Consumer-isms

As I dig into the abyss of my Olsen-Twins worthy handbag...I got hit by the realization that I am one big "consumer". Amid the clutter of paper in my bag, I have lipglosses of all sorts, make-up, lotions, hand sanitizer, a camera, cellphones, jewelry, medicine...seriously, anything you need i MIGHT have. Don't just ask me for money.

I hate it. I absolutely hate being a consumer. I am tempted to join the hippie bandwagon and not buy anything at all, and embrace the free things in life. Call me cheap...that's alright with me.

Was having a conversation with my boss as I was handing him his stack of Holiday Catalogs...he takes one look at them and tosses them into the trash, and says, "I'm trying not be a consumer." This coming from a man who's almost a millionaire. Gotta love him. Another time I hand him personal invitations to designer shows for his wife...he takes them and trashes them, "I don't need my wife shopping anymore." haha.

Next, I was talking to one of my hippie-ish-ex-vegan-organic clothed co-worker. She says, "I didn't shave my armpits and did not eat meat and anything in-organic for two years because I hated what the world has made me...a consumer! To hell with razors...who cares if i have hairy armpits anyway?! Hollywood was the one responsible for women shaving their armpits anyway? To hell with buying things and to hell with the Hollywood idea of beauty."

Hear! Hear!

So now as the holidays hit...I, Wai'oli Sue, do solemnly swear not to buy anything. I promise to be as cheap, as frugal as a miser can be. No more, Christmas shopping and Holidays Feasts...no more, justifiable Sale purchases and end of holidays shopping...I swear, to spend only on my current pressing needs such as toilet paper, water, food and deodorant. Written this 19th day of November 2008.

(lol. we'll see how well this vow goes once the Holidays hit! eek. it's free to dream.)

The Things You Say

And when you say:

> you'll be there when i'm sick and bring me chicken soup to bed...

> you'll massage my feet...

> you'll reach the high shelves when i can't reach the bowls...

> you'll open the ketchup bottles and jars when i'm struggling...

> you'll take me to long walks and night outs in the city...

> you'll let me decorate our apartment...and drive your Jeep...

> you'll watch You've Got Mail with me...and not laugh when I cry when Tom Hanks says "don't cry Shop Girl...don't cry"...

> you'll learn Tagalog for me...

> you'll never let me forget how special i am...

> "Hey Beautiful" every single time i pick up the phone...

> you promise we'll have a comfortable life together...we may not be filthy rich but we'll be comfortable...

> and that I am the perfect Long Island Iced Tea.

You make the cynic in me crumble and die. I'm just sayin...

;-)

Two Steps Forward...And One Step Back

So Obama has won America over and everyone is rejoicing except for my friends...their joy is shortlived..

Our victory party for Obama has been cut short for the passing of one of the major bills being debated in California.

PROPOSITION 8.

Which will ban gay marriage in California just after a few short months after the Supreme Court has ruled that gay marriage be legal in California.

Proposition 8 - "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." It passed on November 4 midnight. Two steps forward for America electing our first black president and moving past our history of racial divide...and a step backward for the gay community. They too are experiencing discrimination.

Maybe this is not their time. Even with our new found liberalism, I guess it wasn't enough to move past the sexuality discrimination.

I am not gay. But I see inequality and discrimination working in the passing of this bill.

I VOTED NO PROP 8.

Who is the state to dictate who we want to love and how they want to express their love? Weren't we all for separating religion and state? Why do we have to bring in the religious concept of marriage into the political arena?

Why do we have kids on tv saying that Proposition 8 is all about them and their future...about it breaking traditional views? How about the future of gay people who are just like "straight" people and just want to bring their life together in a legal manner?

To be able to share everything...and to love forever in the eyes of God OR the state...does it really matter that it's between a "man and a woman"? Why can't it be between two people who feel love for each other enough to validate it and scream it to the world at large?

The passing of this proposition not just in California but in various states across America is not the finish line for the fight against discrimination...it's the beginning.