Fat

Heard about this on the radio:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26337794/

It basically boils down to state employees in Alabama. If you're obese (based on body mass index) in Jan 2010 and don't see a doctor, have a screening and work towards being "healthier" by your next screening, then in 2011 you will pay $25/month in health insurance. Hmmm. The state claims they are worried about the health of their people. They did the same thing regarding smokers. But do you think they are really worried about the health of employees? Or are the worried about the bottom line?

The news story states:
"A recent study suggested that about half of overweight people and nearly a third of obese people have normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels, while about a quarter of people considered to be normal weight suffer from the ills associated with obesity."

But here's the thing. There are plenty of unhealthy lifestyles that have nothing to do with weight. Where do they draw the line? What if you work or play outside without wearing sunscreen? Or have more than one alcoholic beverage per day? Or are prone to anxiety? Or have higher blood pressure. Or work with circular saws in their spare time? Or wear high heels for 8 hours a day? Are we going to have to pay more unless we take pictures of ourselves putting on sunscreen, start having blood alcohol screenings every night that we give to our employers, somehow try to live a life that creates peace and not stress, and wear Dr. Scholls all the time and start video-blogging our spare time to show that we are doing our best to do nothing that could cause injury, unhealth or death?

A recent study shows that people who climb mountains are more likely to fall off of them and injure themselves than those who don't. Another study shows that people who drive are more likely to have crash related injuries such as whiplash than those who walk. Of course those who walk are more likely to get hit by a car than those who just stay home and sit on the couch. See what I mean?

The Religion of Politics

Please read this! It's so funny and true, and perhaps a little controversial to some ;)

http://theagentbfiles.blogspot.com/2008/09/jesus-doesnt-give-sh-who-you-vote-for.html

What an awesome weekend!

This is what hope looks like.
On Sunday I joined my mom and her great friend Angie along with several other ladies to walk the Race for the Cure. It was so inspirational to see so many thousands of people participating in such a beautiful event. It was at Garden of the Gods and the morning was gorgeous. I am thankful to have been able join such great people!


Mom, Angie and Wendy


Just a shot of part of the thousands of people at the beginning of the walk.



Mom and me :)


That's Angie with the bandana getting ready to walk under the cool balloon arch starting point.



Angie and Mom walking and talking.


Wendy, Angie and Mom taking a break and enjoying a live band.


The finish line!


On Saturday Jeff and I went to Denver to hang out with my good friend Kimberly and her hubby Anthony and their little daughter Avery. We went to the Cheesecake Factory and then walked around downtown. It was SO FUN to see them!

Fun times with the girls

Hanging out at Biaggi's, in the car and at On the Border with these awesome girls. Liz, LJo, LL, Stace, Car and Charis. YAY!

No Thanks, McBama

That’s it. I’m not voting. Or maybe I will. But probably not for either of the “major” candidates. The more I consider the 2 candidates along with the issues they do and don't support, the more I determine that I don't agree with either of them on the things that are really important to me. I mean, if I HAD to vote for one, I know who I'd vote for. But I also know I don't HAVE to vote for either, let alone vote at all. For some people certain issues are what is important. For others it's the party that's important. For some it's religion. For some it's demographics. There are so many things that go into why we do or don't vote. And that's great! We live in a place where we can consider what is important to us and then try to pick a candidate that lines up. I appreciate that. But I also appreciate that we have a choice other than the 2 major choices. Maybe I’m ignorant and you already new this, but I just found out there are actually 136 people running in the 2008 election. Check out this very informative website for more info:

http://www.votesmart.org/election_president_search.php?type=alpha
Also, you don’t have to be Republican, Democrat or Independent. You could also vote Green, Independent, Native American, The Light Party, Free Soil Party, American Independent, Libertarian, Natural Law Party, Peace and Freedom Party, Party for Socialism and Liberation, United Fascist Union, Socialist, Socialist Workers Party, Prohibition Party, and among several others.

I wonder how many of us our not too pleased with Obama or McCain and yet we will still vote for one of them as the “lesser of 2 evils.” And that makes me wonder what would happen if EVERYONE who had those thoughts would research other candidates and vote for someone they can really back, would we make a big enough impact? Maybe, maybe not. But wouldn’t it feel good to know you really made a choice based on your beliefs rather than doing what was easier.

Sure, we work all day, we have things we like to do to unwind, we might rather do almost anything than research candidates and get involved in the political process. Is it important enough to try? I don’t know, ask Martin Luther King Jr. I’ll bet there were plenty of times he would have rather gone home, had supper with his wife and children and read a good book. But he was convicted and convinced that things needed to change and that he would work until it happened. He even wrote a 20 page letter while he was in JAIL in 1960! Check it out, it’s powerful. http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html. The country has a LONG WAY to go, but things have changed in amazing ways because of the civil right movements.

Or ask Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta “who in 1962 founded the National Farm Workers Association, later to become the United Farm Workers ­ the UFW. He was joined by Dolores Huerta and the union was born. Cesar was willing to sacrifice his own life so that the union would continue and that violence was not used. Cesar fasted many times. In 1968 Cesar went on a water only, 25 day fast. He repeated the fast in 1972 for 24 days, and again in 1988, this time for 36 days. What motivated him to do this? He said, Farm workers everywhere are angry and worried that we cannot win without violence. We have proved it before through persistence, hard work, faith and willingness to sacrifice. We can win and keep our own self ­respect and build a great union that will secure the spirit of all people if we do it through a rededication and recommitment to the struggle for justice through non-violence.” http://www.lasculturas.com/biographies/214-civil-rights/112-cesar-chavez

Maybe these are extreme cases in your view, but these are just 2 inspirational examples of people making a difference in this country-starting small! If you want to vote for Obama or McCain because you believe in what they stand for, that’s great, go vote! If you find yourself wondering if they might not be the best candidates for you, just think about trying something new this election. Don’t exercise your right to vote. You don’t have to just because you can. Or pick someone else. We have a choice!

I...

(I found this survey on another blog)

I AM … a little to bored at work.
I WANT… a raise.
I HAVE … a compulsion to clean.
I KEEP … thinking about Jeff.
I WISH I COULD … get paid to do something I love.
I HATE … racism.
I FEAR … death.
I HEAR … the printer by my cube.

I DON’T THINK … I'll ever like onions.
I REGRET … some of the things I've said or not said.
I LOVE … being married.

I AM NOT … good at getting up early to work out.

I DANCE … like a fool.
I SING … as often as possible...off key.
I RARELY… cook.

I CRY WHEN I WATCH … almost anything sentimental...even commercials.
I AM NOT ALWAYS … nice.
I HATE THAT … I'm broke.
I’M CONFUSED ABOUT … Christians.

I NEED … to be shown love.
I SHOULD … show love more.

If McCain were president, and then died.

Alaska is close to Russia, you know.

This is one reason Cindy McCain thinks Palin is qualified to be Veep. Oh dear.