Yesterday I brought up the interesting timing of a huge piece on Romney in the Washington Post. The article discussed Romney's gay-bashing ways when he was a prep-school student, and it was published the day after Obama evolved to endorse gay marriage. It seemed, well, convenient at the least.
The Post's Ombudsman Patrick Pexton wrote about this yesterday evening. The Post did change some things in the print edition from the (original) on-line edition without being explicit about it. Then Pexton goes on to discuss the timing. He says Biden "telegraphed" this as an issue earlier in the week. Okay, so now we know (if we didn't already) to watch for the seemingly random topic that comes up with an administration official, especially on the Sunday morning talk shows. They then held the story until after Obama's announcement on Wednesday. I'm not a journalist, but it looks to me like they just extended the news cycle on the whole "pro-gay Obama" story by an extra day.
I'm no conspiracy theorist, but something is not right here. What if--IF--various stories are just held until the "right time?"
Finally, he says this story was in the works for three weeks as part of an extensive series they are doing on Romney. Great--vet away. Lord knows we need to get everything out there. But--where was this for Obama back in 2008? I'll find out. (But I think we already know what the answer to that one is...)
For further reading, Newsbusters.org has a more extensive treatment of this topic.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
La La La--I Can't Hear You!
Yesterday, I was listening to a guy on the radio open his show with, "Gay gay gay gay gay, gay gay gay, gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay." Or something like that. He is right...Obama certainly got everyone onto the same page, HIS page, didn't he?
Here's what you might have missed:
Tuesday's Elections and Primaries: Spankings all around. In North Carolina, a constitutional amendment to limit the state's definition of marriage to ONE man and ONE woman passed, winning 61% of the vote. In a world where 53% is called a landslide, what would this be? Up in Wisconsin, they are having a recall election of the Republican governor Scott Walker. In the primary to oppose him, barely 2/3 of the people who signed the recall petition bothered to show up to vote for one of the Democrats. And (running virtually unopposed) Walker had almost as many votes cast for him. This is good news because there really was no reason for the Republicans to show up, other than to demonstrate their support for Walker. A felon got 40% of the Democratic vote in the West Virginia primary--in a state that doesn't allow cross-over voting!
The Tea Party is alive and well and a legitimate force: Long-time Senator Dick Lugar was pitched out on his ear by Tea Party candidate Richard Mourdock, 60-40 percent. Apparently Obama's support of Lugar was very effective! A huge win for the Tea Party, but that would mean they couldn't be cast as the evil conservative equivalent of the Occupy Movement, doesn't it?
Julia...remember her?
Half-empty halls...and one in six of Obama's fundraising bundlers is gay. Convenient.
And of course, the economy. Yes, the unemployment rate (U3) has gone down a little. But remember your elementary math: you can get this percentage to change by decreasing the numerator or the denominator. The great tragedy is that our denominator is decreasing--people are exiting the workforce, giving up. If you consider the U6 unemployment number, which allows for less variation in the denominator, the actual unemployment rate is over 14%.
And you know how I mentioned the "sycophantic press" yesterday? How convenient that the Washington Post came out with a 5500-word article about Romney's hatred toward gays. In 1965. While he was in boarding school. Probably part of the marauding gangs of Mormons that were so active. How--HOW--was the Post able to time this so well? Maybe they jumped the gun, though.
And so we will wait for the Friday Afternoon Document Dump. Must be something juicy because it will surely be shouted down by "Gay gay gay gay...."
Here's what you might have missed:
Tuesday's Elections and Primaries: Spankings all around. In North Carolina, a constitutional amendment to limit the state's definition of marriage to ONE man and ONE woman passed, winning 61% of the vote. In a world where 53% is called a landslide, what would this be? Up in Wisconsin, they are having a recall election of the Republican governor Scott Walker. In the primary to oppose him, barely 2/3 of the people who signed the recall petition bothered to show up to vote for one of the Democrats. And (running virtually unopposed) Walker had almost as many votes cast for him. This is good news because there really was no reason for the Republicans to show up, other than to demonstrate their support for Walker. A felon got 40% of the Democratic vote in the West Virginia primary--in a state that doesn't allow cross-over voting!
The Tea Party is alive and well and a legitimate force: Long-time Senator Dick Lugar was pitched out on his ear by Tea Party candidate Richard Mourdock, 60-40 percent. Apparently Obama's support of Lugar was very effective! A huge win for the Tea Party, but that would mean they couldn't be cast as the evil conservative equivalent of the Occupy Movement, doesn't it?
Julia...remember her?
Half-empty halls...and one in six of Obama's fundraising bundlers is gay. Convenient.
And of course, the economy. Yes, the unemployment rate (U3) has gone down a little. But remember your elementary math: you can get this percentage to change by decreasing the numerator or the denominator. The great tragedy is that our denominator is decreasing--people are exiting the workforce, giving up. If you consider the U6 unemployment number, which allows for less variation in the denominator, the actual unemployment rate is over 14%.
And you know how I mentioned the "sycophantic press" yesterday? How convenient that the Washington Post came out with a 5500-word article about Romney's hatred toward gays. In 1965. While he was in boarding school. Probably part of the marauding gangs of Mormons that were so active. How--HOW--was the Post able to time this so well? Maybe they jumped the gun, though.
And so we will wait for the Friday Afternoon Document Dump. Must be something juicy because it will surely be shouted down by "Gay gay gay gay...."
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Did we go?
No. Baby girl had a fever of 102 (yikes!) this morning, and was pretty puny. Later, though, she was feeling well enough to ask to sew. Today she made this:
Yay, D! This seems to be one of those unpleasant bugs that hit her hard in the morning, retreated enough that she was begging to swim in the afternoon, and then came back with a vengeance around 8 p.m.
Hopefully you saw my post from earlier today, about our CiC's coming out party. I said I think it is a distraction. What in the world could we be distracted from? I'll give a few examples tomorrow. Bonus question: What do you think is in tomorrow's Friday Afternoon Document Dump? Can't wait to see...
Yay, D! This seems to be one of those unpleasant bugs that hit her hard in the morning, retreated enough that she was begging to swim in the afternoon, and then came back with a vengeance around 8 p.m.
Hopefully you saw my post from earlier today, about our CiC's coming out party. I said I think it is a distraction. What in the world could we be distracted from? I'll give a few examples tomorrow. Bonus question: What do you think is in tomorrow's Friday Afternoon Document Dump? Can't wait to see...
Do Not Engage
The gay marriage issue is about money and votes, pure and simple. Obama chose to wait to "evolve" until he needed:
This is about the campaign, pure and simple. I don't care about it, per se. I truly believe that the government has absolutely no role in who should or shouldn't marry--it is a religious issue. (My solution is a some sort of designated partner relationship which any two adults could enter into.) What I do care about is the crassness--diverting the attention of a gullible, sycophantic press and assuming the rest of us are stupid enough to follow.
The issue is the economy and the growth of government. That's it.
