Today's Question

Question: What famous living person would you want to meet for drinks?

Answer: President Barack Obama AND Mitt Romney as long as I had a magical truth serum potion

I find it hard to wade through the BOG of political opinions, new stories, debates, and posturing and would love nothing other than to interview the candidates myself with my own questions.

And we all know I can think of some pretty great questions....

Don't get me wrong I am pretty sure I know who I will be voting for in November and can and do seek out truths I find important about the candidates. But, let's be honest here, it would be nice to have a one on one conversation.
 
Who would you want to meet for drinks?

Needed: New(er) Vehicle

I was thinking the other day that it might be time to purchase a new(er) vehicle. The CORROLLA is 12 years old. I have had her for 9 years.

NINE YEARS!

Can you even believe it? I can't.

Corrolla has been a good car with very few problems. She has gotten me where I needed to go and taken all my abuse and lack of keeping her in spic and span condition.

While driving the other day I found a possible replacement for Corrolla.

Features of new vehicle:

1. Bigger than Corrolla. I could have more friends ride with me and WAY more room to haul stuff.
2. It would be easier to keep clean since I could just turn on the hose and wash him down.
3. I would definitely have the "party" vehicle.
4. I would never lose my car in a parking lot or forget where I parked.

What is this new AMAZING vehicle? Well, check this baby out! And is a GREAT deal at $7,995!


So, what do think? Should I purchase?

I Can Hardly Believe It!

I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

AND...I can hardly believe it!

Being 6 credits away from completing my MBA seemed like an impossible dream just a short while ago. I remember during the first semester thinking "this is going to take FOREVER" and it felt like I would never be done.

BUT GUESS WHAT?

I'm almost done!

Here is the real question: What am I going to do when I am done?

SERIOUSLY.

What goals should I set?
What is my next move in my career?
Where should I live?
How should I celebrate?
What is the next big thing to tackle?
Will all of the people I have practically ignored for the last two years ever talk to me again?
Is it time to get rid of the corrolla? (Okay, this has nothing to do with graduation...but is a real question.)
What trips should I go on?
What habits do I need to break?
What habits do I need to start?
And this list goes on and on and on...

But let's not lose focus here...

I AM ALMOST DONE!

November 27, 2009

Hola Dad,

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope all is well. Dad, I really wish I could talk to you. I have so many things I want to ask you. Your sister Alberta passed away and it raised many MANY questions about past history.

Joe and I were talking the other day and we wondered out loud what you would have done if Alberta had passed away before you. We both decided that your reaction would have been close to Uncle Edwards. You would have been sad, and you would have wanted to be involved in everything. You wouldn't have mentioned at the funeral all the negative things that happened in your relationship, but instead would have just been a support. I think you would have been sad to see your sister pass away. I bet you were there standing in the wings when she arrived on the other side. Tall and silent, that's how I picture you.

I went with mom to Alberta's viewing and funeral, you would have wanted that. You would want your family to support hers. That's something you and mom taught us, family comes first, no matter what your relationship is or was. It was interesting to compare your viewing and funeral to Alberta's viewing and funeral. The differences having me pondering why they were there, I think I have it figured out...it wasn't really that hard.

The burning questions are about what was said at her funeral about her life and history. Some of the things that were shared about her growing up had some interesting parts left out from the stories you told...I wonder if she didn't know or if she didn't tell her children. Alberta was described as a kind, loving, caring, person with great taste. This is not how I viewed her or how she treated us. Do you think this was because of your relationship with her? Is this because of Grandma Gaer? It is all very strange. Very strange. I know you and mom tried to do all you could. I wish things could have been different, that the relationship would have been there. I think it would have made a huge difference.

Dad, when we see each other in heaven again and if there is a movie of your life...do you think I could watch it? I have all these questions. I would like to see for myself with you sitting by explaining what is going on...just to clear up all my questions.

Much Love,
D'Nell

p.s. Going to Alberta's funeral reminded me how much I miss you. Thank you for watching over me...I know you are. I love you.

(((Opinion Poll)))

If you had to be a professional sports player, what would you be and why?

How Much = Comfortable?

On my way home tonight I was listening to NPR. Big surprise, I listen to it everyday. Tuesday nights around 7 or 8ish seems to be Canadian news. They did a survey and asked a bunch of people how much money they would need to make to be comfortable and not need or want anything. The answers varied as follows:

"$2,00 a month so she could take care of her animals" (equals $24,000 a year)
"$150,000 a year so he could have a nicer home, travel, dine out, and get a new car every couple years"
"At least $200 a week so I can always pay my rent, even pay it early, and always have food in my cupboards." (equals $10,400 a year)

At the end of the story the comment was made about the difference's in being "comfortable" means to everyone.

This is something I have been thinking about for a couple of months. How much money do I need to make to feel comfortable. And what does "comfortable" mean to me? I have decided that right now "comfortable" means being debt free. So, I either need to make bunches of more money or I need to scale back my current lifestyle to pay of debt more quickly. Once I am debt free I am almost positive "comfortable" will change for me.

So, here is my question to you...What does being comfortable mean to you? Is it associated with a dollar amount earned per year? Or does it mean you own a home? Being debt free? etc?

A Theme Found

I found a theme, but not a 2009 theme, a life theme...well really more of a life question:

"As you go through these tough times, you each have a simple choice to make. You can either choose to be bitter, or you can choose to be better. Which do you choose?"

I was thinking how I could introduce or explain why I chose this theme, and then when I was responding to an email about the theme, I thought "Why not just post my response to their statement."

