Double Your Trouble

I have twins.

Twin #1 is five minutes older. I always thought she was the smarter, more intelligent child based on the fact that she made adequate decisions as a result of me giving her that power. Twin #2 was more submissive and passive and let Twin #1 take the lead. Back when they were only five years old, I decided to test out the politics of their relationship.

One day after cleaning the dust in the family room, I was behind a couch when Twin #2 was looking for me. I hid on purpose. No one else was home. She immediately launched a search and informed Twin #1 that I was missing. They searched high and low and came to the frightening conclusion that they were abandonned. I eagerly awaited their action plan, expecting Twin #1 to take control--instead she broke down crying. Twin #2 consoled her and took the reigns.

"I know what we need to do!" Twin #2 exclaimed. Twin #1 was inconsolable.

"We need to dial 1-1-9!" and Twin #2 proceeded to grab the cordless phone to call for help.

Squeeze me?

Well at least her action plan was sound ;) Just when you think you know someone...never underestimate.

Skank Alert

Call me conservative, call me a prude but I just have my own values and morals I adhere to.

We were coming home from the mall: the mother-in-law, three daughters and two nieces. The cousins rarely get together but when they do, its mayhem and chaos but deep down inside, they yearn for these times to be together. Yes, family politics. I don't get on with the sister-in-law as we have subtle differences in child rearing.

While I am driving in this pre-Christmas mess, my niece announces from the back seat of the van: "Yeah, and I am getting a bellyring". For some reason, she looks straight at me. I don't know what monster inside me surfaced but I erupted. I looked in the rear view mirror and yelled out, "Only skanks gets belly rings!!" She looked back at me in horror.

Her younger sister (7 yrs old) inquired, "What is a skank?"

Immediately my daughters went into salvation mode. The older twin jumped in, "My mom said skunk not skank."

The older niece made a face at me and replied back emphatically, "I am NOT A SKANK."

Could I shut my mouth? Of course not! "You will be one if you get a bellyring."

It was like a large freight train trying to stop. I was slowing down but not in time. The mother-in-law hit my arm ...she knew this would go back to my sister-in-law.

I didn't care. I knew she was challenging me and I am tired of being politically correct. So, REPORT ME. In a society where the children rule the parents, (and yes, this is my opinion of the kids today), I don't give two sh***.

Once a skank, always a skank...

Broke but happy...

Why is shopping the most therapeutic activity a woman can engage in? Why do we get a natural high when we see a sale and purchase good quality items for a steal?

Why is it when we are feeling down, fat, irritated, agitated, angry or flat out depressed, shopping seems to heal all ills?

I have actually tried not to shop for two entire weeks. No groceries, retail or personal shopping. In the beginning, I felt content and empowered not spending money. But as the days wore on, I felt an important activity in my life was taken away from me. There existed an emptiness I could not explain. I felt I was being 'squeezed'.

Squeeze me?

I know how my dad paid off his mortgage in three years, never owned a credit card and paid for our orthodontic treatment (at a bill of $10K) without going into debt or paying interest. HE IS A MAN.

A shout out to all my girls...it is against our hormones not to shop. May our ESTROGEN levels always be balanced!

The Alchemist

My group at work is still trying to figure out how to win the lottery.

Personally, I am not a gambler so the last few months, I have not played. I did in the beginning and felt pangs of guilt, even though one ticket I made the hubby buy, got us 4 out of 6 numbers!

BUT... I have supplied lucky numbers in hopes that my co-workers will feel 'charitable' if we actually win on my numbers. Yeah, yeah, I know I am dreaming.

I do believe in positive energy. We haven't been winning lately because...we are not performing our um...lucky dance. One happy, embarressing, communal thing we did together.

Squeeze me?

Yes, statistics show that when we did our dance, we would win either another ticket or $10. That is more than what other groups were winning according to undisclosed sources.

Last weekend, I read the book, The Alchemist. Couldn't put it down. The essence? Believe in your goal and the Soul of the World will hear you and the Universe will work to meet your needs. Positive Energy.

