Monday, September 29, 2014

TREE MAJESTIC september 2014 photo by (me!) Sandra, tvgp

I remember I had set out to get one picture a month for the year.. But then I moved and changed neighborhoods  -no longer passing her by on a regular basis..   But still on the rare occasions I see her now.. I can't resist.  What a beauty!

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Gender Mechanics as seen by (me!) Sandra, tvgp

If a man is driving when his car breaks down; he immediately faults the car.  If a woman is driving and the car breaks down; he immediately faults the woman.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

You say tomatoes... By (me!) Sandra, tvgp

I don't have dyslexia per say.. But every time I read the word organic my brain adds and changes the letters into orgasmic.  -and based on the enthusiasm of the shoppers at our local farmers markets; I suspect I'm not the only one this happens to...

Friday, September 26, 2014

Dot THREE dot com. Please! For people like (me!) Sandra, tvgp

I do not have the resources, education/knowledge, or patience to raise the capital..

But! If I did!...   

I would create a new URL tag address for all things on the internet:

Just as there is the suffix, dot blogspot dot com.. For all us e- bloggers

.blogspot.com. (Preceded by the name of your blog)

For people like (me!). -every website could also have a

.three.com

I.e.,   shutterfly.three.com

And what that ='s is this:

There will only be 3 choices for any given product.

Because this choosing every time among 50 different options is just too much..

Simplify!

I don't need to choose between 25 different loaves of bread..

I don't need to choose between 50 different color/page layouts..

I like things the way they are at my favorite gas station..

3 choices..   Make 1.   Get on with living your life...

Can you imagine pulling up to refuel and all the sudden you are faced with..

67  or 83+. Or. 92- green grade or 89 super or new! 67/89.. 

On and on and on...

"Somebody please underwhelm (me!)"

In Jesus name.. Amen

The Heart Seen.. In the packaging tissue. By (me!) Sandra, tvgp

Thursday, September 25, 2014

"God is good all the time. -trusts (me!) Sandra, tvgp

-and all the time; God is good.

The funniest word in the english language. To (me!) Sandra, tvgp

I hear it all the time in songs.. Frequently..  When I listen to KISS radio..  Old school..   Its in the lyrics of how many songs exactly? I don't know.. But a lot

I -almost-  NEVER hear it in everyday conversation..  Nor have I for many, many years..

And then on the occasion I do.. Something about it gives me a little giggle.. Who came up with this word?

My sister just used it..

I was telling her about how I have been wearing my wedges to dance in.. And I can do okay in those.. I can move around without tripping or falling.. But they slow me down a little..  

And she said, "but you can really boogie in your boots"

"That's write!" I said with a smile..   "I need my american poetry boogie boots.."

And now I'm pretty sure our children have never used that word..

But it is pretty easy to figure out what it means..

Or perhaps we can show you! Tonight!  -the last music under the stars of the 2014 season...

/rainy day; boogie nights

I feel another poem comin' on...

Free will. As seen by (me!) Sandra, tvgp

One instance:

The man.. Diagnosed with a late stage ugly cancer.  He prayed, he fought a long, hard, battle; he won.

Years passed; lovely cancer free years...

And then.. He was diagnosed again.  He did not fight; he did not surrender; he accepted.

Loved ones were confused..  "But he knew he could win! Why wouldn't he fight again?"

-because the first time he had no idea just how long and how hard the battle would be

-but the second time; he did.

And so he did not fight.  But nor did he surrender; he accepted.

And into eternal peace he traveled..

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Skits.. By the (seniors!)

1st place goes to...!  Class of 2015!   /and mammarazzi out the side gate for this pre-performance shot..  Knowing light/distance on stage doesn't yield great pictures with this phone camera..    -how can I summarize this event?  It is a high school/hometown version of SNL..   "Live! From pleasanton, California..  Its Tuesday night skits!"

SKITS.. By (freshmen!)

Story to follow.. But honestly..  This was a blast!   Entertaining as all get out..  We smiled for the duration.. And all the way home..

Like its 1999... By (me!) Sandra, tvgp

From the 1999 archives...by (me!) Sandra, tvgp

Thanks mom! Xoxo

Monday, September 22, 2014

Work in progress by (me!) Sandra, tvgp

... I'm so tired of that small monkey to standing man picture...

