Frustration....

Day after day, I am becoming more and more frustrated with the situation in the Gulf. I am sickened and saddened by pictures of wildlife washed up on beaches – covered in oil, by stories of fishermen who are struggling because their livelihood is being destroyed, and by BP’s inability to stop the leak.

As I see the pictures of oil spewing out of the pipe, I wonder, why do these pipes not have some sort of shut off valve, or a series of shut off valves that can be closed when something happens like this? Or why can’t they remove the destroyed section of pipe and slap on a cap? Not some stupid “Top Hat” or “Sombrero” thing that is only able to capture a very small amount. Why can’t the oil industry as a whole come up with something to stop this leak? Where is the meeting of the minds? Why is the entire oil industry not combining their intellectual resources to come up with a solution? Surely there is someone, somewhere that knows what to do or has a better solution than anything BP is throwing out there. After all, this catastrophe is impacting all of the oil companies, not just BP.

My frustration deepens when the Government does something like putting a moratorium on deep sea drilling in the Gulf. How does this help the situation? It is typical of our Government to take an action that does not address the current problem. All it does is exacerbate another problem stemming from the spill – increased unemployment. There are many businesses providing materials and support to the oil rigs. The doors of these businesses will close. The employees of these businesses will be out of work yet BP’s broken pipe will continue to spew oil into the gulf.

In my humble opinion, the Fed’s need to work on doing everything it can to help clean up the mess in the Gulf. AFTER the pipe is capped and a good clean-up plan is in place THEN start taking about changing regulations and requirements for deep-sea and shallow water drilling so that the likelihood of this happening again is lessened. Don’t stop all drilling in the Gulf.

I could go on and on about my thoughts on this subject but I will spare you my further ramblings and I will turn off CNN. I will go to bed, but before I do I will say a prayer for those in the Gulf; the wildlife, the people, and even BP that they may find a way to stop this leak and clean up their mess.

The Beauty of Friendship

A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails. ~Donna Roberts

The day started with a problem.  One I won't bore you with.  I sat on my couch alone and thinking about what I was going to do about my problem.  I didn't want to ask for help.  I decided I would just deal with it. in a "It is what it is" sort of manner.  Nothing to do but walk through it. 

Then I needed to vent about it, not rant and rave but just let someone know.  I sent an IM on my Blackberry to my friend, Maiken.  She is great for this sort of thing.  I don't even have to go into detail.  I just gave her the jist of my problem.  She didn't try to solve it.  Just agreed that these things suck.  I felt better.

She came over this afternoon, bringing chocolate and Coke (she knows just what I need).  We chatted, we laughed a little, we reminisced about a horrible, horrible double date we had in high school, and I forced her to take gave her a few things I won't need when I move. 

Before she left, she gave me a great big hug.  The kind of hug that says without words "everything is okay and I am here if you need me".

I feel better.  I don't know if I would have felt better had she not been there for me today.  Maybe I would still be pondering my problem instead of moving through it.

Maiken has been my friend since middle school.  Over the years we have lost touch and reconnected quite a few times.  Every time we reconnect it is as though we never lost touch.  I can tell her anything no matter how embarrassing and I know she will be the last person to place any judgements on me or my actions.  I am 100% myself in her company. 

I love her for being my friend and for everything she adds to my life.

The Simple Things: Walking

These past two evenings I have taken long walks with my friends Robyn and Rachelle. Walking is such a simple thing that makes me feel better about everything.

I prefer walking outside and with friends. No treadmill for this girl. I like the fresh air, the scenery, the feel of the sun on my sun-block protected skin. Walking with friends feels less like exercise and more like an outing with the girls. If I can’t walk with friends, I borrow my son’s iPod and set up a playlist of upbeat songs and take the dog along.

Walking is such a simple and basic exercise. Almost everyone can do it. You don’t need to walk fast or far. Just walk.

When I walk my mood improves, my stress level decreases, all of the thoughts running around in my head seem to settle and I can think more clearly.

There are all sorts of health benefits from walking from weight management to lower blood pressure but what it all boils down to for me is this: walking simply makes me feel good. This is why walking is one of The Simple Things.

Great news!!!

My nephew is coming home from the hospital today! 

I sat with him yesterday and was amazed at how much progress he had made since I was there on Sunday.  On Sunday he was laying on the bed with a washcloth over his eyes, not talking, and looking miserable. The blinds were closed and curtains pinned together to block out the light.  He couldn't deal with the light from the hallway so the door had to stay closed as well. 

Yesterday, he barely sat still.  He opened the blinds, walked to the cafeteria for his lunch, took a walk with me,  had back to back physical therapy sessions, and nearly talked my ear off.  The doctors, nurses,  and therapists were amazed at how much he had improved in the past couple of days. 

I want to thank everyone for their support and prayers for Codie.