Sydney Opera House
Aerial view of Sydney
Kangaroos
Great Barrier Reef
Oh, how I'd love to see one of these guys up close
Thriller has always been my favorite Michael Jackson song. Probably because of the crazy music video that went along with it. Michael might have been a little strange.. and had a tumultuous life, but its still a sad day.
Farrah Fawcett, I always think of her for her hair, we always referred to people's 70's or 80's hair, with the kind of wings as "Farrah hair." Her special this past May, Farrah's Story was really sad! And I'm sad that she's passed away, especially after they were talking about getting married, but I'm happy that she's not in pain anymore. That cancer is awful.
As some of you know, I've been trying to get healthier and lose weight. Today, I can report that I have lost 12 pounds, and a pant size! I was so excited on Monday when I could fit into my old pants. Now, I still would like to wear a much smaller size.. but at least I'm on my way. I know I'm losing, and I love looking and feeling better, but I keep thinking I'm losing it on the sides of my chest, and my legs, but not my waist / stomach area. Which is where I need to lose the most!
I have been doing my Exercise dvds and I really like them, for the most part. The Biggest Loser Bootcamp that I already had, and the Biggest Loser Yoga are definitely my favorite. I never thought I would be a Yoga-doing Yogi. I've also been doing the Crunch Pilates & Yoga dvd, I like it, but I don't like that the dvd isn't cut into segments at all. I like that the other dvds I have, including the Kickboxing one, have options to customize a workout, based on what you want to do that day and how much time you have. So, when you customize, you also get the warm up and cool downs at the beginning and ends. It doesn't work that way with the Crunch dvd, so I've only done it once, since the routine is about an hour long.
It was funny though, I have the 10 Minute Solutions Kickboxing dvd. The first night Ashley and I decided to do it, we did the Basic Training section, and then the Washboard Abs. OH my goodness the Abs workout was so hard! I couldn't do the moves, and I was laughing so hard! I've now done the other segments on the dvd, the Buns & Thighs and the Arms & Shoulders, and those are much better. Maybe that's because those parts of my body are much stronger than my Abs and Obliques. I'm going to work up to that point. I hope. I've heard of doing this 200 Sit Ups Training Program, and I think I might do it too. Based on what level you're on, and I am on SUPER beginner, you do a certain amount each day, and slowly work up to 200. I've never been big on Sit Ups, so its something I should probably do. Maybe next week ;)
PS ~ I have to do what I promised to do a week or two ago now, because lets face it, I'm getting old and TOTALLY forgot what I had promised, right after I promised it. BUT since Cheri has been such a great commenter the last little bit, I am reminded of my promise to give a shout out to her if she commented. {because I really don't like it when people read my blog, but never comment.. at least one comment a week would be satisfactory. puh-lease} Anyway, back to Cheri.. This is (was?) your shout out. Hope you liked it. Thanks for reading! :D
I love it.
Photo courtesy of SChalice , twitpic.
Also, this OpEd column from the New York Times: The End of the Beginning, by Roger Cohen, is very interesting.
I have to admit it, I am a TV freak. Well, sometimes.. At least when it comes to certain shows, we'll put it that way. So here are some thoughts about recent events:
We now know the true identity of Neda, the woman who I posted the video of a few days ago, here. TIME Magazine has gathered a few pictures of her, and the protests around her death, in this photo essay. She was a beautiful Iranian woman.
This is the account from TIME:
By some accounts of her life, Neda was not deeply involved in politics. At the time of her death, she was with her singing instructor. The two of them had ventured out to witness the protests, but after being caught in a clash with club-wielding forces, they chose to head home. When they stepped out of a car, the fatal shot was fired.I truly hope her death will not be in vain. Read more...
I'm excited for March 5, 2010.. and here's why:
Alice in Wonderland
The Mad Hatter, played by the one and only Johnny Depp
The Red Queen, by Helena Bonham Carter
The White Queen, played by Anne Hathaway
Neda, a woman shown in the video below, was protesting in Iran on Saturday, and was shot in the stomach. She died on the street, the man surrounding her, calling her name is her father. This story is sad. She was just protesting, for her right to vote, for her right to speak, but in Iran, these rights are not rights that are available to all. Her name, Neda, means "The Call" in Farsi, and after the emergence of this video, her name has been the battle cry of many on Twitter and Facebook. Today in Iran, they are planning to have a Mourning vigil for her. Click here for story about Neda from CNN.
The video's not pretty.. and is graphic, so view at your own risk.
Read more...
This video is pretty powerful. Its an Iranian woman reading a poem about the people of Iran, as the background is filled with Persians saying Allahu Akbar* into the night. I got this video from this website, which was recommended on Twitter by demi moore (@mrskutcher). There are more videos, that are also pretty awesome, posted onto YouTube by people inside of Iran, click the link above to watch them.
I saw these on a fellow blogger's site, and I had to show my adoration for them. I love it. These Fallen Princesses, show Disney Princesses placed into modern life . How cool is that? My favorite is Jasmine. Maybe it just shows that I think feminism rocks, but isn't it cool that they're not stuck in their palaces all day anymore? There are other things to do! Whether that includes blowing up things.. or plastic surgery.. I'll let you decide. Click here to see the rest of the Princesses.
