120 Days Of (Amy’s) Summer

So, you might be thinking 120 days? Well, yes! Unlike the traditional calendar definition of summer, *my* summer starts with the shedding of layers...and the commencement of the fun.

And 2009 was the summer of Amy. Just little old me. I’ve been self-exploring and spending time with *me* doing *me* things. Might sound very self-involved but the summer’s of 2007 and 2008 were some of the WORST in my entire life! (I wish that was an overstatement, but it’s not). But I survived. I conquered. And I really owed it to myself to have a great summer this time around. And IT WAS GREAT!

My awesome summer consisted of:

- 5 hikes. (Weak for others, pretty good for me).
- 2 new nieces. Kate Eileen and Margueriete Catherine (two little nephews coming this fall).
- 0 TV hours at my house…and I love it!
- 3 crushes. Two blondes and a brunette.
- 1 near death experience...with this very grizzly bear. I don't recommend it.

- 2 too many airplane rides.
- 3 illnesses. Lame.
- 1 Dunkin’ Donut. It was my first and my last. They super suck!
- 4 camping trips.
- 64,999. The # of *other* people at a single concert along with me, including JJ, Michelle and Carrie. (The most people I’ve ever seen at one time!)

(Can you see us? We are up front. Really:))

- 2 U2 shows! (One more to go.)
- 5 politically charged blogs. Some may think one too many but oh well.
- 6 concerts (Vast, Keane, Jonas Brothers, Depeche Mode, U2 & U2). 4 more in the queue for this fall.
- 25 lbs of weight loss....and counting.
- 2. The # of rows back from the stage at a U2 show this year. Sorry, I can't get over it.
- 1 date. (While only 1, I have to say I wasn’t even trying so it feels like a mini victory to me. I’ll take it, plus it was a good one.)
- 12 days of straight rain…in this desert...and I LOVED it!
- 2 classes. Nutrition and Tap. Call me the next Gregory Hines.
- 1 new roommate.
- 3 sleep overs at the Brough's! I sure do love you guys!!!

- 11 or so dye jobs. What? “No, it’s natural”.
- 253 miles logged on Moon Doggie (my beach cruiser… I’m NOT EVEN JOKING).
- 1 flat tire, for which I fixed myself. :)

- 5.5 books read. (A miracle for me. I normally read ½ a book a year…by the pool).
- 1 crockpot…and many new recipes cooked by someone who *doesn’t* cook. A miracle!
- 7 new pairs of shoes. Guilty as charged. Try to make me stop.

And finally …0 boyfriends which played a big role in the amazing summer of Amy.

R.I.P. summer…you were very good to me.
I’m eager to see what the fall brings me.

Perspective. Powerful. Peace.

I don't usually share this kind of thing in this forum but this was too good to keep to myself.

I admit that I've had the thought of "thank GOODNESS that I'm not married because I just don't know if I could bring children into this really scary world." Maybe I'm not alone in this thinking.

As the calamities and evil of this world seem to grow in frequency and intensity, I find it hard to have that faith over fear. I am weak.

I know its not by coincidence that I came across the transcript of a message from one of my faith's leaders on how to cope, live and love to live in these perilous times of the last days.

For those of you not of my faith, there is so much for you in this article if you have beliefs in the Savior, as well as the revelations of the Bible.

Its a long read but well worth your time. I found the PERSPECTIVE that I lacked. The message was POWERFUL and brought PEACE to my troubled soul.

Heaven knows we are all in this together and we all could use a little something. I hope you find something in it for you as I did.

OLD FRIENDS

Lately mortality has been on mind a lot. It makes me worry...a lot. Then add to it the fact that my best friend has been abnormally very sick for way too long. Kidney stones are what adults get...but wait, when did we become adults?

It would seem that my age is sneaking up on me and with greater speed every day. I feel as though I'm stuck in the Twilight Zone between a college student and full blown adult with house, husband, kids, PTA meetings and Metamusil. Some of my highschool friends even have teenagers! What the??? I definitely don't *feel* my age, but I'm not exactly sure what I feel. All I know is that I've been in this state of what feels like limbo for quite some time. I guess you could say its a bit of an identity crisis...but that doesn't stop the aging and this haunts me too. But one thing that has given me great comfort is my dear and precious friendships. They are my anchor in a sea of instability and fog.

This brings back to my thoughts about what it will be like to grow old with my dear girlfriends. I've never really thought about this before. I imagine that there will be some fun filled "Golden Girls" moments. But realistically, there will also be mammograms, kids having kids, menopause, chronic disease, ailing parents, death of a spouses or even each other. Some really super heavy things beyond saggy boobs jokes, blue hair, and penciled on eyebrows...heavy things that shopping therapy or playing with grandkids just won't be able to heal.