And so Roger L. Simon of PJMedia has written an excellent piece. Read it, pass it on, and remember this passage:
Do Not Engage. Pass it on.
- A fundraising boost
- A diversion from the economic news
This is about the campaign, pure and simple. I don't care about it, per se. I truly believe that the government has absolutely no role in who should or shouldn't marry--it is a religious issue. (My solution is a some sort of designated partner relationship which any two adults could enter into.) What I do care about is the crassness--diverting the attention of a gullible, sycophantic press and assuming the rest of us are stupid enough to follow.
The issue is the economy and the growth of government. That's it.
And so Roger L. Simon of PJMedia has written an excellent piece. Read it, pass it on, and remember this passage:
Nevertheless, whatever your opinion of gay marriage, I am writing this article to urge you not to engage. The issue is a sideshow intended to distract. If our country goes the way of Greece – and writing this from the City of Los Angeles, it’s not so hard to imagine – you can forget any issue, whatever your favorite one is. You won’t be living in America anymore.
Do Not Engage. Pass it on.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Bypassing Congress? Answering Tuesday's Question.
So my question yesterday was, essentially, how can the White House give money to the Palestinian Authority ($192 million) when Congress had expressly prohibited any funds being sent to this group.
The answer is: Barack Obama waived the restriction made by Congress by saying that it was in the "national security interests of the United States." This is the memorandum issued on April 25 regarding the waiver.
I have to be honest: this seems weird. Congress bans an action, and the President waives the ban and then does precisely what was disallowed by another branch of government. I fail to see how this is legal, or constitutional, and I have not found anyone who can explain it, either.
Congress banned taxpayer dollars going to this group last year after Palestine launched an unsuccessful bid for statehood at the UN. Hamas has since joined forces with the PA, and Hamas is a bunch of terrorists, so this is akin to handing $192 million over to a bunch of terrorists. This is an excellent overview of the "what" of the situation, but not the "how is this constitutional" question. It seems to me that the President has established that he can do anything he wants, as long as he thinks it is important.
The Hillsdale College course on the Constitution needs to go on my "must watch" list. I haven't really answered the question, but I've established that this is rotten, and also barely covered. The only news agencies that hit in Google regarding this story were the Times of Israel and The Blaze.
Tonight's question: Will our field trip to Georgia's first capitol and a friend's art show happen tomorrow? I have one little one who has come up with a sore throat and fever...
The answer is: Barack Obama waived the restriction made by Congress by saying that it was in the "national security interests of the United States." This is the memorandum issued on April 25 regarding the waiver.
I have to be honest: this seems weird. Congress bans an action, and the President waives the ban and then does precisely what was disallowed by another branch of government. I fail to see how this is legal, or constitutional, and I have not found anyone who can explain it, either.
Congress banned taxpayer dollars going to this group last year after Palestine launched an unsuccessful bid for statehood at the UN. Hamas has since joined forces with the PA, and Hamas is a bunch of terrorists, so this is akin to handing $192 million over to a bunch of terrorists. This is an excellent overview of the "what" of the situation, but not the "how is this constitutional" question. It seems to me that the President has established that he can do anything he wants, as long as he thinks it is important.
The Hillsdale College course on the Constitution needs to go on my "must watch" list. I haven't really answered the question, but I've established that this is rotten, and also barely covered. The only news agencies that hit in Google regarding this story were the Times of Israel and The Blaze.
Tonight's question: Will our field trip to Georgia's first capitol and a friend's art show happen tomorrow? I have one little one who has come up with a sore throat and fever...
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
In which I answer Monday's question, and pose a new one.
So, my crazy back. This is the psoas muscle:
It starts at the lower back, travels through the pelvis and then ends at the top of the femur. It is extraordinarily difficult to get to, which explains why I am having a hard time icing it. However, based on descriptions of the pain I am pretty sure this is what has been ailing me.
I found some reasonable information from "alternative" healers, but since all the advice was relatively consistent I think it is probably correct. (This site is a good summary, but I clicked around a fair amount.) I actually have started doing some of the relaxation techniques and they have already helped enormously. I also took a walk with D and one of the dogs today, and I sat as little as possible. Sitting seems to aggravate my problem. I even walked after riding my horse tonight.
In case you have back pain, you should be aware that the psoas is implicated in a lot of problems, and I had most of them: lower back pain, pain in the front (where you might otherwise think you had appendicitis!), pain radiating down the front of the thigh, and also mid-line back pain. Not fun. I may be on to an answer here for me, though. A couple of days ago I actually said to P that I couldn't do something because "my back is killing me." She rolled her eyes and told me I sounded like I was 85 years old. I don't like feeling like that!
Okay--back pain is truly not my favorite topic, and I can't stay away from current events for long. Tonight's question: Two Fridays ago in the weekend document dump that this administration seems so fond of, there was a sum of money that had been freed by the Obama Administration to go to the Palestinian Authority. Congress had previously banned any dollars going to the PA. What gives?
It starts at the lower back, travels through the pelvis and then ends at the top of the femur. It is extraordinarily difficult to get to, which explains why I am having a hard time icing it. However, based on descriptions of the pain I am pretty sure this is what has been ailing me.
I found some reasonable information from "alternative" healers, but since all the advice was relatively consistent I think it is probably correct. (This site is a good summary, but I clicked around a fair amount.) I actually have started doing some of the relaxation techniques and they have already helped enormously. I also took a walk with D and one of the dogs today, and I sat as little as possible. Sitting seems to aggravate my problem. I even walked after riding my horse tonight.
In case you have back pain, you should be aware that the psoas is implicated in a lot of problems, and I had most of them: lower back pain, pain in the front (where you might otherwise think you had appendicitis!), pain radiating down the front of the thigh, and also mid-line back pain. Not fun. I may be on to an answer here for me, though. A couple of days ago I actually said to P that I couldn't do something because "my back is killing me." She rolled her eyes and told me I sounded like I was 85 years old. I don't like feeling like that!
Okay--back pain is truly not my favorite topic, and I can't stay away from current events for long. Tonight's question: Two Fridays ago in the weekend document dump that this administration seems so fond of, there was a sum of money that had been freed by the Obama Administration to go to the Palestinian Authority. Congress had previously banned any dollars going to the PA. What gives?
Monday, May 7, 2012
Daring myself
You can probably tell that I have a weird relationship with my blog. I want to write. I actually really like to write. But sometimes I sit and look at this blank screen and just can't think of anything to say. (Weirdly, I have no problem with a blank piece of paper.) And I know that the real key to an interesting blog is consistency.
So today I read this post. And I think it is a good idea--the guy asked himself a question every day, and the next day he answered it. For 366 days in a row. So I will try. I am going to ask myself something I don't know, and then the next day I will try to answer it. Or I'll at least say why I couldn't answer it.
I think it will be as interesting to see what questions I come up with as the answers themselves.
