Look, it’s me!

This post is one that is a little hard to make. I don’t let myself get photographed and I certainly don’t let anyone see the ones that happen!

Well my trainer has asked me to write a testimonial for her. She also wanted a picture of me before I started working with her, and a current one. I didn’t know if I could find a “before” picture, since, well as I stated, I don’t believe in having pictures taken of me. However I went through my files and found one. I think this was taken about January/February 2009. About 4-5 months before I started working with Amanda. Get ready.. this is a hard one to post…

Yuck. I really should have made that a thumbnail! But there I am. Fat. Fatty McFatterson.

And here, taken today by my niece is also me. Not quite as horrifying!

I see a difference, and I hope that others agree, so I am not just kidding myself about it. As I keep saying, I still have a way to go. Hopefully soon, I can update this with an even better picture.

Now I just need to hit publish and go to bed, hopefully forgetting that at 2:55 am, I posted these pictures. Oh well.

The truth is *now* out there.

The French Know Plus

This was just posted on my facebook page from OneStopPlus.com. I thought it was great, even if OneStopPlus doesn’t use plus size models themselves. Oh well.

Anyway, I guess the real applause goes to French Glamour:

Why I love the French!

After yesterday’s release of Glamour’s body issue which featured a plus-size model (plus size for model sizing not real-life) French Glamour featured some of the most popular plus-size French bloggers in their magazine! These woman are gorgeous & while I can’t read the blogs they have inspiring images for chic plus-size dressing.

(http://www.leblogdebigbeauty.com, http://saksinthecity.blogspot.com, http://kylanita.canalblog.com)

DeathStorm ’09

Des Moines ended up with about 15.5″ of snow when it was all done.
Once the snow was finished the 40-50 MPH winds hit.
Once the winds were done, the temp hit -10.

And I was stuck at home… with no coffee. Deathstorm, indeed.

Yesterday, every doctor’s office, heating and cooling company,
hospice office etc etc.. was closed.

For every office that was closed, thousands of people called and
asked “why are they closed?”  I wanted to kill them all. Deathstorm, indeed.

Yesterday I was “in rotation” for 11 hrs. “In rotation” means answering calls
with the operators. From 7am-6pm. Most of the managers worked the same.
All of our operators were able to make it in but one.  Three of us are able
to sign in from home and answer from there and all three of us did, including
the manager who was on vacation.

On Wednesday Dec 2nd we took 2065 calls in a 24 hr period
On Wednesday Dec 9th we took 7116 in a 24 hr period.
I took 565.  One other manager too 765! How the hell is she so fast!?!?!

At one point yesterday I went “out of rotation” and got my winter gear (aka: Ice cleats)
and went to see what my garage looked like. The doors to my building were drifted
over and I couldn’t even go outside! Deathhhhhstormmmmmmm 09

Today, I worked from home, but it was much much slower. Thank god.
I finally was able to get out of building (with my can of deicer and kitchen mop
in hand) and went to look at my garage. Hmm.. a Kitchen Mop wasn’t going to work very well as a shovel-substitute. Lucky for me, two old (like 80!) men were cleaning the sidewalk by the garages and they agreed to help me out. Yay elderly snowblowin’ men!

Anyway.. here are a couple of  “during the storm” pics and then some of the garages. Enjoy!

Teddy and Me

In early 1980, I was a freshman at Drake University.

A history major. A liberal.
A bleeding heart, pinko commie liberal.

One day I was walking through Olmstead Hall (our student union, more or less) and happened upon a campaign poster for Ted Kennedy-  “Meet Joseph Kennedy III” with that days date, at 4pm.
WOW a Kennedy! And Robert Kennedy’s oldest son!

I went and took a seat in the very back of the room. Kennedy ’80 posters were all around the room. I picked up two “Kennedy ’80″ buttons. I put one on and one in my backpack.
I waited. The room filled up.

I heard some excited voices out the door behind me. I turned around, as did everyone in the room, and Joe Kennedy walked in, and right up to me.
“Hello” he held out his hand towards me “My name is Joe Kennedy and you are?”
“Susan” I barely mumbled as I shook his hand
“Susan, I hope you will think about caucusing for my Uncle.”
I nodded as he moved on and thought “whatever you want me to do.. I will do..”
I sat back down.. and thought “Oh my god, I just shook the hand of Joe Kennedy. That hand would have once touched Robert Kennedy.. oh.. my.. god”

I don’t remember anything he talked about. I just remember that he talked to me! To me!
I am sure that everything he said it was directly to me.. and me only… I am sure of it!

A couple of days later, in the evening, I headed back to Olmstead Center. Kennedy ’80 button on my shirt.. and I caucused for Ted Kennedy.. after all Joe told me to!
When we had to break up into our groups, I think there were only about 5 of us in the Kennedy Group. I didn’t care. I was 18. It was my first caucus and it would be the first time I voted.  And of course, my friend Joe had told  me too…

And now it is 2009. I sit here at my desk, wearing both of my  Kennedy ’80 buttons.
I know that Joe Kennedy turned out to be an ass.
I know that Teddy was well… Teddy.
I know that whether you liked him or not, that American Icon is dead.

It is 2009. I am a Liberal.
A bleeding heart, pinko commie liberal.