Remember all the hoopla just after Christmas when every time you turned on the TV or listened to the radio there were terrible warnings of the February deadline that analog signal for television would become digital?
Remember when that date came and the FCC or whomever is in charge of this silly thing said "Oops, our bad! Too many of you are not using your $40 government coupon to purchase a converter box, so we are going to postpone the switch."
Well, my friends, today is the deadline, again. Last night of the local news there was another story about the "day the TVs of America went dead". Poppycock, I say.
Did they ever think that people were hoping for the switch so they couldn't get TV signals anymore? There is really nothing good on TV these days--mostly trash, violence, salacious voyeurism, and infomercials. Who needs that?
Anything that IS good--say, like the Jane Austen or Charles Dickens classics made for PBS or by the BBC, will be available for sale on DVD in a few week anyways. (And if you didn't get to watch TV anymore, you wouldn't have to wait until the PBS pledge drive.)
I would bet no one thought of this option. But it is an option I would prefer, if Genius Golfer wasn't a bit of a Gadget Guy and already upgraded our family TVs a few years ago.
So, if your set goes dead today, and that bothers you, come on over. We will still be watching trash here. Dang it.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
What Happened to the Golden Rule?
I was upset yesterday as I read the news about the man who opened fire at the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. What is wrong in the the world?! How can people still be so hated filled? So poisoned by prejudice? How does this kind of blanket hatred perpetuate itself? How long does it have to be around?
If you have ever spent much time with small kids--and really, who of us hasn't?--you can see how open and
naturally loving little kids are. They find everyone they meet a friend. (Sometimes to the opposite extreme.) They love you if you pay any attention at all to them. This is their generally natural behavior.
When kids are naturally so loving and open to everyone, how do they change? How do they learn to hate others to the point that they become like this crazed 88 year old shooter? What causes them to go so far off their own natural track?
I hope I have taught my own kids better and that they will first treat others as they would like to be treated. That they give others the benefit of the doubt, that they look for the good in others. My greater hope is that I have modeled this kind of behavior in a way that it has made an impact as they have watched me.
I have been really grateful that they have made all kind of friends in all the situations they find themselves: schools, teams, clubs, neighborhood, church. I only ever hear them complain about "friends" who are mean behind their backs, or who talked about others in a negative way. It affects my kids and they hurt for their friends--both those that were spoken about and those who were being so negative.
That makes me feel better, but I am holding my breath that they will hold to that compassion and tenderness toward others as they grow and mature.
When I think about how hard I have tried to instill this golden rule behavior in my kids, and how I try to live my life that way, I have to shake my head when I hear news reports like the Holocaust Museum shooting. How could this man go so wrong? What made him snap? What else had he done during his life to display this deeply hateful thought process? Who else has he hurt along the way?
My heart breaks when I hear of the victims of such hatred, and then, knowing how the effects of this one decision on the part of someone so diseased with hatred will forever alter the lives of the victim's family and friends. It is devastating.
When I hear of these kind of things, I do feel a stronger urge to instill that Golden Rule behavior in my family and to demonstrate that behavior more exactly myself. I bet you feel that too, don't you?
If you have ever spent much time with small kids--and really, who of us hasn't?--you can see how open and
naturally loving little kids are. They find everyone they meet a friend. (Sometimes to the opposite extreme.) They love you if you pay any attention at all to them. This is their generally natural behavior.
When kids are naturally so loving and open to everyone, how do they change? How do they learn to hate others to the point that they become like this crazed 88 year old shooter? What causes them to go so far off their own natural track?
I hope I have taught my own kids better and that they will first treat others as they would like to be treated. That they give others the benefit of the doubt, that they look for the good in others. My greater hope is that I have modeled this kind of behavior in a way that it has made an impact as they have watched me.
I have been really grateful that they have made all kind of friends in all the situations they find themselves: schools, teams, clubs, neighborhood, church. I only ever hear them complain about "friends" who are mean behind their backs, or who talked about others in a negative way. It affects my kids and they hurt for their friends--both those that were spoken about and those who were being so negative.
That makes me feel better, but I am holding my breath that they will hold to that compassion and tenderness toward others as they grow and mature.
When I think about how hard I have tried to instill this golden rule behavior in my kids, and how I try to live my life that way, I have to shake my head when I hear news reports like the Holocaust Museum shooting. How could this man go so wrong? What made him snap? What else had he done during his life to display this deeply hateful thought process? Who else has he hurt along the way?
My heart breaks when I hear of the victims of such hatred, and then, knowing how the effects of this one decision on the part of someone so diseased with hatred will forever alter the lives of the victim's family and friends. It is devastating.
When I hear of these kind of things, I do feel a stronger urge to instill that Golden Rule behavior in my family and to demonstrate that behavior more exactly myself. I bet you feel that too, don't you?
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Bombing Might Be Better Option
Today is D-Day around here. With The Girl at Girls' Camp this week, my goal is to get The Boy to clean his room. This is a never ending request, though seldom met with compliance. We just have two differing ideas of what "clean" really is.He has nooks and crannies in his room where lots of things can hide. He has lost items in his room that we have never found. So there is also some black hole element there as well.
My hope is we can finish this job to my liking before lunch today--though I might need a break to run to the gas 'n sip...I'm not sure on this one yet--so we can go to the movies this afternoon. That will be the treat for not taking him out after trying to "help" him do it himself.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
25 Firsts
My Firsts
1. Who was your FIRST prom date?
John Messerole, I was in 9th grade—yes, I know…but I went every year with a friend.
2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love?
Nope
3. What was your 1st alcoholic drink?
Bartles & James Peach wine coolers—pretty sad, really. Puking is the next memory.