Virtually a Virtual World

I participated in my first virtual tradeshow this past week.

It was quite the experience. The first hour was affected by technical difficulties on the vendor's part but eventually we were able to partake in the show to its full capacity.

We had many at our booth for the most part of the day and it was a unique experience meeting everyone online. Technology has sure come a long way and I still feel this show allowed our company to be creative in the way we market our solutions. Sadly, I felt something big was missing.

Squeeze me?

Yep, the face to face interaction was replaced by avatar to avatar interaction. Being accustomed to the hustle and bustle of the real-life tradeshow, I was floating in the atmosphere of the VIRTUAL WORLD. It was a surreal experience and one I will have to get used to even though we have the MSNs and Facebooks of the world...Can someone show me to the virtual bar?

Christmas is not just Christian...

I love the Christmas season: Trees, lights, colours, decorations and of course, sales!

I don't celebrate Christmas but I see everyone's demeanor change around this time, no matter their beliefs.

People are:

Kinder, thoughtful, touchy-feely, generous, gift-giving, polite, calmer, sober and spiritual.

Can we create more feel good days to celebrate throughout the year?

The Mitten Experiment

I am SO TIRED of telling my kids to do STUFF.

No matter how many times you tell them to put their coat in the closet, backpacks in their rooms, boots on the shelf, hair straightener in the drawer, the cap back on the toothpaste, a new toilet paper roll when the old one is done, towel on the rack, milk back in the fridge, wrappers in the garbage, dishes in the sink...no matter what...they do not LISTEN!!!

In a world where there is so much stimulus, I notice the generation of today has ADD. No one focuses, no one stops to think and no one really listens.

So I left a mitten, ON THE FLOOR, in the hallway, in PLAIN SIGHT...LAST SUNDAY. It's a black and furry so you can't miss it.

Today is Friday and lo and behold...at 5pm, it is STILL THERE!!!

Squeeze me?

What am I trying to prove to myself when I already know neither of the children are going to pick it up?

Funny enough, my youngest twin (who has abandoned wearing her glasses) finally took notice of it and while squinting, proclaimed, "Why is there a furry, black underwear on the floor!"

Note to self: Not only are they deaf...they are blind too!

How do I really know?

It used to be that some things would certainly kill you:

Eating poison.
Leaving the garage door closed and sitting in a running car.
Walking across a busy highway.
Playing with a loaded gun.

These seem pretty simple.

Nowadays, these 'may' or 'can' kill you:

Microwave cooking
Eating too many oranges
Using a bluetooth
Consuming aspartame
Using deodorant
Washing with fabric softener

Squeeze me?

I could go on and on and everyday, I am telling you, the list CHANGES.

How do I really know?

Tiger turned Pussycat

Tiger fleeing in his Caddy, hitting a fire hydrant, and then a neighbour's tree.

Tiger Wood's wife, running after him with TWO golf clubs. Smashing the back of his Caddy.

Tiger not willing to talk to the police.

Tiger not willing to talk to the papers.

Tiger about to lose major endorsements. I respect your privacy but you bought into this fame.

Tiger turned into a Pussy Cat.

The Adam Lambert Project

Ok, I know this post is really late but did you see the American Music Awards two weeks ago?

Adam Lambert's performance was saved for last...and I soon realized why.

Man-on-man kissing and crotch-shoving moves probably caused many jaw issues, pardon the pun. They say America is ready for this (like Madonna and Britney kiss) but are they? Certainly not middle America.

Dude comes in second on American Idol and wants to jump-start his career.

Squeeze me?

Come on. There is a reason you came in second. Work on your music and talent. Everyone has a right to their sexual orientation but I don't need to see that on a music awards show. There is Californication for inquiring minds.

The AMA's illustrated the competition of the freaks. Tiny Talent Time...

Smart-Assed Co-Workers

This is a shout-out to my smart-assed co-workers. You know who you are ;)

To quote the great Erma Bombeck: " If Life is a bowl of cherries, what am I doing in the pits?"

Thanks for my family at work who keep me above water and smiling everyday!

