What is reality?

I'm not going to lie, I've been neglecting my blog because ever since I got my new itouch, I've been using that to go on the internet instead of my computer. It really is the internet at your fingertips and I love it. Not only have I been using my itouch for the internet, but I've been working out a lot and working lots of hours at the restaurant I work at, so free time to myself has been devoted to catching up on TV. I'm not gonna lie, I love reality TV. There's something about watching other people who have lots of things that I don't have but are still so unhappy with themselves and their lives that makes me feel better about myself. That, and it's an escape from the real world.

The Hills- This week's episode was a bust. I have to admit, as much as I hate Spencer and Heidi and think they are seriously fucked up, I can't help but miss their presence on the show. They just get weirder and weirder and I have a huge feeling that their story will end up in tragedy and be on E! True Hollywood Story: Spencer and Heidi. I'm calling it, and you all are my witnesses.

The City- Whitney is stupid for not listening to Kelly Catrone (sp?). She obviously has her best interest at heart, and knows the industry... so why doesn't she just listen to her when it comes to what she should do with her line? I don't get it.

Real Housewives of New York- This is on last week's episode. Holy crap, Kelly is effing crazy. She's nutz and she needs help and medication and I don't even know what her deal is. She'll probably watch the episode and not even blink because in her mind, her reaction is not crazy, it's perfectly normal.

Basketball Wives- I have no idea what episodes I watched last week, but dang, it doesn't matter how much money you have, you just can't take the ghetto out of ghetto fabulous. These women, as beautiful as they are, they are constantly throwing drinks in people's faces and talking a whole lot of shit. Living their lives is just not worth it. The houses and the cars are not worth the drama.

Brandy and RayJ- I want $10,000 for my birthday.

Well, that's all for now. I don't think I'll be watching reality tv today. I'll be too busy playing with my itouch. :)

Life Lessons

1. Stay out of other people's problems. If someone calls to tell you what's wrong with them, don't say a word, because if you put in your two cents, you will get attacked... believe me.

2. Don't sweat the small stuff. If you can't control it, focus on what you can control and don't stress out about the little things.

3. Prayer works. If you ever feel down about yourself or your life, pray for a better day and God will grant your wish. (This happened yesterday when I was feeling down on myself because of other people's bull shit. Other people's problems were really bringing me down, and I knew I had to do something to get me through my double shift.)

4. You can get more done with sugar than you can with vinegar... uhh.. I think that's how it goes. Bottom line: You'll get a lot more done if you're nicer to people. Sure there's the saying that nice guys finish last, but if you want help and if you want people to respect you, have a backbone but BE NICE.

5. ALWAYS TIP AT LEAST 17% AT RESTAURANTS... unless the service is EXTREMELY SHITTY. Servers are people too. They are trying to make a living. Yah, they get paid hourly, but most of the time, their paychecks are shit... so help them out. If you go out to eat, then you should be able to afford to tip properly. If not, then go to Jack in the Crack or McD's.***

6. Always say please and thank you. ALWAYS.

7. If you are a parent, control your young. If they go nutz in a restaurant or some other public place, it is your job to get your child under control... otherwise you end up looking like trash.

8. Stand up for yourself and for what is right. Don't you ever let someone walk all over you and if something is going on in your family that isn't right, it is your job... if you care enough... to say something... at least something to try and stop it. Sometimes, you end up getting attacked for doing this by EVERYONE, but at least you know you've tried. (This may conflict with 1, but choose your words wisely.)

9. Always make time for your significant other, whether it's pillow talk before bed, or a half an hour conversation after work, or on the couch watching tv. If you don't want it to end, then make time.

10. Love life and always remember that when the situation seems dire, and you feel like there is no hope, God always provides a way out. It is up to you to walk through the door that opens.

11. YOU and YOU ALONE are responsible for your own actions. It's easy to blame God or other people for your situation in life, but that's the easy way out. Take responsibility and fix it if it's broken. Stop relying on some magical power to fix it for you. God can only do so much, it's up to you to actually take action.

Yes, I know 11 is an odd number, but that's all I have for now.

***Yes, I am a server. But it's only fair to the servers. A lot of times, they are working their asses off to help your table and others, so be nice to them. When I go to restaurants, I always tip 20% or higher.

My Dog

This is my dog, Ramsey. In this picture, she is giving me that look she gives me when I know she thinks I'm being stupid. This particular day, I kept calling her to look at me so that I could take pictures. Do you see how her upper lip curls? lol I love her.