Jasmine
Belle
While I was looking at more of the Iran News I found this site, and thought it was kind of funny. It shows some cartoons / art that people have made concerning the craziness of all this. I loved this one, so thought I'd share.
I also added this to my blog. Many Iranians, and their Supporters are adding it as their photo on Twitter, Facebook, etc.
As soon as the Iranians started voting on Friday, I was anxious, you could feel that this election, wasn't like any other. And, folks, it hasn't been. It has been hard to even put a blog post together, because the different news reports were bringing in conflicting information, and new reports were coming in all the time. At first, many thought Moussavi was being held under house arrest, but this morning (picture above) he arrived among his supporters. I was excited!
I really believe the Elections were rigged. I do. When Christiane Amanpour from CNN was doing some "unofficial election polls" last week, it seemed obvious that Moussavi had won, and that Ahmadinejad was defeated. Then, they both announced their victories? And then no one saw the entire weekend. Today, it is being reported that he has met with Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and that the Ayatollah ordered an investigation into the fraud claims. But we all know the Ayatollah's record, so I'll believe it when I see it.
Ashton Kutcher (aplusk) through Twitter has compared it to when Al Gore won against George Bush, and the country went a little nuts. I think that that is true, and a good way for us Americans to identify with the problem. (I was one of those people going nuts in 2000). But , I know it sounds trisk but our country is free.. their country is a country where the Iranian bloggers sites are shut down for days at a time, and where during the elections cell phone use was cut off, the supporters of Moussavi (and the other challengers) were not able to use general means for their campaigns, they could not use TV ads and such, instead they used a cell phone network, a-la-President Obama's campaign. Twitter and Facebook also have been down, and then put back up. So yes, Ashton, its similiar, but at least Mr. Gore had the right to fight for his "hanging chads" but does Mr. Moussavi have that same right? Without being killed? I sure hope so..
This is from Sunday's New York Times..
She was in tears like many women on the streets of Iran’s battered capital. “Throw away your pen and paper and come to our aid,” she said, pointing to my notebook. “There is no freedom here.”Ugh. So sad.
It has been raining hard in Salt Lake, for days now. So today when it rained I convinced my Mom to go outside and have fun with me. Here's a slide show of our pictures. Don't mock the song, I like Disney k? (original slide show had the song April Showers, from Bambi)
in april, timmy really wanted a wii fit. he was going to get one for easter, and then it didn't happen, so on april 20th him and i went to best buy and purchased wii fit. and that is where my obsession begins. i love wii fit, but i have now been doing it for almost two months and its getting a little boring. so, a few weeks ago ashley and i started doing the biggest loser boot camp dvd that we got for christmas {that hadn't even been unwrapped until may!} the dvd has added some extra oomph and excitement to the mix, but i still feel bored. so in the last week, i've purchased another weight, a resistance tube, an outdoor sports kit {with volleyball! and badminton!} as well as 3 exercise dvds last night. do i sound obsessed yet?
the good news is, i've lost about 11 pounds. which isn't a lot but its a good start. i just want to keep it going. it is a little strange though - i hated gym class in high school hated it, and last night i dreamed about working out and getting warmed up or something, who knows! but that's why i can admit it: i'm obsessed.
these are the dvds that will be arriving in a few days, from fabulous amazon.com. have any of you ever used these?
Goals. I thought I would take a gander at the goals I posted here, in January, and see how I'm doing. Is it bad that I can't fully remember all the goals until I look at them? Uh, yeah, probably.
Here's the list, with some Notes on my progress (or lack of):
I still have to pinch myself. The dude that I absolutely adore and respect, from his eloquent words to his awe-inspiring mind. He is truly inspirational.. I know, I know, I sound crazy, or maybe like some sort of stalker , but I still get amazed. I am so PROUD to have supported him for so long, and to truly support our President now. That man represents my country, and some may say that he shouldn't be "apologizing" to the Muslim world, but I say why not? I loved his speech yesterday in Cairo. It was amazing . If you want to read the full text of his speech, click here:
I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition.
~ President Barack Obama, University of Cairo, June 5th, 2009
Happy 42nd Birthday Anderson Cooper! I love ya.
And one of my favorite quotes.. when speaking about Katrina,
“Do you get the anger that is out here?”
Yeah, Andy, I get it.
Click here for a more uplifting story about a man that's life was completely changed, but perhaps for the good by Katrina. I love the good stories.
I have always wanted to go to Seattle. But somehow, never made it, yet. But I will, someday. Washington is the only state west of Colorado that I haven't been to. Sadness.
I want to go on top of that Space Needle so bad! Did any of you see that show on MTV a month or so ago? Where the guy had to climb around the top of the Needle for money? Eek! That would be so scary.
Whale Watching, is something you have to do in Seattle. You can take a boat up towards Canada, and the San Juan Islands and you're supposed to be able to see loads of Whales.
SAM: The Seattle Art Museum, this museum doesn't have a lot of classical , or modern , big important art pieces, but it does have a lot of Australian Aboriginal Artifacts, which I think is awesome .
This country is suffering from an empathy deficit. If you don't have it in you to be able to walk in another person's shoes, it's going to be difficult for us to move through these problems. What we need as a country is to start caring for one another in a very deep and fundamental way.
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