Mission Accomplished

In March, I set a goal for myself that I would lose 25 pounds by Forecastle Festival. I had been right on track to meet my goal during the school year. Once I started staying home for the summer, it became a lot harder to lose. I weigh myself every Tuesday morning on our Wii Balance Board. I weighed myself yesterday after skipping last week. I was expecting to have either maintained or gained a few pounds. To my surprise, I had lost three pounds in the 2 weeks, which meant I had reached my goal! My goal of 25 pounds was chosen because it would put my BMI in the healthy weight range. It also put me 10 pounds over what I weighed when I got pregnant. I had weighed 10 pounds more than I weighed when I gave birth. To me, the best part of losing weight is not carrying around the equivalent of 5 Five-pound bags of flour. Carrying 5 of those in your arms would be really tiring after a while. Carrying those around all the time is much harder on your body, all the time.

The most significant part of this process has been my changed attitude towards my body. Most women will always hate some part of their body. There is always something that could be smaller or bigger, shorter or taller. A few weeks ago, I was laying naked in bed. I looked down at my body and I actually liked what I saw. I can't think of another time that I have felt this way, with the exception of pregnancy. If I have, it has been a very long time. Looking down at my body, it looked like a rolling hillside. There were hills and valleys. If I looked at a landscape like this, I would be in awe of its beauty. It was a very new feeling to look down and like what I saw and the feeling of being desirable. I like that feeling a whole lot. I hope more women can feel this way, too.

DoI, part 2

Patriotic Patty say, "I've read the Declaration of Independence. Have you?"








This is not a blog about politics. It is not my desire to promote my beliefs upon anyone else. In this post, my only desire is to point out parts of this beautiful document that I think are the most profound and relevant for me.

1. "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government."
The DoI holds us, as citizens, responsible to revolt against government that is destructive and unjust. It is our responsibilty and our right to alter or abolish and create a new government if the old one is no longer working. I suppose the people that use the phrase, "Love it or Leave it," have never read the DoI. And people saying it is unpatriotic to stand up against injustice, Maybe they skipped this part as well. Or maybe their small brains could not comprehend the big words.

2. "Evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
See #1. We hold the power to abolish the old system and make changes as necessary.

3. "It is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
Our right. Our duty. These are powerful words, chosen, no doubt, to emphasize the importance of this statement and our responsibility to safeguard our right to life, liberty and our pursuit of happiness.

4. "He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people."
Invasion of freedom of speech, easily seen in the Gulf with reporters and journalists banned from filming or taking pictures.

5. "He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither."
"Illegal" immigrants? In the same way the forepeople of our country had the right to emigrate to America, why do others not have this right now? Why is the process so arduous? Why are Tea Baggers so against people coming into our country, making it so hard for people to become part of "this great nation," and talking of abolishing the constitutional right for citizenship for all born in America?


6. "He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people."
Oil spill, anyone? Why has the government allowed BP to handle the cleanup? Why have we not stepped in and billed BP for the whole mess? Why has our government allowed corporations to buy their way or loophole their way out of environmental safeguards?

7. "He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation."
How many countries have we invaded, killing their citizens. Why are so many of our military actions are barbaric? Water boarding, etc?

8. "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor," and "That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights," as well as, "The separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them."
The argument that we are a christian nation infuriates me. There is nothing about America that is Christ-like. If Christ were here in America today, he would be a heretic. How entertaining it would be to watch some dumb conservative tell Jesus to "Love it or leave it."

This has turned out to be more aggressive than I had intended.

Regardless of my frustrations with America, I am blessed to not wake up to grenades outside of my window. I have never had to hide in fear. There are a myriad of things that I have not faced because of my privilege of being a white American. While some would say that I shouldn't bite the hand that feeds me, the writers of the DoI would hold me accountable for voicing my feelings regarding our government. I would like to think I am doing exactly what they intended me to do.