Last one.. Promises (me!) Sandra, tvgp

My purpose. (Me!) Sandra, tvgp

Ignore: ..well, As you can see i never bother to remove my toenail polish...    If you would be kind enough to ignore that.. 

Pay attention:  The part I want to share in these two photographs..

Is just how perfectly the outter curve of one big toe..  Fits into the other.  Not when my feet are even..  But when I shift them just a little; its like a puzzle piece..   Conformed to fit..

Its like..

How they teach in school..  That If you move the continents together..  You can easily see they were once one big piece of land, that over time, separated..

I wonder if at one time in my mothers womb.. My feet were together just like this...?...

Sunday, September 21, 2014

"Wild" by (me!) Sandra, tvgp

The prerequisite is this: knowledge of/experience with pandora.

K

This very morning I was having a dream..  -who cares what it was I about; no matter

I was teaching a class..  But!  I suddenly became conscious of the fact that there was, during my entire dream, a soundtrack playing in the background.  The only reason I became conscious (that is, conscious in my dream) that music was playing at all, is because

Suddenly it stopped!    -next thing I know, a screen pops into my dream and there's that little box with text that reads

"I'm still listening"

And that's when I woke up.. Laughing.

But then..  Has there always been music in the background of my dreams and I've never noticed?    Because had the music during this dream not stopped abruptly.. I would have never realized..

-how much goes on around us everyday.. Unnoticed.. Until it stops? Until its gone...

The heart seen... In the chocolate pancakes.. By (me!) Sandra, tvgp

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Russell Crowe.. Oscars.. Red Carpet.. With (me!) Sandra, tvgp

-my experiment continues...

Friday, September 19, 2014

Mamma~razzi strikes again! (Me!) Sandra, tvgp

Coming soon.. I mean it is once again red carpet season for all of us mamma~razzi types..   Homecoming!  And this year I have 3 star couples on the high school campus: my daughter/her boyfriend; my son/his date; my nephew/his date...   Oh! The fun/creative ways they ask and invite..    I have gold again in my personal albums..

***

Nephew: "..now that she said yes.. I'll have to wing it with the dancing"

Auntie sandy: "let me and your mom show you a couple moves.. We've been at it for years!"

My son: "don't listen to her. Go to YouTube"

(Me!):  "what?!  I can teach you the lawn mower, the sprinkler.. You can make those work for a lot of songs.."

My son: "never.. 

(Me!):   " just remember..  Its not HOW you move... Its THAT you move.."

/but they had both already tuned me out.

Charlotte Severin @ Alviso Adobe an upcoming poem by (me!) Sandra, tvgp

#charlotteseverin

PRIDE & JOY does it again! By (me!) Sandra, tvgp

Dont you know.. We danced another perfect night away last night at Barones music under the stars.. Save only a couple songs here and there.. We were out on the dance floor from the time pride & joy started until..

Well, write here is where I should say, 'their very last song'

But here's why we weren't there for the last song:

The crowd wouldn't let them stop!   And now I know theyre awesome, fun, true professionals in every sense of the word.. But I also know, that even they would like to get home eventually.

But honey.. When it was near 10pm.. That dance patio was once again -packed-   (if I had a way to squish the letters together when I wrote -packed- I would..  You couldn't dance without making contact with more than just your own dance partner..). -and once again happy dancing people were spilling over into the spaces between tables and chairs; yours truly and Mr Motown included..

Pride & Joy attempted to play their last song.. Tried to wrap it up..

But the crowd would not have it.. 

Add on here.. To our utter surprise and total delight.. Joe Barone joined them on stage.. Partnered up with martin.. And sang and danced.. Not just for a few seconds.. For a few songs!  Worked the whole stage and seem to be -much like the rest of us; having the time of his life..    I'm not sure what he had beverage spirits wise, but I think we should name it and everyone should have some..

Oh! These rare opportunities we each have to just let loose sometimes -let the music take over..

Contagious.

Everything perfect again: climate, God's very own sky lighting; with that preset slow dimmer.. Great crowd.. Pride & Joy..   Me, my sister, and the variety of dance partner friends we've made over the years..

