Facebook Not

Is it weird to write an anti-Facebook post and then post it on Facebook?  Probably so.

Why oh why do people feel the need to report where, when, and why they go through their daily lives. And I'm the one who writes drivel?  I don't need to know what you are doing this evening or what you are making for dinner or what things you are pleased or displeased with.  For Pete's sake - put all of that stuff in a blog.  (although I think Facebook is supposed to be a replacement for blogs - but I'm now in my 50's and supposed to mock anything newer that comes along.)

I'm also not interested in your kids daily lives - although I am guilty of posting a few pics now and then of mine - but if I get to determine the appropriate amount - I must be doing it appropriately (or something like that).

By the way - we're going to eat Thai food tonight.  I won't take pics of the food.  That would be too "Facebookey"!

and you wonder why I call this "drivel"?

Parent-Teacher Conference

Before I begin what I really want to tell you about, let me make a comment.  It's been brought to my attention that some of my writing does not always represent the finest in grammar and punctuation.  Too bad...that's why I sometimes refer to it as "drivel".  I'm just typing thoughts as fast as they come.  In other words, I don't do an outline prior to putting words to page.

It might get a little sappy here in a minute....you've been warned.

Today was parent-teacher conference day at school.  I should clarify and say that it is really student-teacher-parent conference.  From first grade on, the students lead the conferences.  And I truly do mean lead.  It began with Caden thanking us for coming to the conference.  He then went through page after page of things he considers strengths and areas where he feels he has room for improvement.  A lot of self-assessment was quite evident.  When he mentioned that he enjoys "text-to-self connections" in reading, I knew we were at a different type of school.  We had to sit there quietly and refrain from shouting "Oh My God - what are you talking about?"  You probably know that "refraining" is not one of my strengths.  After we got over the bewilderment of watching our 7 year old son present a thoughtful and organized assessment of his academic side, we then had to hold back the tears that come when you realize  the word "proud" just isn't strong enough to convey what you feel at that moment.

Back again...

Whatever happened to the original idea of writing everyday in this here bloggy thing?  Maybe one day it will begin appearing on a more regular schedule - but for now here's some more musings (or as some of you might call it - "drivel").

Any correlation to the fact that Obama's administration filed a brief with the US Supreme Court supporting same-sex marriage on the same day as the Pope officially stepped down as President of the World Corporation of the Catholic Church? (for my Catholic friends here...before you read further...please note that I will be critical of the CEO of the "corporation"...not your personal religious belief or faith - unless you believe in the same things I will be attributing to the Pope)

I honestly don't think Obama planned it this way - but I did like the timing.  This particular CEO of the Catholic corporation has said some disgusting things over the years about me and my family.  "Intrinsically disordered" comes to mind first and he has also thrown in the word "evil".  I'll at least admit that he did change the "intrinsically disordered" comment to "somewhat intrinsically disordered". Although, can you truly be "somewhat intrinsically disordered"?  Isn't it an all or nothing condition?  He also has stated publicly to his legions of listeners that same-sex marriage will destroy the very essence of the human creature and is a "threat to world peace."  Really?  I could possibly have that much power if Kevin and I get access to each other's Social Security benefits (which is one of the things marriage licenses actually do)?

These statements are just words technically and have no legal bearing, but after watching the media reports the past week about his departure, I realized once again just how many people think this man is worth listening to.  I can only say "good riddance"!

Anyway...this is all coming from a man who has shielded pedophiles for years.  Why aren't people screaming in the streets for him to be arrested.  Is he still maintaining diplomatic immunity?  Don't even get me started on the white dress and red Dorothy slippers he wore everyday.  He's too old to continue being a "closet-case".

Enough on that...

Speaking of religion...as I've mentioned before, I consider myself Agnostic (look up the definition if you don't know...I'm tired of explaining it to people).  Caden on the other hand does not like the idea of saying "I don't know".  Typical 7 year old.  He says I have to choose between believing in some sort of religious practice - or not believing any of it.  He has chosen to say he doesn't believe.  I've tried  to let him know that he might have different experiences in the course of his life that will convince him to change that thought and it's OK.  He's not buying it.  Of course he does believe that if you lose one of your teeth on  a weekend, the tooth fairy will leave $2 under your pillow instead of the $1 you get for a weekday tooth loss.  The idea of the "immaculate conception" is just too absurd for him I guess.

