Love your enemies in case your friends turn out to be a bunch of bastards." -R.A. Dickson
Monday, June 30, 2008
A FANTASTIC quote...
Every day at The Mosy Scrapper, site owner, Christa, puts up a new quote... this one, was PRICELESS! :) LOVE IT!
Love your enemies in case your friends turn out to be a bunch of bastards." -R.A. Dickson
Love your enemies in case your friends turn out to be a bunch of bastards." -R.A. Dickson
Sunday, June 29, 2008
I got scrappy tonight!
Do you see me doing the happy dance? Not only have I picked out the color I'm painting my studio, I also got to go in and SCRAP tonight! :) I'll paint in a week or so or maybe save that for late August when it's too Africa hot to do anything else. I'm ready to go to IKEA and get my storage in place too! We'll see!
Regardless... here is my creation for The Mosy Scrapper (best little scrapping message board on the web) come register, chat, tell 'em I sent ya!
http://themosyscrapper.forumakers.com
The journaling reads: God forbid you ever learn just how cute you really are!
It's from a guest sponsored kit -- www.createmykeepsake.com They're awesome as well and so you should definitely check 'em out!
Regardless... here is my creation for The Mosy Scrapper (best little scrapping message board on the web) come register, chat, tell 'em I sent ya!
http://themosyscrapper.forumakers.com
The journaling reads: God forbid you ever learn just how cute you really are!
It's from a guest sponsored kit -- www.createmykeepsake.com They're awesome as well and so you should definitely check 'em out!
Can you BELIEVE The nerve?
Legislators from Mexican State Angry at Influx of.......MEXICANS
Posted by Kim Priestap
Published: Jan 20, 08 01:39 PM
Can you believe the nerve of these people? Nine state legislators from the Mexican state of Sonora traveled to Tucson to complain about Arizona's new employer crackdown on illegals from Mexico. It seems many Mexican illegals are now returning to their hometowns and the officials in the Sonora state government are ticked:
A delegation of nine state legislators from Sonora was in Tucson on Tuesday to say Arizona's new employer sanctions law will have a devastating effect on the Mexican state. At a news conference, the legislators said Sonora - Arizona's southern neighbor, made up of mostly small towns - cannot handle the demand for housing, jobs and schools it will face as illegal Mexican workers here return to their hometowns
without jobs or money. The law, which took effect Jan.1, punishes employers who knowingly hire individuals who don't have valid legal documents to work in the United States. Penalties include suspension or loss of a business license. They're pissed off because their own citizens are returning to their hometowns, placing a huge burden on their state government. This lady has some serious balls: They want to
tell them how the law will affect Mexican families on both sides of the border 'How can they pass a law like this?' asked Mexican Rep. Leticia Amparano- Gamez, who represents Nogales. 'There is not one person living in Sonora who does not have a friend or relative working in Arizona,' she said in Spanish.
'Mexico is not prepared for this, for the tremendous problems' it will face as more and more Mexicans working in Arizona and sending money to their families return to hometowns in Sonora without jobs, she said. 'We are one family, socially and economically,' she said of the people of Sonora and Arizona.
Wrong. The United States is a sovereign nation and its states and its citizens are not responsible for the welfare of Mexico's citizens. It's time for the Mexican government to stop parasitically feeding off of the United States and start taking care of its own citizens.
Too bad all the states don't pass a law just like it. Maybe that's the answer since congress will not do anything.
Posted by Kim Priestap
Published: Jan 20, 08 01:39 PM
Can you believe the nerve of these people? Nine state legislators from the Mexican state of Sonora traveled to Tucson to complain about Arizona's new employer crackdown on illegals from Mexico. It seems many Mexican illegals are now returning to their hometowns and the officials in the Sonora state government are ticked:
A delegation of nine state legislators from Sonora was in Tucson on Tuesday to say Arizona's new employer sanctions law will have a devastating effect on the Mexican state. At a news conference, the legislators said Sonora - Arizona's southern neighbor, made up of mostly small towns - cannot handle the demand for housing, jobs and schools it will face as illegal Mexican workers here return to their hometowns
without jobs or money. The law, which took effect Jan.1, punishes employers who knowingly hire individuals who don't have valid legal documents to work in the United States. Penalties include suspension or loss of a business license. They're pissed off because their own citizens are returning to their hometowns, placing a huge burden on their state government. This lady has some serious balls: They want to
tell them how the law will affect Mexican families on both sides of the border 'How can they pass a law like this?' asked Mexican Rep. Leticia Amparano- Gamez, who represents Nogales. 'There is not one person living in Sonora who does not have a friend or relative working in Arizona,' she said in Spanish.
'Mexico is not prepared for this, for the tremendous problems' it will face as more and more Mexicans working in Arizona and sending money to their families return to hometowns in Sonora without jobs, she said. 'We are one family, socially and economically,' she said of the people of Sonora and Arizona.
Wrong. The United States is a sovereign nation and its states and its citizens are not responsible for the welfare of Mexico's citizens. It's time for the Mexican government to stop parasitically feeding off of the United States and start taking care of its own citizens.
Too bad all the states don't pass a law just like it. Maybe that's the answer since congress will not do anything.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
He's so sexy...
:) Just wanted to share some of my eye candy with you...
mmmmmmmmmmmm.... i just love him... he's so ... delicious.
:) Ok... you can go back to your lives now.
mmmmmmmmmmmm.... i just love him... he's so ... delicious.
:) Ok... you can go back to your lives now.
I love the comment on the end...
about it being nauseating. My words exactly... check it out
http://www.snopes.com/rumors/noflags.asp
http://www.snopes.com/rumors/noflags.asp
Just spreading the word
so that people continue to inform themselves what this country REALLY needs.
I happened upon this website after having a conversation where someone actually referred to him AS that... I was like?? huh? Was told to pick up my bible and read the passages describing the antichrist...
http://www.barackobamaantichrist.blogspot.com/
Or this article... the first entry "Obama or Die" ??? I mean, I think it's great that the black community has rallied around someone ... I wish the hispanic community and the Asian community ... the elderly, the young, the rich, the poor.. .I wish they would ALL rally around someone not because of their color, but because of what they can do for our country. We've all got blemishes in our past, but look at who have molded these people and what kind of character their mentors had... then pass your judgment... don't just vote for someone because they're a certain color and you want someone of your race to be in the Office.... that's just... well, it's stupid!
When Will the Big Media Investigate Obama's Communist Influences?
By Bill Steigerwald
FrontPageMagazine.com | Monday, June 09, 2008
Two weeks ago Cliff Kincaid, president of the conservative group America’s Survival Inc., called a press conference in Washington to challenge the mainstream media to look into the hard-core left-wingers who are known to have influenced Barack Obama -- first as a teenager in Hawaii and later in Chicago. Specifically, Kincaid’s group wants a major news organization to follow up on the investigative work it has done that documents that an elderly black man who mentored Sen. Obama in Hawaii was a lifelong member of the Communist Party USA. Kincaid also would like to see a serious journalistic vetting of Sen. Obama’s relationship with the left-wing radicals in Chicago -- Bill Ayers and others -- who helped Obama launch his political career. I called Kincaid -- whose challenge to the media has yet to be accepted -- on Wednesday, June 4, at his home in southern Maryland.
Q: Can you briefly sum up what you have discovered about Obama’s ideological influences that you say need to be checked out by Big Media?
A: We think all the major candidates should be examined for their ties to foreign and hostile elements. In the case of Obama, he has gotten a very, very favorable press. The media seem reluctant to dig into his background, even though he is relatively new on the political scene. What we discovered, in two different places -- first in Hawaii, where he went to high school, and in Chicago, where he started his political career -- is that he is right in the middle of communist networks. In Hawaii, he was mentored by a member of the Communist Party by the name of Frank Marshall Davis. In Chicago, his career was launched and he was close friends with a number of communists and socialists.
Q: What specifically did your investigation find out about Davis, who Obama calls only “Frank” in his memoir “Dreams from My Father”?
A: What was very disturbing to us was the fact that Barack Obama had covered up the true identity of this “Frank” who played such a role in his life just before he went off to college (in the late 1970s). There are several references in his book to this “Frank.” We discovered that “Frank” was indeed Frank Marshall Davis, who was a member of a Soviet-sponsored communist network on the island of Hawaii. We think Obama should be asked to explain why he didn’t reveal Frank’s true identity in his book. We looked into this and had confirmed by several sources that Frank was indeed Frank Marshall Davis, and that he had a considerable influence on Obama. But we cannot really get a rational explanation of why Obama would cover up the identity of this Stalinist agent.
Q: How do you know for sure Davis was a member of the Communist Party USA?
A: We have several different sources confirming that Frank Marshall Davis was a Communist Party member. We have congressional hearings and investigations. Plus we have those who have written about Davis, including John Edgar Tidwell, who wrote a whole book -- a sympathetic book -- about Davis but discussed his membership in the Communist Party. Davis of course was asked about this when he was called before a Senate committee, but he took the Fifth Amendment rather than discuss it openly. There’s no question that he was a key member of this Moscow-sponsored communist network in Hawaii.
Q: What was the most subversive or most dangerous-to-America thing Davis ever did?
A: Davis was an unrepentant communist. He stayed with the Communist Party even after the Hitler-Stalin pact. That’s why I refer to him as “a Stalinist agent.” Other prominent black Americans who had gotten into the Communist Party had left it. For example, Langston Hughes and Richard Wright got involved in communist activities but then broke with the Communist Party because it had become an apologist for some horrible crimes not only committed by Stalin but by the Soviet system. Yet Frank Marshall Davis stayed with the party and wrote some infamous poems not only defending the Soviet Union but attacking the United States.
Q: Is there anything to lead you to believe that Davis made a concerted effort to indoctrinate Obama?
A: What we know is that Barack Obama’s grandfather introduced Obama to Frank Marshall Davis because Barack Obama needed someone to look up to. Remember, this was a time when Barack Obama’s black father had abandoned his family. Barack Obama’s grandfather thought that Davis would fulfill the role of male role model and mentor -- and that’s the role that he played.
Q: When Barack Obama got to Chicago he came into contact with '60s radicals William Ayers and his wife, Bernardine Dohrn. What is most worrisome about their possible influence on Obama?
A: It really begins even before Obama gets to Chicago because according to his book, when he goes to college -- first Occidental College and later Columbia University -- he picks among his friends Marxist professors. Obama himself admits this. He also admits attending socialist conferences. That would suggest the influence that Davis had on Obama extended into his college and university years.
Now when he gets to Chicago, we find that once again he gravitates and comes into the company of the most extreme anti-American elements, including socialists and communists. Keep in mind that the Weather Underground terrorists, Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, were communist terrorists. They were not just '60s radicals. These were people who openly supported the communist enemy killing Americans in Vietnam. Some of the members in this group, including Dohrn, had traveled to Havana, Cuba, to get instructions from the communists about how to wage their campaign in the United States.
Q: What was Obama’s relationship with Ayers and Dohrn and how close was it?
A: The big question is whether there is a connection between the communist network in Hawaii that included Frank Marshall Davis and the communist network in Chicago that would also come to include Barack Obama. We know that according to the public evidence that Obama launches his political career in Chicago at the home of Bernardine Dohrn and Bill Ayers. Other people who were there include then-state Sen. Alice Palmer and a Dr. Quentin Young. Those two people are almost as significant as Ayers and Dohrn.
We have two reports that state Sen. Palmer had been involved in a Communist Party front group called the U.S Peace Council and had actually made a trip to the old Soviet Union. Dr. Quentin Young had been accused of involvement and membership in the Communist Party, and he refused to answer as well when he was called before a committee to explain his financial support for radicals who were behind the riots in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention back in 1968. So we have got four controversial people launching Obama’s political career in Chicago who were involved in socialist or communist activities.
Q: You are not making the claim that Obama is a communist or a “Manchurian Candidate”-type communist or anything else?
