House buy?

Bill has done a lot of research and looked at a lot of houses already....
Here a peak at the house we really like...we have only seen it from the outside and pictures of the inside. We are going to look at it this Saturday.

Oslo's Vigeland Park Sculptures

My Dad told me about this sculpture park in Oslo. These are amazing and I definitely want to go to Norway to see this park.

http://www.geocities.com/intrepidberkeleyexplorer/Page29P.html

The Notebaert Nature Museum

http://www.chias.org/

I was at the Nature Museum in Chicago yesterday. Fun!
They have a lot of interesting things but the best part is probably all the bugs.
They also have a very cool huge warm and moist tropical room filled with life butterflies. They will sit on and fly around you.

Pidgins in Chicago

I found this fascinating, it was soooo cold in downtown that all the pidgins gathered around the eternal flame in downtown. Some of them got really close. Just a weired phenomenon.

Papa's Smart

Papa got his Smart car today!

It is all black as well! The German version looks a little different and I believe it is a little smaller then the American Smart car.

Tanja's Smart Car

I finalised all the options on the Smart I want...I changed to all black exterior and black leather seats (heated)...I am supposed to get it in the second half of 2008?

...more Kaylie and Luca

Colonic

So I got 2 Colonic down one to go....

The concept:

warm water being flushed into 5 feet of your colon through a see through pipe and being released back out through a see through pipe cleaning you completely out.

...it is not scary or painful at all....I really mean that. It feels strange but somehow very satisfactory.

...and whenever my body released, the colonic lady said "good girl"...yep yep I was a good girl.

you see all that "SHIT" coming out of you and there is definitely a relief about it, physically and mentally...a "starting fresh" feeling, "letting go" and having "a new beginning".

I guess it can be a spiritually feeling and journey. What better time to start new?

...better diet, better drinking, better everything...

I learned that I have to chew better, old unchewed food was "released" ewwww...

I saw corn swimming down the little pipe and I can not remember the last time I have had corn?....another EWWWW is in order....

I also do not drink enough, water that is. DEHYDRATED, (no surprise there)

I hate water, love tea, mocha from Starbucks, Chai tea, diet soda and cacao. Well I drink about 1/2 a gallon of cacao a day and I guess it's too much?! lol

because..tooo much dairy products seen by too much mucus...and I mean SEEN ...

yep, another EWWWWW.

(this is confusing tho, my gynecologist wants lots of dairy for me, the colonist says less dairy...I guess I have to find a healthy in between).

so colonic is a good thing for me, I feel clean and lighter and ready to drink more water and chew my foot better, since I don't want it to stick with me for ever.

What I did not know:

Colonic make you tired, it does a number on you and I would take the day off. You are also peeing and pooping water for a few hours after the whole ordeal. You have to replenish all the stuff you lost by drinking electrolyte aka pedialyte and take pills to renew your colon bacteria.

You should do at least 2 back to back to get it all out. I am actually signed up for a third...but I can not imagine that there is anything left...

I do want to say that during my research I found that there are a lot of dangers in colonic. One of them, you have to replenish the water and electrolytes you lost. Also the colonic is flushing out all the natural bacteria that is in your colon and that needs to be there, therefore it is important to replenish those as well...I am sure there are more dangers to it...I did not care because I wanted to cleanse and detox.

That's it for now, let me know if you have questions....

Martin Luther King Day

Today is Martin Luther King Day! So what do people do on this holiday? What does this holiday mean to people in America , in the world?
Some go to celebrations, or discussions, some talk about it in their homes or watch something on TV about him....even Oprah is doing a special today...

...and for those who know about my experiences know that we have still a long way to go...

"The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example -- the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit."




The History of Martin Luther King Day
Who originated the idea of a national holiday in honor of MLK?
by Shmuel Ross and David Johnson
Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday observed on the third Monday in January. In 2007, it falls on King's birthday, Jan. 15.