So, my first question is about myself. I threw my back out last week, except my Pilates instructor said it is really my soaz muscle. And I have since found out that it is really psoas muscle--who knew? So, tomorrow I will answer what that is and what I can do to take better care of it. See you tomorrow.
So today I read this post. And I think it is a good idea--the guy asked himself a question every day, and the next day he answered it. For 366 days in a row. So I will try. I am going to ask myself something I don't know, and then the next day I will try to answer it. Or I'll at least say why I couldn't answer it.
I think it will be as interesting to see what questions I come up with as the answers themselves.
So, my first question is about myself. I threw my back out last week, except my Pilates instructor said it is really my soaz muscle. And I have since found out that it is really psoas muscle--who knew? So, tomorrow I will answer what that is and what I can do to take better care of it. See you tomorrow.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Week in Review, 5/4/12 edition
Whew! Skidding into Friday this week. I swear, May is as busy as December for a family of school-age kids.
We had something every night this week. Monday, Scout Court of Honor. Tuesday, Chorus Concert (so J had to miss lacrosse playoffs.) Wednesday, the boys had church and the girls got to play with their ponies while Bill and I had a appointment we had to keep. Thursday, Band Concert. Friday, M is off to Chorus Festival but the rest of us are taking a pass. It may be a pizza-at-the-farm kind of night. Saturday, M is off to Six Flags as part of the Chorus Festival, and Bill is chaperoning that. J has a lacrosse tournament. Whew.
I've spent a couple of weeks cleaning like a madwoman, getting mulch and pine straw for the yard, and having the house pressure-washed, all in preparation for a bridal shower this weekend, too. Sadly, we just decided to cancel it. As busy as we are, it is also college-graduation weekend for so many people around here and no one could come! But everything really needed to be done. I should plan one of these at least twice a year.
Oh, P is also off to the Perimeter Track Meet today. She is fast. PTM is a regional meet for elementary-age kids in private schools. She is on the bus on this rainy morning to run the 200- and 400-meter races. Looks like the skies will be clearing. Fingers crossed for fleet feet.
Our butterflies hatched, but I forgot to get a picture. After a day the girls released them. We started with five caterpillars, grew four chrysalises, and hatched three butterflies. That is pretty good.
We are deep into Rome this week. I love love love our history curriculum, Story of the World. We learned about gladiators this week. The text--an ELEMENTARY text--quotes Seneca discussing the gladiators: "The show was even better to watch when this [the gladiators committing suicide rather than kill their opponent] happened--because the men in the audience learned that it is more decent to die than to kill." I cannot tell you how much I will miss this next year.
D and I also continued reading Harry Potter out loud (mostly, sometimes she reads ahead). She completed her copywork of the poem "All Things Bright and Beautiful," and we bound it into a little book. We are this close to finishing her math book, too.
I believe I am the last person in North America to discover Downton Abbey. I thought I'd stream it while I was sewing, but I may have to rethink that because I am much slower while I try to watch!
Bill started moving some things into his big new warehouse--very exciting for us. I wish he weren't moving the company farther from home, but the facility is amazing and a huge step for him. I need to take some pictures of the new place!
I just saw that I mentioned my diet last week. I've eaten sugar twice in about two weeks. I am finding that I do not miss it at all. Yes, I'm shocked.
I don't like my blog layout. I think I will be changing it soon. Don't get disoriented.
Last night at the band concert, the director said that today is the last day for the seniors at our school. Wow. I look at my 7th grader and know that he will be there sooner than I want. It was a good reminder to savor our time together.
I am ready to slow down, too. I haven't ridden my horse in a week and I miss him! I'm ready to move ahead and start really competing, but time eludes me. I think in one more week we will slow down. Maybe.
We had something every night this week. Monday, Scout Court of Honor. Tuesday, Chorus Concert (so J had to miss lacrosse playoffs.) Wednesday, the boys had church and the girls got to play with their ponies while Bill and I had a appointment we had to keep. Thursday, Band Concert. Friday, M is off to Chorus Festival but the rest of us are taking a pass. It may be a pizza-at-the-farm kind of night. Saturday, M is off to Six Flags as part of the Chorus Festival, and Bill is chaperoning that. J has a lacrosse tournament. Whew.
I've spent a couple of weeks cleaning like a madwoman, getting mulch and pine straw for the yard, and having the house pressure-washed, all in preparation for a bridal shower this weekend, too. Sadly, we just decided to cancel it. As busy as we are, it is also college-graduation weekend for so many people around here and no one could come! But everything really needed to be done. I should plan one of these at least twice a year.
Oh, P is also off to the Perimeter Track Meet today. She is fast. PTM is a regional meet for elementary-age kids in private schools. She is on the bus on this rainy morning to run the 200- and 400-meter races. Looks like the skies will be clearing. Fingers crossed for fleet feet.
Our butterflies hatched, but I forgot to get a picture. After a day the girls released them. We started with five caterpillars, grew four chrysalises, and hatched three butterflies. That is pretty good.
We are deep into Rome this week. I love love love our history curriculum, Story of the World. We learned about gladiators this week. The text--an ELEMENTARY text--quotes Seneca discussing the gladiators: "The show was even better to watch when this [the gladiators committing suicide rather than kill their opponent] happened--because the men in the audience learned that it is more decent to die than to kill." I cannot tell you how much I will miss this next year.
D and I also continued reading Harry Potter out loud (mostly, sometimes she reads ahead). She completed her copywork of the poem "All Things Bright and Beautiful," and we bound it into a little book. We are this close to finishing her math book, too.
I believe I am the last person in North America to discover Downton Abbey. I thought I'd stream it while I was sewing, but I may have to rethink that because I am much slower while I try to watch!
Bill started moving some things into his big new warehouse--very exciting for us. I wish he weren't moving the company farther from home, but the facility is amazing and a huge step for him. I need to take some pictures of the new place!
I just saw that I mentioned my diet last week. I've eaten sugar twice in about two weeks. I am finding that I do not miss it at all. Yes, I'm shocked.
I don't like my blog layout. I think I will be changing it soon. Don't get disoriented.
Last night at the band concert, the director said that today is the last day for the seniors at our school. Wow. I look at my 7th grader and know that he will be there sooner than I want. It was a good reminder to savor our time together.
I am ready to slow down, too. I haven't ridden my horse in a week and I miss him! I'm ready to move ahead and start really competing, but time eludes me. I think in one more week we will slow down. Maybe.
Quick links
A few interesting things I've found this week:
Do you like to write? I am a long-hand fan--love my Flair pens and Mead 100-page college-ruled notebooks (with the bright plastic covers)--but sometimes I feel like a dinosaur! Great article about long-hand versus computer composition.
Surely you've met Julia by now.
Turns out that James Hannam, author of the book I just reviewed here, has a blog. Sometimes technical, but pretty interesting.
I kind of wish I lived in Australia. (Dan Mitchell is a pretty smart guy...for a Bulldog.)
Terrific look at pronouns. Are you an "I, me" person or a "you, yours?"
