So I came across a link to this video on This Mom's blog. I felt like I had to share it because I am so concerned that we will end up with four more years of George W. Bush policies. Our country is better than this! We all have to do our part to make a change.
While I respect John McCain for his service to our country in the military and as a Senator I do not believe that gives him an inalienable right to be the next President of the United States. I certainly believe that if anything were to happen to John McCain in office that Sara Palin is not prepared to be our Commander in Chief. Please check out these youtube videos and pass them along.
We have to be thoughtful about this election and really speak out about our convictions. Times are tough enough let's not make them tougher!
This video is even scarier! Please don't let us go down this road.
Peace, Hope and Love!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Interesting Perspective on Palin
I received the following in my email today and felt like I had to forward it to everyone and also share it with the few folks who happen to visit here on occasion. As I said in my email to family and friends: we have a very important decision to make in November. Will we have more of the same? Will our country have the courage to move forward with new leadership? Leadership that has a different vision for our country particularly for the working middle class families who are getting squeezed from every direction.
I pray that we make the right decision for our country.
by Eve Ensler
I am having Sarah Palin nightmares. I dreamt last night that she was a member of a club where they rode snowmobiles and wore the claws of drowned and starved polar bears around their necks. I have a particular thing for Polar Bears. Maybe it's their snowy whiteness or their bigness or the fact that they live in the arctic or that I have never seen one in person or touched one. Maybe it is the fact that they live so comfortably on ice. Whatever it is, I need the polar bears
I don't like raging at women. I am a Feminist and have spent my life trying to build community, help empower women and stop violence against them. It is hard to write about Sarah Palin. This is why the Sarah Palin choice was all the more insidious and cynical. The people who made this choice count on the goodness and solidarity of Feminists.
But everything Sarah Palin believes in and practices is antithetical to Feminism which for me is part of one story -- connected to sa ving the earth, ending racism, empowering women, giving young girls options, opening our minds, deepening tolerance, and ending violence and war.
I believe that the McCain/Palin ticket is one of the most dangerous choices of my lifetime, and should this country choose those candidates the fall-out may be so great, the destruction so vast in so many areas that America may never recover. But what is equally disturbing is the impact that duo would have on the rest of the world. Unfortunately, this is not a joke. In my lifetime I have seen the clownish, the inept, the bizarre be elected to the presidency with regularity.
Sarah Palin does not believe in evolution. I take this as a metaphor. In her world and the world of Fundamentalists nothing changes or gets better or evolves. She does not believe in global warming. The melting of the arctic, the storms that are destroying our cities, the pollution and rise of cancers, are all part of God's plan. She is fighting to take t he polar bears off the endangered species list. The earth, in Palin's view, is here to be taken and plundered. The wolves and the bears are here to be shot and plundered. The oil is here to be taken and plundered. Iraq is here to be taken and plundered. As she said herself of the Iraqi war, "It was a task from God."
Sarah Palin does not believe in abortion. She does not believe women who are raped and incested and ripped open against their will should have a right to determine whether they have their rapist's baby or not.
She obviously does not believe in sex education or birth control. I imagine her daughter was practicing abstinence and we know how many babies that makes.
Sarah Palin does not much believe in thinking. From what I gather she has tried to ban books from the library, has a tendency to dispense with people who think independently. She cannot tolerate an environment of ambiguity and difference. This is a woman who could and might very well be the next president of the United States. She would govern one of the most diverse populations on the earth.
Sarah believes in guns. She has her own custom Austrian hunting rifle. She has been known to kill 40 caribou at a clip. She has shot hundreds of wolves from the air.
Sarah believes in God. That is of course her right, her private right. But when God and Guns come together in the public sector, when war is declared in God's name, when the rights of women are denied in his name, that is the end of separation of church and state and the undoing of everything America has ever tried to be.
