SEX VS. INTIMACY

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

In our society there is so much emphasis placed on the actual act of sexual intercourse. Movies, commercials, magazines, TV, everywhere you turn, it always begins and ends with sex. Don’t get me wrong, I think sex is wonderful, but it’s not the be all and end all in a relationship.

Passion is the quickest to develop, and the quickest to fade. Intimacy develops more slowly, and commitment more gradually still. -Robert Sternberg

To me, the most important element of a long term, successful relationship between people is intimacy. Intimacy is really a deep knowing and understanding of another person. It’s being comfortable and feeling safe with that person. It isn’t just confined to marriages or other relationships which involve sex. It is much deeper and broader than sex.

I'm certain that most couples expect to find intimacy in marriage, but it somehow eludes them. - James Dobson

Intimacy is not easy. As a matter of fact it’s hard work. It also involves taking risks. With intimacy we give our hearts and bear our souls to another, giving them the power to hurt us. But the rewards are great. To be truly known, loved, accepted, and valued by another living being is the most gratifying feeling in the world.

There are many ways to share intimacy in a relationship.

1.Human Contact; holding hands, snuggling, sitting side by side, “softing” one’s hair or gently rubbing one’s back. We do this with our children, our spouse, other loved ones.

2. Sharing: conversation, feelings, frustrations, joys, funny stories, as well as dessert, memories and activities. Didn’t your mom always give the bigger piece of pie to you?

3. Giving: kindness, patience, trust, encouragement and love; Showing sensitivity to the moods, experiences and feelings of another.

There are hundreds of ways we share intimacy with people we care about. In any relationship it’s a vital element, but I believe it’s even more so in a marriage. Many couples have sex without intimacy and miss out on the most amazing experience of a lifetime! Many couples have intimacy without sex (whether it’s because of health, hormones, or other reasons) and are happy, content and satisfied. Of course, the ideal is to be able to have both, but if I had to choose just one, intimacy would win hands down!
When I attained a certain advanced intimacy with a man, and I don't just mean sex, I married him. -Hedy Lamarr

WANNA LAUGH?!?!

After Leslie brought home her fiance to meet her parents, her father invited the young man into his study to find out more about him.
"What are your plans?" he asked Joseph.
"I'm a scholar of the Torah," Joseph replied.
"Well, that's admirable," Leslie's father replied. "But what will you do to provide a nice house for my daughter?"
"I will study, and God will surely provide for us," Joseph explained.
"And how will you buy her a nice engagement ring?"
"I will study hard, and God will provide for us."
"And children?" asked the father. "How will you support children?"
"Don't worry, sir, God will provide," replied the fiance.
The conversation continued in much the same fashion. After Joseph and Leslie had left, her mother asked her father what he found out.
The father answered, "Well, he has no job and no plans, but the good news is that he thinks I'm God."

HE SAID....

  

Tony Walker

When I first watched this commercial I started thinking about how stupid men can be. I can say that because I am one of the stupidest. Then my thoughts took me further. I thought about how stupid we all are.

Think about it.

Just like the commercial shows, we judge women because they don't have a penis.

We judge blacks, asians, indians, etc. because of the color of their skin. 

We judge people by their religious beliefs. 

We judge people because of a disability.

We judge people by how much money they have or don't have.

We judge someone based on how their hair looks.

And I am sure all of you can add to this list.

So I want you to look at this list & think about it... really think about it. How ridiculous is this?

SHE SAID

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Sexist Tire Commercial, A Sign of the Times

In 1970, Goodyear produced a commercial for their new tires. Looking at it now, we think “How sexist and stereotypical!” And certainly, it was, but let’s take a look at what the world was like for women in the 1970’s.

On TV, the shows to watch were Mary Tyler Moore, Charlie’s Angels and The Bionic Woman. On the surface these seem like independent, working women who know their own mind and achieve success. In reality, they were women who are given their “power” by men. Lou Grant hires Mary and she answers to him. The “Angels” are ruled by Charlie and his sidekick Bosley. Jamie, the Bionic Woman, was created and controlled by Oscar. All three use some form of female persuasion to get things they want. Jamie and the Angels use sex appeal while Mary uses old fashioned, motherly caring. This was as far into the female liberation movement as TV was willing to go.

Commercials also tried to portray female independence but in a sexist way. The popular Virginia Slims commercials with the familiar "You've Come a Long Way, Baby”, for example. In the background, they flashed pictures of women in the 20’s and 30’s being punished by men (husbands, clergy, police officers) for smoking cigarettes. The ads showed slim, classy looking ladies smoking, as if puffing on a Virginia Slims cigarette was a personal rebellion against women’s traditional roles.

