Angie Dragan's Journal

It's been 4 and a half months since I have posted last. It seems like it has been longer than that actually. I just don't really care about this thing anymore. I read what the few people I have as friends on here are doing and either they have quit posting, too or they are buzzing along with their lives and enjoying what this thing is supposed to be for. That's all good. :)

Allie completed her first year of college with straight A's. She has been working about 30 hours a week at a bakery at the same time. She finally got her driver license so I gave her the car. I miss that little car...lol...I was driving it more to work than I was my Jeep! She developed some kind of issue with her laptop and so I fixed that for her. And then after she had the car for about a month, it had some kind of vacuum issue so I helped her get that fixed. I guess that's how it goes with college kids...you see them when they need something.

Jeananne and I are doing really well. It's been almost a year now that we have been back together. Biggest lesson from our breakup: never lose yourself in another person no matter how much you are crazy about each other. And that doesn't mean you don't give the relationship "your all", it just means that you keep your center. You continue to listen to your own self and respect your own needs. It's a juggling act, but it keeps life interesting if nothing else.

The whole MMA Martial Arts thing sizzled out with me. I enjoyed the classes I went to even though I was getting my ass kicked...lol...but I got to the point where I became seriously concerned about getting a bad injury. I realized that I wasn't anywhere near in good enough physical condition to handle that. I have talked with people and they tell me that the Dojo I was with isn't really geared for beginners and that other places will start you out slower. But I really just lost interest. Hey, you never know until you try. But I am glad for the experience and I can tell you that these people that do this stuff are amazing. I just wish I would have started when I was younger!

Maybe one of these days I'll have time for this journaling stuff again. It is a wonderful outlet when you need it. And I do like the idea of surfing through here and finding communities around subjects that are fun to discuss.  Someday!

Happy Independence Day!

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

Well Happy New Year!

I had a very nice holiday season. It came and went in a blink or two...at least that's what it seemed like. Just blew right on by.

We have a new president and I am feeling really good about it. I stayed home from work to watch the inauguration...very exciting stuff.

Yahoo! News and many other sources are reporting how optimistic Americans are with Obama in charge.

"The Associated Press-Knowledge Networks survey found that by a 3-1 margin, people feel more
optimistic about the country's future now that Obama has been inaugurated, including 30 percent of
Republicans."

I believe this optimism is really important. With so many people believing good things can happen, then they can happen. Our attitude can make all the difference.

So, here's to Optimism! May it stick around for awhile. It's been way too long since we've been this hopeful.

Despite all the trials ahead, I think we are off to a good start.

Cheers to Obama! Cheers to 2009!

While visiting the wonderful Snopes.com  to get the scoop on yet another "forwarded email" sent to me by a well-meaning co-worker, I learned a new word!

The word is "Slacktivism"

It is defined thus:

"We can't claim credit for having coined this term, nor do we know its actual origin, but we love it nonetheless. Slacktivism is the search for the ultimate feel-good that derives from having come to society's rescue without actually getting one's hands dirty, volunteering any of one's time, or opening one's wallet. It's slacktivism that prompts us to forward appeals for business cards on behalf of a dying child intent upon having his name recorded in the Guinness World Book of Records or exhortations to others to continue circulating a particular e-mail because some big company has supposedly promised that every forward will generate monies for the care of a languishing tot. Likewise, it's slacktivism that prompts us to want to join a boycott of designated gas companies or eschew buying gasoline on a particular day rather than reduce our personal consumption of fossil fuels by driving less and taking the bus more often. Slacktivism comes in many forms, but its defining characteristic is its central theme of doing good with little or no effort on the part of the person inspired to participate, through the mechanisms of forwarding, exhorting, collecting, or e-signing."


Ah the joy at finding yet more evidence that our species is evolving! That through our language we can not only communicate the uselessness of certain actions but the very reasons we engage in them!

There is hope yet.