But then, when do I?

My head is filled with useless, and often disturbing to the general public, pieces of information.

I have noticed lately a lot more open talk and discussion of religion and controversial topics. I wonder if the politics of today, that has spiked conversation from people who never talk or think about politics, has opened the Pandora's box. You know - never talk politics or religion, but if everyone is talking politics, let's go all the way and talk God.

I try to stay away from conversations of either (religion or politics) as I tend not to have the faith of the norm and I won't change - and I don't expect to change someone else, so what the hell is the point?

I have been tempted in the last couple of weeks to call out some of the religious right here on blogstream that like to post trash comments about other people but praise God on their own blogs....but they have their own demons (so to say) to contend with, and likely they don't have much inner peace - and I certainly don't want to be part of that. So, I just kind of stay clear of those people.

I am making collard greens for dinner (first time). It started out with my bird. African Grays notoriously do not absorb enough calcium. Nikster is on high potency food and never had a problem - but her last blood test returned low calcium. Bird's can't process dairy products (makes sense since they aren't mammals) so the next best source? Collards. And after a few Southern New Year's Day dinners that Marc has made, I have grown to love me some collards.

I had to call to ask how to deal with the greens once I got them home. I think water, pepper, smoked turkey necks and onion shouldn't be too hard to mess up.....

Speaking of the Nikster - she has been a nut job all week. Calling the dogs, making farting sounds and laughing, calling everyone in the house an asshole if they make more noise than her. And - making more noise than usual.

Nikster has been neglected (in the grand Chanda scheme of things) and is making more noise than usual, like 3-year old protest parades. I don't spend the quality time with her lately that I would like - it seems to happen every summer when I am outside or distracted more, and she is inside, being protected from west Nile disease. Realizations like this make me sure I need not breed --- "sorry kid, I got other things more interesting than you right now".

Don't ask how I forgot about my 8 year-old sister who got locked out of my apartment for 3 hours when she came to visit me in Buffalo, and she only had on pajamas in 20 degree weather. Or when I forgot to feed all 3 of my sisters for 7 hours...they asked, "when can we eat?" my thought was "why didn't you freaking feed yourselves?!?"

Yeah - I need not breed

Rob bought a Wii online last week. He called and told me to go out on the porch today and look for a package. How in the hell can people keep secrets like that? I don't buy gifts for specific occasions anymore....I buy it and I have to give it to the person as soon as I get home. That makes for a shitty Christmas Eve at the mall. Rob thinks I am just insensitive, but just immature is more likely.

I did get my grandmother's gift of cooking. She always made us a spectacular and gourmet (be sure to pronounce the "t" in her world) meal as gifts. I think I have inherited that.....good thing this house has high metabolisms.

Smoking is well, still a thing of my world after 3 weeks but only 2-3 cigs a day. I decided the best thing for me is to not feel the pressure of quitting - just let it happen. Sad but true. When I feel the pressure to quit and go through bouts of unsatisfied desires during the day, my mind justifies the "reward" cigarette. This mentality has kept me smoking all these years - and three failed attempts. So, I am trying a more zen approach.

I have 2 rewards planned after quitting - teeth whitening and joining a gym. I realize that the latter should not be a reward but an immediate to get my body feeling motivated NOT to smoke. So, after July 4th (going out town until then) I will join a gym down the street and employ a trainer for a week or two. Shit, if I can't quit after that - I say I am loser and just need to accept such. LOL

Atlanta is dry as hell, hot as hell and the traffic still sucks.

S'pose that is all I have to ramble about. Need to brush up on my Wii tennis before I go to N. Carlina next week. Kick some Wii ass (and get in shape - the last time I played Wii tennis my ass muscles hurt for 4 days).