Today is World Aids Day. It has been TWENTY FIVE , 25! years since HIV/AIDS first reared its ugly head. 25 years. The world of science has brought us very far, people that were once sentenced to death once they were diagnosed with HIV, are now able to live long, normal lives. At least in the modern Western world.
I personally get very angry when I think about how not fair it is for people in underdeveloped countries don't get the same benefits as those in this country. I get very angry when I think about how the pharmaceutical companies raise their prices higher and higher each year, inadvertently causing the deaths each year.
However, there are organizations out there, like the (RED) Campaign, the ONE campaign, and WorldVision, that are able to provide help to those people. Did you know that many people with HIV die of Tuberculosis? TB! A disease that in the United States, barely even exists.
So please, on this World AIDS Day, take a minute to listen to the 2 videos below. Listen to Bono talk about the (RED) campaign, and perhaps make a donation. The really cool thing about (RED) is you can make a donation, through buying merchandise you already want. Like my (RED) campaign Ipod, for example. Click here for more information on The (RED) Campaign: joinred.com, you can also check out the (RED) blog here.
(Bono's message is for the UK.. so he speaks of pence (pennies), and the chemist (the pharmacy).. so don't let that ruin his message).
And Princess Kasune Zulu, of Zambia, urges you to call your Congressional representatives this World AIDS Day. Let them know that AIDS is NOT a political disease, and the world does not have time to play political games. The United States must keep its promise. We all must keep our promise, why were you lucky enough to be born in a well developed country? Why was I? And why wasn't she? I don't understand the answer to why... but I sincerely believe that EVERYONE needs to do their part, to end such calamities. On this, the 21st anniversary of World AIDS Day, let's do our part, and think of how cool it will be, to not have to celebrate the 40th Anniversary: because we won't need it.
PS: Starbucks is also helping out today, so if you get a chance stop by a Starbucks! They're donating 5¢ to the Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa for every hand-crafted beverage sold (meaning that it excludes ready-to-drink beverages and Ethos® Water), so basically any coffee or hot chocolate that they MAKE for you will be applicable! Do it!!
Weird! I was a blogaholic, fanatic.. but I didn't post anything for over a week.
Over a week.
How crazy is that.. ?
A lot of silly stressful things have happened in the past week-ish. Let's see, I got in a car accident. That was technically my fault, because I rear ended someone, by school, because I wasn't paying enough attention, and some dude just HAD to cross the road in front of the car in front of me, right at that moment. Ugh. I still get tense driving, or riding in the car with someone. And my body was so sore after wards! My neck and upper back still kind of hurt, because I got so tense and uckee when I had to slam on my brakes.
Tim had his 12th birthday - as you can see with my last post before my little blogging hiatus of sorts. I can't believe he's 12 already. Its crazy. I was 13 when he was born!
I got in an altercation with the neighbor lady, cause Je la déteste vraiment. Elle est une chienne. Literally, pardon my French..
Work = Drama. We should probably leave it at that, since who knows what's going to happen with all of it, and I'd rather not be told that my blog is inappropriate or something. But my hell , I wish it didn't have to be so dramatic. I swear, most bad experiences can be easily absolved of with good communication. Seriously.
However, I've just been doing MY job, doing what I need to do in my Department.. helping out when I can at the registers, folding the denim for Mens, and getting Mailing Lists. So much easier when I don't have issues with dramatic dramaness.
I dyed my hair. I bought a nice n' easy "darkest brown" hair color, and had Ash dye it for me. But it didn't really become "darkest brown," my hair's closer to black, than brown. Its so dark. Sigh.. but its not like I've had this color before. So we'll wait a few weeks and then dye it to a less black version. This pic is one I took right after I dyed it.. I don't have hardly any makeup on, so don't judge too much.
I finally figured out my United Way Internship. I am doing research with The Woman and Education Project with UVU. Its actually really interesting. They're trying to find out why, and how we can change, the fact that more men in Utah graduate from College than women. Many Utah women either start school and never finish, or they never even start college. I think that's so sad! But then, after I got this assignment I started noticing how I really notice a higher percentage of men at school than women. So lame. Is Woman's Suffrage dead? Or did it just never reach Utah's school environment? I know so many girls that wait for their husbands to get their degrees. Their husbands. I guess its just one of those things that's part of Utah culture. Many cultures outside of Utah wait until after college to get married. Interesting.
Seems that that.. is that.
2 weeks until Phoenix, U2 and Black Eyed Peas!
Read more...
Guess what I bought last week?! I'll give you a hint..
U2!
.. Phoenix, October 20th, I'm so excited! So, yes, Ash and I are going on another concert inspired road trip. Not that that usually is a normal occurrence for us, we've never done it before, before David Cook, BUT we might just have to make it a tradition cause, why not, merge two awesome things: great live music + travel?
So, Anyone know of super great things to do on the way to Phoenix.. or in Phoenix? hmmmmmm? I've never been there, but Ashley has.