A: We are only raising the questions that the media will not look into. We think the media should examine both candidates. But in the case of Obama, who has only been a U.S. senator for a few years, there is more of a responsibility to inform the public about where he had come from. Remember, as president, he will be entitled to see all of our state secrets. And yet, as a candidate, he doesn’t have to undergo a background or security check. That’s why we depend on the media really to vet these candidates, so the American people can know who they are voting for.
On the question about Obama being a communist or a Marxist, of course we never came to any conclusions about that or offered any evidence one way or the other; that wasn’t our purpose. But it’s important to note that when Obama did run for the Senate in 2004, his opponent at the time, Alan Keyes, had charged that Obama was a Marxist. Obama dismissed it. He almost laughed it off. But he certainly has in my view the responsibility and obligation to explain these associations and why it is that he lands right in the middle of two different communist networks -- one in Hawaii, where he is growing up, and one in Chicago, where he’s launching his political career.
It could be that this is all a coincidence -- that it’s just accidental that he seems to get right in the middle with associations with these anti-American characters. But then again, maybe it’s not an accident. He has to answer some of these concerns and our media have to begin by subjecting him to the scrutiny that they apply to somebody like McCain and other candidates.
Q: Dana Milbank of The Washington Post covered your press conference and wrote a sarcastic piece that said you were engaging in “guilt by association.” What’s your response to that?
A: You know, I asked G. Gordon Liddy when I did his radio show about some of these issues that we are raising. Liddy of course used to be an FBI agent, and he said the FBI would always examine somebody’s associations when they looked at somebody to determine if they were suitable for federal employment. They would look for contacts with foreign countries, foreign individuals, hostile governments and hostile intelligence services. They would look at the question of whether this individual is really loyal to the United States.
We’re asking some of these questions about Obama, and we will continue to ask them, because people like Milbank -- who may not really be a serious journalist -- clearly are not interested. He had made it clear in previous columns that he is a big Obama supporter and there are many like him in the major media, which made our news briefing even more important. We not only have issued our two reports and put them on our Web site, usasurvival.org, but we will be putting up video of the whole press conference so that people can take a look and make their own conclusions and not have to rely on the media to filter what we said.
Q: If you could get Tim Russert on “Meet the Press” to ask Sen. Obama a question about these early influences, what would it be?
A: I think the big question would be, “Why, Sen. Obama, did you cover up the identity of Frank Marshall Davis in your book?” If this had been an innocent association -- if this had just been some guy that Obama came across and realized, “Well, look, he’s just some kind of crazy communist. And, yeah, I had some meeting with him and he gave me advice on various things. But he didn’t have any impact on me. And I went off to college and it had no lasting effect.” That would be one thing.
But that’s not how Obama handled it. Instead he talks about “Frank” as someone who gave him serious advice, including not to believe in the American way of life and that black people had a right to hate white people. These were things according to Obama that Frank told him. Rather than deal with that kind of advice in his book, and analyze the motivations of Frank and identify him by his full name, Obama covers up his true identity. Why?
I happened upon this website after having a conversation where someone actually referred to him AS that... I was like?? huh? Was told to pick up my bible and read the passages describing the antichrist...
http://www.barackobamaantichrist.blogspot.com/
Or this article... the first entry "Obama or Die" ??? I mean, I think it's great that the black community has rallied around someone ... I wish the hispanic community and the Asian community ... the elderly, the young, the rich, the poor.. .I wish they would ALL rally around someone not because of their color, but because of what they can do for our country. We've all got blemishes in our past, but look at who have molded these people and what kind of character their mentors had... then pass your judgment... don't just vote for someone because they're a certain color and you want someone of your race to be in the Office.... that's just... well, it's stupid!
When Will the Big Media Investigate Obama's Communist Influences?
By Bill Steigerwald
FrontPageMagazine.com | Monday, June 09, 2008
Two weeks ago Cliff Kincaid, president of the conservative group America’s Survival Inc., called a press conference in Washington to challenge the mainstream media to look into the hard-core left-wingers who are known to have influenced Barack Obama -- first as a teenager in Hawaii and later in Chicago. Specifically, Kincaid’s group wants a major news organization to follow up on the investigative work it has done that documents that an elderly black man who mentored Sen. Obama in Hawaii was a lifelong member of the Communist Party USA. Kincaid also would like to see a serious journalistic vetting of Sen. Obama’s relationship with the left-wing radicals in Chicago -- Bill Ayers and others -- who helped Obama launch his political career. I called Kincaid -- whose challenge to the media has yet to be accepted -- on Wednesday, June 4, at his home in southern Maryland.
Q: Can you briefly sum up what you have discovered about Obama’s ideological influences that you say need to be checked out by Big Media?
A: We think all the major candidates should be examined for their ties to foreign and hostile elements. In the case of Obama, he has gotten a very, very favorable press. The media seem reluctant to dig into his background, even though he is relatively new on the political scene. What we discovered, in two different places -- first in Hawaii, where he went to high school, and in Chicago, where he started his political career -- is that he is right in the middle of communist networks. In Hawaii, he was mentored by a member of the Communist Party by the name of Frank Marshall Davis. In Chicago, his career was launched and he was close friends with a number of communists and socialists.
Q: What specifically did your investigation find out about Davis, who Obama calls only “Frank” in his memoir “Dreams from My Father”?
A: What was very disturbing to us was the fact that Barack Obama had covered up the true identity of this “Frank” who played such a role in his life just before he went off to college (in the late 1970s). There are several references in his book to this “Frank.” We discovered that “Frank” was indeed Frank Marshall Davis, who was a member of a Soviet-sponsored communist network on the island of Hawaii. We think Obama should be asked to explain why he didn’t reveal Frank’s true identity in his book. We looked into this and had confirmed by several sources that Frank was indeed Frank Marshall Davis, and that he had a considerable influence on Obama. But we cannot really get a rational explanation of why Obama would cover up the identity of this Stalinist agent.
Q: How do you know for sure Davis was a member of the Communist Party USA?
A: We have several different sources confirming that Frank Marshall Davis was a Communist Party member. We have congressional hearings and investigations. Plus we have those who have written about Davis, including John Edgar Tidwell, who wrote a whole book -- a sympathetic book -- about Davis but discussed his membership in the Communist Party. Davis of course was asked about this when he was called before a Senate committee, but he took the Fifth Amendment rather than discuss it openly. There’s no question that he was a key member of this Moscow-sponsored communist network in Hawaii.
Q: What was the most subversive or most dangerous-to-America thing Davis ever did?
A: Davis was an unrepentant communist. He stayed with the Communist Party even after the Hitler-Stalin pact. That’s why I refer to him as “a Stalinist agent.” Other prominent black Americans who had gotten into the Communist Party had left it. For example, Langston Hughes and Richard Wright got involved in communist activities but then broke with the Communist Party because it had become an apologist for some horrible crimes not only committed by Stalin but by the Soviet system. Yet Frank Marshall Davis stayed with the party and wrote some infamous poems not only defending the Soviet Union but attacking the United States.
Q: Is there anything to lead you to believe that Davis made a concerted effort to indoctrinate Obama?
A: What we know is that Barack Obama’s grandfather introduced Obama to Frank Marshall Davis because Barack Obama needed someone to look up to. Remember, this was a time when Barack Obama’s black father had abandoned his family. Barack Obama’s grandfather thought that Davis would fulfill the role of male role model and mentor -- and that’s the role that he played.
Q: When Barack Obama got to Chicago he came into contact with '60s radicals William Ayers and his wife, Bernardine Dohrn. What is most worrisome about their possible influence on Obama?
A: It really begins even before Obama gets to Chicago because according to his book, when he goes to college -- first Occidental College and later Columbia University -- he picks among his friends Marxist professors. Obama himself admits this. He also admits attending socialist conferences. That would suggest the influence that Davis had on Obama extended into his college and university years.
Now when he gets to Chicago, we find that once again he gravitates and comes into the company of the most extreme anti-American elements, including socialists and communists. Keep in mind that the Weather Underground terrorists, Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, were communist terrorists. They were not just '60s radicals. These were people who openly supported the communist enemy killing Americans in Vietnam. Some of the members in this group, including Dohrn, had traveled to Havana, Cuba, to get instructions from the communists about how to wage their campaign in the United States.
Q: What was Obama’s relationship with Ayers and Dohrn and how close was it?
A: The big question is whether there is a connection between the communist network in Hawaii that included Frank Marshall Davis and the communist network in Chicago that would also come to include Barack Obama. We know that according to the public evidence that Obama launches his political career in Chicago at the home of Bernardine Dohrn and Bill Ayers. Other people who were there include then-state Sen. Alice Palmer and a Dr. Quentin Young. Those two people are almost as significant as Ayers and Dohrn.
We have two reports that state Sen. Palmer had been involved in a Communist Party front group called the U.S Peace Council and had actually made a trip to the old Soviet Union. Dr. Quentin Young had been accused of involvement and membership in the Communist Party, and he refused to answer as well when he was called before a committee to explain his financial support for radicals who were behind the riots in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention back in 1968. So we have got four controversial people launching Obama’s political career in Chicago who were involved in socialist or communist activities.
Q: You are not making the claim that Obama is a communist or a “Manchurian Candidate”-type communist or anything else?
A: We are only raising the questions that the media will not look into. We think the media should examine both candidates. But in the case of Obama, who has only been a U.S. senator for a few years, there is more of a responsibility to inform the public about where he had come from. Remember, as president, he will be entitled to see all of our state secrets. And yet, as a candidate, he doesn’t have to undergo a background or security check. That’s why we depend on the media really to vet these candidates, so the American people can know who they are voting for.
On the question about Obama being a communist or a Marxist, of course we never came to any conclusions about that or offered any evidence one way or the other; that wasn’t our purpose. But it’s important to note that when Obama did run for the Senate in 2004, his opponent at the time, Alan Keyes, had charged that Obama was a Marxist. Obama dismissed it. He almost laughed it off. But he certainly has in my view the responsibility and obligation to explain these associations and why it is that he lands right in the middle of two different communist networks -- one in Hawaii, where he is growing up, and one in Chicago, where he’s launching his political career.
It could be that this is all a coincidence -- that it’s just accidental that he seems to get right in the middle with associations with these anti-American characters. But then again, maybe it’s not an accident. He has to answer some of these concerns and our media have to begin by subjecting him to the scrutiny that they apply to somebody like McCain and other candidates.
Q: Dana Milbank of The Washington Post covered your press conference and wrote a sarcastic piece that said you were engaging in “guilt by association.” What’s your response to that?
A: You know, I asked G. Gordon Liddy when I did his radio show about some of these issues that we are raising. Liddy of course used to be an FBI agent, and he said the FBI would always examine somebody’s associations when they looked at somebody to determine if they were suitable for federal employment. They would look for contacts with foreign countries, foreign individuals, hostile governments and hostile intelligence services. They would look at the question of whether this individual is really loyal to the United States.
We’re asking some of these questions about Obama, and we will continue to ask them, because people like Milbank -- who may not really be a serious journalist -- clearly are not interested. He had made it clear in previous columns that he is a big Obama supporter and there are many like him in the major media, which made our news briefing even more important. We not only have issued our two reports and put them on our Web site, usasurvival.org, but we will be putting up video of the whole press conference so that people can take a look and make their own conclusions and not have to rely on the media to filter what we said.
Q: If you could get Tim Russert on “Meet the Press” to ask Sen. Obama a question about these early influences, what would it be?
A: I think the big question would be, “Why, Sen. Obama, did you cover up the identity of Frank Marshall Davis in your book?” If this had been an innocent association -- if this had just been some guy that Obama came across and realized, “Well, look, he’s just some kind of crazy communist. And, yeah, I had some meeting with him and he gave me advice on various things. But he didn’t have any impact on me. And I went off to college and it had no lasting effect.” That would be one thing.
