Register to Vote with this Arizona Form

Image by andronicusmax via Flickr

http://www.azsos.gov/election/Forms/voterregistrationform.pdf

It's simple, really.  Download this form, and plan to vote.  We need everyone to take this seriously.

Remember the Nike slogan, "Just Do It"?  My sentiments, exactly.

It's quiet, it's easy, it's non-violent.  And so American!

reBlog from Bob Shepard on March 23, 2010: ALERT ALERT ALERT

I found this fascinating quote today:

For more information on Arizonans For Health Care Freedom, go to www.azhealthcarefreedom.com. The full text of the Health Care Freedom Act can be downloaded here:Bob Shepard on March 23, 2010, ALERT ALERT ALERT, Mar 2010

You should read the whole article.

Diet Journal Starts Today On My Drastic Measures Page

There's not a single word written on the home page today, but if you are interested in diets and the such, head to:

http://drasticmeasures-beth.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-2010-diet-adventure.html

Day One.....

It's Green-Colored Water for Me: Cheers!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you and your family!  I am sitting on the sidelines this year due to the fact that I am a fatty and am starting this diet and there's no alcohol involved!  The funny thing is I really don't care.  I am so tired of wearing this spare tire of blubber around my middle, that I am going balls to the wall and losing this weight.

Okay, actually the official beginning of the diet that my friend Gretchen and I are doing starts tomorrow.  But, I haven't had a drink for about two weeks.  I thought I should ease into it.  Cutting off most foods and alcohol at one time seemed a bit overwhelming.

On my 'Drastic Measures' page of this blog site, I will give measurements, and try to tell the daily story for first full 30 days. Don't worry, I won't make you lose your lunch by adding pictures!  I respect y'all too much!

I am meeting Bill at an Irish restaurant/bar for lunch.  His office staff have been there since 11:00 am so it should be interesting. Don't get me started about this topic, I might start to sound like an angry Irish girl who is cranky because I cannot have an Irish beer today.  One day, though, I will put to words my situation.....

Longing for My Own Summer Internship

It's spring break and my daughter is home for a week of sunshine, friends and trying to figure out where to intern this summer.  Yes, hours of searching the web for a internship near a beach, far, far away from the blazing Arizona heat.  I am thinking for all my hours of hard work today that I should be able to do this internship with her, but I am pretty sure that's not apart of the plan.

I must say this is quite the process and we are late for most of the cool interships being offered to college students. I had no idea.  There are cover letters to be written, resumes to be filled out and statements of interest to be typed.  Some of the positions actually pay a very decent stipend...who knew?  At the end of the day, I couldn't help but think the world surely has gotten more complicated. Why, I remember packing all our worldly possessions after college final exams and heading to the beach...to find a cheap home that would accomodate 7 girls and find a job that didn't interupt party-going or sun-worshipping time.  In about 6 hours, we had a miserable/adorable house to rent for the summer and all 7 of us had jobs that would pay the bills and still have a little left over for the upcoming year.  Would we be out of luck in 2010?  Probably.

It would be extremely nice not to be here for the duration of the summer.  Believe me, it's miserable.  Dry and hot except between 5-7 am.  It's pretty tolerable during this 2-hour time period.  I think it might be funny to send out my bio, resume and interest statement, only maybe I'd have to fudge on the age information.  Who wants a 50-something, empty nester person cleaning the area for the sea turtles or other fun jobs being offered! No, I think I'll pull some picture from my college days and stick that in my profile for my summer internship.

Every year, I present the idea of leaving this Hell of a place and visit my sister in MD.  And every year I get the same lame/sane answers from Bill of how it would be difficult to conduct business away from town for so long.  But, I am going to keep trying.  I could use some clever ideas on how to get this accomplished, so give me some comments on what you would do in my shoes.   

If I Cannot Watch Baseball, Then it's Time for a Little Political Ranting

This mood I am in certainly has something to do with the fact that I have a cough and cold and it's time to be getting ready to go to a Chicago Cubs' spring training game!  This would be the perfect day to head out to a game as the skies have finally cleared and the weather would be perfect for a little baseball, except it's not nice to get innocent people sick with your cough and cold.  So, I apologize in advance if this post gets a little cranky in it's presentation!