Apparently, if you want to survive and make your name come up in blogger lights, you're not supposed to blog on the weekends. Why? Because most people have better things to do. Well, as you can see, not me. I have today off from work, which never happens - since I work in the fabulous world of retail, where Saturday is the biggest day of the week. I have next Saturday off too. Not sure how that happened, but we'll just revel in the beauty.
I am so excited that this semester of school is over! I really enjoyed some of my classes.. and really didn't enjoy others. I guess its a good sign that I enjoyed my French class, and my Social Work class. Since those are the subjects, and careers I will be continuing on in. At least I didn't hate my social work class and have to rethink this whole major, life plan, purpose thing! {again?}
At work, I am now the bra specialist -- well, this has been true for a few weeks, I just haven't published it on the blogosphere. Bra. Specialist. Ha. I wasn't even sure what to say when my manager asked me to be that. But I like it. I like the responsibility of keeping up with one whole side of our accessories department, keeping it filled in, straightened, and shopable. It makes the never ending closing nights seem just a little bit better. Always bras and panties to put back in size order. Not really sure why people can never put the bras back where they found them. That IS the purpose of the little size rings, to show were the 36A's are divided from the 36B's. Hard concept. I know.
It feels strange though, at work, because not everyone is a "specialist" and so it feels like there are some people that have been left out in the cold, so to speak. We all knew this would happen, it just feels awkward now that it has. We all started working in the department together, so I think we developed a really good healthy, comradery, that we now have to kind of build back up. We also are going to start getting "ranked" on the schedule after our 45 day reviews, which are on May 15th. So we'll see how that goes. I understand the concept, it just makes me feel bad sometimes. BUT at the same time, not everyone works as hard as everyone else, which is just how it is in life, SO I'm glad that my work is recognizing those that work harder. I just definitely want to be ranked high.
I signed up to do this blog improvement in 30 days thing-a-ma-jig, about 2 weeks ago. I haven't done even ONE of the things that it told me to do! Perhaps I should try it again. The tasks just seemed so lame. - sigh -
Last, I will leave you with a few of my favorite things. I love Anderson Cooper.. and I love BONO and George Clooney, so what was better than last night's Time 100 Interviews on AC 360?! Well, its on again tonight, and tomorrow, so if you missed it.. {Man, I should be getting paid for being a CNN promo!} BONO interviews George Clooney, and they discussed life and choices, but mostly their two awesome organizations (George's and BONO's) how they've evolved and everything. Love it.
And.. for the very end, I think this video is awesome. Its pretty cool the way our technology now serves as a political and social issue debate system. Who'd a thunk? {psst.. they're trying to push down an awful, prejudice video that was made, called the Gathering Storm, I refuse to link to it.. but if you want to see it, search you tube}
*The post title is from a the song, The Best is yet to Come by Tony Bennett.. they play this song ALL the time at my work, and it always gets in my head.
I love taking pictures of the sky.. especially funky clouds. I wish I could afford to buy a new camera. I really want this one here, the Sony Cybershot W170 10.1 MP in red. It makes my mouth water.
Anderson Cooper.. Did anyone see his attempt at chopping onions when he filled in for Regis on Regis and Kelly on Thursday? It. was. hilarious. I tried to find a video of it, but haven't found one yet. Darn. It was good though. He obviously doesn't cook. But why would he need to?
I am obsessed with Anderson though. It might be considered sad by some people. Although I do have a fellow blogger friend that loves Brian Williams, so maybe it isn't all that odd and unusual. Right?? haha. I like being well-informed, and listening to the news.. and I would just much rather get my news from a place I trust: CNN.. and it just helps that a nice, smart, fun-to-look-at man is on TV doing just that every night. ;)
I am also obsessed with playing Wii. I have taken my wii fitness test every day all of February, minus 2 days. Today I am 25, and 29. I have two "miis" one named Nicole, the other named Nikki. Haha. Not that I feel I am two different people or anything like that, even though I am equally known by both names. I just like to be able to take two fitness tests each day. haha. Oh man. I am getting much better at it though. A few weeks ago my age was 80! * for crazies that don't know about the wii sports fitness test, it tests your abilities by having you do 3 different training activities, and then gives you an age. The lowest being 20, the highest being 80. The lower your age, the better you are. You can only do it once a day, and it charts your progress*
3 Days until U2s' No Line on the Horizon Album!! Read more...
Noah Wyle was on ER last night. That makes me happy. I am not happy however that the episode ended with him being on dialysis! If they kill Dr John Carter.. so help me..
Speaking of killing doctors. Have you heard that Katherine Heigl and T R Knight have been booted off Grey's Anatomy?? Katherine Heigl's character, Izzie Stephens has been my favorite since the beginning. The rumor is that they're going to kill her off, and with the way the story line's going.. Eek! I've loved Katherine Heigl ever since her movie, My Father the Hero, and I loved her on Roswell. But, she is in a new movie, The Ugly Truth, with Gerard Butler, so maybe it'll be good.