The Delaration of Independence

I'm sure I had to read the DoI at some point in my educational career. Surely, it has to be in there somewhere. I did somehow get out of high school completely unaware of the Crusades. While my husband thinks this reflects upon public education, I believe it reflects on ADD and a monotone World Civilization teacher. So, like I said, I'm sure it was covered somewhere between ages 5-18. It was only a few years ago that I discovered what a profoundly moving document it is. Each year on the 4th of July, NPR reporters take turns reading the DoI in its entirety. I had a newspaper route at the time and was awake at 7am on a Saturday morning to hear the reading. While I am not an emotional person, and do not consider myself patriotic in any way, it almost had me in tears. It largely echoed my sentiments regarding our country. America often disgusts me. The sense of entitlement, waste, a wealthcare system, and superiority that Americans hold turn my stomach. I fully admit that I play into the stereotype of all the aforementioned characteristics. Seeing these traits in myself make me the most disgusted. The thing you hate the most in others is simply a reflection of yourself, right? At the time, I was especially angry. The Bush administration was in full swing. (Nuff said.) I wanted to revolt, to take back the country from the war, from poverty, from the hands of the extremely wealthy. I wanted, and still want, the little people to matter. Listening to the reading, alone in my old Subaru, inspired me in a profound way. The forepeople of our country were angry and were oppressed. They were furious at the monarchy, and truly yearned for a better way of life. They were willing to fight for it, not just through political action, but by physically putting their bodies in the gears of the machine. While I have trouble supporting any war, I could be persuaded to endorse this war for the sheer fact that these people knew that there could be a better way of life and that they were willing fight to get it. They were willing to move to an unknown land, enter battle and take on the arduous process of writing documents, by hand, to frame exactly what they wanted. I like that.

The thing I liked most about the DoI was that it disproved so many of the tired phrases thrown out by conservative war/hate mongers. "Love it or leave it," has always made me cringe. Basically saying, If you don't like the way we do things, and have always done things, then we have no room for you here. It makes me think of The Lottery. We have always done things this way, why should we change now? The fallacy with this argument is that it only works when you are in the majority, and history has shown how quickly the majority can be overthrown. So the next post is filled with my favorite parts of the DoI. This document is one of the few things that make me feel proud to be an American.

Just for today

I have really appreciated this recently.

Just for today, I will try to live through this day only,
and not tackle my whole life problem
at once. I can do something for twelve hours
that would appall me if I felt that I had to
keep it up for a lifetime.

Just for today, I will be happy. This assumes to
be true what Abraham Lincoln said, that
"most folks are as happy as they make up
their minds to be."

Just for today, I will try to strengthen my mind.
I will study. I will learn something useful.
I will not be a mental loafer. I will read
something that requires effort, thought and
concentration.

Just for today, I will adjust myself to what is,
and not try to adjust everything to my own
desires. I will take my "luck" as it comes,
and fit myself to it.


Just for today, I will exercise my soul in three
ways: I will do somebody a good turn, and
not get found out. I will do at least two
things I don't want to--just for exercise.
I will not show anyone that my feelings are
hurt; they may be hurt, but today I will not
show it


Just for today, I will be agreeable. I will look
as well as I can, dress becomingly, talk low,
act courteously, criticize not one bit, not
find fault with anything and not try to improve
or regulate anybody except myself.

Just for today, I will have a program. I may not
follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will
save myself from two pests: hurry and indecision.


Just for today, I will be unafraid. Especially I
will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful,
and to believe that as I give to the world, so
the world will give to me.

The second Climax

After leaving Climax spring, we drove past a little country church. This church is one I think most people, even the nonbelievers, could attend.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to present Climax Christian Church.




After the multiple Climaxes, we headed back to Berea. When we are in Berea, we always stop at The Black Feather. A comfy little coffee shop with exceptional food and some of the best people in all of Madison County. On Friday nights, they have pizza. No pepperoni, no supreme, no pizza like you have ever had before. I've heard the term "kitchen sink" tossed around before, but these pizzas have everything from the kitchen sink, the counters and the cabinets. My favorite pizza creation was some kind of white onion and garlic sauce with garbonzo beans, locally raised mustard greens, local chicken, and sweet potatoes. It did not sound appetizing when Darin ordered it, but it was incredible.

The Black Feather is our go-to spot in Berea because we know that if we go there, we will see at least five people that we love and we will meet 5 more that are equally cool. The owner's son is usually there outside of school hours. Kids are always running around and it is a great place to take the family.



One other really cool thing about the Black Feather is that the people there LOVE Darin's band, The Rough Customers. Their shows there are easily the most fun. Being in Lexington, I am spoiled that I can go out any night of the week and see some type of live music. Berea is a dry town, so live music is severely limited. When the band comes to play, the kids go crazy. Everyone dances and everyone is so enthusiastic.