Enjoy!
Do you like to write? I am a long-hand fan--love my Flair pens and Mead 100-page college-ruled notebooks (with the bright plastic covers)--but sometimes I feel like a dinosaur! Great article about long-hand versus computer composition.
Surely you've met Julia by now.
Turns out that James Hannam, author of the book I just reviewed here, has a blog. Sometimes technical, but pretty interesting.
I kind of wish I lived in Australia. (Dan Mitchell is a pretty smart guy...for a Bulldog.)
Terrific look at pronouns. Are you an "I, me" person or a "you, yours?"
Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
A Quick Book Review
Of course we have all heard the term "Dark Ages." I (and probably you, too) always had the idea that for about a thousand years, from the fall of Rome until the Renaissance, nothing happened. Life was hard and people were stupid. Hannam says we have it all wrong; plenty happened. As a matter of fact, our modern scientific process has its origins in the natural science studies of the Dark Ages, including even the careful, but unsuccessful, experiments carried out by alchemists.
Hannam documents various advances that Western Europe plainly made over the Arab world (stirrups!), and gives plenty of credit where it is due (the resurrection of the study of Greek). The entire book is fun to read, from the beautiful descriptions of the pursuit of physical science in the service of the "queen of sciences," theology, to the cringe-worthy medical science details.
Be sure to check out the medieval nose jobs. I am not making that up.
I'm not sure I would have picked up this book were I not teaching D's history this year as part of her homeschool. Hannam does a great job of taking something that I thought I knew, opening it up, and showing how things really were. I'll be looking for more books by him.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Week in Review, 4/30/2012 late edition
Sorry I have been so rant-y. I can't help but read the news and think that things are just so upside down and inside out, rather like we've gone through the looking glass. But our lives continue in the hurry-up way. Here's how we spent the last week.
Last week opened with church, of course. I was the worship assistant, which in our liturgical church means that I help the pastor in leading the congregation through the worship service. So I read prayers and stuff. Except that this time there was no pastor, so I had to do everything. And I forgot the offering. OOPS! Great start to the week.
I also did some massive cleaning in preparation for a shower that I am so excited about hosting. One little benefit was finding my long-lost sorority badge!
We have decided to send D back to school next year, so she had to have a shadow day at our school to be sure she was ready for third grade. Is she ever. She also had a couple of funny comments about different things they were doing. For instance, phonics. We certainly don't do that here! I don't think phonics is necessary to learn to read. I'm not sure who really needs them other than linguists. Anyway.
Since I had a day off (wow!) I took the opportunity to go shopping. First I visited a super-cute little shop in West Atlanta, Whipstitch. Got a couple of great things:
Oh, I also started (yet another) diet on Monday. I'm following the diet that came with P90X2, basically no-sugar, low-carb, high-protein. It isn't terribly calorie-restricted, just clean. I forgot to weigh until the end of the week, but right now the remarkable thing is that I feel really good. I kind of miss my glass of wine at night, but I am sleeping so much better that it is a fair trade. The weirdest part is that I don't even want bread.
On Tuesday I let the boys skip school and go to an awesome traveling exhibit, Passages. If this comes to your town I highly recommend this interactive exhibit on the history of the Bible, in particular the English Bible. P didn't go with us; it was fetal-pig-dissection day for the fourth grade. I really would like P and the DH to see it, and the other kids all want to see it again, too. That is high praise!
Here's a little summary of what else we did, since I finally got a collage app to work! (Descriptions are clock-wise.)
D working on perpendicular lines on her geoboard for math. We have loved Saxon as our base math curriculum--very thorough, and flexible enough that I can skip or combine lessons as needed.
J had his last regular-season lacrosse game. This hasn't been our favorite season for reasons I've already mentioned.
A little sewing for me this week, finishing D's Scavenger Bag from Growing Up Sew Liberated. In case you are wondering, P's has been done (in turquoise blue prints) for a couple of weeks now. I have such a hard time finishing things that it is always a wonder when something goes from my sewing room to the person it is for!
My sweet husband getting fitted for some new clothes by our dear family friend! Calvin graduated a year ago and started selling custom-made men's clothes. He loves it and seems to be doing great. Bill has such a hard time just getting downtown to shop that he decided to try out this option.
We finished out the week with a Friday night ride and cook-out at the farm. This is becoming our favorite way to end the week. But I didn't take any pictures!
Our memory verse for last week:
Jesus said to the apostles, "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation." Mark 6:15
Go!
Last week opened with church, of course. I was the worship assistant, which in our liturgical church means that I help the pastor in leading the congregation through the worship service. So I read prayers and stuff. Except that this time there was no pastor, so I had to do everything. And I forgot the offering. OOPS! Great start to the week.
I also did some massive cleaning in preparation for a shower that I am so excited about hosting. One little benefit was finding my long-lost sorority badge!
We have decided to send D back to school next year, so she had to have a shadow day at our school to be sure she was ready for third grade. Is she ever. She also had a couple of funny comments about different things they were doing. For instance, phonics. We certainly don't do that here! I don't think phonics is necessary to learn to read. I'm not sure who really needs them other than linguists. Anyway.
Since I had a day off (wow!) I took the opportunity to go shopping. First I visited a super-cute little shop in West Atlanta, Whipstitch. Got a couple of great things:
Oh, I also started (yet another) diet on Monday. I'm following the diet that came with P90X2, basically no-sugar, low-carb, high-protein. It isn't terribly calorie-restricted, just clean. I forgot to weigh until the end of the week, but right now the remarkable thing is that I feel really good. I kind of miss my glass of wine at night, but I am sleeping so much better that it is a fair trade. The weirdest part is that I don't even want bread.
On Tuesday I let the boys skip school and go to an awesome traveling exhibit, Passages. If this comes to your town I highly recommend this interactive exhibit on the history of the Bible, in particular the English Bible. P didn't go with us; it was fetal-pig-dissection day for the fourth grade. I really would like P and the DH to see it, and the other kids all want to see it again, too. That is high praise!
Here's a little summary of what else we did, since I finally got a collage app to work! (Descriptions are clock-wise.)
J had his last regular-season lacrosse game. This hasn't been our favorite season for reasons I've already mentioned.
A little sewing for me this week, finishing D's Scavenger Bag from Growing Up Sew Liberated. In case you are wondering, P's has been done (in turquoise blue prints) for a couple of weeks now. I have such a hard time finishing things that it is always a wonder when something goes from my sewing room to the person it is for!
My sweet husband getting fitted for some new clothes by our dear family friend! Calvin graduated a year ago and started selling custom-made men's clothes. He loves it and seems to be doing great. Bill has such a hard time just getting downtown to shop that he decided to try out this option.
We finished out the week with a Friday night ride and cook-out at the farm. This is becoming our favorite way to end the week. But I didn't take any pictures!
Our memory verse for last week:
Jesus said to the apostles, "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation." Mark 6:15
Go!