I write to my sisters. I write because I believe we hold this election in our hands. This vote is a vote that will determine the future not just of the U.S., but of the planet. It will determine whether we create policies to save the earth or make it forever uninhabitable for humans. It will determine whether we move towards dialogue and diplomacy in the world or whether we escalate violence through invasion, undermining and attack. It will determine whether we go for oil, strip mining, coal burning or invest our money in alternatives that will free us from dependency and destruction. It will determine if money gets spent on education and health care or whether we build more and more methods of killing. It will determine whether America is a free open tolerant society or a closed place of fear, fundamentalism and aggression.
If the Polar Bears don't move you to go and do everything in your power to get Obama elected then consider the chant that filled the hall after Palin spoke at the RNC, "Drill Drill Drill." I think of teeth when I think of drills. I think of rape. I think of destruction. I think of domination. I think of military exercises that force mindless repetition, emptying the brain of analysis,doubt, ambiguity or dissent. I think of pain.
Do we want a future of drilling? More holes in the ozone, in thef loor of the sea, more holes in our thinking, in the trust between nations and peoples, more holes in the fabric of this precious thing we call life?
I pray that we make the right decision for our country.
by Eve Ensler
I am having Sarah Palin nightmares. I dreamt last night that she was a member of a club where they rode snowmobiles and wore the claws of drowned and starved polar bears around their necks. I have a particular thing for Polar Bears. Maybe it's their snowy whiteness or their bigness or the fact that they live in the arctic or that I have never seen one in person or touched one. Maybe it is the fact that they live so comfortably on ice. Whatever it is, I need the polar bears
I don't like raging at women. I am a Feminist and have spent my life trying to build community, help empower women and stop violence against them. It is hard to write about Sarah Palin. This is why the Sarah Palin choice was all the more insidious and cynical. The people who made this choice count on the goodness and solidarity of Feminists.
But everything Sarah Palin believes in and practices is antithetical to Feminism which for me is part of one story -- connected to sa ving the earth, ending racism, empowering women, giving young girls options, opening our minds, deepening tolerance, and ending violence and war.
I believe that the McCain/Palin ticket is one of the most dangerous choices of my lifetime, and should this country choose those candidates the fall-out may be so great, the destruction so vast in so many areas that America may never recover. But what is equally disturbing is the impact that duo would have on the rest of the world. Unfortunately, this is not a joke. In my lifetime I have seen the clownish, the inept, the bizarre be elected to the presidency with regularity.
Sarah Palin does not believe in evolution. I take this as a metaphor. In her world and the world of Fundamentalists nothing changes or gets better or evolves. She does not believe in global warming. The melting of the arctic, the storms that are destroying our cities, the pollution and rise of cancers, are all part of God's plan. She is fighting to take t he polar bears off the endangered species list. The earth, in Palin's view, is here to be taken and plundered. The wolves and the bears are here to be shot and plundered. The oil is here to be taken and plundered. Iraq is here to be taken and plundered. As she said herself of the Iraqi war, "It was a task from God."
Sarah Palin does not believe in abortion. She does not believe women who are raped and incested and ripped open against their will should have a right to determine whether they have their rapist's baby or not.
She obviously does not believe in sex education or birth control. I imagine her daughter was practicing abstinence and we know how many babies that makes.
Sarah Palin does not much believe in thinking. From what I gather she has tried to ban books from the library, has a tendency to dispense with people who think independently. She cannot tolerate an environment of ambiguity and difference. This is a woman who could and might very well be the next president of the United States. She would govern one of the most diverse populations on the earth.
Sarah believes in guns. She has her own custom Austrian hunting rifle. She has been known to kill 40 caribou at a clip. She has shot hundreds of wolves from the air.
Sarah believes in God. That is of course her right, her private right. But when God and Guns come together in the public sector, when war is declared in God's name, when the rights of women are denied in his name, that is the end of separation of church and state and the undoing of everything America has ever tried to be.
