Presidential Fitness Test WINNER two years in a row! (robert mickanen!)
of course! the news of President Trump's EO Reinstating the Presidential Fitness Test sent us write to our true treasures chest..
1st time he won, 1976, under the Ford Administration, attending school in Minneapolis, and he was 1 of only 2 students who won
2nd time he won, he was the only one to win! it was under the Carter Administration, he was a student at The American School in Karachi Pakistan
he was very motivated to win! he wanted to win.. he put in the practice, time, effort;
he challenged himself and chased it..
My husband, my sexy.. he has ALWAYS been a competitive athlete.. loves many sports.. and was MVP in little league baseball; flag football, track & field..
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and guess what.. He is still going strong! -a great influence on me; an inspiration..
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i, on the other hand.. if it wasnt dancing.. -dreaded.. never long broad jumped one time in my entire short life... suddenly a man with a vest and clipboard assesses me in front of everyone.. humiliating.
so this ignited our conversations again about whether this should be voluntary vs. mandatory..
and i go straight to my experience as chair of the PTA's reflections art program at vintage hills elementary
-there were students who would only participate if it was a competition.
-there were students who really wanted to participate, but only if it was not competitive; just for show..
what worked out so brilliantly, is the reflections art show was for both.. those who were motivated by competition; and those who just enjoyed creating and sharing their art, without needing to 'win' anything, or place.
i think the same can be accomplished with physical fitness, PE;
jog a mile.. vs. race competitively
do a certain number of sit ups vs. who can do the most sit ups
-you get the idea. PE is mandatory.. but competing to win the Presidential Fitness Award, voluntary.
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but, of course! of course! physical fitness, walking, biking, hiking, dancing!
eat write & exercise /SHEsaysWITHaSMILE..
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anything in the Bible about Jesus exercising? selah! & amen.
Patterns in human behavior -explored by (me!) sandra mickanen, topps, writeousmom
elisabeth kubler ross
identified 5 stages of grief.. she identified these five stages as a result of interviewing who knows how many people.. people near death themselves; the loved ones of..
it is incorrect to say she 'developed' them. these stages of grief were already present in human behavior.. she noticed and documented the common denominator among the people she interviewed..
the stages of grief she identified does not represent 100% of the people; 100% of the time.. 100% in order...
of course not; we are talking about human beings..
there are a plethora of nuances, myriad of caveats, outliers, different intensities; duration.. long list of variables
but this long list of variables in no way diminishes her findings; the pattern.. the recognizable, common experiences shared by so many.. patterns;
the five stages of grief she identified, by the way, are: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
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very much in draft form, i am 'piggy-backing' off of her work, so to speak, and working to identify the common denominators that can be found among Christians..
that is, the recognizable common experience shared by so many people who graduate from not believing there is a God, to -maybe... but; to oh no! there really is a loving God..
and, i've only just begun.. there is a great deal before i can definitively write/publish, however,
I KNOW! one of the great stages.. one of the pretty predictable, very common,
THE 'SIGN' if you will, that an internal connection has taken place via prayer; the spiritual epiphany
-everyone who shares the experience of ultimately arriving at 'there IS a loving God'
identifiable pattern:
astonishment and gratitude for how patient God has been... patiently waiting.. never forcing, pushing, manipulating, coercing... God will not break in or override the gift of your free will.
God is just patiently waiting... and then, upon your invitation... when you put a welcome sign out..
open your heart
that's when becoming a new creature begins..
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and that is a very gradual, but deeply experiential process... glory to glory to glory; the path of the righteous grows brighter and brighter..
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but, yes.. i love the song: hard fought hallelujah by brandon lake, and i love getting to hear him sing it..
this 'stage'
this 'common denominator'
this.. identifiable sign that a spiritual epiphany took place... the: recognition
"... God you've been patient..."
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literary work in progress..
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"Thank You Jesus!" hallelujah & amen
REAL * LIFE * STYLES: 7/24/2025 San Jose Airport, San Jose, California #fashion #RealLifeStyles
officially, Norman Mineta San Jose International Airport
#fashion #RealLifeStyles
amen.
