Bellevue Botanical Gardens

I'm still there...

I am still with Barack Obama.  I trust his goal.  He is doing the best he can given the circumstances.  He's trying to govern, but he's being hampered by the Republican side of congress who won't let him even TRY his ideas.  I'm tired of people who decide that if things aren't going exactly THEIR way, then things won't go ANY way - they'll do whatever they can to not even let us try to fix things.  That's what I see Republicans doing.  I can't believe that most voters don't see that's the way things have been going.  And the 'tea party'?  These are people who know how to complain and find fault and make derisive jokes, but they have no better ideas that are realistic, and consistent with American values.

I'm FIRED UP and READY FOR CHANGE!

Relax in Love

Comfy chair

Swedish designer, Matti Klenell created this huge chair from a teddy bear. Description: Upholstered teddy bear/easychair. Designed for a solo exhibition at the Agata Gallery, Stockholm, 2001.

Cooking and Competition!

Fast paced, creative cooking, by experienced chefs who are passionate about food. 
Tense competition.
Judges I respect - all of them, but I especially enjoy Alex G.
Congenial host.

This has become my favorite cooking show and reality competition all in one...love it!

Tonight was the finale of Chopped Champions...not a dry eye in the house at the end of the show.
http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/09/28/ted-allen-interview-chopped-champions/

Opportunity lost...

I love Netflix.
I love them so much I purchased a few shares of their stock when it was between 16 and 20.
I watched it go up to about 60 and figured that was the best win I could hope for.
Sold.
Now, it's at 162.
I am not smart.

Just something I noticed

Hey - it's 9:21 on 09/21/2010

Vasomotor Instability

This is part of my reality.  I'm a club member for about a year now.  Sometimes often, sometimes less often.  Funny, strange, disruptive. I marvel that this is a physical manifestation of the miracle of my life - age, change, adjust, adapt.  Pretty amazing.

Talented but Troubled

Indeed.  I'm sending out some good energy for Lindsay Lohan.  I truly do think she's talented and would like to see her find out how to live this life with love and peace.

Come to think of it, I wish that for everyone else too - including me and you!

Here's to living in peace and love!!!

FYI - The Burqa

FYI...the term Burqa encompasses several different items. 

The Hijab

(the head covering)

The Niqab

(The face covering)

The Abaya

(full length coverage)

The Chadri

(complete coverage)

This style of clothes predates Islam.  

The Koran makes only three references to a woman's dress:

“O children of Adam, we have provided you with garments to cover your bodies, as well as for luxury. But the best garment is the garment of righteousness. These are some of God's signs, that they may take heed.” (7:26)

“O prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the wives of the believers that they shall lengthen their garments. Thus, they will be recognized (as righteous women) and avoid being insulted. God is Forgiver, Most Merciful.” (33:59)

" Say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty ; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof. " [Quran : 24.31]

I wouldn't have any problem with this style of dress if men were also required to wear it.  

They aren't.  

From what I've read, at least some Muslim men believe a woman should be wearing these clothes because men are too weak to behave themselves when faced with a woman's beauty.

A woman's beauty tempts men to do wicked things.

Men can't be held accountable for their own actions.

Therefore, women must be covered.  

***

And what about this:

"But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonors her head—it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her wear a veil.
    "For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. (For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.) That is why a woman ought to have a veil on her head, because of the angels....If any one is disposed to be contentious, we recognize no other practice, nor do the churches of God." (1 Corinthians 11:3-10,16)

from:  http://www.catholicplanet.com/women/headcovering.htm

***

And now a word from the Jewish people...

http://judaism.about.com/od/prayersworshiprituals/f/kippah.htm

"From a biblical standpoint, only the Kohanim serving in the temple were required to cover their heads (see Exodus 28:4).  Yet for many centuries, the obligatory custom has been for Jewish men to wear a kippah all the time, as the code of Jewish law says "It is forbidden to walk four cubits without a headcovering."