She's a rescue dog. We got her from the Humane Society. Apparently, she was roaming the streets of Waipahu. For those of you who don't live in Hawaii, Waipahu is a bit on the ghetto side. It's an old plantation neighborhood, but parts of it have emerged as one of Oahu's premier ghettos. Yes, there are ghettos in Hawaii, but most people who come here don't want to see that part. Anyway, because she had such a rough life in the early months of being on this earth, she eats just about anything. Yes, she eats the normal human food that people usually give dogs like hot dogs, spam, bacon, etc... she can even here the can of vienna sausage opening from a mile away no matter how quiet you're trying to be. She also eats lettuce, bananas, apples, oranges, and other vegetables. Because of her "life on the streets" she'll eat anything. lol

She's super affectionate and gets excited every time I come home. Nothing can beat that feeling of being unconditionally loved. Ramsey (that's her name) doesn't care about what I think on certain issues (see below blog) or what time I come home (as long as I come home) because she's always happy to see me. She never belittles me or makes me feel like I'm unimportant. When I'm hungover (yes, there has been those times) she will sit with me in the bathroom while I'm throwing up from the night before. She never compares me to anyone else and I know that she thinks I'm the greatest. Most of the time, I prefer her over hanging out with humans because sometimes, talking to people can just be so exhausting. Not that I can't ever talk to people. I wait tables, so I get paid to get to know people, but sometimes talking to people about their lives and their issues can just be so tiring and emotionally draining, especially when you feel like no one listens to you.

Civil Unions

Last week was the close of the 25th legislative session in Hawaii. In a last minute move, the House brought back HB444 or the "Civil Unions" bill on the last day at 3 in the afternoon. Mind you, they've been in session since 10 a.m. The bill passed but the outrage from the religious right wasn't felt until a day later because everyone (including myself) thought the bill was dead.

This divisive issue has been huge since last year at the start of the 2009-2010 biennium when the bill was first introduced. The offices were flooded with faxes, emails, and phone calls asking the representatives and senators to vote either for or against it.

My particular boss voted against it.

I'm not going to lie, this issue makes me uncomfortable because there is so much judgement on both sides. So much hate is spewed from both proponents and opponents of civil unions. It disgusts me to see Christians yell hateful things and condone discrimination against a particular group of people when they themselves should understand the very meaning of discrimination since they were persecuted in the very beginning of the religion. It also disgusts me to see proponents of civil unions yell hateful things at Christians using their religion against them... either way, hate is not the way to go.

I am in a peculiar place on this issue. There are times when I feel guilty for wanting the bill to go through because others will judge my walk with Christ. I know it says in the Bible that homosexuality is sin and that homosexuality is wrong, but I just can't condone such blatant discrimination against my friends and my family. Everyone has a gay or lesbian relative or friend. I'm pretty sure if it were a choice, they wouldn't choose a life of discrimination. I truly believe that it's natural, and if it is natural, then doesn't it mean that God created them too? Are we as Christians supposed to hate one of God's creations and subject them to an incomplete life of discrimination?

Even growing up as a Catholic (the Church that says that some discrimination is okay) I could not stomach the thought of telling someone else how to live their life when this issue first arose in 1993. Who are we to tell someone that it's wrong to love another person? Who are we to tell someone that they can't marry their life partner even though they have been together for a number of years? The main argument from opponents of this issue is that same-sex marriage and civil unions will ruin marriage. Haven't we heterosexuals done that ourselves? In the US, 1 in 2 marriages fail. With a 50% success rate of marriage, don't you think marriage is already ruined? My friends who are gay or lesbian will have no effect on me in October when I get married.

I hate this issue and I hope that in the name of equality in our pluralistic society, that this issue will be laid to rest soon.

So does it make me any less of a Christian for wanting equality in our society? Is my stance on this issue the sole indicator of my faith in God? Is it really fair?

There is no winning on this issue with anyone, everyone pretty much has their mind made up. Who am I to try and change it? But this is my blog and I can say what I want and this is what I think of the whole issue.

Practice Makes Perfect!

As promised, here is a picture of my hideous pedicure with Sally Hansen's Do-It-Yourself French Set. I suck at painting nails... my skills are comparable to a four year old. Nevertheless, it's alright, better than nothing and hey, maybe I'll get better at it, practice makes perfect. My feet look frikkin' huge in the picture. I promise I'm not a man.

Please do not click and look at this picture bigger than it is. You don't want to scare yourself.

My huge, wide feet are genetically passed down to me from my father. It probably also doesn't help that I spend most of my time either barefoot or in slippers. My own father used to tease me and say that I have duck paddles for feet. lol I hate my feet and I hate when people look at them, yet, I am posting a picture of them on the internet. Go figure.

Hopefully, practice makes perfect and I'll be able to get better at painting my toenails. At least I didn't have to tip anyone for this hideous job.

Agh.

Work it out!!

Today was Day One of my workout schedule. Needless to say, it was a challenge, but it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. That probably means that I have to push myself more. I wanted to take it easy today because it was the first time I've worked out in months. I used to do yoga and kickboxing five times a week, but once I made my commitment to finish school and work myself to death, I just didn't have time to go back.

So today I:

*Ran two laps around Kapolei Park (Yes, I know, it's not that far, but just bare with me, okay?)
*did fifty lunges
*did a hundred crunches
*twenty push-ups (I hate push-ups and I really suck at it.)
*forty leg-lifts on the left, right, and then both legs.

It's a pretty mellow work out, but I'm glad I did it. Best part: it was free!!!! Screw you 24 and your $50/month membership!!!

Can't wait to get back in shape!