With the gloomy sound of rain outside, I jumped in bed for an afternoon nap and turned on the TV.  I got sucked into watching women’s curling, which I’ve grown to love, and then flipped around the channels.  I stopped as soon as I saw another one of my loves…President Obama.  Then it occurred to me…today was the big Health Care Summit, and I forgot all about it!

That really got me thinking about what I, and we as a society, really care about.  I have been a very vocal supporter of President Obama, and while I do pay more attention to him and what he’s doing than I have with any other president in the past, I’m still not as aware as I need or should be.  There’s a lot going on with this proposed Health Care Bill, and I will be the first one to admit that I could stand to learn more about it.  The Summit today was like 7 hours long and I don’t think we all need to sit through all of that, but when I sat and looked at where my attention has been lately…it hasn’t been on this.

Think about this.  How many of you don’t miss an episode of American Idol, or Jersey Shore, or Vampire Diaries?  Who watched or listened to Tiger Woods press conference last week?  And who watched even 10 minutes of the Health Care Summit, or looked it up online?  Yeah, that’s what I thought.  Don’t worry, I’m not judging you because I’m just as guilty, but I just felt that I needed to point this out.

I know it’s easy for us to not care about politics.  It seems boring, and we don’t feel like we can make a difference.  But we at least need to be aware of what’s going on because what’s going on now is going to affect us for years to come!  It’s about our health and how we’re going to be able (or not) to pay for it!  It’s also easy for us to not care if we’re young because “hey, I don’t have to care about that stuff yet.”  Well, yes we do.

Ok, I’ll shut up now, but I just wanted to throw it out there for all us to think about.  If we can care enough to Keep up with the Kardashian’s, the least we can do is pay attention to the things that truly affect our lives.

What do YOU think?  Are you politically aware?  If you are, what advice do you have for the rest of us?  If not, why not?  I would love to hear from you.  Be sure to leave a comment!

Just my humble opinion…Pebbles

So the question is… “Would you leave the person you love in order to live a lifelong dream?  This is the decision that a friend of my boyfriend is faced with.  Pay attention, it could get confusing!

My boyfriend’s friend, let’s call him Edward, has a girlfriend who we’ll call Bella. Hey, I’m a Twilight junkie, what do you want from me!  Anyway, Edward also has a friend we’ll call Alice who he has hooked up with off and on over the years when he wasn’t with someone.  Well Alice has inherited some money and is now a millionaire and wants to share the wealth with Edward.  She wants to give him the money for him to pursue a lifelong dream.  This is something that he has wanted to do his entire life, but hasn’t had the money to do it.  In addition, she’s going to buy him an expensive car, AND give him thousands of  ”just in-case” dollars.  Bella knows about, and hates Alice, which would mean that if Edward takes the money, it would be the end of his relationship.

So again, the question is…Would you leave the person you love in order to pursue a lifelong dream?  Let me first say that I’m sure it’s easy for people on the outside looking in to say what we would do because the money isn’t about to be deposited into our accounts.  That said, I thought long and hard about it, and at this point in my life, I would have to go with love.  I am currently with a man I adore and he makes me happier than I ever thought I could be.  Several years ago, I had given up on finding someone, and my life was all about my job.  I love it, but even though I denied it at the time, I still felt a longing for something more.

I have to make a point of saying that this does not mean that if you are currently single, you don’t have a life because that is absolutely not true.  We live our lives where we are, and if that means focusing on other areas of your life for a period of time, that’s where you are.  Hey, you may even choose to be single permanently.

Back to the other choice, love or money.  How do you make a choice like this?  For me, there are 5 questions you need to answer.  Once you have, I think you can make your decision.

1.  Five years from now, which decision do you think you would regret more…leaving the person you love, or leaving your dream behind?

2.  Which would be easier for you to replace or get…someone new to love, or the money to fund your dream?

3.  Which decision would you be more comfortable living with in the long-run?  Some people would feel that it says something about their character by making one choice over the other.

4.  How much do you really love this person, and can you live with the hurt you would cause them?

5.  When you envision your future, which could you not imagine living without?

I think if you answer these questions honestly (hey, it wouldn’t bother some people to hurt someone else), I believe you could make a decision you could live with.

Now it’s time for YOU to weigh in…What decision would YOU make?  What would go into making YOUR choice?  What do you think about people who choose money over love and vice-versa?  I would love to hear from you!  Please leave a comment, and remember, none of your personal info is ever displayed, only your name.

Thanks for reading…

Just my humble opinion, Pebbles!

Tiger Woods spoke for the first time on Friday and there have been lots of different reactions to his speech, so I figured I would share mine.   The speech was given with the understanding that there would only be a select group of Tiger’s friends, family, and colleagues present.  There was a single camera and only a few members of the media were allowed in the room.