Mothers

I read the disturbing story of the mother who dropped her child over the railing at the Toronto Pearson International airport.

I can only imagine what that mother is going through.

May we never see our children die before us.

Hug your child today. Kiss your child today. Tell them that you love them.

You do not control your future. You do not control your destiny. But what you do control is ...today.

Create an Ocean

How are you leaving your mark in this world?

Last couple of conversations consisted of the following:

"I just bought a new car and I feel like a million bucks"

"I bought another house because the market is good"

"I just used my 25% off coupon at the Gap and got a fabulous fall coat"

Squeeze me?

Do you see the underlying commonality? Its all about buying and associating worth with those worldly purchases.

If you depart from this world tomorrow, what mark have you left?

One drop creates the ocean. BE THAT DROP.

Go Green.
Give to a charity.
Unveil atrocities.
Always keep a smile.

Don't wait....Tell someone you love them.

Queen Oprah leaves and the Joker prevails

Well, we knew it was coming.

The reign of Oprah is nearing its end.

Its amazing how long she captured the attention of the world in 125 countries for so long.

What will replace her show?

A more educational and captivating show.

Squeeze me?

When I grew up, I was allowed only one hour of the 'idiot box' a day. The useless shows my dad dubbed as 'Joker shows'were prohibited. Shows he deemed lacking substance and meaning.

Exit the Queen, enter the Joker....

Weather its right?

So the last couple of weeks have been unseasonally warm.

And everyone is enjoying it -- fall clothing is still yet to make its appearance.

Someone said to me that they hope it stays this warm until the end of December.

Squeeze me?

Didn't you hear about the latest farmer's almanac? We are in for a very COLD winter, perhaps Mother Nature will throw in some ice storms while we are at it!

Why do people wish for the opposite? I would rather we have proper seasons. They don't realize that will this flux of weather (due to pollution, global warming) that we are really mucking up the whole seasonal weather. Tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunami and hurricanes are on the rise.

As long as it doesn't hit us here in Canada...right?

I am just waiting for a chunk of our home native land to break up like ice glaciers.. and float away...its coming, just wait and see...

The Miserable Mattress

The man of the house decided to go out and buy a mattress--without me there.

He bought the floor model with a pillow-top. He and my daughter tried it out and thought it was firm enough. Long story short, they bought it. First day I lay on it, honestly..it was heaven. I felt like I was lying on a $2000 cloud.

But as the days wore on, my back increasingly became sore. I thought it was me. I was working out more during that time period, thinking this to be the reason for the stiffness. But then I slept one night on my daughter's cheap $300 IKEA mattress and woke up a new woman.

My dad said back in the old country, they sometimes slept on a "charpai": a small bed with 4 legs and weaved straw. He shook his head and clucked his tongue when I told him how much the mattress was. And then he said: "Bad habits are like a comfortable bed, easy to get into, but hard to get out of"...

Squeeze me?

Why are the proverbs from the "old country" not applicable HERE!?

The Boss Factor

Ever have to walk into your boss's office and pitch new ideas?

It can be intimidating; it can be empowering.

Squeeze me? How can it be both?

I am learning not to distract myself with their reactions. Because that is how we equate our ideas--based on people's reactions.

If you believe and have faith in your ideas, no idea is a dumb one. Just like no question is a dumb one--no matter the reaction.

Even if they don't like your idea, never be disheartened or let your guard down.

Because at the end of the day, the secret weapon is YOU.

This is it?

I know...its been awhile since I posted. Why? Life. It has been so busy but it gives me more to talk about as an array of ideas have been bombarding my mind.

One is Michael Jackson.

Making more money in death than in life.

Ridiculed, taunted and persecuted when alive.

Revered, honored and respected in death.

Squeeze me?

Does someone have to leave this Earth for someone to realize the qualities of a person who brought peace, love and happiness to the world?

Look at the good before you judge the bad -- and I mean about everyone.

Masking a Flu

I think I am going to start wearing a mask to work.