***

Seriously, who comes up this stuff?!?!?!?!?!?!

Woman with outstretched arms...

I save these images from Oprah newsletters.  I'm nearly always attracted to the feeling I think the women are expressing...

I feel overjoyed!

I am limitless!

I embrace the world!

Sometimes life feels like that, right?

The Islamic Cultural Center in NYC

Here we have another issue concocted by the right wing in their support of the money puppeteers who wish to divert our attention from their own misdeeds.
Those with financial power seek to 'run' America like an aristocracy under the radar.  They encourage the right wing 'culture warriors' to create emotional 'issues' that the rest of us can battle because our basic American liberties are being attacked.
And, like lambs to the slaughter - we do.  We battle.
While, in the background, the people who REALLY run things keep on keepin' on.

That's what I think of the Islamic Cultural Center in NYC.  It shouldn't even be a debate.
This is America.

Vacation Day!

Today was not a usual day for me!  Boating on Lake Washington and VIP passes to the final Seahawks practice open to the public.  A friend won this at last year's Chris Elliot Fund (for Glioblastoma Research) Gala.  I'm grateful to have been invited to join the group!
Here is a link to a summary of the football practice:  http://blog.seahawks.com/2010/08/16/monday-in-hawkville-23/

Here are some pictures from the day.  It was hazy after several days of heat and not much wind.  I got some sunburn on my nose and forehead.

Jet skiers using the wake of our boat to have a good time

 Bellevue from the water

 Football practice at the VMAC practice field - hot day!

 Practice in the heat

New coach Pete Carroll in all white, quarterbacks in red.  #11 is Deon Butler, a wide receiver who I got a picture with at the end of the practice (along with #29 Earl Thomas, a safety).

 Inside the Seahawks training facility.  

Practicing in the heat.  To the left of this are all the fans that sit on the hill looking down on the practice field.  It's a real party atmosphere.

You can just barely make out a rainbow in the spray as the boat got up to 50 miles per hour!  That's what cooled me off after getting overheated at the practice.  The wind and the spray felt so good.  

 New coach Pete Carroll

 More Practice

 Pete Carroll on the field.  He's all in white, but isn't he hot????

 Our boat docked at the Seahawks training facility

 On the way home

 Riding along on Lake Washington

At this point we're coming up on the Seahawk's Training Facility.  Definitely this picture is out of order!

Recent Reality Shows

Here's my two cents about some of the reality shows I've watched lately...

The Next Food Network Star: Likeable group - the top several were all pleasant to watch, particularly the top three. I thought this show did a good job of showing the competition and the judges thoughts.






So You Think You Can Dance

I didn't think it worked this season. They had the Top 11 dancing with All Stars. Clearly a good group of dancers. I realize one of the draws for the first couple seasons was the music. I liked the new styles and interesting new musical artists I discovered (Roisin Murphy for one). Lately the music, in my opinion, is bland and uninteresting. The choreography is looking bland as well. Travis Wall choreographed some great routines and what a wonderful opportunity this show has been for him. But, in general - same 'ol, same 'ol.


The Next Design Star

This show has been the most disappointing. They got rid of the host this year and have Vern essentially being the host. Genevieve and Candice are the other two judges. I have a lot of respect for each of the designer/judges and like their work. But, this show - well, none of the challenges seemed interesting. The contestants had to do mostly group challenges where they had to insert their 'inspiration'. It really didn't work for me at all. The judging segment is completely uninformative. This show has been a disappointment.

Top Chef

I've never watched this show before so I'm enjoying it for the first time. The challenges seem interesting and the contestants are talented and knowledgeable. I like this show.

Next Great Artist

First year of the show and I liked it. I'm not entirely sure I liked all the art or understand how it was judged, but I liked watching the artists discuss it and think about it and create it.