I listened to press conference, so my initial reactions didn’t have anything to do with how he looked, but were based solely on his words.  Just listening,  I found him to sound like a truly defeated man who is sincerely sorry for what he did and was going to do his best to make amends to his wife, family, sponsors and fans.

I know that a lot of people don’t care what he had to say and no matter what he said, weren’t going to believe him, but I think he did what he had to do.   This was done because he needs to be sure his career is in tact when he is finished with therapy and whatever else he’s going to do to get his personal life back in order.  He needs to gain back the trust and respect of his sponsors, fans and the public.  It’s not going to be easy, but I do think that this was a step in the right direction.

I am one of the people who he talked about being a disappointment to.  I have been a huge Tiger fan for years, and I was SO upset when I heard about his “indiscretions.”  It was devastating for me to hear that he was not the person I thought he was.  After thinking about it, I realized that that is MY problem, not Tiger’s.  I was the one who put him on a pedestal.  I believed he was different from other athletes.  And I looked at him as a role model for adults and children alike.   It has really made me re-evaluate my thoughts on celebrities.  I don’t think there’s anything wrong with admiring them for their good qualities, but I think I need to do a better job at keeping in mind that they are human just like the rest of us and that they can and will make mistakes.

Although I’m finding that a lot of people don’t agree with me, I think that if we’re fans, we owe it to Tiger to allow him to make it up to us.   He screwed up…and his screw-up was of epic proportions!  He said that his wife told him that his apology to her was not going to come through words, but by his actions.  If she is willing to allow him to try to make it up to him, who are we to say no?

Back to Tiger’s speech, I’m not going to analyze it word for word, or examine his body language, but there were a couple of moments that stood out to me.  One was when he talked about the paparazzi following his wife and children.  It was the only time in the speech that I found him really expressing some strong emotion.  And I totally agree with him.  His children and wife should not be stalked to the point where they feel threatened.  When he spoke about that, it almost felt like he wanted to go off script for a moment and tell people what he really thought!  The other moment that stood out to me was when he talked about feeling entitled.  For me, that was one of the most honest moments of the speech.  Here’s the exact quote, “I knew my actions were wrong, but I convinced myself that normal rules didn’t apply. I never thought about who I was hurting. Instead, I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries that a married couple should live by. I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled. Thanks to money and fame, I didn’t have to go far to find them.” I think that this is what happens to A LOT of celebrities, athletes and otherwise, and it was actually nice to hear someone admit it!

I’m sure that another celebrity scandal is going to come along at some point, and we’ll forget all about Tiger and his “indiscretions.”   He will make a triumphant return to golf, the public will forgive him, and the sponsors will be all over him  again.

So what did YOU think about Tiger’s speech?  Did you even watch it?  Do you think it was sincere, and did he say what you wanted him to?

I would love to hear from you, so please leave me a comment.  None of your personal information will be displayed…only your name!  Thank so much for reading!

Just my humble opinion…Pebbles

I am in a relationship, but believe me, I know what it’s like to be single on Valentine’s Day.  The key to that statement is that you are single…not alone!  Too many times, we as women think it’s one in the same.  It’s not.  We all have people in our lives who love us, and isn’t that what the day is really all about?  Love.

I know that some of you will say that it’s not the same, and spending the day with a hot guy ISN’T the same as hanging with your girls, but are you really going to let that spoil your day?  If you’re answer is yes, then I guess I really can’t help you, but if it’s no…I have some suggestions.

Get your single friends together. I’m sure that you’re all trying to figure out what you’re going to do, so YOU take the initiative and get it together.  Pick a restaurant, bar, bowling alley, museum, or whatever else will be fun for the group and tell them what time to meet you there.  It’s harder to say no when someone has already done the legwork.

Have a Pity Party! I’m sure everyone won’t condone this one, but a good cry or bitch session never killed anyone, and it does make you temporarily feel better.  So pick someone’s house to meet at, have everyone bring something to eat or drink and spend a few hours complaining about the guys you’ve had and the ones you don’t have.  The key to the night is making sure it ends on a high note.  Watch a funny movie together, play some board games, or whatever else will make you all laugh.  Just make sure no one drinks too much because we all know how that can end up.

Borrow a kid. Nothing in the world can change your mood like hanging out with kids.  Do you have nieces or nephews, little cousins, or have friends with children?  Borrow them for a while, and go do something fun with them.  Take them to the movies (Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is out, and for younger kids, The Tooth Fairy), go bowling, play in the snow, do paint-your-own-pottery, go to a museum, play video or board games, or have a tea party.  Kids love attention, so anything you do will be appreciated.  I promise you…taking care of kids will take your mind off being single, and their parents will appreciate the time to go out to dinner.

Book a spa day. It doesn’t have to be all day, and you don’t have to go alone, unless you want to.  Get your nails and toes done, a massage, a new hairstyle, or anything else that makes you feel good.  It’s hard to feel sorry for yourself after someone works all the kinks out of your back!

