I’m getting closer to hitting my goal–wearing a teeny tiny bikini in public. The pilates, running, and visits to the gym are paying off, and it feels great. I plan on keeping it up and living an active lifestyle–reminiscent of how I lived my life up until I became a mom. What’s next I ask myself….rock climbing? Surfing? Tennis? Hell, maybe someday I’ll climb Everest:D

I’ve decided to get my lazy ass in gear and shape up for summer….so I’ve taken up running. And, so far I’m loving it. Last week I ran 8 miles. This week I plan on running 12+.

Here are my 8 reasons for getting in shape:

1. To wear the smallest bikini I can find (and actually wear it outside the house, in public)

2. I want boys to gawk at me. This will drive my husband nuts.

3. I want to set a good example for my daughter.

4. I need a healthy vice. Although I’m not giving up my vino;)

5. I want to spend more time outdoors. Running will guarantee this…

6. My 10-year high school reunion in September.

7. Sex. It’s better the more in shape you are.

8. Heart health.

There is an Interesting article in the Kennebec Journal about legislation requiring Maine citizens to prove their residency status in order to obtain a drivers license.  Um, yeah…seems like a no-brainer to me. The very fact that anyone (in the world), regardless of where they live can come to Maine and get a license is pretty darn stupid. But, hey, it’s the Maine government. I’m not terribly surprised. The worrisome part in all this is summed up in two words: Illegal Aliens.

Now, don’t freak out…I’m no hater. It’s not the Alien part that worries me, it’s the Illegal part. By coming to this country illegally, the laws of this land have already been broken…this blatant disregard bothers me and makes me wonder what other laws could be ignored. The current law invites illegals of ALL kinds to Maine….it invites the man (or woman) just trying to provide for a family, AND (it could) invite Mr. and Mrs. Terrorist here. Don’t forget, two of the men who flew planes into the twin towers on 911 chose Maine as their entry into this country (by way of Canada) and boarded the planes at Portland International. There was a reason they chose Maine, and as citizens we need to take a hard look at our security measures and laws. I don’t believe this is discrimination, it’s called giving a shit about the safety of Maine people.

The argument on the other side is summed up pretty well in the first paragraph of the article:

“Requiring everyone to prove they are legal residents to get a drivers license would make Maine roads less safe, do nothing to improve the county’s security, and discriminate against immigrant workers crucial to Maine’s economy, immigrant rights groups said Monday.”

The first point, “make roads less safe”…WTF? I don’t believe it, it seems like backwards logic to me. The second, “do nothing to improve the country’s security,” is a LIE, and the third “discriminate against immigrant workers,” is laughable. And, since it’s not only illegals that would have to prove residency, it’s EVERYONE, I suppose that would mean everyone is being discriminated against…systematically. Oh, forget that it’s FEDERAL LAW…no no no, it’s discrimination. Give me a f*cking break.

The other day while at my parent’s house my mother said (rather gingerly) “Oh, another one of my ferrets died.” Her ‘furry friends’ as she likes to refer to them are slowly meeting their demise…and she couldn’t be happier. At the height of their reign (and arguably the decline of my mother’s sanity) she had 17 ferrets. Now she has 9. And they all live happily in my childhood bedroom. Yes, just as soon as I moved out to go to college, my mother turned my room into a ferret room. Most parents decide to redecorate, paint the walls, re-carpet, put up nice curtains, whatever…No, not my room. It became a luxury 4 star resort for four-legged ankle biting weasels. No nostalgic memorabilia don the walls, no reminiscing of sleepovers and high school gossip…NO, my old room belongs to ferrets. The fun part in all this is at time she had 17 ferrets she also had 7 dogs, 5 cats, 3 fish tanks and a partridge in a pear tree. All this in a teeny tiny house, I want to say maybe 900 square feet. Oh, and I should mention the dogs were not small foofy dogs, they were samoyeds–a large working breed of dog with thick long white fur used often in dog sledding. SEVEN samoyeds…oh but that’s nothing they had 9 before…

An article in the Kennebec Journal today alludes that a state tax increase is inevitable given the 190 million dollar state shortfall.

Maine is already the second highest taxed state in the nation at 14.0% (state & local), second only to Vermont. The state’s per capita income in 2006 was $31,931, dropping 4 places in one year to 39th. The cost of electricity is 38% higher than the national average (commercial and industrial). Healthcare costs are ridiculous…and so are home heating costs. Mainers need a break, not an increase. If the Legislature doesn’t get their act together to prioritize and cut spending I may consider moving to New Hampshire.

The name of this blog site is not synonymous with how I feel right now. Yesterday we had another 6-8 inches of snow and more is on the way this week. So far the 2007/2008 season is shaping up to be one of the top 5 snowiest on record. Last I heard Portland had over 90 inches of snow – roughly half of the average. And, we have at least one more month before it’s over!

I drew a penis for a coworker. I didn’t mean too. It was an accident. It was a quick sketch of a thermometer (a pictorial project time line) in its conceptual phase. As soon as I drew it, my colleague says, “this meeting just went from bad to worse.” SOMEONE shoot me please…

One morning (while I am getting ready for work), Natalie my two-year old daughter got into a box of maxi pads and proceeded stick them all over the bathroom. I contemplated taking photos and calling it my new installation piece.

Yesterday I passed a cop on 295 South going 85mph (20 mph over). To my great surprise…and relief, I DID NOT get pulled over. What a lucky shit I am.

SNOW is in the forecast again. If winter doesn’t end soon I think I’m going to off myself. Maybe if this whole graphic design thing doesn’t work out I should be a plow guy (girl).