My Old Pal

I just wanted to give some love to my old stand by. He saves the day over and over again, and even though I only give him love when I need him, he is always there tucked away in my drawer for when I get careless.

Yesterday was a potluck at work. I, being very cautious, decided to take taco soup and just put it together when I got there. That way, I wouldn't spill it all over my truck or all over myself in transport. Dummy me wore a white shirt. I was a mess. I dont even know where the first spill came from, but my pen made it disappear. Then I spilled on me when I went to stir my taco soup. (Red... messy) But my pen saved me again. Then, I accidently marked myself with my pen. DAMMIT... But my Tide pen saved me again. (something it isn't even made to take out. Its just for food spills.) THEN--- I spilled when actually eating at our pot luck lunch. Im a wreck!!! But once again, my pen saved me. Needless to say, I should never wear white, but I always do anyway. And so I am glad to have my little old pal to save me!

FYI: I should have been paid for this little commercial, but no luck!!!

Reed

Guess who is a lefty!!!

The Unlikely Activist....

Earlier today, I was listening to Glenn Beck and he was talking about the sales of the book The 5000 Year Leap. The current sales have shot the book to the status of best seller (youd think Oprah told everyone to read it) and it has sold more copies in the last 3 weeks since the 912 project was introduced than it had since its first publishing 30 years ago. I am currently reading said book and find it fascinating and very saddening as I see how far we have strayed from the founders vision for America. After stating this statistic, Glenn then took me to task. EEK. While it was fantastic that so many were getting aquainted or reaquainted with the constitution and the reasons for the founding fathers setting things up they way they did, Glenn said just learning about it was not enough. It was what we chose to do with this new education that really mattered. He encouraged local book clubs, so we could get together and discuss what we learned and start really becoming active in government to "turn the tide." In his words, "we need to become our own special interest group". As we gain in numbers we can no longer be ignored or dismissed by Washington and our local goverments. As I have done very little to connect with others reading this book and other books so we have a context for this "uprising" and following the current political rollercoasted, I felt a little chastised.

A few minutes ago, I was reading the ANWA blog and one of the writers had posted this quote:

Stand up for freedom no matter what the cost. It can save your soul and maybe your country. Ezra Taft Benson

Add to this, I was googling the other day and put in, "constitution will hang by a thread" (as it is commonly referred to in Sunday School discussions), and read up on what many refer to as "The White Horse Prophecy" from Joseph Smith. While in general the prophecy has been dismissed as "mormon folklore" it is interesting to see how many of Joseph Smiths contemporaries recorded him saying very similar sentiments regarding the constitution hanging by a thread and how a church member or church members would be instrumental in saving the US as we know it. Many mused that Romney running for president was a fulfillment of this. While he was not exactly "the" one, I find it interesting to see members of the church's involvement in politics, Romney included and Glenn as he has rolled out his 912 project.

While I dont believe in "signs" per se... I do see little flags leading me in directions or common "themes" that keep coming up. This chain of events seem to be a chain of little flags, waiving me to do something.
So here's my sorry attempt as being an activist. HEHE, that seems so funny coming from me.

Go get the book, read it. And if anyone nearby or through this blog wants to discuss, let me know. In the mean time, I think I will be contacting a ward member that is a big activist to see what she thinks about getting together a reading group. (Do I assume too much by thinking that people actually read this blog???)

Bad hair?

HA HA those pics below make me realize Reed has Lloyd Christmas hair.

If Im outside, Im OK

We are here... Being a 912-er.

Just as a funny preface. I find it tragically comical that my blogs seem to evolve/revolve around Reed's current movies of choice. Most people take the animated movies of Disney, Pixar, Fox, and Dreamworks at face value. I, on the otherhand, have to find eternal truths and meaning within in. (Probably to justify that fact that I have lost count of how many times I have watched them. ) Along the same lines, Reed is currently fascinated with Thomas the Tank Engine. I dont know who introduced him to the series, but he loves it. And I cannot for the life of me find anything of value..... But that's neither here nor there.

Last Friday was Glenn Beck's special program introducing his We Surrond Them program. It was about time as he has been teasing us with values and principles and pictures and not really getting down to the nitty gritty of what he was concocting. In hindsight it was not much of a surprise, but I did have a couple A-HA moments.

Just as a quick sum up, when you put together (and live by) the 9 principles and 12 values Glenn Beck first introduced, we become the people we were on 9/12/01. (Clever huh) We love our country, we jump in to help any way we can and we believe and live what our forfathers established for us. Glenn's message was a call to action, to each individual and as local communities to come together to let Washington know that we stand by the principles and values of a 912-er and that the foundation that was laid by the founding fathers (that included these principles) are what make America great. America looses its greatness every time the government and even its people stray from the ideaology of the founding fathers. Obama seems to say the term "Ideaology" with distain. But it is this "ideaology" that brought about life, liberty and the persuit of happiness that we should treasure much more that we do today.

Glenn suggested it was time to really understand what our constitution means. I, like most, had a mediocre education in this country's history, taught by an unqualified football coach. This does not cut it. I have decided to take my historical education into my own hands buying a couple books as suggested by Glenn. The 5000 year leap and The Making of America, both by Cleon Skousen. I figured this was a good start and so far the reading proves to be very informative and not too laborous.