It took 15 years to create the federal Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday. Congressman John Conyers, Democrat from Michigan, first introduced legislation for a commemorative holiday four days after King was assassinated in 1968. After the bill became stalled, petitions endorsing the holiday containing six million names were submitted to Congress.
Conyers and Rep. Shirley Chisholm, Democrat of New York, resubmitted King holiday legislation each subsequent legislative session. Public pressure for the holiday mounted during the 1982 and 1983 civil rights marches in Washington.
Congress passed the holiday legislation in 1983, which was then signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. A compromise moving the holiday from Jan. 15, King's birthday, which was considered too close to Christmas and New Year's, to the third Monday in January helped overcome opposition to the law.
National Consensus on the Holiday
A number of states resisted celebrating the holiday. Some opponents said King did not deserve his own holiday—contending that the entire civil rights movement rather than one individual, however instrumental, should be honored. Several southern states include celebrations for various Confederate generals on that day. Arizona voters approved the holiday in 1992 after a tourist boycott. In 1999, New Hampshire changed the name of Civil Rights Day to Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.
MLK Holiday Timeline
1968

Martin Luther King, Jr. assassinated; Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., introduces legislation for federal holiday to commemorate King
1973
Illinois is first state to adopt MLK Day as a state holiday
1983
Congress passes, President Reagan signs, legislation creating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
1986
Federal MLK holiday goes into effect
1987
Arizona governor Evan Mecham rescinds MLK Day as his first act in office, setting off a boycott of the state.
1989
State MLK holiday adopted in 44 states
1991
The NFL moves the 1993 Super Bowl site from Phoenix, Ariz., to Pasadena, Calif., because of the MLK Day boycott.
1992
Arizona citizens vote to enact MLK Day. The Super Bowl is held in Tempe, Ariz. in 1996.
1993
For the first time, MLK Day is held in some form—sometimes under a different name, and not always as a paid state holiday—in all fifty states.
1999
New Hampshire becomes the last state to adopt MLK Day as a paid state holiday, replacing its optional Civil Rights Day.
2000
Utah becomes the last state to recognize MLK Day by name, renaming its Human Rights Day state holiday.
South Carolina becomes the last state to make MLK Day a paid holiday for all state employees. Until now, employees could choose between celebrating it or one of three Confederate-related holidays.

The King Holiday honors the life and contributions of America’s greatest champion of racial justice and equality, the leader who not only dreamed of a color-blind society, but who also lead a movement that achieved historic reforms to help make it a reality.
On this day we commemorate Dr. King’s great dream of a vibrant, multiracial nation united in justice, peace and reconciliation; a nation that has a place at the table for children of every race and room at the inn for every needy child. We are called on this holiday, not merely to honor, but to celebrate the values of equality, tolerance and interracial sister and brotherhood he so compellingly expressed in his great dream for America.
It is a day of interracial and intercultural cooperation and sharing. No other day of the year brings so many peoples from different cultural backgrounds together in such a vibrant spirit of brother and sisterhood. Whether you are African-American, Hispanic or Native American, whether you are Caucasian or Asian-American, you are part of the great dream Martin Luther King, Jr. had for America. This is not a black holiday; it is a peoples' holiday. And it is the young people of all races and religions who hold the keys to the fulfillment of his dream.

Obama is not a muslim

I have been getting a view of those e-mails as well...Please look stuff up before you forward it.

So I did some research...which took 5 minutes..I went on his site which is very interresting.

No surprise, FOX played a big role in starting the rumour. They did no fact checking and just ran with the story. Idiots!

Obama is not a muslim. But even if he was....? SO WHAT! lol
well, but he is not .

Smart Cars are here !!!!

Smart car informed me that they have arrived in the US, this means I should get mine by March!
Papa is getting his in a couple of days. So now Oliver, Papa and I all will have a Smart car!

Dear Reservation Holder,
This has been a remarkable week for smart USA! On Wednesday we delivered the first smart fortwo in the United States and, as of today, deliveries to Reservation Holders are taking place at smart centers nationwide.
We appreciate how anxious all of our Reservation Holders are to take delivery of their very own smart fortwo. We also apologize for not being able to communicate more specific information regarding the status of your individual order.
Reservation Holders whose vehicles are in route from Germany have been notified by smart USA and their dealer. Within the next 30 days any Reservation Holder who has a confirmed order in production will also be notified by smart USA and their dealer.
For all other Reservation Holders, we are working diligently to provide you with a 90 day window for your anticipated delivery, based on assumptions available at that time. This information should be available by the end of March.
Again, we appreciate your continued patience and enthusiasm!
Sincerely,
The smart USA Team

Colonics

Colon hydrotherapy is referred to as a colonic, colon irrigation, or a high enema. Colon hydrotherapy is a method of removing the accumulated wastes from the entire large intestine without the use of drugs.

I am getting a colonic done , actually I am getting 3 done. I signed up for a package deal lol....
on Monday, Tuesday and Friday
right here:
http://www.colonicsforwellness.com/

from Ania...I guess Ania and I are going to be friends...she is going to see my ass and what comes out of it, so maybe we are not going to be friends, but we are definitely going to be close....she will go were no one has gone before! lol

I have been thinking and talking about this for a long time. I've been wanting to do this until Billy told me the dangers...well now I am getting it done anyways and so is Billy! I have no idea what changed his mind...