But that’s not how Obama handled it. Instead he talks about “Frank” as someone who gave him serious advice, including not to believe in the American way of life and that black people had a right to hate white people. These were things according to Obama that Frank told him. Rather than deal with that kind of advice in his book, and analyze the motivations of Frank and identify him by his full name, Obama covers up his true identity. Why?
Thursday, June 26, 2008
The Count
When you hear that... what does it make you think of?
Sesame Street perhaps... one... one peanut butter sandwich....ah ha ha ha (remember him? Ha ha... you did that stupid voice he does just now didn't ya? Ha ha)!
Perhaps the TRUE Count... Dracula... man I love that movie... AWESOME love story (if you can get past the gore, of course...but I love it)
... but no, I'm talking about my little Drew... he's quite The Count.
this is his counting
one
two
bree
boor
bive
six
seben
ate
nine
ten
eleben
twelb
burteen
boorteen
bibteen
.... he skips sixteen and goes straight to
sebenteen
ate teen
nineteen
twenty
.... but it doesn't matter how high he's supposed to count... most all end with twenty. :) I love the lack of "f" and "v" in his enunciation. It's a hoot.
Sesame Street perhaps... one... one peanut butter sandwich....ah ha ha ha (remember him? Ha ha... you did that stupid voice he does just now didn't ya? Ha ha)!
Perhaps the TRUE Count... Dracula... man I love that movie... AWESOME love story (if you can get past the gore, of course...but I love it)
... but no, I'm talking about my little Drew... he's quite The Count.
this is his counting
one
two
bree
boor
bive
six
seben
ate
nine
ten
eleben
twelb
burteen
boorteen
bibteen
.... he skips sixteen and goes straight to
sebenteen
ate teen
nineteen
twenty
.... but it doesn't matter how high he's supposed to count... most all end with twenty. :) I love the lack of "f" and "v" in his enunciation. It's a hoot.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The Lawyer's Party
I love articles that make you think in ways you perhaps never have..
Lawyers Party
This is very interesting! I never thought about it this way. Perhaps this is why so many physicians are conservatives or republicans. (Interestingly, sent to me by an attorney's wife)
The Democrat Party has become the Lawyers' Party. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are lawyers. Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama are lawyers. John Edwards, the other former Democrat candidate for president, is a lawyer, and so is his wife, Elizabeth. Every Democrat nominee since 1984 went to law school (although Gore did not graduate). Every Democrat vice presidential nominee since 1976, except for Lloyd Bentsen, went to law school. Look at the Democrat Party in Congress: the Majority Leader in each house is a lawyer.
The Republican Party is different. President Bush and Vice President Cheney were not lawyers, but businessmen. The leaders of the Republican Revolution were not lawyers. Newt Gingrich was a history professor; Tom Delay was an exterminator; and, Dick Armey was an economist. House Minority Leader Boehner was a plastic manufacturer, not a lawyer. The former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is a heart surgeon.
Who was the last Republican president who was a lawyer? Gerald Ford, who left office 31 years ago and who barely won the Republican nomination as a sitting president, running against Ronald Reagan in 1976. The Republican Party is made up of real people doing real work. The Democrat Party is made up of lawyers. Democrats mock and scorn men who create wealth, like Bush and Cheney, or who heal the sick, like Frist, or who immerse themselves in history, like Gingrich.
The Lawyers' Party sees these sorts of people, who provide goods and services that people want, as the enemies of America. And, so we have seen the procession of official enemies, in the eyes of the Lawyers' Party, grow.
Against whom do Hillary and Obama rail? Pharmaceutical companies, oil companies, hospitals, manufacturers, fast food restaurant chains, large retail businesses, bankers, and anyone producing anything of value in our nation.
This is the natural consequence of viewing everything through the eyes of lawyers. Lawyers solve problems by successfully representing their clients, in this case the American people. Lawyers seek to have new laws passed, they seek to win lawsuits, they press appellate courts to overturn precedent, and lawyers always parse language to favor their side.
Confined to the narrow practice of law, that is fine. But it is an awful way to govern a great nation. When politicians as lawyers begin to view some Americans as clients and other Americans as opposing parties, then the role of the leg al system in our life becomes all-consuming. Some Americans become 'adverse parties' of our very government. We are not all litigants in some vast social class-action suit. We are citizens of a republic that promises us a great deal of freedom from laws, from courts, and from lawyers.
Today, we are drowning in laws; we are contorted by judicial decisions; we are driven to distraction by omnipresent lawyers in all parts of our once private lives. America has a place for laws and lawyers, but that place is modest and reasonable, not vast and unchecked. When the most important decision for our next president is whom he will appoint to the Supreme Court, the role of lawyers and the law in America is too big. When lawyers use criminal prosecution as a continuation of politics by other means, as happened in the lynching of Scooter Libby and Tom Delay, then the power of lawyers in America is too great. When House Democrats sue America in order to hamstring our efforts to learn what our enemies are planning to do to us, then the role of litigation in America has become crushing.
We cannot expect the Lawyers' Party to provide real change, real reform, or real hope in America. Most Americans know that a republic in which every major government action must be blessed by nine unelected judges is not what Washington intended in 1789. Most Americans grasp that we cannot fight a war when ACLU lawsuits snap at the heels of our defenders. Most Americans intuit that more lawyers and judges will not restore declining moral values or spark the spirit of enterprise in our economy.
Perhaps Americans will understand that change cannot be brought to our nation by those lawyers who already largely dictate American society and business. Perhaps Americans will see that hope does not come from the mouths of lawyers but from personal dreams nourished by hard work. Perhaps Americans will embrace the truth that more lawyers with more power will only make our problems worse.
Lawyers Party
This is very interesting! I never thought about it this way. Perhaps this is why so many physicians are conservatives or republicans. (Interestingly, sent to me by an attorney's wife)
The Democrat Party has become the Lawyers' Party. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are lawyers. Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama are lawyers. John Edwards, the other former Democrat candidate for president, is a lawyer, and so is his wife, Elizabeth. Every Democrat nominee since 1984 went to law school (although Gore did not graduate). Every Democrat vice presidential nominee since 1976, except for Lloyd Bentsen, went to law school. Look at the Democrat Party in Congress: the Majority Leader in each house is a lawyer.
The Republican Party is different. President Bush and Vice President Cheney were not lawyers, but businessmen. The leaders of the Republican Revolution were not lawyers. Newt Gingrich was a history professor; Tom Delay was an exterminator; and, Dick Armey was an economist. House Minority Leader Boehner was a plastic manufacturer, not a lawyer. The former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is a heart surgeon.
Who was the last Republican president who was a lawyer? Gerald Ford, who left office 31 years ago and who barely won the Republican nomination as a sitting president, running against Ronald Reagan in 1976. The Republican Party is made up of real people doing real work. The Democrat Party is made up of lawyers. Democrats mock and scorn men who create wealth, like Bush and Cheney, or who heal the sick, like Frist, or who immerse themselves in history, like Gingrich.
The Lawyers' Party sees these sorts of people, who provide goods and services that people want, as the enemies of America. And, so we have seen the procession of official enemies, in the eyes of the Lawyers' Party, grow.
Against whom do Hillary and Obama rail? Pharmaceutical companies, oil companies, hospitals, manufacturers, fast food restaurant chains, large retail businesses, bankers, and anyone producing anything of value in our nation.
This is the natural consequence of viewing everything through the eyes of lawyers. Lawyers solve problems by successfully representing their clients, in this case the American people. Lawyers seek to have new laws passed, they seek to win lawsuits, they press appellate courts to overturn precedent, and lawyers always parse language to favor their side.
Confined to the narrow practice of law, that is fine. But it is an awful way to govern a great nation. When politicians as lawyers begin to view some Americans as clients and other Americans as opposing parties, then the role of the leg al system in our life becomes all-consuming. Some Americans become 'adverse parties' of our very government. We are not all litigants in some vast social class-action suit. We are citizens of a republic that promises us a great deal of freedom from laws, from courts, and from lawyers.
Today, we are drowning in laws; we are contorted by judicial decisions; we are driven to distraction by omnipresent lawyers in all parts of our once private lives. America has a place for laws and lawyers, but that place is modest and reasonable, not vast and unchecked. When the most important decision for our next president is whom he will appoint to the Supreme Court, the role of lawyers and the law in America is too big. When lawyers use criminal prosecution as a continuation of politics by other means, as happened in the lynching of Scooter Libby and Tom Delay, then the power of lawyers in America is too great. When House Democrats sue America in order to hamstring our efforts to learn what our enemies are planning to do to us, then the role of litigation in America has become crushing.
We cannot expect the Lawyers' Party to provide real change, real reform, or real hope in America. Most Americans know that a republic in which every major government action must be blessed by nine unelected judges is not what Washington intended in 1789. Most Americans grasp that we cannot fight a war when ACLU lawsuits snap at the heels of our defenders. Most Americans intuit that more lawyers and judges will not restore declining moral values or spark the spirit of enterprise in our economy.
Perhaps Americans will understand that change cannot be brought to our nation by those lawyers who already largely dictate American society and business. Perhaps Americans will see that hope does not come from the mouths of lawyers but from personal dreams nourished by hard work. Perhaps Americans will embrace the truth that more lawyers with more power will only make our problems worse.
Design Team Call
The best little site on the web for scrapbook chat - The Mosy Scrapper is hosting a call for a guest designer for August.
It's run by a great friend of mine, Christa, and I hope this helps get the word out too. :) I'd love to see some of MY familiar faces there! :) And I don't jut sa that because we just want anyone... I say that because darnit... I know the talent out there (my friends) and want you guys to participate! :) See below for the info!
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"Are you ready to see who the next Guest Design Team member will be for THE MOSY SCRAPPER? It could be you! Just simply send us:
1.) a "new" LO (6x6 or larger) that has never been published or in any gallery or blog you have
2.) Link to your gallery
3.) Link to your blog (if you have one)
4.) Your email address
to mosyscrapper@hotmail.com. All entries must be in by July 13th at midnight ET. International applicants are welcomed. The new GDT will be announced by July 16th via email, TMS blog, and the TMS homepage.
During your GDT reign for August you will receive a jam-packed kit made by TMS for your scrappy creations. In return, TMS asks that you submit only 4 creations (3 layouts and 1 alterable/card). Participation on the message board is a must and posting at least one challenge for the TMS members to help inspire and motivate.
Good Luck!"
It's run by a great friend of mine, Christa, and I hope this helps get the word out too. :) I'd love to see some of MY familiar faces there! :) And I don't jut sa that because we just want anyone... I say that because darnit... I know the talent out there (my friends) and want you guys to participate! :) See below for the info!
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"Are you ready to see who the next Guest Design Team member will be for THE MOSY SCRAPPER? It could be you! Just simply send us:
1.) a "new" LO (6x6 or larger) that has never been published or in any gallery or blog you have
2.) Link to your gallery
3.) Link to your blog (if you have one)
4.) Your email address
to mosyscrapper@hotmail.com. All entries must be in by July 13th at midnight ET. International applicants are welcomed. The new GDT will be announced by July 16th via email, TMS blog, and the TMS homepage.
During your GDT reign for August you will receive a jam-packed kit made by TMS for your scrappy creations. In return, TMS asks that you submit only 4 creations (3 layouts and 1 alterable/card). Participation on the message board is a must and posting at least one challenge for the TMS members to help inspire and motivate.
Good Luck!"
Men Are Happier People
I got this today and honestly, couldn't agree with it more. Enjoy!
MEN ARE JUST HAPPIER PEOPLE
NICKNAMES
If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah.
If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.
EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
MONEY
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.
BATHROOMS
A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel .
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.
ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
FUTURE
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
SUCCESS
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
MARRIAGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.
DRESSING UP
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
NATURAL
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
OFFSPRING
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!
