I am back...

We are finally on line and connected! Quite honestly, didn’t realize how addicted I was to the Internet. Didn’t miss TV one bit, as I do not watch it all that much but not being online was frustrating me more then I could ever imagine….

We moved 2 days ago. Boxes, boxes, boxes everywhere. I do not know where anything is? In general, my personality finds it very hard to live in chaos. I need order and focus to function comfortably. Maybe because I am a “Virgo”, or maybe because I am just uptight, I have always been happier knowing where everything is.

This will all be over in a few weeks and I will be back to my normal routine. Of course, once the dust settles, then I have to come to the realization that I have moved to the “BURBS”! It’s so awfully quite here. There are no sirens, no cars or human noises. There is no hustle or the bustle of the city; there is no friendly corner shop, no pedestrians and there isn’t our usual Irish pub that we drop by regularly. BUT, there is a different kind of energy, the kind I will need to get use to.

There is the energy of the ocean, trees, squirrels, ducks, birds, grass, wild turkeys and even deer! Yes! you heard it, wild turkey and deer…. The ocean is beautiful. Something about the water that makes us humans calmer in general, don’t you think? That part I will get use to very quickly…

My blogging will be far and in between for the next few weeks. I will try to follow the world news, now that I am online, however, I am not sure how often I will be able to write my thoughts down. Although, I have a feeling I will desire it more often then not.

One thing I can tell you is, our system is truly f#$% up! Our media obsesses more about Michael Jackson’s death then Cynthia McKinney’s imprisonment or the military coupe in Honduras… Talk about empty heads and hearts!

*Photo taken by me

HOME - watch this beautifully scripted and utterly thought provoking film...

HOME - a film by Yann Arthus Bertrand

home page

Join: goodplanet.org

I do not have a lot of time to write about the movie, but I urge you to watch it when you have the time.

"We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth's climate. The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort, and HOME has been conceived to take a message of mobilization out to every human being. For this purpose, HOME needs to be free. A patron, the PPR Group, made this possible. EuropaCorp, the distributor, also pledged not to make any profit because Home is a non-profit film. HOME has been made for you : share it! And act for the planet."

Yann Arthus-Bertrand, GoodPlanet Foundation

PS: I am extremly busy with the move. It is quite hectic and some what stressful right now for me. So sorry, I am not blogging much and following my usual interesting and informative blogs. Forgive my absents. As soon as I settle in, I will go back to my usual routine.

In the mean time, watch HOME!

* Photo taken by my brother

I am outraged by Dr. Tiller's brutal murder...

I have wanted to write my outrage about the brutal murder of Dr. Tiller for sometime now, but due to my hectic life lately, I was unable to get around it. This afternoon, I had some time in my hands, so I decided to get it off my chest.

I normally use my blog for therapeutic purposes. It is quite cathartic for me to write about issues that bother or annoy me. Usually it’s either politics or social issues of day-to-day struggles that humans have to endeavor. I am fortunate enough to have good friends and family who follow my blog with interest….

Today, I want to rant about “the right to have an abortion”. Let me start by saying, I will not get into the politics or religious aspect of this very polarized topic. I will write simply my opinion as a woman.

My body belongs to me and totally to me. Nobody else! No one has the right to tell me what to do with it. That includes how I dress, where I choose to cover up (or not), whether I choose to use contraception, have sexual relations prior to my marriage or decide to have an abortion. I do not believe society at large has the right to impose their belief system upon me. I am intelligent enough to make up my own mind on issues that directly affect my life.

Having said that, I also understand we all need to obey by certain rules that are already there for the betterment of society. I must respect the freedom and the boundaries of others as others must mine.

There are times in everyone’s life, becoming pregnant is not part of the plan at that moment in time or wanting to take the awesome responsibility of being a parent. As individuals, we MUST have the freedom to decide what is right or wrong for us. There are terrible cases where young girls become pregnant due to rape or incest. How in the hell can we tell those girls, they do not have the right to abort that pregnancy? Do we have the audacity to further punish individuals by forcing them to carry the burden of bringing a child that is totally unwanted into this world?
Sorry…. But there is no justification in my mind!

Women came along way to enjoy the freedom that they so desperately fought for. Having the right to decide what to do with our bodies is part of that freedom.

I would personally find it highly offensive, if I were to be forced to cover myself in headscarf by the society I reside in. I would find it equally offensive, if I were told that I do not have the freedom to end my unwanted pregnancy. It is my body and I must have the freedom to do what ever I want with it.

The only person who may have the right to argue with me is my husband, as it is his parenthood that is on the line as well. But that is a very personal decision couples have to make among themselves. Governments or some kind of crazy religious anti-abortion nuts do not have the right to tell me how to live my life or what to do with my body. They certainly do not have the right to kill Doctor’s who simply do their duty to support women who choose to end their pregnancy.
I am outraged by Dr. Tiller’s murder! I wish his family all the best. I am sad for his wife, children and grandchildren…

I would like to send Dr. Tiller’s family my sincere condolences.

* Photo taken by me.

You CAN take the girl out of the city, but you CAN NOT take the city out of the girl...

I have been extremely busy in the last few weeks, especially last few days, due to my move from New York City to Connecticut. Therefore, I am unable to follow the news closely as much as I wish and have time to decipher articles that I would normally read.

It’s all good! This move is good for my family, especially good for my twins. We are moving from the 24th floor of a Manhattan apartment, to a house with a yard. They will have more freedom to run around, ride their bikes and enjoy the outdoors on their own with little adult supervision. Here in the city, my kids either have play dates in my apartment or in their friend’s apartment, always a parent present. So they have little privacy and be kids without adults watching over them at all times.

In the suburbs, they will run around in our neighborhood with other kids who are their age. It’s good for their independence, it’s good for their self-esteem and it’s good for me as I will not have to be the referee at all times. We all need a little space from each other.

Of course, there is the issue of the schools. Damn Bloomberg allocates very little money for New York City public schools, so the class sizes are more crowded then average, less money for extra curricular activities and less money to advance the educational quality children receive. As any parent, I understand and value the importance of receiving good solid education. Like anyone, I want to give the best that I can to them. In my mind, city schools are just not adequate enough.

As for me, I will miss the energy and the diversity of the city. I will miss my friends, I will miss walking long hours in the streets, I will miss being anonymous but most of all I will miss what New York has to offer. I am a city girl at heart and it is very hard for me to give up that side. The good news is, I will be only an hour away by train or car. I can live with that!

I really enjoyed and loved New York City. I really love New Yorkers and I really love my neighborhood. I will learn to love, in time, my cute town by the ocean in Connecticut. My husband worries a little about me adjusting to the suburban life. I want to assure him from here that I will try my best.

If I am on and off for the next few weeks, excuse my absence as it is due to the hectic time I am having due to the move. I love blogging and I love writing about what ever I fancy. I have so many ideas that float in my head…. For example, Dr. Tillers murder infuriated me and I wanted to write a long post about that, but just didn’t have the time…. I will soon…. Stay tuned!

Have a lovely weekend…

*Photo taken by me.