Oh Christmas Tree

Ok...what is going on with this whole Christmas tradition bashing stuff that I've been hearing on TV and reading in the papers? Seriously, if I want to call my tree a "Christmas" tree that's what I'm going to call it. Sorry if I offend but that is what it has always been to me and I'm not changing tradition because groups of people are offended by the word "Christmas". What has happened to our traditions. They are disappearing right and left just because we have to be so politically correct. I'm done! What is this world coming to? It's falling apart. Someone please explain all of this madness to me and quick. I realize not everyone celebrates Christmas but just because not everyone does why do the people who do have to change? I don't expect people to change their traditions with Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, etc.... I'm not asking people to change the name of the Menorah, Dreidel, the Kinara, Mkeka, Mazao, Kikombe cha umoja, Mishumaa saba, or the Zawadi so why is everyone so up in arms about the "Christmas" tree?? I just think there are more constructive things to be worrying about than if people want to call their tree a Christmas tree!! We need to be thinking about homeless children, the troops, our families....

Ok...I got that off my chest...I'm going to go put up my Christmas Tree now.(next someone will want to ban the colors red and green during the holidays...just you wait!) I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyful Kwanzaa or just a plain old Happy Holiday!

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope that you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Each of us has so many things to be thankful for.

Jane 360

Tonight I attended an art show called Jane 360. An eclectic group of female artists joined together to show their work to the art enthusiasts of Des Moines. The inaugural exhibit, See Jane Make Art, was held in the former Northwestern Hotel, located in the East Village. There was a wide range of creations including photography, printmaking, paintings, and mixed media. It was great to see a show made up of only female artists. The paintings of Larassa Kabel and Steph Van Dorn were out of this world. Both of these women have such extreme talent. If I had 1/10 of their talent I would be happy. I could stand and look at their pieces for hours. Kathy Tran's mixed media pieces also excited me. My favorite piece was Madonna and Cat, carved out of wood and then painted, this cartoonistic piece made me smile. The piece that really blew me away though was by Brooke Howard. On the front of an old medicine cabinet was a self portrait of Brooke wrapped in a white sheet, standing in an old porcelain tub, looking out the window. When you opened the door to the cabinet there was a shrine of all kinds of wonderful finds...Religious figures, skulls, poems, pictures of family members...it was amazing. I look forward to their next show and I hope that this adds fire to the art scene in Des Moines. Art is so important and we need to embrace all of this talent and support it. Kudos to Jane 360 for doing an all female show and sharing their amazing talent with Des Moines.

Ode to the Old Dirty Biker

Whenever I'm at bike night I always catch myself watching the Old Dirty Bikers. Their worn look draws me in. I'm always wondering what their story is. What kinds of experiences they've had riding the highways on their bikes. Most of them don't ride the fancy, shiny Harley Davidson...most of their bikes have character, the bike is as worn as it's rider. I went to the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, IA on Friday and there was the coolest looking worn out Harley there. I stood their for a long time looking at it, wondering what the rider must have looked like. How many miles this old biker and his bike must have ridden. There was even a Christmas ornament on it. At the museum there was also the Hall of Fame room. There was a Hall of Famer who has since passed on to the other side whose story drew me in. His name was Allen Calvin La Fortune. A Harley was the only form of transportation that Allen ever owned. He used his bike to haul his boat, a camper, and a trailer. He had rode a million miles by 1998. Allen's last ride was 6 days before his death in August 2002. Allen was a true 1%er. Some people just don't get motorcycles and what it is like to ride but I know the Old Dirty Bikers do. If you are a true 1%er and you read my blog, leave me a story. I'd love to hear about your adventures on the open road.

Here is a poem that I found written by an Old Dirty Biker, I really liked it and hopefully you will too:

As the southern sun makes its fall, the darkness of night starts to call.
Sweat beads thick around his head, a mind full of heartache, a heart full of dread needing something to unscramble lifes tangled web.
Out in the darkness a steel horse sits, poised and ready to calm lifes fits.
A touch of a button, a twist of a grip
breaking the silence 88 inches rip, slicing the night with one eye lit.
As cold wind blows and the white lines roll from his head lifes troubles seem to flow and for a brief moment it's touched his soul.
As the western moon makes its fall the steel horse sits back in its stall.
Live to ride, ride to live as one may recall but for those who do
they know this is all.

Really Bad Movie

Really bad movies suck you in and keep you watching them thinking that it has to get better at some point. I watched probably the worst movie I've ever seen tonight. It was called Dance with Me with Jennifer Beals and Campbell Scott. While there were some semi erotic dance scenes in the movie, I just kept asking myself why I was wasting time on this flick. But I did and I'm here to tell you not to waste your time unless you have time to waste. It was probably as bad, if not worse than Eyes Wide Shut.

Another Birthday...Argh!

Wow...these birthdays roll around faster as you get older. I remember being 13 wishing I was 16 and then I was 16 wishing I was 21. Now I'm turning 37 and I'm wishing I was like 25. I loved 25. It was a great age. Really I'm not too depressed about 37. I'm still 3 yrs away from 40 and I feel like I just continue to get better with age. I'm like a fine wine...he he! I think when you hit your 30's you are finally growing up...finally becoming the person you are going to be for the rest of your life. Being a 20 something for me was chaotic. It was quite a learning experience for me. You think you know it all in your 20's. Now that I'm at the end of my 30's, I know I don't know it all and there is so much more out there that I need to do before life passes me by. Live like there is no tomorrow and laugh as much as you can. Life is what you make it and I'm not going to let 37 get me down. I'm going to live like I'm still 25 and have a damn good time doing it! Happy Birthday to me!

The Poppy

Today I went to the grocery store and the VFW(Veterans of Foreign Wars) members were selling poppies. I purchased a couple like I always do because of my respect for them serving our country. As I walked around the store I thought to myself...I need to actually thank those men when I leave the store. I wrote about thanking them on my blog and I just need to do it...need to tell them Thank You! I walked out of the store and the Vet that I had purchased my poppies from was sitting alone...I'd say he was about 75 to 80...I put my hand on his shoulder and said...Sir, I would just like to say thank you for the service you gave to our country. I appreciate what you did very much. He looked at me, smiled and said...you are welcome. I think it made him feel good, at least I hope it did. I know it made me feel good for saying it.