Friday, April 27, 2012
Um, Ma'am? Your slip is showing.
First, the now-viral video:
The over-arching message here is that (as Dennis Prager has said), "The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen." How odd, then, that the following would also happen in the same timeframe:
Just one week.
The over-arching message here is that (as Dennis Prager has said), "The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen." How odd, then, that the following would also happen in the same timeframe:
- "Crucify them." From an EPA official, instructions to go after a few oil and gas companies (not just the Exxons and BPs of the world, the little guys, too) hammer-and-tongs, so that it will be easier to keep the rest of the industry in line. (Strangely, the YouTube video of Al Armerenderiz has been taken down.)
- Farm kids can't work. The Department of Labor proposed regulations prohibiting farm kids from doing basic labor around the farm, including driving farm vehicles. That would mean my thirteen-year-old would be prohibited from driving the Gator around the farm for fun or chores. Note that these were regulations written by the the Executive Branch as a way to interpret laws that had been previously passed by Congress. This is what happens when there are so many laws on the books: remulators can write anything they want, especially when they come out with a new "interpretation" of a long-passed law. These changes are hard to catch and turn away. Fortunately, that happened this time. But we certainly know where this administration stands.
- The GSA reveals itself to be run by a bunch of entitled bureaucrats who see my money (and yours) as theirs first. (Yes, I know this broke last week. But the news continues to build.) How else can you explain $800,000 for a conference, with several advance trips for Jeff Neely and his WIFE paid for by the government? I can say with confidence that this is not normal. For instance, when I travel with my husband we pay my expenses. Yes, my husband's company--which he OWNS--pays for the hotel room and his meals, but we pay my expenses. The IRS looks for things like this in the private business world. Oh, but the GSA isn't a private entity. They're exempt.
- The Secret Service scandal grows. Do you find this as shocking as I do? The Secret Service--the guys who will take a bullet for the President--that has to be one of the most respected institutions in the country. And now this slime is being revealed. I can't decide if this is (as they talk about in the video) discrediting our most respected institutions or another example of "the rules don't apply to me."
- The Supreme Court heard oral arguments over the Arizona immigration laws. The federal government is prosecuting a state for enforcing federal laws that the feds won't themselves enforce. The Justices sounded skeptical about the federal government's argument. Go, Supremes!
Just one week.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Week in Review, 4/20/12 edition
Well, I was going to do this with some really cute little photo collages like my friend Mary does. After six (yes SIX) crashes on my iPad I gave up. Single photos only again this week.
J started the week with the dreaded sixth grade edible science project, to my mind a waste of time and sugar. At any rate, this is my boy mixing baked cake with frosting, a la "cake pops." Yes, we needed both the chocolate and vanilla flavors. The cake becomes moldable, in this case to re-create a stratovolcano. And then they eat it. Gross.
D played a neat little multiplying game for math this week. We got out the 10-sided dice (not in this picture) and rolled, coloring in the appropriate array based on our roll. First one to fill up their square won. I drew our boxes too big, so the game took forever! She enjoyed it, though, and has played a couple of times since then. The other picture is real-life math lesson, making a bank deposit and adding up some checks. Yay for real-life math!
Lessons, as usual, at the arena. My precious friend (and trainer) Sandra is behind one of those ponies!
The girls have also decided to set up a jump in the back yard. Just in case, you know, a pony needs to jump it. (Or maybe a certain little girl...)
We had awards day for the middle school this week. (oops, no picture) I think fully half of the school, including my boys, made High Honor Roll. Certainly makes you wonder about grade inflation, doesn't it?
J played lacrosse this week. No picture here, either, sorry. Now that he is in the U13 league I am just blown away at how big some of those boys are. Practically men. J is a long way from that, and a long way from full-grown aggression on the field, too. This has been a tough season for all of us.
I was actually sick for a bunch of the week, coming down with a nasty stomach bug right after the awards ceremony on Tuesday and really being unable to move until late in the day on Thursday. All of our Roman road/gladiator projects got put on hold. D and I had started Harry Potter as a read-aloud. By Tuesday morning she was reading to me as I struggled to stay awake with her on the couch. Sick mamas make for bad homeschool weeks, that is for sure. I hate that we lost time right as we're coming to the end of the year.
I did make it out of bed to get my hair done on Thursday. I schedule those appointments a year in advance--no way am I missing that! Wendy said she cut six inches off the back. It definitely feels shorter. It also feels less fried, which was why I needed some length taken off to begin with.
We did manage to join P for lunch today at school, though.
I continue to add planters to the back deck and pool area. I am notorious for buying a bunch of plants and then running out of steam before I finish planting half of them. This time I am only buying one container or project's worth at a time. This is a gardenia on the tree-form plant I got yesterday. Gardenias are one proof that God loves the South. I wish you could smell it. I also got a new sewing book and am positively chomping at the bit to work with it. It has fantastic step-by-step explanations for things, and super-cute patterns included. Now if I could just buy that extra hour in the day...
We ended the week with the annual piano concert. All of our teacher's students give a concert instead of a recital. It is very collaborative, with students even performing original work, and many doing duets or singing as they play. It is nothing like the nightmare recitals I lived through as a child. Sometimes I'm not sure it is good to be so easy on them! But it is a fun and positive evening of good music. Here is everyone afterwards, in my first ever picture of Carson with all of my children. Great job, y'all!
Our memory verse this week was:
This is the message that we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.--1 John 1:5
Happy Friday!
We had awards day for the middle school this week. (oops, no picture) I think fully half of the school, including my boys, made High Honor Roll. Certainly makes you wonder about grade inflation, doesn't it?
J played lacrosse this week. No picture here, either, sorry. Now that he is in the U13 league I am just blown away at how big some of those boys are. Practically men. J is a long way from that, and a long way from full-grown aggression on the field, too. This has been a tough season for all of us.
I was actually sick for a bunch of the week, coming down with a nasty stomach bug right after the awards ceremony on Tuesday and really being unable to move until late in the day on Thursday. All of our Roman road/gladiator projects got put on hold. D and I had started Harry Potter as a read-aloud. By Tuesday morning she was reading to me as I struggled to stay awake with her on the couch. Sick mamas make for bad homeschool weeks, that is for sure. I hate that we lost time right as we're coming to the end of the year.
I did make it out of bed to get my hair done on Thursday. I schedule those appointments a year in advance--no way am I missing that! Wendy said she cut six inches off the back. It definitely feels shorter. It also feels less fried, which was why I needed some length taken off to begin with.
Our memory verse this week was:
This is the message that we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.--1 John 1:5
Happy Friday!