I write to my sisters. I write because I believe we hold this election in our hands. This vote is a vote that will determine the future not just of the U.S., but of the planet. It will determine whether we create policies to save the earth or make it forever uninhabitable for humans. It will determine whether we move towards dialogue and diplomacy in the world or whether we escalate violence through invasion, undermining and attack. It will determine whether we go for oil, strip mining, coal burning or invest our money in alternatives that will free us from dependency and destruction. It will determine if money gets spent on education and health care or whether we build more and more methods of killing. It will determine whether America is a free open tolerant society or a closed place of fear, fundamentalism and aggression.
If the Polar Bears don't move you to go and do everything in your power to get Obama elected then consider the chant that filled the hall after Palin spoke at the RNC, "Drill Drill Drill." I think of teeth when I think of drills. I think of rape. I think of destruction. I think of domination. I think of military exercises that force mindless repetition, emptying the brain of analysis,doubt, ambiguity or dissent. I think of pain.
Do we want a future of drilling? More holes in the ozone, in thef loor of the sea, more holes in our thinking, in the trust between nations and peoples, more holes in the fabric of this precious thing we call life?
Peace
Monday, September 15, 2008
Turkey, Lurkey!
So we had not seen the turkeys in a while. We were just talking about them yesterday as a matter of fact! Today they were back looking better than ever. I thought they were eating bugs in the grass but R thought they were enjoying the mushrooms.
Thought you all would like to check out some photos.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
I'll Never Forget
So there is so much I could write about today however I feel I have to talk about 9/11. I am watching the history channel right now as I type and it brings everything back. I remember watching the today show. My children were very little, 1year and 3 years old. I watched the newscast live as the second plane struck the world trade center. I remember that I couldn't look away even as horrified as I felt. I remember feeling helpless and hopeless. I did not know anyone who perished in that attack yet it hit me like a ton of bricks. In retrospect I think it furthered a depression I may have already been struggling with after the death of my mother in law and my mother in the previous year. It took me a long time before I let go of the anxiety I would have when I heard a plane overhead. Today I think of all the families who were effected by this terrorist attack. I think of the babies who were not yet born to the fathers who perished in the towers. My heart goes out to all the families who are struggling with this anniversary.
Peace!
Peace!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Summer's End
Well it has finally hit me...we're going back to school on Tuesday! I visited my friend's 1st grade classroom the other day. She is teaching in a very quaint school. The building is small. It is 100 years old and there are only 8 classrooms from grade 1 to grade 4. There is a very homey feel to the school and everyone seemed quite welcoming and pleasant. We helped her do a few things and visited for a while. She showed me a bit of the curriculum she has to cover and I was amazed. It is so much more than what I was expected to teach when I was in that position over 10 years ago. It makes me wonder what all this pressure does to our kids. So much is mandated by the federal and state government but funding isn't there to support the mandates. I just don't get it. I guess that is why I joined Stand for Children in the hopes to change how programs are funded and to improve things for kids now.
On Wednesday the kids and I went to my school. I hadn't been since the end of July. I have to say I've felt guilty not going in this month, but I think it was good to have that break. It was great to see my colleagues and get into my classroom. There is a lot of work to be done this year as we are going for recertification by the NAEYC. It is a rigorous process and will certainly focus us on what we are doing well and what we need to add to our program to ensure the best results for children.
Last night we had an interesting sight in our back woods! I'll back up a bit by saying over the past month we have enjoyed seeing a family of turkeys stroll through our back yard and up the wooded hill behind our home. We have quite a bit of 'greenbelt' land surrounding our property. It is unbuildable land that provides the home to many kinds of birds and small animals. Now apparently it is also home to the turkey family. So back to last night...R was outside on the deck and the kids and I were inside, it was about 7pm, suddenly I hear R say "Turkeys in the trees, turkeys in the trees" So out we all go to see this unusual sight. Sure enough there was a large mother turkey with her baby turkeys three roosting high up in an oak tree. What a sight! I took some pictures. You will have to click on them and zoom in to get a good look. I'm hoping to crop and enlarge them at the printers so that I can share the pictures with my students in late October/early November.
