New GREEN Magazine!

Picked up a new magazine off of the shelf at Barnes and Noble that I had never seen before and loved it! It’s called Experience Life http://www.lifetimefitness.com/magazine/

On the cover is World Champion Skateboarder and Eco-Advocate Bob Burnquist. bobburnquist.com What an influence to the young people of our time! Wow, I read the article and was really impressed though I’m not a huge skater fan or anything but I am a fan of the environment and good influences in the world!

Check it out!

When your spouse wants to be a cop...

Ok, I have posted before about the LAPD hiring and I have received questions from men who wanted to join but their wives either didn’t want them too, didn’t know they wanted to, etc. and they where asking for advice on what to tell their wives (this can go the other way for women who want to join as well).

So now I’ll post help for the person who wants to become an Officer and the spouse who is not.

First, for our possibly soon to be LAPD family there are recourses out there to help cope, places to ask questions and shoulders to lean on.

I suggest my site of course for info=)
As well as the best being LAPDwife.com which I am a religious commenter and guest of.
There is also Realpolice.net and their forums holds a section for the “ Other Half”.
If you go on yahoo groups and search for Police and cop family sites you will find them, or email me and I’ll recommend them.
Then there’s www.policewivesonline.com and more.

You can find information as well about the LAPD on their official website at LAPDonline.org and I suggest visiting: http://www.joinlapd.com/index2.html yourself and see what your spouse may be getting themselves into.

My favorite books so far have been: I Love a Cop and Cop’s Don’t Cry.
There is much reading material for you Officer to be for his career but to read some of it yourself might help you also understand what he is doing and why.

When your spouse comes to you out of the blue after you are already married and announces they want to be a cop, what do you do? What would you do?
When you meet some one you fall in love with and find out he will soon be a cop or is a cop, what do you or would you do?
And probably even harder to digest is when a wife approaches her husband and announces she wants to join the LAPD since men will naturally have that “ my wife wants to do what? Can she do that? She’s so small, how can she take care of herself?” reaction.

First, let me tell you, I know a few female cop’s who are smaller, shorter than me but I would lay my money of them in a flash for them to win the round!
I even know a married couple who are both LAPD Officers and even went through the Academy together.

So, to answer some of these questions I wouldn’t be the one, perhaps we will get a few comments and I’ll learn from a few other spouses who have already walked that path.

But I can talk about the situation where I met my future husband on-line and after weeks of talking I was already taken by the guy, on the day of our first date I knew he was a cop but not only could I be “ wow, cool” I needed to sit back after a few weeks of dating and think about the fact of “ If we end up in love and married, could I marry a cop?”

I had to ask if I could handle the pressure, the depression, the stress that it can bring?
The odd hours, change of shifts, lonely nights and even “ what about when kids enter the show?”

Well, I of course decided I could. I made it with him through 11 out of the 12 months of probation and so far as a P2 since last July. I made it through him not getting vacation time he put in for and ending up scheduled on his wedding day ( that of course was straightened out=) and I made it through his first child abuse case with him.

There are time’s I fall weak and make mistakes of course and the stress of the job gets to me too much but we learn how to work through those times.

I have built a support system, in great part due to LAPDwife.com, the woman who runs it and visitors on the site as well as friends and spouses and Officers he works with and went through the Academy with.

I have the support of his family and mine as well as my friends who are all outside the Police world as well.

And I have him.

It’s not as bad as I read from some on a few yahoo group sites and forums, it’s funny because a few places it’s all about the bad and spouses who just aren’t cut out for it and other sites I visit everyone seems cut out for it and are great!

I have no regrets about the job of the man I married, in fact I love what he does and have so much respect for him.

For those who need help, have questions and are looking for support, please visit the sites I mentioned, read the books and remember that you would want all the support from your spouse that they are asking from you.

One day at a time...

Just a little over a year ago I started eating more organically and thinking about my environment and health.

In that time I have come to eat about 95% organic, buy many of my organic products form my local farmers market and use organic earth safe cleaning supplies.