Obama on Buffett
Because I just had to jump in. Via Althouse (which is part of my daily reading), I read about Obama penning a blurb for Time magazine for Warren Buffett (via The Hill). Here's a good chunk of what Obama wrote about his new BFF:
"Vast majority of his wealth." What does that mean? I don't understand what that means--clearly over his career he reinvested most of his earnings to build Berkshire Hathaway. He takes a very small income, which is why most of his wealth is capital gains. You know, now that I think about that, he takes a VERY small income (around $100,000) because it is a tax advantage to him. My husband, as you might remember, is self-employed. We have often talked about the balance between income and dividends that he and his partner are paid. Every small business owner knows that this is one way to take a lower tax rate. The fact for us is that DH takes a much larger salary because the IRS usually looks askance at low senior executive/owner pay. It is curious that Warren gets to take such a low salary when it is a certainty that his other senior executives are paid much, much better than this.
Back to "vast majority." What does that mean when most of your wealth is held in the stock of one company? That you still hold? Buffett has pledged about 85% of his wealth to go to the Gates Foundation. Before that it was supposed to go to the Buffett Foundation. It hasn't gone; it is just pledged. It isn't done yet. He said he intends to leave most of his wealth to charity. But he hasn't done it yet. Yes, he gives significant (to me) amounts away. (And he has continued his plan of donating his wealth in pieces.) But if he feels so passionately about our government and its debt, why not help out there?
And then there's "those around the world who are suffering, or sick, or in need of help." Like Planned Parenthood. Or this organization, which makes air suction devices to induce abortions, and are cheap, and are distributed around the world. And of course, the Glide Foundation, supported by Glide Memorial Church, notably a UMC church which removed their cross. Yes. Famously, Glide Memorial was featured in the story of Chris Gardner in "Pursuit of Happyness." So they do a lot of good, but I remember the scene from the worship service in that movie and it seems that Glide has moved away from their evangelism. Clicking around on their website yields no reference at all to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, just a lot of references to "telling our own stories" and "respecting each other's truths." (The Gates Foundation is also a very big supporter of Planned Parenthood.)
Again, if Warren is so concerned about our debt, why not lead the way by contributing directly to the Treasury?
"Press others of great means to do the same." Like, for instance, not pay your taxes?
"Life is not just about the value you seek." Yes, great line. Frankly, it looks to me like Mr. Buffett spent many years seeking the hidden value in companies. He did it very, very well, and made many people, including himself, a lot of money over the years. He had a vision that required marshaling others to achieve it--that means valuable jobs that contribute to GDP. He didn't set out to "create jobs." Instead, he had a bold vision that required many people to execute. Job creation was a side benefit of his vision. Yes, some people also lost their jobs in his relentless pursuit of value. This is part of the creative destruction of capitalism, freeing resources so that they can then be used to their highest-value purpose somewhere else. Painful but ultimately beneficial to everyone.
So I read this and I see into the heart of Obama. The acquisition of filthy lucre is fine as long as you then turn around and contribute to his approved causes. Avoiding taxes to the maximum extent is fine as long as you allow yourself to be used by those on the "right" side of the issues. But building a business, risking capital, having a vision that requires others to execute and therefore employees people in meaningful, productive pursuits is insignificant. HOW you made that wealth is not worth talking about. Being a true believer--or maybe just knowing which side of an issue to be on--is all that matters.
EDITED TO ADD (Five hours later): On reflection, I knew most of this. I knew this about Obama, what he cares about and what he despises. But I think what I didn't know is the heart of Warren Buffett. I had, until recently, thought of him as a nice, rich man from Middle America. I mean, how much more "middle" can you get? A really smart guy who made good, but one of "us." But he isn't. And never was. He and his wife had an odd, nontraditional marriage since 1977, and his current wife was his companion until his wife's death. With her full knowledge. He has been a contributor to Planned Parenthood and other progressive causes for years. While I don't really give a flying leap about his private life, I do feel like he has been presenting this persona to the world for years, when in fact he has been happy to use his wealth to advance an agenda directly harmful to the system under which he succeeded. So, in the end, maybe Obama's little essay was more revealing of old Mr. Buffett than he intended.
Today Warren is not just one of the world's richest men but also one of the most admired and respected. He has devoted the vast majority of his wealth to those around the world who are suffering, or sick, or in need of help. And he uses his stature as a leader to press others of great means to do the same.
The Sage of Omaha has handed down plenty of lessons over the years. Today, at 81, he reminds us that life is not just about the value you seek. It's about the values you stand for.
"Vast majority of his wealth." What does that mean? I don't understand what that means--clearly over his career he reinvested most of his earnings to build Berkshire Hathaway. He takes a very small income, which is why most of his wealth is capital gains. You know, now that I think about that, he takes a VERY small income (around $100,000) because it is a tax advantage to him. My husband, as you might remember, is self-employed. We have often talked about the balance between income and dividends that he and his partner are paid. Every small business owner knows that this is one way to take a lower tax rate. The fact for us is that DH takes a much larger salary because the IRS usually looks askance at low senior executive/owner pay. It is curious that Warren gets to take such a low salary when it is a certainty that his other senior executives are paid much, much better than this.
Back to "vast majority." What does that mean when most of your wealth is held in the stock of one company? That you still hold? Buffett has pledged about 85% of his wealth to go to the Gates Foundation. Before that it was supposed to go to the Buffett Foundation. It hasn't gone; it is just pledged. It isn't done yet. He said he intends to leave most of his wealth to charity. But he hasn't done it yet. Yes, he gives significant (to me) amounts away. (And he has continued his plan of donating his wealth in pieces.) But if he feels so passionately about our government and its debt, why not help out there?
And then there's "those around the world who are suffering, or sick, or in need of help." Like Planned Parenthood. Or this organization, which makes air suction devices to induce abortions, and are cheap, and are distributed around the world. And of course, the Glide Foundation, supported by Glide Memorial Church, notably a UMC church which removed their cross. Yes. Famously, Glide Memorial was featured in the story of Chris Gardner in "Pursuit of Happyness." So they do a lot of good, but I remember the scene from the worship service in that movie and it seems that Glide has moved away from their evangelism. Clicking around on their website yields no reference at all to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, just a lot of references to "telling our own stories" and "respecting each other's truths." (The Gates Foundation is also a very big supporter of Planned Parenthood.)
Again, if Warren is so concerned about our debt, why not lead the way by contributing directly to the Treasury?
"Press others of great means to do the same." Like, for instance, not pay your taxes?
"Life is not just about the value you seek." Yes, great line. Frankly, it looks to me like Mr. Buffett spent many years seeking the hidden value in companies. He did it very, very well, and made many people, including himself, a lot of money over the years. He had a vision that required marshaling others to achieve it--that means valuable jobs that contribute to GDP. He didn't set out to "create jobs." Instead, he had a bold vision that required many people to execute. Job creation was a side benefit of his vision. Yes, some people also lost their jobs in his relentless pursuit of value. This is part of the creative destruction of capitalism, freeing resources so that they can then be used to their highest-value purpose somewhere else. Painful but ultimately beneficial to everyone.