On Wednesday the kids and I went to my school. I hadn't been since the end of July. I have to say I've felt guilty not going in this month, but I think it was good to have that break. It was great to see my colleagues and get into my classroom. There is a lot of work to be done this year as we are going for recertification by the NAEYC. It is a rigorous process and will certainly focus us on what we are doing well and what we need to add to our program to ensure the best results for children.
Last night we had an interesting sight in our back woods! I'll back up a bit by saying over the past month we have enjoyed seeing a family of turkeys stroll through our back yard and up the wooded hill behind our home. We have quite a bit of 'greenbelt' land surrounding our property. It is unbuildable land that provides the home to many kinds of birds and small animals. Now apparently it is also home to the turkey family. So back to last night...R was outside on the deck and the kids and I were inside, it was about 7pm, suddenly I hear R say "Turkeys in the trees, turkeys in the trees" So out we all go to see this unusual sight. Sure enough there was a large mother turkey with her baby turkeys three roosting high up in an oak tree. What a sight! I took some pictures. You will have to click on them and zoom in to get a good look. I'm hoping to crop and enlarge them at the printers so that I can share the pictures with my students in late October/early November.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
The Fair!
Well the end of the summer isn't the end of the summer without the fair. Last night we went to our local fair. A friend was supposed to be in the motor cross race and that was the catalyst that sent us out and on our way last night. We approached the entrance and sat in traffic for a while but it was fine. We parked and set off on our adventure, camera in hand. The kids were excited. There was fair food, rides and games to experience.
We started off getting tickets. The first ride was the haunted house. I passed on it and took some photos instead.
I was lucky enough to ride the ferris wheel twice once with each child.
I also had a turn on the merry go round. So much fun! I have to say that when I was a kid I went to this same fair, but I don't remember having as much fun as I did last night with my husband and children.
Now as I write, the air feels much more like fall than summer. Sigh... Love so much about fall; the weather, the coziness, the holidays, but the return the regular school schedule...not so much!
Peace!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Bittersweet
Well once we have celebrated all the August birthdays, Papa, hubby and kids(Whew!) the truth sinks in...the end of summer is upon us and it is time to get ready to go back to school! Many Moms are thrilled when time comes to send the wee ones back to school. I guess I'm a bit out of the ordinary as I enjoying having that unstructured time to be with my kids. As much as we get on each others nerves; I just love being with them. I remember being a kid and thinking the summer was just so long. Times have changed and even the children think that summer went by to fast. It is also time when I start gearing up to go back to work. It is interesting even with the experience I have I still get nervous when I have a new group of children coming into my class. When I think about it rationally I know I shouldn't be nervous: I know what I'm doing, I'm teaching preschool so the children enjoy school, parents are usually very supportive and wonderful, and I have a fabulous teaching partner and work environment. All of this being said, just typing this part of the post gives me an upset stomach! Oh well. We will all get through it and it will be fine. I picked up a cute outfit for open house with the parents so that's a help.
On another note my computers are giving me trouble. The laptop has power port issues...soon to be fixed thanks to my QVC/Dell 3 year extended warranty! And the computer that I am working on now is a dinosaur and in desperate need of updating. It is a little frustrating when I am used to my quick laptop. So it may be a few days before I can visit all my favorite blogs :(
Hope everyone is enjoying these last lazy days of summer. We are and will be slowly returning to our school year schedule over the next two weeks...earlier bedtimes and up earlier in the morning.
Peace!
On another note my computers are giving me trouble. The laptop has power port issues...soon to be fixed thanks to my QVC/Dell 3 year extended warranty! And the computer that I am working on now is a dinosaur and in desperate need of updating. It is a little frustrating when I am used to my quick laptop. So it may be a few days before I can visit all my favorite blogs :(
Hope everyone is enjoying these last lazy days of summer. We are and will be slowly returning to our school year schedule over the next two weeks...earlier bedtimes and up earlier in the morning.