MEN ARE JUST HAPPIER PEOPLE
NICKNAMES
If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah.
If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.
EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
MONEY
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.
BATHROOMS
A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel .
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.
ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
FUTURE
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
SUCCESS
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
MARRIAGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.
DRESSING UP
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
NATURAL
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
OFFSPRING
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!
The Final Supper
We took Josh to meet my mom last night at El Chico for dinner. We always go to supper the night before he leaves. Usually we let HIM pick the spot but I opted for Mexican food and mom suggested El Chico so there ya go.
Drew was his usual loud, not stay in your chair, try to cut soft tortillias with a butter knife for 10 minutes self. Josh was hungry so he filled up on chips before dinner (of course) and I think all the big people probably ate too much! I know I did! UGH...
It was a sad ride home... I was already running on a little "low" becuase of him leaving but considering he'll be gone for 5 weeks... makes all my tanks run a little lower.
This morning I woke up early so that I could try to start my day out right and called mom to see if he was on the plane because it LEAVES at 8:30... it was 7:54 and he was still in line getting his ticket. Needless to say, I'm almost 100% positive his bag won't make it and I'm not so sure he will either but I certainly can hope. The very reason she was to take him to the airport so that they could get there quite early (she's more of a morning person than am I) and so that it would be an easy stress-free departure for him. I think next time I'll do it just to avoid this... Ugh... I called Josh's dad to let him know what all was going on and to let him know that I certainly HOPED his bag made it. I hate that... Grrrr..
Cross your fingers guys that the plane is running late! :) CROSS YOUR TOES... CROSS YOUR EYES...
So, now I've got some work to do... I've got 5 weeks... to calm down... I've been really irritable lately. I need to go burn off a lot of steam I think -- staying home with a 3 year old (no school during summers regardless of what is on my work agenda) is just a freakin test of patience that I'msorry to say ... is about like everyone's gas tank... running way low and at a cost too expensive to fill back up.
Drew was his usual loud, not stay in your chair, try to cut soft tortillias with a butter knife for 10 minutes self. Josh was hungry so he filled up on chips before dinner (of course) and I think all the big people probably ate too much! I know I did! UGH...
It was a sad ride home... I was already running on a little "low" becuase of him leaving but considering he'll be gone for 5 weeks... makes all my tanks run a little lower.
This morning I woke up early so that I could try to start my day out right and called mom to see if he was on the plane because it LEAVES at 8:30... it was 7:54 and he was still in line getting his ticket. Needless to say, I'm almost 100% positive his bag won't make it and I'm not so sure he will either but I certainly can hope. The very reason she was to take him to the airport so that they could get there quite early (she's more of a morning person than am I) and so that it would be an easy stress-free departure for him. I think next time I'll do it just to avoid this... Ugh... I called Josh's dad to let him know what all was going on and to let him know that I certainly HOPED his bag made it. I hate that... Grrrr..
Cross your fingers guys that the plane is running late! :) CROSS YOUR TOES... CROSS YOUR EYES...
So, now I've got some work to do... I've got 5 weeks... to calm down... I've been really irritable lately. I need to go burn off a lot of steam I think -- staying home with a 3 year old (no school during summers regardless of what is on my work agenda) is just a freakin test of patience that I'msorry to say ... is about like everyone's gas tank... running way low and at a cost too expensive to fill back up.
I promise.....
My girlfriend wrote me yesterday asking when I was going to POST rather than put little cute stories and stuff up and I will... I promise. :)
I've just made a small commitment to myself that when I see things worth sharing, rather than fill up everyone's e-mail box all day, I could post some of them here for people to check out! :)
And... here's one now.
A married couple in their early 60s was celebrating their 40th wedding
anniversary in a quiet, romantic little restaurant.
Suddenly, a tiny yet beautiful fairy appeared on their table. She said,
'For being such an exemplary married couple and for being
loving to each other for all this time, I will grant you each a wish.' The
wife answered, 'Oh, I want to travel around the world with my
darling husband. The fairy waved her magic wand and - poof! - two tickets
for the Queen Mary II appeared in her hands.
The husband thought for a moment: 'Well, this is all very romantic, but an
opportunity like this will never come again.
I'm sorry my love, but my wish is to have a wife 30 years younger than me.
The wife, and the fairy, were deeply disappointed, but a wish is a wish.
So the fairy waved her magic wand and poof!...the husband became 92
years old.
The moral of this story: Men who are ungrateful bastards should remember
fairies are female.....
I've just made a small commitment to myself that when I see things worth sharing, rather than fill up everyone's e-mail box all day, I could post some of them here for people to check out! :)
And... here's one now.
A married couple in their early 60s was celebrating their 40th wedding
anniversary in a quiet, romantic little restaurant.
Suddenly, a tiny yet beautiful fairy appeared on their table. She said,
'For being such an exemplary married couple and for being
loving to each other for all this time, I will grant you each a wish.' The
wife answered, 'Oh, I want to travel around the world with my
darling husband. The fairy waved her magic wand and - poof! - two tickets
for the Queen Mary II appeared in her hands.
The husband thought for a moment: 'Well, this is all very romantic, but an
opportunity like this will never come again.
I'm sorry my love, but my wish is to have a wife 30 years younger than me.
The wife, and the fairy, were deeply disappointed, but a wish is a wish.
So the fairy waved her magic wand and poof!...the husband became 92
years old.
The moral of this story: Men who are ungrateful bastards should remember
fairies are female.....
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
When You Thought I Wasn't Looking
WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING
(Written by a former child)
A message every adult should read, because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking , I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to
those who don't.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking."
(Written by a former child)
A message every adult should read, because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking , I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to
those who don't.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking."
10 Reasons to Take Care of a Mother
10 Reasons to Take Good Care of a Mother
by Rick Hanson, Ph.D. and Jan Hanson, L.Ac
It's funny: during my pregnancy, I took really good care of myself plus got a lot of attention and support from my doctor, husband, and relatives. Even strangers would stop me in the market and remind me to get lots of rest. But now, a year after Allie was born, I feel like I've fallen off of everybody's radar. It's like you're expected to do life - go to the job, do housework, drive around, shop, pay bills, get gas, etc. - just like before, as if the infant you're still super responsible for is not a factor at all. But she's a HUGE factor, of course! I think about her all the time, I'm the person who mainly takes care of her when I'm not at work, I still get up at night and don't sleeep that well, and I feel, honestly, more and more run down. And she's just a year old!
Where is this going, and why doesn't anybody seem to notice?!
Wow, you definitely said it there. You're totally right: having a child is absolutely a big deal, and there's no longer the strong network of social support for it - from relatives, friends, and neighbors - that there was in generations past, let alone in the hunter-gatherer groups in which humans evolved. And many fathers have not stepped up to fill the vacuum: the average mother is working away about 20 hours a week more than her partner is, whether or not she's drawing a paycheck. As result, the day-to-day -- minute-to-minute -- activities of caring for a young child usually fall mainly to the mother.
Precious Work
It's precious work, certainly. But like everything in life, it has effects. Over time, everything you pour out, everything you do, adds up. Most mothers report feeling pretty worn out and often frazzled by the end of their baby's first year, and our experience is that actually the deepest slump typically occurs a few years after the baby is born, especially if there's been a second child or another significant stressor (like a move, mom goes back to paid work, or the child has a real challenging temperament).
Inevitable Effects
As a result, studies have shown that having one or more children - especially when there's not much support for her role - increases the chance that a woman will experience physical or mental health problems, including fatigue, depressed mood, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, Type 2 diabetes, nutritional deficits, or autoimmune illnesses. Lack of support also wears on a relationship, breeding resentments, the sense of being let down, no interest in sex, and lots of quarrels. The bottom-line:
many mothers get physically andpsychologically depleted during the early years of parenthood, some to the extent that we have proposed that there can be an actual Depleted Mother Syndrome (DMS).
Impacts on the Family
None of this is good for the mother, to be sure. And it cannot help but spill over onto the children, both in terms of less patience and energy for them as well as the impact on them of problems in their parents' relationship. Plus it naturally affects fathers, too. Researchers have found that fathers who are more involved in the daily life of the family and strong teammates with the mother have better mood, more sense of pride in their competence as a parent, and a closer and more satisfying relationship with their partner. Not bad!
A Crying Shame
Even though the effects of maternal stress and depletion are plainly visible in well-documented research - an affect society as a whole through increased healthcare expenses, lost workforce productivity, and the social costs of divorce - there's been shockingly little attention to the needs of mothers.
You're right: as a mother, you disappeared off the radar of the healthcare system after your final postpartum appointment and whether you had a child became medically irrelevant. At the National Institute of Health or the Centers for Disease Control, there's zero attention to the long-term health and well-being of mothers. Few psychology graduate schools teach anything about how to help women with the unique and chronic stresses of raising a family, or how to help couples with kids be strong teammates while preserving an intimate friendship.
In the culture as a whole, a positive sign is a growing willingness to help with postpartum depression and with the longer-term challenges of bearning and rearing children. Nonetheless, mothers still get routinely told that their weariness, blue mood, and out-of-whack bodies are "just in your head, get over it." There's guilt and shame about not being able to live up to models in the media of the woman who can work full-time, have cute and well-mannered kids, stay trim and fit, and have a shiny clean kitchen sink. With the common lack of support for childrearing at many levels - from fathers, from extended family, and from government policies - many mothers feel torn between giving their children the very best and giving their occupation/career the very best . . . . and few are entirely happy with whatever compromise they end up making.
Adding insult to injury, a lot of this gets internalized within mothers, making them feel weak or guilty about doing "selfish" things for themselves, asking for help, or insisting that others pull their fair share of the weight.
It All Starts with Motivation
It will probably be a long time before much changes at the level of government policies or culture. And in our experience, to be blunt, many fathers do not just wake up one day and see the light on their own.
Consequently, it is usually up to the mother to take a big breath, stand up, and assert why it's right and proper for her to get appropriate attention, support, and care. Those good reasons are motivating for her and for others -- and that's where everything starts in life: with our intentions.
So please take a look at the box for our list of ten good reasons to support mothers. They're all based on solid experience, research, and ethical reasoning. There's no special treatment here: if men were the ones having babies, the same list would apply to them. And feel free to add reasons of your own!
In Conclusion
Mothers get stressed and depleted over time through the accumulation of a thousand little things. Therefore, it is through doing little things each day that are good for you that you accumulate a growing pile of positive resources for your health, well-being, strong teamwork, and lasting love.
Box
10 Reasons to Take Good Care of a Mother These are worth knowing for a mother herself, and for anyone who knows her.
1. She's a person - Every human being deserves a chance to be happy and healthy.
2. Her cupboard was already pretty bare - Before their first pregnancy, most mothers don't consume all the recommended vitamins and minerals. Those shelves need re-stocking.
3. Her body's carried a big load - Taken as a whole, pregnancy, childbirth, nursing, and weaning are the most physically demanding activities most people will ever do. Big outputs require big inputs.
4. She does hard work - Studies show that raising young children is more stressful than most jobs. Any kind of demanding work calls for respite and replenishment.
5. She contributes to others - Mothers get worn out not because they've been eating bon-bons, but because every day, for twenty years or more, they've been making a family for innocent and precious children. Their giving gives them moral standing, a valid claim on society's care.
6. It's good for the children - A mother's well-being affects her children in a thousand ways, shaping the the lifetime course of a human life. The best way to take good care of children is to take good care of mothers.
7. It's good for her partner - A mother is much more able to be even-tempered, affectionate, and loving when her mate is an active co-parent, shares the load fairly, and is just plain nice. It's enlightened self-interest for a mother's partner to take good care of her.
8. It's good for the marriage - Mothers who are well-nurtured and have supportive partners are much more likely to stay happily married than those who do not. Besides the rewards for children and their parents, lasting marriages benefit society in many ways, such as bringing stability to communities, lowering demands on the court system, and fostering respect for family.
