Another Viewpoint

Some days you must choose to see life better than it is.

Words from The Doctor

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Food for Thought

I thought this was funny, and telling.  For all my dislike of the campaign season, I guess there is a reason for this (blasted) season.  Choose wisely.

Blog Challenge

My blogging friend over at "Just SO" threw out a challenge last week and tagged me to do this.  She listed 11 questions for 11 of her blogging friends to write about and then pass the challenge on to 11 others.  So, here are the answers to her questions, with mine to follow with the Blog Challenge rules.

Soda or Pop?

Neither.  I’ve been “clean and sober” since August 1, 2009,  just after trek.  I’m an ice water girl these days.

What would you consider your best trait?

I’m not sure.  Maybe, the unnatural ability to volunteer, seemingly for everything.  But, that said, it may not always be my "best" trait.  Good question.  If you have an idea for me, please let me know.

What advice would you give to yourself at 13?

“Relax about him, already.  He marries someone else, but you end up friends.  It is much more comfortable this way.  Trust me.”

Romance, Action or Mystery/Thriller?

Of those three…probably, romance…but not that  slimey Harlequin kind.  Give me a good, well written, Austenesque story.  Those, I love!  Actually I just finished P.D. James’  “Death Comes to Pemberley” which is both a mystery and a little Regency romance.

Would you rather vacation on the West coast or the East?

Vacation, you say?  East coast…I LOVED Harry Potter World at Universal Orlando, and would go back in a heartbeat. I’d love to take my kids to Washington DC and see everything we could there in terms of the Smithsonian, history, museums, etc. Maybe visit the Big Apple, and some other New England revolutionary & Civil war spots, as well as some old church history places.  But then, please let me come back to the West to live.

Who is your favorite literary character?

It is hard to beat Elizabeth Bennett.  That is one sassy, strong-willed, say-what-you-mean, win-the-guy-in-the-end kind of gal.  But I also love the characters in the Harry Potter series. They are so well written, and I can hear their voices in my head anytime ithink of them.  I( may have mentioned that once or twice before.)

What makes you laugh?

My 14 year old son.  More than he should, to be honest. He is too charming for his own good.

What would you buy if someone handed you $100 and told you to go and spend it on yourself?

I’d have a hard time.  My mom sends money for my birthday with just that direction, and there are times I really have to think hard about it.  Usually I end up with some needed new clothes, shoes, or books.

What song speaks to you most at this moment?

Not sure on this one either.  I’m not a big radio listener anymore, and when I do, it seems to always end up at some classic rock or '80s station.  But give me a big-hair-band tune from back in the day, and I’m all over it.  I do love me some Bon Jovi, Van Halen or Queen on a given day.

Do you have a favorite poem or quote?

“It is our choices that show who we really are, far more than our abilities.”

When was the last time you cried?  (And why, if you care to share)

Monday night in FHE…I shared a lesson on defending our family…and I testified to my kids and hubz how much I love them and that my strongest wish is to be together with them forever.  Bawled like a baby.

 RULES

*You must post the rules

*Answer the 11 questions that the tagger posted for you; then create 11 questions for those you are tagging.

*Tag 11 people and link them in your post

*Let them know you have tagged them

And if you are, like me, in need of a kick in the pants to start you blogging and you aren't on the list feel free to take any or all of the above questions and answer them.  Let me know though so I can swing by and read!  (I may take some of the ones I came up with and use them for future posts)

Here are my questions for Wendy, Karen, Julie, Shanna, Kira, Taffy, Peggy, Chris, Kara, Kathryn, and Madi. I'm looking forward to seeing what you girls come up with too.

1)      What is your favorite family dinner recipe, and where did you find it?

2)      What characteristic do you find yourself constantly striving for but never quite reaching?

3)      What famous actor/performer/singer can you not stand at all, and why?

4)      If you could choose a different time period to live your life, what would it be and why?

5)      What is the most worrisome issue facing our generation?

6)       What is a personality trait that makes you crazy in others?

7)      If you were any animal, what would you be and why?

8)       How would you prefer to celebrate your next birthday if money were no object?

9)       What spices are in your cupboard but that you never use, and how did you get them?

10)    How do you deal with personal disappointment?

11)    If you had only one movie you could watch ever again, what would it be and why?

Family Defenders

https://www.lds.org/new-era/2012/03/be-a-defender-of-the-family?lang=eng

Last night for Family Home Evening, it was my turn to teach the lesson.  And lately we have had a bit of trouble with the kids' online behavior--actually, their writing online--that has been disrespectful to parents, and more than a little discouraging.  So I used the article (in the link above) for my lesson.

The really ironic part of this is both kids had lessons on Sunday about 'honoring parents', so this lesson just followed what they learned Sunday. And it wasn't anything new.  But I sure hope it will sink in at some point.

Being a parent is hard work.  And much of it is thank-less as well.  But I do know it is the most important work I will ever do.  And much more is riding on this work at home than any possible outcome of anything else I do.  I'm talking about the salvation of my kids. The chance we have to be a family together, forever.  That is some heady stuff.

No pressure?  Not a chance.  Which is why this work is so important.

Weekend Wrap Up

I wish the week would last as long as the weekends seem to...then it would be the weekend much more often! It is Monday again, already.

This weekend was fast because there was a bunch of things happening. Saturday was our Young Women Basketball extravaganza...meaning we played a whole "season" of basketball in one day...and found a stake ball champion to send to the region tourney next month. Whew. Not that is was without its drama. But that will be fodder for another post, so let's leave it at four hours of games, and it is done. Yea!

It was also Genius Golfer's birthday Saturday. He is 46. He spent the morning--while I was at basketball--with the 14-15 year old boys tubing at Soldier Hollow. Everyone had a great time, I undestand, and no one got hurt (always a plus in my tubing experiences) so it was a terrific activity. He had planned on golfing that afternoon, but I can't remember if he did or not. I think we all stayed home and vegged out until it was time to go to dinner. It is always a good day if I don't have to cook--so we celebrated with dinner out and then home for cake, ice cream and a movie. Not a bad Saturday overall.

Sunday began early for most of us. The boys had a stake priesthood meeting at 7 AM and I had a camp meeting at 7:30, so only The Girl got to sleep in. In fact she got herself to church at 9, where we all met eventually. Once our service was over, I came home and fell alseep until about 3:30 when I got up and went ot take some pictures for a friend. Her son is submitting paperwork for his mission and need the missionary-look headshots. Then I chatted with this friend about a YW issue in another ward, and brainstormed some solutions. Then one of our Camp committee girls came over in a tizzy because she had just been released after a rotten day as Laurel president (and thus, on the camp committee) and was confused and angry and upset. We talked to her--together as it happened--and hopefully helped her see change is inevitable and that we still needed her. But I also told her to get a good night's sleep and she would probably feel better.

And suddenly it is Monday morning again. This weeke doesn'tlook quite as busy as the past two weeks, but it isn't going to be a watch TV and eat bon-bon kind of week either. Like it EVER is.

Sunday Video

http://www.ted.com/talks/mike_rowe_celebrates_dirty_jobs.html

I can't seem to get the embedding process done correctly lately.  Here is the attempt, but use the link above in case it doesn't work.  I love Mike Rowe....he is terrific!