A Valentine's Surprise

Monday I got up, like any other day.  I got ready, like any other day.  I got a move on, like any other day.  Then I came downstairs and there was a HUGE cardboard package in my kitchen, leaning against the counter.

On it was a little computer printed Valentine's card from Genius Golfer that said "Now here's a Valentine's gift you can look at every day."  Not like any other day.

I ripped that ginormous cardboard box apart and found this:

It is the final piece to my front room makeover we started back in July.  This art print is called "Mediterranean Gold" and I just fell in love with it when I started thinking of giving the front room a grown up look.  I love the water and boats, the stacked homes, the rainbow of colors.  They are rich and lush and makes me think of a vacation near Italy, or somewhere equally warm.

Genius Golfer really out did himself this time.  He must have had to plan this surprise a month or so ago to get it here by Valentine's Day.  Then he had it delivered to his work, then he tricked me into using his car Sunday evening for an Eagle Court of Honor I went to--so he could run up to work in the Durango and bring this back.  Then he was up before me to set up the package in the kitchen for Valentine's morning.  That is a lot of planning.  Well done, I say.

Now the front room looks like this:

I love it!!

Bieberlicious

The Boy loves (at least right now) having long hair.  It drives me crazy, but it is only hair, as I keep reminding myself.  And in the bigger scheme of things, it really doesn't matter THAT much.    Am I right?  But I do wonder a little more than last year about his hair issues, since Justin Beiber is the popstar-du-jour.   The Boy's hair is quite like The Beib's.  Sadly.  See?

Here's Justin Bieber...

And here's The Boy....

The Boy seems to like to "flick" his hair too, which is only possible because it is long.  It is pretty amusing to watch him when he doesn't think I am watching.  He is flicking and swinging and swooping that mop all the time.  At least he isn't getting highlights and demanding the high maintenance that the Bieber-boy must.
Seeing that photo, makes me kind of find myself singing in my head: 

♫ And I was like baby, baby, baby, oh ♪

♪ Like baby, baby, baby, no ♫

♫ Like baby, baby, baby, oh ♪

♪ I thought you'd always be mine, mine ♫

THE MADNESS MUST STOP!  Though, in all honesty, it is infinitely better than a mullet.

I am thanking my lucky stars for that little gift.    Hang in there, friends.  The weekend is coming.

And a Time to Refrain From Speaking

Yesterday's post encouraged you to get involved with the political process, as much as I usually hate it, in order to (1)  save Masterpiece, Nature and American Experience, to say nothing of Arthur and Sesame Street on PBS, and (2) plead for more money to go to public school funding. 

To SPEAK, so to speak.

Today I led my monthly Council PTA meeting where I waxed poetic about these same issues before 10 schools worth of principals and PTA leaders.  And I swore. 

A reminder to REFRAIN from speaking, which I did not myself heed today.

The swearing was inadvertent, to be sure, but I still had that word slip out of my mouth.  Actually it rather popped, and less slipped.  I felt awful.  I don't use that word, ever!  I really don't swear beyond the advisedly used "crapola" which really comes in handy, but even that sounds terrible when my kids say it, so I am trying to break myself of it too.  But this one?!  Yikes.

Here I am, an avowed follower of Christ in my personal and public life, and still I was not a good example today--accidentally or otherwise.  The moment I said it I was mortified.  That word has meaning that had not intended.

Where did it come from?  I asked myself that.  My internal dialogue went like this:

"Holy crapola!!  (See it is useful)   WHERE did that come from?    Quick, apologize...maybe no one noticed.  Oh no.  They noticed.  I can feel myself turning BRIGHT red.  They couldn't have missed it.  I know they know I said it.  Maybe I have undiagnosed Turret's.  Nah.  That is pretty unlikely, but nice cover attempt.  It just won't work.  Dangit!"

That conversation I had with myself for about half a second the moment I heard myself say the word.

I hate when I do stupid things.  And it seems that I am doing more and more stupid things--things I never have done before--more and more often.  Dangit.

So, if you were sitting in that meeting and heard me do this, I am so sorry.  Please don't judge me if you happen to see me in my ecclesiastical assignment this Sunday or any other time.  Please know what I said today is not a normal part of my vocabulary.  And please forgive me for being so lame.  Just know I try every day to do better than yesterday, and tomorrow--frankly-- is already looking pretty good, all things considered.

Dangit.

A Time To Speak

I really dislike the political process, generally.  By that, I mean, I know this is the best system in the world and yet it is still feels incredibly off kilter.  Special interest groups have the government by the nose-ring and seem to be able to turn the legislative head any way they choose.  Regular, everyday people--most of whom are good-hearted and worthy-to-serve--choose to stay far, far away from the races because the alleged corruption by association and the blisteringly hot ire from media and those same opposingly viewed special interest groups.

But I can't keep silent today. A few things have become the proverbial burr under my saddle. 

Nationally: In the next few days, Congress will consider a bill to cut all federal funding for public television and radio stations.   You know, Sesame Street, Arthur, Masterpiece Classic, Nature...they could all go away.  People, you know I love my public TV.  The best shows on TV are shown on PBS stations.  Besides, they repeatedly import the BBC's period dramas for the American crowd to view.  I don't want to think of loosing that!

And more locally, in Utah: The legislature has voted and approved a base budget cut of 7% for all departments--including education. Slated to be cut: statewide k-12 will have no buses, 8 period schools will go back to 7 periods, no more extended day kindergarten, and an estimated 7% increase in class sizes. Oh, one state senator in particular thinks the Legislature itself should be the statewide Board of Education...for all districts...and he is pushing for that change.  Add to that the proposal a state rep from Spanish Fork has out there to do away with tenure for all state owned higher education.  Good luck trying to attract leading researchers to our facilities when they'd be leaving tenured posts at Ivy League schools for nothing like the sort here in the Beehive State.

Man, oh man.

So, I will be writing letters.  Many letters.  I'll let you know if I change the world.

Happy Valentine's Day

Video Sunday

http://news.yahoo.com/video/odd-15749658/cat-moves-in-to-elementary-school-24150329

Sorry, couldn't get this to magically appear.  You'll have to use the link.  Makes you wonder what our pets are really thinking.