9. It helps the economy - Maternal stress and depletion increase the nation's medical costs, and they decrease workforce productivity.
They're public health problems, and addressing them would add hundreds of billions of dollars each year to our economy (with related benefits to tax revenues).
10. It's good for society - A culture that values caring for those who are vulnerable, giving, and engaged in long-term wholesome projects (like raising children) - e.g., mothers - will be generally more humane and infused with positive values. And that's good for everyone.
And a bonus reason: Being compassionate, considerate, and generous with a mother feels good in itself. It's also a deep form of spiritual practice to "love your neighbor as yourself" - even the one sitting with you at the dining room table.
by Rick Hanson, Ph.D. and Jan Hanson, L.Ac
It's funny: during my pregnancy, I took really good care of myself plus got a lot of attention and support from my doctor, husband, and relatives. Even strangers would stop me in the market and remind me to get lots of rest. But now, a year after Allie was born, I feel like I've fallen off of everybody's radar. It's like you're expected to do life - go to the job, do housework, drive around, shop, pay bills, get gas, etc. - just like before, as if the infant you're still super responsible for is not a factor at all. But she's a HUGE factor, of course! I think about her all the time, I'm the person who mainly takes care of her when I'm not at work, I still get up at night and don't sleeep that well, and I feel, honestly, more and more run down. And she's just a year old!
Where is this going, and why doesn't anybody seem to notice?!
Wow, you definitely said it there. You're totally right: having a child is absolutely a big deal, and there's no longer the strong network of social support for it - from relatives, friends, and neighbors - that there was in generations past, let alone in the hunter-gatherer groups in which humans evolved. And many fathers have not stepped up to fill the vacuum: the average mother is working away about 20 hours a week more than her partner is, whether or not she's drawing a paycheck. As result, the day-to-day -- minute-to-minute -- activities of caring for a young child usually fall mainly to the mother.
Precious Work
It's precious work, certainly. But like everything in life, it has effects. Over time, everything you pour out, everything you do, adds up. Most mothers report feeling pretty worn out and often frazzled by the end of their baby's first year, and our experience is that actually the deepest slump typically occurs a few years after the baby is born, especially if there's been a second child or another significant stressor (like a move, mom goes back to paid work, or the child has a real challenging temperament).
Inevitable Effects
As a result, studies have shown that having one or more children - especially when there's not much support for her role - increases the chance that a woman will experience physical or mental health problems, including fatigue, depressed mood, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, Type 2 diabetes, nutritional deficits, or autoimmune illnesses. Lack of support also wears on a relationship, breeding resentments, the sense of being let down, no interest in sex, and lots of quarrels. The bottom-line:
many mothers get physically andpsychologically depleted during the early years of parenthood, some to the extent that we have proposed that there can be an actual Depleted Mother Syndrome (DMS).
Impacts on the Family
None of this is good for the mother, to be sure. And it cannot help but spill over onto the children, both in terms of less patience and energy for them as well as the impact on them of problems in their parents' relationship. Plus it naturally affects fathers, too. Researchers have found that fathers who are more involved in the daily life of the family and strong teammates with the mother have better mood, more sense of pride in their competence as a parent, and a closer and more satisfying relationship with their partner. Not bad!
A Crying Shame
Even though the effects of maternal stress and depletion are plainly visible in well-documented research - an affect society as a whole through increased healthcare expenses, lost workforce productivity, and the social costs of divorce - there's been shockingly little attention to the needs of mothers.
You're right: as a mother, you disappeared off the radar of the healthcare system after your final postpartum appointment and whether you had a child became medically irrelevant. At the National Institute of Health or the Centers for Disease Control, there's zero attention to the long-term health and well-being of mothers. Few psychology graduate schools teach anything about how to help women with the unique and chronic stresses of raising a family, or how to help couples with kids be strong teammates while preserving an intimate friendship.
In the culture as a whole, a positive sign is a growing willingness to help with postpartum depression and with the longer-term challenges of bearning and rearing children. Nonetheless, mothers still get routinely told that their weariness, blue mood, and out-of-whack bodies are "just in your head, get over it." There's guilt and shame about not being able to live up to models in the media of the woman who can work full-time, have cute and well-mannered kids, stay trim and fit, and have a shiny clean kitchen sink. With the common lack of support for childrearing at many levels - from fathers, from extended family, and from government policies - many mothers feel torn between giving their children the very best and giving their occupation/career the very best . . . . and few are entirely happy with whatever compromise they end up making.
Adding insult to injury, a lot of this gets internalized within mothers, making them feel weak or guilty about doing "selfish" things for themselves, asking for help, or insisting that others pull their fair share of the weight.
It All Starts with Motivation
It will probably be a long time before much changes at the level of government policies or culture. And in our experience, to be blunt, many fathers do not just wake up one day and see the light on their own.
Consequently, it is usually up to the mother to take a big breath, stand up, and assert why it's right and proper for her to get appropriate attention, support, and care. Those good reasons are motivating for her and for others -- and that's where everything starts in life: with our intentions.
So please take a look at the box for our list of ten good reasons to support mothers. They're all based on solid experience, research, and ethical reasoning. There's no special treatment here: if men were the ones having babies, the same list would apply to them. And feel free to add reasons of your own!
In Conclusion
Mothers get stressed and depleted over time through the accumulation of a thousand little things. Therefore, it is through doing little things each day that are good for you that you accumulate a growing pile of positive resources for your health, well-being, strong teamwork, and lasting love.
Box
10 Reasons to Take Good Care of a Mother These are worth knowing for a mother herself, and for anyone who knows her.
1. She's a person - Every human being deserves a chance to be happy and healthy.
2. Her cupboard was already pretty bare - Before their first pregnancy, most mothers don't consume all the recommended vitamins and minerals. Those shelves need re-stocking.
3. Her body's carried a big load - Taken as a whole, pregnancy, childbirth, nursing, and weaning are the most physically demanding activities most people will ever do. Big outputs require big inputs.
4. She does hard work - Studies show that raising young children is more stressful than most jobs. Any kind of demanding work calls for respite and replenishment.
5. She contributes to others - Mothers get worn out not because they've been eating bon-bons, but because every day, for twenty years or more, they've been making a family for innocent and precious children. Their giving gives them moral standing, a valid claim on society's care.
6. It's good for the children - A mother's well-being affects her children in a thousand ways, shaping the the lifetime course of a human life. The best way to take good care of children is to take good care of mothers.
7. It's good for her partner - A mother is much more able to be even-tempered, affectionate, and loving when her mate is an active co-parent, shares the load fairly, and is just plain nice. It's enlightened self-interest for a mother's partner to take good care of her.
8. It's good for the marriage - Mothers who are well-nurtured and have supportive partners are much more likely to stay happily married than those who do not. Besides the rewards for children and their parents, lasting marriages benefit society in many ways, such as bringing stability to communities, lowering demands on the court system, and fostering respect for family.
9. It helps the economy - Maternal stress and depletion increase the nation's medical costs, and they decrease workforce productivity.
They're public health problems, and addressing them would add hundreds of billions of dollars each year to our economy (with related benefits to tax revenues).
10. It's good for society - A culture that values caring for those who are vulnerable, giving, and engaged in long-term wholesome projects (like raising children) - e.g., mothers - will be generally more humane and infused with positive values. And that's good for everyone.
And a bonus reason: Being compassionate, considerate, and generous with a mother feels good in itself. It's also a deep form of spiritual practice to "love your neighbor as yourself" - even the one sitting with you at the dining room table.
Cherokee Legend
My mom shared this with me a long time ago... thought you'd like it too.
Cherokee Legend
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone.
He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man! Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm. We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us.
When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.If you liked this story, pass it on. If not, you took off your blindfold before dawn...
JOHN 3:16
Cherokee Legend
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone.
He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man! Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm. We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us.
When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.If you liked this story, pass it on. If not, you took off your blindfold before dawn...
JOHN 3:16
Do You Know Your Neighbor?
www.felonspy.com
there's someone near me that has a conviction for attempted 1st degree murder (seriously like the next street over)... in a neighborhood down the street is a man who was convicted for sexual performance of a child....
I wish we'd bring back public hangings... I truly believe in an eye for the eye... I don't believe that some people deserve justice.. it should be tit for tat..
there's someone near me that has a conviction for attempted 1st degree murder (seriously like the next street over)... in a neighborhood down the street is a man who was convicted for sexual performance of a child....
I wish we'd bring back public hangings... I truly believe in an eye for the eye... I don't believe that some people deserve justice.. it should be tit for tat..
Korean War is NOT Forgotten
Andy's uncle was mentioned in this... just thought it was worthy of bloggage. :)
House to Korean War veterans: You are not forgotten
Today U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist-Texas) lauded passage of legislation to grant a long-overdue national charter to the Korean War Veterans Association; the measure now heads to the President to become law.
“It’s been said that the Korean War is called the Forgotten War. Nowhere is this more evident than the fact that the Korean War Veterans Association has not received a national charter. Giving the veterans of the Korean War a national charter will put them in the same echelon as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. It’s truly a mark of distinction,” said Johnson, a 29-year Air Force veteran who flew 62 combat missions in Korea.
After years of opposition in Congress, in 2007 U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist-.Texas) authored House legislation with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) to grant the Korean War Veterans Association the special recognition. Specifically, the charter will afford the Association the same status as other major organizations and would allow it to participate as part of select committees with other Congressionally-chartered veterans and military groups. A federal charter will also help the Association gain accreditation with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which will enable its members to assist in processing veterans’ claims.
Ed Buckman, a Korean War veteran and Founder of the Sam Johnson Korean War Veterans Association Chapter 270 in North Texas, said, “This is a great day for all Korea service members who have served in Korea in a war that has lasted 58 years and still rages on. I am very proud and pleased that the Korean War Veterans Association has received a national charter. This gives notice that the Korean War is not forgotten.” To learn more about the Sam Johnson Chapter, visit www.kwva270.org.
Congress has long recognized various military and veteran “patriotic” organizations in public law as a means to acknowledge that a group serves the public interest by providing member services and community support. In addition to bestowing special recognition, granting this charter to the Korean War Veterans Association would allow it to expand its mission and further its charitable and benevolent causes.
The Korean War, often overlooked in American history, is anything but forgotten by the nearly 1.2 million American veterans of the Korean War still alive today. During the three-year course of the war, some 5.7 million Americans were called to serve, and by the time the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed in July 1953, more than 36,000 Americans sacrificed their lives, 103,284 were wounded, 7,140 were captured and 664 were missing.
The KWVA is the only fraternal veterans’ organization in the Unites States devoted exclusively to Korean War veterans and the only U.S. member of the International Federation of Korean War Veterans Association. Incorporated in 1985, the 25,000-member charitable association has established a strong record of service and commitment to fellow Korean War veterans, ranging from efforts on behalf of Project Freedom to its successful effort to construct a national Korean War Veterans Memorial on the National Mall.
House to Korean War veterans: You are not forgotten
Today U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist-Texas) lauded passage of legislation to grant a long-overdue national charter to the Korean War Veterans Association; the measure now heads to the President to become law.
“It’s been said that the Korean War is called the Forgotten War. Nowhere is this more evident than the fact that the Korean War Veterans Association has not received a national charter. Giving the veterans of the Korean War a national charter will put them in the same echelon as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. It’s truly a mark of distinction,” said Johnson, a 29-year Air Force veteran who flew 62 combat missions in Korea.
After years of opposition in Congress, in 2007 U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist-.Texas) authored House legislation with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) to grant the Korean War Veterans Association the special recognition. Specifically, the charter will afford the Association the same status as other major organizations and would allow it to participate as part of select committees with other Congressionally-chartered veterans and military groups. A federal charter will also help the Association gain accreditation with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which will enable its members to assist in processing veterans’ claims.
