Prequel to yesterday's blog

8-22-09 putting the cart before the horse brain

Molly was confused by my post.... I guess my point was IF we can laugh together at the absurdity of politics, maybe we can start to work together.

Greg commented yesterday that my blog seemed to take a big leap from feel-good stories of summer girlfriend fun one day, and onto hard-hitting political issues the next day. He was hoping for a transition.

We’ll there was a common thread between the two posts, but it had remained in my head, so I suppose I should correct that today.

During the KC Girls Weekend retreat, we were a mixed group. Probably split 50/50 between more progressive verses more conservative. We managed to stay away from discussing politics 99% of the time.

Only once someone brought up Sarah Palin quitting as Governor of Alaska. This caused a bit of a short, but spirited exchange where the topic of Goldman Sachs and AIG bailouts also came up into the conversation. I wanted to say “Bush started it…. not Obama”… but I kept my mouth shut. So I started thinking about this conversation from the girl’s weekend when I saw Stephen Colbert a few days ago.

I started thinking how the politicians, lobbyists, and other powerful people probably just love having the liberals and conservatives go after each other. They love this great divide. If corporations and news media such as Fox News can keep us fighting between ourselves…. their ratings go up, AND NOTHING GETS CHANGED.

The system of corruption and greed and politics as usual is allowed to continue.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could start to bridge the perceived gap and come together to get something good done for the American people, instead of helping only the 1% wealthiest corporate ruling-class.

Last weekend Greg and I saw the movie Food, inc. This movie will blow off the doors of your refrigerator! Only a handful of companies control our food supply. We are at their mercy. Of course former employees are now in government policy making positions, like the FDA, or former politicians now sit on company boards. Of course there is a direct link between what we eat and health care dollars spent.

http://www.foodincmovie.com

This movie was alarming to me, but the good news is that every time I shop for food, I am casting MY vote on who and what I support. I’m encouraged to shop at Farmer’s Markets and buy local as much as possible. AND grow my own garden.

Well enough on politics for a few days….. Although I’ll warn you, I am building up some steam to talk about health care at some point.

OK one last picture back at the pond to calm us down again!.... as we sing "a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down".... "in the most delightful way!"

Laughter is the best medicine!

8-21-09 befuddled brain
I’ve been outspoken and pissed off about “corporate welfare” for years. I was especially intrigued by a book I read back in 2007 called, “Free Lunch… How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense, and Stick You with the Bill” by David Cay Johnston.

Today I’m fascinated by my Republican friends who are NOW getting on the band-wagon of outrage at Goldman Sachs, AIG, City Group, and the government bailouts.

I guess better late then never.

Big corporations have been taking the American people for a ride for a very long time. It's call "business as usual in Washington D.C." Both Democrats and Republicans practice this, and we the people have let the system continue.

Finally something WE- my Democrat AND Republican friends, can agree upon….. so now I’m sure if I post this clip ALL will enjoy this from Stephen Colbert. Remember “laughter is the best medicine”….

And those of you who DON'T have insurance need all the “laughter” you can get! Try some of the Colbert Report, or a Girls Weekend.... it might add a year to your life.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Colbert Platinum - Urbane Nomads, Gigayacht & Michael Jackson Diamond
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Protests

PS: There is already “socialism” for the wealthy…. Then they make the rest of us live by capitalism… working, scrapping and fighting for every penny we get. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not looking for a free handout, (like the lobbyist)…. I want a system that works for everyone. And not a system of government owning everything.

How to stop business as usual in Washington, DC? I good place to start would be campaign reform and term limits…. Easier said then done. But it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.

The top 1% own most of the money in our country, not because they worked harder, but because they worked the system that they created…. But the rest of us still have power if we come together in our outrage.

KC Girls Weekend: saying good-bye

8-20-09 in conclusion brain
After yoga class, most of the gals went down to the barn area or out into the field to get a tour of the animals. Since I have been on the farm many times before, I snuck off for a quick shower before brunch. Then more good food.

Afterwards we all drifted back down to the pond to sit and let our food digest... ignoring the fact that our weekend together would soon have to end.



The pond, picnic tables, and hammock create such a relaxing setting that we all just wanted to linger for as long as we could.



The thing I like most about a weekend like this is- that time is meaningless. Time did not exist. It's letting yourself go back into a child-like frame of mind where one does not know or care about telling time. We did what we wanted to, when we wanted to. For the most part, the weekend events just unfolded as they were meant to, sometimes planned, sometimes unpredictable.

The timelessness of it all was the true sign of a good retreat. Friendship, fellowship, food, laughter, and play, all happening remote from the rest of the world.