#MAGICofMACYS wedding guest attire -from California to Montana.. -the micks #fashion
Dear GFFS, Jenn & Rhonda, AND! Jaynee Berkman, President & CCO, Adrianna Papell
* LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Adrianna Papell Dress i wore to my beautiful sister's wedding! A glorious outdoor event, 80ish degrees.. and my husband in a very attractive short sleeve, fitted, blue shirt, -and we both LOVE how the inside of the collar had its own, separate fabric design.. "Thank You!" again,
#MAGICofMACYS
Also, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the INC Dress i found at Valley Fair Magic of Macy's.. i received the most compliments on this dress... it fits like a dream, highest! level of comfort.. travels & washes well; amazing! and my husband already had a coral shirt, so, perfect, fun, color coordination, his/her, mr/mrs for the very wonderful winery visit & rehearsal dinner...
and, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that darling black skirt with the sheer overlay i saw Jenn wearing, which.. resulted in me meeting my new GFFS and what a perfect, fun, outfit for Music on Main, Live Concert, in Butte Montana's Uptown.. of course, i had to wear it with my Montana Folk Festival T-Shirt, and a fun belt my beloved fashion friend, #FancyNancy, loaned me..
p.s. all my sandals/shoes with outfits.. #MAGICofMACYS
it was an exceptional occasion! -wonderful, glorious wedding! i have 100's of pictures i am in the process of editing, organizing, and getting ready to post.. God shined on every family, friend visit..
BLESSED CASE SCENARIO, through and through.. wedding post coming soon..
but, look.. "CONGRATULATIONS!" another beautiful, romantic, love story... xoxo Praise God!
hallelujah & amen!
#MAGICofMACYS
#fashion
THE TRUTH as researched, witnessed & experienced by (me!) & (robert!) -the micks
VICTIMS of Homeless Criminals.. each one who spoke out represents 100's more who are victims, but unable to attend and speak out for one reason or another. This group of people who did show up..
This story; these testimonies..
never covered/shared by mass media.
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#TheWhiteHouse "Thank You!" for getting back to us! ~the micks
God Bless the NFL. love & healing prayers from -the micks
mentioned lots of times i know, but.. i share a birthday with.. and we both turn 60! February 2026
-and extra cool that Super Bowl LX will be played -write here; at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California 'silicon valley'
We are already filling our hearts/minds/imaginations; planning the yard art.. planning a party...
"CHEERS!"
The Micks NFL Super Bowl His & Hers #Fashions
Super Bowl Yard Art by The Micks #Bliss
Super Bowl Poetry by (me!) sandra mickanen, topps, writeousmom
#NFL
our party, our yard art.. all "Thank You!" prayers.. amen.
Guess who got a letter from The White House.. (me!) & (robert!) -the micks
so, i've written several letters to The White House; snail mail.. and i have no idea, nor any means for knowing whether or not they are received, read.. they just go into the abyss.. but i send them anyway.
i have also emailed letters via The White House website, and i do get an immediate 'receipt' of sorts, that acknowledges the online form was received..
but, i have never before received an actual letter in response to..
and, granted, it is a generic letter.. it does not answer or directly address any of my questions or concerns; but i am still quite pleased to receive it -and my husband received one too.
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Public "Thank You!"
hallelujah & amen..
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-my imagination is always; and so,
in my real life, i do have some promotional pieces i kept from when Donald Trump was hosting a real estate event in Pleasanton, California -late 1990's; early 2000's... i'll have to find it to fact check,
/i did not keep it because i had any idea Donald Trump would become more famous.. a U.S. President twice! i kept it because.. that's what i do. i keep things.
but then i was like.. how cool would that be?!? -you know, to bring it with us when we go visit The White House.. and get a picture with President Donald Trump -signing it! autographing it!
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amen & amen..
found it! so, President Donald Trump AND Ivanka Trump's autograph!! xoxo -if it be God's will...
a more comprehensive & proper introduction of Dir. Homeland Security Secty: (Kristi Noem!)
if you've only seen her in soundbites.. or brief interviews in the news..
her presentation at the CPAC Human Trafficking Summit 2025 offers a much more comprehensive and proper introduction KRISTI NOEM "Thank You!" and your team..
