SICK

Though for my sister-in-law, finding this would equate finding Atlantis, it makes me want to throw up. I HATE SPIDERS (not to mention mosquitoes). But apparently this is a once-in-a-lifetime event so for all you entomologists out there, you better make your spider-web-gawking pilgrimmage to Texas very soon. They expect this monster web to only last until the fall!

...And Speaking of Post-Baby Weight...

I haven't tried them yet, so don't hold me to it, but this little invention seems fantastic! I'm tall anyway, so finding shirts that fit me in length is often hard. And now, post-baby, I'm even more desperate for a top that hits below my zipper. I might have to try these: Blush Topless Undershirts. $15 at www.ToplessUndershirt.com.

Tips For Getting Back in Shape, Post-Baby

During pregnancy, the most I walked was to work & back. I wanted to throw up during my whole first trimester so I didn't do an ounce of exercise. Once you've gone that long, it's hard to get back into a routine...especially with another little person along for the ride. Post-baby, when my son was about 2 months old, I joined Stoller Strides, a stroller fitness class for moms. It was WONDERFUL! I got back into a great routine and saw real results. It wasn't just a Sunday stroll, it was a real workout class taught by real trainers. I encourage all moms to go to www.strollerstrides.com and find one in your area. My location has recently disbanded, but it's good because I have a newfound use for our long-standing YMCA membership!

Next time around I'm going to be much more proactive during pregnancy (assuming I can stomach it). This article by Lisa Druxman, founder of Stroller Strides, gives you some great tips on how to prepare for pregnancy and get back in shape post-partum.

SO GLAD I vote Republican!!!

When Fidel Castro picks a Hilary-Obama ticket for the '08 election, I KNOW I'm voting on the right side.

Review Update

Ok, so it seems I spoke too soon. I must admit, Cookie Magazine is not what I had expected. Let's just say if you don't live in New York, have a double-income, only one child, and your kids' fall breaks include a jet-set to Paris, you're probably not going to benefit much from it. The products they review are ridiculously expensive (ie: a LV suitcase for $2,000), and unless you have a nanny, maid, and butler, you definitely won't have time for all the birthday party ideas they give you. Those are just a few examples of why this magazine is not for the rest of us. So...I apologize! I won't be re-subscribing!

Shocking Revelations From Mother Teresa's Letters

TIME has a fascinating and must-read article about Mother Teresa's own struggle with faith and her total belief in God. It is a shocking view into her spirituality during the last half-century of her life.

In essence, her letters from the time she began her ministry to the poor until she died, reveal that she was tortured by “such deep longing for God,” and that she felt “repulsed, empty, no faith, no love, no zeal.” She says she wanted to believe so badly, but just couldn't feel God within her soul.

The mainstream media will run with this, implying that Mother Teresa was a fraud and a hypocrite and how can we believe anything she said or did now. Non-believers cannot possibly understand the worth of self-sacrifice. My take, and the theory I choose to believe, is that the torment she felt in longing for a true presence of God, was the sacrifice and test given to her by the Lord. Kind of like Jesus' proclamation on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This proves that we are all human and have our moments of doubt and question. Perhaps this was the cross God gaver her to bear. Many saints have gone through dark periods of their life. The fact that they continue to perform great works despite feelings of faithlessness, is perhaps one of the great reasons they are called saints.

Please check out the article, and then do some research yourself on saints. Many of them led very fascinating lives that we can all learn from.

At Least He's Honest?

I can't believe I'm reading this about The Bus! Do people do this? It seems Jerome Bettis is fessing up to having faked an injury in 2000 to avoid getting cut from the Steelers. Though I'm certain this sort of debauchery happens WAY more than we know in professional sports, I'm still amazed. It's The Bus! I thought he would have been above that sort of thing. :(