I am very conscious of the fact that these...

These are the good ole days.

There is only one more music under the stars night and then the season ends until next year..

I refuse to think about that write now though..  I'd rather just start planning what to wear..

"...what is hip?....".      /oh  -do I LOVE that song..!  

In Jesus name.. I thank you all!   Xoxo.  Amen

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

MONEY, mOnEy, MoNeY! By (me!) Sandra, tvgp

Time travel a little so you can join us for lunch yesterday at red robin. Me and my.. Ottimo pasto.  <-----TTOD. (Temporary term of endearment):

Split a double cheese burger.. Steak fries.. Cold beer..  

Watch a little sports action on the TV monitor above..  Football.  And what-do-you-know..  Inevitably the subject of Rice comes up:

In case you are reading this from a great time distance, the upshot is this: RICE is the last name of an NFL player who  -video- reveals, hit his fiance in an elevator.. Knocking her out, I believe, then dragging her out on the floor..   -something like this..

Very domestic; very violent.

He was initially suspended for two games; then six; and ultimately after the video evidence "surfaced" and  left unquestioned what actually took place..    -public outrage,  and now he has been entirely cut from the NFL.   K.. I'm just providing an outsiders/layperson summary.. 

My hot date for lunch.. Rick, who may I remind is a retired police officer..  He thought..   This punishment was a little extreme.  That perhaps the three strike rule would be better suited to the crime of domestic violence..  So, if I heard him correctly

-and trust me that I did because I asked him to repeat himself for me at least three times to be sure..  And yes, he thought..

If you punch a woman one time..  There should be some type of consequence; if it happens a second time; a slightly greater consequence.. But if it happens a third time!   "You're out!"

K..  The three strike rule for domestic violence. 

Externally, I remained very calm. Very calm and open.. 

It is a good practice I've learned to stay open to other peoples points of views..

But, had he, in that moment, started choking on his food, let's say..

It might have taken me a couple extra seconds to try and remember whether or not I knew the Heimlich..    /which would make me no better than..; -write.

So, I took another bite of my half of the double cheese burger.. Which was outrageously delicious by the way.. And I had a fry or two, and a sip of my beer..  I caressed his back; gazed affectionately into his dark brown eyes..  And then after enough time had passed.. I said,

"So let's say you own a bank.  You're the C.E.O. of a bank or something.. And you have a star employee (one of my favorite analogies this bank one..)

He is on time everyday
... never calls in sick..
Gets along with everybody..
Lands your bank some of its greatest clients and contracts...

K?"

And he was like, 'yeah.. Got it. Got it'

Then I go..   "But you caught him stealing money one day?"

And then he was suddenly, absolutely, confident and definitive in his reaction:  "fired! -he'd be fired"

"No second chance?" I ask..   "No second chance." He confirmed.

And so, I was like..  "Okay.. So for domestic violence; punching a woman..  Three strikes. But if your caught stealing MONEY..  No second chance?"

Isn't that fascinating.

Now.. When I said it like that to him, I don't think he liked the way things were sounding to him.. So, he went on to clarify his position:

Namely, what he wanted pointed out, is the distinction between

On the job. And,
Off the job.

That is; if you are an employer.. You have authority over what policies/procedures; rewards/consequences; you can and will employ to given employees -while they are on the job

But what they do, before or after work, (off the field) is outside of your authority.  So..

If you have an employee who punches another employee during working hours..  -fired.  

I asked his permission to blog our conversation..  He expressed some concern that I might paint the picture a different color than he had on his brush.. And that I might be in some way attacking..

"I don't use my blog that way; never have..  I will write it and let you read it and you can make any corrections you'd like in comments.."

And if he asked me to remove this post altogether for any reason
. I would; just like that. One click; unpublished.

It has been my blogging etiquette for as long as I can remember..  I think its only been about 5 or 6 times that someone has asked me to eliminate a post for one reason or another..

And without hesitation I have honored their requests. 

But I find this illuminating..  Enlightening.  Most people, -like 100% of the time, if you pose the imaginary bank scenario I posed above

Its just about unanimous that the star employee gets fired.

Stealing money from a bank!