Ed Buckman, a Korean War veteran and Founder of the Sam Johnson Korean War Veterans Association Chapter 270 in North Texas, said, “This is a great day for all Korea service members who have served in Korea in a war that has lasted 58 years and still rages on. I am very proud and pleased that the Korean War Veterans Association has received a national charter. This gives notice that the Korean War is not forgotten.” To learn more about the Sam Johnson Chapter, visit www.kwva270.org.
Congress has long recognized various military and veteran “patriotic” organizations in public law as a means to acknowledge that a group serves the public interest by providing member services and community support. In addition to bestowing special recognition, granting this charter to the Korean War Veterans Association would allow it to expand its mission and further its charitable and benevolent causes.
The Korean War, often overlooked in American history, is anything but forgotten by the nearly 1.2 million American veterans of the Korean War still alive today. During the three-year course of the war, some 5.7 million Americans were called to serve, and by the time the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed in July 1953, more than 36,000 Americans sacrificed their lives, 103,284 were wounded, 7,140 were captured and 664 were missing.
The KWVA is the only fraternal veterans’ organization in the Unites States devoted exclusively to Korean War veterans and the only U.S. member of the International Federation of Korean War Veterans Association. Incorporated in 1985, the 25,000-member charitable association has established a strong record of service and commitment to fellow Korean War veterans, ranging from efforts on behalf of Project Freedom to its successful effort to construct a national Korean War Veterans Memorial on the National Mall.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Too beautiful not to share
Love this story -- had never seen it put to music... but it's so worthy of passing along.
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9ea45513
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9ea45513
:) more P.M.J. (political mumbo jumbo)
but so worth the read...
18 Ways To Be A Good Democrat :
1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.
2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.
3. You have to believe that there was no art before Federal funding.
4. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial but being homosexual is natural.
5. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.
6. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists who have never been outside of San Francisco do.
7. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.
8. You have to believe that Mel Gibson spent $25 million of his own money to make "The Passion of the Christ" for financial gain only.
9. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.
10. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.
11. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Edison, and A.G. Bell.
12. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.
13. You have to believe that Hillary Clinton is normal and is a very nice person.
14. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.
15. You have to believe conservatives telling the truth belong in jail, but a liar and a sex offender belonged in the White House.
16. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag, transvestites, and bestiality should be constitutionally protected, and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.
17. You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast, right wing conspiracy.
18. You have to believe that it's okay to give Federal workers the day off on Christmas Day ..........but it's not okay to say "Merry Christmas."
Ready to vote?
18 Ways To Be A Good Democrat :
1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.
2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.
3. You have to believe that there was no art before Federal funding.
4. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial but being homosexual is natural.
5. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.
6. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists who have never been outside of San Francisco do.
7. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.
8. You have to believe that Mel Gibson spent $25 million of his own money to make "The Passion of the Christ" for financial gain only.
9. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.
10. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.
11. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Edison, and A.G. Bell.
12. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.
13. You have to believe that Hillary Clinton is normal and is a very nice person.
14. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.
15. You have to believe conservatives telling the truth belong in jail, but a liar and a sex offender belonged in the White House.
16. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag, transvestites, and bestiality should be constitutionally protected, and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.
17. You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast, right wing conspiracy.
18. You have to believe that it's okay to give Federal workers the day off on Christmas Day ..........but it's not okay to say "Merry Christmas."
Ready to vote?
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Fun Sites for When You're Bored
Take on 20 questions --
http://www.20q.net/
80's Lyrics Quiz --
http://www.yetanotherdot.com/asp/80s.html
Boomshine --
http://www.k2xl.com/games/boomshine/
Bloxorz
http://www.miniclip.com/games/bloxorz/en/
Map Test
http://www.pibmug.com/files/map_test.swf
Place the states
http://www.games1.org/games/place_states.swf
Have fun wasting time. :)
http://www.20q.net/
80's Lyrics Quiz --
http://www.yetanotherdot.com/asp/80s.html
Boomshine --
http://www.k2xl.com/games/boomshine/
Bloxorz
http://www.miniclip.com/games/bloxorz/en/
Map Test
http://www.pibmug.com/files/map_test.swf
Place the states
http://www.games1.org/games/place_states.swf
Have fun wasting time. :)
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Favorite Things
In MOPS we did a spoof of Oprah's Favorite Things where we'd make a list of 5 things that were our favorites and I had to come up with one thing from that list that I could share with everyone (hard to do without a budget like Oprah's)
I found my paper the other day on the things that I'd listed as my favorite -- would love to share them with ya...
I created a list that was pure sarcasm first... because, well, that's just how I roll. :)
chin hairs
traffic
"that time" of the month
potty training
running late
red lights
gas prices
arrogance (ha ha..)
stepping in gum (freakin did that yesterday!)
cold toilet seats
public restrooms
but then I started with saying how truly silly that was so I said think about these things...
a good fitting pair of jeans that actually make you look as good as they feel on you
pure silence
live music (insert a fun diddy about Rick Springfield or Bon Jovi here)
kids that eat their veggies
aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh... those are pure bliss so I thought hm... how can I come up with a truely tangible list of some sort... and here it is.
1. Escada collection perfume. They don't make it anymore and you have to therefore purchase it for about $100 a bottle off e-bay (bastards!) It's SO worth it though. They come in "collectible" bottles that are limited editions. I just didn't realize that the entire PERFUME was going to be LIMITED! Jerks!
2. Scrapbooking. This just goes without saying if you know me, you know I love all things scrapbooking from collecting the trinkets, paper lines to finding great ways to surprise people with my creations.
3. teaching/leading children. I had a calling all my life to work with children. I pursued teaching in school until after working at an inner city school headlice went around 2 or 3 times in one year and I was just so completely grossed out I was just like... no way. I went into law instead... you're still working with kids that way (ha ha!) Still wanting to work with kids I started teaching Sunday School and then AWANA on Wednesday nights. When I married Andy and moved to Keller and ultimately became pregnant with Drew, he sat on my sciatic (sp?) nerve and I couldn't walk very well so I quit teaching. Took a break for a while and then started leading Josh's cub scout den. :) THat's been so fun! Now I'm Cubmaster. :) WOO HOO
4. Colorado - this is my favorite place to be in all the world. I truly feel like if you need an "ah ha" moment in life to experience God's glory and might... it's in the Rocky Mountains. Go to Roosevelt National Park in Estes Park... hike up to Nymph Lake and just be wow'd. It's just amazing... amazing... amazing.
5. My last favorite thing that I listed that I chose to share with everyone had a little story to go along with it. My grandmother who has since passed was a HUGE fan of Elvis which, in turn, led to my adoration of the hunka hunka burnin love. She introduced me to him and to these.... root beer floats. We'd make these and then go watch Mr. E on the black and white tv... so my 5th favorite thing was rootbeer floats not really because I just lvoe them to pieces but because they remind me of my grandmother... and I like anything that reminds me of her. Sharing those at her kitchen table were some of my most favorite and treasured memories of childhood.
So, that's it... if you had to sum up some of your favorite thigns... what would they be?
I found my paper the other day on the things that I'd listed as my favorite -- would love to share them with ya...
I created a list that was pure sarcasm first... because, well, that's just how I roll. :)
chin hairs
traffic
"that time" of the month
potty training
running late
red lights
gas prices
arrogance (ha ha..)
stepping in gum (freakin did that yesterday!)
cold toilet seats
public restrooms
but then I started with saying how truly silly that was so I said think about these things...
a good fitting pair of jeans that actually make you look as good as they feel on you
pure silence
live music (insert a fun diddy about Rick Springfield or Bon Jovi here)
kids that eat their veggies
aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh... those are pure bliss so I thought hm... how can I come up with a truely tangible list of some sort... and here it is.
1. Escada collection perfume. They don't make it anymore and you have to therefore purchase it for about $100 a bottle off e-bay (bastards!) It's SO worth it though. They come in "collectible" bottles that are limited editions. I just didn't realize that the entire PERFUME was going to be LIMITED! Jerks!
2. Scrapbooking. This just goes without saying if you know me, you know I love all things scrapbooking from collecting the trinkets, paper lines to finding great ways to surprise people with my creations.
3. teaching/leading children. I had a calling all my life to work with children. I pursued teaching in school until after working at an inner city school headlice went around 2 or 3 times in one year and I was just so completely grossed out I was just like... no way. I went into law instead... you're still working with kids that way (ha ha!) Still wanting to work with kids I started teaching Sunday School and then AWANA on Wednesday nights. When I married Andy and moved to Keller and ultimately became pregnant with Drew, he sat on my sciatic (sp?) nerve and I couldn't walk very well so I quit teaching. Took a break for a while and then started leading Josh's cub scout den. :) THat's been so fun! Now I'm Cubmaster. :) WOO HOO
4. Colorado - this is my favorite place to be in all the world. I truly feel like if you need an "ah ha" moment in life to experience God's glory and might... it's in the Rocky Mountains. Go to Roosevelt National Park in Estes Park... hike up to Nymph Lake and just be wow'd. It's just amazing... amazing... amazing.
5. My last favorite thing that I listed that I chose to share with everyone had a little story to go along with it. My grandmother who has since passed was a HUGE fan of Elvis which, in turn, led to my adoration of the hunka hunka burnin love. She introduced me to him and to these.... root beer floats. We'd make these and then go watch Mr. E on the black and white tv... so my 5th favorite thing was rootbeer floats not really because I just lvoe them to pieces but because they remind me of my grandmother... and I like anything that reminds me of her. Sharing those at her kitchen table were some of my most favorite and treasured memories of childhood.
So, that's it... if you had to sum up some of your favorite thigns... what would they be?
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Unexperienced Pilot
Again, another forward (which is why it's in all caps -- b/c I don't do that but the parallel with the pilot / our country... good one so I had to share)
DO I HAVE THIS STRAIGHT?
HIS FATHER WAS A BLACK AFRICAN MUSLIM FROM KENYA.
WE HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF HIS AFRICAN FAMILY.
HIS MOTHER WAS A WHITE AMERICAN ATHEIST FROM KANSAS.
WHERE ARE THE PICTURES OF HIS AMERICAN FAMILY?
HIS FATHER DESERTED HIS MOTHER WHEN HE WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND WENT BACK TO AFRICA BY WAY OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY. HOW? WAS HIS FATHER WEALTHY?
HIS MOTHER MARRIED AN INDONESIAN MUSLIM AND THEN MOVED TO JAKARTA WHERE HE WAS ENROLLED IN A MUSLIM SCHOOL.
WHEN HE REACHED HIGH SCHOOL AGE HIS MOTHER SENT HIM TO HAWAII TO BE WITH HIS WHITE GRANDPARENTS AND HE WAS PUT INTO AN EXPENSIVE PRIVATE SCHOOL.
HE LATER WENT TO HARVARD UNIVERSITY. HOW? WERE HIS GRANDPARENTS RICH?
HE LIVES IN A $1.4 MILLION HOUSE OBTAINED THROUGH A DEAL WITH A WEALTHY FUNDRAISER. HOW?
HE 'WORKED' AS A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST IN CHICAGO. HE HAS NEVER HELD A PRODUCTIVE JOB OR RECEIVED A PAY CHECK THAT WAS NOT GOVERNMENT-FUNDED AND/OR TAYPAYER SUPPORTED.
THE PRESIDENCY IS NOT A CIVIL RIGHTS POSITION, NOR IS IT SUBJECT TO
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SET ASIDES; ON-THE-JOB TRAINING WON'T CUT IT.
HE ENTERED POLITICS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THEN THE NATIONAL LEVEL WHERE HE HAS MINIMAL EXPERIENCE.
HE IS PROUD OF HIS 'AFRICAN HERITAGE' (A FATHER WHO GOT A WHITE GIRL PREGNANT AND DESERTED HER).
