Fun, Warmth and Frustration

This weekend, I went to Blacksburg to visit my family and friends. I stayed about 4 days and I had a great time seeing all the people that I love. It really was great, and I even considered staying longer as my brother and cousin bugged me to do, but I had already extended my stay by a day, and I thought it would be best to go home. I was causing a distraction to them, and I also had my mother's car, which she wanted back. So yes, this weekend was Fun.

What added even more to my happiness was the warmth this weather is bringing. This Saturday was quite warm, but man oh man...today was even warmer in Blacksburg, but by the time I got into Nashville late afternoon, it was 80 degrees! And the next few days are supposed to be in the low 80s too. Wow! I'm loving this Warmth. :)

Now, I'm trying not let this "bad news" overshadow the joy of Fun and Warmth, but it's going to be a bit hard...at first. I have been very active the past 6 months, and especially more so these past 3 months and I love it! Also, I have fallen in love with running and made some running goals for the near future. Unfortunately, about 2 weeks ago I somehow injured my foot while playing Tag barefoot with my little cousins in their big, marble-floored house for a long time. Me pounding my bare feet on that floor was NOT a good idea, but I got caught up in the fun. I ignored the pain the first few days and ran on it. NOT a good idea. Then I decided to rest it for like 4 days, and it felt just a tad bit better. Then I went to Blacksburg for 4 days and did not take care of it at all, as I didn't want my foot to hinder my freedom and fun. NOT a good idea. Now I am paying for it, as I am home and limping. Ugh! I can't do any outdoor activities as I had planned on doing when the weather got warm...and most of all I can't do the 5K next weekend, that I signed up for 5 weeks ago! This causes me quite the Frustration, but I realized it's not the end of the world. I will do other activities to occupy my usual exercise time, and I will also keep on weight lifting. And after resting up my foot, I will be back to my old self! I can't wait!

Even though I can't run the 5K, I'm going to keep up the countdown. :)

Goin Back to My Roots

Those who know me well, know that I've always been proud to be Ethiopian. Not only do I have the general pride anyone would have for their heritage, but I'm always proud of the history that Ethiopia carries. On top of that I'm also proud of my family history.

I think it's very important to go back to your roots and learn the history of your family - your people. Find out about your heritage, your ancestry, your genealogy - your roots. People always say by knowing our history we can successfully move into the future. But when they say that, the "our" is usually referring to people as a whole. Plus, that's what I was told by teachers when I complained about history class. However, most people never really know their own family histories. There are many reasons for that, as some may be adopted, some may not have records of family, and some may not even care. But I think it's important.

I have always been told stories of my family and genealogy, but it is only when I got in my 20s, and especially recently, that I got really interested in it. The past few weeks, I have been watching a new series called "Who Do You Think You Are?" where celebrities trace back their genealogy. It is so interesting and the effect that finding out about their relatives has on the them is amazing.

Lucky for me, a lot of my family history is documented a good ways back and there is also a family tree going back about 200 years on my father's side. (It kinda helps that my dad's side of the family is related to royalty.) I am glad for that, but it is all written in Amharic so it makes it hard for me (or my cousins) to read anything. I am determined to learn as much as I can, though. A few days ago I went to visit my grandmother (my mom's mother) and help her out with some things, and the whole time while I was there she randomly decided told me about her life. She told me about her childhood, her struggles as a very progressive and independent woman in a society that didn't nurture that, how she left her kids back home and came to the US for school in the sixties and the discrimination she faced, how it was when the communist military took power in Ethiopia during the mid-1970s, etc. I had never really heard her story, so I was quite engrossed. It was a nearly two-hour conversation, but it wasn't enough. I can't wait for another chat! I've always known my grandmother was a strong, passionate,  intelligent, determined woman, but hearing about how she got where she is with all her struggles made me appreciate what I have and made me want to be a better person.

This is why I think it's not only important to know your heritage, but it's also really interesting! I know for some it may not be easy or accessible as it is for me, but I hope more people will find out more about themselves through their ancestry. I find it so fascinating, and I love learning about other peoples' heritage and ancestry, too!

Whenever I get the chance, I plan on asking my grandparents more about their lives, and their history. I am fortunate to have 3 of my grandparents alive, and they carry so much knowledge and many stories with them, that it would be a shame if I didn't get their firsthand accounts - and in the future pass it on to my children...if I have any. :)

As far as going back to my roots, I really wanna do that again...literally. I wanna go back and visit Ethiopia again. Unfortunately, I can't see that happening anytime soon.

Oh, Reagan...lol

"Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first."

- President Ronald Reagan

Live and Let Live

Never in my life have I been this informed and involved with political on-goings as I have been lately. And there is too much mishigas going on now...especially since President Obama took office, but that's a whole other issue. Anyway, adding to some of the nonsense is this new initiative that the Virginia Attorney General is taking on. He sent a letter to the leaders of public colleges and universities, telling them not to ban anti-gay discrimination. This could create problems for many colleges in Virginia because they do in fact include sexual orientation among characteristics on which they bar bias.

How sad. As a lifelong Virginian, it pains me to see my state retreat back into ignorance. To think that in the first two months of Republican rule in 8 years, they need to attack gays twice. First, nine days after becoming governor, Bob McDonnell takes away people's civil liberties by eliminating the benefits for homosexual employees. And now this absurd rule from the new Attorney General, Ken Cuccinelli. Don't we have more important things to focus on, instead of taking away peoples' freedoms which they so rightly deserve? We should be fixing what's wrong within our state and our people, instead of wronging what's right. It's amazing how this is happening in Virginia when within the last two weeks both DC and Maryland have recognized same-sex marriages in some way. And the country is also in the midst of trying to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I would like to believe that Virginians will not tolerate such discrimination in this day and age, and that this will go to the Supreme Court and US federal laws will shoot this down. This is a setback for all Virginians (and the US) and not just the LGBTQ community. Come on now. Virginia is for Lovers...not for haters. 

Here is an article about it. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/05/AR2010030501582.html

Cannot Wait for LIFE!

I absolutely loved watching Planet Earth and I love anything about nature...so I cannot wait until March 21st (also my mom's birthday!), which is when Discovery Channel's new 11-part series called LIFE starts airing. There's no better show on earth than life itself! I know...I'm corny, but I love it! :)