Everyday I read and read all the commentary on health care reform.  I read "both sides" of the argument and am open to all ideas, even if my own natural tendencies run along the fiscally conservative side. At the end of each day of researching and reading so that I can be informed on the topic, I see some simple truths being distorted, that bug me the most:

• Everyone in America has the same goals, no matter what party affiliation you are loyal to......great quality health care for all Americans.  The only difference is how we think we should get there.   Will the Democrats stop saying Republicans don't care about people and that they are somehow morally corrupt?!!  Thank you.
• The same argument can be said for our kids' education, social security, and a decent quality of life.
• Both large political parties and all the smaller political parties, for that matter, ALL have ideas and a plan to how to get quality health care for everyone, so would people stop saying they don't, for crying out loud?!! Thank you. And the truth is that there are also hundreds of plans presented by businessmen, housewives and students, too.  We are not a nation devoid of ideas.  
• Can we all just accept that the democratic process is sticky and difficult for good and important reasons.  Our own senator, Jon Kyle understands and so do plenty of congressmen on both sides of the aisle. Some of our junior representatives and even our junior President lose sight of this fact....they just don't have the experience, the patience or the knowledge like the "old-timers" do. 
• At the end of the day, one "side" wins out with their plan and it goes into effect.  The good news is, if in fact the plan turns out to be a lousy one or maybe even a catastorous one, the idea will get thrown out, the winning side gets voted out of office and a new and improved idea gets started down the political process.  The only problem?  This process takes a long time, so that's why its worth it to try to pass the best legislation possible (for either side) to allow the plan to achieve.  Would Mr. Obama please stop trying to rush the normal process foir passing decent legislation....(it's only for his own good)?!!  Thank you.
• No matter what's wrong with our current health care system today, we DO have the best quality care for our citizens.  Period.  No other country is better.  Most are envious.  Canadians are constantly crossing the border for loved ones who need quality care that their own Country does not provide.  Can we all stop saying otherwise, (it makes us sound stupid....naive.....ugly)?!! Thank you.

That's all I have to say for now.  The drugs are kicking in to relieve me of this fever, cough and cold.  This is a good thing, as there are only so many days in the month of March, only so many spring training baseball games left!

Spring Fever Has Sprung!

Spring Fever has hit the Southworth household. I am cleaning and buzzing around avoiding my work assignments and blaming it on the beautiful spring weather.

March is spring training month here in Arizona and I am so ready to go to some games! They are games almost everyday depending on who you are following. I love the Chicago Cubs, but heading to Mesa is a bit of a long haul, so I also attend the Giants game in Scottsdale and I want to try out the stadiums on the west side of town. It's time to start making up my list....the list of people willing to blow off an afternoon of work to sit outside, watch baseball and possibly eat a hot dog and down a few beers. Any takers? Seriously, it's amazing to me how few people want to play hooky from work. I am older and wiser than most, so I am aware of the value of playing hooky to go watch baseball in the month of March. "Research shows that work productivity increases by as much as 62% when skipping work several afternoons for spring training games". (Don't quote me to your boss......I just made that up).

Wrigley is now wearing his baseball collar he got for Christmas from his best dog friend, Tucker. We think it's going to bring some good luck to the team. Naturally, we think this is going to be THE YEAR! What? Don't you? And if you are a St. Louis Cardinals' fan, you can just leave my site right now, because we are not talking!

Anyway, back to the case of my spring fever. It's so bad, that I want to sit outside and soak up the sun wearing #4 Ban de Soleil even though I am aware of how dangerous it is getting skin cancer and the fact that they probably don't even make #4 Ban de Soleil anymore. But, I bet a few of you empty nest Moms remember that product. It smelled heavenly and gave you a beautiful color of tan. Next time I go to the drug store I am going to see it they stock my favorite product and buy it. And lather it all over my body before I head out to a spring training game!

If you are looking for someone to watch a game, call me, comment to me...whatever...just don't waste any time...we only have this month and it goes quickly! Soon the temperatures hit 100 degrees and we must head inside for the long and dry summer.

Red, White and Blue

I woke up around 4 am with some of the worst cramps I have ever experienced in my life. I attributed it to my second day of my new diet and exercise routine. Yesterday, I worked out hard, ate veggies and chicken breasts and apples and drank most the water from my pool! I haven't had a glass of wine in two days. So, naturally, one would assume that this kind of routine might induce your stomach to form a tight knot and squeeze until your eyeballs pop out. Only I was dead wrong.

I wore my new white sweatpants to bed last night, recently purchased from my favorite CAbi salesperson, Christine Wilson. I have no idea why I selected these to sleep in, except for the fact they are very soft and warm....and white. Now, it's not like most of you don't know exactly where this story is going. I am in that group of women in the late 40's early 50's when the menstrual period has either diminished, become sporadic or for the lucky few, simply ended one month. I thought I had THAT month about 5 months ago! But NO.....no such luck. It has come back like the curse that it is. And all over my new white sweatpants! (Luckily, I got it out by soaking them all morning).

I have searched the house only to find a single tampon, so it's off to the store for more plus a gigantic bottle of Advil or Motrin. Sounds like fun, eh? Ah, the joys of womanhood and the surprises that this pre-menopausal period brings. Just a part of every empty nest woman's life I know. I am overjoyed and think I'll find some blues music to listen to today.......................