It’s no surprise then, that Goodyear would produce a commercial that would be aimed at husbands, who were the major breadwinners and decision makers for most families at the time. It played on their protective instincts and masculine egos. I’m sure, even today; it would strike a chord with some husbands and fathers.

So is the Goodyear commercial of 1970 sexist, yes, definitely. But that was the 70’s and this is now. According to Ford, statistics show that women are directly responsible for 45-50 percent of all new vehicles purchased in the United States, and they have a direct influence on up to 80 percent of all vehicle sales.

Margaret Brooks, marketing director for small cars and crossovers at Chevrolet, says GM does lots of target market exploration when developing new cars. “It is now critical to understand what women consider most when buying a new car since she is ultimately going to not only drive the purchase decision, but be the driver and the one we ultimately need to satisfy,” says Brooks. You can bet that Goodyear would never, in a million years, produce a commercial like this one in 2011. Women are large and in charge of their own lives today and are a force to be reckoned with. We truly have come a long way baby!


Take a look for yourelf: Sexist or not? You tell us!

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=rC5aGCOT6bs&feature=player_embedded

These were the 70's:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znrjbo9QRLk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J30lYdanqV8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeFLbUIFl5Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEdWvYA0icg

WANNA LAUGH?!?!

Funny Quotes From Insurance Claim Forms

• "I pulled into a lay-by with smoke coming from under the bonnet. I realized the car was on fire so took my dog and smothered it with a blanket."
• "On approach to the traffic lights the car in front suddenly broke."
• "I had been driving for 40 years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident."
• "I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law and headed over the embankment."
• "The other car collided with mine without giving warning of its intention."
• "I collided with a stationary truck coming the other way."
• "In an attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telephone pole."
• "I had been shopping for plants all day and was on my way home. As I reached an intersection a hedge sprang up obscuring my vision and I did not see the other car."
• "An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my car and vanished."
• "I was thrown from the car as it left the road. I was later found in a ditch by some stray cows."

EATERY IS OPEN - BASIL PESTO

 

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil  
• 3 medium sized garlic cloves, minced
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method

1 Combine the basil in and add the garlic, pulse a few times more in food processor.
2 Add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on. Stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula. Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

KARMA....

Tony Walker
Yesterday I was with Bobby "Be A Rock Star" Donohue. We were working on some Planet Bonehead stuff with my Drop Dead Comedy partner April Keough. (How's that for a bunch of plugs? LOL)
Bobby & I got into a discussion about the law of attraction, positive energy, etc.

Bobby looked at all the pro-CWA things I've been posting on Facebook & YouTube during this time of striking against Verigreedy.

He felt that my posts against the company is putting negative energy out there which will bring negative energy back to me.

I disagreed. I explained to him that I didn't feel like my posts were negative. I told him that I am just reporting what is going on since I feel people should be aware of it. Sure I am making my opinion known to a certain degree but so what.

Rock Star felt that all this anti-company stuff is bad for me. Anti anything is bad for anyone. Pro-CWA stiff is good for me. Pro-anything is good for anyone is basically what Bobby was saying.
While I do agree with him my I admitted to him that I am enjoying the posts. I'm enjoying going to picket lines & seeing my fellow CWA brothers & sisters, especially the ones I know but haven't seen in a long time. Since I am not currently working there I don't see anyone anymore. After what Verigreedy did to me I am enjoying seeing them get screwed.

So I asked Bobby if I should step back from any negativity & let karma take it's course. He said yes.
Here's my dilemma-what if my posts & enjoyment of participating in picket lines is my karma?
I talked to my wife who also believe in the law of attraction.

She agreed with Rock Star but also agreed with me. She said that the universe doesn't look at my opinion. The universe just looks at what I am putting out there as positive or negative. And yes, my anti-verigreedy posts are negative. BUT what about fighting with my CWA members? We're fighting for a good cause. The law of attraction doesn't say we sit back while someone else does the work. The law of attraction says we have to make choices & make things happen for ourselves. Aren't I doing that? Aren't I making things happen for my fellow CWA members & their families?

Yes I have moved on to my new life since verigreedy dumped me. Hopefully my lawsuit will start moving soon, but in the meantime I am enjoying this. I got majorly screwed by this company without a kiss & this is the first time, after 6 years, that I am doing something in response. How many times have you said, "Boy I'd like to see them get theirs!" Well isn't this my chance to see them getting theirs? Is there something wrong with participating in it? After all it was me they screwed.... why not enjoy this?
Am I even making sense?

