John McCain, Here’s Some Help for Your Campaign (slogans, that is)

I’ve never been much of a political activist, but I decided to lend my advertising savvy to the John McCain campaign, free of charge. I’m sure they’ll never know how to thank me, but, out of the kindness of my heart, here is the WOL Top 5 List of John McCain bumper stickers and campaign slogans:

1.  YES WE CAIN!

2.  CHANGE: what you want have any left of, once Obama is elected

3.  McCain Got Brain (I’m also envisioning a gangster rap campaign jingle to go along with this one)

4.  Just say NO to the big O (bama)

5. I Left O-town on the McCain Train!

That’s all I’ve got for now, but I’ll post more if I’m so inspired.

Hello Running, My Old Friend

I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with running. As in, sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it, and sometimes I love to hate it.

From my early teens through college, I usually jogged at least a few days a week for most of the year  to keep in shape.  But, as often happens, I gradually got out of the habit of running, and soon found myself taking only the occasional jog.

I began to think my running days were over.  Perhaps it was for the best, I thought.  After all, running is really terrible on the joints, and bad backs do run in my family.  And I’ve always had that sensitive achilles tendon–I can never seem to really run the distance when it flares up.

But then, it happened.

I started to think about running again.  What would it be like to put back on my running shoes, to head out the door and leave the troubles of the day behind me in a trail of dust and sweat? What would it be like to be in shape again? To “run and not grow weary”?

Like an ex-boyfriend, I started to miss it.  Started to remember the way things were, when I was a runner.

I started talking to runners.  I snuck a peek at a training schedule for a half marathon. Would I–could I ever do something like that?

It was last week that it got the best of me.  I headed out for a walk in the blistering heat.  I’d walk through the grove near our house, I told myself. It would be nice and shady in there. No need to over exert myself in this heat. And then, it happened.  Glancing at my unsuspecting walking partner, my husband, I innocently asked, “What if we ran every other block?  You know, just until we get tired.”  And we did.  And it felt good.

Then today, it happened again. It was after dinner, not the time I usually like to run.  It was still hot and the air was thick outside.  But still, I couldn’t resist.  I laced up my runners and headed out into the twilight.  Yes, I walked a few blocks when I needed it.  But for one glorious half hour, I was running again.  I ran to the edge of our neighborhood, which backs up to a giant field. I was greeted by the most beautiful sight: on the horizon, a beautiful pink sky was melting into a blood red glow.  I stopped for a moment to admire the beauty all around me. This is what we were meant to do, I thought.

I still haven’t decided if I’ll officially return to running. It’s not one of those activities I like to dabble in half-heartedly. It’s all or nothing. But it’s OK. I’m not rushing a decision at this point. The way things have been going, I have a feeling we’ll figure it out, running and me, whether we are meant to be together or not.

Blogging Live While Watching the Miss Universe Pageant

It’s Sunday night.  It’s hot outside. I’ve taken to my favorite spot on a hot summer night such as this: on the couch, in front of the TV, with a Dairy Queen Blizzard to keep me company.  Ordinarily my husband would be keeping me company, but he has understandably chosen not to join me in my choice of evening activity: watching the Miss Universe Pageant.

Definitely the worst thing you could possibly do for your self-esteem is to do exactly what I’m doing: forgo your workout for ice cream in front of the TV while watching a bunch of bikini-clad babes parade around in their fake tans. But, there is a flip side: Miss Australia might have a bone-thin body, but then again, she can’t eat this Blizzard I’m enjoying (that is, if she can eat at all).

Now I know some people are naturally skinny, and it is possible to maintain a very thin physique and even be able to eat some healthy food now and again. It also helps when you’re 6′ tall (or close to it) and all of 19 years old. Nonetheless, during the bikini competition, I found myself cheering at even the hint of a love handle (oh, okay…a hint of a hip bone that wasn’t painfully protruding through the skin).  “Hey, she has muscle!” I exclaim. And then, looking at my Blizzard I ask, “Do you think maybe she eats?”

All kidding aside, I know many of these women are extremely talented and hard-working.  Just take it from the trusted voice of pageant host Jerry Springer. He assures us that these women are, after all, “some of the most stunning, self-assured, captivating young women.”  I don’t know about you, but I’ve been waiting my whole life to hear Jerry Springer say those words about me.