The Rough Customers + The Black Feather + pizza = a night well spent

Starting the day off with Climax

I am not the type to buy fancy bottled water, or even plain bottled water. I would rather go thirsty than drink tap water. The taste makes it hard for me to swallow. I fully admit that I am a water snob. Every two weeks, Darin drives down to Climax spring in Rockcastle County. He picks up his daughters in Berea every Thursday and swings by Climax while he is down there. Climax is a gem among gems. It is a mainstay for people near and far. It doesn't look like much when you drive up. A simple concrete slab with an L shaped pipe jutting out of the ground next to a small creek. Out of the pipe flows the best water I have ever had the pleasure of drinking. There is no cost for getting water here and you can get as much as your heart could ever desire. Back your vehicle up to the spigot and fill her up. People come from miles around to fill up on this free, clean water. We have 14 five gallon water bottles that we fill up. While there, you encounter everyone from a redneck wearing a rebel flag shirt filling up a 1,000 gallon cistern in the back of a truck, to an old married couple, filling up hundreds of 12 ounce plastic bottles, one at a time. I will never forget the day I was filling up and an old man came up and started talking while I was filling my jugs. He asked if I was from around here I said no, and he told me that he lived just a mile down the road. He said he had been coming here to fill up on water for as long as he could remember. He told me with a quivering voice of receiving a knock on his door late at night 57 years ago, from two police officers. They bore the bad news that his 16 year old daughter had wrecked just up the road from Climax. Here he was, 51 years later, still heartbroken over the loss of his daughter. I think of him each time I am there.

Paris, Part 2

After lunch, Darin drove me around Paris. Darin moved to Bourbon County when he was nine. He pointed out various locations of significant impact in his teenage years. In his younger years, Darin and his friends made a point of ridding all of Paris of black lawn jockeys. Even to a teenage Darin, they seemed to be a reflection of lingering attitudes. In order to show their disdain for the jockeys, they took them to a bridge and threw them over. While we didn't stop to look, I am certain that the cemetery of freed jockeys remains.

I have a fascination with abandoned buildings. I have spent hours trolling the internet looking for pictures and tales of explorations. I am especially excited by abandoned buildings that contain artifacts from the building's previous life. Most abandoned buildings have been turned into trash cans and a canvas for bad graffiti. Several years ago, we purchased Weird Kentucky. I got so giddy reading that book, because it contained so many places I have already been, often without knowing the history. I read about the old TB Hospital in Paris and I have since heard many stories about it. Everyone seems to have a story about a friend that visited it once, experiencing some sort of supernatural horror. Darin told me of going there late one night in high school with some buddies. The friends went in to explore, while Darin stayed out. He said it was creepy, but nothing happened. The only exciting thing that resulted from the visit was his friends finding an 8 track and bringing it out to him. It was a Lonnie Liston Smith album that we now have on vinyl.

I wanted to see the hospital. On our way, I expected it to be in the middle of nowhere. Instead, it sits atop a hill, overlooking the city park and fair grounds. An old, supposedly haunted building in the middle of a place filled with excitement. An odd place to build a park. The building is surprisingly accessible. We drove right up. There wasn't a single window with glass remaining and the broken glass was everywhere. There were several access points we could have entered, but I had no desire to explore inside. We could see inside the doors. They were littered with tuna/cat food cans and bad graffiti. The musty stench was horrid. While walking around, we peered into several doors, but we were unable to see anything significant.





For More info about the hospital and its hauntings, click here

While we were there, Darin and I were discussing ghosts. Denali was all ears and kept asking questions about ghosts. We have a ghost in our house. I see her often, Darin has seen her before and numerous people who lived here before us have seen or felt her. When we returned home, Denali asked questions, "What if the ghost is in my bedroom? Does she steal my toys?"(The Salvation Army steals his toys. Please don't tell.) I have told him repeatedly that she is nice and played a trick on me once. I told him about the first ghost I ever saw. I was walking in the pitch dark and tripped on a roller skate. As was falling, I saw black hands surrounded by white light and felt very cold, but then suddenly, I was standing up straight. When told him this story, he was more comfortable with the idea of a ghost in our house. Last night, we decided to give her a name. Since our home was built at the the turn of the century, I assumed that she was possibly born around that time as well. I looked up the Social Security Administration's website and found the top 50 baby names of 1900. Denali and I chose the name Eleanor. This afternoon, he heard his sister open the door upstairs and said, "Did you hear that? I bet it was just Eleanor teasing us."