So finally I come to the end of this "too long" narrative (I'm getting bored with this blog, are you?) with one last closing picture. A bit of "unpredictability" here..... How did this end?

Well as Ann says...."What happens in KC, stays in KC".



PEACE OUT girls! ...until the next time we gather at Aggie Acres.

PS: A million THANKS to Molly for hosting this wonderful weekend retreat.
AND Thanks to our husbands for understanding the need to "girl bond" from time to time. I hope we showed our gratitude fully when we all arrived home- a bit tired... but refreshed and inspired, all at the same time.

KC Girls Weekend: morning yoga

8-19-09 stretching brain

For Sunday morning, Molly had lined up her yoga instructor to come out to the farm to give us a basic class. In planning, Molly and I had discussed the time. I suggested later in the morning, since I knew we would be up late in the night, as a usual Girls Weekend goes. Molly was thinking earlier. So we set it in the middle and agreed at 9:00AM.



This was actually a perfect time, since any later the sun would have been getting too intense. It was a warm morning, but not unbearably hot yet.



Beside the 5 of us who spent the night, at least 3 more of Molly's friends came out for the yoga class and stayed for breakfast afterwards.



Look close and you will see Peeps the peacock is in most of these pictures. He walked from person to person, either wanting to be petted or wanted to see what we were doing. We were a bit distracted my Peeps, but his presences made the morning even more special.



The funniest moment that I remember was when the instructor, being ever so flexible, quickly bent over from her waist, touching her head between her legs.... and Ann let out a loud gasp. I first I thought Ann had let out a *queef when she tried this move, but then I realized it was a gasp of unbelief and shock at our instructors abilities to bend..... Prior to that we all were trying to be serious students, but after Ann's gasp, we all had the giggles.

Footnote: *queef: female fart like sound (I dare you to google the word)

KC Girls Weekend: Peeps the peacock

8-18-09 missing Peeps brain
The long story- short, of Peeps the Peacock:

Peeps was hand raised by a women who could no longer take care of him, and thus Peeps was adopted by Molly and Jeff. These two, especially Jeff, are always taking in stray animals, giving them a lovely home on Aggie Acers. They have created a real animal menagerie out on their hobby farm.

I’ve written about Molly before, see: http://judy-split-in-two.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html

I love these pictures which Ann took of Peeps.

Peeps is an outgoing people loving bird. When the other peacocks on the farm are off doing the usual natural bird things, Peeps is usually hanging out where the human action is going on.

Peeps joined us during our pond floating fun, he joined us on our porch sitting, and the funniest part was when he joined us in our Sunday morning Yoga on the front lawn. Peeps went from person to person checking out each of our postures, and at one point even laid down in his own relaxed pose, which Molly said she had never seen a peacock laid that way before.

Our yoga instructor Nicole got a big kick out of Peeps’ participation.
More on yoga tomorrow-

KC Girls Weekend: the food

8-17-09 bon apetite brain
Dinner time finally arrives about 9:00PM!
This meal is one of the best meals I have EVER had!

The menu was:
Roasted Pear Salad
Turkey Roulade Stuffed with Cranberries and Sausage Stuffing
Sweet Potato Sticks
Green Beans with Pine Nuts (that never left the microwave)...darn!
Berries and Cream with Shortbread- Berries were soaked in Grand Marnier


The salad alone was enough to fill me up, but I kept eating like it was Thanksgiving!


The stuffing is to die for!


I'm only sorry I don't have a picture of dessert.... I watched Molly make it earlier, but by the time dessert was served- around midnight, I had put my camera way. I was too tired and my stomach was too stuffed to truly enjoy it.... But it was wonderful from what I remember.

I was happy to see Kelley enjoying herself. Kelley is a wife and mother of three, and is the type (like my sister), who puts herself last. I know it was a struggle for Kelley to even get away from home for 28 hours.... but I know it was good for her!


I was first to head to bed about 1:00AM... after all, I needed my beauty sleep and we had an appointment for a yoga class at 9:00AM!

too be continued......

KC Girls Weekend: Time in the kitchen

8-15-09 Julia Child's brain

Molly has a wonderful kitchen! She designed this herself with cooking and entertaining in mind as they built the new house about 4 years ago. The living room, dinning room and kitchen are all together with vaulted ceiling, making it a wonderful place to hang out together as dinner and breakfast were prepared.



Annette at work- this was the sweet potatoes.


Molly loves being in the kitchen as you can tell from these pictures!



Molly use to give cooking lessons at the local community college in her spare evenings back in the 1990's.... but now she is married and taking care of Aggie Acres along with working her full time job. I believe she has a good retirement career lined up. Aggie Acres could be a wonderful Bed and Breakfast someday!!