American Idol: all I have to say is: Yay. Danny. Gokey! and hallelujah Tatiana is gone. Yuck. AND I have to say, what's up with Paula's face? Her face is all weird.. all old lady, over tanned looking. Crazy. Or, maybe her makeup is just weird. I don't know.
In other non TV news.. I am counting down until U2's New Album, No Line on the Horizon comes out. March 3rd. I like the new Breathe song and Moment of Surrender might be my new favorite song... You can listen to them on Myspace, click here. The title of this post comes from a line in the Get on your Boots song, that U2 performed at the Grammy's.
Papa Roach also has an album coming out on March 24th. Yay! To listen to their single, Lifeline, click here. Thanks for telling me Ash! I like it. But I think scars, is my all time favorite song of theirs.
They are now having a French minor at UVU. I think I might do it. We will see. We will see. Too bad I can't go on the French study abroad in Nice and Paris this summer. I am so jealous - and it really would help me get a lot more credits. Sigh. I hate money!
I don't get to work at Macy's anymore. Not that I really wanted to.. but now I am not allowed. Ha. I got the job at Nordstrom Rack, and after they called to verify my employment with Macy's, the retarded human resources lady at Macy's called to tell me it would be a conflict of interest if I worked for both. I was going to quit anyway, but I just think it's lame. But I have issues with Macy's anyway. Yucks.
Last but not least, Yay for the Oscars this weekend!! I am excited. I still haven't seen all the movies, so that's crappy, but I really loved Benjamin Button, and I LOVE Brad Pitt anyways, so there ya go.
Today, is World AIDS Day. It is the 20th Annual World AIDS Day, and fortunately, we are getting very close to a solution to the problem.. bringing more and more awareness and light to this cruel disease of HIV-AIDS. I think it's sad some of the stories you hear, about children, and adults alike, being ridiculed and prejudiced against because they have this disease. I hope that this can stop, and even more than that I hope that we won't have to celebrate the "40th Annual World AIDS Day" because there no longer will be AIDS. There is one thing I like about President Bush, I love his PEPFAR Initiative. It's really helped Africa, I wish that it could help more.. and further..I think the saddest part is that around the world, 2.7 million people were infected with HIV in 2007 alone, and there is a staggering33 million people around the world living with HIV. 33 MILLION! That doesn't have to happen. Now that we know the causes, we know the risks, and we know how to slow down the process of the disease. Visit the World AIDS Campaign website here for more information.
In other happier thoughts, I love that it's December 1st. It doesn't feel like it. It hasn't really snowed much in Salt Lake, which is both good and bad. I HATE being cold! And I HATE the snow.. BRRRR! But I do love December for other reasons. Like, of course Christmas music, Christmas lights, Christmas Shopping and the cheesy Christmas movies on TV. I really like the classics, the Santa Claus is Comin' To Town movie with Frank Sinatra narrating, and Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer with it's old school graphics. And who doesn't like a little It's a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street? But I think I have to say one of my very favorite parts about Christmas and December is the food. Thanksgiving's great in its own right, but it doesn't compare to Christmas. I love making sugar cookies, and the smell of Gingerbread, or yummy buttery rolls. That's the best. Speaking of which, this is what I want for Christmas:
The Cookie Master Plus
You get 12 metal discs in different fun shapes, accent tips for decorating and filling the cookies and recipe booklets! I want it! I want it! I saw it at Joann's Crafts, but I also just found it on this website. <~ hint~hint~>
In other Babble of the day.. I'm a big babbler, I have so many thoughts! haha. To sum 'em up:
Israel sucks: I don't understand why they can't just let the food get into Gaza, I'm not sure I care if they can't get along, but everyone deserves to eat!! AND the part that bothers me more is that NO ONE is saying anything about it. Like it's OK for Israel to just decide that. I'm sure someone would have something to say if President Bush all of a sudden decided to cut off all of California to any food or supplies.
YAY for Obama's National Security Cabinet!! I am most excited about Hillary Clinton, for sure. But I am excited that they are all part of such a "muscular" team, as Candy Crowley on CNN put it this morning. They all know what they're doing, they're all opinionated and smart enough, where the cabinet will be full of many ideas and various opinions, and I love that. I think that will make it work the best!! Seriously.
Mumbai.. was awful. I'm very sad about it. :( and a little nervous. I don't really understand all of the facts, I don't think anyone does quite yet. I just heard that the Taj Hotel had already been aware that an attack might be imminent.. and that they were trying to put up more security. But I also heard that they were trying to kill at least 5,000 people. So I guess in a way, we can be grateful that that didn't happen. EEEK!
And last but not least.. I just have a pet peeve that I am going to keep short and sweet and not rattle on about. But, if you say you're going to do something.. DO IT. I am SICK of flaky people!!
This is My December.. <~ insert Linkin Park lyrics ~>
Click here to see blog written by Bono, about his time at the UN this week. I really love that man.
"Everywhere I go, I see very much the same thing. I see the same compassion for people who live half a world away. I see the same concern about events beyond these borders. And, increasingly, I see the same conviction that we can and we must join together to stop the scourge of AIDS and poverty."
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