Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

I can't believe it has been a month since my last blog. Time flies when you are having fun. I have had a great holiday season. Mandy is back home for now and Danny is in town for work. Having the whole family together is the best gift for me. From Thanksgiving on we have had some great family times. Certainly as with all families we have are challenges, disagreements and tough situations. But I wouldn't trade any of it for a million dollars.

Steve, Alex and I stumbled on a movie last night called "Courageous". Absolutely amazing movie. A movie about faith, fatherhood and living your faith, answering your call. What is your vocation? I mean your true vocation. What has God called you to be? A father, mother, religious person, single person.... Whatever your vocation, do it with love, honor, dignity and faith in God. What a great message for us all.

At Christmas, a time when we remember the coming of Christ as a humble baby. Born in a stable, laid in a manger. He came to unite man and God. To make us a part of God. He was truly man and truly God. He was born to a simple virgin woman. Cared for by a simple hard working man. Both of his earthly parents were humble faithful people. They lived their calling with faith, dignity and honor.

He came to show us how much God loves us. To teach us to love simply, care deeply and do the right thing. To show us that God exists and wants us to come home. As much as I love my children and enjoy having them home. God wants that for us.

I know all that God wants of me. I strive for it but fall short. I get back up and keep trying. When I take one measly hour of my life on Sunday for Him. I stand, kneel and sit before Him. I humbly ask for forgiveness. I am reminded of His message. I adore Him and start again.

He came for all people. Jews, pagans, and gentiles. We celebrate Christmas during the solstice for the similar reasons. Christians are made up of Jews, pagans and all. We have incorporated all of who we are. At the darkest of days remembering the Light of the World coming to us. I know Jesus' birth was probably not on Dec 25th. But celebrate it with all Christians on this day as a matter of tradition and unity.

As we begin a new year, 2012. I will strive for living my faith. I will love more deeply, laugh more, hug more, pray more. (maybe try to eat less and exercise more)

Happy New Year!!
May 2012 bring you and your family more joy than sorrow. More love than hurts.

Haven't had much time to write lately. Been busy with work and life. Think about it all the time and try to get here. I haven't worked out much lately either. Need to get both of these back on track.

I hope everyone reading this had a nice Thanksgiving. I did. I had a very nice Thanksgiving day with my in-laws. Also had a nice gathering in Sat eve with some of my family and friends. I have much to be thankful for.

We are now in the Christmas season. I am working on keeping the true Christmas spirit. Christmas is my favorite season. I so loved this time of the year as a child. So much hope and prettiness all around. We live an world that can be very harsh and ugly. So this season reminds us all that there is something better. 

As an adult with adult responsibilities it gets harder to hold onto that joy of the season. But I am not going to let our crazy world and its materialism get in the way. I have in the past. Don't get me wrong, gifting is my love language. So I love getting and receiving gifts. But the cost and quantity aren't what matter. If someone randomly gives me a candy bar I am thrilled. I know it is cliche to say but its true "it's the thought that counts".

I don't understand people that get crazy on black friday. I really don't need a tv that bad. I know it is fun for most and that's cool, but I'm talking about the ones that take it to far. Also it makes me mad that our economy is based on my spending and debt. I shouldn't have to be in debt or overspend for our economy. We have dug ourselves into a hole with that one. 

It should be that we produce something to sell. All the workers are employed making something to sell. Those items are sold to generate income. The workers spend money on living and some service(like restaurants and stores). Now our economy is based on gamblers on wall street and middle income debt and spending. Ridiculous!!!

Big business has there hands in congressional pockets. Both sides and all members. None of them will take a stand against. We have also dug ourselves into a hole on this one. Big business likes unemployment, it keeps wages down. Congress will not extend middle income tax cuts but will extend high income tax cuts!!! really.

Ok so I went rogue for a minute. Back on track. 

Christmas season runs from the 1st Sunday of Advent to the Baptism of the Lord. I am going to hold on the spirit and hope of Christmas. The true meaning of the promise our Lord made that he will return and we hopefully will live in glorious splendor with him. I will enjoy all the blessings of this world. I will love those around me. Spread a world of Joy and Hope. 

Feliz Navidad!!!!!

"Mean people suck" I find this bumper sticker a bit hypocritical. I do get the point they are trying to make. 

Has our society become meaner, colder? Are we quicker to turn on each other? 

A couple of years ago, while at work, I was watching the protests regarding immigration reform in SW Detroit. My mom and sister were at the protest, along with many other folks I know. As I watched the news coverage, the lady sitting next to me said "Look at all those people, they make me so mad. I wish I had a machine gun". I was shocked. I told her that my family was in that protest. Really a machine gun! She apologized. But I still remember that story and the feeling of hatred she had for the protesters. 