Forget the hand sanitizers. You will get H1N1 by breathing the air where it comes in through your eyes, nose and mouth.

My hands are chapped from hand washing and hand sanitizers.

I coughed today (into my sleeve) and was given an icy stare.

Squeeze me?

Gone are the days of being openly sick...

Hello? Anyone out there?

The office was notably empty today.

Yes, you guessed it. H1N1 has infiltrated our world.

Four members on my eight member team are sick. Don't know if they are all H1N1.

But I am still not getting the shot. Not enough information to yield me to go and get it. Still think the media is instilling fear..

Washing my hands and yes, I am still coughing...

Who am I?

I just learned this evening I am not who I think I am...

I asked my father this evening where our family tree was. He said it was in the home country and needed to be translated into English. He continued by saying alot of the names in our early ancestry were 'weird'.

Squeeze me?

And then he hit me hard...not physically, but my spiritual core. Apparently before immigrating to Canada from his native Pakistan, he CHANGED HIS LAST NAME!!

Now I really need to get my hands on that family tree...weird names, he says???

The Jay Leno Show

Poor Jay.

I loved him on The Tonight Show.

He has a new show now and a new time slot.

Its not working for me. Especially all those skits.

And I cannot switch to Letterman after his alleged shananigans.

What happened to the age old trick of just interviewing interesting people who have smart and witty things to say instead of all the SNL-like skits he insists on boring us with!

To Tweet or Not to Tweet?

I am still grappling with Twitter. I know many of you have set up accounts and are informing the world of your whereabouts, what you are currently doing or what you plan to do.

I opened up my account and created three twits. Yes, I said "Twit" and many in the office broke out laughing. "It's not TWIT, its a TWEET".

Squeeze Me?

That is when I realized I am behind in this new form of social media.

I feel like my parents did when I was a teenager. They did not understand the importance of the Rubix cube, Atari, legwarmers, MCHammer pants and Walkmans. But we sure did. If you were not part the trend, you were an outcast.

As I watch the kids "TWEET", simultaneously update their Facebook, download iTunes and connect their iPod Touch to their car stereos, I am perplexed like my parents were 20 years ago. I thought I would never be like them...I would make sure I know everything. I realize, I CAN'T KEEP UP!

LOL...Sorry to cut this blog short, but OMG and TTYL coz EYE need 2 ask Wha Sup' to my MSN friend whose asking "WTF!" Oh NVM!

The Man of the House

I laughed out loud when I read this article about a man's lack of expertise of cleaning the house.

One of the tips offered is to create a game with a competitive atmosphere so that you time your cleaning is like a rush against the clock.

Squeeze me?

While I think about my next 'cleaning game' I have to work, cook, do laundry, chauffeur the children, assess homework duties, sign school trip forms, pay bills, complete groceries, pick gum out of hair and get my tires aligned.

Suck it up guys and grab the toilet brush!

The Next Generation

It looks like I am going to talk about Star Trek, right? But sadly no...the next generation.

I look at the kids of today and remember my youth and our expectations. Day and night, I tell you. Kids today graduate from college/university and expect high end cars, big houses and senior positions in the workforce.

Squeeze me?

What ever happened to working from the bottom?

It looks like this ladder is made out of platinum.

A different type of flu

I could tell a thousand stories about my father. He is extremely comedic, even when he is trying not to be.

He came over the other night and we got into the discussion of the influenza epidemic currently affecting our society.

My daughter was the first to pick it up. The budding veternarian keeps her ears open when it comes to the flu virus as she is more concerned about the animal population than her human neighbours.

My father kept saying, "this HINI flu is very different from the usual flu virus". What I didn't catch was that he was replacing the "1" with an "I".

The next day, in a fit of laughter, my daughter said, "Grandpa said we may get infected "Hini" flu....does that mean the shot will go into our butt?"

In these days, with the media instilling fear about H1N1, we need a little humour to deal with the indecision of getting the BUTT SHOT........

Tornado Watch

It's been happening to me since I was five. A recurring dream of being caught in a tornado. I am very scared but also excited that a category five tornado is on its way.