But then.. For other things..  2nd chances, forgiveness, start over, three strikes..

I have noticed for example, infidelity is treated very differently by different people..    Many couples seem to have a ...

Well for some you're fired, and for others..  2 game suspension.

Its all fascinating to me.  I have a one strike is already one strike too many - youre out policy! for all three: domestic violence; infidelity; stealing money from the bank

I do believe in forgiveness, and hope-you-do-better-next-times

But youre gonna have to do-over somewhere and with someone else...


When we moved on in conversation..  I showed him my cross seen.. And heart seen pictures..  Then he pointed to the fries he had just adjusted into a heart shape..   "Awww, that's so cool, but it doesn't count" I told him..   "It can't be made on purpose.. You just have to find them already made". 

"doesn't count?!".   -he seemed a little disappointed.  -it is definitely picture-worthy though..    The heart seen at red robin in pleasanton.. And look at our receipt; I spy both our lucky numbers..   


Monday, September 15, 2014

The Cross seen! By (me!) Sandra, tvgp

The heart shape from the coffee spill was seen some time ago.. But its one of my favorites..  Spotted by my sister on her counter..  We waited a long time before wiping it clean.   -this very morning, my little coffee drip spill landed in the shape of a cross..  So beautiful!  Not in a hurry to wipe that one up either..  Then I thought what a great collage..  !   My back window + the heart seen + the cross seen in the coffee spills..    This format doesn't allow me to put them together in one post.. So I did it individually:   

Sunday, September 14, 2014

I am a "real" genius! (Me!) Sandra, tvgp

What I was trying to accomplish was this:

Open the car door.

Now, that might not sound like such a tall order by itself, but let me add on, that what I really wanted to do was open the car door

-without putting anything down.

Both of my arms and hands were full you see..  Purse, water bottle, diet Pepsi, overnight bag, sunglasses, cell phone..  I can't even remember everything I was holding.. 

-had you seen me

/and there was a man passing by who could

You too, would have been very impressed with how intuitively I was able to locate and shift and shuffle my cars keys into the palm of my hand

And equally impressed with how gracefully I moved closer to my car and stood at the exact angle required for the censors key-to-driver-side-door' to read each other.  I mean, I could not even see the unlock icon past all the stuff in my arm, and yet..  I just knew. And with the effort of only one light touch..

My door unlocked like magic.

I looked at the male passerby and smiled.  It was not at all a flirty smile.  Rather it was more like a confident smile; yes..

/perhaps an overconfident smile.

He looked back at me and smiled too.  But his smile was not flirtatious in manner either.  -his smile..

And it just pisses me off some to even recall it for the sake of sharing this story..

-his smile was one of .. Cockiness.  With a capital C!

He never said a word, but nor did he pass on by. He stopped in an effort to enjoy a show... -starring him and embarrassing (me!).

Because that was write about the same time that I suddenly realized what he already knew:

The door was unlocked, yes; but not open.

In order to OPEN the unlocked door, I would need to manually lift the handle.

Now.. Had this male passerby actually -passed- by, and not stopped

I'm pretty sure I would have surrendered and set a few things down.  Not everything, but one arm and hand worth at least.

But  -everyone already knows the rules, -write:

If I put anything down; I lose.

And if it took too long to figure out my next move, same thing; I lose.

So I am very pleased to tell you here just how instantaneously I

realized! that if I stood close enough, and bent low enough, I would be able to open the unlocked door with MY ELBOW!  Yes!

So, I shimmied everything against gravity up on my shoulders, and i tightened the grip on everything in my hands, and then using only my tiny little, sweet little, elbow

I managed to tuck under and thrust upward the handle of my  unlocked driver side front door.

And the door did    -want to-   open.

If not for the violent manner in which the cocked handle snapped back and pinched my tiny little, sweet little, elbow skin..  This really would have been one for Womens record books..

But damn it if that frickin' pinchin' pain grenade didn't cause me to drop

every. Single. Frickin'. Thing.

You know what this makes the score, -write.   -comes from some of the clearest unwritten rules of all time.