So I read this and I see into the heart of Obama. The acquisition of filthy lucre is fine as long as you then turn around and contribute to his approved causes. Avoiding taxes to the maximum extent is fine as long as you allow yourself to be used by those on the "right" side of the issues. But building a business, risking capital, having a vision that requires others to execute and therefore employees people in meaningful, productive pursuits is insignificant. HOW you made that wealth is not worth talking about. Being a true believer--or maybe just knowing which side of an issue to be on--is all that matters.
EDITED TO ADD (Five hours later): On reflection, I knew most of this. I knew this about Obama, what he cares about and what he despises. But I think what I didn't know is the heart of Warren Buffett. I had, until recently, thought of him as a nice, rich man from Middle America. I mean, how much more "middle" can you get? A really smart guy who made good, but one of "us." But he isn't. And never was. He and his wife had an odd, nontraditional marriage since 1977, and his current wife was his companion until his wife's death. With her full knowledge. He has been a contributor to Planned Parenthood and other progressive causes for years. While I don't really give a flying leap about his private life, I do feel like he has been presenting this persona to the world for years, when in fact he has been happy to use his wealth to advance an agenda directly harmful to the system under which he succeeded. So, in the end, maybe Obama's little essay was more revealing of old Mr. Buffett than he intended.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Week in Review, 4/14/2012 version
This is as good a way as any to jump back in. I'll just post a few quick takes from this week:
I moved my computer and changed my view. If I can get Blogger to cooperate then I'll change my background here, too. Love my view this time of year, with the electric spring-green in the morning and the birds finding new homes.
D started studying Rome. And flowers. Not sure how they are related but we had a good homeschool week. We also made cookies.
The hairdressers in Peachtree City have nothing to fear from me. I tried cutting Bailey's forelock. This is what happened:
P is still mad, even though I tried to fix it. At least it will grow out and we don't have a show soon.
Pilates is killing me while also making me stronger. I wonder which one will win. No, I will not post a picture of me doing Pilates!
We ate at the farm last night--shared hamburgers and hotdogs with Sandra and Terry and some of their family. (That picture has nothing to do with dinner, but is just a fun picture from the last time I drove the tractor.) A good way to end the week for sure. Love love love having the farm to go hang out at.
I hate doing computer work, but I successfully registered the farm domain name and got my email set up. Next is to get Sandra's email going and also a basic website. Then I'll link to it.
M made Junior Beta Club. Yay!
Both boys were asked by a friend to be in his Eagle Scout ceremony. How thoughtful. They are thrilled.
I haven't knit anything in a while. I've been sewing when I can find a minute and I'm starting to do embroidery. I want to sew more but can't find the time. I want to write more but can't find the time. I wish I could buy an extra hour every day.
We are dog sitting my parents' Springer while they are on vacation. I have a couple of thoughts on this: first, Springers are absolutely adorable in groups. Chaz and Katie are ten times cuter together than they are individually. I don't know why. (That's just Chaz on his own. Hopefully I'll get a picture of the pair of them this week.) Second, I am so glad my parents are on vacation! I am glad they have the means and the health to go on such a great trip (to Italy, wow!). And I can't wait to see every single picture and hear about all the wonderful food.
Lots of things to weigh in on, politics- and culture-wise, but I don't want to do that yet. I do think that just because a woman is a stay-at-home mom doesn't mean that she lets her brain atrophy. I know that I have a far, far better feel for consumer prices than my husband, even though he runs a company. On the other hand, I don't think that all moms should stand together, either, just because we're moms. My identity as a mother is just one part of who I am.
Our memory verse for last week was an easy one to remember when the weather is so lovely:
This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
 |
| A Roman hair-do, complete with hairpiece. |
The hairdressers in Peachtree City have nothing to fear from me. I tried cutting Bailey's forelock. This is what happened:
P is still mad, even though I tried to fix it. At least it will grow out and we don't have a show soon.
Pilates is killing me while also making me stronger. I wonder which one will win. No, I will not post a picture of me doing Pilates!
I hate doing computer work, but I successfully registered the farm domain name and got my email set up. Next is to get Sandra's email going and also a basic website. Then I'll link to it.
M made Junior Beta Club. Yay!
Both boys were asked by a friend to be in his Eagle Scout ceremony. How thoughtful. They are thrilled.
I haven't knit anything in a while. I've been sewing when I can find a minute and I'm starting to do embroidery. I want to sew more but can't find the time. I want to write more but can't find the time. I wish I could buy an extra hour every day.
We are dog sitting my parents' Springer while they are on vacation. I have a couple of thoughts on this: first, Springers are absolutely adorable in groups. Chaz and Katie are ten times cuter together than they are individually. I don't know why. (That's just Chaz on his own. Hopefully I'll get a picture of the pair of them this week.) Second, I am so glad my parents are on vacation! I am glad they have the means and the health to go on such a great trip (to Italy, wow!). And I can't wait to see every single picture and hear about all the wonderful food.
Lots of things to weigh in on, politics- and culture-wise, but I don't want to do that yet. I do think that just because a woman is a stay-at-home mom doesn't mean that she lets her brain atrophy. I know that I have a far, far better feel for consumer prices than my husband, even though he runs a company. On the other hand, I don't think that all moms should stand together, either, just because we're moms. My identity as a mother is just one part of who I am.
Our memory verse for last week was an easy one to remember when the weather is so lovely:
This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
Monday, March 26, 2012
Time to Wake Up!
The blog's been sleeping for a while. Life happens, you know? Then my friend Mary asked me to guest-blog for her. In doing so I realized I miss writing and thinking and sharing a little. Anyway, here is the post I wrote for Mary's blog, Homegrown Learners. Mary is a dear friend, and she writes a fantastic blog if you are curious in any way about homeschooling.
Okay, confession time, too. I was invited to join a group blog, and I did write there for a short time. I found it not really to my liking, though, and then Google decided we weren't allowed to mirror posts between blogs, and then things just got complicated...so I quit. But I still have things to say. I suppose I'll start saying them here!
If you are here visiting from Mary's blog, WOW!! Thanks for popping by. You'll see that I haven't posted in a little bit, and I tend to post about whatever is occupying my brain at the time. Please feel free to leave a comment and visit again. I miss my regular blogging and intend to use those blogging muscles again.
Okay, confession time, too. I was invited to join a group blog, and I did write there for a short time. I found it not really to my liking, though, and then Google decided we weren't allowed to mirror posts between blogs, and then things just got complicated...so I quit. But I still have things to say. I suppose I'll start saying them here!
If you are here visiting from Mary's blog, WOW!! Thanks for popping by. You'll see that I haven't posted in a little bit, and I tend to post about whatever is occupying my brain at the time. Please feel free to leave a comment and visit again. I miss my regular blogging and intend to use those blogging muscles again.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Veterans Day Chapel
This year we had some wonderful messages delivered by the servicemen. I thought I'd share a little of what we heard:
- Unity. You can't win a war alone, and you need buddies to get you through the big things and the little ones. And you are always stronger when acting in unison.
