s up there teaching, she offered up this story to knock herself off of it before they had a chance. “Before you hold me up there, just remember that last week… I was almost a convicted felon.”

Huh? Wha? How did that happen, D? And knowing her, this is going to be on HOOT of a story. So the short version is that a couple of weeks ago, she was pulled over in Spring Hill for busted tail lights and expired tags. When they ran her license, it has been suspended over a ticket in 2004 which they said she hadn’t paid and they were going to arrest her and impound her 1992 red Chevy mini-van.

After dragging 2 more officers into the situation, putting her in the back of the police car with blaring lights in front of half the town of Spring Hill, they graciously decide to release her on her own recognizance as soon as someone gets there to pick her and drive the van back home. So on Monday, she and her mother have to go to the Department of Safety to get a copy of the original citation in 2004 and proof that it WAS PAID in 2004.

And then she had to go through a nightmare process to get her license reinstated at the DMV.

And then she had to go back to Spring Hill to answer these charges. She said a magistrate stepped in her on behalf and spoke to the judge and they dropped all the charges save for some court costs.

D explained what the voices in her head were telling her – I hate my husband (she admits this was completely irrational and she does love him very much). I hate my car. How can you be so stupid? They were constantly beating her down until the magistrate stepped in.

She made the comparison that this magistrate was like Jesus stepping in and acting as a mediator, an advocate on our behalf to God.

What were the voices telling me?

“Yeah BUT Jesus didn’t create the situation that caused his execution. He ISN’T part of the problem! He is the solution! Faulty comparison, D. This is why I hate the government. Granted Spring Hill isn’t a hotbed for criminal activity but surely it didn’t take 3 officers to arrest a not hysterical woman. They aren’t protecting and serving. They are the lowest form of tax collectors. Can you tell me what possible harm her expired tags were causing society? None! A notice about the break lights I could possibly understand. Maybe. And all of this was compounded because 3 years ago, some state employee didn’t enter her payment correctly and they automatically suspended her license – without notifying her! I hate the government. NOW do you really understand why I am libertarian?!”

In talking with some women after class about it, I went through a not so full-of-anger version of this and when I got to the libertarian part, I think I scared them.

South Park Personality Quiz

What's that heavy breathing?

That's Wesson trying to catch the fly through the window. Lucky for the fly - it's outside.

*thonk* That would be his head hitting the glass. Silly kitty.