I Don't Want to Brag...

I don't want to brag, but I've saved 24 feet of rain forest. I haven't seen the actual 24 feet I've saved, but the Facebook application I use is keeping track of it for me. I have been faithfully sending virtual plants to people so I hope it isn't a big fat lie. I worry about the honesty of charities. When I'm watching TV and a "Save the Children" commercial comes on, showing some precious child with flies buzzing around, I think about making the call. I would probably be more likely to make the call if the commercial wasn't quite as long though. First they have to show how they have no water, then the dirt road dust flying about while they tell you the child has no shoes. It ends showing how the poor child is now in school, and how you'll get a photo to look at and get letters from a child in need. How do you know they are not sending the same damn photo to everyone. I can just imagine getting my orphans photo in the mail, then going over to a friends house and seeing my orphan on her refrigerator too...same damn letter and all! You never know. I don't like feeling manipulated by commercials. The worst one lately is with Sarah McLaughin and the abused animals. I do not want to see a cute little puppy who is missing a leg, or only has one eye. That's just wrong! The worst offense of this commercial is that they use my favorite Sara McLaughin song as the background music. Wrong, wrong, wrong!

The way I see it, If I'm going to be manipulated, I'll look at my two little cuties who beg to go in and out all day long. If the orphans need shoes, send the millions of pairs donated to Goodwill over there, and while you're at it, send a can of Raid to deal with the flies.

I guess tonight I am a bitchy, bitter blogger.

FOOTNOTE

I'm adding a footnote because I received a comment and I wanted to respond. I am a supporter to eliminate all things inhumane and unjust in the world. I simply cannot bear the thought of the ugly things I know are in the world. If I could, I would fix everything. My personal cause is domestic violence and I regularly contribute whatever I am able. That being said, my comments yesterday were intended to be a statement about being manipulated by the media. In my opinion, the only people who respond to those emotional commercials are the people already aware and touched by those issues. They are intended to pull the heartstrings of compassionate viewers, and those without compassion will not be moved by them anyway. In Nancy's America, those in need would be supported primarily by the work and efforts of people in prisons. The way I see it, what could be a more perfect way to give back to a community and do restitution for their crimes. The commercials claim 27 cents a day can make a difference...that's about what an inmate earns. It makes sense to me.

I really appreciate the comments, and I hope anyone reading this little blog will continue to feel free to let me know what's on their mind...as I do when I write.

And so begins 2009

I am an inconsistent blogger.

It's true I could never earn a living writing...unless I were independently wealthy, which I'm not. If I'm not in the mood, I can't even write the alphabet. The good news is I get very excited about the new year and beginning a new journal. My personal best is the year I wrote every day up until the end of March. Last year was my worst effort, writing only on January 1. If you're going to start an office pool to see how long I make it this year...now is the time. I try to keep my OCD in check at this time of year. I am reminded of the year I bought all these "thought of the day" books and tried to journal about them. Here is an excerpt:

January 7, 1999
I came very close to not writing tonight. It's 5:45 AM and I am so tired. All three books touched on good points, so I'll recap. "Simple Abundance" asked do you know what makes you happy. How can you know if you're truly happy if you don't know what it takes to make you happy. "Letting Go" talked about hurt, and feeling hurt. It said to stop blaming others when we feel hurt and accept responsibility for our feelings. (Much easier said than done) "When Women Do Too Much" talked about being rigid and how people hate to change. Changes in life are not only possible but necessary and keeps one within the "stream of life". What I believe...[I didn't even finish the entry]

By January 26th the entry read "Visualize a mirror, blah, blah, blah." 1999's journal ended on February 3. As you can see, I tend to set the bar too high for myself and then get upset that I didn't follow through. Sometimes I suck.

I bought two calendars yesterday. One is a magnetic poetry hanging style. I get this one every year. I will admit I have only used the provided magnets to make a poem a couple of times, but I like the style of it. It's becoming more of a challenge each year to find it though. I thought I was going to have trauma this year but luckily, the crisis was averted. The second calendar is the desk top variety. It's titled "Getting in Touch with your Inner Bitch". It had my name written all over it. I spent a lot of 2008 trying to placate other people. The way I see it, life is too short to run around trying to watch after everyone else's well being. I resolve that 2009 will be more about making myself happy. That is my only resolution. Ten years later, I will finish my thought from that 1999 entry...What I believe is that if I focus on making myself happy, everything else will fall into place. [Better late than never.]

And so it begins...2009

Final thoughts from my new calendar:

Confident, smart, dignified, in touch. Good way to start the year. Happy New Year from your Inner Bitch.