Quoted

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth."

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 (New International Version)

Slumber Party

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Anna, Kaylee and Savannah all have birthdays at the end of April. When I asked them what kind of party they wanted, all three of them demanded a slumber party. Luckily, Kevin had a business tip so the girls had the run of the house. And thanks to Emily's help, I survived and so did the house...mostly. Next year they want to have a boy/girl party. I'm still a Baptist so I can assure you it won't be a sleepover :)

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Quoted

You must not come lightly to the blank page.

I'm not asking you to come reverently or unquestioningly; I'm not asking you to be politically correct or cast aside your sense of humor (please God you have one). This isn't a popularity contest, it's not the moral Olympics, and it's not church. But it's writing, damn it, not washing the car or putting on eyeliner. If you can take it seriously, we can do business. If you can't or won't, it's time for you to close the book and do something else.


- Stephen King

Abstinence

I've been thinking a lot about abstinence lately. No, I'm not planning to ever practice it again thank you very much but recent news stories keep bringing it up. First, Bristol Palin thinks abstinence education works even though she chose to ignore it. I can tell that Bristol is gonna be a true Republican because she's already well versed in the "Do as I say, not as I do" lingo. The simple, undisputed fact is that abstinence education does nothing to keep teens from having sex. Trust me on this. I could find the supporting data for you but I'm too tired right now.

I wish it did work. I don't think teens should be having sex. I especially don't think my teens should have sex. My opinion doesn't stem from my religious beliefs alone. I just think that teenage girls generally don't think enough of themselves to make the best choices. That doesn't mean that they are stupid. I just believe that girls like to please boys. (It's true. Even violent feminists will agree.) And I believe that most teen sex is initiated by boys and agreed to by girls. Do I wish all my kids could be virgins on their wedding night? Absolutely. Do I think that's going to happen? Not really. I can't control every aspect of their behavior. But I can make sure that they understand that sex was created by God for us to enjoy. (Honestly people, God could have created a pleasure-free way of procreating. He chose not to and I, for one, am glad.) It wasn't intended to be this shame filled nonsense that it has become. It wasn't intended to be a tool to make sure your boyfriend doesn't break up with you.

I'm also concerned about these 'super-purity' stories I am seeing more and more. A few Sundays ago, The Tennessean ran a story about a woman who was not only a virgin on her wedding day, she 'saved' her first kiss for the ceremony. Where the hell did this idea even start? These are your new and improved Pharisees at work. They will take a biblical principle that was hard enough to begin with and add to it so they can make sure we sinners can see just how dedicated they really are. To this I say...Bite me. Did you notice that the article doesn't mention her husband and his purity. I assure you that nowhere in the Bible does it say "Men - whore around all you want but make sure you marry a virgin."

The danger, in my opinion, is that we elevate a girl's 'purity' to an unnatural level of importance. What if she makes a mistake and has sex with her loser boyfriend when she is 16? According to this mindset, she's damaged goods. Since she has no virginity left to protect, she may as well just continue to have sex with any and all goobers that she encounters in high school and beyond. But, what would happen if we taught our daughters to protect their heart and their integrity instead of being solely focused on their virginity? What if we convinced them that their value was based upon so much more than some random idea of purity? What if they believed us?

Quoted

"To be afraid is to behave as if the truth were not true."

Bayard Rustin

Dear Mr Cheney,

Hey Dick, it's me again. I felt this quote was a perfect antidote to your ignorant speech yesterday. After all these years, I still can't decide whether you are retarded or psychotic. I lean heavily toward psychotic. Honestly, if you were just stupid, you could have gone away after the election. Lived your life. Played with your grandkids. But you can't seem to do that. You have this weird need to keep lying to the American public. I will give you credit though, you are telling the same lies you told when you were Vice President and the fact that they have all been debunked doesn't seem to bother you a bit. I would ask "Have you no shame?" but, of course, we all know that you don't. So now we know that you tortured people in order to make a connection between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda. Dude, you couldn't even get evidence of that by waterboarding people. That didn't stop you from repeating that lie to any journalist that would stand still though, did it? There are so many things I loathe about you. It's hard to pick just one but if I had to I think it would be the way that you constantly molest the memory of the victims of 9/11. I really don't know how you sleep at night.

Dick, I beg you. Just shut up. Every word you speak makes Rush Limbaugh sound like an elder statesman in comparison. Take a vacation buddy. Relax. Do some golfing. I hear there might be some luxury accomodations becoming vacant on a lovely U.S. controlled Cuban island soon. Check it out man. You deserve it.

Keepin' It Real

I used to be a good housekeeper...or at least I thought I was. I admit to liking my home to be a bit cleaner and more organized than a normal person. I'm not proud of that. It's my mother's fault. (Isn't it always?)

Here's what I have learned in the past year. I was a tolerable housekeeper in a tiny house. In a large one, I'm mediocre at best. I'm trying hard to accept this new reality. You should too.


While Kevin was out of town last week, I cleaned underneath the couch. (Is it just me or has my life gotten exciting as hell lately?) Anyway, this is what I found. Now I'm not blaming Dylan for this mess. I'm just telling you that this is under 'his' seat. And when I say 'his', I mean if you happen to be sitting there, he will demand that you move. That being said, obviously Dylan is to blame for this mess. The other kids are not immune from blame though. Here is the rest of the couch. Upon seeing this you might assume that this collection of crap has been accumulating for quite a while, years maybe. And you would be wrong. It's been about three months since I last cleaned under the couch.( How pathetic is is that I clean underneath furniture quarterly?)

