I called my 2nd Grade teacher today and left a message on her answering machine.(at least i think it is hers)
I am still grining at the thought of it. And my heart is warm with
fond memories of her and the thought of seeing her...Ms..J...my second grade teacher. She was...well, one of my favorites. I should say that.... she was really.... my very special, first favorite, teacher. In fact, my best female friend growing up, she is still in this town and gave me a number that she got from her mother....that we all think may be my (our) teacher's phone number. We will go together and visit her (cause my friend wants to go but was afraid to call) and i will take her flowers. I just want to thank her for how supportive she was...for everything she did as a teacher. And for watching out and taking care of my little bro. He got lucky and had her for a 2nd grade teacher also. She was the best. And she shoud know that. I want to tell her that.

It's a bit overcast today, but--
 

And with the surge of hyper-activity I've felt the last week or so, I decided to spend it organizing, paring down, re-positioning things and cooking and baking...so, there's that...

Having the extra hour today has been good to me...

Music playing in the background as I work...

All the hugs from my friend Spritzie and the General...

The awesome picture Tommi left on my page!...

Getting ready to go do my nails in a bit...

Life is mostly quiet, and it feels good, too...

Yep, It's a smiling kinda day--mostly. I WILL smile, dammit!

Kickboxing class...I needed that much better now

Confirmation that my daughter will be with us for Xmas.

Still smiling over a great weekend spent with friends, my babe, and our babygirl pup.

Smiles full of blessings. :)

gifts
 

The gift of payment for 6 mos. Work today. Coming to the site and reading a friendly notification

I love my new home. I was driving along the lake and just smiling at the thought that I get to see this view each and every day. I feel like I am exactly where I belong. I am a water girl and it truly makes me happy to live so close now.:cheesy:

I"m so enjoying the happy progression of your journey.....:bunchflowers:

:moonstars:

I was charmed and smitten....by a wee boy who looked too small to be able to walk....finally.....a GOOD experience with children while at walmart....

No More Living in Fear....
 

This weekend changed my life forever. As you all know Minnesota is one of the states that have the Minnesota Same-Sex Marriage Amendment on the ballot. Well I could no longer hide who I am... So I posted my story on my facebook for the world to see and my small town of 350 ppl the very town my mother still lives in. The people have changed my life for ever!

Here is my story............

I was a little girl just like you. I was your friend growing up.
I was your babysitter, your teammate, your student, and your classmate. You voted me Spring Fest Queen in high school and Athlete of the Year. I am a daughter, a godchild, a sister and an Aunt. I’m your co-worker. I’m the friend you call when you need help.

Why I’m Voting NO on the Minnesota Same-Sex Marriage Amendment, Amendment 1

I lived in fear my entire life and today I will no longer live in fear for who I am. I was in so much fear I wasn’t able to tell my own mother my truth, the truth of who I am. I lived in fear of losing my friends. In fear of being bullied and in fear of being laughed at or not being able to play sports because of who I am. My biggest fear of all was for my mother her living in a small town and of how small towns always have a few that “whisper.” I’m sure there will be a few after hearing or reading this.

I thought I was protecting her and my family when in fact I was only hurting myself. Although I protected her and my family the only way I knew how, HIDE. I hid who I really was. I am now ashamed for hiding my truth from my mother whom I love so very much, the very person that brought life to me 47 years ago and took me 46 years to tell. I was afraid to share what I’ve been through and go through daily because of who I am. She said, “she loves me no matter what.”

I am not going to hide anymore. I am gay. I am no different than the person sitting next to you. The same person you grew up with, the same person you worked beside, the same person that babysat your children. I’m the same person that laughed with you at the bar or played ball with and currently in the state of Minnesota, the state I have called home my entire life, the state that I love, it is illegal for me to marry the one I love.

Amendment 1 does not legalize gay marriage, but it keeps discrimination out of Minnesota’s constitution.

Let me ask you. How do you love your mother? How do you love your sister, your best friend? How do you love your spouse? Please tell me, why is my love any different than yours? I was good enough back in high school to be Athlete of the year and Spring Fest Queen but not good enough to have the same rights you have.

I hope that by talking about this it may change some peoples thinking.. So when you go to check that box ….. I beg you to Vote NO on Amendment 1! Amendment 1 changes the Minnesota constitution to define marriage as being between a man and a woman and takes us farther away from equality; to me it is out right discrimination.

Please do not allow them to put discrimination in our constitution it only hurts me, millions of others, and generations to come.

LOVE is LOVE and is bigger than any government! VOTE NO!!

My little town and surrounding area's have been so supportive. My mom has gotten phone calls of people crying and saying they are so sorry they didn't support me more growing up. It's been a beautiful experience I can't even explain it.

I was working a phone bank at Obama Headquarters today, rallying the final 48 hours before election day.
Scanning who was there with me when I first got settled in, about 40 of us on a Sunday afternoon. 38 women. Two of whom must have been nearing or over 90 years old. Using cell phones and laptops to call people and remind them to vote. Big smile and heart about to burst with love for them.
I wish I could have talked to them and learned more of their story, but they made me smile just the same.

One woman I called (we were calling Ohio) spent 15 minutes telling me all of the places she has seen support for Obama there in Ohio, including Stevie Wonder being there playing music at one of the early vote sites.

Best call was with an 87 year old woman who told me she never votes early because election day, and her ability to vote, is sacred, and she and her husband walk to the polls together every year.

There were women who told me they weren't going to vote, but I'm not going to talk about them here. Humph.

I just watched this little documentary. It's on Netflix and Amazon.

It made me smile today. :)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...FL._SX500_.jpg