Well Howdy Do!

• Hey everyone, just thought I'd give you a quick update!
• I also just realized that I really slacked off and didn't post anything after two major events.
• The first event was the oscars!  I know! I'm a total slacker.
• I thought the Oscars was awesome and in many ways HISTORIC!
• It was historic because the right people won best original song, but not only that their performance of the song was stellar!
• But wait...that's not all folks.  During their acceptance speech Glen Hansard got done speaking and Markéta Irglová hesitated for a moment, and then stepped up to the mike and just as she did, she was played off the stage.
• We (and by we, I mean Stacey D. and I) were really bummed about it, but we figured there was nothing they could do about it now....or could they?
• After the commercial break, Jon Stewart announced that the producers felt horrible for playing her off and invited her back to give her acceptance speech! I've never, ever, ever seen something like that.  On top of all that, her speech brought me to tears.  It was well worth it and I'm so glad they let her speak!
• As I hoped No Country for Old Men walked away with the most Oscars, including best picture.  But I thought the oscars were pretty well distributed for all of the movies I loved.
• That is with the exceptions of Diving Bell and Butterfly, which I thought was incredible!  I sobbed, audibly and somewhat uncontrollably, but it was very good.
• ANYWAY...the next big event was the first bench mark that I had set up in my weight loss goals. I made it to March 1st and never told you what happened.
• Well your anticipation can subside and you can breathe out, because I made it!  I was supposed to lose 9 lbs by March 1, and I lost 10 by March 1st. WHOOOO!
• One some of the of goals, I have attached rewards.  So at 100 lbs (which is about 18 lbs away from here) I get to buy a Fossil Watch for myself. I've always really liked fossil watches, but have never felt comfortable splurging that much for a watch.  Well I think 100 lbs is a good enough reason
• And at 150 lbs!  I get a Tattoo!!!  Whooo!  So excited about that.  But don't ask me what I'm getting. I don't know yet. And I've decided not to put too much thought into it yet, as I don't want to get myself all excited about it until I know I can get it
• So, the Legislature is really jumping!  Starting monday, there are only 18 days in the legislative session left!  That is crazy considering all the bills yet to be debated and voted on.
• But for those of you keeping track, The DEATH PENALTY REPEAL bill is up for debate starting Tuesday, March 25 (so that will definitely slow us down).
• Honestly, I am really going to miss Ernie Chambers I have SO MUCH RESPECT for that man.  He amazes me.  I am so sad to think we only have 18 more days of his signing, and teaching, and ranting.  It will never be the same, and I may not even bother watching the debates anymore.  I may cry on his last day....and maybe hug him against his will   Alright, I'll ask first!
• So, I just wanted to share a positive story about a Starbucks employee.  This was truly incredible.  Granted the story is about the amazing sacrifice about this person, I don't mind starbucks getting a little advertising for truly amazing stories like this (not like the pay for the person behind you story)
• http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/us/04barista.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
  

• There, don't say I can't ever post a positive story.
• But while I'm on the subject of my least favorite corporations.
• Have you seen the new WALMART easter commercial?  What the honk is that all about?
• Can anyone say "Walmart is promoting childhood obesity"? OY!
• This commercial has little children listing off all sorts of candy they love, and gorging themselves on jellybeans and Cadbury eggs, and all sorts of yummy SUGAR!
• One kid is sitting there saying, Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate....
• Then the mom comes on and says "At Walmart prices, I can afford to stuff their easter baskets with all the stuff they want"!
• Maybe people should go somewhere else and pay full-price so that they don't give there kids 25 lbs of candy, just because they can afford to!
• SWEET MERCY! Where are all the analysts ranting and raving about this?
• They say that cigarette companies market to kids and that is horrible. But they say nothing when Walmart markets nothing but candy to children.  What is wrong with this picture.
• So I decided to google this issue and see if all these action groups are up in arms over it.
• NOPE! 
  
• Parents are steaming mad about this commercial, but not for this reason. They've got much larger issues with this commercial. You see this commercial tells kids that the EASTER BUNNY doesn't exist.  It gives it away, that the parents are buying the candy and filling the baskets!
• There is a whole letter writing campaign to chastise Walmart for revealing this state secret to their children before the appropriate age!
• There are days that I'm truly ashamed to associate myself with Americans.