Say "NO!" to drama

Why do some people pick drama? I was channel surfing yesterday on my day off (should of been doing house work, but hey it was MY day off). I can not believe how many so called reality shows there are now, ones like "Lizard Lick Towing", "Swamp People", "Pawn Stars" and about billion more. Now listen, I have my fixes and I've told you before, I love "Project Runway"! However, what I noticed about a bunch of reality shows that have come our lately ("Big Rich Texas"  and "Dance Moms" really?) is that they are just down right mean confrontational drama! People are screaming at one another, getting physical, gossiping, and acting......well like big bratty bitches (men and women alike). I can't stand it! I know they are called reality shows, but the truth of the matter is I know absolutely NO ONE that acts like they do on these shows. Maybe it is because I am selective about who I am friends with, or maybe because I don't scream and yell and gossip about people keeps other from doing it around me, or maybe Alaska is just not a good place for a hot fight (people pack around here). Whatever the reason, these shows can not be healthy for people to watch. I think about all the young people that watch stuff like "Jerseylicious" or "Pregnant Teen" and think "Do young people think this is normal or acceptable to act this way?" I mean really, liposuction for your 17 year old daughter ("Big Rich Texas")? I was appalled to see the way some people are willing to act on television for the whole world to see in the name of a few bucks they will probably squander anyway. Most all of these shows have scripts and they are as far from REAL as they can get, but I personally am sick of seeing so many shows about bad manners. How many reality shows about Alaska can be made, or for that matter about buying, selling, and remodeling a house. Geez TV needs to get creative and until then I will watch my "Project Runway" and turn the damn thing off! Have a blessed, calm, gossip free week, it's NEVER TOO LATE!

Stretch Marks

Okay, feedback required somewhere either here or on facebook. Can a woman with stretch marks wear a bikini and feel good about it? Just wondering what kind of response I am going to get when I wear a bikini on my vacation and strut my stuff with the stretch marks over my hips. Not that it really matters to me what others think as far as judging me, but I am interested in how other women feel about it for themselves. I am blessed that I didn't get any marks on my stomach, but I do have them over the hips. Do I regret how I got them, no I CELEBRATE it! I love my children and they are a blessing to me and this world. 
The most awesome thing I remember seeing when it comes to this topic was at Girdwood Forest Fair two years ago. A good friend of mine is an amazing belly dancer and she was about 7 months pregnant. She danced a beautiful piece in full belly dancing decoration. Her belly was so sexy and it touched me spiritually that she was confident with showing her baby body and all it's amazing glory. Also, in that same belly dancing performance was a woman with a great amount of stretch marks over her stomach obviously from carrying her children during pregnancy. She was sensual and moved with grace and confidence...I admired her and all of a sudden I realized it was about her freedom of spirit and pride in her female body, I mean how amazing is it that we get to be a vessel for a human life to begin. Women should celebrate this and not hide it. Why do we let one more thing (like a few stretch marks) make us self-conscience? It's Never Too Late to celebrate being a woman, stretch marks and ALL!

How ACE's hockey is like stress therapy!

Shaving: Who has it worse, guys or gals?

Who has the shaving game worse, guys or gals? I have my opinion.....gals. Every day I have to shave my armpits, my legs, and numerous other areas I won't go into right now. Why do I feel the need to shave every day? It's because of my crazy Zumba outfits and I personally can't stand pricklies! It takes at least 10 minutes to do this in the shower and I go through a lot of disposable razors which can be pretty expensive. It's something that has to be done every day and because of this, it gets old after a while. Sometimes I will take a little shaving vacay when George is gone. For a few days, I will wear tops with sleeves to Zumba (now you know) and sleep in sweats so my legs don't touch. Just when I can't stand it any more, I will shave again. Guys only shave their face and neck, I suppose. George doesn't grow hair on his back so he doesn't have to worry about that. My brother and nephews have shaved their legs before so they could wear cycling pants easily, apparently it hurts to pull them off with hairy legs after a sweaty bike ride. However, that doesn't count because they don't shave every day. When I ask George about shaving his face he says it isn't comfortable. The razor must be super sharp, you have to use some sort of lubricant like shaving cream and if you let it grow very long it is a bit painfull. I don't have to shave my face yet. I pluck a few hairs from my chin and around my lips, yeah it's the big hormone change. I wonder if I ever will have to shave my face. That will suck.....armpits, legs, private areas, AND face. Come on where does it end? George has hair growing out of his ears and moles now and falling out of his head. Hair is weird like that. The visual of our future as a retired couple is well.....concerning. I need to start a savings plan for razors, tweezers, and shaving cream or give it up and live happily in the "Planet of the Apes". I personally think monkeys are cute, curious George comes to mind. BTW, how much do you need to start a savings account? It's Never Too Late! Love and happy shavings to all!

