In fact, more than an interest, I think I am obsessed! I have been on Pinterest for about a week and I have accumulated 24 boards, 289 pins and 18 likes.  I don’t know, I think that might even be an addiction!  At first, I couldn’t figure out “why” it was so interesting.  And then, before I knew it, I couldn’t get enough of it! Every spare minute I would log on to see what people were posting, and was it something of interest to me.  Pinterest has my interest to the point of me logging onto the website via my droid as I’m falling asleep.  Since the droid doesn’t “re-pin” fast enough for my liking, I “like” things of interest on Pinterest, and then I “re-pin” on my laptop the next day.  Do you see what I mean? By the time one creates a process in which to participate on a social networking site, it has gone beyond a mere interest!  Right?  In fact, Pinterest has my interest so much I have sent Pinterest invites to everyone I can think of who might want to participate.  I even gave a warning to my facebook friends to try and stay away from Pinterest as much as possible.  I warned my friends it was addictive and it wasn’t too late for them; I encouraged them to save themselves!

Screen Shot of my Pinterest on 1/29/2012 after only a week! Addicted much?

January 18, 2012

Dear Jennifer:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act (S. 968). I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.

As you may know, on May 12, 2011, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) introduced S. 968, also referred to as the PROTECT IP Act. This legislation authorizes the Attorney General to take action against either the owner of a nondomestic domain name (NDN) or, in lieu of an individual, against the domain name itself, if the NDN is used within the United States to access an Internet site dedicated to infringing activities (ISDIA) directing business to U.S. residents and harming U.S. intellectual property rights.

The Senate Committee on the Judiciary approved the bill on May 26, 2011, clearing it for further consideration by the full Senate. As the uses of the Internet and other multimedia technologies continue to develop, it is essential Congress works to promote a vibrant, open system that balances the interests of consumers with those of intellectual property holders.

I recognize the need to protect intellectual property rights, however, this legislation has raised some concern that it would come at the expense of the constitutionally protected right of free speech. Please know, if this issue is debated in the 112th Congress, I will work with my colleagues to strike the proper balance between protecting intellectual property rights as well as freedom of speech.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please feel free to contact me in the future on this or other matters of interest to you. For more information about the issues before the U.S. Senate as well as news releases, photos, and other items of interest, please visit my Senate website, http://crapo.senate.gov.

Mike Crapo
United States Senator
MDC:rj

*Hint — Both “yes” and “no” are the wrong answer.

Before I talk about the title of this blog, I have to tell you — It started out as a normal day.

You know, the kind where I sleep in because I stayed up FAR too late. Again. (At least this time it was for a perfect reason…I was hanging out with my 18 year old son, laughing and joking as we shopped online for his laptop. He is buying it for himself and wanted my input! I’m verklempt just thinking about it).

Anyway, I went on with my day, and sent a text to my BFF from elementary school telling her that something fell-through and I wouldn’t be able to make the trip next week to Dallas as I had hoped.

Pam & I were kindred spirits in elementary school. From Kindergarten through 4th grade, I believe we lived at each other’s homes. Then, after my father unexpectedly passed away when we were in 4th grade, my mother moved us to Idaho (I’m skipping a bunch of details here. You’re welcome). It was devastating for both Pam & I to be ripped away from each other. Over the years, Pam and I lost touch — she found me several years ago on facebook and it was like I had found a part of myself!!!

Cut to — Today. I sent her a text and after a few back-and-forths, I asked, “So, how you and Bert doing?” She said, “We are doing well. B started a new job last week and I am very busy promoting my new book. I enjoy promoting others oh so much more than myself! How are you?”

My response: “Wait. Book? What did I miss?”

Yep. She wrote a book.

Not just any book.

But a REALLY FUNNY book. Haha!

No wonder we were BFFs.

Yes, I am impressed that she authored a book — but it is a really interesting feeling that someone I knew as little child has authored a book, that, in its first week is ranked #14 in its category! WOW! (Take a peek at it here)

So, “Do I Look Fat In This? And Other Impossible Questions Women Ask” is the title of her book. I’m pretty sure my sons and sons-in-law don’t read this blog, so I’ll tell you — I am totally getting them a copy of this book for Chrsitmas! Haha… Which man doesn’t want to know the answer when their woman says, “Do I look fat in this?”