While Dylan and Emily make their share of messes, they are no match for the little girls. These five females are pros.
This is the havoc they will create on an average school morning. They each must have a blanket to wrap up in while I get their breakfast. Then they each have no less than two hangers for their school clothes plus last night's pajamas. All of these items must be flung upon the floor as soon as the kids are finished with them.

Certainly I want the kids to learn to pick up after themselves but school starts very early and we always seem to be running just late enough to prevent that. And, sure, I could leave this mess for them to pick up when they get home in the afternoon.That would be the responsible thing to do. And it would also drive me insane. So, yeah, my kids will grow up to be irresponsible slobs in order to preserve my mental health. Frankly, I don't need your judgement.

Quoted

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good."

Samuel Johnson

Book Review

Yawn

Ever since I read Memoirs of a Geisha and anything written by Amy Tan, I just assume any novel based on an Asian is gonna be awesome. Is that racist? I don't know. I'm asking. Anyway, this novel has cured me of that supposition.

The book is about Haruko, the daughter of a Japanese businessman that ends up married to Japan's crown prince. Apparently it is a loose adaptation of actual events. Of course Haruko gives up her old life and tries to learn the culture of the imperial court. She has a son. She has a nervous breakdown. Blah, blah, blah.

Look, I get what the author was going for here. He's trying to get his readers to decide what 'freedom' is worth. Is it a fair trade for Haruko to give up control of her own life and children for the opportunity to be Empress of Japan? All I can tell you is that women have been giving up their freedom since the beginning of time for a whole lot less in return. That doesn't make it right, but it's true.

Quoted

You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"

George Bernard Shaw

Atlanta

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Book Review

This book is so damn sad. It is well written and contains plenty of beautiful sentences which you will remember I enjoy...big time. But the book is one big series of tragedies each more horrible than the next.

I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't created so many plot expectations. The summary on the book flap promised a smoldering love story and a family ripped apart by patriotic duty. Sounds awesome as hell, doesn't it? I gotta quit reading book flaps.

The main character emigrates to America (specifically a small town in North Dakota. Does North Dakota have anything but small towns? I don't know. I'm asking. ) His name is Fidelis. He is originally from Germany and he was a sharpshooter in WWI. He's also a Master Butcher...who can sing. Fidelis opens a butcher shop with his wife Eva and their four sons. He starts a singing club with men in the town. That's pretty much the only mention of the singing club. I'm guessing the author thought it would make an intriguing title but just didn't care enough to make it a central part of the story.

Anyhoo, Eva dies a horrible death. Eva's friend and employee, Delphine helps take care of the house, shop and children after her death. More tragedy ensues. Then Delphine (who has already had her share of nonsense which I have chosen not to relate here) marries Fidelis. I assume this is supposed to be the love story. I feel bad for anyone who reads this and thinks these two characters are in love.

Mostly I'm annoyed at the missed opportunities. The Fidelis/Delphine love story could have been awesome especially if they had fallen in love while his wife was still alive. Just think of the guilt and longing. Also, the story about Fidelis being a German in America during WWII could have been really interesting. The author barely touches the subject. Maybe she thought it was too obvious?

Lots of smart people loved this book. I didn't hate it, I just need you to know that it's depressing and sometimes gross. Maybe you like that kind of thing...

Quoted

"The due administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good government."

George Washington

Yum

Friends, I know why this cow is laughing. He's laughing because he is ridiculously happy. Happy because he is the mascot for the most delicious cheesy goodness.

These little beauties are sublime. Spread it on a Wasa crispbread and I will want to bang my head against the table just to offset the bliss.
The whole shebang will set you back about 75 calories or one Weight Watchers point if you care about that kind of info.

Prom 2009

If you are anything like me, you have probably asked yourself why Dylan is compelled to make a silly face each time someone takes his picture. I still don't have the answer to that question but it appears that he may have found his soul-mate.

Quoted

"To the corruptions of Christianity, I am indeed opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself."

Thomas Jefferson

Quoted

"I'm not a member of an organized political party - I'm a Democrat."

Will Rogers

Book Review

I didn't want to read this book.

Let me explain.

I love Ann Patchett but I had heard mixed reviews of this book. And when I say 'mixed', I mean people really, really loved it or they really, really hated it. I just didn't want to hate an Ann Patchett novel.

Luckily, I loved this book so much I wanted to eat it. It was exquisite. Patchett says that all her novels are just a variation of The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann. The basic idea is a story created around a group of disparate characters thrown together by circumstance. In Bel Canto, politicians, diplomats, musicians and terrorists are unintended hostages after a failed kidnapping attempt. The captivity drags on for a very long time. So long that lots of strange relationships are formed.

My favorite character is the French Ambassador, Simon Thibault. He is really a minor character but his story has stayed with me the longest. Simon has been married to his wife, Edith for 25 years. When he is sent to South America, he rediscovers his love for her.

"Had she always been like this, had he never known? Had he known and then somehow, carelessly, forgotten? In this country with its dirt roads and yellow rice he discovered he loved her, he was her. Perhaps this would not have been true if he had been the ambassador to Spain. Without these particular circumstances, this specific and horrible place, he might never have realized that the only true love of his life was his wife."

I can't even type it without crying. Knowing you are married to the love of your life is the most precious thing in the world. It's worth living and dying for.

I can't do justice to this book in a blog post. There is just too much. Even now, weeks after finishing it, I find myself thinking about it often. If I had a top ten list of my favorite novels, I feel like I would have to include this one.

Quoted

"We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same."

Carlos Castaneda