In the summer of 2010, we were visiting Mt Rushmore. My family and I were listening to the ranger talk about past presidents. She was asking the audience where certain presidents were from. She started with older ones to more current. When she got to President Obama, the ranger asked "Where is he from?" Some of those in the crowd began saying "we don't know yet", "maybe Kenya" and "who knows". I was again shocked. Really! What was the point. The kids there were having fun guessing where the presidents  were born. It was very disappointing.

I know you probably have seen these same types of things happening. Why?

At a memorial for a young man who took his own life, someone yells out "he is better off dead"! How sad for the family. To feel that kind of hatred. I truly am at a loss when I hear these things. I don't understand why. How someone could say such hateful things.

Our society has gotten very cold. For an audience to applaud the death penalty, shows a deep sense of callousness. To yell out "let him die" when discussing a cancer patient or boo a soldier sharing something very heart wrenching and personal, I don't understand.  

All of these are tied together. They feed off each other. We start losing any sense of caring for others. We start saying things we shouldn't. 

Regardless of your position or view point. Bullying, name calling and rudeness are unnecessary. I too have gotten caught up in passionate discussions and said some things I shouldn't have. Never our of sheer hatred. I truly am perplexed at the anger some people have and where they direct it. Scary! 

We have become very selfish. Give me what is mine! We forget to love and respect our fellow man.

ok so I have arthritis,  nothing new. I was told this in Sept 2009. But I was hoping today wouldn't show much progression and the doc would say it is the meniscus tear causing the pain. No such luck. Not only is it the arthritis but my knee is bowing in. That is not the technical term but that is what I say. So a brace for me when I work out, go for walks and  at work.  If the brace works to re align the knee, that makes me a good candidate for some other treatments. One is the injections of lubricant for the knee, the other two are surgeries. One surgery to clean out the knee othroscopically. The other is a very invasive intense surgery called knee realignment. Not really interested in that one. Not yet anyway.

Why am I telling you all this? Do I just love to talk about my medical conditions? not really, if that was the case there would of been numerous other blogs. 

I am telling you this because I am trying to be healthier. This will not deter me. The doc didn't put me on any restrictions. So I came home and worked out. Bad knee, bad foot(luckily those two are on different legs) and all. I know that the best thing for me and my knee is health. I need to keep moving and get more weight off. This will make things better in the long run. No medical doctor can do this for me. 

So as I was working out, I kept thinking about all the things I am fighting against. It motivates me. I am fighting arthritis, diabetes(which is devastating the latin community), osteoporosis, muscle loss, high blood pressure and just being able to stay mobile into the older years. 

There are ways to work out and not injure the bad knee. I have done physical therapy and I know this. I will do more physical therapy. Especially since I will be working out with the brace on. That should be fun, not!! 

I wish I could say I do strength training to get stronger. I hope I get stronger and maybe I will. But mostly I do strength training to fight muscle loss and the slowing of metabolism. It is very important for women to lift weights. I do low to mid weights with lots of repetitions. That gives me some strength training and cardio.  

Anyone reading this, no matter your age or shape. Start working out. Do it today. Go for a walk, go up and down the stairs a few times. If you don't have any ailments, then good for you. Strengthen your body to fight them. If you are younger, good you can start now and maybe make it easier on your body. I wish I would have gotten the weight off sooner. But I have no regrets really. It is what it is. 

If you have any ailments, I am sorry. I know how tough that can be. But don't give up. Eat Healthy and see what physical activities you can do and do them well and often!!!!

Good Health to all. 

extradition, trial, justice

Big words, heavy words....

Juan Cruz is being extradited to stand trial for the murder of Rose Marie Woolwine. A murder which took place in 1989 and was covered in a Dateline story.

Rose Marie Woolwine, Rosie, was my sister. The twin sister of Ruby Ann Woolwine. The daughter Rebecca Lugo. The sister of Jimmy, Chucky(RIP), Donald, Felice, Maria, Juan and Angel. The mother of Sarah, Theresa and Joey. They were so little when she was taken from us.

Every time we get a step closer to justice, I feel the need to take a step back to remember who Rosie was. When Rosie passed away, I moved to Ann Arbor. Shortly after I began attending community college. One of the first classes I took was a speech class and one assignment was a eulogy. I wrote a eulogy for Rosie. It was beautiful, profound and sad. I cried when reciting it in class. The whole class cried with me. That eulogy was shortly after that lost, I have no idea where it went. I have other papers and speeches from then. I wish it would turn up. I pray that it would.