Passion

I love the word "passion" and I love people who have passion about something. It doesn't really matter to me what it is unless it brings harm to them or someone else. I surround myself with people who have passion about Zumba and it makes me a better Zumba instructor. I surround myself with people who have passion about arts and crafts and it makes me better at mosaics. I surround myself with people who have passion about cooking or good food and it makes me want to create an amazing dish! Last night I surrounded myself with a person who has great passion and compassion for others. She gives so much of herself to others, helping women who have been sexually abused. She has a great passion for this subject and bringing it to light in our community. We have a lot of sexual abuse going on right now in Anchorage. I don't know if it is the long winter, the economy, or what, but it is abundantly clear that at this moment there are high numbers of sexual assault. How can we as a community help get those numbers down? I realize it is impossible to completely end sexual assault, but to end it should be our passion! Get the word out to the women you know......"Don't put yourself in a situation that could lead to becoming a victim of sexual abuse." Whatever that situation might be: walking to your car late at night alone, drinking too much alcohol to the point were you can't take care of yourself, going somewhere with a man you don't know really well and trust with your life. I know you are probably thinking "Wait a minute Amy, doesn't the man bare some responsibility here?" I answer with a resounding YES! But people really we have to be smart about this. It starts in the home and if that young boy hasn't been taught to respect women, all people, or even himself, at this point it's too late. Women protect yourselves, use your brains, respect yourself, empower yourself, educate yourself and do everything possible to stay out of this situation. Choose to surround yourself with people that are passionate about doing the right thing and statistically the chances of being sexually assaulted are much lower. Learn how to say the word "NO!" with great passion and authority. Mothers teach your sons about love and respect for others. There's is nothing wrong with opening a door for a woman, pulling out a chair, letting her be first, listening to what she really has to say and being passionate about becoming a genuine MAN. It starts in the home and it's Never Too Late!
George adds "You should also be packing!" Not a bad idea ladies! Love and passion to you all!

How getting rid of STUFF is like therapy.

First of all, I'm sorry you haven't been able to post any comments on my blog. I am working to figure this out. I was born at the worst time for learning a computer. If I would have been born much earlier I could have said "Screw it" and refused to learn the functions of a computer and everyone would forgive me because I'm old. If I would have been born later, I would have learned it in school and developed an appreciation for that knowledge. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in the middle and left to my own devices when it comes to figuring this stuff out. I know, I know, I could take a computer class but honestly I would rather just save my time and money and complain about it. There will be a point when I will admit failure and go to "help". Give me time.
Today, I am getting rid of stuff. We are planning a remodel of our home and everything has to be boxed up and moved out for the sheet-rock guys to do their thing. I am in charge of the kitchen and dining area, those are my spaces, garage and closets are George's spaces. I really dislike packing, I can come up with a million other more fun things to do like pluck my eyebrows, but the best part is the purging part. It feels so good to get rid of stuff that I don't use every day. It's like a breath of fresh air after a stuffy nose. I try to hang on to the important stuff, a dish George's grandma left us from one of her many trips to Germany or my grandmothers silver set. You don't get ride of stuff like that, but you do need to get rid of the three glasses (set started with eight) that don't match anything anymore, or the plastic cup some kid left at your house during a visit. Go ahead and git rid of the placemats that are stained, or the napkin ring holders you really don't like anymore, the used candles that you keep planning to melt down (good intention, but not going to happen) and the kitchen gadget you got for your birthday that you never learned to use. In Anchorage I can take all this stuff down to Value Village or Vi Vi's as my friends like to call it. They take it, give you a reciept for taxes, price it and put it on the shelf for resale. It's kind of fun to go to Vi Vi's every once in a while and go shopping. "Hey, those look like my napkin rings! Hope somebody buys them." Purging stuff physically has a very psychological purging affect. You can see the important stuff more clearly and you have room for what really matters. If you don't believe me, watch "Hoarding: buried alive" It's Never Too Late to purge.