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and! historic ... in every sense of the word.. President Trump's speech the 2025 AI Summit..
will re-listen with pen & paper.. PACKED/DENSE with enormous and history-making decisions.. policies, laws, de-regulation, -direction.. for America
-interesting to listen, as a resident of San Jose.. in 'silicon valley'
different perspective/lens from when i lived in Pleasanton, or anywhere else in the bay area..
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hey.. we have it common, President Donald Trump & I...
neither one of us like the word 'artificial' /i am a literary artist and poet.. happy to help choose a new vocabulary...
or, ... of course, you could just ask chatGPT for some help... or claude..
but yes, Mr President, you are not alone.. would love to nix 'artificial'
change it to something more.. accurate.
million, trillion "Thank You Jesus!" hallelujah & amen..
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TBC.
amen.
i mean this so sincerely.. (me!) sandra mickanen, topps, writeousmom
if i hop over to youtube.. i can search and see any number of videos which will demonstrate how our bodies digest food -specific foods sometimes; and how long it takes...
but i wonder
i wonder, how do our minds/bodies/hearts digest 'information'
good news vs. bad news vs. traumatic news -historic news vs. current news..
like,
you know, if you've read me any length, my long battle, ultimately conquering, PTSD, prevents me from even watching very much news at all; i'd never leave the house..
but i do read some.. see some; hear about some..
and just recently in san jose.. which i call my city, now.. our city
this:
the park, cataldi park, where a 9 year old boy was stabbed to death by his father.. is not far from where we live; it sits in the middle and across the street from residential areas.. so many school aged children live near and/or play at cataldi park.. how are they 'digesting' this news?
i think it is a very fair analogy.. digesting food vs. digesting news..
where some people are healthy strong, digest well; others have allergies, or kidney issues.. IBS...
so, people really dont automatically digest the same foods in the same way.. there are too many caveats to itemize..
just so sad; all of it. and with all of it.. in my prayers every morning;
i am, at all times, aware.. of all the pain, suffering, trauma, death that does not make 'the news'
-the flash floods in texas.. international news..
-all the families w/family members in hospitals.. children fighting for their lives..
my prayers are very inclusive.
love & healing prayers... selah! amen!
what i've learned to do over time and with practice: i pray my prayer.. and then give it to God..
and then,
rejoice! in the day the Lord made...
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if i wallow in the tragedies.. it is my Christian interpretation, that that is the equivalent of giving my mind/emotion/spiritual territory to the enemy. -allowing the devil to claim even more territory..
when i pray and then 'cast my cares' and 'give it to God' and go on to 'rejoice' in the day the Lord has made..
it is my Christian interpretation that I am glorifying God's name.. giving my mind/emotion/spiritual territory to the King of Kings.. to LOVE. God is LOVE..
it is the good fight of faith. and sometimes, the fight part is more pronounced.. sometimes the faith part..
but they do go hand in hand.
how do YOU digest information? news? trauma? great news? -can you explain it? create a video that visually demonstrates...
how do we all absorb and benefit from the nutrients.. and get rid of what is waste? discern between the two..
In Jesus trustworthy name! amen & amen.
Well, that's great news, now isn't it! to (me!) sandra mickanen, topps, writeousmom
and! which CH's to....
THIS &
THIS"thank you prayers!" for these wonderful memories! and human imagination...
will be awesome to witness, via periodic visits.. this mall go from empty, lonely.. to full and thriving again.. hallelujah & amen!
HAPPY 103RD BIRTHDAY! to our beloved neighbor, WWII Veteran, Ysidor Sanchez.. love ~the micks.
such a big! wonderful! celebration in our neighborhood -THREE YEARS AGO!- for Ysidor's 100th birthday... double purple heart.. F Company Sharpshooter WWII, Normandy Beach D-day Veteran
proud soldier of the U.S. Army Company F, 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division
-recipient of the French Legion of Honor and Medal of Freedom in France..
three years ago, his family surprised him with a mariachi band, neighbors with various food & gifts, his grandson had WWII Jeeps arrive, some San Jose Police & San Jose Fire Fighters came to honor.. there were 'Andrew Sister' like singers performing.. food, music, festivities.. local news came to interview..
honor to help organize and be a part of...
and God bless him! He is recovering from a recent surgery.. couldn't visit, but now, celebrating his 103rd!