WHERE IS THE PRIDE IN HIS 'WHITE HERITAGE'? (A MOTHER WHO FLAUNTED CONVENTION AND DID NOT BELIEVE IN GOD).
SOME MIGHT THINK THERE WAS NOT MUCH TO BE PROUD OF EITHER WAY.
HE BELONGS, AND HAS BELONGED FOR OVER 20 YEARS, TO AN 'AFRO-CENTRIC' CHURCH IN CHICAGO THAT HATES WHITES, HATES JEWS, AND BLAMES AMERICA FOR ALL THE WORLD'S PERCEIVED FAULTS. (INCLUDING CREATING THE AIDs VIRUS IN ORDER TO INFLICT IT ON AFRICANS).
HE REPEATEDLY WHITEWASHES THE PASTOR, HIS CHURCH AND THE MEMBERS WHO CHEERED AFTER HEARING VITRIOLIC TIRADES AGAINST AMERICA.
HE COULD NOT CONFRONT HIS PASTOR BUT HE WANTS US TO BELIEVE HE CAN CONFRONT NORTH KOREA AND IRAN ?
YEAH RIGHT ! !
DURING HIS VERY BRIEF TIME IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE HE HAS MANAGED TO AMASS THE NUMBER ONE ULTRA LIBERAL VOTING RECORD OUT OF THE ONE HUNDRED MEMBERS.
HE HAS VOTED CONSISTENTLY FOR BIGGER GOVERNMENT AND HIGHER TAXES. HE HAS VOTED FOR BIG ENTITLEMENTS AND LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SEVERELY CURTAIL AMERICA'S ABILITY TO FIGHT TERRORISM AND TO PROTECT OUR BORDERS AND OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS AROUND THE WORLD.
BUT, HE IS A GOOD ORATOR. ISN'T THAT A COMFORT?
YEAH, I THINK I SEE HOW WELL HE COULD UNITE THE COUNTRY.
I THINK THE TRUTH IS THAT HE HOPES NO ONE WILL PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR NEW CHIEF PILOT. HE HAS NEVER FLOWN AN AIRPLANE, IN FACT HE HAS NEVER EVEN SAT IN THE COCKPIT, BUT HE SAYS HE HAS RIDDEN ON PLANES BEFORE. WE ARE SURE HE WILL GUIDE US SAFELY THROUGH THE STORMS WE MAY ENCOUNTER ON THIS FLIGHT.
PEOPLE WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? HAVE YOU NEVER HEARD THE STORY ABOUT THE WOLF HIDING IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING SO HE CAN DESTROY THEM FROM WITH-IN ?
THE HAND WRITING IS ON THE WALL, DO YOU NOT HAVE EYES TO SEE IT ?
THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE YOU VOTE FOR THIS GUY! CONSIDER YOUR KIDS & GRANDKIDS
THEIR FUTURE IS IN OUR VOTING HANDS.
DO I HAVE THIS STRAIGHT?
HIS FATHER WAS A BLACK AFRICAN MUSLIM FROM KENYA.
WE HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF HIS AFRICAN FAMILY.
HIS MOTHER WAS A WHITE AMERICAN ATHEIST FROM KANSAS.
WHERE ARE THE PICTURES OF HIS AMERICAN FAMILY?
HIS FATHER DESERTED HIS MOTHER WHEN HE WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD AND WENT BACK TO AFRICA BY WAY OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY. HOW? WAS HIS FATHER WEALTHY?
HIS MOTHER MARRIED AN INDONESIAN MUSLIM AND THEN MOVED TO JAKARTA WHERE HE WAS ENROLLED IN A MUSLIM SCHOOL.
WHEN HE REACHED HIGH SCHOOL AGE HIS MOTHER SENT HIM TO HAWAII TO BE WITH HIS WHITE GRANDPARENTS AND HE WAS PUT INTO AN EXPENSIVE PRIVATE SCHOOL.
HE LATER WENT TO HARVARD UNIVERSITY. HOW? WERE HIS GRANDPARENTS RICH?
HE LIVES IN A $1.4 MILLION HOUSE OBTAINED THROUGH A DEAL WITH A WEALTHY FUNDRAISER. HOW?
HE 'WORKED' AS A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST IN CHICAGO. HE HAS NEVER HELD A PRODUCTIVE JOB OR RECEIVED A PAY CHECK THAT WAS NOT GOVERNMENT-FUNDED AND/OR TAYPAYER SUPPORTED.
THE PRESIDENCY IS NOT A CIVIL RIGHTS POSITION, NOR IS IT SUBJECT TO
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SET ASIDES; ON-THE-JOB TRAINING WON'T CUT IT.
HE ENTERED POLITICS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THEN THE NATIONAL LEVEL WHERE HE HAS MINIMAL EXPERIENCE.
HE IS PROUD OF HIS 'AFRICAN HERITAGE' (A FATHER WHO GOT A WHITE GIRL PREGNANT AND DESERTED HER).
WHERE IS THE PRIDE IN HIS 'WHITE HERITAGE'? (A MOTHER WHO FLAUNTED CONVENTION AND DID NOT BELIEVE IN GOD).
SOME MIGHT THINK THERE WAS NOT MUCH TO BE PROUD OF EITHER WAY.
HE BELONGS, AND HAS BELONGED FOR OVER 20 YEARS, TO AN 'AFRO-CENTRIC' CHURCH IN CHICAGO THAT HATES WHITES, HATES JEWS, AND BLAMES AMERICA FOR ALL THE WORLD'S PERCEIVED FAULTS. (INCLUDING CREATING THE AIDs VIRUS IN ORDER TO INFLICT IT ON AFRICANS).
HE REPEATEDLY WHITEWASHES THE PASTOR, HIS CHURCH AND THE MEMBERS WHO CHEERED AFTER HEARING VITRIOLIC TIRADES AGAINST AMERICA.
HE COULD NOT CONFRONT HIS PASTOR BUT HE WANTS US TO BELIEVE HE CAN CONFRONT NORTH KOREA AND IRAN ?
YEAH RIGHT ! !
DURING HIS VERY BRIEF TIME IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE HE HAS MANAGED TO AMASS THE NUMBER ONE ULTRA LIBERAL VOTING RECORD OUT OF THE ONE HUNDRED MEMBERS.
HE HAS VOTED CONSISTENTLY FOR BIGGER GOVERNMENT AND HIGHER TAXES. HE HAS VOTED FOR BIG ENTITLEMENTS AND LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SEVERELY CURTAIL AMERICA'S ABILITY TO FIGHT TERRORISM AND TO PROTECT OUR BORDERS AND OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS AROUND THE WORLD.
BUT, HE IS A GOOD ORATOR. ISN'T THAT A COMFORT?
YEAH, I THINK I SEE HOW WELL HE COULD UNITE THE COUNTRY.
I THINK THE TRUTH IS THAT HE HOPES NO ONE WILL PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR NEW CHIEF PILOT. HE HAS NEVER FLOWN AN AIRPLANE, IN FACT HE HAS NEVER EVEN SAT IN THE COCKPIT, BUT HE SAYS HE HAS RIDDEN ON PLANES BEFORE. WE ARE SURE HE WILL GUIDE US SAFELY THROUGH THE STORMS WE MAY ENCOUNTER ON THIS FLIGHT.
PEOPLE WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? HAVE YOU NEVER HEARD THE STORY ABOUT THE WOLF HIDING IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING SO HE CAN DESTROY THEM FROM WITH-IN ?
THE HAND WRITING IS ON THE WALL, DO YOU NOT HAVE EYES TO SEE IT ?
THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE YOU VOTE FOR THIS GUY! CONSIDER YOUR KIDS & GRANDKIDS
THEIR FUTURE IS IN OUR VOTING HANDS.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Good one.
My mom sent me this... I liked it.
I remember the time that Catherine, one of my daughter friends when she was little, told me that she wanted to be President one day.
Both of her parents are liberal Democrats and were standing there with us, and I asked Catherine, "If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?"
Catherine replied, "I would give houses to all the homeless people."
"Wow, what a worthy goal you have there, Catherine." I told her, "You don't have to wait until you are President to do that; you can come over to my house and clean up all the dog poop in the back yard and I will pay you $5. Then we can go over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $5 to use for a new house."
Catherine, who was about 4, thought that over for a second, while her mom looked at me, and Catherine replied, "Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and clean up the dog poop and you can pay him the $5?"
"Welcome to the Republican Party, Catherine!"
I remember the time that Catherine, one of my daughter friends when she was little, told me that she wanted to be President one day.
Both of her parents are liberal Democrats and were standing there with us, and I asked Catherine, "If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?"
Catherine replied, "I would give houses to all the homeless people."
"Wow, what a worthy goal you have there, Catherine." I told her, "You don't have to wait until you are President to do that; you can come over to my house and clean up all the dog poop in the back yard and I will pay you $5. Then we can go over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $5 to use for a new house."
Catherine, who was about 4, thought that over for a second, while her mom looked at me, and Catherine replied, "Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and clean up the dog poop and you can pay him the $5?"
"Welcome to the Republican Party, Catherine!"
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Favorite Movies
I'm eventually going to get to this page in my Book of Me that I'm creating so I thought to myself, "Hey self, you need to keep an ongoing list somewhere of your favorites." So tonight, I'm starting with my favorite movies.
I've been exchanging e-mails with a friend of mine in Colorado Springs... and thought, why not... and I'd love to know what some of yours are too! :)
These are some of my favorite movies in no particular order.
Open Range
American Beauty
Seven
So I Married An Axe Murderer (LOVE this movie)
The Princess Bride (as you wish)
Gladiator (there was no woman that didn't want to shag R.C. after that!)
Saving Private Ryan
American History X
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Braveheart
Something's Gotta Give (Jack is BRILLIANT in THIS too!)
Along Came Polly
Liar, Liar
As Good As It Gets (Jack is BRILLIANT in this)
Billy Madison
Rush Hour (I love Chris Tucker..."do you understand the words coming outta my mouf?)
The Waterboy
Never Been Kissed (this is just such a sweet movie)
Dances with Wolves
50 First Dates
House Sitter - (Steve Martin is genius with Goldie)
Grumpy Old Men (I love the paring of those two together)
Happy Gilmore
Dangerous Liasions (LOVE this movie! LOVE LOVE LOVE it)
Toombstone
The Wedding Singer (this is the best sound track -- love his quote - get out of my Van Halen t-shirt before you jinx the band and they break up)
Army of Darkness (it's just stupid, cultish, and hilarious!)
While You Were Sleeping
French Kiss
The Rock (Nick Cage is awesome in this - I can quote so much of it I'd probably be annoying to watch it with!)
Hamlet (the Mel Gibson version)
True Lies (there's no woman that didnt want Jamie's body in that strip scene!)
Nine and a Half Weeks (too sexy!)
The Sound of Music
Maverick (yes, I do like Westerns...)
Pretty In Pink
The Breakfast Club
The Indiana Jones Trilogy
Goodfellas (who doesn't love a good gangster movie)
Palmetto (very sexy)
Jerry Maguire (even though he's a freak)
The Matrix
My Cousin Vinny ("Yeah, you blend" LOVE Marissa Tomei in this)
The Notebook
Clueless (because, like, you know, oh my god)
When Harry Met Sally
Back to the Future (I love the trilogy... it's just fun to watch - corny but fun)
Dumb & Dumber
Dirty Dancing (of course) ha ha.. nobody puts baby in a corner!
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Groundhog Day (this movie used to drive me nuts but I love it now)
Lethal Weapon (who doesn't like that movie?)
I love the James Bond movies as well... Pierce is sexy!
Mississippi Burning
Spies Like Us (Chevy Chase was a whole other genre of comedy)
Die Hard (Yippie Kai Yea... M.F.)
Little Women
And the creepy ones even....
Alien was fantastic
And the old classics....
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Gone with the Wind
Wizard of Oz
And hey, I've got kids and I really DO love their movies too!