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TONIGHT? TAKE OVER THE WORLD!

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolph Hitler, Gaius Julius Caesar, Pinky and the Brain: They all have something in common, World Domination! 

Throughout history there have always been, and will always be those who dream of “taking over the world”. I’ve always had difficulty understanding why anyone would want to do this. I love the idea of diversity and the multitude of different customs and beliefs to be found all over the globe. Why would anyone want to blend us all into one boring empire?

New York's Little Italy

One of the reasons I love living in the United States is the amazing variety of cultures, races, religions and customs of the different people living here. Coming from New York, I know the great pleasure of having a Jewish deli, Italian restaurant, French bistro and Irish pub all on the same block! On weekends we would all go up to China town for authentic Chinese food or Little Italy for the best pastries on earth. We could have a Guinness (or in my case some good Irish tea) at McSorley’s Bar and then hop over to Brooklyn for the Chili Pepper Fiesta! One minute you could be doing the polka in a Polish club and then the next sitting in on a new age séance in the village! The options are endless!

McSorely's Pub

I’m all for world peace, cooperation between nations, and fair, humane treatment for all people, but why can’t we just live and let live, accepting our differences as blessings instead of obstacles?  Believe me, I know it isn’t as simple as that, but I think this world would be a happier, more interesting place to live if we could all give up the idea of “taking over the world”!  Sorry Brain!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJPFSNu_QNs



Dancing the Polka



Chinatown, New York

WANNA LAUGH?!?!

A dog ran into a butcher shop and grabbed a roast off the counter. Fortunately, the butcher recognized the dog as belonging to a neighbor of his. The neighbor happened to be a lawyer.
Incensed at the theft, the butcher called up his neighbor and said, "Hey, if your dog stole a roast from my butcher shop, would you be liable for the cost of the meat?"
The lawyer replied, "Of course, how much was the roast?"
"$17.98." said the butcher.
A few days later the butcher received a check in the mail for $17.98. Attached to it was an invoice that read: Legal Consultation Service: $150

SUNDAY TRIVIA

Did you know...

On average women say 7,000 words per day. Men manage just over 2000.

A penguin swims at a speed of approximately 15 miles per hour.

Approximately 850 peanuts make a 18 oz jar of peanut butter.

Babies are born with 300 bones, but by adulthood we have only 206 in our bodies.

The Museum of Modern Art in New York City hung Matisse's ‘Le Bateau’ upside-down for 47 days before an art student noticed the error.

Three-hundred-million cells die in the human body every minute.

Women's hearts beat faster than men's.

Uranus is the only planet that rotates on its side.

There are 1,792 steps to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

A cough releases an explosive charge of air that moves at speeds up to 60 mph.

Most men have erections every hour to hour and a half during sleep.

A 1.5 oz. milk chocolate bar has only 220 calories.
A 1.75 oz. serving of potato chips has 230 calories.

Frederic-August Bartholdi sculpted The Statue of Liberty.

Sea water is approximately 3.5 percent salt.

Ancient Chinese artists would never paint pictures of women’s feet.

A honey bee must tap two million flowers to make one pound of honey.

The largest stained-glass window in the world is at Kennedy International Airport in New York City. It can be seen on the American Airlines terminal building and measures 300 feet long by 23 feet high.

Aunt Jemima pancake flour, invented in 1889, was the first ready-mix food to be sold commercially.

An arabica coffee tree can produce up to 12 pounds of coffee a year, depending on soil and climate.

3 medium size bananas weigh approximately 1 pound.

Chocolate was introduced into the United States in 1765 when cocoa beans were brought from the West Indies to Dorchester, Massachusetts.

Raw coffee beans, soaked in water and spices, are chewed like candy in many parts of Africa.

A person will die from total lack of sleep sooner than from starvation. Death will occur about 10 days without sleep, while starvation takes a few weeks.

Since Hindus don't eat beef, the McDonald's in New Delhi makes its burgers with mutton.

The difference between apple juice and apple cider is that apple juice is the juice of the fruit only, and apple cider is the whole apple-skins, seeds, and all- which gives it the fuller body and deeper color. The juice is pasteurized and the cider is not.

In 1995, KFC sold 11 pieces of chicken for every man, woman and child in the US.

In Hershey, Pennsylvania, the streetlights along "Chocolate Avenue" are in the shape of Hershey Kisses.

The average person will consume 10,000 chocolate bars in a lifetime.

Beethoven who was a coffee lover, was so particular about his coffee that he always counted 60 beans each cup when he prepared his brew.