A measuring tool called “skinny jeans”

The “skinny jeans” that we keep as part of our wardrobe is mostly a measuring tool that we use to see if we have met our weight loss goals.  A woman could possibly be happier to fit into her skinny jeans more than even seeing lower numbers on the scale.  Ones “skinny jeans” might be stuffed away for months or years at a time until its time for the test.   I have looked at mine in disgust a few times, thinking how could an adult be so small.  It was several months ago that I did try them on to see how much my body had changed since the end of last year.  I couldn’t even get them up much past my knees.  Apparently, I was a lot more of myself  then I had been in September of last year.  
Today, I tried them on again.  The routine was similar to the “Elaine from Seinfeld” dance with a few hip gyrations and careful squats.  Finally,..zipped…buttoned and a quick examination in the mirror.  FAIL !!
A 1 inch butt crack out of the top of the pants, with no room left in the pants to conceal it. I guess some things just aren’t meant to be forced into happening.  I’ll give it some more time.

Jenny Mccarthy makes me laugh about this very topic in Dirty Love “Tight Jeans” scene. Click Here

 

Silent Condolences

On my way home from school, I passed the site of the massacre that occurred on Sunday at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek. Wait. What?! Did I just say that? It’s almost unbelievable that something this horrific happened so close to home, but it did. It happened on Sunday. Two days ago. Still so fresh in our minds. Still lingering as a sadness in our hearts.

Instead of taking my normal route home, I drove down Howell Ave to see what the current activity was. There were still flashing squad car lights at the entrance of the drive to the temple. I really didn’t catch a glimpse of anything except for the trickle of people walking to and from and around the site. It was definitely not the normal flow of pedetrians and traffic in this area. As I peered around, I noticed a small congregation of people standing by a nearby memorial. They were huddled together as if they had a familiarness with each other. Some had turbans, so I assumed that they must be a part of the closely knit Sikh family. I pulled my car over to the opposite side of the road and sat for a minute. I wondered if I should get out. If I did, I wanted it to be out of respect rather than curiosity. I looked over again. I wasn’t sure how I would be perceived. It didn’t matter though. Humanity is what connected us. I wanted to silently say, from one human being to another, “I recognize this hate crime against you. I, along with many others, have been saddened and also affected by this horrific and deadly crime that took place at your doorstep.”

I stepped out of the car and respectfully approached the memorial. 5 pillars were staked into the ground, with offerings placed around each one. Each one bearing a wreath. I could hear the voices of the mourners around me but could not make out one word of what was being said. I stood in front of the first pillar, slightly bowing my head and looking at the name and age of the victim. A moment of silence in front of each one as I moved down the row. I’m thinking, I’m sorry that evil came to your peaceful home and snuffed out your life as if it was a steady flame that was sunk into water.  May you rest in peace.

At the last pillar, I closed my eyes and said a small prayer, as if it came from all of us.
A prayer for healing to those so closely affected. A prayer to feel more love now that would exceed and overpower the hate that was directed towards this community so recently.

I am not good at speaking consolenses, so I opt to not say nothing and turn away feeling better to offer my silent condolenses than nothing at all.

Memorial to victims of the Sikh Temple shootings

 

Marquette University St. John Joan of Arc Chapel

Yesterday, as the wedding party was taken to beautiful places for some wedding pictures, we walked through the Marquette campus. It’s the first time I had been on that campus. Little did I know that there is an interesting piece of history there. As we approached a quaint little chapel on this beautiful campus, a member of the wedding party mentioned something about a “stone that Joan of Arc touched and it now remains colder than its surrounding stones”. My ears perked up. What was she talking about? I always find these anomalies facinating. Do I generally believe them? No. What I do think is neat is the history behind them.

As myself and a few bridesmaids entered the chapel, it was so quiet you that you could hear a pin drop. A lone person sat at the front of the chapel facing the alter. With only a few mintues to spare, as the rest of the bridal party walked around the outside of the chapel, we approached the alter with only the heels of our shoes tapping the floor and echoing throughout the tiny stone building. Our eyes jetted around searching for this Joan of Arc stone. The visitor, who realized she was no longer in solitude, raised her head and smiled at the presence of 5 bridesmaids holding beautiful bouquets. We explained our small quest for this historic stone to which she directed us to the curator.

After finding the curator in a small office, we were directed to a square opening in the wall behind the alter. As the story goes, the chapel was originally built in the french village of Chasse in the 1400’s. Hundreds of years later, it was purchased by a millionaire, who had it dismantled, stone by stone, and rebuilt with the same stones on her property in Long Island. In 1964, it was donated to Marquette university. It was dismantled, once again, and rebuilt on the Marquette campus. The chapel has supporting documents that in 1429, the stone at the bottom of the rectangular cove in the wall of the chapel once was the base for a statue of the Virgin Mary. It is written that prior to battle in the Hundred Years war, Joan of Arc prayed and then kissed this stone before leading her French army to many victories. At the age of 19, her life ended when she was in the hands of the English, who burned her at the stake for charges of heresy.
The curator went on to show us that the stone now remains colder than its surrounding stones by 6 or 7 degrees. We each touched the stones around the cove and then the platform wear the statue used to stand. Low and behold, it was significantly colder than the others. I definitely couldn’t tell you why it would be colder. Maybe it’s naturally made of a different material than the others, maybe it’s some type of a hoax, or maybe it’s something supernatural and really has some spiritual significance. However you want to look at it, I was intrigued to be able to touch a piece of what is significant history.