We head out of town soon for two weeks in SE Asia.  Looking forward to Thailand and Cambodia.  Who knows...maybe I'll try this bloggy thing from there.

And have I mentioned lately how happy I am that Obama is still our President?

FORWARD

That was one of Obama's campaign slogans.   I think it needs to apply to me now.  It's time to move beyond obsessing over the election - simply because it's over.  But it's over in a good way -  and for that I am grateful.

You know all of the incredible results so I won't re-hash them.  Instead I'll  simply post a pic of Caden.  In fact, I think this picture says what I'm feeling.

Higher, Higher, Higher!

Election Eve...

I'm back.  It's not like I really went anywhere - other than to "obsession land".  That's what's happened lately with me and this election.  It's become so engrossing that I wasn't able to continue writing about it (if that even makes sense).

On this night before the actual day that I've been waiting for for about the past two years, I give you a mantra.  Not one written by me - but one that sums up why I still believe Barack Obama should be re-elected.

But before I ask you to read it, I have a little story from the lips of my son about why he would vote for Obama.  It happened during a ride to school last week as we were carpooling with two neighborhood kids who happen to be in 2nd and 4th grade.  I asked all of them in the car, "what is more important - Election Day or Halloween?"  Thank goodness that two of them in the car said "election day".  I'll not name the one passenger who briefly thought Halloween was more important.  Anyway...the two older kids said they would like to vote for Obama and then stated that a couple of their friends said they would vote for Romney.  I asked if their friends gave them reasons why they would vote for Romney.  Their answer, "No".  The younger passenger in the car immediately piped up with, "I have a reason to vote for Obama - he thinks my Daddy and Papa should be able to get married!"

Yes - I was proud!

and on that note...please take the time to read this (or at least hit the high points).  It's written so much better than I could have ever done it.

http://www.tilsonfunds.com/VotingObamaAgain.pdf

End of Summer...

Summer in Portland means we turned on our air conditioner for one day.  Yes - you read that correctly. One day.  I'm sure we would have turned it on more had we been in town for those three days when it was actually hot...but maybe not.

It was the summer of national park adventures to the East of us.  We hit three of them this summer.  We were still out "west" - but just not west of Portland.  From a week in Colorado to two weeks in Jackson Hole with a little bit of the Sawtooth Mountains and Yellowstone National Park thrown in for good measure, we had our share of western adventures.

Speaking of Yellowstone National Park...you aren't a good parent until you take your kids there.  Seriously, it's worth it.  Also hit Rocky Mountain National Park and of course Grand Teton NP.  The Sawtooth mountains should have there own national park.

All in all it was a great August and now we've got a 1st grader in our house.

Wish him (and us) luck.

The Butler Did It

I'm back and have so much to comment on that I don't even know where to begin.  How about I just throw out one thing tonight and save the Romney/Ryan campaign for another day?

A headline caught my eye this past week.  It was something about the Pope's "butler" being indicted for  releasing Vatican "secrets" to an author of a scandalous book about the inner workings of the Vatican.  (or something like that).  O.K. - I'm sure you see where this is headed.  A "butler"?  Seriously?  The Pope has a "butler"?  Don't misunderstand me...I'm quite aware that the Pope is head of a multi-bazillion dollar corporation that makes widgets (or fairy tales) or whatever...and he could probably use some help with typing and filing and all of the other standard corporate head honcho duties...but a "BUTLER"?  Does he bring a gin and tonic to him every evening at 5:45 and lie out his evening wear??  This Pope guy has quite the life...and it's all a tax write-off!

Don't even get me started on what the "secrets" might involve.  Seriously?  (I like to use the word Seriously with a question mark after it,)  Vatican secrets?  As in it's all really a fairy tale and we can't let anyone find out?

This one was just too good to let slip by.