- Be a first responder--look for those opportunities. The Coast Guard representative told how proud he was to be among the first to answer the call in emergencies like the Haitian relief and Hurricane Katrina. He gained strength by remembering that he was not only being the hands of the United States, but also the hands for Jesus, when helping people in grave need. He encouraged the kids (and us!) to be first responders for Christ.
- "It's another good day above ground." Ha. We adults laughed, even though the kids didn't really get it. But further: Act consistently and be faithful.
- Be courageous in little things, and you can learn to be courageous in big things, when you are truly needed.
- Finally, from our beloved principal, words from the Bible that our country would do well to take to heart: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)
Note to the upper grades, though: PLEASE do this with the older kids! Don't let their love of country and respect for service evaporate as they get older and "wiser."
*Yes, I am a homeschooler, of one of my kids. The other three attend private school. This chapel is for the elementary kids at the school.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Changing My Perspective
"Do you have to run your miles this week?" This is my husband asking J, our sixth grader, about PE over dinner.
"No, Dad. I don't have to. I get to," J says with a wink. So of course I ask what's up with that.
Turns out, my sons' PE and track coach has a way with words. When the boys at school complain about [insert unpleasant PE-related activity here], he replies, "No guys, you don't have to--you get to!"
J is rolling his eyes while he tells me this, but the truth is that he absolutely adores Coach Ross. So does M. And I can tell you why--this young man sees his students as his mission field. Every day he is excited to see those boys, to help them improve, to watch them grow. Middle school boys. I don't know how he does it, but I am so grateful that he does!
The funny thing is that Coach Ross is right. Try it. The other night I got up from the dinner table. "I have to do the dishes" became "I get to do the dishes." And so I thought about the blessings I have--the food my husband ably provides, a lovely home to enjoy a meal in, my sweet kids gathered around the table. Heck, hot clean water to wash with, and a dishwasher to really get things clean. My life is full and it just took changing one word to see it even more clearly.
"No, Dad. I don't have to. I get to," J says with a wink. So of course I ask what's up with that.
Turns out, my sons' PE and track coach has a way with words. When the boys at school complain about [insert unpleasant PE-related activity here], he replies, "No guys, you don't have to--you get to!"
J is rolling his eyes while he tells me this, but the truth is that he absolutely adores Coach Ross. So does M. And I can tell you why--this young man sees his students as his mission field. Every day he is excited to see those boys, to help them improve, to watch them grow. Middle school boys. I don't know how he does it, but I am so grateful that he does!
The funny thing is that Coach Ross is right. Try it. The other night I got up from the dinner table. "I have to do the dishes" became "I get to do the dishes." And so I thought about the blessings I have--the food my husband ably provides, a lovely home to enjoy a meal in, my sweet kids gathered around the table. Heck, hot clean water to wash with, and a dishwasher to really get things clean. My life is full and it just took changing one word to see it even more clearly.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Google Reader
I am so late to discover many, many neat little tools. Recently I came across Google Reader. Or rather I started using it. I had known about it, but it weirds me out a little to use Google for so many things. Yes, I realize that Blogger is a Google Platform! Anyway, I made the plunge.
Do you use it? The idea is that you make a list of blogs on Reader. Then Google keeps track of them and automatically updates when one of them posts something new. Love that! I am always finding neat blogs that I visit once or twice, and then I forget about them. Now I don't forget.
I'm sure there are other readers out there, but right now Google suits me. Here are some of my favorite I follow on Google Reader:
One of the best parts of this is that some of these are less frequent posters, like me. Now whenever one of them posts I can find out, and don't need to remember to visit the URL. And if you have a good mix on your Reader, then you always have something interesting to read.
You could even--shameless plug here--add my blog to your Reader! Just add my URL, theviewfrom302.blogspot.com, to your subscriptions. And then once in a while you can read something, interesting or not, from me.
Do you use it? The idea is that you make a list of blogs on Reader. Then Google keeps track of them and automatically updates when one of them posts something new. Love that! I am always finding neat blogs that I visit once or twice, and then I forget about them. Now I don't forget.
I'm sure there are other readers out there, but right now Google suits me. Here are some of my favorite I follow on Google Reader:
One of the best parts of this is that some of these are less frequent posters, like me. Now whenever one of them posts I can find out, and don't need to remember to visit the URL. And if you have a good mix on your Reader, then you always have something interesting to read.
You could even--shameless plug here--add my blog to your Reader! Just add my URL, theviewfrom302.blogspot.com, to your subscriptions. And then once in a while you can read something, interesting or not, from me.
Gratitude
I'm not good at consistency with my blog, as you might have noticed. Last year I tried to blog every day in November about what I was grateful for. I made it maybe six days. Not that I'm ungrateful. Just inconsistent.
But the lovely Three Thinking Mothers are only being grateful once a week this month. I can do that. Here goes:
I am grateful that I was given hands to help others and the means to do so. Wednesday evening my boys and I went downtown to serve dinner at a homeless shelter. Their Boy Scout troop takes responsibility for this twice a year, but this was my first time going. Actually, my first time ever working at a shelter. I'll be back. The picture is just a few of the lasagnas I plated that night. I didn't take other pictures, just because I didn't.
Since this is a once-a-week post, let me add: I'm grateful for a wonderful Boy Scout leader who pours his heart into leading these boys, and for the numerous assistant leaders. They provide so many opportunities for the boys to camp and do things I'm not crazy about. We tend not to do those things as a family because the girls and I are, well, girls, and we like warm water and flush toilets. Plus I love knowing the boys are part of a group of really nice young men. Thank you, Danny McCranie!
The innumerable blessings that allow me the luxury of providing food for others, the time and transportation to get there, the home I get to go home to while these men sleep on a mattress in a gym, a life that (so far) has not led me into circumstances where I would need a mattress on a gym floor...grateful. A good way to start the month.
Linking up:
But the lovely Three Thinking Mothers are only being grateful once a week this month. I can do that. Here goes:
I am grateful that I was given hands to help others and the means to do so. Wednesday evening my boys and I went downtown to serve dinner at a homeless shelter. Their Boy Scout troop takes responsibility for this twice a year, but this was my first time going. Actually, my first time ever working at a shelter. I'll be back. The picture is just a few of the lasagnas I plated that night. I didn't take other pictures, just because I didn't.
Since this is a once-a-week post, let me add: I'm grateful for a wonderful Boy Scout leader who pours his heart into leading these boys, and for the numerous assistant leaders. They provide so many opportunities for the boys to camp and do things I'm not crazy about. We tend not to do those things as a family because the girls and I are, well, girls, and we like warm water and flush toilets. Plus I love knowing the boys are part of a group of really nice young men. Thank you, Danny McCranie!
The innumerable blessings that allow me the luxury of providing food for others, the time and transportation to get there, the home I get to go home to while these men sleep on a mattress in a gym, a life that (so far) has not led me into circumstances where I would need a mattress on a gym floor...grateful. A good way to start the month.
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