Go, Pam, Go!!! I don’t know why, but I feel so proud of you!

All the best success to you!!! XO

Steve Jobs has died.  That’s what the article said.

He was only 56.  And he died.

“We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today,” read a statement by Apple’s board of directors. “Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve. His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.”

Rest in Peace -- 1955-2011

This article by cnet seems to have the most information.  My heart goes out to the Jobs family.  <3

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.” [Steve Jobs, 2005]

I then quickly sent a tweet about it, and in the process looked up PETA’s twitter handle.  This is what PETA’s twitter bio says:

PETA @peta Norfolk, VA/ Los Angeles, CA   Sexy celeb supporters, PETA antics, shocking videos, vegan recipes & more!

And then I really started thinking.

Really, PETA? Really? You are okay with having “sexy celebs” promote your ideals, to the point of objectifying women in nude campaigns to garner attention, yet you are offended at a raw chicken being posed in a “sexy” position.  I’ve got to tell you, raw chicken in any position is not sexy; laughable, perhaps, but definitely not sexy.

PETA’s founder and president Ingrid Newkirk told The Atlantic Wire. “It’s downright offensive, not just to people who care about animals but almost to everyone. It’s a plucked, beheaded, young chicken in a young pose,” she said

Dear Ingrid,

The picture of the chicken is not offensive to me.  Your new porn site which is soon to be launched, however, is.

Love,  JennyQ

Well, Mali is where the Sahara Desert , the Niger River and Timbuktu are located. It’s very hot there most of the time. Since my family has worked with Mr. Samake for years, they know he is a man of his word.  Check out the videos here and here and here you will see that Yeah has gained a lot of respect here in the United States as well as in his own country.

Mayor Samake (a.k.a Yay, Yeah!) will be raising funds for his presidential campaign primarily in Mali. However, Mali is the second poorest country on the earth, so his friends in the USA are pitching in to make his presidential campaign successful.  Remember when you had to clean your plate when you were little because of all the starving kids in Africa and you thought, “I wish I could just box up the food and send it to them?” Well…now you can…sort of….A little over here goes a long way over there!  Even $5 is a huge help.  If you know anyone who wants to donate, they can go directly to samake2012.com. He also appreciates your good thoughts and prayers for moral support.  Many people of his country have requested that he run for President, and he has a great chance to win.  Go Samake 2012!

Cool blog by Yeah’s wife! Only 28, that’s crazy!

Yay, Yeah!!!!

Invigorating Thai Iced Tea

1/4 cup peeled fresh ginger, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup diagonally-sliced lemongrass
8 green tea bags
1/4 cup organic honey
1 quart boiling water
1/2 cup lite organic coconut milk

Add ginger, lemongrass, green tea and honey to boiling water and let it steep for 10 minutes. Strain into a large beverage container; stir in coconut milk. Chill thoroughly. Serve over crushed ice with fresh mint.

Recipe from Neil Zevnik

Here’s another cool variety and instruction for making the tea with a coffee press! Awesome!

My heart goes out to the families who lost loved ones in the 9/11 terrorist attack and the military members who have lost their lives in the war against terrorism.  While I am grateful for the courage of those who brought justice to the devastation of 9/11, I can’t help but wonder what is going on in the hearts and minds of the wounded victims and the families of the countless dead tonight with the news of the death of Osama Bin Laden.   May you all be blessed and comforted with peace. <3

For a while I was doing well recovering from being an overachiever.  I was slowing myself down, and learning to say no, learning what I don’t want in my life any more.  When I started moving towards what I do want, that is where the trouble started.  This is a skill I do not have.  I don’t know how to get what I do want without going after everything I want.   And once that cycle starts, the chasing of the anxiety, I cannot stop.  I do everything.  How do people do “just enough?”  I am so envious of this ability.

I want to do “just enough” reading, and sleeping, and playing, and working, and eating, and chilling, and TV watching, and tweeting, and parenting, and partnering, and loving.  Instead, I do way too much of a few things and virtually none of the rest.

It wasn’t until this week that I became aware of the underlying feeling of not being good enough for anything short of perfection; accompanied by a fear of success.  No wonder I’m stuck.  Am I the only one?