I do things in my home to save water and energy which helps the environment as well as my bank account.

I recycle and read and learn everything I can get my hands on.

I work out, hike, trail run (well, starting new on that=) horseback ride and other physical and healthy activities as well.

I read for spiritual and mental health among other things.

I just recently started realizing that the things I have done to change my habits and life are not any longer “trying to change” but HAVE changed and are now just a regular way of life for me.

I walk by fast food places and though I once loved them I now get physically ill thinking about eating the big double burgers with bacon in the pictures I see.
When friends want to stop at one I don’t even like eating from those healthy menu’s some have now, I just don’t want to eat there at all and now always have plenty of my own healthy snacks on hand.

My husband and I needed a few things from a regular grocery store instead of Trader Joes or Whole Foods market or the farmers market and decided to run in and get them, well, I remembered I needed some meat for the week, not much but enough for about two meals or so to cover my week. I spent 45 minutes in the meat aisle trying to make myself want to buy the non-organic, non-free range, non-hormones added meat that frankly not only sounded unhealthy, was unhealthy but also LOOKED unhealthy!

Much of it was fatty cuts, brownish, small cuts and just nasty looking to me!

Finally, my husband finished his own errands around the store and came back to me and we decided to run to Trader Joes real quick, we just didn’t feel that sacrificing our health was worth not doing so, my stomach turned at the thought of eating what I was looking at.

So next week I’m going out of state to my best friends wedding and decided, after this grocery trip to call her and ask if there was a Trader Joes or Whole Foods or any store nearby that sells organic food. Thankfully there is! Trader Joes to save the day! WooHoo!

When you start it seems expensive and hard to do but after a year I have found that I have saved money in some places and my health isn’t something I want to risk. I shop easily and it’s not hard at all, it takes no effort anymore to live a healthier life.

I also thought about the fact while walking through the cereal aisle at the first store, that some companies are now making the changes to foods such as all the cereal they make is whole grain and I realize that every little bit people do helps, now fast food chains have a healthy menu and cereal is making healthy changes, smoking is being banned in certain places.
We are on the path to changing the world little by little and it warms my heart to know that my children will have a world more accepting of their healthy habits.

Successful Women

Women in today’s world…

I was talking the other day to a friend about women who have made a full business, even multi billionaire businesses and then I have read recently a post from a man who thinks women should “stay in their place” and I realized that there are many women who have made multi-billionaire businesses by doing “women’s work” as some put it (heck, not me, place? I’d love to see someone try to “put me in my place”=).

There is Martha Stewart (not mentioning the trial, jail time and reasons for it) Martha Stewart was divorced and raised her daughter as a single mom and made a fortune at cooking, cleaning, gardening, crafts, etc.

“Women’s work” right? Well, instead of fighting against “women’s work” she made it her job and made her job into an empire! One smart cookie if you ask me! So I must say I admire what work she has done.

She showed us that women’s work isn’t just “ I’m a housewife” or “ I’m a stay at home mom” it’s truly a job! A career and a business!

Many women out there are basically running a business in their homes every day taking care of their families and they may not be making profit like Stewart did but I defiantly say that women deserve a little pat on the back for their hard work and success, be it turning what you do best into a multi million dollar business or raising a happy and healthy family!

So women’s work isn’t quite so bad after all!

Another successful women that came to mind was Oprah. Oprah had been raised as a poor and abused child in the south, not only that but an African-American female and at the time she started her show and her business was a time when women’s suppression was still something people grasped onto with all their strength and she over came the fact she was poor, abused, raised poorly and taught nothing, Black and female and now she is one of the highest paid women in the world (?) Oprah often does shows that are considered “for women” and enjoys bringing chef’s on her show as well as other “women” topics and projects.

There’s also one of my favorite successful women, Barbara Walters, I have always admired her for being a women who started her career in a “mans world” years ago and during years when women where thought to belong barefoot and pregnant. She raised her daughter through it all and she is still going strong today.

http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/W/htmlW/waltersbarb/waltersbarb.htm

I must ask though, as women are evolving are men? Do you think men are doing more around the house and with the kids than twenty years-forty ago?