But who was Rosie. Is there any way to let those of you who never knew her to understand who she was? I doubt it.

Rosie was passionate, stubborn and a little conceited. She loved life and her family. As a child we called her nosie rosie. She would be the first one to the kitchen when mom went grocery shopping to see what goodies were there. Her and Ruby were so close, they would fight something fierce with eachother, but if you tried to intervene.... Let's just say it would be bad for you. The twins as they were called, would be fiercely loyal to eachother, I guess all twins are. They were so tough in high school, that when I went a few years later, I never had to fight. I just stood tough and held to their reputation. I think others also knew that if they touched me there would be hell to pay later. Remember we grew up in Detroit, tough streets. But Rosie and Ruby could hold their own.

They got into lots of trouble, had lots of friends and enjoyed life together. They were both so pretty, I always felt so plain. Ruby is and has always been so my gorgeous older sister. But Rosie was different, she carried herself with such confidence that when she walked in the room, you knew she was there. Her smile was something else. Her passion for life was immeasurable. When I picture her now, I see a beautiful smile and eyes that light up the room.

Not only does my heartbreak for losing Rosie. My heart breaks for Ruby. I want the twins back. I know that will never happen. I know if Ruby is reading this she is crying with me.

I feel Rosie's presence sometimes. I know she is at peace and that these steps for justice are a good thing.

May God Bless you and your family. Please pray for ours.

Why the democrats may lose the next election! As always, I will start with telling you who I am. I am a middle class(low end) middle aged white woman, with some hispanic heritage. I also have to say I am fairly uneducated, slightly well read and more than a little crazy. If you can't already tell by my ramblings. So read on if you like. I tend to lean democrat, which I eluded to in earlier blogs. I say a moderate or conservative democrat. I do have many issues with the democrat party, but less than the issues I have with the republican party. The republicans will play to the fact that we forget. They count on it. They will hammer their message home, over and over, using their pat phrases. They will spin messages to fit their agenda. They use phrases like "Christian" and "family" values. As a strong christian catholic, there is much about the rep. party that concerns me. But they are effective in getting their message out. On the other hand, we have the democrats. Their message either gets lost or doesn't even get out there. I believe in the democratic voting system. As much as it may bother me, if the republicans are better at playing the game, then they win. If the democrats don't wake up. If they don't present a unified front with a strong message. If they don't remind us that the economy was in trouble long before Obama took office. Also, that the first stimulus package was enacted by George Bush and went to wall street. That package had no accountability and we saw none of that money again. Democrats need to remind voters that the republicans vowed to cause the failure of the Obama administration. They didn't care about the common good or the economy. The republicans are holding true to this vow. They are winning. Maybe there are more republicans or those leaning republicans. I tend to not think so, but I could be wrong. I personally think the gerrymandering of the districts help the republican party. Again they know how to play the game. Until the rules are changed, the democrats need to wake up and figure it out. If they can't then maybe they should lose elections. On a side note, when I write my blogs, it is straight from the heart. The idea just sort of comes to me. I cant force myself to sit down and write. Usually if I do that, I get nothing. When a thought or a rant comes to me, I just write it down. Sometimes on scrap sheets of paper. The reason I started writing is because it is cathartic for me to get these thoughts written out. Honestly I would rather not write about politics. But right now that is where my mind goes. I hope you enjoy reading my rants. Agree or disagree, I hope it makes you think.

The great doc Oz

E coli! On my toothbrush! Are you kidding me? I was watching Dr. Oz on Good Morning America. I find him to be a bit of the alarmist. I think he wants to shock us into behaving. Dr. Oz and Robin Roberts were discussing how often to replace your toothbrush. The wise doc says replace every 3 months. His reasoning, e coli or fecal particles get on your toothbrush over time. Mostly because of the toilet flushing, which sprays particles into the air. A few things bother me about this line of reasoning. One, how many particles build up? How much is too much? For me, one particle of fecal matter is too much. It seems to make more sense to put a cap on your toothbrush, keep your toothbrush in the medicine cabinet and close the toilet lid when flushing. Maybe do all of the above. Why not stop the particles from getting there in the first place. Two, does everything else in the bathroom end up with e coli contamination.  What about the door knob? The towels? Hand towels? I know you wash these things probably more than your toothbrush and they aren't being used in your mouth! But still. Can you imagine what the OCD and germaphobes are doing now?! Then I'm listening to the radio and the announcer says "you have to watch dr Oz today." She continues, "what your kids are drinking may be detrimental to their health. Don't miss today's Dr Oz!" Really isn't that the old joke about newscasters. "something in your house may be killing your family! Tune in at 11 to find out"