Perhaps the highlight and the lowlight of the program both came from Miss USA Crystle Stewart.  She stated, “I don’t feel pressure to be thin” and credits pageants with having taught her to be healthy and physically fit.  Healthy and phyiscally fit are two things American’s aren’t, so I appreciate the positive life choices she has made.  The lowlight, however, came when for the second year in the row, Miss USA took a fall during the evening gown competition.  Ouch.  So I guess we learn 3 powerful lessons from Miss USA: Be healthy and fit, and if you fall on your skinny little bottom, laugh it off and get back up again.

I have to credit Miss Mexico for being the Miss with the Most Brains. I think out of all the top 5 finalists who had to answer questions (oh, for those of you who don’t know, if you aren’t pretty enough to get to the top 5, you don’t have to worry about using your brain), her answer was the most coherent and also the most direct response to the question.

My overall criticism of the pageant must be leveld at not the contestants, but the administration.  While they did have a national costumes competition, everything else about the pageant was overly and unmistakably western, from the clothing to the typically western sleek, long hair (long live extensions), jewelry, and makeup styles.  Also notably absent from the Miss Universe Pageant were any contestants from other parts of the universe besides earth.

While I do find much to admire in the Miss Universe contestants, including their hard work and dedication, I have to conclude that ultimately, the pageant is an empty pursuit.  The world applauds sexiness, thinness, glamour, and the pursuit of physical perfection.  The outward and external are celebrated.  But it has been my experience that what we often neglect are the only things of lasting importance: who we are inside and what we leave behind for those we love once we’re gone.  Now, a pageant focused on those things? That would be something worth seeing.

Hablas Espanol tu, Senor Obama?

Barack Obama says our children should learn to speak Spanish.  I’ll talk more about that later, but first, can anyone out there provide an answer with a credible soure to the question “Does Obama himself speak Spanish?” I’d also be interested in whether or not his children speak Spanish, but I realize that is more difficult to determine.  Also, by speaking Spanish, I don’t mean give me an example of a time he’s read a few Spanish words or phrases from a teleprompter. I mean: can we determine with certainty whether he has studied the language himself or ever spoken it on at least a conversational level.  Let’s find out, people!

Cooking with Liz

Those of you who know me might have realized by now that I am not overly confident in my skills in the kitchen department.  Truthfully, I don’t cook as much as my much more talented husband, and even when I do, I’m always plagued by feelings of self doubt. Really, I’d rather be cleaning and organizing.

But, I have received some comments as of late that seem to affirm I’ve made some progress. Comments like “This is really good,”  “What an excellent meal” and “Liz, where did you get this recipe?” have boosted my confidence just enough to inspire a post about cooking.

So, here are some of my favorite things to cook for others.  They’re really simple, but people seem to like them.

1) A summer potato/green bean salad:

Just boil some red potatoes, cool, and slice.  In a bowl, mix potatoes with fresh or canned green beans (cool or slightly warm OK) and fresh basil leaves.  The proportions don’t matter much. Toss the mixture with olive oil and sea salt.  You can also add some balsamic vinaigrette to serve. (I grow my own basil and beans. If you grow these in your garden, this makes a very cheap and filling side dish.)

2) Nacho Cheese Dip, from my fabulous friend Jeana:

Cook ground beef and season with taco seasoning.  Melt Velveeta cheese (I like to use my fondue pot, but the stove works over low heat).  When melted, add salsa and beef to taste. I don’t know what it is about this recipe, but everyone seems to love it!

3) Margaritas (to go with the nachos, of course!)

Salt the rims of the glasses, if you want (a cool trick: slide a lime wedge around the rim of the glasses so the salt will adhere.) Mix equal parts lemon and lime juice concentrate with water (I use half a can of each and then freeze the rest of the concentrate in tupperware for next time).  In a shaker, combine 8 oz or so of the juice mixture with a shot of tequila (I like white tequila best), and half a shot of triple sec. Serve on the rocks with a lime garnish. (You can also make them blended in a food processor. The easiest way is to just blend up the ice and then add the juice mixture into that. I suggest adding the tequila to each individually and giving it a good stir for best results.)

4) Healthy fruit dip:

In a blender or food processor, blend equal parts lowfat cottage cheese and a reduced fat/sugar vanilla yogurt. Add 1-2 teaspoons fresh orange zest and stir. Serve with fruit for dipping (apples work well with this recipe).  This recipe came from the Eating for Life cookbook. It’s a pretty good source of healthful, but  good-tasting recipes.

Anyway, I don’t know who might come across these recipes, but if you try one, post a comment and let me know how you liked it!