My purse went sliding down first...  and like an avalanche just seem to take everything with it.   -felt my cell phone go for an unexpected flight; then watched it crash land.... My pepsi.. spinning and spitting in twelve different directions..  And private objects from my opaque overnight  bag were lying naked on the hot cement for everyone to see

And this is win the male passerby who neglected to PASS BY goes

"you....  
are. a  REAL. genius."

And I know, -and you know,

That for a brief moment there, he thought he had won.  But just before he started to skip

I go,

"Yeah, well its kinda hard to fake that sorta thing; thank you.".  -real authentic and gracious-like

And so,

For anyone still keepin' score:

We have a tie.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Funny the way it is... By (me!) Sandra, tvgp

If i had the creative means to do so.. Then as you read what im about to write.. There would be music playing in the background. For todays post it would be: funny the way it is by dave matthews.  -love that song! We could go on and on and on, couldnt we..

Because in the course of one week i encounter:

An atheist. Here, locally.  Who thinks believing in God is just plain crazy...

A new believer.. Here, locally. Who, despite great material wealth and comfort was experiencing an indescribable void. Who "found Jesus".  -started serving/helping others.. And found the void was filled.

And then.. A.. -what do we call these people? Not here locally, but i heard it on the news..

He (they) murder Christians..  

You cannot imagine just how "funny-the-way-it-is" this is to (me!).

When you are raised in an environment where freedom of religion is practiced; where a Christian church, synagogue, buddhist temple, and infinite facilities for seculars co-exist sometimes ON THE SAME STREET..

And yes, people sometimes try to influence each other; sometimes try and convert with peer pressure maybe..

But a gun? Homicide?

..so in my imagination..  And in my imagination only, -because im sure not signing up for this travel package,

But i like to ponder that:   what the experience would be like.. To go from an environment where freedom of religion is practiced to..

Risking your very life for whatever belief you landed on..

And vice versa..

To pluck out one of those murderers..

And have him attend a different service, different church, different faith + home of atheist + home of secular..

"See..   Its not so bad.. Its not so scary..  Everyone gets along..  Everyone is just trying to figure it out.. No need for violence.. Life is confusing and challenging enough without all that.. "

How is it that freedom of religion exists at all?   -but it sure is one of the most beautiful living testimonies of all time.

In Jesus name..  /with no gun to my head...

I say freely

"Amen!"

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Two reasons i sleep well (me!) Sandra, tvgp

There are two reasons i sleep well every night:   1. Medicine 2.   -because everyone i love

Knows how much i love them.

Monday, September 08, 2014

Pompei! As thoroughly enjoyed by (me!) Sandra, tvgp

I think that was the name of it.. Pompei. Im close.. 

It was my favorite dance number when i went and saw jazz n taps dance recital in june, i think it was..

Some of it flashed in my mind yesterday when i met and was talking to a young dancer and her dancing mom yesterday..

I said all of this before.. When i saw a jazz n taps recital some number of years ago.. How thrilling! To see such a variety.. Fresh! New choreography! Fresh, new costumes!

It took place behind my back when i stopped looking..

I dont know the exact year.. I just know at some point long ago i was bored to tears with what i was seeing..

Same ole steps in a different order.. Over and over and over again

Same 'type' of costumes..  In different colors..

I stopped paying any attention..

A revolution took place..   Dance has evolved into exciting places i never imagined.. The spectrum! The creativity!  Its gone spectacular...

I loved the entire recital; every number.. Especially i delighted in seeing my mom friend catherine and her daughter natalie.. I bought tickets for both days..

This amazing combination, when they get it just write:

Choreography; true to the music.
Costume; true to the choreography.
Lighting/stage; true to the choreography and music.

And great choreography to me =  well, actually it is the music selection that would come first; inspiring the moves..

And if you select a piece of music that it is exciting.. That contains some mix of fast, slow.. Element of surprise; some unpredictability..

Well.. For me.. And i sure hope im remembering correctly, but there was one performance that had it all..

Pompei.  -and i wasnt there to judge.. I was just there to enjoy

And I enjoyed the whole thing..

But "wow!"..   Who wrote that piece of music? Who choreographed? Who designed those costumes? Who chose the lighting?

What dancers executed this number..  ?

If i could only see 1 dance again from that recital...

" encore!".      Love, gratitude, appreciation.. 