Squeeze me?

I know, it sounds sadistic, but I am never harmed because instinct tells me to find a corner in the basement to hide...in my dream!

I wake up before the tornado hits--every time. I have tried to find out what the meaning of these dreams are...although I suspect it relates to my curiosity with natural calamities (hurricanes, lightning storms, earthquakes). When I hear about it on the news, I listen to every single detail.

Or perhaps it's a metaphor--my brain, the tornado. A different category everyday, I suppose. Some have suggested its repressed sexual instincts. Yeah sure, I can imagine me saying, "I had me a tornado of a session last night!"

A tornado can be interpreted in so many ways, but for now, I will take it at face value...my next job will be a storm chaser ;)

Big Bang Laughter

Is anyone watching the tv series Big Bang Theory? I was a bit hesitant to watch the Season 1 DVD a co-worker loaned me. And when he told me the premise of the show was two physicists living together, one being infatuated with the blond next door, I didn't know what to expect.

After watching the first episode, I was beside myself with laughter. Real heart-felt laughter. The creators of the show are Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady. They are absolutely awesome at their craft.

Long story short: I am tired with the sex, violence and reality shows that have besieged us in the last few years. I liked the premise of the show Dexter, but even the serial killing got me thinking...how many ways can one kill and dispose a body?

Squeeze me?

In this world of ills, laughter is still the best medecine!

Flu Shots--The New Bullet

A friend of mine sent me a disturbing video about the rare affects of inoculations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mScGC7nFDxM&feature=topvideos

I am not THAT old but I remember a time of never having so many shots. Heck, and I know this will gross you out, but I took chewing gum from the sidewalk one day, washed it and put it in my mouth. Yes, I was socially inept at the age of five. My actual point being was that we never had anti-bacterial soap, wipes, sprays or cleansers. And believe it or not, we were HEALTHY.

We also did not have peanut, gluten, severe dust and seasonal allergies at record numbers.

So what has changed?

LIFE. To be the most advanced civilizations, we have prospered in technology. But sadly, at the same time, we have suffered in health.

Squeeze me?

Pass me the reddest, juiciest, bruise-free apple, please......

The Crackberry Addiction

I read an article today about how the Blackberry is making everyone work longer hours.

It's a false sense of freedom because it gives us the freedom to do more work.

Squeeze me?

The boundaries of a 9 to 5 day no longer exists--if we can get information 24/7 at our finger tips and it allows us to get things done at that moment in time, it's a productivity tool, right?

But can it become counter-productive? I know people who refuse to have a Blackberry for that very reason. You blur the lines between work and home.

So it comes to this:

The ones who have a Blackberry feel empowered.
The ones who don't have a Blackberry feel empowered.

Squeeze me?

What is your addiction of the day?
Please order me the Blackberry Storm and a Mac--I love that guy in the commercial!

Patience is STILL a Virtue

In the words of the wise Mahatma Gandhi:

"To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves."

Patience is a Virtue

You know, I look around and everyone is rushing through life.

People are walking faster, talking faster, calculating faster, producing faster...I feel like everything is a race against time.

There is a blurring of lines - there is no black or white. Grey zones pop up and exist everywhere now. We are just going through the motions.

Life is simple but we make it messy. We need to slow down. Even the kids today are rushing to get the newest technology. Who has the latest gadget.

Squeeze me?

I was running to a meeting one day. My co-worker stopped me and asked why am I running? Is the room going to change? Are the people we are meeting going to leave? Will the meeting get cancelled if we are two minutes late? Slow down, pace yourself and accept everything as is. We believe one minute will change the world as we know it. So what?

If change happens, relax ....things happen for a short time. We are in a state of flux. We try to control but we can't. Don't try...let the cards fall where they may.

Get back to the basics. Write a letter, don't text. Pick up the phone and call a friend, don't Twitter. Am I anti-technology? No. I am going back to the basics. Simplicity. No complication, no strings, no hidden agenda. Its the naked truth.

You know the saying, "Slow down and smell the roses"...I say "Slow down and plant the roses".