LINKING: remarkable history re: Platoon Sgt Daniel H Tremper & PFC Ysidor M Sanchez
honor to call you friends & neighbors! you are both heroes and inspirations!
God shine!
favorite thing to do while watching tv for (me!) sandra mickanen, topps, writeousmom
i've simplified: stop drawing a variety of wildflowers and just do california poppies.
i've started embellishing: after i use green sharpie & orange paint pen.. i then add just a tiny touch of paint and just a tiny pinch of glitter over the blooms.. love the result!
but the first part of recycling my gum containers.. just the empty container and 2 pens.. i sometimes do that when i'm a passenger in the car too..
or have to wait in a lobby for a long time.. it's very portable art.
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hallelujah! and amen!
YET ANOTHER BRILLIANT IDEA from (me!) sandra, tvgp original post June 1st, 2012
i do not bring my purse with me when i go dancing. everything i need fits in my pocket -license/cash.
and it's very liberating, because on the occasions i have accidentally brought my monibag with me, for example
the entire time i'm on the dance floor, i'm preoccupied with the safety & whereabouts of my monibag, and the contents within
and that's why nightclub beverages should not be served in open glasses, but in beautiful, cool looking containers with LIDS! that you can bring with you on the dance floor
i really don't like the way things currently are:
if youre drinking, you have to be sitting at a table or standing
around the dance floor -but not on it.
and when you dance, you have to leave your drink behind.
-so, if you're lucky like me, and meet someone like mr motown, who is willing to dance several songs in a row
that means the flavor of your drink on the rocks is slowing being dilluted; yuck
or, -as happened fairly recently,
the waitress comes by and takes your $8 drink, even though you still had $2.50 sips left in it
and we mustn't forget the potential for strangers with ill intentions to slip drugs in your drink when you're busy bustin' a move on the dance floor.
the solution is so obvious.
and it's not -don't dance/don't drink.
polar opposite! it's drink AND dance. we should all be able to carry our drinks on the dance floor with us, and the only thing preventing that from taking place write now, is the potential for spills and broken glass.
but if your drink is poured in a fashionable, non-breakable, spill-proof, container with a lid
well, look how many problems i just solved with one great idea.
-there's just no stoppin' me.
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tech glitch share. this post was in my archives in 'draft' form. when i re-read and wanted to remove it from 'draft'
it does not publish to its original date, in chronological order. it publishes as if i wrote it today.
so.. i have to double check the original date. write it in the post itself before i hit 'publish' or the original date is lost forever...
which i why i have so many posts in 'draft' which remain un-re-published because i have to do that step first..
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just sharing.. amen.
fun allusion in 'the residence' heard by (me!) sandra, topps, writeousmom
Public "Thank You!" to my daughter for recommending 'the residence' -stellar cast; witty writing.. engaging story, mystery murder to mystery solved.. loved the 'birding' passion in the chief detective..
and all the entertaining quirks in the personalities of the staff and suspects..
and, had to smile to hear the allusion written for mark haddon fans.. "thank you kate!"
anyone else catch that? great timing & delivery; very fun..
"encore! & amen!"
fashion show treasures from (me!) archives... nordstrom @ stoneridge mall, pleasanton, ca #fashion
**** spring & winter ***** #fashion my daughter, son, nephew & friends all got to participate; super fun!
FAST FORWARD: (daughter)
REWIND:
evidence below of 2 truths:
1). my daughter has always.. was born with! a gift for fashion.. she played as instinctively with this scarf, as
robin williams did random props..
fast forward:
2) notice the wall behind her? i have always -from a very young age, tended to uniquely collage my walls.. two favorite pieces have moved with me from here to there to here: the window frame is in my studio 213.. and the floral piece in our bathroom. love them still.
all "thank you!" prayers.. all of it. hallelujah & amen!
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