Friday, September 05, 2014

Make of this what you will.. By (me!) Sandra, tvgp

This kind of thing freaks me out! I dont even really know what to do with it, except write it out and sit in awe and wonder:

Two days ago, i get a 3 second flash in my mind, of the face, of a man i went to college with.   Why the sudden flash even, im not sure.  I do not know/cannot remember his name..

But what i did remember is how much he pissed me off with this one comment..  And now, the how/who/what/when exactly, is all lost to me.. Who else was there? No idea..

The only thing i remember is that in an entirely  -what is the word?  Arrogant? Tone..  He was like,   "... Im not going to have to listen to another rape story..."

But the tone!   It went something like..  'Oh please.. Not another woe always me... Havent we heard enough already...'

And ... Well i just hated him instantly.  Didnt say a word, but just locked him in my heart and mind as an asshole and steered clear of crossing his path or being involved in any future conversations..

Rape victims ... When you consider how enormously difficult it is to speak out at all..    -then to have this asshole adding to the mix with his.. 'Cant be bothered with such nonsense..

Well, i did not go to the craft store and spend $18 dollars on the materials to create a voodoo doll look alike to stab with straight pins..

I only spent about $5!  He was not worth $18!

Anyway.. That was that; that is all i really remember: his face; that one comment;   being filled with hate..  And i cant even tell you if i saw him ever again after that.

Fast forward 25+ish years forward to two days ago.. And the 3 second flash..

His face... That one comment.. My hate...

Came and went...   Went on with the rest of my day without giving it or him another thought..

But!  Heres the WILD part:   the very next day.. In real life.. Not my mind.. Guess who i see?!?

Sat down write next to me!   I did not speak to him.. 

It crossed my mind to lean over and say, 'didnt you go to cal state hayward?'   But i never did.. 

We just co-existed at the same table for a short while.

K, but i felt the need to say silently to myself and to Jesus this:

I said.." I forgive him.  "

And i thought about how young (and therefore stupid) he was way back then... And i chalked it up to ignorance not arrogance.

And heres the thing:  i do not KNOW whether im write or wrong, whether he is more mature now or even a greater asshole.

I never spoke to him.

But i chose to privately, internally give the benefit of doubt..

"I forgive him.".      And i left the table.  My guess.. Is that i will never see him again..

And that was that... But! Gets WILDER still! For a spiritualist like me..    -your favorite cussing Christian..   Cuz the very next day after that!

I randomly open the Bible to a random page and start randomingly reading this!:

John 20:21....

Again Jesus said, " Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

And i thought about that for a good long while.. 

And let my imagination go...

"What if!?!   ... What if you really walked around earth with that kind of POWER..

If someone like Jesus touched you on the shoulder say, and granted you that power:

" if YOU choose to forgive.. They are forgiven.  If you choose NOT to forgive...  They will not be forgiven."

Wow! Wow! Wow!

Especially when you realize we really do already possess that kind of power.

In Jesus name...

Im spending a lot of time forgiving people now..  Faces of people i forgot i was ever even mad at.. That i havent seen or thought of in years!

And same holds true.. I do not know whether they are worthy.. Whether they are still stupid, ignorant, or evil.. Whether they themselves have gotten to be better people or worse..

But everytime i think a name or see a face pop up in my mind, im like:

"I forgive you..   And you...  And you...and you..."

-boom, boom, boom...

Im like a forgiveness machine; a praying forgiveness machine..

I wonder how on earth it is that i am so filled with forgiveness?

The big bang?

In Jesus name,  i say

Amen!

'Cuz I was just sprinkled... (Me!) Sandra, tvgp

I have a pretty pure heart, -but my mouth sure trails behind some days..

And when i hold myself up next to people like joyce meyer, robert schuller, joel osteen, t.d.jakes..

Well, something tells me, that on camera or off:

Youre not going to hear them dropping any F bombs.

Im not at that level yet.   I like to joke that its because when i was baptised

I was just sprinkled and not fully emersed.

Whatever the case..   Im pretty sure im not done yet.

Dropping F bombs.

-just feels so accurate; write on target..   Correct.  

On the positive side.. If we take a word like Love.