Influence...

How much influence do our parents have?

I have just begun to realize over the last couple of years how much influence my parents and upbringing have had upon me.

My upbringing….well, lets just say my husband has arrested parents and seized children from homes for less….

I have realized recently that I strive to make my life different that than of which my mother chose. Though she was raised in the best she has chosen the path that my sister best describes as “ she turned sixteen and stopped growing up”.

I basically know that if I do the opposite of my mother in all things I’ll be doing them right.
Sad but true.

And I recently discovered that I continue to seek my mothers approval though my life is very different and far from hers.

An family member of mine said “ All Children seek their parents approval whether they realize it or not , at one time or another, even if that parent isn’t worthy of approval themselves”.

Another thing I have realized quite recently is that I have allot of anger due to my upbringing that is seeping into my adult life, I am making what changes need to be made, my wonderful husband is my rock during this but they say the first step is to realizing and admitting so I’m past that just now and now it’s time for the next steps due as I can not let that anger continue into my life any longer though it has taken me until very recently that I realized it had any effect on my life or had any connection to my past.

Thankfully I have still turned out better than I could have due to the circumstances, according to all those who know me and who have also known my upbringing first hand.

I strive to make my life as good as I can and continue to do so. This I don’t think is a bad thing though I must also not let myself become obsessed with it either. So far I have not quite done so.

I do have a drive through life and a will of Iron as well to succeed.

I also have a need to stay in the life on the right side of the law, no drugs, rarely, if ever, drink, and heck, married a cop!
I do believe this is one of “ do the opposite of my parents and what I was taught during my childhood” things.

This is much easier to live a life outside of the way I was raised to know by being about eighteen hundred miles away from those who raised me.
How much do you think your upbringing had an influence on you?What certain things about your upbringing effect your life now and in what ways?

It's not too late!

I have until June 5th to collect donations to benefit women’s cancer research and prevention and to find a cure!

The walk ( that we ran) was amazing and I was really touched to read all the “ I’m a survivor” signs which would have how long ago they had the cancer, some where 8 months, some where 23 years.

The Rock and Halle Berry hosted the event ( nope, missed out on seeing The Rock for myself=( but I did pull a kinda joke on my husband with a picture with two Firefighters.

There where sooo many people it was unreal but really great!

Next year my friend and I are going to go into it running from the start and even beat the time from this year, yes I am so competitive.

Thank you to all of those who helped me raise funds for the research to find a cure for women’s cancer. Thank you for your donations and your love, support and help.

See you next year!!!

May 7th Revlon Walk/jog for women!

Join the Fight!On Saturday, May 7th, I participated in the 12th Annual Revlon Run/Walk (I was going to walk but we, my 2 friends and I, ended up running) For Women.

You can join me in the fight against women's cancers by making a donation on my behalf. Your donation will help fund important research into the cause and cure of women's cancers, prevention, education and support service programs.

Every donation will help bring us one step closer to a cure.
Help me reach my goal of $2,000! All 100% Tax deductible! ( you'll get an on line receipt to print out.

Until a cure is found and we know that all women are safe, we must continue the fight.Save a Life, Make a Pledge.It is estimated that one in eight American women will develop breast cancer at some point in her life. In 2005, more than 211,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed, while more than 22,000 will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Behind each of these statistics is the face of a woman who needs your help -- a mother, a wife, a sister, your friend.

Revlon Run/WalkCreated in 1993 through the committed and collective efforts of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, Lilly Tartikoff, Ronald O. Perelman, and The Davis Group, the Revlon Run/Walk For Women has grown to become one of the nation's largest 5K fundraising events.To date, the Run/Walks (LA/NY) have distributed over 30 million dollars for cancer research, counseling, and outreach programs.

Thanks in part to these funds, new treatments are being developed and lives are being saved

http://www.revlonrunwalk.com/

One more Day!!!

