Lazy Susan

How could twins be so different? I always thought there was an unexplainable connection, that they fed off each other, complimented one another, were each other's soulmates--until I had them and realized that Mother does not know all.

Twin 1 is very accomodating, a people-pleaser, illustrates a thirst for knowledge and wants to better herself in every aspect. Twin 1 takes the more difficult, high road to soar to her goals.

Twin 2 is stubborn, unaware of her surroundings, ignorant to points of view other than her own, comfortable with status quo and reminds me of a lazy susan in the kitchen. If its easy, Twin 2 will take the sloping road in search of a good restaurant.

I realized day by day, I could not address them in the same manner. I saw them as one. Ying and Yang, Sonny and Cher, Peanut Butter and Chocolate. Even when I called out to them, their names became one compound word.

They had been divorced for so many years that I did not notice and pushed my agenda on them without respecting their rights. Their souls needed to be nurtured in ways that were conducive to their growth.

The physical separation was easy. Took me until now to perform the mental separation...

Keeping it Real

I met up with a girlfriend. I had not seen her for months.

She looked good. I told her she looked good.

She said. "I know. I do look great, don't I?"

Ok, all together now: "SQUEEZE ME?"

At first I was taken aback. But then I actually respected her lack of humility. On many occasions, women tend to focus on the negative (their hair is damaged, hips are too big, they have a bad trainer, no sleep, too much work) instead of accepting the compliment. Most do not savour it and create excuses to present the illusion of diffidence.

This was the first time I had a friend, who is normally quite hard on herself, turn it around and admit that she had been working on herself for the better and proud to show it. And the change was not just physical. I could clearly see she was over her insecurities and stronger for it. I commend that.

Word up--keep it real. For those who cannot accept the reality, work on yourself before you judge others...

Good Morning...and who are you?

Salutations.

Why?

Do we really need them? Does anyone care? Is it an automated act where no feeling is involved?

Aren't social relationships a two-way street? Is saying "Good Morning" to someone you really don't know considered a relationship?

I don't mind being an initiator, but everytime with the same person? Do they not get it? Is a nod considered a response to a salutation? Am I overreacting if my salutation is not responded to?

I said "Good Morning" to someone the other day. They didn't respond and continued texting on their cell.

Squeeze me?

Excuse me as I power down. Goodnight.

Will the real Eminem stand up?

There are days I want to be cloned.

Squeeze me?

Forget the moral, ethical, religious or political impact. There needs to be a button I can press and voila! The closet door opens and I can choose my clone to be:

the wife
the mother
the worker
the mediator
the chauffeur
the cook/cleaner/laundromat
the teacher
the lover
the negotiator
the counsellor
the role model
the citizen
the sister

This is only half the list. When I have identified what clone is needed where, I can curl up in bed alone with a good book or movie and hide away for a couple of days.

Ok, so maybe to the astute, I need a vacation.

But sometimes... do you ever want to have an outer-body experience and let someone else take care of things while the mind goes on that vacation? There are so many days I have driven to work, home, to pick up groceries, children, drugs, etc and I don't remember the drive there? Ok, maybe its the drugs.

Or I enter a room, and forget what the hell I came in there for? Lack of focus? Or too much stimuli? Quick! Send the clone to figure that out for me...

Will the real Eminem stand up?

The Majestic Microwave

I cannot believe how reliant I am on this microwave.

It caught fire yesterday so I unplugged it and wrote a note: DO NOT USE. FIRE HAZARD.

While preparing the day's food and following my normal routine of the day, I turned to use the microwave FIVE times.

We all joke at some point about the radiation from this majestic oven...but really, we don't think about the long term affects of heating the food we injest with radiated heat.

I found other ways around heating the things I needed to heat (hot water, toaster oven, room defrost). And it will take the entire weekend to accomplish my tasks.

Its ok, no rush. I got the time to live a bit longer...

Ah, to be young again!

I just love how I am popping pimples on a daily basis.

I never had acne as a teenager -- hence I always received compliments about my skin.
But my mother waved her finger at me back in 1987 and said, "Your life will change when you get married and have kids".

As a teenager, I shrugged and dismissed her warning. Never did I think I would have the following:

weight gain
acne
belly fat
back problems
high cholesterol
abnormal sugar levels
thinning hair
laugh lines
chin hair
unexplainable gas
dizzy spells

These are just a few examples. Really, I could write a pre-menopausal book on my symptoms. I just cannot believe how fast I was afflicted.

I DO understand Hollywood's obsession though. Heidi from the show The Hills, is only in her 20s and just finished 10 plastic surgeries in one day. With society and the media pushing the importance of what is on the outside, the inside is forgotten and thus, not nurtured.

I think I will wash my face with DOVE tonite...the women reading this blog will understand...

Sounds of Music just got trumped --BIG TIME!

I watched Avatar this weekend.

3D was sold out. Watched it on a regular cinema screen.

I had goose bumps the entire movie.

Sick of watching depressing movies, horror movies, sadistic movies, conspiracy movies, retarded movies, etc. Yes, the list can go on. I usually feel like I wasted my money for 9 out of 10 movies I watch.

2010 could not start with a better movie. Take away what you want. It can be a cultural, religious, political, or a historical perspective.

The spirit of the movie took my breath away.

Makes me feel hope for humanity.

All I know is when the movie ended, it was worth every penny...

Forget me Not

Ever feel you are invisible?

Ever feel you are making a difference but no one sees it?

Ever feel you are on a treadmill going nowhere?

Ever feel you are accepted but not really?

Ever feel you want to tell someone how you really feel but can't?

Ever feel you had no power to prevent injustice?

Ever feel you wished you could change the mind of the most stubborn?

Ever feel you are on a roller coaster but you want it to stop at its highest point and just breathe in for that one exhilarating moment and have that feeling last a lifetime?

This is my heart today.

The Telephone Psychiatrist

I think it stems back to my youth. Hour after hour, night after night. I can still hear my father yelling at me to put it down.

Squeeze me?

Yes, I am talking about the age-old telephone

And more than talking to someone in person, I still have to knack of talking for hours on the phone. Better yet, my BEST conversations are executed in this space. I cannot account for it--all I have to say is that I am the best oral communicator on the telephone than in person or in front of an audience.

Does it have to do with not seeing the person's face, the ability to collect one's thoughts, enjoy pauses without embarressment--WHAT IS THE DEAL? Again, I come from the time where email was not the mode of communication. A world without caller id, call waiting, call forwarding or blocking. You picked up the phone even when you were cranked called (I had too many of those with a father whose thick accent incented alot of teenager pranksters).

For some reason, nowadays, I have become the 2010 psychiatrist. Just in the last fours days, three friends have come to me with their problems--not in person, not by email, not through Facebook or Hotmail but by the good ole phone.

If my voice and ideas are that soothing, maybe my next job will be telemarketing...

A New Decade

Many will be busy preparing for the New Year's Resolutions.

Many will scoff at the idea of a New Year's Resolution.

Some will enter this new decade with hopes and expectations.

Some will enter this New Year with the same trepidation from last year.

However way you enter 2010, remember one thing: it is one year closer to your death.

Squeeze me?

I am one to always spread joy, love, happiness and peace...but really, are you ready to make change this year?

Only you can make the difference.