Well, there is no substitute. It is the highest expression..

"Like a lot...".  -this is never going to do it..

" give my life for you..".    -you are using 5 words; this dillutes

The power of just one word..

Amen.

Thursday, September 04, 2014

I Am A Baseball Player. A poem by (jack!)

"... It wasnt (me!)..." Sandra, tvgp

According to my emails... Some 11 different attempts have been made to change the password on my facebook account.. /which i rarely, rarely use; but still...

It wasnt me.  So...  

I am a career coach for criminals.. (Me!) Sandra, tvgp

Welcome to my class. I am a career coach for criminals; specifically: rapists.

There are pre-requisites for attending my class today; optional/recommended readings; not mandatory, but please..

You will gain much more, much faster, if you first read:

SHE-ROES of Pleasanton.. A blog i wrote and posted in september of 2008.   -just type those words in the search bar:  SHE-ROES of pleasanton..  Read it in its entirity. Re-read the last few paragraphs a few times..

And also, it would benefit you enormously, if your career choice is to be a rapists,  -well, you should absolutely read my story titled, Tri-Valley Haven's Candle Light Walk, pg 156, in my book titled, Eat, Write & Exercise..

You will find this very encouraging..

Not to mention.. And again, this is all optional, not mandatory, but.. You really should read, or at least peruse, Former President Jimmy Carters book, a call to action..

If you put all this together.. You will quickly realize, that when it comes to reaching your highest potential in a life of crime and evil..

Being a rapist..   This is where you stand the highest chance of succeeding.

   -bank robbers...  Not so much.  -may i invite you also to read my bank robbery story entitled, Shady Characters..  But i digress..

My point is..  When it comes to crimes..  When it comes to succeeding as a criminal..  Well,  a key factor, no matter what, is:

Not getting caught.

Please raise your hand if you would like to get caught and have to go to jail...

See!  Not one of you raised your hand.  In order to be successful..  In fact, the very way to determine whether you are a successful criminal or not..  Is almost entirely based on that very thing:

If you get caught...  No passing grade. Big fat "F"

If however.. You never get caught...   A+!

So, let us look then, at where you stand your highest chance of earning that A+...

White collar crimes...  Not so much.  See all the newspaper clippings i have hanging here...   Jail time.  Oh! They swindled money here, and lied to get money over there..  But, MONEY!  Well, people are not very tolerant when it comes to losing money..

The outcry!  The rage!   Honey..  You can get an entire police force plus the FBI and six underground vigilante agencies on your side if the crime involves money..

There are successful money thieves out there for sure..  But statistically speaking..  Many eventually get caught.

- even little crimes.. For rookies..  I mean, just try selling cigarettes to a kid under 18..   "Sting!".   Big fine..     You just never know when a 22 year old undercover cop is posing as a sophmore in high school.. 

Look at these reports over here...  Selling alcohol or tabacco to minors..  Its just not the type of crime you want to get in to..  Its like sting operation city..

Stealing from inside cars, houses, businesses...    While this can be lucrative for some..  Check out this graph..

Cameras, witnesses,  -no one hesitates to report these crimes, like, -ever.  I wouldnt really be doing my job write..

As a career coach for criminals, if i sent you in that direction...  Not a very good return on investment... 

What you want to do and be, if you are looking into a life of crime..

Is a rapist.

I mean.. Just look at these stats!  Un-fucking-believable!   The chance that anyone will report you...  Its like next to zero!

The chance you'll get caught..

The chance anyone will mention..

The chance you'll get taken to court...

The chance youll be actually sentenced and found guilty if you do ever go to court...

My God!  My God!   It is a great time to be a rapist.



Wednesday, September 03, 2014

"Bite size" photo by (me!) Sandra, tvgp

Tuesday, September 02, 2014

You are not qualified to be President of the United States of America then.. By (me!) Sandra, tvgp

I am aware i have mentioned this before.. But reading "a call to action" by former President Jimmy Carter,..  Especially page 53/hardcover.. Reminds me again..  Of my fascination/admiration/curiosity of people who make gargantuan decisions with incredibly high stakes and handle loads of stress from multiple directions on a daily basis vs..

The exposure i have to people who are entirely consumed and sometimes undone by 1 or 2 problems..