Give someone flowers. One year when I wasn’t in a relationship, I sent one of my friends a beautiful bouquet to her office.  I’m sure her heart skipped a beat when she first saw them, thinking they were from a guy, but she was so grateful for the gesture.  Making someone else happy is a great way to make yourself feel good.

Make a gym date. Nothing passes the time on a treadmill faster than talking to someone while you’re on it.  The best thing is that exercising will give you endorphins to make you feel better.  Plus, it will burn off the calories in that chocolate you’re going to want later!

Put a ring on it! Want a ring?  Buy yourself one.  You have time to get THE ring that you want, but for now, find something you love and get it for yourself.  And it doesn’t have to be an expensive one.  A few years back I bought myself a diamond ring that I NEVER wear.  The one that I DO wear every single day is a silver peace sign that I got for under $10 dollars.  You would be surprised how much fun it is ring-shopping for yourself!

I’m sure you get the idea.  There are a ton of things you can do if you’re single on Valentine’s Day.  Choose to make it a great day.  It is just another day after all.  Don’t let the commercialization of the day make you feel bad about where you are in your life right now.  Remember…you’re not always going to be single!

So what are your plans for Valentine’s Day?  Do you have any suggestions?  I would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment. Only your name and comment will be displayed.  Thanks for reading!

Just my humble opinion…Pebbles!

Eight weeks after giving birth via c-section to 9-pound, 5-ounce Hank Baskett Jr., Kendra Wilkinson is back in a bikini.  She reportedly gained 55 pounds, and has lost 25 of them.

First let me say congratulations to Kendra on her adorable baby boy!  I’m sure she’s incredibly happy and her life will never be the same.  That said, I have to address the pictures in OK! magazine of Kendra in a bikini.  There’s lots of talk about whether these pictures are airbrushed, Photoshopped, or both, and if you know me, I couldn’t let it go without saying something.

I don’t have children, so I can’t say that I’ve carried a child and know how pregnancy affects my body.  I do have lots to say about how much these celebrity “bikini after baby” photos bother me.  Not because of the effect on me, but for how I’m sure they upset women who have had their own babies.

From what I’ve seen, pregnancy, labor, and weight loss are very personal things for each woman.  I have seen friends and family members who have had easy pregnancies, rough ones, easy-breezy labor, excruciating labor, instant weight loss, and some who still carry the pounds.  There are so many factors that contribute to each one of them, but I feel that seeing the pictures of celebrities causes women to feel like they have to live up to a ridiculous standard.  Even worse, guys look at these pictures and wonder why they can do it and their wives and girlfriends can’t.  I don’t think most guys would be stupid enough to say that to the woman who just gave birth to their child, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all that they think it.

Do I think these pictures have been altered?  I have no idea.  Something seems SO wrong to me about analyzing and criticizing another woman’s body in that way.  I wish I could say that I’ve never done it, but I have.  I think the problem I have with the pictures is the fact that we even have to see them in the first place.  I know we live is a materialistic/beauty-loving society and there’s a lot of judging books by their covers going on.  All these celebrity photos do is establish an unrealistic set of standards we will never be able to live up to.

I do think it’s possible for some people to lose all that weight quickly.  But I also think that the celebrity lifestyle makes it much easier to do so.  Most of them have trainers, nanny, cooks, and let’s not forget the money to get tummy-tucks and other forms of plastic surgery.  The average woman does not, but is still held to that standard.  Yes, we impose a lot of those standards on ourselves, and I really hope we can get over them.

Personally, I still have lots of body issues that started when I was a teenager.  I’ve had boyfriends comment on my weight during those years, and it took a LONG time to get over some of those things.  I’m sure I still hold some of that inside of me.  The funny thing is…I look back at pictures from the times that they (and I) thought I was fat, and would kill to look like that now.  It’s really very unfortunate, and I hate knowing that there are girls who are going to go through the same thing.

All this isn’t to say that body issues are Kendra Wilkinson’s fault, but I really wish they would be more honest with us about what they have to do to get back in that bikini so soon.  I was very impressed with Kourtney Kardashian when she recently spoke out about the Photoshopped photos that OK! printed of her.  She wanted people to know that she gained more weight than they claimed she did, and that she has NOT lost it all.  Good for her!

I would love to hear what YOU think!  Women…How did pregnancy affect you?  Do you feel these pictures represent an unreachable standard?  Do pictures in the media affect how you feel about yourself, and if not, how have you worked through that?  Men…Do you secretly compare your woman to the pictures of celebrities?  How did your wife or girlfriend’s pregnancy affect you?

Please leave a comment.  Only your name and comment will be displayed.  Thanks so much for reading!

Just my humble opinion…Pebbles!