THE TRUTH: We are *really* going to need each other.

Just yesterday, while these thoughts mingled around my mind, I was listening to Dr. Laura (like I do) when Lillian called. Lillian was a sweet 70+ year old woman, with the cutest voice and saddest heart. Lillian currently had a full and happy life with her husband of many years but the poor dear just couldn't stop crying. Dr. Laura was trying to get out of her what her problem was....and when she finally did, Lillian grievously stuttered through her sobs "my dearest and best friend of 50 years just passed away. How am I to go on without her?"

I nearly lost it myself. The timing of such a call couldn't have been better (or maybe I mean worse). I couldn't EVEN imagine losing any of my friends!!!! Dr. Laura, trying to console her with the facts said "how wonderful is it that you can say that you had such an amazing and marvelous friendship for 50 years. Some people just don't have that. You are a very blessed woman. Celebrate what you had together."

(Then Hoover Dam broke!!!!)

There is a morale to this story...when my tears finally stopped, the light bulb dawned and I could feel the truth of Dr. Laura's words. I realized that I was also a very blessed woman. The likelihood of having many of my current friendships years into the future, like Lillian, was very high because I have absolute great friends!! There was no sense worrying about what will inevitably occur like I have been. I know I should live it up, love, appreciate and celebrate what I have. Life is too precious to be wasted on worry.

Muse Has Been Reading My Mind

From their "leaked" new single called "Uprising" by one of my favorite bands...MUSE. (sounds pretty freakin' amazing as well.)

The paranoia is in bloom, the PR
The transmissions will resume
They’ll try to push drugs
Keep us all dumbed down and hope that
We will never see the truth around (So come on!)
Another promise, another scene, another
A package not to keep us trapped in greed
With all the green belts wrapped around our minds
And endless red tape to keep the truth confined (So come on!)

Chorus:
They will not force us
They will stop degrading us
They will not control us
We will be victorious

Interchanging mind control
Come let the revolution take its toll if you could
Flick the switch and open your third eye, you’d see that
We should never be afraid to die (So come on!)
Rise up and take the power back, it’s time that
The fat cats had a heart attack, you know that
Their time is coming to an end
We have to unify and watch our flag ascend

Chorus:
They will not force us
They will stop degrading us
They will not control us
We will be victorious

- Muse

Communist Handbook

According to the congressional records of 1963, here are "The Goals of Communism".

Read the list and ask yourself, "how many of these have been accommplished or are in the works?" I think you will find that this terrifying "honey-do" list is more complete then not. Wakey wakey.

A few examples:

#28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

#32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

Sends Chills Up My Spine

I heard this quote several years back but recently its crossed my path again and I have to say it completely freaks me out when applied with today's prespective and events.

It is from President Ezra Taft Benson, who then served as the Secretary of Agriculture under Eisenhower. He said:

"I have talked face to face with the godless communist leaders. It may surprise you to learn that I was host to Mr. Kruschev for a half day when he visited the United States, not that I'm proud of it. I opposed his coming then, and I still feel it was a mistake to welcome this atheistic murderer as a state visitor. But, according to President Eisenhower, Kruschev had expressed a desire to learn something of American Agriculture" and after seeing Russian agriculture I can understand why. As we talked face to face, he indicated that my grandchildren would live under communism. After assuring him that I expected to do all in my power to assure that his and all other grandchildren will live under freedom he arrogantly declaired in substance: "You Americans are so gullible. No, you won't accept communism outright, but we'll keep feeding you small doses of socialism until you'll finally wake up and find you already have communism. We won't have to fight you. We'll so weaken your economy until you'll fall like overripe fruit into our hands.""

- Ezra Taft Benson, 1966 "Our Immediate Responsibility"

TIME SENSITIVE: Call Your Congressman!

While the government is distracting us with the topic of healthcare, they are moving under the cloak of night to pass a CAP & TRADE TAX bill that is going to break the backs of all Americans with ENORMOUS taxes. THE VOTE IS FRIDAY (6/26) but its nothing but crickets from the government and (state) media on this topic.

THIS IS A MASSIVE TAX ON YOU and they are using the "environment's" name in vain to do take our money from us. It will cost the average American family an addition $4000/a year by 2012. Can you spare $4000/a year?? CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN and tell him/her to vote "NO" on CAP & TRADE! Then spread the word....email, text, call, blog, tweet to everyone you know!

TIME IS RUNNING OUT! Can you afford to do nothing?