4. What was your FIRST job?
On-site daycare/lifeguard at Goldsmith’s Seeds
5. What was your FIRST car?
’69 Roadrunner, pre-restoration. We fit 12 friends in it once. It was ugly, but fun.
6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today?
Cameron texted FOR me—does that count?
7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning?
The KIDS & getting them to the pool on time
8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher?
Mrs. Orwzarzak (El Roble elementary)
9. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane?
I’m guessing here…Washington DC in 5th grade?
10. FIRST best friend and do you still talk?
I would say my childhood dog, Waldo. And nope, but he’s waiting in heaven for me.
11. Where was your FIRST sleep over?
Maybe Lisa Laursen’s place…must have been about 7 or 8.
12. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today?
Cam
13. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time?
Amy & Jim Bob’s or Kathy & Kevin’s…not sure which came first. Neither one lasted, so maybe I am bad luck. Don’t ask me to be in your wedding.
14. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning?
I realized my favorite hoodie’s zipper was gone—victim of laundry day. Can I get a moment of silence?
15. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to?
Beach Boys at the Santa Clara county fair, I think I was 10 & was living the week at the fair with my goats. Yes I raised goats. They are very sweet creatures.
16. FIRST tattoo?
None
17. First piercing?
My ears, I was 15.
18. First foreign country you've been to?
Australia, unless you count Ensenada, Mexico, which I don’t.
19. FIRST movie you remember seeing?
Bambi—highly traumatic.
20. When was your FIRST detention?
I had to stay after school in elementary school once for not turning in homework, but I don’t think they called it detention then. Never got it in HS, though probably should have.
21. What was the first state you lived in?
California, born and bred
22. Who was your FIRST roommate?
LeeAnn Shepherd
23. Where did you go on your FIRST date and with whom?
Prom '84, with John Messerole
23. Who was your FIRST kiss and when?
Slimy Jim, near the end of HS—What was I thinking?
24. If you had one wish. What would it be?
A happy, happy birthday to you from me?
25. What is something you would learn if you had the chance?
Photoshop/Digital Photography, Spanish (better), Piano (had I the patience)
26. Who do you think will be the next person to post this?
Probably the Girl, when she gets back from camp.
1. Who was your FIRST prom date?
John Messerole, I was in 9th grade—yes, I know…but I went every year with a friend.
2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love?
Nope
3. What was your 1st alcoholic drink?
Bartles & James Peach wine coolers—pretty sad, really. Puking is the next memory.
4. What was your FIRST job?
On-site daycare/lifeguard at Goldsmith’s Seeds
5. What was your FIRST car?
’69 Roadrunner, pre-restoration. We fit 12 friends in it once. It was ugly, but fun.
6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today?
Cameron texted FOR me—does that count?
7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning?
The KIDS & getting them to the pool on time
8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher?
Mrs. Orwzarzak (El Roble elementary)
9. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane?
I’m guessing here…Washington DC in 5th grade?
10. FIRST best friend and do you still talk?
I would say my childhood dog, Waldo. And nope, but he’s waiting in heaven for me.
11. Where was your FIRST sleep over?
Maybe Lisa Laursen’s place…must have been about 7 or 8.
12. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today?
Cam
13. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time?
Amy & Jim Bob’s or Kathy & Kevin’s…not sure which came first. Neither one lasted, so maybe I am bad luck. Don’t ask me to be in your wedding.
14. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning?
I realized my favorite hoodie’s zipper was gone—victim of laundry day. Can I get a moment of silence?
15. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to?
Beach Boys at the Santa Clara county fair, I think I was 10 & was living the week at the fair with my goats. Yes I raised goats. They are very sweet creatures.
16. FIRST tattoo?
None
17. First piercing?
My ears, I was 15.
18. First foreign country you've been to?
Australia, unless you count Ensenada, Mexico, which I don’t.
19. FIRST movie you remember seeing?
Bambi—highly traumatic.
20. When was your FIRST detention?
I had to stay after school in elementary school once for not turning in homework, but I don’t think they called it detention then. Never got it in HS, though probably should have.
21. What was the first state you lived in?
California, born and bred
22. Who was your FIRST roommate?
LeeAnn Shepherd
23. Where did you go on your FIRST date and with whom?
Prom '84, with John Messerole
23. Who was your FIRST kiss and when?
Slimy Jim, near the end of HS—What was I thinking?
24. If you had one wish. What would it be?
A happy, happy birthday to you from me?
25. What is something you would learn if you had the chance?
Photoshop/Digital Photography, Spanish (better), Piano (had I the patience)
26. Who do you think will be the next person to post this?
Probably the Girl, when she gets back from camp.
Monday, June 8, 2009
And, They're Off!
The group meets as the rain began to fall. Piles of sleeping bags, foam pads, duffel bags and camp buckets. Leaders think to bring donuts, milk and juice while we gather and load all the equipment. Girls have pillows, stuffed animals, drawing notebooks in arms. They have to travel an hour to get there. They will stay all week.
Secret sister gifts are wrapped and tucked away in a pocket someplace. Scriptures and journals are packed side by side with hiking boots and sweatshirts. Cameras are flashing before the donuts are gone.
Must be Girls' Camp! The Girl left this morning for a week with our ward. She was excited and enthusiastic. She will have a great time. The Boy and I will entertain ourselves this week, I suppose. It is his turn for camp next week.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Video Sunday
Ever think, "Where can I go for a summer vacation?" I know...it can't be too far anymore, can't be too expensive, can't take too much time. Here is a solution for those of us stuck in the Beehive State for the summer: Check out all the places mentioned in this video. Uh, yeah. Good luck with that.
Summer Staycation just doesn't have the same ring to it, does it?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