My friends statement about my theme: "I am surprised to see this as the theme you have chosen. I just expected something with a more poetic rhythm from you."

Without further ado, my response: (with just a few motifications)

I agree...I was expecting something with more sass, pizzaz, etc. But, this just struck a chord in my heart. Death always makes you reflect. Reflect on the person's life, and on your own life. I have been thinking a lot about what I can learn from how my father chose to live his life and what I can glean from him to make my life better.

For most of his life, he chose to be bitter about wrongs, hard times, really just a lot of things that were tough to deal with and experience. I will be the first to admit, he had a really really really hard life. Choices by his mother, grandmother, and others that didn't give him the best start or help during some pretty important years in his life. I mean for goodness sakes his brother committed suicide. HOWEVER, he didn't let these experiences make him better...he kept some bitterness.

About a year or so ago I found a tape my dad talked on about his life, he was speaking of things from his childhood. 80% or more of the tape were bad things that happened to him. After the first time listening to it, I vowed I wouldn't listen to it again. I didn't need to be reminded of the bitterness. However, when my attitude towards helping take care of my dad changed...I found myself needing to listen to it again. Seeing him in the prime of his "BITTERNESS" on the tape contrasted with the "BETTERNESS" that I was seeing him display during the last year of my life affected me profoundly. Let me explain the "BETTERNESS" I am speaking of, experiences with my dad taught me that he could get grumpy or unpleasant in certain situations. My prediction was that his children taking care of his every need (and I mean even the most personal ones), would have made him even more unpleasant or grumpy. BUT during this time he was pleasant. He told us he loved us. My dad repeatedly told us he had beautiful daughters, that he didn't know how he got to be so lucky to have such great children. In, what I would have thought would be the hardest trial to endure, he let him make him BETTER. The bitterness that lingered from earlier years was almost non-existant.

The quote that I heard summed it up for me. I don't want to spend years or even seconds of my life carrying bitterness with me. I want to spend seconds and years carrying betterness with me. I choose to be happy. I choose to be optimistic. I choose to see the good in people. I choose to laugh. I choose to love, and to love with my whole heart. I choose to keep those I love (friends, family, etc) close to me. I choose to be better. That is my choice now and forever.

I don't think it will be easy, but I am going to try.

This is why it more of a life motto...so I need to still come up with a 2009 theme....any thoughts?

**final note, lest you get the wrong idea, my friend liked the theme."**

Split Personality - Part II

So there is a "situation" in my personal life that is rather comical to me but also causing me stress. I was chatting to my WORK friend Chay about it. (by the way if you are privvy to the "SITUATION" please don't give any specifics when leaving a comment...you never know who reads these things!).

chaY proceeds to tell me the following:

1. If "work D'Nell" were handling this it would be all worked out with a plan by now.
2. I like having power over "outside D'Nell". I can boss her around, but "Work D'Nell" never lets me do that.
3. When "Work D'Nell" leaves work her "Alpha-Female cloak" comes off and she is no longer in charge.

I told him that I don't have a split personality I am the same everywhere. So he sends me this interchange that reminds him of me...

"You have no idea of the magnitude of this thing. If she is allowed to infiltrate this world then George Costanza as you know him ceases to exist. You see, right now I have Relationship George. But there is also Independent George. That's the George you know, the George you grew up with... Movie George, Coffee Shop George, Liar George, Bawdy George."

"I love that George."

"Me too, and he's dying. If Relationship George walks through this door, he will kill Independent George. A George divided against itself cannot stand!"

- SEINFELD: George and Jerry, in "The Pool Guy"

**for some reason CHAY is freaking out about this today***

So, let me pose these questions to you...

a. Do you think I have a "split-personality"?
B. Does everyone have a "SPLIT-personality"?
3. Who wants to throw things at Chay?

(((Opinion Poll))) - Handwriting

(((Opinion POLL)))

I received a card today from a friend. She is from Idaho, while looking at her handwriting I was reminded of a "theory" a friend of mine believes. Now I want to put that theory to an opinion POLL.

Theory: Most UTAH girls/women have what he/she calls "UTAH" handwriting. Meaning most females from UTAH have a certain style of handwriting. **I have been accused of having UTAH handwriting, just an FYI**

Opinion Poll:
1. Do you agree with this theory?
2. Basis for the theory?
3. If you agree, then what is "UTAH" handwriting?

**Opinion expressed are safe. Meaning...I will still like you!**

Split Personality

Sometimes I wish my skills with my job would come home with me.

WORK: I am really great at communicating in an effective appropriate manner at work. I am able to express opinions and be assertive and make the situation a "win - win". I am not afraid of confrontation. Hardly ever get nervous in highly "tense" situations. I am not afraid of pushing back and making sure the appropriate things are said and happening. I stand up for what is correct and right.

PERSONAL LIFE: Complete and utter mess (at least that's how it feels). I am scared of any kind of confrontation. I have a hard time expressing my opinion and being assertive. Any type of communication where there is a hint of maybe it won't go well...I get so nervous! Sarcastic remarks often slip in...not good at all! I don't always stand up for what is correct and right...and that really bothers me.

Does anyone else feel like this sometimes? That they can do something in one area of their life, but not in others? Am I crazy?

What's In A Name

Do you have a nickname (or multiple nicknames)?
What are they?
Do you give other's nicknames?
Do you like to be called by your nickname by anyone or just the person who gave you the nickname?


**the picture is from Nan Jio Ba Jay Street in Beijing. A place where one of my nicknames was born.**

Random Question

If you could get rid of any species (animal, plant, human, article of clothing, etc) on the planet what would it be and why? Be creative...