Peace!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Strange
Hey there, I checked my email today and found an odd email comment from lotto someone. Then I checked the blog and saw that there have been 48 views today. Something must be going on because on a good day I have 4-5 visits at best. I'm going to enable the comment moderation just because and ask if any of my regular readers know what might be going on?
We're off for a couple of days so I probably won't check back in until late Thursday night or Friday am. Have a great couple of days.
Peace!
We're off for a couple of days so I probably won't check back in until late Thursday night or Friday am. Have a great couple of days.
Peace!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Birthday Pics
The kids had a blast at their parties this past weekend. It was a lot of work but it was so worth it! Thought I'd share a few pictures. N's Indiana Jones party was one big adventure... And n's party was a beading bonanza!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Birthdays!
This is a busy time for our family. We celebrated n's birthday yesterday. She is 8! I can hardly believe it! Sometimes it seems like just yesterday that she was born and then at times it seems like a lifetime ago. Anyway our family tradition has been that on our actual birthday we go to a local bakery and pick out a treat. It can be a breakfast treat or an after dinner treat. n decided on a beautiful white frosted chocolate cake. I'll be posting pictures as soon as I download them. It was fun to sing to her and then share the yummy cake. Starting tomorrow we will be celebrating with friends. N is turning 10 early in September so he is having his party tomorrow night. Indiana Jones theme including a 10 clue treasure hunt. It should be a blast. I just finished writing the clues. I hope that they are just right...not too hard not too easy. We'll see. We are also making homemade pizza again and watching one of the Indiana Jones movies. The party is due to end at 9pm. I'll be tired but it will be so worth it I'm sure. Celebration continues on Saturday when all the girls come to celebrate n's birthday. We will be beading necklaces, playing games and having cake and ice cream. n's little friends are so cute. Last year none of her friends were able to come...it was kind of strange actually but this year all but 1 of the children will be coming to our house to celebrate. She is so excited to have her friends here to celebrate and play with her on Saturday. Ocean is the theme of her day. I can't wait! I'll post pictures as soon as I can.
Peace!
Peace!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Summer Sun
Well we are blessed to have a beautiful sunny day today. The temperature is just right. Little to no humidity and a lovely blue sky with scattered white puffy clouds. My only wish is that I had some more energy to enjoy the day. I have been fighting a summer cold since N came down with his ear infection. All I really want to do is sleep. My head is congested and both my shoulders and head are achy! Unfortunately as everyone knows you can't just go to bed and not get the things done that must be done. So I've cleaned the kitchen, cleaned the bathroom, done a bit of yard work, made a grocery list for hubby and made a mental list of all the stuff I have to get done before the kids parties next weekend. I'd love for the yard to be perfect with fresh mulch, stone and beautiful flowers everywhere but that is just not realistic. So I think I will work on making sure that the yard looks the best it can without those things and try to remember that it is about the kids enjoying the day and not about the state of the yard. R's Aunt once said to me that if people or friends come by to see her they are there to see her not her house. I try to remember this but I am not always successful. It must be my personality.
Peace!
Peace!
Summer Sun
Well we are blessed to have a beautiful sunny day today. The temperature is just right. Little to no humidity.
Summer Sun
Well we are blessed to have a beautiful sunny day today. The temperature is just right. Little to no hu
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Site Meter Problems
So this morning I tried to access my blog and IE continuously aborted my attempt. Very frustrating and I have a feeling others are experiencing this as well. I did some research and it seems that Site Meter is causing the problem. So the solution...remove Site Meter from your blog. Too bad. I did enjoy checking out how folks found my blog. Now I'll have to rely on my Live Traffic Feed. I just hope all my other blogging friends figure out what to do so that I can continue to visit their lovely blogs.
Peace!
Peace!
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