I.e.   -and before i go any further, let me first point out:

I KNOW I AM NOT QUALIFIED to be president of the united states of america

But -that is the little catch phrase that continues to play in my mind with every encounter like the one im about to describe..

I do not say it out loud. I just think it.

***

Recently i spoke with a mom who had to decide whether or not to invite a certain child to her childs birthday party..

Would she hurt the childs feelings if he heard about the party and found out? Do you try and keep it a secret? Would it end the friendship with the childs parents? Was there some excuse she could come up with.. "Only room for so many people...".  -and if she did invite him.. What would happen?

And this ONE issue..  Whether or not to invite so n' so to her childs birthday..  It consumed her. Baffled her..bothered her..  She could not sleep.. Thinking out all the implications..possible consequences..

And it is situations like those..  For me, and when i hear it from others that makes my mind say,

" well, -certainly we are not qualified to be president of the united states of america!"

I mean.. Look at the number of, intensity of, high stakes of, amount of people affected, short and long term implications, amount of things (people, budget, politics, realities, hopes, unknowns, risks) that are involved!

Look at this alone:  this one thing in isolation from what we know is much more..

Pg 53:  My training in military history taught me that in more modern warfare, when there are no clearly defined battle lines in combat as there were in the American Civil War or World War I, it is impossible to discriminate between military and civilian casualties.

When is a war justified?

I need a year off to write (me!) Sandra, tvgp

Monday, September 01, 2014

For anne... From (me!) Sandra, Tvgp

Do not worry about how good. Just write. It is a great process buy witch to heal.

"Golf scene" photo by (me!) Sandra, tvgp

HOT DATE for (me!) Sandra, tvgp

As is my routine, i was already in my happy giraffe pajamas.. Book in hand.. Snuggled in and just a few minutes shy of taking my helps-me-sleep-through-the-night medicine.  Truth is, had he asked me to the movies, or join him walking his dogs..  I would have yawned, "im gonna call it an early night tonight.."

But he said something about hitting a bucket of balls.  And despite the fact i dont golf, have next to no athletic ability, etc, etc, ..

It was like suddenly i had 6am energy and get-go at 8:30 at night.

"I wanna go!".  -and i literally flew out of bed, changed back into my street clothes, washed my face, and waited all excited and anxious for his truck to pull up out front.

It is very romantic i must say..  At night; the golf range place.. 

Only thing missing is some music piped through.. But otherwise, dark clear sky.. Pretty lights revealing the greens..

Gorgeous stretches of open space and grounds filled everywhere with visible little white balls of trials, efforts, mishaps and..

In the distance -somewhere; beyond where the eye can see:

" victory! Success!".     -seems so exciting to someone like me

To hit that ball so hard and so far it goes to places you cant even see anymore.

K

Well, it was pretty easy to find mine.  -still on the mat a couple times; then about one pathetic short city block straight ahead..

"You hit it very straight though.. Thats good"

-may i stop here to say thats exactly when i decided for sure id be removing my clothes for him at some point..

I just like that in a man..  When he focuses in on my strengths.

And he was a great coach!  Very patient..  Specific:

"Know why that happened?... Because you turned your head to see where the ball was going to go.. You need to keep your eyes on the ball"

And do you know when i kept my eye on the ball and didnt turn my head..   "It worked!".   -contact; air; distance...

Plus,  ..imma straight shooter it turns out.

-which should surprise no one really; write.

And i just loved, loved, loved watching him do his thing..  Same way i like watching my son on 1st base..

The posture, concentration, gestures, expressions, sounds; instincts..

..so beautiful... Watching that little white ball fly through the night sky to who knows where..

I know most of what i happen across on tv shows people golfing in broad daylight..

But i think this should really be a nighttime sport.  Sex and golf; game high, lights low. Add music..

Im just an athlete of a different kind..

Anyway..  im putting it on my list of favorite dates..

Weve been twice now..  And he said i show enough promise that our next date might just be on an actual real life golf course..

So, help me out here..  Where are the bay areas best night time golf courses? 

Im going to make a private reservation.. Then have a sleeping bag waiting on the 18th...

I had no idea golf was so romantic...