With a background of what we want to get back to, we can then move forward in our local communities to come together to make some noise. (This is where Reed's movies come in.) After watching Glenn, all I could think about was Horton Hears A Who. The Who's are chanting and yelling "We are here, we are here, we are here" in a desperate attempt to save their lives, their world from distruction. As they realize the people that determine their fate still cant hear them, the Mayor desperately cries out, "We need every voice!!!" This is what Glenn has done. It is time we stand up and say what we want, deserve and ultimately require of our politicians both locally and federally. Just a side note, our local officials have much more effect that we give them credit for and if we are not participating locally it will be to our detriment.

So, here is my one last "YOP" (the term YOP I borrow with much thanks the the Good Doc...Dr Suess.) I am here and I am hoping that my little shout out will encourage others to take a stand and help us restore America to what it should be... Ideal as that may seem to some.

Dont know where to start..... Here's a couple ways to go:

http://www.the912project.com/

http://www.atlasshrugged.com/

http://www.glennbeck.com/

"WE NEED EVERY VOICE!"

We Surround Them

Just a quick shout out for Glenn Beck. Tomorrow is the We Surround Them broadcast. 2pm AZ time. (Thats pacific time right now...) on Fox News Channel. If you are not familiar with Glenn or what he has been putting together, here's a quick snapshot. He basically wants to rally people together who believe in the principles and values below. He recognizes that he and many Americans dont like the path the country has taken in the last few years. He is using his pull, his show, his "fame" to bring us all together so we dont feel so hopeless and so we can find solutions.
I hope you watch, I will be.
The Nine Principles
1. America is good.
2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.
3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.

12 Values
Honesty
Reverence
Hope
Thrift
Humility
Charity
Sincerity
Moderation
Hard Work
Courage
Personal Responsibility
Gratitude

Stamp for stimulus projects.

Pat me on the back

Hey, I just thought I would let everyone know that this is day 2 for Reed without a bottle!!!! Im so proud of myself for not giving in. That first night was pure hell and I am blaming my very intense headache today on the past 2 nights without the damn thing. Reed is starting to accept it, although very angry at first. (He threw his sippy cup across the room any time I tried to give it to him to let me know just what he thought...) YEAH for me!!! I didn't cave.

Obama

FROU FROU

Check this out. This makes me want to have girls.
http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2009/02/blushing-buttercream-pettiskirt.htmls

FUN FOR YOU

I saw this on a couple friends blogs, so I thought, why not. I don't know if all 5 people that read this blog will want something homemade from me, but here goes anyway. The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. (But I won't make something horrible on purpose.)
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done this year. That gives me a good nine months to get it done.
4. You have no clue what or when its going to be. Its all on my time. But I'll do my best to seek inspiration in what will be perfect for you, individually.
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange (but don't expect my gift to be too strange because I am not good at coming up with strange things :). The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repeat this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me!
* Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!!

GIFTED

One of my "jobs" at work is to check and sort the mail. The other day, we recieved a new magazine and like usual I set it aside to look at it when I had a calm moment. After sorting through the trash mail, invoices, and medical record requests, I decided to take a sec and read the new Raising Arizona Kids magazine. It had peaked my curiosity because one of the tags on the cover was: "How to tell a child, "You aren't gifted."
My first reaction was, "WHAT??? Are you F-ING kidding me?" Not surprisingly, my opinion did NOT change after reading the article.
Now, let me preface this by saying. I was not a "gifted" child. I was told I was not a "gifted" child in the second or third grade after testing just a few points shy of getting into the ELP class. (extensory learning program, aka the smart kids group) So my perspective may be a bit skewed as I am bitter. I grew up in Mesa, the "gifted" child MECCA. Surrounded by the overacheving, fast track, wonder children of the area. I was well rounded, participating in music lessons and regular kid/teenage activities, but I was pretty average. Even my 4.023 GPA at graduation did not qualify me for anything more than a scholarship to the the local community college. I was ranked 52 out of over 700 in my graduating class. So I wasn't by any means stupid, just not "gifted". But I digress.
The article proceeded to explain how to highlight your childs strengths to help them cope with the news that they weren't good enough for the special "gifted" programs that schools sometimes offer. While, I could see what the article was trying to do, I wanted to scream. See, in all my "average" schooling I found a love and a natural talent for psychology. (The natural talent was not my observation, but a professor of mine's.) All I could think of is, why are we labeling kids. Kids don't need to know they are "gifted". It is my opinion that a big part of the problem with todays men my age and just younger is that they were told they are "gifted" and learned that the rules don't apply to them and that they don't have to work for anything, it should just be handed to them because they are special. I also believe that there are a ton of moms out there that need to be reminded that "gifted" and "obnoxious" are not the same thing.
Now, Im all about boosting up a kids self esteem with specific and truthful observations about their own personal strengths, but why are we trying to put them into little catagories. Smart kids, dumb kids, problem children, etc. It does no one any good in the long run. One of the most telling lessons of this for me was when I was helping with a reading program in Montana. Every week we worked with kids that needed one on one help. One of the kids was especially difficult to work with. After talking to him a while, he told me he was stupid and he didn't like leaving class to come read with me cause then everyone knew he was stupid. After relaying this to the teacher, she quickly called one of the smartest kids in the class to come read with me. We read for a while, and then I sent him back to class. He read with me for the next few weeks. That way, it was no longer the "dumb kids" that came to read with us. It was smart kids too. The "difficult" child had a lot better attitude and started to consider himself special for getting to leave class to read with us.
One of the psyc classes I took looked at alternative learning methods. Many of these are commonly used in ELP programs like the one I wasn't smart enough for. The funny thing is, many of the "dumb kids" would have really benefitted from the nontraditional ways of learning and maybe, just maybe they would have been able to earn a "smart kid" label instead of the "dumb kid" one they were stuck with.
Just food for thought....