R-E-S-P-E-C-T

This week conversation has swirled around the topic of respect. What exactly does it mean to be respectful of people? Why do people feel respected (or not)? My conclusions are this: At the beginning of the week, I would have said that there are two types of people in the world, those who really try to respect all others, and those who don't. I put myself in the "trying" side, I think, but I do know that there are people out in this world that I don't respect. So then is it a spectrum? An amount on a scale from 1 to 100? My math brain always tries to quantify things. Right or wrong? Yes or No? True or False? Should we have to earn respect, or is it something that we deserve as human beings? I guess the interesting knowledge for me is that me not respecting someone because they decided to look at the world differently than I do puts me further down on the spectrum, and I had always been more comfortable with the "black and white" option of you do or you don't.

One Bag At A Time

Out here in the sunny southwest, people seem to be more "save the planet" than other places I've lived as an adult. Grocery stores out here give incentives for carrying your own reusable bags - 5 cents off your bill or entry into drawing when you bring your own bags. I have so many tote bags from various giveaways that I have just started leaving them in my car so they will always be there when I run by the grocery store. I estimate I am saving at least 8 bags a week from grocery shopping. That is over 400 bags a year! Check out the website One Bag At A Time to learn more about how this small change can make a difference. I just feel better when I bring my own bag.

It's HOT!

OK, so I know I moved to one of the hottest places in the US, and I know it was entirely my own decision and I have no one to blame but myself. BUT COME ON. It is really hot. Have some sympathy for me. I was just checking the forecast for July and every day except two it is expected to be above 110 degrees. (The two are expected to be a balmy 108). And we've already been above 100 for weeks now.

The dry heat thing has merit - it seems cooler than it sounds - but above 110 is just hard to bear. I actually burned my hand on my car the other day. HOT. And people just go about there lives as if it is completely normal. Which I guess it is. Just not for me.

On the bright side, I have an amazing tan, because the only outside activity that is even remotely desirable is sitting in the pool.

I've Been Tagged

Mrs. Swizzle tagged me, my first tag...

Four jobs I've held

• Math Lab Tutor (college)
• Risk Manager
• Temp (including peeling labels off of binders for 8 hours)
• Consultant

Four films I could watch over and over

• It's a Wonderful Life
• Office Space
• The Truth about Cats and Dogs
• Any "B" Elvis movie - the early years

Four TV shows I watch

• Ugly Betty
• Grey's Anatomy
• My Name is Earl
• House

Four places I've lived

• Andrews AFB (Washington DC)
• Niceville, FL
• Beavercreek, OH
• Lewisville, TX

Four favorite foods

• Chicken Paprikash (or anything Hungarian)
• Fresh berries - almost any kind
• Grandma's Apple Pie
• Brie & Tomato sandwiches (first tried this in London)

Four websites I visit everyday (I can't say I visit any everyday, but these I check out a lot)

• Perez Hilton
• The Drudge Report
• Adventures of Elastigirl
• Allrecipes.com

Four favorite colors

• Red
• Blue
• Yellow
• Ultra White - no hint of any tint in it

Four places I would love to be right now

• On a beach in Mexico
• By Curly Girl's pool
• Budapest
• Malta

Four names I love but would/could not use for my children

• Ariel
• Ruby
• Jay
• Raymond

Not sure who I will tag yet. I'm fairly new to the blog world, so I don't have an extensive list of bloggers to tag yet. I'll pass it on soon though.

Inaugural Blog

Here is my first post. I'm not sure where I am going to go with this blog, but I am jealous of friends who have one, so I guess I need to start my own.