Ok, I had another post for today but I figured today's the last day before the Revlon Run/Walk for womens cancer so I'll put it up one more time for a little more exposure.

May 7th Revlon Walk/jog for women!
Join the Fight!On Saturday, May 7th, I will be participating in the 12th Annual Revlon Run/Walk ( walking) For Women. You can join me in the fight against women's cancers by making a donation on my behalf. Your donation will help fund important research into the cause and cure of women's cancers, prevention, education and support service programs. Every donation will help bring us one step closer to a cure.

Help me reach my goal of $2,000! All 100% Tax deductible! ( you'll get an on line receipt to print out).

Until a cure is found and we know that all women are safe, we must continue the fight.Save a Life, Make a Pledge.It is estimated that one in eight American women will develop breast cancer at some point in her life.

In 2005, more than 211,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed, while more than 22,000 will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Behind each of these statistics is the face of a woman who needs your help -- a mother, a wife, a sister, your friend.

Revlon Run/WalkCreated in 1993 through the committed and collective efforts of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, Lilly Tartikoff, Ronald O. Perelman, and The Davis Group, the Revlon Run/Walk For Women has grown to become one of the nation's largest 5K fundraising events.To date, the Run/Walks (LA/NY) have distributed over 30 million dollars for cancer research, counseling, and outreach programs. Thanks in part to these funds, new treatments are being developed and lives are being saved

http://www.revlonrunwalk.com/


Make a donation or join

( you can join onesite at 7:am the day of the event).

You can contact me personally to make a donation in my name!

The LAPD is Hiring!!!

They are hiring new Officer’s and have come to the problem of finding enough men and women to apply and pass.
Less than 1% of those who apply make it in so we need many to apply to hit Chief Bratton’s hiring quota of Officer’s. We need good men and women.

My husband had the honor and privilege to enter and pass the LAPD Academy about two years ago and has been a P2 since last July. He is loving his career!

There are the good and the bad but that’s part of any job or career. He has entered a family like no other and has learned what a friend and partner is.

Every kid pretends to be a Police officer at one point or another, some few will grow up to be one and continue that dream.

LAPD is pulling out all the stop’s and since we are in the land of movie’s and TV, Stars and red carpets, glitz and glamour The LAPDS has decided to join in on the action and have made short films to be shown in many Los Angeles movies theatures to reach all the millions of young men and women who will get a chance to live their dream.

You can find more info from : http://www.madblast.com/funpages/view.cfm?id=10419.

The LAPD Comes to Your Theatre
In Theatres Now
The Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) breakthrough recruitment film has arrived on 95 screens in Southern California theaters. The trailer launch is part of the concentrated media campaign aimed at hiring more than 300 LAPD officers over the next six months. Directed by popular music video director J.C. Barros and produced by Weber Shandwick, the series of three action packed movie trailers is an attention grabbing effort capturing the life of police officers over a twelve hour shift.
"The wide varieties of careers available in the LAPD are brought to life on the screen in a creative, informative and entertaining manner," said Armando Azarloza, executive vice president of Weber Shandwick. "No other law enforcement agency in the world has ever attempted anything like this before. This is a new and creative approach to police recruitment and branding that will raise the bar for every major police agency in the U.S.," said Azarloza.
The recruitment trailers exemplify the officers fighting crime all around Los Angeles in some of the city's most recognizable spots - from the 6th Street Bridge downtown to the boardwalk in Venice. Each trailer is a quickly cut, musically driven representation of an LAPD officer's day. All voice over was performed by Ashton Smith, one of Hollywood's most recognized voice over artists. The LAPD supplied police cars, helicopters, props and real-life officers to work in conjunction with several professional actors cast in the film. The trailers are the latest installment of LAPD’s creative recruitment campaign that includes advertising billboards throughout the city, radio spots and a new website www.joinLAPD.com.
“The goal of the movie trailers is to get young men and women excited about a career with the LAPD and dispel the rumor that we’re in a hiring freeze,” said Lieutenant Art Miller, Officer In Charge, LAPD Recruitment and Employment Section. “Our new trailers show the real-life experiences of men and women on the force. We hope potential recruits will realize how important the LAPD is to this city and want to help us further our goal,

‘To Protect and To Serve’.”
For more information, visit the official Join LAPD website.