I feel there are more shows I've watched in the last couple months (because not much else is on that I'm interested in right now). But, these are the ones I remember. And really, who cares what I think about this stuff - I don't even care. Except I guess I'm noting the fact that I've watched a lot of these lately.

Rodrigo y Gabriela

Last night LJB and I went to Marymoor Park to see Rodrigo y Gabriela.  Wonderful warm evening for an outdoor concert.
I enjoyed seeing them live.  It's just the two of them on stage making powerful music - from the delicate, to the complex, to the percussive.  And there's a lot of energy and intensity in their performance.  I enjoy their music in my iTunes mix, but I think their talent is best experienced live.

Thank you for a great evening!

Blue Angels

OMG!  I LOVE THE BLUE ANGELS!
It's Seafair Blue Angel time again...practice day started today.
And WHOOSH - they fly over my house a few times.  Its FAN TAS TIC!

Honestly, I'm not the kind of fan who goes too far out of her way to see the Blue Angels.  But, when they fly by I get quivery with excitement and run to the window whenever I think they could be coming close.
Over the years I've jumped up so many times to see them only to be disappointed because by the time I hear them, they're gone.  I've usually been in a place where I only get a glance anyway.
I've gotten a little lazy now.  Sometimes I hear them coming and try to figure out if they'll come close before I jump up.  By the time I figure it out - they're really gone and I missed the chance.  

The part that gives me the thrill is the sound of power behind the jets...it sounds so... 

"You better get out of my way because with the power of my big jets and my steely determination and my superior intelligence, I will...

KICK

YOUR

ASS!"

Boo-yah!

I'm not entirely proud of that feeling - but it is glorious.
:)

I long to be...

I long to be

...she who remembers the truth about herself,

no matter how beautiful it is.

A small bit of the puzzle answered

Why,oh why, did Christopher Eccleston leave Doctor Who?

(And why, oh why, do I care so much???)

Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston reveals why he left Doctor Who | scyfilove

CALL THEM OUT!

This man, Andrew Breitbart, has twisted the truth and published lies as truth.

I believe he should no longer be allowed a platform in news organizations.  Note:  I said, news organization.  Yes, he's entitled to an opinion.

Breitbart lied about Shirley Sherrod. Now he's lying about the NAACP. - By William Saletan - Slate Magazine

The media should be calling 'b_lls__t' to all the lies and nonsense it receives - not be a party to it, not give it full voice, not respond to it. Their job is to CALL THEM OUT! Simple enough. Straight forward. Why so difficult?

What would our world be like if we didn't allow anymore 'bulls__t'?

Fun Night...

Last night LJB and I went to Neil Young.  There were two songs that stood out to me...Love and War, and Walk With Me.  He sounded great - clear voice.  I forgot how 'down tempo' Neil Young is.  I don't think he cared who was listening.  My feeling is that he was doing the tour because it's what expected of him and it IS Neil Young - I mean, what else, he wonders, would he do to make money?  His fans loved him.  I'm glad I saw him playing and singing.  I'm reminded of what a personal thing a song is - much different on CD than in a concert setting.  At a concert, I share the personal exchange between song and listener with a whole crowd of people who might have experienced the song differently than I did.  Strange.  However, I enjoy seeing the artist perform.  And I think he enjoyed it for his own sake.  Good songs.  Good venue.  Good company.  Good night.

The Steve Miller Band at Chateau Ste Michelle Winery

Saw The Steve Miller Band at Chateau Ste Michelle Winery last night.  My only expectation was that I'd be able to sing along to many of the popular songs.  The pleasant surprise was how much I enjoyed the music I wasn't familiar with...Wild Mountain Honey and the new stuff from his album "Bingo" in particular. 
I'm pretty sure I heard most of the favorites:  The Joker, Space Cowboy, Abracadabra, Fly Like an Eagle, Jet Airliner, Rockin' Me, Jungle of Love, Swingtown.......
Thanks go out to SMS for the tickets, JEG for instigating, and LJB for the companionship