Sit back patiently....and watch your creation grow.

Ruled by the media...who isn't these days?

What has happened to all the women who love their curves? They state that they will not be swayed by the media or what other people think of them.

Jennifer Love-Hewitt was photographed on holiday in her bathing suit. All the tabloids dismissed her curvy figure for being just plain fat! She rebuked these comments by saying that she was proud of her figure. Three months later, she drops from a size 12 to an 8.

Tyra Banks was photographed on holiday in her bathing suit. She is accused of packing on the pounds with total disregard to her model figure. She comes on her tv talk show to adamantly state that she is happy with her body and no one has the right to make comments and that young girls today are being brainwashed by the media to be unhealthy and thin. Five months later she drops from a size 14 to a size 6.

Squeeze me?

I'm all about "Say what you mean" and "Mean what you say".....at the end, we are all ruled by the media......

Just Bump off!

One of my relatives has three children--eight, five and two. She has lost most of the baby weight but her body type is such that whatever weight leftover is around the middle.

Many places she goes, she is asked, "Are you pregnant?" Woman or man, there is no hesitation to ask.

Squeeze me?

Are people ignorant? Is it politically correct to ask a woman if she is with child? My relative is tired of fending off this question. I think the ONLY time you ask this question is when there is medical procedure about to take place.

She revealed her secret to me one day. Now she replies, "No, I am just FAT!"...followed by uncomfortable silence.

These losers should have a taste of their own medecine...

Boy in the Balloon Puking on CNN

All inquiring minds want to know.....why the poor boy was sick on the show..

Look at the body language of the parents while they are answering questions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI6UONWCq7A&feature=player_embedded

This is just as bad as the Jon and Kate exploitation of their kids.....then why is Miley Cyrus any different?

Boy in Balloon

Squeeze Me?

Boy in a balloon, travelling 50 miles in the air, 7000 feet from the ground. What the heck? My co-worker came hurtling to my desk today and frantically asked me to log onto CNN.com ....to see the video of the balloon travelling across Northeast Colorado. In the middle of a large website design, I rolled my eyes and logged on to witness this crazy flight and an even the crazier notion that a small six year old boy was in the compartment of this balloon.

The rest of the afternoon was a play by play communication with five people near my cubicle. Balloon lands, balloon empty, boy must have fallen off, is boy alive or dead, where did the boy land? All this commotion and I have a website to edit!

Needless to say, the whole episode was intriguing. Many in the office were clucking their tongues, shaking their heads and feeling sympathy for the poor family of the this missing child. I got to admit, I was wondering how it was going to end. Images of a small boy lying disjointed somewhere on the landscape got me a bit teary-eyed.

As I was coming out of a meeting, that same co-worker runs into the department to announce that the six year old boy had been yelled at for playing in the compartment of the balloon and hid in a cardboard box in the attic of their garage--THE WHOLE TIME. Yes, a sigh of relief....then wondering how it came to be that his sibling swore he saw him in the compartment just before it took off.

He is safe and sound. The family is relieved. The UFO adventure is over. It's a good ending.

But it would make for good TV had he been in the balloon and survived the flight!

Inquiring minds always want to know.............

The "Hi" Experiment

Today I decided, when I go out, I am going to smile and say "Hi" to everyone I see. I wanted to see the reactions and as a result come to a conclusion to this experiment. Thinking back, we were taught from a young age that greeting people was an acceptable social norm. When I walk around today, I am so absorbed with my own issues and thoughts that I realized I am neglecting the people I live and share oxygen with. I knew I was out of practice. As I got in my car, my sudden need to connect with my community became the 'driving' force.

I left the house to get my hair cut and had to stop by the local Shoppers Drug Mart to pick some toiletries. I walked in and immediately smiled and said "Hi" to the cosmetician. Trained in customer service, she replied in the same manner. I walked down the shampoo aisle and saw a girl, around the age of 17, looking at conditioners. I came up beside her, viewed the conditioner bottles, picked out one and turned to her. "Hi", I said. She looked up, hesitated and said "Hi" back in a very slow manner. I kept smiling and picked up my shampoo. I could see her eyeing me in a sidelong glance.