So we are going to get cleaned up....cleansed, this is going to be so gross but it will feel soooo good...I hope.

Anybody ever got one done? Please share your knowledge...I will do the same and tell everybody all about it...lol the ones who want to know will be able to read about it on my blog.

Menopause, wrinkles and stuff

... so I went to the Gynecologist on Tuesday. She is more then just my doctor but a friend. I love her, she is super nice and I definitely feel comfortable with her....anywho...

so after the examination etc she says..."Is there anything else I can help you with?"

..well, to be honest, this has been on my mind, so I ask..."When does "The Change" start ...you know "menopause."..am I getting close? "

"The average age is 51!" ....

Yeah!

...."But it starts around the age of 40!"

HELP!!!

I am 38 and I know my prime is gone...well, I guess I still have a couple of years,...I am not afraid...well maybe a little.

Just when I feel like I know my body it is going to change on me...damned!

The signs ....

"Beyond monthly irregularity, other physical signs that women can watch for are hot flashes, leg cramping, heavy bleeding, restless sleep, and night sweating. Unstable emotions can be signs, as well. No matter the age of menopause, all women experience the adverse effects of hormone reduction. Hormones affect us physically, mentally, and emotionally and all three areas of life are challenged when there are imbalances. Women may find that they are depressed or feeling blue for no reason at all. They may become easily irritated and short tempered. Normal everyday occupancies can be overwhelming and thinking can be fuzzy. Some women at an early age of menopause even complain of forgetfulness."

Starting at 40 I also have to get annual mammograms, ..it is scary getting old, at least for me, not that I am getting older and will die sooner, or that I am losing "my looks" lol, I think women are attractive in any age, but all those health things that come along with getting older , which I associate with pain and not being able to do the things I love...for some reason I always think of skiing. Like that means I am old, when I can not go skiing anymore.

I go skiing maybe every two years on the average, so I have no idea why that became my age scale?

So I am watching my body change and I will continue to learn the new things about it and I will watch out for new things to appear like wrinkles and age spots(what in the hell are age spots anyways?)....

A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, "What are you thinking?"
She doesn't care what you think.
If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it's usually something more interesting.
A woman over 40 knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of 40 give a hoot what you might think about her or what she's doing.
Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.
Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.
A woman over 40 has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn't trust the guy with other women. Women over 40 couldn't care less if you're attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won't betray her.
Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40. They always know.
A woman over 40 looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women.
Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.
Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one! You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.
Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of 40+, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year-old waitress.
Ladies, I apologize.
(Some say that Andy Rooney, is the author of this piece, but according to Urban Legends, its source is a mishmash of authors.)

...I have wrinkles, I am getting older...I am proud of that...the experiences, the stories that I have already to tell...I can not wait to know the stories I will be able to tell when I am 80....

Obama

Kaylie and my dog Luca, who is an ass

I am watching a dog again. Her name is Kaylie and she is the sweetest and calmest dog ever. She just chills on the coach and follows me around. My dog Luca on the other hand is an ass! It took a couple of days to get him to stop bugging her. He now got much calmer and leaves her alone. Luca wants to constantly play, jump and run around chasing her . They are both cuddled up on the futon in my study room right now sleeping, but they have come a long way these last two days....

Luca can not jump as well as Kaylie...and she learned that very quickly, so she jumps on the bed were he can not reach her.

Impressions of New Orleans

Houses in the Garden district

beautiful balconies everywhere in the French Quarter

of course Bourbon Street over and over again....

fountain infront of the River Walk Mall
...already in Hawaii Gear!

Palmtrees are pretty much everywhere, these are on the walk to the only land based casino.

all the houses in thr French Quarter have a courtyard with a fountain. You only get to see them if you go to a restaurant in the French Quarter otherwise they are hidden.

Bourbon Street pretty much looks the same 24/7 just the cars dissappear. I do not really understand why anybody is trying to drive through it at all?

Bourbon Street by day

Louis Armstrong

house on top of house?

view from the hotel

Bill infront of Saint Louis Cathedral

free trollys all through New Orleans

World Trade center on the Mississippi river

Canal Street

Saint Louis Cathedral again

Mississippi River in New Orleans

Ludwig Meidner : Max Herrmann-Neisse

Also a piece from The Art Institute.
A painting that for some reason stuck with me, ..I think because he looks somewhat hideous and deformed...yet arrogant and powerful?
I have to find out more about painter and subject.