I love...
The Incredibles
Finding Nemo
The Polar Express
Mary Poppins
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Night at the Museum
Toy Story I and II
The Secret of Nimh
Shrek
Monsters, Inc.
I've been exchanging e-mails with a friend of mine in Colorado Springs... and thought, why not... and I'd love to know what some of yours are too! :)
These are some of my favorite movies in no particular order.
Open Range
American Beauty
Seven
So I Married An Axe Murderer (LOVE this movie)
The Princess Bride (as you wish)
Gladiator (there was no woman that didn't want to shag R.C. after that!)
Saving Private Ryan
American History X
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Braveheart
Something's Gotta Give (Jack is BRILLIANT in THIS too!)
Along Came Polly
Liar, Liar
As Good As It Gets (Jack is BRILLIANT in this)
Billy Madison
Rush Hour (I love Chris Tucker..."do you understand the words coming outta my mouf?)
The Waterboy
Never Been Kissed (this is just such a sweet movie)
Dances with Wolves
50 First Dates
House Sitter - (Steve Martin is genius with Goldie)
Grumpy Old Men (I love the paring of those two together)
Happy Gilmore
Dangerous Liasions (LOVE this movie! LOVE LOVE LOVE it)
Toombstone
The Wedding Singer (this is the best sound track -- love his quote - get out of my Van Halen t-shirt before you jinx the band and they break up)
Army of Darkness (it's just stupid, cultish, and hilarious!)
While You Were Sleeping
French Kiss
The Rock (Nick Cage is awesome in this - I can quote so much of it I'd probably be annoying to watch it with!)
Hamlet (the Mel Gibson version)
True Lies (there's no woman that didnt want Jamie's body in that strip scene!)
Nine and a Half Weeks (too sexy!)
The Sound of Music
Maverick (yes, I do like Westerns...)
Pretty In Pink
The Breakfast Club
The Indiana Jones Trilogy
Goodfellas (who doesn't love a good gangster movie)
Palmetto (very sexy)
Jerry Maguire (even though he's a freak)
The Matrix
My Cousin Vinny ("Yeah, you blend" LOVE Marissa Tomei in this)
The Notebook
Clueless (because, like, you know, oh my god)
When Harry Met Sally
Back to the Future (I love the trilogy... it's just fun to watch - corny but fun)
Dumb & Dumber
Dirty Dancing (of course) ha ha.. nobody puts baby in a corner!
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Groundhog Day (this movie used to drive me nuts but I love it now)
Lethal Weapon (who doesn't like that movie?)
I love the James Bond movies as well... Pierce is sexy!
Mississippi Burning
Spies Like Us (Chevy Chase was a whole other genre of comedy)
Die Hard (Yippie Kai Yea... M.F.)
Little Women
And the creepy ones even....
Alien was fantastic
And the old classics....
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Gone with the Wind
Wizard of Oz
And hey, I've got kids and I really DO love their movies too!
I love...
The Incredibles
Finding Nemo
The Polar Express
Mary Poppins
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Night at the Museum
Toy Story I and II
The Secret of Nimh
Shrek
Monsters, Inc.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Hell week
Ha ha.. ok, so it wasn't THAT bad but I spent every day this week with a group of 7-9 year olds from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the BEEE-YOU-TEE FUL chilly Texas weather. It was known as Pirate's Cove Cub Scout Day Camp. And, by chance, do you just feel the sarcasm oozing off those words? Ha ha.... it was a tad warm.
The days started off with a short opening ceremony inclusive of a flag service, announcements and on one day, a moment of silence for those boys that lost their lives at the BSA camp in Iowa where the tornado struck.
This is John Woods doing his opening ceremony:
The purpose of the camp is to allow boys in each Pack to work together on some belt loops, craft projects, sing some songs, shoot some guns, tie some knots, create some codes, become better friends, and have a great time. For the most part, I feel like that was accomplished.
see?
They break the boys from our Pack into two groups (dens). One was all the Webelos scouts (4th and 5th grades) and the other den were all the tigers, wolves and bears. We had a total of 24 scouts registered from our Pack. Each Den was supposed to have a flag — I made two identical flags for our Pack that looked like this. Pretty cool huh for a 12 -1am attempt at greatness!
This is one of the ways to show you have Cub Scout spirit. Another way to show your Scouting Spirit is to sing songs or scream chants to the camp directors as they walk around the campgrounds while the stations were in session. They have (for lack of a better term) mardi gras beads to pass out to each den to put on their den flags.
Here's me and my boys learning a couple of new songs.
I’m pleased to announce that even with an entire group of unseasoned scouts that were completely new to the Cub Scout Day Camp experience -- MY Cub Den came in SECOND to all dens at Day Camp for having the most spirit with a total of 72 beads won! This was just ten shy of the winner… we’ll get ‘em next year. The winner of the Cub Scout Spirit award got to give the directors a whipped cream facial on the last day.
Any-who, the day got started with the opening ceremony and then we did 4 stations, broke for lunch, 4 stations and a closing ceremony/announcement and then depart. By the end of the 2nd station after lunch, my boys were plumb tuckered out! Here's one of the stations where we had some drama...
It's crazy that these boys did FINE when they were alone but add a parent to the mix and boy does it break out the drama. I have a couple that seem to get along away from their parents... But unfortunately, I just think it's part parental discord so there's really no pleasing anyone and I'm unfortunately stuck in the middle. I hate to lose either of them because one has such a great time in scouts and the other really needs it but I just have to trust that they'll make the right decisions for their sons when it comes to scouting because I will always protect the boys. IT's just disheartening though... for me, as a friend to the moms, my son as a friend to their son, for me as a den leader and as cubmaster... it's a very hard position to be in but I'm just going to have to play Switzerland and let them work it out.
Learning how to make bamboo fishing poles...
Us at another station -- look at Josh's face -- little freak!
Making catapults
Monday and Tuesday’s weather turned out to be the best of the week with overcast skies and minimal heat issues… the end of the week was a typical Texas summer day! We kept them cool drinking lots of water (the Boy Scouts Camp Staff did a fantastic job keeping all the coolers full and ice cold! Hats off to them!)
I had some great parents with me during the week too (all parents were supposed to volunteer at least one day). Tami Healy was there all week with her son Joshua (a new tiger to our Pack). Her two boys are just adorable! And, she and I have several GREAT people that are friends of ours in common. Crazy that we'd never met. She is just a sweet, down to earth, fun mother of boys! One of my scouts' mom was there Monday, Wednesday and Friday and I just love this woman. She's fun, energetic with such a fantastic attitude. We had some other parents there other days and it was really great to get to see them outside the den or pack meeting experience.
The last day, Friday, was probably the best one for everyone… not only did it mean less time in the heat but we also got have a field day…
And yes, even the grownups got in on the sack race (not me, they didn't tell me to wear a sports bra!)
But the best event before the grand finale would absolutely have to be the water canon fight (water balls)
AND of course, there was that little old thing of having a HELICOPTER land in Bear Creek Park.
The Scout staff helped load up the Egg Drop Contest entries and John Woods (who has a fear of heights) hovered above the field at 50′ dropping the egg containers.
There were quite a few from 317 (and other packs) that had survivors… Josh's survived too.
This was ALSO the day for the Spirit Award winners to deliver their pies. Pack 418 was the winner of the Cub Den Spirit Award but when they were doing calculations of beads and den flags, neither of theirs was present. However, we knew the right thing to do was let them win - sight unseen. For being trustworthy, they allowed the our cubs to partake of the pie festivities and this is a photos from that fun.
My dogs were barking by the end of the week and I had no idea HOW I was going to muster the energy for the female festivities tonight.... I'll keep you posted!
The days started off with a short opening ceremony inclusive of a flag service, announcements and on one day, a moment of silence for those boys that lost their lives at the BSA camp in Iowa where the tornado struck.
This is John Woods doing his opening ceremony:
The purpose of the camp is to allow boys in each Pack to work together on some belt loops, craft projects, sing some songs, shoot some guns, tie some knots, create some codes, become better friends, and have a great time. For the most part, I feel like that was accomplished.
see?
They break the boys from our Pack into two groups (dens). One was all the Webelos scouts (4th and 5th grades) and the other den were all the tigers, wolves and bears. We had a total of 24 scouts registered from our Pack. Each Den was supposed to have a flag — I made two identical flags for our Pack that looked like this. Pretty cool huh for a 12 -1am attempt at greatness!
This is one of the ways to show you have Cub Scout spirit. Another way to show your Scouting Spirit is to sing songs or scream chants to the camp directors as they walk around the campgrounds while the stations were in session. They have (for lack of a better term) mardi gras beads to pass out to each den to put on their den flags.
Here's me and my boys learning a couple of new songs.
I’m pleased to announce that even with an entire group of unseasoned scouts that were completely new to the Cub Scout Day Camp experience -- MY Cub Den came in SECOND to all dens at Day Camp for having the most spirit with a total of 72 beads won! This was just ten shy of the winner… we’ll get ‘em next year. The winner of the Cub Scout Spirit award got to give the directors a whipped cream facial on the last day.
Any-who, the day got started with the opening ceremony and then we did 4 stations, broke for lunch, 4 stations and a closing ceremony/announcement and then depart. By the end of the 2nd station after lunch, my boys were plumb tuckered out! Here's one of the stations where we had some drama...
It's crazy that these boys did FINE when they were alone but add a parent to the mix and boy does it break out the drama. I have a couple that seem to get along away from their parents... But unfortunately, I just think it's part parental discord so there's really no pleasing anyone and I'm unfortunately stuck in the middle. I hate to lose either of them because one has such a great time in scouts and the other really needs it but I just have to trust that they'll make the right decisions for their sons when it comes to scouting because I will always protect the boys. IT's just disheartening though... for me, as a friend to the moms, my son as a friend to their son, for me as a den leader and as cubmaster... it's a very hard position to be in but I'm just going to have to play Switzerland and let them work it out.
Learning how to make bamboo fishing poles...
Us at another station -- look at Josh's face -- little freak!
Making catapults
Monday and Tuesday’s weather turned out to be the best of the week with overcast skies and minimal heat issues… the end of the week was a typical Texas summer day! We kept them cool drinking lots of water (the Boy Scouts Camp Staff did a fantastic job keeping all the coolers full and ice cold! Hats off to them!)
I had some great parents with me during the week too (all parents were supposed to volunteer at least one day). Tami Healy was there all week with her son Joshua (a new tiger to our Pack). Her two boys are just adorable! And, she and I have several GREAT people that are friends of ours in common. Crazy that we'd never met. She is just a sweet, down to earth, fun mother of boys! One of my scouts' mom was there Monday, Wednesday and Friday and I just love this woman. She's fun, energetic with such a fantastic attitude. We had some other parents there other days and it was really great to get to see them outside the den or pack meeting experience.
The last day, Friday, was probably the best one for everyone… not only did it mean less time in the heat but we also got have a field day…
And yes, even the grownups got in on the sack race (not me, they didn't tell me to wear a sports bra!)
But the best event before the grand finale would absolutely have to be the water canon fight (water balls)
AND of course, there was that little old thing of having a HELICOPTER land in Bear Creek Park.
The Scout staff helped load up the Egg Drop Contest entries and John Woods (who has a fear of heights) hovered above the field at 50′ dropping the egg containers.
There were quite a few from 317 (and other packs) that had survivors… Josh's survived too.
This was ALSO the day for the Spirit Award winners to deliver their pies. Pack 418 was the winner of the Cub Den Spirit Award but when they were doing calculations of beads and den flags, neither of theirs was present. However, we knew the right thing to do was let them win - sight unseen. For being trustworthy, they allowed the our cubs to partake of the pie festivities and this is a photos from that fun.
My dogs were barking by the end of the week and I had no idea HOW I was going to muster the energy for the female festivities tonight.... I'll keep you posted!
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