I proceeded to the candy rack and there was a gentleman looking at books nearby. I picked up my favourite candy bar, smiled and said "Hi". He looked behind him, thinking I was talking to someone else and realized I was addressing him. He raised one eyebrow and replied "Hi". And then he drew a slow smile...MEN.....that is all they can think about! Nevertheless, I kept smiling, walked over to the cashier and said "Hi"! She smiled back and returned the salutation. The gentleman was looking over the magazine rack with a perplexed look on his face trying hard to recognize me. I walked out of the store, determined to continue smiling and said "Hi" to the next person that walked by, an older Asian man, who took one look at me, spit on the sidewalk and proceeded to walk past. My smile started to fade but I kept walking, turned the corner and then went to cut my hair.

As I sat in the salon, I pondered my "Hi" experiment. My objective you ask? Is it more natural for some to smile and reply back or rather an obtrusive imposition on others to return the favour? In my experiment, all but one person replied back. But the issue was more in the way they greeted me. On my walks in the neighborhood, everyone I pass says "Hi" with a smile and a cheery disposition. Does the environment make a difference? Are people more entailed to greet others outside more than inside? Do interior quarters cause claustrophobic conditions in that when greeted, many are caught off guard? Is age a factor? Do old people become more friendly because they know their years on Earth are numbered? What the hell was the deciding factor?

As my hair fell to the ground in the salon, I tried to make heads or tails of my experiment. Perhaps I needed more participants, maybe I should have created an hypothesis before embarking on my experiment. Or there were too many uncontrolled variables....

When I left the salon, walking to my car, a woman parked next to me and opened her door. As I unlocked my door and looked up at her, she smiled and said "Hi". I was surprised at first, thinking I knew her, but realized this was her experiment. A warm smile spread across my face as I replied back.

Squeeze me?
Its not an experiment.
Its brotherly love.
Its humanity.

Smile and make someone's day.

The Letterman/Polanski Conundrum

I have been listening and watching the whole Letterman scandal. Not by choice--its either fed intravenously by radio or sent to me by email in YouTube excerpts. The first airing of guilt by Letterman actually made me laugh--laugh at how he effectively dismissed his adultery through the use of humour. What a showman! What a great comedian! Thunderous applause!

The second airing of his show depicts a more solemn man confirming how his behaviour has 'horribly hurt' his wife. Now its getting deep and dirty. His admission of conducting creepy things is getting creepy. Still, he receives applaud and support from his delusional audience.

I think this audience are the handpicked supporters of fated Roman Polanski. They too placed this glorious Hollywood producer in the "I am famous, you can't touch me" pedestal. Well, a lesson to all. The old proverb "What goes around, comes around" is something that comes to mind. Whether you are a famous comedian or a reknowned producer, rape is rape and adultery is just plain old cheatin'.

Polanski is depressed in jail.
Letterman is depressed about public scrutiny.
I'm depressed because I can't remember what I ate for breakfast this morning and my panties just went up a size.

Squeeze me? I will take the fall for that anyday.....

2012

So I hear Hollywood is coming out with the movie, 2012. Squeeze me? Another movie about the end of the world? I can't wait to see another movie that depicts Armageddon! (Note: subtle sarcasm here)


It seems to be an addiction --the need to enthrall us in the idea of doomsday. We have gone to these movies, enjoyed the special effects and immersed ourselves in the acting skills of our beloved celebrities. They certainly do a good job convincing us that the world is coming to an end. But ask yourself, is this something you watch and then forget about the next morning? Is this pure entertainment?


Just reflect and perhaps you did for a second on Dec 31, 1999 at 11:58...are we being sent a message? We are slowing destroying Mother Earth. We are still fighting wars. Entire species are disappearing.

But on a humanitarian front, the message could be very simple.

What if today was your last day?
What if tonight you took your last breath?
What are you doing now to make a difference?

......she asks as she listens to Prince's song, 1999......