You may one day apply and make it into one of the top Police Academy’s in the nation.
You may even one day be my husbands partner….good luck.

Ten points for men!

My husband has a subscription to men’s fitness magazine. I always read these…hey I might learn a thing or two, actually there is allot of great stuff in men’s health magazines. I remember the days of dating guy’s and being at their house and reading the articles in “It’s my room mates, I swear it” Playboy magazines even.

One thing about men’s fitness magazine is that they have a new road map for men, a man’s magazine is actually doing this great thing by trying to teach men all about…women.

You can find it at : http://www.mensfitness.com/sex/24

Where they teach men how to please their women. Well , at least in sexual ways. Now if we can just get them to add a " how to clean, cook, grocery shop" section it would be perfect.

Now our women’s magazines are half full of sexual articles all the time, but try to get a guy to read them is tough, even leaving it laid out highlighted! So now it’s in a magazine that men are not afraid to read!

Ten points for the world of men! Of course, maybe the Editor’s wife truly runs this thing=)

Secondhand Smoke

"Secondhand smoke kills as many as 62,000 Americans annually from heart disease." (CalEPA, 1997).
"Measurements of the carbon monoxide (CO) concentration at a cigar party and a cigar banquet in a restaurant showed indoor CO levels comparable to those measured on a crowded California freeway."
"Some 88% of the non-smoking U.S. population has cotinine (indicator of exposure to tobacco smoke) in their blood." (Pirke et al., 1996).Tobacco smoke is as dangerous to non-smokers as firsthand smoke is to smokers themselves. The EPA has classified tobacco smoke (containing 43 carcinogens) as a Class A carcinogen - a known cause of human cancer.
The detrimental health effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) are well documented and include lung cancer and coronary heart disease among adults, low birth weight and sudden infant death syndrome from exposure during and after pregnancy, and asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia in children. The EPA estimates that for between 200,000 and one million asthmatic children, exposure to secondhand smoke worsens their condition. Secondhand smoke can make healthy children less than 18 months of age sick; it can cause pneumonia, ear infections, bronchitis, coughing, wheezing, and increased mucus production. According to the EPA, secondhand smoke can lead to the buildup of fluid in the middle ear, the most common cause of hospitalization of children for an operation.

One More Week!!!

May 7th Revlon Walk/jog for women!

Join the Fight!On Saturday, May 7th, I will be participating in the 12th Annual Revlon Run/Walk For Women. You can join me in the fight against women's cancers by making a donation on my behalf. Your donation will help fund important research into the cause and cure of women's cancers, prevention, education and support service programs. Every donation will help bring us one step closer to a cure.
Help me reach my goal of $2,000! All 100% Tax deductible! ( you'll get an on line receipt to print out). I have only 2 weeks to go!!!

Until a cure is found and we know that all women are safe, we must continue the fight.Save a Life, Make a Pledge.It is estimated that one in eight American women will develop breast cancer at some point in her life. In 2005, more than 211,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed, while more than 22,000 will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Behind each of these statistics is the face of a woman who needs your help -- a mother, a wife, a sister, your friend.

Revlon Run/WalkCreated in 1993 through the committed and collective efforts of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, Lilly Tartikoff, Ronald O. Perelman, and The Davis Group, the Revlon Run/Walk For Women has grown to become one of the nation's largest 5K fundraising events.

To date, the Run/Walks (LA/NY) have distributed over 30 million dollars for cancer research, counseling, and outreach programs. Thanks in part to these funds, new treatments are being developed and lives are being saved

http://www.revlonrunwalk.com/

Email me to learn how to make a donation in my behalf.